Find Obituary Records in Ulster County
Obituary records in Ulster County track deaths across this mid-Hudson Valley county with a history dating back to the Dutch colonial era. The Ulster County Clerk, local town clerks, the Ulster County Archives, and the New York State Department of Health all maintain records connected to deaths in the county. Published obituaries from Kingston and other Ulster County communities offer family stories and burial details beyond what death certificates show. The county seat is Kingston, where the clerk's office and archives are located. Several online indexes make parts of the Ulster County collection accessible from anywhere.
Ulster County Clerk Records
The Ulster County Clerk is at 244 Fair Street, Kingston, NY 12401. Phone: (845) 340-3288. The clerk's office maintains several online indexes that are useful for obituary research in Ulster County.
The available online indexes include a Marriage Index from 1908 to 1935, Town Clerk Returns from 1847 to 1850 and 1873 to 1884, and a 1905 Census Index. These tools let you search from home without visiting the office. The marriage index helps link family members. The town clerk returns contain early vital records entries. The 1905 census shows who was living in Ulster County at that date.
State census records for Ulster County cover 1855 to 1925, but there are notable gaps. The 1865 and 1875 censuses for names N through Z were destroyed in a fire. This loss makes obituary records and other death documentation even more important for establishing vital dates during those decades in Ulster County.
Death Records in Ulster County
Death records in Ulster County are filed with the local registrar in the town where the death occurred. Under Public Health Law § 4140, registration happens within 72 hours. Each of the 20 towns in Ulster County has a town clerk who acts as registrar. The City of Kingston has its own registrar as well.
The New York State Department of Health holds Ulster County death records from 1881 forward. Under PHL § 4174, certified copies cost $30 and require proof of direct interest. Apply through the NYS DOH website. Under PHL § 4147, copies are filed at both local and state levels.
Ulster County has some of the oldest settlements in New York. Deaths in the county before 1881 must be traced through local sources. Dutch Reformed church records from the 1600s and 1700s are among the earliest surviving records for the Kingston area. These predate official vital records by two centuries.
Ulster County Archives
The Ulster County Archives can be reached at (845) 340-3415. The archives hold historical county documents that support obituary and genealogy research. Their collections include records not available at the clerk's office or through state agencies.
The Hudson River Valley Heritage project provides free digital collections from over 40 organizations in the region. This includes digitized materials from Ulster County institutions. Photographs, manuscripts, maps, and other documents are available online through this portal. For obituary research, these digital collections can provide context about Ulster County communities and the people who lived in them.
Searching for Ulster County Obituaries
The Kingston Daily Freeman has been the main newspaper in Ulster County for over 150 years. Its archives hold thousands of obituaries for county residents. The Saugerties Times, Woodstock Times, and other local papers also publish death notices. Back issues are on microfilm at the Kingston Library and other Ulster County branches.
Online databases help with Ulster County obituary searches. FamilySearch has free New York death indexes. Ancestry includes digitized records and newspaper collections. FindAGrave covers Ulster County cemeteries. The New York State Historic Newspapers website and Fulton History both offer free access to digitized paper archives that may include Ulster County publications.
The Ulster County Genealogical Society is an additional resource. They have compiled indexes and transcriptions of local records, including cemetery records and obituary abstracts. Their work makes it easier to find specific deaths in Ulster County without searching through every available source yourself.
Ulster County Surrogate's Court
Probate records at the Ulster County Surrogate's Court include death dates, heir lists, and estate details. These are public. Wills filed with the court name beneficiaries. Administration papers identify next of kin. For obituary research in Ulster County, probate files often reveal family connections that published obituaries leave out.
Ulster County probate records go back to the county's founding. Early wills and estate papers can be the only surviving record of a death from the colonial or early American period. The Surrogate's Court is in Kingston.
Cemetery and Church Records in Ulster County
Ulster County cemeteries date back to the 1600s. The Old Dutch Church in Kingston has burial records from the colonial period. Other cemeteries across the county hold records spanning centuries. Headstone inscriptions provide names, dates, and family details.
Dutch Reformed church records are especially important for early Ulster County deaths. Kingston's Old Dutch Church has registers going back to the 1650s. Other churches in the county also kept burial records. For deaths before 1881, these church records may be the primary source. Some have been microfilmed and are available through FamilySearch. Others remain with the congregation.
Cities and Towns in Ulster County
Ulster County has the City of Kingston and 20 towns, including Denning, Esopus, Gardiner, Hardenburgh, Hurley, Kingston (town), Lloyd, Marbletown, Marlborough, New Paltz, Olive, Plattekill, Rochester, Rosendale, Saugerties, Shandaken, Shawangunk, Ulster, Wawarsing, and Woodstock. Each town clerk acts as the local registrar for death records in their municipality.