R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

New York
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Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
     Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Law And Legislation
Maps
Military Records
Names, Personal
Native Races
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Occupations
Orphans And Orphanages
Periodicals
Probate Records
Societies
Taxation
Town Records
Vital Records
Voting Registers
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

VITAL RECORDSLook this term up in the glossary.


Records of BirthsLook this term up in the glossary. and DeathsLook this term up in the glossary.

Statewide registration of vital statistics began in 1880 and was usually complied with by 1890 for deaths and by 1915 for births. In some areas of Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley, some births, marriages, and deaths were recorded in town records as early as about 1665. For example, Amenia, Dutchess County, has vital records beginning in 1749.

Births, marriages, and deaths were also recorded for a short time in most counties from 1847 to about 1850. The state legislature passed a law in 1847 requiring school district clerks to send information to the Secretary of State. The law was difficult to enforce, and most school districts stopped doing this by 1852. Historical societies have some of these records, but most are still in the possession of town and county clerks. The very few 1847–1850 vital records that were once on deposit in the New York State Archives have been returned to the towns that deposited them at the archives.

Some cities had pre-1880 registration, such as New York (1847 for births, and 1801 for deaths), Brooklyn (1866 for births and 1847 for deaths), Albany (1870), Buffalo (1878), Syracuse (1873), Rochester (1875), Utica (1873), and Yonkers (1875). You can learn more about the history and availability of vital records in Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in New York State (Including New York City) . . ., 3 vols. (Albany, N.Y.: Historical Records Survey, 1942; FHL book 974.7 V23h; film 928101; fiche 6046676; computer number 146534). The Family History Library has vital records for a few counties, mostly from 1847–1850 and marriages from 1908 to the 1930s.

Births and deaths are recorded in the town, village, or city where the event took place. A copy is sent to the New York Bureau of Vital Statistics. If you know the birth or death place, write to the town, village, or city clerk to obtain a copy of the certificate or record. A microfiche index to births 1881–1918 and deaths 1880–1943 is available for public use at the state archives. The indexes do not cover New York City. The archives will search and abstract the indexes for a fee. You can obtain births and deaths since 1880 (except New York City) for a fee by writing to:

New York State Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Records
Empire State Plaza, Tower Building
Albany, New York 12237-0023
Telephone: 518-474-3077 or 518-474-3030
There is a 50-year restriction on death records and a 75-year restriction on birth records. The state fees and restrictions apply also to records held by the local clerks.

Birth and death records for Albany, Buffalo, and Yonkers to 1914 are filed with local registrars, and the state restrictions apply.

Albany births and deaths 1848, births 1866 to the present, and deaths 1870 to the present can be obtained for a fee from:

Registrar of Vital Statistics
City Hall, Room 107
24 Eagle Street
Albany, NY 12207
Buffalo births 1878–1914, and deaths 1852–1914, can be obtained for a fee from:

Bureau of Vital Statistics
City Hall, Room 613
Niagara Square
Buffalo, NY 14202
Telephone: 716-851-5848
Yonkers births and deaths 1875 to the present can be obtained for a fee from:

Registrar of Vital Statistics
City Hall
Yonkers, NY 10701
Telephone: 914-964-3066
New York City The New York City counties of Kings, Queens, Richmond, and New York were established in 1683. The Bronx was made a separate borough when the five boroughs were created in 1898, and in 1914 it was made a separate county as well. Between 1898 and 1914 the Bronx was part of New York County but not part of the Borough of Manhattan. Vital records may be listed in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under the borough (for example, NEW YORK, KINGS, BROOKLYN - VITAL RECORDS), or they may be under NEW YORK, NEW YORK (CITY) - VITAL RECORDS.

The Family History Library has microfilms of some New York City births to 1909, deaths to 1919, and indexes to both to 1965. The New York Public Library has the indexes to the present, but it does not search them in response to mail or telephone inquiries. Birth records to 1909 and death records to 1948 for the five boroughs of New York City are at the New York City Municipal Archives. Microfilms at the Family History Library include:

All Boroughs (All of New York City)

Birth index books 1881–1965

FHL films 1322457–86 (only for Manhattan and Brooklyn from 1881–1897)

Bronx (Bronx County)

Birth records 1898–1909

30 FHL films beginning with film 2022836

Wakefield births 1890–1895

FHL film 1398783

Westchester births 1881–1895

FHL film 1398783

Brooklyn (Kings County)

Birth card index 1866–1897

34 FHL films beginning with film 1324701

Birth returns 1866–1868, 1870–1906

104 FHL films beginning with film 1380499

Birth register 1869

FHL film 1315322 item 2

Births 1847–1851, 1880–1895 (years vary) for the towns of Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend, New Lots, and New Utrecht are found in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under NEW YORK, KINGS, [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS
Manhattan (New York County)

Birth records card index 1830–1865

19 FHL films beginning with film 1378956

Birth returns card index 1866–1897

153 FHL films beginning with 1323501

Birth registers 1846–1848, 1851–1873

(missing Liber 3, 1854–1856, E–Z, and Liber 4, 1856–1857 A–J); computer number 150675

Birth returns 1866–1897

393 FHL films beginning with film 1322001

Birth records 1898–1909

8 FHL films beginning with film 1953076

Queens (Queens County)

Birth records 1898–1909

21 FHL films beginning with film 1992977

Births 1847–1898 (years vary) for the towns of College Point, Far Rockaway, Flushing, Jamaica, Long Island City, Newtown, Richmond Hill, Rockaway, and Whitestone are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under NEW YORK, QUEENS, [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS
Staten Island (Richmond County)

Birth index 1600–1900s

FHL films 539053–71

Birth index 1847–1897

FHL films 1324935–37

Birth records 1898–1909

10 FHL films beginning with film 1984042

Births 1847–1853, 1881–1897 (years vary) for the towns of Castleton, Edgewater, Middletown, Northfield, Port Richmond, Southfield, Tottenville, and Westfield are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under NEW YORK, RICHMOND, [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS

All Boroughs (All of New York City)

Death index books 1888–1965

FHL films 1324914–31 (only for Manhattan and Brooklyn from 1888–1897)

Bronx (Bronx County)

Death records 1898–1919

91 FHL films beginning with film 1322702

Wakefield deaths 1878–1881, 1890–1895

FHL film 1398783

Westchester births 1887–1895

FHL film 1398783

Brooklyn (Kings County)

Death ledger card index 1848–1866

FHL films 1378813–19

Death certificate index 1862–1898

78 FHL films beginning with film 1378830

Death records 1847–1853, 1857–1861

FHL films 1315321–22

Death register 1847–1853, 1857–1858

FHL films 447542

Death certificates 1862–1897

339 FHL films beginning with film 1323651

Coroner's reports 1897–1914

16 FHL films beginning with film 1435709

Death certificates 1898–1920

FHL films 1324001–342

Coroner's reports, death records 1898–1916

FHL films 1435700–708

Deaths 1847–1851, 1880–1895 (years vary) for the towns of Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend, New Lots, and New Utrecht are found in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under NEW YORK, KINGS, [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS
Manhattan (New York County)

Death certificates card index 1868–1890

4 FHL films beginning with film 1324809

Death registers 1795, 1801–1804, 1808, 1811–1865

FHL films 447544–68 (by first letter of surname)

Death certificates 1866–1919

1,069 FHL films beginning with film 1323352

Cholera cases 1866

FHL films 1324501–502

Coroner inquests 1797–1820, 1862–1864, 1868–1918

9 FHL films beginning with film 514332

Coroner inquests 1823–1898

101 FHL films beginning with film 1318155

Coroner reports 1839

FHL film 1255743

Bodies-in-transit 1859–1894

3 FHL films beginning with film 1671686

Queens (Queens County)

Death certificates 1898–1919

FHL films 1323384–472

Deaths 1847–1898 (years vary) for the towns of College Point, Far Rockaway, Flushing, Jamaica, Long Island City, Newtown, Richmond Hill, Rockaway, and Whitestone are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under NEW YORK, QUEENS, [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS
Staten Island (Richmond County)

Death index 1600–1900s

FHL films 539053–71

Death register card index 1847–1897

FHL films 1324932–34

Death certificates 1898–1920

FHL films 1322793–815

Deaths 1847–1853, 1881–1897 (years vary) for the towns of Castleton, Edgewater, Middletown, Northfield, Port Richmond, Southfield, Tottenville, and Westfield are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under NEW YORK, RICHMOND, [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS

You can obtain New York City birth (1910 to the present) and death (1949 to the present) certificates for a fee from:

Division of Vital Records
City of New York, Department of Health
P.O. Box 3776
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10007
New York City Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Records
125 Worth St. Room 133
New York, NY 10013-0046
Telephone: 212-788-4500
For birth records through 1909 and death records through 1948, write to:

New York City Department of Records and Information Services
Municipal Archives
31 Chambers St., Room 103
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: 212-788-8580 or 212-566-5292
Fax: 212-385-4253
New York City Birth and Death Records are available using a credit card. Write to the New York City Department of Health, 125 Worth St., New York, NY 10013. A “Hotline” telephone number, 212-788-4505, is available for information and for ordering birth and death certificates using a credit card. You can order birth records from 1910 to the present or death records from 1949 to the present. Using a credit card the cost is $15.00. Five to seven business days are required for delivery. You can also order by sending a fax of the application to 212-962-6105. They can fax a copy of the application to your fax machine. The fee is also $15.00. Five to seven business days are required for delivery.

The records are not available for genealogical purposes and are subject to certain other restrictions.

All other local registrars sent copies of their records to the State Department of Health. Most New York deaths after 1962 are in the Social Security Death IndexLook this term up in the glossary., a FamilySearch™Look this term up in the glossary. computer file.

For more information, see Barbara Kronman, The Guide to New York City Public Records in the “For Further Reading” section of this outline.


Provincial Marriage LicensesLook this term up in the glossary.

Marriages in colonial times were initiated either by publishing the banns in church on three successive Sundays or by obtaining a civil marriage bond and license. The Prerogative Court granted marriage licenses between 1753 and 1783. Most people published the banns since buying a license could cost a month's wages.

Marriage bondsLook this term up in the glossary., 1753–1783, that were recorded at the Secretary of State's Office in Albany appear in New York Marriages Previous to 1784 (1860; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1984; FHL book 974.7 V28n 1968; computer number 152355; film 514675 has the 1860 edition; computer number 328290). The book lists names of brides and grooms, date of the bond (not the marriage), bond volume, and page numbers. Many marriage bonds were destroyed in a fire in 1911. Those that survived are at the state archives. The full data from these remaining bonds is transcribed in Kenneth Scott's New York Marriage Bonds, 1753–1783 (New York: St. Nicholas Society of the City of New York, 1972; not at FHL).

About 152,000 individuals are indexed in Marriage Index: Selected Areas of New York, 1639–1916 ([Novato, Calif.]: Brψderbund Software, 1996; FHL compact disc no. 9 pt. 401 [does not circulate to Family History Centers]; computer number 784065). These marriages were originally indexed by Knshp publishers. The index is especially good for the years prior to 1810 and in the Hudson and Mohawk valleys from 1810–1899.


County Marriage RecordsLook this term up in the glossary.

New York is one of the few states that does not have county marriage records dating back to the time when each county was formed. From 1908–1935, county clerks kept copies of marriages filed with the town clerks and also sent copies to Albany. Some counties, though, recorded marriages only to 1916 or 1926. The Family History Library has county marriage records on microfilm for all upstate counties except Albany, Dutchess, and Erie.


Town and State Marriage RecordsLook this term up in the glossary.

Town and city clerks generally began registering marriages in 1881. Copies are sent to the state capital in Albany. Between 1847 and about 1850, before the state began registering vital statistics, some marriages were recorded by justices of the peace, and some were recorded by school districts. Some justice of the peace registers have been published in the periodicals Tree Talks and The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record.

If you know where a marriage took place, you can write to the town, village, or city clerk to request a copy of the certificate or record. A microfiche index to marriages, 1881–1943, is available for public use at the New York State Archives. This index does not include New York City. The archives will search and abstract the index for a fee. If you do not know the exact place of marriage and are willing to wait six or seven months for a reply, you can get marriage records (including those from Albany, Buffalo, and Yonkers, 1908 to the present) for a fee by writing to the State Department of Health . There is a 75-year restriction on marriage information needed for genealogical purposes. The state fees and restrictions apply when obtaining records from the village, town, and city clerks.

For marriage records for Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Richmond through 1937, write:

New York City Department of Records and Information Services
Municipal Archives
31 Chambers St., Room 103
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: 212-788-8580 or 212-566-5292
Fax: 212-385-4253
Pre-1938 New York City marriages, some as early as 1830, are found at the Municipal Archives. The Family History Library has microfilmed marriages of:

All Boroughs (All of New York City)

Groom marriage index books 1888–1937

(to Health Department marriages but not City Clerk marriages); 12 FHL films beginning with film 1543903 (only for Manhattan from 1888–1893, and only for Manhattan and Brooklyn from 1894–1897)

Bronx (Bronx County),

Bride marriage indexes 1898–1937

4 FHL films beginning with film 1983782

Health Dept. Groom index 1898–1937

FHL film 1976292–93

Health Dept. marriage certificates 1897–1938

FHL film 1939720

Brooklyn (Kings County)

Health Dept. marriage certificates 1866–1937

203 FHL films beginning with film 1543711

Manhattan (New York County)

Marriage register 1823–1853 (Mariners' Church)

FHL film 017785 item 5

Mayor's marriage records and index 1830–1854

FHL film 017776

Marriage register and index 1829–1887;

FHL films 1671673–85

Health Dept. marriage records and indexes 1866–1937

1447 FHL films beginning with film 1522995

Marriage indexes 1898–1937

4 FHL films beginning with film 1983782


Queens (Queens County)

Health Dept. groom index 1881–1937, bride index 1905–1937, marriage certificates 1898–1937

56 FHL films beginning with film 1908328

Marriages 1847–1897 (years vary) for the towns of Far Rockaway, Flushing, Jamaica, and Newtown are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under NEW YORK, QUEENS, [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS

Staten Island (Richmond County)

Marriage index and records 1600s–1900s

FHL films 539053–71

Marriages after 1937 are in the borough offices of the city clerk.

The Family History Library has not filmed the city marriages of Albany, Buffalo, or Yonkers. Albany city marriages 1848 and 1870–1917 and county marriages 1908–1936 are available at:

Albany County Hall of Records
250 South Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12202
Telephone: 518-447-4500
Albany city marriages, 1920 to the present, are also available at the Albany City Clerk's office (24 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207; Telephone: 518-434-5081). You can get Buffalo marriages 1837–1935 by writing to the Erie County Clerk's offices. Buffalo marriages 1935 to the present and Yonkers marriages 1900 to the present can be obtained from the respective city registrars of vital statistics.


Published Newspaper Notices of Marriages and DeathsLook this term up in the glossary.

For New York City's five boroughs and some other counties, many newspaper notices of births, marriages, and deaths have been published. See the “Newspapers” section of this outline for a partial list. In the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog, these notices are listed under:

NEW YORK, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - NEWSPAPERSNEW YORK, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - OBITUARIES

Check also under the state and county levels.

You will also find that many church marriage records have been published or have been microfilmed for the five boroughs. You can look for these in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under NEW YORK, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - CHURCH RECORDS. An example is:

Fisher, William Scott, comp. New York City Methodist Marriages, 1785–1893. Camden, Me.: Picton Press, 1994. (FHL book 974.71 K2fn vols. 1–2; computer number 733324.) This contains a groom index and a bride index, each of which has about 41,000 names.


Divorce RecordsLook this term up in the glossary.

Before 1787, divorce was practically nonexistent in New York. Some petitions for divorce were made to the governor or legislature, but only a few were granted. Records of divorces granted by acts of the legislature consist both of the legislative act and petitions that were sent to the legislature. Acts of divorce are indexed in the index mentioned under “Law and Legislation” in this outline.

From 1787–1847, divorces were recorded in chancery court records. Chancery court divorces are at the state archives or for the New York City area at:

New York County Clerk's Office
Division of Old Records
31 Chambers Street
7th floor
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: 212-788-8580 or 212-566-5292
Fax: 212-385-4253
Since 1846, the supreme court has recorded divorce proceedings. Many people before 1966 found it easier to obtain a divorce out of state. Access to supreme court divorce records less than 100 years old is prohibited without judicial permission. You must obtain a court order to see a file. The actual trial records are sealed.

The Family History Library has microfilmed very few divorce judgements. For New York County, only the index to divorce records has been microfilmed:

New York County (New York). County Clerk. Index to Matrimonial Actions, 1784–1910. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977. (FHL films 1017465–67; computer number 258893.)


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VOTING REGISTERSLook this term up in the glossary.

Voting registersLook this term up in the glossary. are valuable in helping you find ancestors in other records such as naturalizations, censuses, and passenger lists. Voting lists usually record the name of the voter, country or state of birth, race, age, street address, length of residence, whether native or naturalized, date of naturalization, and court where the naturalization occurred. Some counties have saved their voter registration lists, and others have not.

Some eighteenth-century New York City voters are named in A Copy of the Poll List of the Election for Representatives for the City and County of New-York., 1761, 1768, 1769 . . . (1880; reprint, Tomball, Tex.: Genealogical Publications, 1977; FHL film 497705; computer number 350549.) The New York City Municipal Archives has 50,000 registers for Manhattan 1772–1920, Queens 1898–1956, and Staten Island 1878–1956. Records for the remaining boroughs and more recent records are filed with the borough offices of the Board of Elections. Manhattan voter registrations from 1925 to the present, for example, are at:

New York City Board of Elections (Manhattan)
200 Varick, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10012
Telephone: 212-886-3800
Fax: 212-886-3820

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FOR FURTHER READING

Sources of information about research and records in New York not already mentioned are:

Austin, John D, Jr. Genealogical Research in New York State: An Informal Finding List of Published Materials with Supplementary Notes. Glens Fall, N.Y.: the author, 1983. (FHL book 974.7 D23a; fiche 6051316; computer number 228459.) Includes maps, vital records, census, estates, land, immigration, cemeteries, and many other categories.

Bailey, Rosalie Fellows. Guide to Genealogical and Biographical Sources for New York City (Manhattan), 1783–1898. New York: R.F. Bailey, 1954. (FHL book 974.71 D27b; fiche 6051128; computer number 153946.) Discussion and bibliographies on citywide probates, vital records, land, church records, and many others.

Burke, Kate. Searching in New York: A Reference Guide to Public and Private Records. Costa Mesa, Calif.: ISC Publications, 1987. (FHL book 974.7 D27b; computer number 536684.) Useful for adoption research. List of counties, towns, county seats, institutions, cemeteries.

Eichholz, Alice, ed. Ancestry's Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources. Rev. ed. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1992. (FHL book 973 D27rb 1992; computer number 594021.) Contains bibliographies and background information on history and ethnic groups. Also contains maps and tables showing when each county was created.

Epperson, Gwenn F. New Netherland Roots. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1994. (FHL book 974.7 D27e; computer number 698385.) Discusses and quotes examples from passenger lists, early government records, marriage registers, church records, and court records of New Netherland. Also discusses early Dutch, German, Belgian, French, and Scandinavian sources.

Guzik, Estele M., ed. Genealogical Resources in the New York Metropolitan Area. New York: Jewish Genealogical Society, 1989. (FHL book Ref 974.1 A3ge; FHL fiche 6100654; computer number 505986.)

Kronman, Barbara. The Guide to New York City Public Records, 4th ed. New York: Public Interest Clearinghouse, 1992. (FHL book 974.71 A3k; computer number 695334.) Includes chapters on city government, courts, libraries, and personal information. Shows how to obtain vital records, name change records, and naturalizations.

Kurzweil, Arthur and Miriam Weiner. The Encyclopedia of Jewish Genealogy: Sources in the United States and Canada. Northvale, N.J.: Jason Aronson, 1991. (FHL book 929.1 En19e; computer number 563295.) Forty pages about New York area repositories and bibliographies of their key resources.

Schweitzer, George Keene. New York Genealogical Research. Knoxville, Tenn.: G. Schweitzer, 1988. (FHL book 974.7 D27s; computer number 491634.) Gives historical background and describes all types of records. Includes bibliography of each record type.

Seversmith, Herbert F. and Kenn Stryker-Rodda. Long Island Genealogical Source Material: A Bibliography. National Genealogical Society Special Publication 24. Washington, D.C.: National Genealogical Society, 1962. Second printing, 1980. (FHL book 974.721 A3s; computer number 157555.) Includes place and record index.


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COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS

The Family History Library welcomes additions and corrections that will improve future editions of this outline. Please send your suggestions to:

Publications Coordinator
Family History Library
35 North West Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3400
USA
We appreciate the archivists, librarians, and others who have reviewed this outline and shared helpful information.

Paper publication: Second edition August 1997. English approval: 9/97.

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