Establishment of Ontario County
Established in 1789, Ontario County encompassed all of western New York State from the Pre-Emption Line to Lake Erie and from Lake Ontario to the Pennsylvania border. Now 14 separate counties, the early history of this vast area is retained in the records of the parent county.
The Hartford Treaty
The Hartford Treaty of 1786, settled the conflicting claims of Massachusetts and New York, awarding New York political sovereignty and Massachusetts the right of pre-empting and selling the Iroquois-controlled land.
In 1787, Massachusetts sold its rights to the 6 million acre tract to Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham. The Buffalo Creek Treaty, negotiated by Phelps, and eliminated the Native American claim to the 2,250,000-acre eastern portion. The western part reverted to Massachusetts ownership and was later sold to Pennsylvania financier Robert Morris.
The First Land Office
Phelps and Gorham surveyed the purchase into ranges and townships, establishing the first land office of its kind in Canandaigua. Settlers from eastern New York and New England poured into the county, attracted by the fertile soil, temperate climate, and low prices. As the population increased, the New York State Legislature was pressured to subdivide and form new counties. Thus Steuben was taken off in 1796, Genesee in 1802, Livingston and Monroe in 1821, and Wayne and Yates in 1823.
Records & Archives Center
The history of the Ontario County pioneers may be found today in the holdings of the Ontario County Records and Archives Center. Assessment records for Geneseo in 1800, and Boyle in 1813, the 1789 deed to Mary Jemison from the Seneca Nation, and the 1809, petition for dowry restoration by widow Triphena Stewart of Bloomfield are just some examples of the early records available for research.
Chronology of Ontario County, New York
Creation of Ontario County - all land west of Pre-emption Line
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January 27, 1789
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Steuben County taken from Ontario County
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March 13, 1796
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Genesee County taken from Ontario County
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March 30, 1802
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Allegany County taken from Genesee County
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April 7, 1806
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Cattaraugus County taken from Genesee County
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March 11, 1808
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Niagara County taken from Genesee County
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March 11, 1808
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Chautauqua County taken from Genesee County
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March 11, 1808
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Livingston County taken from Genesee Co. AND Ontario County
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February 23, 1821
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Monroe County taken from Livingston Co. AND Ontario County
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February 23, 1821
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Erie County taken from Niagara County
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April 2, 1821
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Yates County taken from Ontario County
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February 5, 1823
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Wayne County taken from Ontario Co. AND Seneca County
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April 11, 1823
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Orleans County taken from Genesee County
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November 12, 1824
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Wyoming County taken from Genesee County
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May 14, 1841
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Schuyler County taken from Ontario Co. AND Steuben, Tompkins
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April 17, 1854
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Creation of Towns on Ontario County
Bristol
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November 2, 1796
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Canandaigua
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November 1790
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Bloomfield; amended June 1798
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June 1795
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Farmington
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November 1796
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Gorham (original names Easton, Lincoln)
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November 1796
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Naples (original name Middletown)
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November 1795
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Phelps (erected as Sullivan)
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November 1795
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Richmond (original name Pittstown)
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January 27, 1789
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Seneca
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November 1792
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Victor taken from Bloomfield
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May 26, 1812
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Manchester (original name Burt) taken from Farmington
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March 31, 1821
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Hopewell taken from Gorham
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March 29, 1822
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Canadice taken from Richmond
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April 15, 1829
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West Bloomfield taken from Bloomfield
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February 11, 1833
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South Bristol taken from Bristol
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March 8, 1838
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Geneva taken from Seneca
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November 15, 1872
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