Queens Borough, New York Genealogy

United States New York  New York City  Queens County    Officially the Borough of Queens is one of five boroughs of greater New York City since 1898. The county is coterminous with the Borough of Queens (meaning they have identical borders.)



Boundary Changes
1664 Yorkshire became the first large government unit (not actually a county) organized by New York after the English took control from the Netherlands. It was divided into three ridings including West Riding (Staten Island, Brooklyn, and the Elmhurst part of Queens), and North Riding (Westchester, Bronx, New York (Manhattan), Nassau and the rest of Queens counties). 1683 New York extinguished Yorkshire, creating Queens County (including later Nassau County) from part of Yorkshire. 1691 Brother Islands and Rikers Island attached to Queens. 1768 Islands in Long Island Sound attached to Queens. 1881 North Brother Island was lost to New York County. 1884 Rikers Island was lost to New York County. 1898 What became the five boroughs were consolidated into New York City, and her county governments were dissolved. Queens joined New York City as the Borough of Queens. 1899 Part of Queens was used to create Nassau County. 1964 South Brother Island was lost to the Bronx.

Towns. From 1683 until 1784, Queens County consisted of five towns: Flushing, Hempstead, Jamaica, Newtown, and Oyster Bay. On April 6, 1784, a sixth town, the Town of North Hempstead, was formed through secession by the northern portions of the Town of Hempstead.

The county seat was located first in Jamaica, but the courthouse was torn down by the British during the American Revolution to use the materials to build barracks. After the war, various buildings in Jamaica temporarily served as courthouse and jail until a new building was erected about 1787 (and later completed) in an area near Mineola (now in Nassau County) known then as Clowesville.


 * 1870: Long Island City split from Newtown, becoming a city consisting of Astoria and some unincorporated areas of Newtown.
 * Around 1874: the seat of county government was moved to Long Island City from Mineola.
 * 1885: Lloyd Neck, which was part of the Town of Oyster Bay and was earlier known as Queens Village, seceded from Queens and became part of the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County. 

Bible Records

 * 1581–1917 New York, Family Bible Records at Ancestry– ($); Index. Database is a collection of genealogically important records taken from the Bibles of colony and state residents. Reveals the Bible's original owner, brief record of descendants,and a particular event such as birth or marriage as recorded in Bible.

Cemeteries
Cemetery records often reveal birth, death, relationship, military, and religious information.


 * Cypress Hills Cemetery BillionGraves. Large cemetery bisected by Jackie Robinson Parkway. Individual page for this cemetery, with searchable database and photos of headstones.


 * Mount Calary Cemetery BillionGraves. Mount Calvary?  Large cemetery near I-278/I-495 interchange, I-495 bisects this cemetery on the southern half of it which may mean some headstones possibly may have been moved when the freeway was built.


 * The Mount Carmel Cemetery (Jewish Cemetery) has placed an Interment Searchfor their cemetery on-line. The first interment took place on December 28, 1906. To date they have more than 85,000 interments in Sections 1 through 4 of the cemetery. The Index provides, the First and Last Name, date of death, The Society, and the location of the grave.


 * Mount Hebron Cemetery a Jewish cemetery.

The Mount Hebron Cemetery (Jewish Cemetery) has placed an Interment Searchfor their cemetery on-line. The first interment took place on April 14, 1909. Since then, over 217,000 burials have taken place. The Index provides, the First and Last Name, date of death, The Society, and the location of the grave.


 * Mount Lebanon Cemetery


 * Glendale


 * St. Johns Cemetery BillionGraves, their individual page for this cemetery.

Census
For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see New York Census.


 * The 1890 Census is lost. For a substitute, see Directories.

Church Records
Ann Mensch's Local Catholic Church and Family History &amp; Genealogical Research Guide is a free online resource that identifies the parishes of Queens, years when parishes were created, contact information, as well as links to online records and research tips. Queens parishes fall under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

The Presbyterian Church at Elmhurst has records dating from 1708. The records of Grace Episcopal Church in Jamaica begin in 1710.


 * to 1899 - Records of Burials in the Dutch Church, New York. New York, USA: Reformed Dutch Church, 1899. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1780-1810 - Baptisms Miscellaneous Churches in Jamaica, Flushing, Newtown, New York 1780-1810, courtesy: Olive Tree Genealogy.


 * 1790-1802 - Baptisms in Churches of Jamaica, New Town and Flushing, New York 1790-1802, courtesy: Olive Tree Genealogy.


 * 1791-1794 - Communicants in Churches of Jamaica, New Town and Flushing, New York 1791-1794, courtesy: Olive Tree Genealogy.


 * 1830-1880- "Records of Zion Episcopal Church of Little Neck at Douglaston, Queens County, New York," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1830-1850 Marriages: Vol. 96, No. 4 (Oct. 1965):240-243; 1851-1879 Marriages: Vol. 97, No. 1 (Jan. 1966):35-46; 1830-1865 Funerals: Vol. 98, No. 1 (Jan. 1967):39-46; 1866-1872 Funerals: Vol. 98, No. 2 (Apr. 1967):76-79; 1873-1880 Funerals: Vol. 98, No. 3 (Jul. 1967):135-138; 1831-1880 Confirmations: Vol. 98, No. 4 (Oct. 1967):224-228 1830-1843 Baptisms:Vol. 99, No. 2 (Apr. 1968):101-103; 1843-1854 Baptisms: Vol. 100, No. 1 (Jan. 1969):15-18; 1855-1861 Baptisms: Vol. 100, No. 2 (Apr. 1969):86-90; 1862-1866 Baptisms: Vol. 100, No. 3 (Jul. 1969):181-184; 1866-1869 Baptisms: Vol. 100, No. 4 (Oct. 1969):237-239; 1870-1875 Baptisms: Vol. 101, No. 1 (Jan. 1970):55-57; 1875-1880 Baptisms: Vol. 101, No. 2 (Apr. 1970):87-90. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Includes baptisms, confirmations, marriages, funerals.

Jewish Records
The Museum of Family History has compiled a list of synagogues that operated in Queens. Synagogue names and addresses are included.

Land and Property

 * Van Wyck, Frederick. Select Patents of New York Towns. Digital version at World Vital Records ($).

Military

 * Civil War service men in Queens County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Queens County:


 * - 139th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 158th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 163rd Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 165th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 192nd Regiment, New York Infantry

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1865–1957 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.


 * 1906-1957 Queens County Naturalization Project at Italian Genealogical Group - free.

Indexes

 * 1792-1989 Index to Petitions for Naturalization filed in New York City, 1792-1989 at Ancestry ($). This database is based on NARA's Soundex Index to Petitions for Naturalization filed in Federal, State, and Local Courts located in New York City, 1792-1989. All 5 boroughs are included.

The Family History Library has also acquired this comprehensive index for the years 1792 through 1906 on microfilm:. The courts this index covers are:


 * City Court of Brooklyn, 1836-1894
 * Kings County Court, 1806-1906
 * New York City Marine Court, 1806-1849
 * New York County Common Pleas Court, 1792-1895
 * New York County Superior Court, 1828-1895
 * New York City and County Supreme Court, 1868-1906
 * Queens County Court, 1799-1906
 * Queens County Surrogate Court, 1888-1898
 * Richmond County Court, 1869-1906
 * U.S. Circuit Court Southern District, 1846-1876
 * U.S. District Court Eastern District, (Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties), 1865-1906
 * U.S. District Court Southern Court Southern District, (New York, Bronx and also Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Richmond, Rockland, Sullivan and Westchester counties), 1824-1906

Newspapers
The Queens Public Library holds an extensive collection of historical newspapersfor the county of Queens.

Online Digital Newspapers


 * Newtown NY Register 1873-1932 at Old Fulton NY Post Cards - Free.

Probate Records
The petitions for are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library and its centers:


 * 1830–1865 Listed as "Probate proceedings" Index to Probate proceedings.

To use will books and probate proceedings, find decedent's name in card index to probate proceedings and administrations. "(P)" under the name at the right of the card indicates that there are probate records for that person. The date at the right of the card leads to probate proceedings. The volume and page numbers at the left of the card lead to will books.

Online Probate Indexes and Abstracts


 * 1683-1744 - Long Island Source Records, courtesy: Ancestry ($)
 * 1683-1744 - Canfield, Amos. "Abstracts of Early Wills of Queens County, New York, Recorded in Libers A and C of Deeds, Now in the Register's Office at Jamaica, New York," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1683-1695: Vol. 65, No. 2 (Apr. 1934):114-120; 1694-1710: Vol. 65, No. 3 (Jul. 1934):245-250; 1710-1744: Vol. 65, No. 4 (Oct. 1934):319-328. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.
 * 1787-1825 - SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills.

Online Probate Records

Original New York, Queens County Probate Records, 1899-1921 are available free online at FamilySearch. To browse these records, click Historical Records below, then click "Browse through 761,504 images". Then select the time period and file of interest.


 * - Queens County: Mixed proceedings 1899-1921

Probate Records on Microfilm Surrogate Court Petitions as described above are found on microfilm as follows:


 * 1787–1881 Wills and Probate Proceedings: Index, 1787–1899; Wills, 1787–1881; Probate Proceedings, 1830–1865.

Additional probate records on microfilm:


 * 1662–1927 Probate Records, Wills; Index to wills, 1662–1870.
 * 1669–1687 Early Wills of Suffolk County, abstracts of Queens County Wills and Deeds, Liber A.
 * 1792–1916Letters of Administration; Index 1791–1900.
 * 1800–1888 Accounts; Index to accounts, 1787–1899.
 * 1830–1916 Letters Testamentary; Index 1830–1900.


 * 1832–1899 Card Index to Letters of Administration. Surrogate's Court.

Repositories
Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Queens County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1988). ; . Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Archives, Libraries and Museums
Museums Queens County Farm Museum 73-50 Little Neck Parkway Floral Park, NY 11004-1129 Phone: (718) 347-3276 E-mail: [mailto:info@queensfarm.org info@queensfarm.org]

Hours: Daily-Year-round (outdoor visiting only): 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (Farmhouse Tours and shops): 12-4 January - March

Borough Registrar
New York City Registrar Borough of Queens Queens Business Center 144-06 94th Avenue Jamaica, NY 11435


 * Official record of real estate and personal property transfers, recording deeds and mortgages

City Clerk's Office
City Clerk's Office Dora Young, Deputy City Clerk Queens Office Borough Hall Building 120-55 Queens Boulevard Kew Gardens, New York 11424 Phone: 718-286-2846


 * Marriages from 1866 to 1907
 * After 1907 if bride's residence or licenses of nonresidents was obtained in Queens

Courthouses
The Queens County Clerk has divorce and naturalization records as well as the state census. The Surrogate Court has probate records. For further information about where the records for Queens County are held, see the Queens County Courthouses page.

Societies
Bayside Historical Society 208 Totten Avenue Fort Totten, New York 11359 Mailing: PO Box 133 Bayside, New York 11361 Phone: 718-352-1548 Fax: 718-352-3904 Email: [mailto:archivist@baysidehistorical.org archivist@baysidehistorical.org]


 * It is free to research at their facility regardless of membership. Email first to set up an appointment or to inquire about their collection. Their quarterly publication is the Society News

Broad Channel Historical Society Broad Channel Branch Library 1626 Crossbay Boulevard Broad Channel, New York 11693 Phone: 718-474-1127 Email: abtoborg@verizon.net


 * Annual publication: Broad Channel Historical Calendar

Douglaston and Little Neck Historical Society 328 Manor Road Douglaston, New York 11363 Phone: 718-225-4403 Fax: 718-229-6189 Email

Greater Astoria Historical Society Quinn Memorial Building 35-20 Broadway, Fourth Floor Long Island City, New York 11103-1193 Phone: 718-278-0700 Fax: 718-278-9335 Email: [mailto:info@astorialic.org info@astorialic.org]

Queens Historical Society (QHS) Kingsland Homestead Weeping Beech Park 143-35 37th Avenue Flushing, New York 11354 Phone: 718-939-0647 ext. 17 Fax: 718-539-9885 Email: [mailto:info@queenshistoricalsociety.org info@queenshistoricalsociety.org] or [mailto:qhs@juno.com qhs@juno.com] Mary Cornell, Genealogy Research Analyst


 * There collection includes the history of Queens in photographs, manuscripts, maps and artworks. Family manuscript collections include(soon to be put online): the Mitchell Family Papers, the King Family Papers, the Clara Driscoll/Walcott Family Papers and the Diary of William King Murray. The Quarterly publication is the AHS Newsletter.

The Richmond Hill Historical Society 86-22 109th Street Richmond Hill, New York 11418 Phone: 718-704-9317 Email: [mailto:richmond.hill.historical@gmail.com richmond.hill.historical@gmail.com]

Social Groups Online

 * Queens Historical Society - Facebook.


 * New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)

Taxation

 * 1699–1734 Tax assesment rolls New York Public Library; . These rolls are a great finding aid to locate someone that was a city resident and finding the ward they belonged to; includes renters and owners. There is a break in the years from 1710 to 1720. The rolls from 1721 to 1734 include Queens, Richmond, and Westchester as well as New York City.

Birth
A digital version of the Family History Library's guide to New York City birth records is available.


 * 1848-1897 Queens County, New York, Index to Births, 1848-1897;.


 * 1871-1897 Early Brooklyn &amp; Queens Birth Database at German Genealogy Group - free; includes the towns and villages of Newton, College Point, Long Island City, Town of Jamaica, Village of Jamaica, Rockaway Beach, Village of Far Rockaway, Town of Flushing, Village of Flushing, Whitestone.


 * 1871-1897 Early Brooklyn &amp; Queens Birth Database at Italian Genealogical Group - free; includes the towns and villages of Newton, College Point, Long Island City, Town of Jamaica, Village of Jamaica, Rockaway Beach, Village of Far Rockaway, Town of Flushing, Village of Flushing, Whitestone.


 * 1881-1965 Births Reported in the City of New York, 1881-1965;.


 * 1898-1902 Births Reported in the City of New York, 1891-1902 at Ancestry ($).


 * 1898-1965 Birth Index at Vital Search ($).


 * 1898-1909 Bureau of Records. Birth Records, 1898-1909;.


 * 1898-1965 Department of Health. Births Reported in the City of New York, 1881-1965;.


 * 1901-1909 New York City Birth index at German Genealogy Group - free.


 * 1901-1909 New York City Births at Italian Genealogical Group - free.

Birth Substitutes


 * 1640–1962 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.


 * See Town Clerks' Registers of Men who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military for birth information.


 * 1851-2003 Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage &amp; Death Announcements, 1851-2003 at Ancestry ($) - includes New York Times.


 * 1858-1878 Hood, Anthony. Queens County Sentinel, Queens County, New York, Index of Birth, Marriage and Death Announcements 1858-1878. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1991..

Marriage
A digital version of the Family History Library's guide to New York City marriages is available.


 * 1664–1784 New York. Secretary of State, Names of Persons for Whom Marriage Licenses Were Issued By the Secretary of the Province of New York, Previous to 1784 (Albany, New York: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1860). At Cornell University digital library-free; Internet Archive - free; Ancestry edition($); ; . Marriage bonds issued in the State of New York prior to 1784, and the earliest record dating 1664.


 * 1881-1937 Department of Health. Queens Borough, Marriage Records, 1881-1937; Indexes, 1881-1937;.


 * 1898-1937 Marriage Index at Vital Search ($).


 * 1898-1937 New York City Index to Marriages in All Boroughs, 1888-1937;.


 * 1905-1937 New York City Brides Record Index at German Genealogy Group - free.


 * 1905-1937 New York City Brides Index at Italian Genealogical Group - free.


 * 1905-1937 New York City Grooms Record index at German Genealogy Group - free.


 * 1905-1937 New York City Grooms Index at Italian Genealogical Group - free.

Marriage Substitutes


 * 1686-1980 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.


 * 1800–1855 New York Marriage Notices at Ancestry– ($); Index. This database is a collection of marriage notices published in newspapers around the state. Contains name of bride and groom, marriage date, marriage location, residence, and newspaper found in.


 * 1801–1880 Barber Collection- Newspaper Marriages at Ancestry– ($); Index. Information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."


 * 1839-1864 Stevens, Marian F. An Index to the Long Islander, 1839-1864, Marriages-Deaths. Huntington, N.Y.: Huntington American Revolution Bicentennial Committee Huntington Historical Society, 1974..


 * 1839-1864 Stevens, Marian F. An Index to the Long Islander, 1839-1864, Marriages-Deaths. Huntington, New York : Huntington American Revolution Bicentennial Committee Huntington Historical Society, 1974..


 * 1851-2003 Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage &amp; Death Announcements, 1851-2003 at Ancestry ($) - includes New York Times.


 * 1856–1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at Ancestry– ($); Index. These newspaper notices refer to people up and down the East Coast as well as midwesterners and persons from as far west as the State of California. Also browseable.


 * 1858-1878 Hood, Anthony. Queens County Sentinel, Queens County, New York, Index of Birth, Marriage and Death Announcements 1858-1878. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1991..

Death
A digital version of the Family History Library's guide to New York City death records is available.


 * 1871-1897 Early Brooklyn &amp; Queens Death Database at Italian Genealogical Group - free; includes Newtown, College Point, Long Island City, Town of Jamaica, Village of Jamaica, Rockaway Beach, Village of Far Rockaway, Town of Far Rockaway, Village of Flushing, Village of Whitestone, Town of Flushing, and Richmond Hill.


 * 1871-1897 Early Brooklyn &amp; Queens Death Database at German Genealogy Group - free; includes Newtown, College Point, Long Island City, Town of Jamaica, Village of Jamaica, Rockaway Beach, Village of Far Rockaway, Town of Far Rockaway, Village of Flushing, Village of Whitestone, Town of Flushing, and Richmond Hill.


 * 1892-1902 Deaths Reported in the City of New York. New York, USA: Department of Health. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1898-1948 New York City Death Records Search 1891-1948 at Italian Genealogical Group - free.


 * 1898-1948 New York City Death Index at German Genealogy Group - free.


 * 1898-1913 Death Index at Vital Search ($).


 * 1898-1949 Department of Health. Queens (New York) Death Certificates, 1898-1949;.


 * 1898-1965 Department of Health. Index to Deaths, New York City, 1888-1965;.

Death Substitutes


 * 1795–1952 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index. The entries are primarily from the IGI along with some entries derived from compiled and original records such as Family Records, Church Records, and Civil Registration. There may be entries that cite a specific source.


 * 1801–1890 Barber Collection- Newspaper Deaths at Ancestry– ($); Index. Information extracted from the Brooklyn Eagle and the New York Evening Post.


 * 1839-1864 Stevens, Marian F. An Index to the Long Islander, 1839-1864, Marriages-Deaths. Huntington, N.Y.: Huntington American Revolution Bicentennial Committee Huntington Historical Society, 1974..


 * 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Census for death information.


 * 1851-2003 Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage &amp; Death Announcements, 1851-2003 at Ancestry ($) - includes New York Times.


 * 1856–1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at Ancestry– ($); Index. These newspaper notices refer to people up and down the East Coast as well as midwesterners and persons from as far west as the State of California. Also browseable.


 * 1858-1878 Hood, Anthony. Queens County Sentinel, Queens County, New York, Index of Birth, Marriage and Death Announcements 1858-1878. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1991..


 * See Town Clerks' Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military for death information.


 * 1909-1911 The Forgotten of Ellis Island - Deaths in Quarantine, 1909-1911 - free.


 * 1980-present New York Times and New York City Newspapers Obituaries Archive at Obits Archive.

Additional Resources

Websites

 * The Queens County NYGenWeb Project, an member of The NYGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.