Researching Deeds in Albany County

Quilters working on the Knox Bicentennial Quilt, 1976

The Bicentennial Quilters were a very modest group. This key was the only information provided to identify the home, industry, or natural resource on the quilt squares. The quilters didn’t even include their first name.

In 2012 Margaret Nicholson Torok helped to identify the location of the homes. A CD with this information is available through the Knox Historical Society.

When the quilt was being made, Mary Browne, one of the quilters, suggested that the history of the homes being quilted be provided.

Nickie Barber, who quilted The Wolford Farm, was the only quilter who complied

with the suggestion.

Nickie and her husband Marshall owned the former Wolford farm in 1976 and Nickie was able to trace the history of the home, including the renters of the

property.

VanNatta’s Hotel by V. SchwenkAt intersection of Rt. 146 and Beebe Road. 1946 Township Road.

Click on assessor

Click on Current Assessment Roll

Find owner’s name. Note, the deed book number and page

number is included

Google search:

Albany County Clerk

Choose Deeds

& Mortgages Online

Deeds and Mortgages OnlineWe are happy to provide the images of deeds and mortgages of properties in Albany County owned by individuals, corporations and other organizations, starting with documents from 1980.This is a pilot program with free access for a limited time. Online information is slightly less current than the information available in the County Clerk’s office (which is always the official record). 

Start Searching Now! »

http://www.albanycounty.com/Government/Departments/CountyClerk/Services/DeedsandMortgagesOnline.aspx

Highlight the desired name. Many times there are several records if the name you are searching has been involved in several different transactions, using initials.

Grantee means the party buying the property. Click on the magnifying glass.

Grantee Julie Knapp is buying the property. Grantors Deanna M. Papasso and Pappaso Trust are selling the

property.

Click on Image Available

Note Deed book 2972 and page 957

On the bottom left-hand corner of your computer screen, this will appear.

Click on the triangle.

The Windows Photo Viewer opens and displays the deed.

Tif stands for Tagged Image File Format

Seller

Buyer

Previous sale in Book 2891, page 813Date: 7/18/2007

Continue searching online because this transaction is after 1980

Find out owner previous to Deanna Papasso. Click next.

Deanna is listed twice as a Grantee. We know the date when she purchased the 1946 Township Road property was 2007.

Click on that icon.

Previous sale in Book 2469, page 627Date: 10/15/1992

Continue searching online because this transaction is after 1980.

Search previous owner’s name – Chester Quay.

Previously, the property was owned solely by wife Orpha G.

Quay. Book 2359 page 269, Recorded 3/14/1988.

Continue searching online.

This records purchase of a right-of-way.

This is the date we are looking for.

Use magnifier

VanNatta's Hotel 1946 Township Rd., Delanson, NY 12053

Knapp,Julie 3/4/2010 Bk2972 pg957

Papasso, Frank & Deanna M 7/25/2007 Bk2891 pg813

Quay, Chester 9/30/1992 Bk2469 pg627

Quay, Chester & Orpha 3/4/1988 Bk2359 pg269

Quay, Orpha

Gage, Edna E. 7/6/1904

Gage, Elwood 4/1/1896

Righter, Nellie & Gage, Esther

Gaige, Hiram P. 12/15/1865

VanNatta, Stephen D.

Information entered on Excel

VanNatta’s HotelStephen D. VanNatta built his hotel which now stands on the corner of Rt. 146 and Beebe Rd. At that time Rt. 146 was the Albany Schoharie Plank Rd. VanNatta took in overnight boarders. Upstairs in the home were 4 bedrooms. Three of the bedrooms were divided into cubicles for the boarders. The present-day bathroom was the barroom. At some point, the house became a Temperance House and no alcohol was served. The front rooms were reception rooms.Hiram P. Gaige bought the hotel/house at the end of the Civil War and the building became a private residence. Elwood Gaige inherited the house from his father, Hiram, and when Elwood died the house was passed onto Elwood’s wife Edna. Orpha Gaige inherited the house and jointly owned the house with her husband Chester. Orpha was the organist at the Knox Reformed Church and gave piano and singing lessons.

Information obtained from Pat Gage, cousin of Orpha Quay.

Albany-Schoharie Plank RoadAltamont Enterprise, May 2, 1998; Laura Westfall, Wright town historian:The Albany-Schoharie Plank Road company was incorporated [in 1849] with $70,000 in capital stock. Stocks were sold for $25 each. Road work was started in 1850. The road ran from Schoharie; east through the town of Wright and the town of Knox and Guilderland, reaching the Western Turnpike. The two mile branch running to Central Bridge made a total of 26 miles. The original cost was about $1,800 per mile.To construct the road, six 4 x 4 hemlock sills were laid end to end and planks were lain crosswise. No nails were used. The edges of the road were left uneven to enable the wagons to pull to pass. The road was ten foot wide with an improved dirt road along the side. With no wood preservatives in use, the wood soon became rotten and had to be replaced about every five years, each time at a higher price. Timber was readily available from landowners along the way, thus cutting down on the cost of transporting lumber. Toll gates were located every five miles. There were five toll gates on this road.The Albany-Schoharie Plank Road was extended through Warnerville, Richmondville, Summit and on to Charlotteville. The plank roads faded from the scene when Albany to Central Bridge Railroad became operational in 1863, providing much faster service than horse-powered vehicles. In May, 1866 the road lying east of Gallupville was abandoned. In April, 1867, the corporation was dissolved and the roadway was given to the towns.

http://www.albanyhilltowns.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Albany-Schoharie_Plank_Road

Capitol

Lodge St. Entrance on basement level has security

16 Eagle St.

Albany County Clerk’s Office

Deed search is on first floor, near the Eagle St. end of the building, but you must enter on the Lodge Street side of the building because of security.

Parking is limited. CDTA provides good bus service!

Since no book or page is listed in the deed, one option to complete the search is to use the

Books 1630-1894 Grantor Index to the Public Records

of the County of Albany in the State of New York

Microfilm readerMicrofilm is in drawers labeled with Book number. Scroll through the film for page number.

Happy Searching!