Church Records

Genesee County Church Records

Browse historical church records held by the Genesee County History Department. Records may include membership lists, baptisms, marriages, deaths, burials, meeting minutes, financial records and other church documents.

Alabama

Oakfield and Alabama Baptist Church Records

  • Oakfield and Alabama Baptist Church Society minutes, 1839-1870
    • Handwritten minutes beginning with the first meeting on February 18, 1839, through February 1870
    • Annual meetings were held in South Alabama at the Oakfield Alabama Baptist Church
    • Election of trustees by majority vote
    • Election of clerk by majority vote
  • Oakfield Alabama Baptist Church covenant meeting minutes, 1829-1858
    • Church proceedings, rules and regulations
    • Handwritten records of congregation members
    • Documentation of dismissal by letter
    • Lists of covenant meeting prayer services
    • Records of extending the hand of fellowship to new members
    • Written Christian experiences of local townspeople
  • Oakfield and Alabama Baptist Church records, 1839-1900
    • Handwritten documentation of members received into the church
    • Baptism records
    • Records showing how members were received and dismissed, including death or letter, with dates
    • Meeting topics include:
      • Finances
      • Disorderly conduct of church members
      • Election of trustees
      • Acceptance of confessions from members of the congregation
  • Oakfield and Alabama Baptist Church and Society proceedings and annual meeting minutes, 1842-1906
    • Handwritten records of church and congregation proceedings
    • Financial reports
    • Election of trustees
    • Baptisms and deaths
    • Includes the following historical statement: “Public Notice to the inhabitants of the West part of the town of Elba and the town of Alabama, Genesee County and state of New York having met at the School house in District #7 in the town of Elba on the 18th day of February for the purpose of forming a religious Society according to law.”
  • Oakfield and Alabama Baptist Church and Society proceedings and annual meeting minutes, 1855-1882
    • Handwritten records of church and congregation proceedings
    • Financial reports
    • Election of trustees
    • Baptisms and deaths
    • Includes names and dates
  • Oakfield and Alabama Baptist Church and Society financial records, 1912-1916
    • Handwritten financial accounts of payments received
  • Oakfield and Alabama Baptist Church and Society covenant meeting minutes, 1917-1932
    • Handwritten minutes
    • Cash accounts
    • Names of trustees

Alexander

  • Secretary’s Book of Ladies Sewing Cycle or Benevolent Association
    • Organized July 19, 1849
    • List of charter members
    • 1 page, typed
    • Copied from New York State Library (H 929 D23), Bible Records Book #35, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
  • Universalist Church History
    • Established 1833
    • Membership lists for 1840, 1843, 1884, 1871, 1891 and 1892
    • 8 pages, numbered 87-94, typed
    • Copied from New York State Library (H 974.7 D23), Cemetery, Church & Town Records Book #98, DAR

Batavia

  • Baptist: Unpublished Records – First Baptist Church and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
    • Compiled by Christine Fowler, DAR
    • First Baptist Church, 1834-1939 [974.7 D23 DAR CEM 129]
    • Pages 1-182, typed, alphabetical listing
    • Baptisms, marriages and joined members
    • Emmanual Baptist Church, 1884-1939
    • Pages 183-211, typed, alphabetical listing [DAR 129 (183-211)]
    • Baptism, experience and non-resident records
    • St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1880-1939
    • Pages 221-287, typed, alphabetical listing
    • Born, baptized, confirmed, married, died and buried
  • Episcopal: Unpublished Record of St. James Episcopal Church, 1815-1939
    • Compiled by Christine Fowler, DAR
    • A-K: Pages 1-172, typed and alphabetical listing
    • L-Z: Pages 173-339, typed and alphabetical listing
    • Born, baptized, married and buried
  • Batavia Cookbook, 1891
    • Contributed recipes for the benefit of the Episcopal Church
    • Includes names of church members who contributed recipes
  • The History of St. James' Church 1815-1965 - A Cycle of Praise
  • Lutheran – See Baptist
  • Methodist / Episcopal
    • Unpublished record of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, 1841-1939
    • Founded as St. John’s in 1841
    • Compiled by Christine Fowler, DAR [CEM. V. 128]
    • Pages 3-296
    • Typed and alphabetical listing
    • Born, baptized, married and buried
  • Presbyterian
    • Unpublished record of the First Presbyterian Church, 1809-1939
    • Compiled by Christine Fowler, DAR
    • A-J: Pages 5-226, typed and alphabetical listing
    • K-Z: Pages 227-463
    • Born, joined, married and died
  • Catholic
    • St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church, 1908-1983, 75th Jubilee Celebration

Bergen

  • First Congregational Church Records
    • List of ministers and members, 1831-1852
    • Compiled by Rev. Charles Jerome, 1853
    • 13 pages, typed and alphabetical listing
    • Dates for admitted, dismissed and died
    • Marriage indicated in brackets without dates
  • Stone Church – Records of Baptisms and Admissions, 1828-1842
    • Copied from New York State Library DAR Book (CEM) #154
    • Pages 16-35, typed and alphabetical listing
    • Admitted and dismissed

Darien

  • Lutheran Church, 1853-1956 – Town Line / Alden Border Cemetery and Church
    • Donated by Don Kidder
    • Pages 14-224, typed, not alphabetical
    • Baptisms, 1869-1947
    • Confirmations, 1870-1946, excluding 1884-1890
    • Deaths, 1869-1946
    • Marriages, 1869-1956
    • Meetings, 1869-1920
  • St. Mary's Help of Christians, East Bennington
    • Confirmations, marriages and deaths, 1850-1935
  • Our Lady of Good Counsel Records of and Pertaining to St. Mary Help of Christians
  • Our Lady of Good Counsel Records of and Pertaining to St. Mary Help of Christians
    • Some births, baptisms, marriages, confirmations and deaths
    • Handwritten records

Elba

  • Baptist Church Records, 1820-1856
    • Compiled by Scott Benz, Elba Historian, 1996
    • Photocopied, handwritten, poor quality
    • Proceedings, dismissed members, excluded members and church officers
  • Baptist Church Records, 1862-1881
    • Compiled by Scott Benz, Elba Historian, 1996
    • Photocopied and handwritten
    • List of members
  • Baptist Church Records, 1826-1883
    • Compiled by Scott Benz, Elba Historian, 1996
    • Photocopied and handwritten
    • Officers, committees and treasurer’s reports
  • Congregational Church Records, 1822-1868
    • Photocopied and handwritten
    • Warranty deed
    • Articles of faith
    • Baptisms
  • Congregational Society, 1823
    • Typed transcript of handwritten original
    • Constitution
    • Annual reports
    • Article of faith
  • Methodist Episcopal Church, East Elba, 1855-1914
    • Photocopied and not indexed
    • Handwritten
    • Chronological listing:
      • Baptisms
      • Marriages
      • Probationers
    • Alphabetical listing:
      • Members, 1859-1914
  • First Presbyterian Church Register
    • Copied by Scott Benz, Village of Elba Historian, 1994
    • Photocopied handwritten fair copy
    • 102 unnumbered pages, not indexed, chronological listing
    • Pastors, 1822-1951, 1 page
    • Elders, trustees, admissions, dismissed and died, 1895-1952
    • Baptisms, 1916-1952
    • Marriages, 1950s
    • Deaths, 1950s
  • Presbyterian Church Cookbook, 1896
    • Photocopy
    • 87 pages
    • Recipes, local advertisements and names of “cooks”
  • First Presbyterian Society, 1867
    • Photocopied and handwritten
    • 125 pages
    • Meeting minutes
    • Cash receipts
  • Presbyterian Church Session, 1868-1918
    • Photocopied and handwritten
    • 223 pages
    • Membership records
  • Presbyterian – Minutes of the Session, 1918-1949
    • Donated by Scott Benz, Village of Elba Historian, 1994
    • Photocopied and handwritten
    • 187 pages
  • Presbyterian – Minutes of the Session, 1949-1974
    • Donated by Scott Benz, Village of Elba Historian, 1994
    • 300 pages, typed

LeRoy

  • First Baptist
    • Copied by Mae Bishop Kenny, DAR
    • 7 pages, alphabetical listing
    • Roll of members, 1816-1829
    • Admitted and dismissed
  • St. Marks Episcopal, 1840-1869
    • As found recorded in the LeRoy Gazette
    • Copied by Mae Bishop Kenny, DAR
    • 7 pages, chronological listing
    • Poor-quality photocopy
  • First Presbyterian
    • Copied by Pear B. Vallance, DAR
    • Pastors, 1817-1911, chronological listing, 2 pages
    • Membership, 1850-1887, alphabetical listing, 24 pages
    • Baptisms, 1870-1883, chronological listing, 5 pages
    • Deaths, 1870-1883, chronological listing, 8 pages
    • Marriages, 1869-1883, chronological listing, 9 pages
  • First Presbyterian Society
    • Centennial History, 1812-1912
  • Methodist Episcopal, 1809-1910
    • Copied from New York State Library DAR Bible Records Book #35 (H 929 D23)
    • Pastors, 13 pages
    • Baptisms, 1871-1890, chronological listing, 4 pages
    • Marriages, 1851-1867, chronological listing, 10 pages, and 1870-1910
    • Membership, 1851-1870, alphabetical listing, 17 pages
    • Deaths of members, 1870-1905, alphabetical listing, 4 pages
    • Earliest record extant of probationary members, 1851-1870
    • Chronological listing, 5 pages

Oakfield

  • St. Michael's Church
    • Handwritten records, 1857-1922
    • Includes baptisms, confirmations, communicants, marriages, burials and offerings

Pavilion

  • First Baptist, 1816-1864
    • Copied by Winifred McKeever, DAR
    • New York State Library DAR Cemetery Book #69 (974.7 D23)
    • 10 pages, chronological listing
    • Male members, 1816-1864
    • Female members, 1825-1861

Pembroke

  • Baptist
    • East Pembroke Baptist Church, 1837-1886
    • 10 pages, poor-quality photocopy
    • Chronological listing
    • Died, dismissed and excluded
  • Presbyterian
    • East Pembroke Presbyterian Church, 1854-1886
    • 18 pages, poor-quality photocopy
    • Chronological listing
    • Baptisms, deaths and dismissed members

Stafford

  • Episcopal – Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, ca. 1842
    • Compiled by Christine C. Fowler, DAR
    • New York State Library DAR Cemetery Book #124 (974.7 D23)
    • 30 pages, alphabetical listing, fair-quality photocopy
    • Baptisms, members, married and died

Churches Listed in the Genesee County Gazetteer, 1788-1890

Edited by F. W. Beers

Churches Listed in the Genesee County Gazetteer, 1788-1890
Type Town Year Page # Remarks
First Baptist Le Roy 1806 493
Congregational Rel. Society Bergen 1807 326
First Congregational Bergen 1807 328
Freewill Baptist Bethany 1809 359
Presbyterian Byron 1809 383
Methodist Episcopal Le Roy 1809 494
Baptist Byron 1810 383
Methodist Pavilion 1810 593
Congregationalist Corfu 1810 621 First church in Corfu
Baptist Stafford 1810 644
East Elba Methodist Elba 1811 437
First Presbyterian Le Roy 1812 492
St. James Protestant Episcopal Batavia 1815 219
Baptist Pavilion 1816 592-593
Congregational E. Bethany 1817 360
First Presbyterian Pembroke 1817 621
First Presbyterian Batavia 1818 218 Organized in 1809
Baptist Bethany 1820 360
Freewill Baptist No. Byron 1820 384
Friends (Quaker) Elba 1821 437
Congregational Stafford 1821 644-645
2nd Baptist Elba 1822 437
Presbyterian Elba 1822 438 See Note (5)
Presbyterian North Bergen 1823 327
First Congregational Society Darien 1823 406
First Congregational Darien 1823 406 Traveling preacher, no church building
St. Phillips Protestant Episcopal Stafford 1823 645 No records
Freewill Baptist Wheatville 1824 121
First Methodist Episcopal Batavia 1824 221-222 Church built. See Note (1)
Baptist Tonawanda Indian Res. 1825 123
Episcopal (Zion) Bethany 1826 360
Batavia & E. Pembroke Baptist E. Pembroke 1826 624
Methodists Alexander 1828 152 Shared with Presbyterians
2nd Congregationalist Church of Le Roy & Bergen Stone Church 1828 329
Presbyterian Bethany 1829 360
Episcopal Stafford 1830 645 Same church as St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal
First Methodist Episcopal Bergen 1831 330
Universalist Le Roy 1831 496
First Universalist Society of Pavilion Pavilion 1831 593
Baptist Alabama 1832 120
Methodist Episcopal Oakfield 1832 569
Universalist Alexander 1833 152
First Methodist Episcopal Darien 1833 406 Traveling preacher, no church building
Methodist Protestant Elba 1833 438
Presbyterian Oakfield 1833 569
Christian Church (Christians & Universalist) Stafford 1833 643
St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Stafford 1833 645 Same church as Episcopal
First Baptist Batavia 1835 223-225
Baptist Oakfield & S. Alabama 1839 120
First Methodist Episcopal Pavilion 1840 593
Methodist Episcopal Roanoke 1840 644
Second Methodist Episcopal So. Byron 1842 383
First Methodist Protestant Pembroke 1845 621
St. Peter's Catholic Le Roy 1849 495
First Christian Church of Pembroke N. Pembroke 1849 625
Roman Catholic (St. John's) Bergen 1850 329
Presbyterian Church of Pembroke & Batavia E. Pembroke 1854 624-625
St. Michael's Episcopal Oakfield 1858 569
Evangelical Assoc. of Batavia Batavia 1862 226
Advent Church of God Darien 1864 407 Traveling preacher, no church building
Evangelical Assoc. Indian Falls 1865 624
Church of Disciples of Christ Richville 1867 623
Freewill Baptist Indian Falls 1868 624
St. Mary's Roman Catholic E. Pembroke 1868 625
Presbyterian Tonawanda Indian Res. 1870 123
St. Paul's German Evangelical Batavia 1873 226
Friends Bushville 1875 171
St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Corfu 1876 622
All Souls' Union Corfu 1881 622
Methodist Episcopal Alabama 1882 120 Rebuilt
German Methodist Episcopal Oakfield 1886 569
Concordia German Evangelical Byron 1889 384
First Freewill Baptist Batavia 1839 & 1885 222 & 225
Baptist Darien ca. 1820 406 Traveling preacher, no church building
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Batavia ca. 1840 226-228 Church building bought 1849
German Evangelical Elba ca. 1890 438
St. John's Methodist Episcopal Batavia Early 1800s 220 See Note (1)
Roman Catholic (St. Patrick) Wheatville 121
Baptist Smithville 121
Free Methodists Alexander 152
Free Methodists Bethany 359 Little Canada
Methodists Episcopal So. Byron 382 See Note (2)
First Methodist Episcopal Byron 383
Various Le Roy 496 Very lengthy history
Catholic Pavilion 593 One sentence
Asbury Church Pavilion 593 Methodist then Free Methodist
Methodist Indian Falls 624 One sentence

Gazetteer Notes

  1. Many early churches were conducted by ministers who went from one place to another, called “circuit riders” or itinerant preachers.
  2. Byron churches on pages 383-384.
  3. Bethany churches on pages 359-360.
  4. See pages 406-407 for Darien churches; the source notes that the information is rather confusing.
  5. Elba churches on pages 437-438. Presbyterian was organized as a Congregational church and shared a church building with Methodists for a time.
  6. Churches of Oakfield (Cary) on pages 568-569.
  7. Pavilion church history on pages 592-594.
  8. Pembroke churches on pages 621-625.
  9. Corfu, Indian Falls, Richville, E. Pembroke and N. Pembroke are also identified in the source with the name Mogadore.

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