A: Yes, we have a few documents related to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. The most popular of these records are Revolutionary War Service Affidavits, Civil War Military Discharges, and Regiment Rolls.
Q: Do you have Revolutionary War and/or Civil War related documents?
Q: Do you have birth, death and marriage records?
A: Birth, death and marriage records are filed with the clerk of the Village, Town or City government where the event took place. Click here for a list of Ulster County town and village clerks. The Archives has a limited amount of birth, death and marriage records. On our Search Records page, you can search the Town Clerk Returns of Births, Deaths and Marriages Search c.(1847-1850, 1873-1884) and Marriage Record Index Search 1908-1935.
Q: How do I know if my request is custom research? And what is the charge for this?
A: Your request is a custom research if we must search for specific information about or within a record. The fee is $20.00 per hour and is applied regardless of the success of the search. Copy fees associated with a custom search are additional. Please contact the Archives if you are unsure if your search is a custom search.
Q: How do I get copies of records from the Archives? What is the cost?
A: Copy requests can be made in-person (at a scheduled appointment) or through the mail. In person payment can be made in cash, check or money order payable to the "Ulster County Clerk". Off-site requests for copies must be made in writing and sent to the Ulster County Records Center, Attn: Archives, 300 Foxhall Avenue, Kingston, New York, 12401. Requests must include payment by check or money order made payable to the "Ulster County Clerk" and be in the exact amount. If the exact amount is not known, please call the Archives at 845-340-3415. Copy fees are $0.65 per page for black and white copies up to 11 x 17 inches. Copies of full-size maps are $5.00 each.
Q: Are all the records of the Archives described here?
A: Every record series described at this site belongs to the County Clerk’s Office. Describing records is an ongoing project of the Archives and all completed descriptions are posted on this site. For records of other Ulster County Departments, you must contact those offices directly. Go to the Ulster County home page for further information.
Q: Why are some of the records in Dutch?
A: The Dutch were the first Europeans to colonize New York in 1614. The City of Kingston was originally called Wiltwyck and New York was called New Netherland. The English took over the colony in 1664 and changed the names to Kingston and New York, but the official records of the town were kept in the Dutch language until 1712.
Q: What is the 101 Box Collection?
A: The 101 Box Collection is an artificial collection of the Ulster County Clerk. In 1963, Resolution #30 of the Ulster County Board of Supervisors temporarily released "certain old records" of the County Clerk to the History Department of Queen's College for cataloging, indexing and microfilming. At the request of the Ulster County Legislature in 1969, the records were returned to Ulster County and rehoused in 101 boxes. The records are currently under the care and control of the Ulster County Clerk's Records Management Program, established in 1988.
Q: What is the oldest record in the Archives?
A: On May 31, 1658, under the direction of Peter Stuyvesant, Dutch settlers of Wiltwyck agreed to build a palisade or stockade for protection from the Esopus Indians. That agreement or bond is the oldest record in the archives. The record is part of the series Kingston Court/Minutes in the 101 Box Collection. Click here to view a digital image of this record.
Q: What kind of records do you have? What is an archival record?
A: A portion of the records produced or collected during the normal activities of the government of the County of Ulster have been identified as "archival" because of their enduring administrative, legal, fiscal, historical or research value. They include certain court records, naturalization records, estate records, poorhouse records, property records, or tax records, for example. To search our online databases, visit our Search Records page.
Q: Do I need an appointment to use the Archives?
A: Yes, an appointment is recommended. To ensure that there is Archives staff available to assist with researchers needs, please telephone the Archives at (845) 340-3415. It is recommended that appointments be made at least twenty-four hours in advance. In addition, by telephoning the Archives a researcher will have an opportunity to speak with an Archives staff member regarding their specific search request. While appointments are recommended, walk-ins are welcome. Requests for copies can be made in person and the copies will be mailed to you. However, if you wish to view records from the Archives then you may have to return for an additional appointment. Contact Us for more information.
