Learn to use Ancestry.com/NY

Ancestry.com/NY is a collection of digitized family history records. Several New York State repositories have partnered with Ancestry.com to make these records available to New York State residents for free. The collection is accessed through the New York State Archives website. A link to this site is available on the library’s homepage under Quick Links or by going directly to the Archives page.

http://www.portvillelibrary.weebly.comhttp://www.archives.nysed.gov/research/res_ancestry.shtml

 

Enter your zip code and click “Submit”.

 You are now at Ancestry.com. This page contains a search form at the top.

At the bottom of the page you’ll find a list of all the NYS Archive records that are available here. You can search each of these records individually.

Type in the name of the ancestor you’d like to search.

Your ancestor’s name may be enough to get you on your way, but any other information you know might yield more results. If entering a mother’s name use her maiden name if known. Otherwise, use her married name.

Leave the “exact” boxes unchecked for your first search. The exception to this might be under the birth year. If you are unsure of the exact year, type your best guess then check the “exact” box, then one of the ranges. Selecting +/- 1 year will search the year you entered as well as the year before and after and so on.

Find search tips here: http://search.ancestry.com/landingpages/searchtipsmod.aspx 

Click “Search”.

The results page shows best matches first, then ones that are less likely. Start with the best matches first. Click on a record you wish to view.

If you have never had a guest (free) or subscriber (paid) account with Ancestry at any time, you will create one here. Fill in the form and click “Submit”. Clicking “Show Password” allows you to see what you’re typing. If you’ve ever had any type of account you do not need to fill in the information. Just sign into it here. Even if you aren’t subscribed (paying) now your account will still be here.

A transcription of information from your chosen record will appear here. In most cases you may also view an image of the original record. You can also choose one of several ways to save the record or you can save it later.  

You can also save the record to an area called “Your Shoebox”. This is for records that you want to evaluate before adding to your tree. Because you can only create a tree and save one record to it with a free account, consider choosing this option. You can add the records from the shoebox to a tree later.

If this is your first time here you’ll see a button at the top and one under the transcription that will allow you to save the record and create a tree. You can use either button.

If you already have a tree the button will simply say “Save” and clicking it will give you the option to save to your tree or shoebox. Please note that you can only save one record this way.

Clicking the “View” button will show you the original record. A “Save” button at the top of the original document gives you the same options as on the previous page, plus the option to save the document to your computer. Please note that the record cannot be copied from your computer to your tree on Ancestry. Ancestry will show you tips on navigating around the document.

You can return to the search results by clicking on the back arrow from the original document page or the extract page.

Ancestry.com has a wealth of information that can be accessed with a guest account. Go to HomeHelpLearning Center to see what’s available. Please stop at the library or call us at 716-933-8441 on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday if you have any questions.