New York City, New York Genealogy



This page introduces the big-city strategies and records that can help you learn more about your ancestors from the five boroughs (counties) of New York City. After studying this page, you will be prepared to use the pages for the five counties:


 * The Bronx
 * Kings (Brooklyn)
 * New York (Manhattan)
 * Queens
 * Richmond (Staten Island)
 * and the pages for the State of New York

New York City Courthouses
At 31 Chamber Street on the 7th floor is the New York County Clerk's Office Old Records Division.

Parent County
New York City as it now exists is created from the five boroughs, namely, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Richmond (Staten Island) and Queens. Nieuw Amsterdam was the Dutch name of the city. The name was changed to New York when the British acquired the city. The Bronx was originally part of Westchester county to the north.

Boundary Changes
In 1913 the larger part of the Bronx split off from New York County (Manhattan) to form the Bronx.

The definitive work on the many New York City boundary changes is:

Harry Macy, Jr. “Before the Five-Borough City: The Old Cities, Towns and Villages That Came Together to Form ‘Greater New York,’" The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Newsletter, Winter 1998. It can be viewed online in the member area of the New York Family History.

It can also be ordered at any U.S. county library through Inter-Library Loan.

New York City Genealogy Resources

 * The resources listed herein pertain to two periods


 * Before 1898, the year of consolidation
 * From 1898, onwards


 * Note: Not all records are held in a single place. The counties (now Boroughs) retain many functions including probate. For records at the counties, please visit the county boroughs, Bronx (now The Bronx), Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Richmond (now Staten Island) and New York (Manhattan). See the List of Holdings web page of the NYC Municipal Archives for a listing of what records are available for some of the old towns.


 * Additionally, most of the Bronx belonged to Westchester County prior to 1898 so you may need to search there as well. Read the following article for further information: Before the Five-Borough City: The Old Cities, Towns and Villages That Came Together to Form "Greater New York"

Index of New York City, New York Online Historical Directories. Links to a variety of mixed free and pay sites and includes links to city directories, maps, and more.

Archives
New York City Department of Records and Information Services Municipal Archives 31 Chambers Street, Room 103 New York, NY 10007 Tel: +1-212-788-8580

The Municipal Archives has: city birth, death, and marriage records; the 1890 police census; city directories; voter registrations; almshouse records; and municipal government records. When requesting copies of records include a self-addressed stamped envelope. A growing collection of records is available on microfilm at the Family History Library.

Census and Inhabitants Lists
A jury census was taken in 1816, 1819, and 1821 for the purpose of determining jury eligibility. This census covers Manhattan. Each ward has a census book and the census is arranged by address within the book. It includes the following information: name, age, occupation (head of household), number in household, race, and citizenship of the people in the household. This census is available at the New York City Municipal Archives. Their website includes an image of the 1819 Jury Census, Manhattan, Second Ward.

Many state censuses are available for New York City and its boroughs. For further information, see New York Census.


 * 1768 - "New York City Poll List, 1768," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record,


 * Surnames A-F: Vol. 141, No. 1 (Jan. 2010):55-68; Surnames G-P: Vol. 141, No. 2 (Apr. 2010):147-159; Surnames P-S: Vol. 141, No. 3 (Jul. 2010):235-239; Surnames S-Z: Vol. 141, No. 4 (Oct. 2010):314-320.
 * Digital version at New York Family History ($);.


 * 1773-1775 - O'Neill, Terri Bradshaw. "New York City Hospital Subscription List: 1773-1775," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 138, No. 4 (Oct. 2007):294-299. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.


 * 1784-1799 - Scott, Kenneth. "Defaulting Jurors in New York City, 1784-1799," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 70 (1982):221-224. Digital version at National Genealogical Society website ($);.


 * 1840 - Ogilvy, C. Stanley. "Voters' List, Ward 10, New York City, 1840," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record,
 * Surnames A-F: Vol. 109, No. 2 (Apr. 1978):82-84; Surnames G-Z: Vol. 109, No. 3 (Jul. 1978):168-172.
 * Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Voters lists serve as census substitutes.


 * 1870 - Meyerink, Kory L. "The Second Enumeration: The 1870 New York City Census (Ward 17 Street Index)," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 115, No. 4 (Oct. 1984):199-202. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . In the second enumeration, census takers uncharacteristically recorded street addresses.


 * 1890 1890 New York City, New York Police Census FamilySearch Index to 1890 New York City Police Census Finding Aid for the 1890 New York City, New York Police Census at 1890 police census for NYC, NY.

Cemeteries

 * a. NYC cemeteries are almost all on Long Island (Brooklyn or Queens). There are almost no burials in Manhattan.
 * b. In 1822 Manhattan outlawed burials below Canal Street, and in 1851 practically outlawed burials within Manhattan.
 * c. NYC cemeteries kept wonderful records and survive back to about 1850 (depending on the cemetery).
 * d. NYC cemeteries records, for the most part, have not been microfilmed.
 * e. When you write to a cemetery ask for a list of everyone buried in the plot, who bought the plot and when, and the address at which the people died.
 * f. NYC cemetery records often include vital clues to trace the origin of a family.

Books in the Family History Library collection about the cemeteries of New York City (Copies of these books can be ordered at U.S. county libraries through Inter-Library Loan.)

Ardolina, Rosemary Muscarella. Old Calvary Cemetery: New Yorkers Carved in Stone. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, c1996. FHL book: US/Can 974.7243 V3a. This is a good source for Catholic and Irish burials.

Ardolina, Rosemary Muscarella. Second Calvary Cemetery: New Yorkers Carved in Stone. Floral Park, N.Y. : Delia Publications, c2000. FHL book: US/Can 974.7243 V3a. This is a good source for Catholic and Irish burials.

Inskeep, Carolee. The Graveyard Shift: A Family Historian’s Guide to New York City Cemeteries. Orem, UT: Ancestry, 2000. FHL book: US/Can 974.71 V34i. This is the definitive work on New York City Cemeteries and how to find their records.

Pool, David de Sola. Portraits Etched in Stone: Early Jewish Settlers, 1682-1831. New York: Columbia University Press, 1952. FHL 974.71 F2p.

Sawyer, Ray C. Graveyard inscriptions of Trinity Cemetery, New York City, N.Y. Salt Lake City: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1941, Microfilm of typescripts (2 vols.) made in 1931 in possession of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, New York City. FHL Film 17777 item 4.

Silinonte, Joseph Michael. Tombstones of the Irish born: Cemetery of the Holy Cross, Flatbush, Brooklyn, [1850-1980]. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, c1994. FHL 974.723/B1 V3.

Stokes, Isaac Newton Phelps. The Iconography of Manhattan Island, 1498-1909, 6 Vols. New York: Arno Press, 1967, Reprint of books published in 1915-1928 by R. H. Dodd in New York. FHL 974.71 H2st. Includes a list of early New York City cemeteries in vol. 3, p. 927.

Online Resources

 * Cypress Hills Cemetery: Includes map, history, and burial locations of many notable figures.
 * New York, New York, Death Index, 1949-1965 ($) index and images

Church Records
Church or Synagogue Records a. Use the Inventory of Church Archives in New York (see below) to locate churches near where your ancestor lived. b. Use the city directories to find what churches of each denomination were in the city in any year. c. Plot the address of the church on a map to find the churches nearest where your ancestor lived. d. Church records many times give important details such as foreign places of birth, and family relationships. e. Church records often list the address where the family was living. f. Churches were specific for ethnic groups, even within the same denomination.

Books about New York City churches in the Family History Library (Copies of these books can be requested at U.S. county libraries through Inter-Library Loan.)


 * Dolan, Jay P. The Immigrant Church: New York's Irish and German Catholics, 1815-1865. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1975 FHL 974.71 K2d. Includes maps showing locations of church and when they were built [Manhattan only].
 * Haberstroh, Richard. The German Churches of Metropolitan New York: A Research Guide. New York: New York Genealogical &amp; Biographical Society, c2000. FHL 974.71 K2h. Includes history of the German churches in New York City and lists location, names of current pastors, location of records, and maps of church locations.
 * Mohrer, Fruma, and Marek Web. Guide to the Yivo Archives. New York: Yivo Institute for Jewish Research, c1998.
 * Wolfert, Marion. Index to Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saint Matthew, New York City Records [database online]. Orem, UT: Ancestry, Inc., 1999. http://www.ancestry.com/ Index includes over 8000 names taken from the marriage records dating from 1835 to 1854. In each case both bride and groom are listed, as well as their date of marriage and places of origin.
 * WPA, Guide to Vital Statistics in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan: Churches. Historical Records Survey, 1942. FHL 974.71 K23ma. Includes index of churches and an address index.


 * Note: the WPA Inventories of Church Archives of New York City (listed below) are essential to finding most church records in the city. The books generally include a list of all churches of the denomination, a chronological list of churches by borough, an alphabetical list of clergymen [incomplete], an address list by borough, and an index. Although the books were compiled in the 1940s, they are still very helpful.


 * WPA. Inventory of the Church Archives of New York City: Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Armenian Church in America. New York: Historical Records Survey, 1940. FHL 974.71 K23eo.


 * WPA. Inventory of the Church Archives of New York City: Lutheran. New York: Historical Records Survey, 1940. FHL 974.71 K23l. Online at findmypast.com


 * WPA.Inventory of the Church Archives of New York City: The Methodist Church. New York: Historical Records Survey, 1939. FHL 974.71 K23m. Online at findmypast.com.


 * WPA. Inventory of the Church Archives of New York City: Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, Diocese of New York, 2 Vols. New York: Historical Records Survey, 1940. FHL 974.71 K23en. Online at findmypast.com


 * WPA. Inventory of the Church Archives of New York City: Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. New York: Historical Records Survey, 1940. FHL 974.71 K23p. Online at findmypast.com.


 * WPA. Inventory of the Church Archives of New York City: Reformed Church in America. New York: Historical Records Survey, 1939. FHL 974.71 K23r. Online at findmypast.com.


 * WPA. Inventory of the Church Archives of New York City: Roman Catholic Church, Archdiocese of New York, 2 Vols. New York: Historical Records Survey, 1941. FHL 974.71 K23rc. The library only has vol. 2, which excludes Brooklyn. Volume 2 online at rootsweb

Catholic

 * 1787-1800 - Sherman, Constance Denise. "Baptismal Records of St. Peter's Church, New York City, 1787-1800," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 68, No. 1 (Mar. 1980):21-30; Vol. 68, No. 2 (June 1980):129-136; Vol. 68, No. 3 (Sep. 1980):203-212. Digital version at National Genealogical Society website ($);.

Dutch Reformed
The Marble Collegiate Church, founded in 1628, is one of the oldest continuous Protestant congregations in North America. The congregation is part of the Reformed Church. Baptisms


 * 1639-1798 - "Records of the Reformed Dutch Church in the City of New York - Baptisms," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1639-1660: Vol. 6, No. 1 (Jan. 1875):32-47; 1660-1662: Vol. 6, No. 2 (Apr. 1875):89-96; 1662-1664: Vol. 6, No. 3 (Jul. 1875):149-156; 1664-1665: Vol. 7, No. 1 (Jan. 1876):19-26; 1665-1667: Vol. 7, No. 2 (Apr. 1876):69-76; 1667-1669: Vol. 7, No. 3 (Jul. 1876):125-132; 1669-1672: Vol. 7, No. 4 (Oct. 1876):161-168; 1672-1673: Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jan. 1877):25-32; 1674-1675: Vol. 8, No. 2 (Apr. 1877):80-87; 1675-1677: Vol. 8, No. 3 (Jul. 1877):116-123; 1677-1679: Vol. 8, No. 4 (Oct. 1877):168-175; 1679-1680: Vol. 9, No. 1 (Jan. 1878):20-27; 1680-1682: Vol. 9, No. 3 (Jul. 1878):132-139; 1682-1684: Vol. 10, No. 1 (Jan. 1879):24-31; 1684-1685: Vol. 10, No. 2 (Apr. 1879):77-84; 1685-1686: Vol. 10, No. 3 (Jul. 1879):111-118; 1686-1688: Vol. 10, No. 4 (Oct. 1879):162-169; 1688-1689: Vol. 11, No. 1 (Jan. 1880):34-41; 1689-1691: Vol. 11, No. 3 (Jul. 1880):137-144; 1691-1692: Vol. 13, No. 1 (Jan. 1882):29-36; 1692-1693: Vol. 13, No. 2 (Apr. 1882):63-70; 1695-1696: Vol. 13, No. 4 (Oct. 1882):165-172; 1696: Vol. 14, No. 1 (Jan. 1883):39; 1696-1699: Vol. 14, No. 2 (Apr. 1883):74-89; 1699-1701: Vol. 14, No. 3 (Jul. 1883):124-139; 1701-1702: Vol. 14, No. 4 (Oct. 1883):173-180; 1702-1703: Vol. 15, No. 1 (Jan. 1884):23-30; 1703-1704: Vol. 15, No. 2 (Apr. 1884):81-88; 1704-1705: Vol. 15, No. 3 (Jul. 1884):114-129; 1705-1707: Vol. 15, No. 4 (Oct. 1884):162-169; 1707-1708: Vol. 16, No. 1 (Jan. 1885):32-39; 1708-1709: Vol. 16, No. 2 (Apr. 1885):87-94; 1712-1713: Vol. 17, No. 2 (Apr. 1886):101-108; 1713-1714: Vol. 17, No. 3 (Jul. 1886):224-231; 1714-1715: Vol. 17, No. 4 (Oct. 1886):268-275; 1715-1716: Vol. 18, No. 1 (Jan. 1887):26-33; 1716-1717: Vol. 18, No. 2 (Apr. 1887):75-83; 1717-1718: Vol. 18, No. 3 (Jul. 1887):114-121; 1718-1720: Vol. 18, No. 4 (Oct. 1887):162-169; 1720-1721: Vol. 19, No. 1 (Jan. 1888):13-20; 1721-1722: Vol. 19, No. 2 (Apr. 1888):77-84; 1722-1723: Vol. 19, No. 3 (Jul. 1888):110-117; 1723-1724: Vol. 19, No. 4 (Oct. 1888):165-172; 1724-1725: Vol. 20, No. 1 (Jan. 1889):15-22; 1725-1726: Vol. 20, No. 2 (Apr. 1889):69-76; 1726-1727: Vol. 20, No. 3 (Jul. 1889):114-121; 1727-1728: Vol. 20, No. 4 (Oct. 1889):161-168; 1728-1729: Vol. 21, No. 1 (Jan. 1890):28-35; 1729-1730: Vol. 21, No. 2 (Apr. 1890):65-72; 1730: Vol. 21, No. 3 (Jul. 1890):113-118; 1731: Vol. 21, No. 4 (Oct. 1890):151-158; 1731-1733: Vol. 22, No. 1 (Jan. 1891):7-14; 1733-1734: Vol. 22, No. 2 (Apr. 1891):81-88; 1734-1735: Vol. 22, No. 3 (Jul. 1891):141-148; 1735-1736: Vol. 22, No. 4 (Oct. 1891):183-190; 1737-1738: Vol. 23, No. 2 (Apr. 1892):73-80; 1738-1739: Vol. 23, No. 3 (Jul. 1892):131-138; 1739-1740: Vol. 23, No. 4 (Oct. 1892):193-200; 1740-1741: Vol. 24, No. 1 (Jan. 1893):18-25; 1741-1742: Vol. 24, No. 2 (Apr. 1893):71-78; 1742-1743: Vol. 24, No. 3 (Jul. 1893):117-124; 1744-1745: Vol. 25, No. 1 (Jan. 1894):9-16; 1745-1746: Vol. 25, No. 2 (Apr. 1894):67-74; 1746-1747: Vol. 25, No. 3 (Jul. 1894):115-122; 1747-1748: Vol. 25, No. 4 (Oct. 1894):166-173; 1748-1749: Vol. 26, No. 1 (Jan. 1895):11-18; 1749-1750: Vol. 26, No. 2 (Apr. 1895):59-66; 1750-1751: Vol. 26, No. 3 (Jul. 1895):126-133; 1751-1752: Vol. 26, No. 4 (Oct. 1895):162-169; 1752-1753: Vol. 27, No. 1 (Jan. 1896):27-34; 1753-1754: Vol. 27, No. 2 (Apr. 1896):73-80; 1754-1755: Vol. 27, No. 3 (Jul. 1896):133-140; 1755-1756: Vol. 27, No. 4 (Oct. 1896):198-205; 1756-1758: Vol. 28, No. 1 (Jan. 1897):27-42; 1758-1760: Vol. 28, No. 2 (Apr. 1897):93-108; 1760-1762: Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul. 1897):137-152; 1762-1764: Vol. 28, No. 4 (Oct. 1897):217-232; 1764-1766: Vol. 29, No. 1 (Jan. 1898):22-37; 1766-1768: Vol. 29, No. 2 (Apr. 1898):75-90; 1768-1771: Vol. 29, No. 3 (Jul. 1898):145-160; 1771-1773: Vol. 29, No. 4 (Oct. 1898):194-209; 1773-1781: Vol. 30, No. 1 (Jan. 1899):15-30; 1781-1785: Vol. 30, No. 2 (Apr. 1899):85-100; 1785-1787: Vol. 30, No. 3 (Jul. 1899):159-174; 1787-1789: Vol. 30, No. 4 (Oct. 1899):213-228; 1789-1792: Vol. 31, No. 1 (Jan. 1900):19-34; 1792-1793: Vol. 31, No. 2 (Apr. 1900):91-106; 1793-1796: Vol. 31, No. 3 (Jul. 1900):145-160; 1796-1797: Vol. 31, No. 4 (Oct. 1900):209-224; 1797-1798: Vol. 32, No. 1 (Jan. 1901):17-24. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Internet Archive and Google Books have digitized Vol. 6, No. 2, Vols. 7-9, Vol. 10, Vols. 11-13, Vol. 15, Vol. 17, Vol. 18, Vol. 19, Vol. 20, Vol. 21, Vol. 22, Vol. 23, Vol. 24, Vol. 25, Vol. 26, Vol. 27, Vol. 28, Vol. 29, Vol. 30, Vol. 31, and Vol. 32, but not Vol. 6, Vol. 14, or Vol. 16 - free.

Marriages


 * 1639-1726 - "Records of the Reformed Dutch Church in the City of New York - Marriages," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1639-1652: Vol. 6, No. 1 (Jan. 1875):32-39; 1652-1659: Vol. 6, No. 2 (Apr. 1875):81-88; 1659-1667: Vol. 6, No. 3 (Jul. 1875):141-148; 1668-1675: Vol. 6, No. 4 (Oct. 1875):184-191; 1675-1681: Vol. 7, No. 1 (Jan. 1876):27-34; 1681-1685: Vol. 7, No. 2 (Apr. 1876):77-84; 1685-1688: Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jan. 1877):33-40; 1688-1692: Vol. 10, No. 3 (Jul. 1879):119-126; 1692-1695: Vol. 11, No. 2 (Apr. 1880):75-82; 1695-1698: Vol. 11, No. 3 (Jul. 1880):125-132; 1698-1702: Vol. 11, No. 4 (Oct. 1880):172-179; 1702-1705: Vol. 12, No. 1 (Jan. 1881):37-44; 1706-1710: Vol. 12, No. 2 (Apr. 1881):84-91; 1709-1713: Vol. 12, No. 3 (Jul. 1881):124-131; 1713-1718: Vol. 12, No. 4 (Oct. 1881):187-194; 1717-1722: Vol. 13, No. 1 (Jan. 1882):16-23; 1722-1726: Vol. 13, No. 2 (Apr. 1882):77-84. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Internet Archive has digitized Vol. 6, No. 2, Vols. 7-9, Vol. 10, and Vols. 11-13, but not the remainder of Vol. 6 - free.


 * 1686-1687 - "Marriage Entries of the Dutch Reformed Church at New York, From June 14, 1686, to April 23, 1687," Year Book of the Holland Society of New York (1916):39-43. Digital version at Internet Archive - free.


 * 1801-1866 - "Marriages in the Dutch Reformed Church of New York City," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1801-1804: Vol. 70, No. 1 (Jan. 1939):35-40; 1804-1806: Vol. 70, No. 2 (Apr. 1939):171-174; 1806-1808: Vol. 70, No. 3 (Jul. 1939):277-280; 1808-1811: Vol. 70, No. 4 (Oct. 1939):385-388; 1811-1814: Vol. 71, No. 1 (Jan. 1940):81-84; 1814-1816: Vol. 71, No. 2 (Apr. 1940):186-189; 1816-1818: Vol. 71, No. 3 (Jul. 1940):298-301; 1819-1824: Vol. 71, No. 4 (Oct. 1940):394-400; 1825-1829: Vol. 72, No. 1 (Jan. 1941):87-90; 1829-1833: Vol. 72, No. 2 (Apr. 1941):168-171; 1834-1839: Vol. 72, No. 3 (Jul. 1941):242-246; 1839-1850: Vol. 72, No. 4 (Oct. 1941):340-348; 1851-1860: Vol. 89, No. 3 (Jul. 1958):171-177; 1860-1866: Vol. 89, No. 4 (Oct. 1958):205-208. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Burials


 * 1726-1803 - "Record of Burials in the Dutch Church, New York," Year Book of the Holland Society of New York (1899):139-211. Digital version at Internet Archive.


 * 1804-1813 - "Burials in the Dutch Church, New York City," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1804-1807: Vol. 75, No. 3 (Jul. 1944):127-136; 1807-1809: Vol. 76, No. 1 (Jan. 1945):26-33; 1810-1812: Vol. 76, No. 2 (Apr. 1945):69-73; 1812-1813: Vol. 76, No. 3 (Jul. 1945):97-102. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Membership Lists


 * 1649-1829 - "Records of the Reformed Dutch Church in the City of New York - Church Members List," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1649-1658: Vol. 9, No. 1 (Jan. 1878):38-45; 1659-1666: Vol. 9, No. 2 (Apr. 1878):72-79; 1667-1676: Vol. 9, No. 3 (Jul. 1878):140-147; 1677-1683: Vol. 9, No. 4 (Oct. 1878):161-168; 1683-1693: Vol. 59, No. 1 (Jan. 1928):69-76; 1693-1700: Vol. 59, No. 2 (Apr. 1928):158-165; 1701-1710: Vol. 59, No. 3 (Jul. 1928):259-266; 1710-1716: Vol. 59, No. 4 (Oct. 1928):372-379; 1716-1723: Vol. 60, No. 1 (Jan. 1929):71-78; 1724-1730: Vol. 60, No. 2 (Apr. 1929):156-163; 1731-1736: Vol. 60, No. 3 (Jul. 1929):285-291; 1737-1748: Vol. 60, No. 4 (Oct. 1929):343-357; 1748-1753: Vol. 61, No. 1 (Jan. 1930):72-79; 1753-1760: Vol. 61, No. 2 (Apr. 1930):165-173; 1760-1785: Vol. 61, No. 3 (Jul. 1930):264-279; 1785-1793: Vol. 61, No. 4 (Oct. 1930):373-380; 1793-1810: Vol. 62, No. 1 (Jan. 1931):40-56; 1810-1816: Vol. 62, No. 2 (Apr. 1931):191-198; 1816-1821: Vol. 62, No. 3 (Jul. 1931):288-295; 1821-1829: Vol. 62, No. 4 (Oct. 1931):391-400. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Internet Archive has digitized Vol. 9 - free.


 * 1686 - "List of Members of the Dutch Reformed Church in New York in 1686," Year Book of the Holland Society of New York (1916):21-35. Digital version at Internet Archive.


 * 1688 - Scott, Kenneth. "Contributors to Building a New Dutch Church in New York City, 1688," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 49 (1961):131-136..

Episcopal
Trinity Episcopal Church Parish has a long and cherished history. The Church of England built its first parish church here in 1698. Chapels of ease were (with years constructed): St. George's Chapel (1750; became separate parish in 1811), St. Paul's Chapel (1764), St. John's Chapel (1803/1807; demolished 1918), Trinity Chapel (1851/1856), St. Chrysostom's Chapel (1868; demolished 1924), St. Cornelius the Centurion Chapel (1868), St. Augustine's Chapel (1876), St. Luke's Chapel (1822; became part of Trinity Parish in 1892), St. Agnes' Chapel (1892), and Church of the Intercession Chapel (1846; became part of Trinity Parish in 1907). Vestry minutes survive from 1697.

The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record published Trinity Parish's old parish registers. The old register books dated 1697 to 1748 are lost. A 1750 fire likely caused their destruction.

Baptisms


 * 1749-1809 - "Records of Trinity Church Parish, New York City," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1770s: Vol. 19, No. 4 (Oct. 1888):149; 1749-1756: Vol. 67, No. 3 (Jul. 1936):200-216; 1756-1764: Vol. 67, No. 4 (Oct. 1936):369-386; 1759, 1778: Vol. 68, No. 1 (Jan. 1937):66-81; 1778-1779: Vol. 68, No. 2 (Apr. 1937):157-172 1779-1780: Vol. 68, No. 3 (Jul. 1937):271-286; 1780-1781: Vol. 68, No. 4 (Oct. 1937):371-387; 1781-1782: Vol. 69, No. 1 (Jan. 1938):56-71; 1782-1784: Vol. 69, No. 2 (Apr. 1938):146-157; 1782-1784: Vol. 90, No. 1 (Jan. 1959):18-30; 1783-1785: Vol. 90, No. 2 (Apr. 1959):111-116; 1785-1786: Vol. 90, No. 4 (Oct. 1959):210-216; 1786-1787: Vol. 91, No. 1 (Jan. 1960):39-54; 1787-1788: Vol. 91, No. 2 (Apr. 1960):100-109; 1788-1789: Vol. 91, No. 3 (Jul. 1960):167-173; 1789-1790: Vol. 91, No. 4 (Oct. 1960):221-232; 1790: Vol. 92, No. 1 (Jan. 1961):15-22; 1792: Vol. 92, No. 2 (Apr. 1961):72-79; 1792-1793: Vol. 92, No. 3 (Jul. 1961):153-160; 1793-1794: Vol. 92, No. 4 (Oct. 1961):202-207; 1794-1795: Vol. 93, No. 1 (Jan. 1962):22-28; 1795-1797: Vol. 93, No. 2 (Apr. 1962):75-84; 1797-1799: Vol. 93, No. 3 (Jul. 1962):149-157; 1799-1809: Vol. 93, No. 4 (Oct. 1962):206-220. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Internet Archive has digitized Vol. 19 - free.

Marriages


 * 1746-1861 - "Records of Trinity Church Parish, New York City," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1746-1748 etc.: Vol. 19, No. 4 (Oct. 1888):147-149; 1746-1748: Vol. 69, No. 2 (Apr. 1938):158-162; 1749-1757: Vol. 69, No. 3 (Jul. 1938):268-283; 1757-1761: Vol. 69, No. 4 (Oct. 1938):369-378; 1748-1757, 1761-1764: Vol. 70, No. 1 (Jan. 1939):41-54; 1757-1764: Vol. 70, No. 2 (Apr. 1939):163-170; 1764-1771: Vol. 70, No. 3 (Jul. 1939):271-276; 1771-1777: Vol. 70, No. 4 (Oct. 1939):379-384; 1777-1778: Vol. 71, No. 1 (Jan. 1940):75-80; 1778-1779: Vol. 71, No. 2 (Apr. 1940):180-185; 1779-1780: Vol. 71, No. 3 (Jul. 1940):292-297; 1780-1781: Vol. 71, No. 4 (Oct. 1940):388-393; 1781-1782: Vol. 72, No. 1 (Jan. 1941):75-80; 1783: Vol. 72, No. 2 (Apr. 1941):160-163; 1783: Vol. 72, No. 3 (Jul. 1941):230-233; 1783: Vol. 72, No. 4 (Oct. 1941):338-339; 1784-1797: Vol. 74, No. 3 (Jul. 1943):116-121; 1798-1800: Vol. 74, No. 4 (Oct. 1943):175-177; 1785-1789: Vol. 75, No. 1 (Jan. 1944):31-36; 1789-1791: Vol. 75, No. 2 (Apr. 1944):83-87; 1791-1794: Vol. 76, No. 2 (Apr. 1945):78-84; 1795-1796: Vol. 76, No. 3 (Jul. 1945):129-132; 1796-1799: Vol. 77, No. 2 (Apr. 1946):68-74; 1799-1800: Vol. 77, No. 3 (Jul. 1946):107-109; 1784-1793, 1800: Vol. 77, No. 4 (Oct. 1946):170-174; 1793-1797: Vol. 78, No. 1 (Jan. 1947):28-30; 1797-1802: Vol. 78, No. 3 (Jul. 1947):112-116; 1802-1804: Vol. 79, No. 3 (Jul. 1948):148-152; 1804-1808: Vol. 81, No. 1 (Jan. 1950):18-23; 1805-1813: Vol. 81, No. 2 (Apr. 1950):96-100; 1809-1816: Vol. 81, No. 4 (Oct. 1950):218-224; 1813-1818: Vol. 82, No. 2 (Apr. 1951):98-102; 1819-1824: Vol. 82, No. 3 (Jul. 1951):156-160; 1824-1834: Vol. 83, No. 1 (Jan. 1952):42-51; 1834-1838: Vol. 84, No. 1 (Jan. 1953):32-37; 1838-1841: Vol. 84, No. 2 (Apr. 1953):108-111; 1842-1847: Vol. 85, No. 1 (Jan. 1954):35-40; 1847-1849: Vol. 86, No. 1 (Jan. 1955):28-34; 1850-1852: Vol. 86, No. 4 (Oct. 1955):232-238; 1852-1855: Vol. 87, No. 4 (Oct. 1956):231-237; 1855-1858: Vol. 88, No. 4 (Oct. 1957):235-242; 1858-1860: Vol. 89, No. 2 (Apr. 1958):109-115; 1860-1861: Vol. 89, No. 3 (Jul. 1958):146-149. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Internet Archive has digitized Vol. 19 - free.


 * 1770s-1780s - Kelby, Robert H. "Banns of Matrimony Published in the Parish of Trinity Church," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 46, No. 2 (Apr. 1915):167-168. Digital versions at Internet Archive - free; New York Family History ($);.

St. Mark's Church in the Bowery was constructed in 1795.

Baptisms


 * 1799-1842 - "Records of St. Mark's Church in the Bowery, New York City," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1799-1819: Vol. 71, No. 4 (Oct. 1940):334-343; 1804-1819, 1819-1823: Vol. 72, No. 1 (Jan. 1941):81-86; 1819-1823: Vol. 72, No. 2 (Apr. 1941):164-167; 1820-1828: Vol. 72, No. 3 (Jul. 1941):234-241; 1828-1832: Vol. 74, No. 2 (Apr. 1943):84-88; 1832-1837: Vol. 74, No. 4 (Oct. 1943):140-146; 1837-1842: Vol. 75, No. 2 (Apr. 1944):60-75. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church was organized in 1805.

Marriages


 * 1814-1850 - Goodwin, Aaron. "Marriages Recorded at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, New York City, 1814-1850," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1814-1843: Vol. 140, No. 3 (Jul. 2009):215-229; 1844-1850: Vol. 140, No. 4 (Oct. 2009):308-314. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Coloured Communicants


 * 1809-1815 - Goodwin, Aaron. "Coloured Communicants at St. Stephen's Episcopal, New York City, circa 1809-1815," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 141, No. 1 (Jan. 2010):39-40. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

St. George's Episcopal Church was organized in 1749 as a chapel.

Anstice's History of St. George's Church in the City of New York 1751-1811-1911 (1911) is available online at - free.

German Reformed

 * 1759-1803 - Farrell, Charles. "Records of the German Reformed Church of New York City," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Marriages 1759-1767: Vol. 126, No. 2 (Apr. 1995):97-103; Marriages 1767-1772: Vol. 126, No. 3 (Jul. 1995):179-184; Marriages 1772-1776: Vol. 126, No. 4 (Oct. 1995):261-265; Marriages 1783-1786: Vol. 127, No. 1 (Jan. 1996):32-37; Marriages 1786-1792: Vol. 127, No. 2 (Apr. 1996):101-105; Marriages 1793-1800: Vol. 127, No. 3 (Jul. 1996):155-160; Marriages 1800-1805: Vol. 127, No. 4 (Oct. 1996):220-221; Membership Lists 1750s-1770s: Vol. 128, No. 1 (Jan. 1997):55-60; Membership Lists 1750s-1770s: Vol. 128, No. 2 (Apr. 1997):113-121; Deaths 1764-1769: Vol. 128, No. 3 (Jul. 1997):164-166; Deaths 1769-1786, 1801-1803: Vol. 128, No. 4 (Oct. 1997):238-240. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . There is a gap in the marriage register during the Revolutionary War period (1776-1783).

Lutheran
The Lutheran Church of New York City has a long and cherished history. The editor of The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record translated and published their old parish registers:

First Communions


 * 1704-1769 - "First Communions in the Lutheran Church of New York City, 1704-1769," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1704-1717: Vol. 104, No. 1 (Jan. 1973):28-32; 1718-1737: Vol. 104, No. 2 (Apr. 1973):109-115; 1737-1759: Vol. 104, No. 3 (Jul. 1973):181-186; 1760-1769: Vol. 104, No. 4 (Oct. 1973):212-214. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Baptisms


 * 1704-1723 - "Some Early Records of the Lutheran Church, New York," The Holland Society of New York Yearbook (1903):1-93. Digital version at Internet Archive. Baptisms 1704-1723.


 * 1725-1783 - "Baptisms in the Lutheran Church, New York City, From 1725," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1725-1727: Vol. 97, No. 2 (Apr. 1966):92-105; 1728-1729: Vol. 97, No. 3 (Jul. 1966):163-170; 1730-1732: Vol. 97, No. 4 (Oct. 1966):223-230; 1733-1734: Vol. 98, No. 1 (Jan. 1967):34-36; 1733-1736 (Hackensack): Vol. 98, No. 3 (Jul. 1967):150-153; 1734-1736: Vol. 98, No. 2 (Apr. 1967):109-112; 1737: Vol. 98, No. 4 (Oct. 1967):222-224; 1738-1739: Vol. 99, No. 1 (Jan. 1968):28-32; 1740-1742: Vol. 99, No. 2 (Apr. 1968):105-112; 1743-1744: Vol. 99, No. 3 (Jul. 1968):139-140; 1745-1746: Vol. 99, No. 4 (Oct. 1968):227-231; 1746-1748: Vol. 100, No. 1 (Jan. 1969):47-50; 1748: Vol. 100, No. 2 (Apr. 1969):66-68; 1749-1750: Vol. 100, No. 3 (Jul. 1969):166-170; 1751-1755: Vol. 100, No. 4 (Oct. 1969):202-204; 1756-1759: Vol. 101, No. 1 (Jan. 1970):17-24; 1760-1761: Vol. 101, No. 2 (Apr. 1970):97-103; 1762-1763: Vol. 101, No. 3 (Jul. 1970):144-151; 1764-1766: Vol. 101, No. 4 (Oct. 1970):205-211; 1766-1767: Vol. 102, No. 1 (Jan. 1971):24-27; 1767-1769: Vol. 102, No. 2 (Apr. 1971):85-89; 1770-1772: Vol. 102, No. 3 (Jul. 1971):136-140; 1773-1776: Vol. 102, No. 4 (Oct. 1971):203-208; 1777-1778: Vol. 103, No. 1 (Jan. 1972):42-45; 1779: Vol. 103, No. 2 (Apr. 1972):97-99; 1780-1782: Vol. 103, No. 3 (Jul. 1972):155-160; 1782-1783: Vol. 103, No. 4 (Oct. 1972):217-224. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Marriages


 * 1704-1771 - "Some Early Records of the Lutheran Church, New York," The Holland Society of New York Yearbook (1903):1-93. Digital version at Internet Archive. Marriages 1704-1771.

For later marriages, see Christ Church.

Burials


 * 1704-1775 - "Lutheran Church of New York City Burials," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1704-1729: Vol. 105, No. 1 (Jan. 1974):37-40; 1730-1762: Vol. 105, No. 2 (Apr. 1974):81-89; 1763-1775: Vol. 105, No. 3 (Jul. 1974):163-166. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:

New York, New York City, Saint Peter's Lutheran Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Christ Church Lutheran was built in 1751. In January 1784, Trinity Church and Christ Church combined as "The United German Lutheran Churches in the City of New York."

Marriages


 * 1752-1785 - "Lutheran Church Marriages, New York City," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1752-1773: Vol. 73, No. 4 (Oct. 1942):255-273; 1773-1776: Vol. 74, No. 2 (Apr. 1943):74-80; 1776-1784: Vol. 119, No. 4 (Oct. 1988):214-217; 1784-1785: Vol. 120, No. 1 (Jan. 1989):25-26; 1785: Vol. 120, No. 2 (Apr. 1989):72; 1785-1786: Vol. 120, No. 3 (Jul. 1989):156-158; 1786-1787: Vol. 120, No. 4 (Oct. 1989):219-221; 1787-1788: Vol. 121, No. 1 (Jan. 1990):29-31; 1788-1789: Vol. 121, No. 2 (Apr. 1990):93-95; 1790: Vol. 121, No. 3 (Jul. 1990):161-163; 1791: Vol. 121, No. 4 (Oct. 1990):228-229; 1792: Vol. 122, No. 1 (Jan. 1991):44-46; 1792: Vol. 122, No. 1 (Jan. 1991):44-46; 1793-1794: Vol. 122, No. 2 (Apr. 1991):101-106; 1794-1795: Vol. 122, No. 3 (Jul. 1991):159-161; 1795: Vol. 122, No. 4 (Oct. 1991):229-231; 1796-1797: Vol. 123, No. 1 (Jan. 1992):24-29; 1797: Vol. 123, No. 2 (Apr. 1992):82-84; 1797-1798: Vol. 123, No. 3 (Jul. 1992):160-162; 1798: Vol. 123, No. 4 (Oct. 1992):228-230; 1799: Vol. 124, No. 1 (Jan. 1993):33-35; 1799: Vol. 124, No. 2 (Apr. 1993):101-103; 1799: Vol. 124, No. 3 (Jul. 1993):168-169; 1799: Vol. 124, No. 4 (Oct. 1993):220-221; 1799-1800: Vol. 125, No. 1 (Jan. 1994):40-41; 1800: Vol. 125, No. 2 (Apr. 1994):77-80; 1800: Vol. 125, No. 3 (Jul. 1994):159-160; 1800: Vol. 125, No. 4 (Oct. 1994):229, 233-236. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

English Lutheran Church


 * 1794-1810 - Farrell, Charles. "Marriages Recorded in the Register of the English Lutheran Church, New York City, 1794-1810," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1794-1803: Vol. 140, No. 1 (Jan. 2009):35-50; 1803-1810: Vol. 140, No. 2 (Apr. 2009):143-155. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.


 * 1797-1798 - Farrell, Charles. "The English Lutheran Church, New York City Confirmations and Communions, 1797, 1798," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 140, No. 3 (Jul. 2009):213-214. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

1862-1955 - Family Search Historical Records has digital images of baptism, marriage, and burial records for New York, New York City, Saint Peter's Lutheran Church Records, 1862-1955.

Methodist

 * 1785-1787 - "Burials at the Methodist Church, John Street, New York City, 1785-1787," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 133, No. 2 (Apr. 2002):114-115. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Moravian

 * 1751-1832 - Maehrlein, Lauren. "Marriages in the First Moravian Church, New York, 1751-1801," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 134, No. 1 (Jan. 2003):22-26; Vol. 141, No. 2 (Apr. 2010):121-128. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Presbyterian
The First Presbyterian Church was organized in 1717.

Baptisms


 * 1728-1770s - "Records of the First Presbyterian Church of the City of New York - Births and Baptisms," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Apr. 1873):98-103; Vol. 4, No. 3 (Jul. 1873):140-143; Vol. 4, No. 4 (Oct. 1873):195-199; Vol. 5, No. 1 (Jan. 1874):35-37; Vol. 5, No. 2 (Apr. 1874):100-102; Vol. 5, No. 4 (Oct. 1874):183-186; Vol. 6, No. 1 (Jan. 1875):48-52; Vol. 7, No. 1 (Jan. 1876):35-38; Vol. 7, No. 2 (Apr. 1876):65-68; Vol. 7, No. 3 (Jul. 1876):135-140; Vol. 7, No. 4 (Oct. 1876):169-172; Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jan. 1877):20-24; Vol. 8, No. 2 (Apr. 1877):74-79; Vol. 9, No. 1 (Jan. 1878):16-19; Vol. 9, No. 2 (Apr. 1878):80-85; Vol. 9, No. 4 (Oct. 1876):169-173; Vol. 10, No. 1 (Jan. 1879):44-46; Vol. 10, No. 2 (Apr. 1879):93-96; Vol. 10, No. 3 (Jul. 1879):127-133; Vol. 10, No. 4 (Oct. 1879):177-181; Vol. 11, No. 1 (Jan. 1880):29-33. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Internet Archive has digitized Vol. 5, Vols. 7-9, Vol. 10, and Vol. 11, but not Vol. 4 or Vol. 6 - free.

Marriages


 * 1756-1812 - "Records of the First and Second Presbyterian Churches in the City of New York - Marriages, Births and Baptisms," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Marriages 1756-1761: Vol. 11, No. 2 (Apr. 1880):83-88; Marriages 1772-1784: Vol. 12, No. 1 (Jan. 1881):32-36; Marriages 1785-1791: Vol. 12, No. 3 (Jul. 1881):134-141; Marriages 1791-1795: Vol. 13, No. 1 (Jan. 1882):43-47; Marriages 1800-1802: Vol. 14, No. 1 (Jan. 1883):42; Marriages 1760-1761, 1785-1788, 1802-1807: Vol. 14, No. 2 (Apr. 1883):90-95; Marriages 1763-1772: Vol. 14, No. 3 (Jul. 1883):118-123; Marriages 1772-1786, 1807-1809: Vol. 14, No. 4 (Oct. 1883):169-172; Marriages 1793-1800: Vol. 15, No. 1 (Jan. 1884):31-33; Marriages 1800-1804: Vol. 15, No. 2 (Apr. 1884):89-92; Marriages 1804-1809: Vol. 15, No. 3 (Jul. 1884):132-136; Marriages 1809-1811: Vol. 16, No. 1 (Jan. 1885):40-41; Marriages 1811-1812: Vol. 16, No. 2 (Apr. 1885):86; Marriages 1813: Vol. 16, No. 3 (Jul. 1885):114; Baptisms 1783-1784: Vol. 16, No. 3 (Jul. 1885):138-141; Baptisms 1785: Vol. 17, No. 3 (Jul. 1886):232-233; Baptisms 1785: Vol. 17, No. 4 (Oct. 1886):277-278; Baptisms 1785-1786: Vol. 18, No. 4 (Oct. 1887):170-173; Baptisms 1786: Vol. 19, No. 2 (Apr. 1888):59-64; Baptisms 1786-1787: Vol. 20, No. 1 (Jan. 1889):35-39. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Internet Archive has digitized Vols. 11-13, Vol. 15, Vol. 17, Vol. 18, Vol. 19, and Vol. 20, but not Vol. 14 or Vol. 16 - free.

Deaths


 * 1786-1798 - "Deaths Recorded by the First Presbyterian Church, New York City, 1786," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1786: Vol. 132, No. 4 (Oct. 2001):268-270; 1787-1789: Vol. 137, No. 1 (Jan. 2006):62-69; 1789-1790: Vol. 137, No. 2 (Apr. 2006):114-117; 1790-1792: Vol. 137, No. 3 (Jul. 2006):218-224; 1793-1794: Vol. 138, No. 1 (Jan. 2007):70-71; 1794: Vol. 138, No. 2 (Apr. 2007):151-152; . Digital version at New York Family History ($); 1792-1793: Vol. 137, No. 4 (Oct. 2006):304-306; 1794: Vol. 138, No. 3 (Jul. 2007):232-234; 1796: Vol. 138, No. 4 (Oct. 2007):305-309; 1797: Vol. 139, No. 2 (Apr. 2008):151-154; 1798: Vol. 139, No. 4 (Oct. 2008):291-297..

Membership Lists


 * 1769 "Communicants of the First Presbyterian Church, New York City, 1769," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 131, No. 4 (Oct. 2000):287-290. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Brick Presbyterian Church's marriage register dated 1727 to 1754 is lost.

The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church

Pre-1868 marriages are lost.


 * 1808-1859 - Kraege, Elfrieda A. "Records of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York, 1808-1859," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Surnames A-B: Vol. 105, No. 3 (Jul. 1974):129-137; Surnames B-C: Vol. 105, No. 4 (Oct. 1974):224-233; Surnames C-D: Vol. 106, No. 1 (Jan. 1975):37-42; Surnames D-F: Vol. 106, No. 2 (Apr. 1975):95-99; Surnames F-G: Vol. 106, No. 3 (Jul. 1975):152-156; Surname H: Vol. 106, No. 4 (Oct. 1975):222-230; Surnames I-K: Vol. 107, No. 1 (Jan. 1976):7-11; Surname L: Vol. 107, No. 2 (Apr. 1976):96-101; Surname M: Vol. 107, No. 3 (Jul. 1976):135-140; Surnames M-O: Vol. 107, No. 4 (Oct. 1976):223-228; Surnames O-R: Vol. 108, No. 1 (Jan. 1977):44-48; Surname S: Vol. 108, No. 2 (Apr. 1977):98-102; Surname S: Vol. 108, No. 3 (Jul. 1977):150-156; Surnames T-U: Vol. 108, No. 4 (Oct. 1977):205-208; Surname V: Vol. 109, No. 1 (Jan. 1978):42-43; Surnames W-Z: Vol. 109, No. 2 (Apr. 1978):89-97. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Entries are arranged alphabetically.


 * 1868-1892 - Kraege, Elfrieda A. "Marriages of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York City Performed by the Rev. Dr. John Hall," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1868-1873: Vol. 112, No. 3 (Jul. 1981):166-170; 1873-1881: Vol. 112, No. 4 (Oct. 1981):218-223; 1881-1886: Vol. 113, No. 1 (Jan. 1982):23-28; 1886-1892: Vol. 113, No. 2 (Apr. 1982):105-110. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Thirteenth Street Presbyterian Church


 * 1839-1844 - Stryker-Rodda, Kenn. "Members of the Thirteenth Street Presbyterian Church, New York City, 1839-1844," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 103, No. 1 (Jan. 1972):53-59; Vol. 103, No. 2 (Apr. 1972):117-122; Vol. 103, No. 3 (Jul. 1972):161-168. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Scotch Presbyterian Church


 * 1785-1798 - Farrell, Charles. "Pew Rentals in the Scotch Presbyterian Church, New York City, 1785-1798," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 129, No. 4 (Oct. 1998):249-259. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Carmine Street Presbyterian Church


 * 1835-1838 - "Burials, Carmine Street Presbyterian Church, New York City, 1835-1838," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 139, No. 2 (Apr. 2008):139-145. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Quaker

 * 1640-1800 - Underhill, Abraham S. "Records of the Society of Friends of the City of New York and Vicinity, From 1640 to 1800," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Births 1640-early 1700s: Vol. 3, No. 4 (Oct. 1872):184-190; Births 1660s-1750s (Includes Gravesend, Long Island): Vol. 4, No. 1 32; Births 1680s-1760s: Vol. 4, No. 2 (Apr. 1873):94-98; Births 1670s-1760s: Vol. 4, No. 4 (Oct. 1873):190-195; Births 1720s-1790s: Vol. 5, No. 1 (Jan. 1874):38-41; Births 1720s-1790s: Vol. 5, No. 2 (Apr. 1874):102-107; Births 1770s-1790s: Vol. 5, No. 4 (Oct. 1874):186-190; Marriages 1663-1746: Vol. 6, No. 2 (Apr. 1875):97-107; Marriages 1746-1766: Vol. 6, No. 4 (Oct. 1875):192-193; Deaths 1669-1724: Vol. 7, No. 1 (Jan. 1876):39-43; Deaths 1710s-1790s: Vol. 7, No. 2 (Apr. 1876):85-90. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Internet Archive has digitized Vol. 3, Vol. 5, Vol. 6, No. 2, and Vol. 7, but not Vol. 4 or the remainder of Vol. 6 - free.


 * 1657-1940 - Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy: New York City and Long Island 1657-ca. 1940 at Long Island Genealogy - free.


 * See also Taxation


 * Quaker Records at Family History Library


 * 1640-1721 Society of Friends. Flushing Monthly Meeting. Flushing Partial contents: Marriages 1658 [1663]-1761; Births 1640-1796 (includes deaths of children); Marriages, 1762, 1766; Deaths 1669-1796; Births 1725-1731. This record was copied from original by Isaac Horner to 1685. Men's monthly meetings 1685-1806, men's quarterly, and yearly meetings 1671-1703
 * 1805-1906 Society of Friends. Flushing Monthly Meeting Births and deaths 1805-1880, Marriages 1805-1878, Register of members 1805-1906, Removal certificates 1805-1877, Men's monthly meetings 1828-1830, Women's monthly meetings 1828-1830
 * 1640-1904 Society of Friends. New York Monthly Meeting (New York, N.Y. : Hicksite) Partial contents: Births and deaths 1827-1904, Marriages 1828-1874, Register of members 1828-1859, Removal certificates 1828-1902, Index to interments at Prospect Park 1848-1878, Men's monthly meetings 1827-1849, Women's monthly meetings 1728-1868
 * 1762-1887 Society of Friends. New York Monthly Meeting (New York) Births 1801-1848 Deaths 1801-1848 Family records 1770-1800 Funerals 1796-1801, Register of members 1804-1849, Register of members 1887, Men's monthly meetings 1804-1855, Women's monthly meetings 1828-1850

Church of the Transfiguration


 * 1876 - Goodwin, Aaron. "Requests for Aid, Church of the Transfiguration, Mission Chapel, New York City, circa 1876," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 141, No. 2 (Apr. 2010):118-120. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Court Records

 * 1722-1742 - Scott, Kenneth. "New York City Quarter Sessions Court Minutes, 1722-1742," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 70, No. 1 (Mar. 1982):27-36; Vol. 70 (1982):103-111. Digital version at National Genealogical Society website ($);.

Directories

 * New York City directories published online by the New York Public Library.
 * Fold3.com ($) has New York City Directories 1786-1922 (6 yrs. missing) available online.

For further information, see New York City Directories.

Ethnic Groups
African American 


 * Scheiner, Seth M. Negro Mecca: a History of the Negro in New York City, 1865-1920 - [New York] : New York University Press. 1965 - ix, 246 p. F128.9 N3 S3


 * Thompson, Mary W ed. Broken Gloom: Sketches of the History, Character and Dying Testimony of Beneficiaries of the Colored Home in the City of New York John F Trow Printer. 1851

Genealogy

 * Fernow, B. "Genealogical Data Gathered from Albany County and New York City Records," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 21, No. 4 (Oct. 1890):170-172. Digital versions at Internet Archive - free; New York Family History ($);.

Guides

 * Bailey, Rosalie Fellows. "Guide to Genealogical and Biographical Sources for New York City: 1783-1855 with Supplement 1855-1898," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 106 (1952):244-258; Vol. 107 (1953):5-26, 82-92, 162-178, 242-251; Vol. 108 (1954):5-18. Digital version at American Ancestors ($).


 * Guzik, Estelle M. Genealogical Resources in the New York Metropolitan Area. New York: Jewish Genealogical Society, 1989. ;.


 * Scott, Kenneth. "Some Materials for Genealogical Research in New York City," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 50 (1962):150-152..

New York City Jewish Research
Find hints, links and tips for Jewish research in New York City by clicking here.

Land and Property

 * Index to Mortgages and Real Estate in the City of New York 1665-1675, courtesy: Olive Tree Genealogy
 * Original Book of New York Deeds 1673-1675, courtesy: New York State Historical Literature

Military
Civil War service men in New York City served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Over 90 companies were specifically formed in New York City.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 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.

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


 * 1795-1799 - Scott, Kenneth. "New York City Naturalization s, 1795-1799," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 71 (1983):280-283. Digital version at National Genealogical Society website ($);.

Online Digital Newspapers

 * Brooklyn Eagle Online
 * New York Daily-Tribune 1842-1866, New York City at Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers - Free.
 * New York Tribune 1866-1924, New York City at Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers - Free.
 * The New York Times Article Archives
 * 1795-1799 - Scott, Kenneth. "New York's French Newspaper, 1795-1799, Genealogical Data," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 120, No. 4 (Oct. 1989):207-210; Vol. 121, No. 1 (Jan. 1990):25-28; Vol. 121, No. 2 (Apr. 1990):101-103; Vol. 121, No. 3 (Jul. 1990):150-153. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.
 * 1814-1815 - New-York Spectator at Google News - free.

Occupations

 * McParland, Eugene P. "Colonial Taverns and Tavern keepers of British New York City," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 103, No. 4 (Oct. 1972):193-202; Vol. 104, No. 1 (Jan. 1973):17-27; Vol. 104, No. 2 (Apr. 1973):99-104; Vol. 104, No. 3 (Jul. 1973):170-172; Vol. 104, No. 4 (Oct. 1973):205-212; Vol. 105, No. 1 (Jan. 1974):27-32; Vol. 105, No. 2 (Apr. 1974):89-92; Vol. 105, No. 3 (Jul. 1974):155-162; Vol. 105, No. 4 (Oct. 1974):218-223; Vol. 106, No. 1 (Jan. 1975):34-37; Vol. 106, No. 3 (Jul. 1975):157-161; Vol. 106, No. 4 (Oct. 1975):214-216; Vol. 107, No. 1 (Jan. 1976):26-28; Vol. 107, No. 3 (Jul. 1976):150-153. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Identifies tavern keepers by name and year licensed.


 * 1686-1804 - Scott, Kenneth. "New York City Apprentices, 1686-1804," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 71 (1983):14-24; Vol. 72 (1984):193-198; Vol. 72 (1984):261-264; Vol. 73 (1985):320. Digital version at National Genealogical Society website ($);.


 * 1815-1828 - Scott, Kenneth. "Nineteenth Century Apprenticeship Registers, New York City," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Boys 1815-1828: Vol. 115, No. 1 (Jan. 1984):1-12; Girls 1816-1822: Vol. 115, No. 2 (Apr. 1984):98-102. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.


 * Nash, Carolyn. "Small Burghers of New Amsterdam. New Document, New Names," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 141, No. 1 (Jan. 2010):25-38. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Poor, Poorhouses

 * 1693-1747 - Scott, Kenneth. "The Church Wardens and the Poor in New York City, 1693-1747," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1693-1719: Vol. 99, No. 3 (Jul. 1968):157-164; 1720-1724: Vol. 100, No. 1 (Jan. 1969):18-26; 1725-1727: Vol. 100, No. 3 (Jul. 1969):141-147; 1728-1731: Vol. 101, No. 1 (Jan. 1970):33-40; 1732-1735: Vol. 101, No. 3 (Jul. 1970):164-173; 1736-1742: Vol. 102, No. 1 (Jan. 1971):50-56; 1742-1747: Vol. 102, No. 3 (Jul. 1971):150-156. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.


 * 1807-1810 - Farrell, Charles. "Children of the New York City Almshouse, 1807-1810," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 130, No. 1 (Jan. 1999):36-42; Vol. 130, No. 2 (Apr. 1999):120-123; Vol. 130, No. 3 (Jul. 1999):180-182; Vol. 130, No. 4 (Oct. 1999):296-300; Vol. 131, No. 1 (Jan. 2000):59-62; . Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Probate Records
Abstracts of Wills on File in the Surrogate’s Office, City of New York Family History Library or Ancestry.com$

A volunteer at USGenWeb offers to do free lookups in these records. Some of these indexes have also been digitized by New York State Historical Literature.

Also available online:


 * SAMPUBCO indexes (1665-1825). Courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.
 * Sawyer, Ray C. Index of Wills for New York County (New York City) from 1662-1850. New York: unknown, 1990. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * Sawyer, Ray C. Index of Wills for New York County, New York from 1851 to 1875, Inclusive. unknown, 1950-1951. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * Sawyer, Ray C. Abstract of Wills Probated in the Common Pleas Court: Also Known as Mayor's Court, 1819-1892: Supreme Court of Judicature, 1821-1829: Supreme Court of Judicature, 1847-1856: Supreme Court of Judicature, 1856-1870, All of New York County, New York City, N.Y. unknown, 1989. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * Scott, Kenneth. "Appointment of Guardians, Mayor's Court, New York City," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 56 (1968):51-54..

Repositories

 * New York Historical Society


 * New York Public Library – Of note to genealogists are the following divisions within the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building:


 * New York City Public Library's digital collection
 * Map Division
 * Microforms and Periodicals
 * Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy


 * Center for Jewish History Ackman and Ziff Family Genealogy Institute 15 West 16th St New York City, New York Phone: 917-606-8217 Hours: Mon 9:30am -7:30pm; Tues-Thur 9:30am-5:30pm

Microfilms from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah are available at this Historical Society.

Family History Centers

 * 87th Street New York Family History Center

Taxation

 * 1676 - "Tax List of New York City in the Year 1676," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Jan. 1871):36-38. Digital versions at Internet Archive - free; New York Family History ($);.


 * 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.


 * 1810-1819 - Morehouse, Ann. "Returns of Quakers in New York City Tax Assesment Books, 1810-1819," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 110, No. 3 (Jul. 1979):164-172; Vol. 110, No. 4 (Oct. 1979):216-221. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Vital Records
See also:

New York City Municipal Achives

The Italian Genealogical Society, with the assistance of the NYC Municipal Archives, has been placing indexes to NYC records online, free of charge to the public. See the following:


 * Vital Records Index for NYC
 * Indexes to Naturalizations for NYC

The Family History Library has microfilms of some New York City births to 1909, deaths to 1919, and indexes to both to 1965. These microfilms can be ordered (for a small charge) and viewed at a family history center near you. 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.

New York City Birth Records
Birth records from as early as 1847 (depending on the borough) to as late to 1909 are held at the New York City Municipal Archives. They are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library. A digital version of the Family History Library's guide to New York City birth records is available at. Birth records from 1909 to the present can be obtained from the New York City Department of Health ($).

Microfilms at the Family History Library include:

Bronx (Bronx County)

Brooklyn (Kings County)

Births 1847–1851, 1880–1895 (years vary) for the towns of Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend, New Lots, and New Utrecht are found in the FamilySearch Catalog Place Search under NEW YORK, KINGS, [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS.

Manhattan (New York County)

One study concludes there was a significant amount of under-registration of births in Manhattan. In 1855, 13% were recorded; in 1875, 33%; in 1896, 35%; in 1935, 80%; and by 1955, 91%.

Queens (Queens County)

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 FamilySearch Catalog Place Search under NEW YORK, QUEENS, [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS

Staten Island (Richmond County)

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 FamilySearch Catalog Place Search under NEW YORK, RICHMOND, [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS

New York City Death Records
Death records from as early as 1795 (depending on the borough) to 1948 are held at the New York City Municipal Archives. They are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library. A digital version of the Family History Library's guide to New York City death records is available at. Death records from 1948 to the present can be obtained from the New York City Department of Health ($).


 * 1680-1684 - Sypher, Francis J. "New York City Coroner's Reports, 1680-1684," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 136, No. 4 (Oct. 2005):261-271. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.


 * 1792-1793 - Moorhouse, Ann. "A 1792/3 New York City Coroner's Bill," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 117, No. 1 (Jan. 1986):16-17. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.


 * 1795 - "New York City Deaths," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1795: Vol. 81, No. 3 (Jul. 1950):146-155; 1795: Vol. 81, No. 4 (Oct. 1950):203-206. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.


 * 1795-1820 - Scott, Kenneth. "Early New York City Coroner's Reports," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1795-1798: Vol. 119, No. 2 (Apr. 1988):76-79; 1802-1805: Vol. 119, No. 3 (Jul. 1988):145-150; 1806-1807, 1819: Vol. 119, No. 4 (Oct. 1988):217-219; 1819: Vol. 120, No. 1 (Jan. 1989):18-20; 1819-1820: Vol. 120, No. 2 (Apr. 1989):88-92. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Records from 1808 to 1818 have not been located.


 * 1799 - Farrell, Charles. "Deaths from Fever in New York City 1799," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 131, No. 2 (Apr. 2000):117-124. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.


 * 1803 - Farrell, Charles. "Deaths from Fever in New York City 1803," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 129, No. 1 (Jan. 1998):13-20. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

A vaulable tool to search for death records in the five boroughs is One-Step Webpages by Steve Morse.It includes indexes for: Brooklyn, 1862-1890; Brooklyn and Manhatten, 1891-1897; All boroughs, 1898-1948.

Bronx (Bronx County)

Brooklyn (Kings County)


 * Deaths 1847–1851, 1880–1895 (years vary) for the towns of Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend, New Lots, and New Utrecht are found in the FamilySearch Catalog Place Search under NEW YORK, KINGS, [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS

Manhattan (New York County)

Queens (Queens County)

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 FamilySearch Catalog Place Search under NEW YORK, QUEENS, [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS

Staten Island (Richmond County)

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 FamilySearch Catalog Place 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:

New York City Department of Health Bureau of Vital Records 125 Worth Street, Room 133 New York, NY 10013-0046 Telephone: 212-788-4500 Internet: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/about/about-doh.page

Mailing Address: Division of Vital Records City of New York, Department of Health P.O. Box 3776 Church Street Station New York, NY 10007

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 Street, Room 103 New York, NY 10007 Telephone: 212-788-8580 or 212-566-5292 Fax: 212-385-4253 Internet: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/index.page

New York City Birth and Death Records are available using a credit card. Write to the New York City Department of Health, 125 Worth Street, 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 Index.


 * Barbara Kronman, Guide to New York City Public Records, 4th ed. (New York: Public Interest Clearinghouse, 1992). . Includes chapters on city government, courts, libraries, and personal information. Shows how to obtain vital records, name change records, and naturalizations.

New York City Marriage Records
Marriage records from as early as 1848 (depending on the borough) to 1937 are held at the New York City Municipal Archives. They are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library. A digital version of the Family History Library's guide to New York City marriages is available at. Marriage records from 1929 to the present can be obtained from the City Clerk of New York City ($).

A bride and groom index is available through One-Step Webpages by Stephen P. Morse. The groom index includes: Manhatten, 1866-1907; Brooklyn, 1864-1907; All Boroughs, 1908-1937. The bride index includes: Manhatten, 1866-1937; Brooklyn, 1871-1918, 1928-1937; Queens, 1905-1937; Bronx, 1899-1937 and Richmond, 1898-1937.


 * 1833-1834 - Christoph, Peter R. "Marriages Solemnized by Gideon Lee, Mayor of New York City, 1833-1834," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 110, No. 2 (Apr. 1979):111-113. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.


 * 1847–1848 and 1908–1936 at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1865-1937 New York City Grooms Index and New York City Brides Index at German Genealogy Group.

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

New York City Department of Records and Information Services Municipal Archives 31 Chambers Street, Room 103 New York, NY 10007 Telephone: 212-788-8580 or 212-566-5292 Fax: 212-385-4253 Internet: http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/about/archives.shtml

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:

Some eighteenth-century New York City marriage licenses survive and have been published:


 * 1770s-1780s - Kelby, Robert H. "New York Marriage Licenses," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Surnames A-D: Vol. 46, No. 3 (Jul. 1915):279-289; Surnames D-H: Vol. 46, No. 4 (Oct. 1915):337-342; Surnames H-L: Vol. 47, No. 1 (Jan. 1916):68-72; Surnames L-R: Vol. 47, No. 2 (Apr. 1916):176-185; Surnames R-W: Vol. 47, No. 3 (Jul. 1916):286-296. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Internet Archive has digitized Vol. 46, but not Vol. 47.

Bronx (Bronx County)

Brooklyn (Kings County)

Queens (Queens County)

Staten Island (Richmond County)

City Clerk Licenses
For marriages between 1908 and 1929, there is a source of more detailed genealogical information than the certificates issued by the Department of Health: the "Application, Affidavit, and License" records issued by the Clerk's office in each borough.

Unique information
Not in regular certificates, this additional information can be found in clerk's licenses:


 * Bride’s occupation (sometimes includes employer name and address for both spouses, too)
 * Specific town of birth for bride and groom
 * Country of birth for each spouse's parents
 * Addresses of Witnesses (possible family members)
 * Names of former spouses, living or dead
 * If divorced, lists when and where divorce or divorces were granted
 * 3 different sets of handwriting (helps with legibility or creative spelling issues)

Document parts
A typical Marriage License includes three parts:


 * Affidavit for License to Marry. If they could write, the bride and groom usually filled out this form — an exciting primary source document in their handwriting. The form contains the unique information described above. On the reverse side of the affidavit is the Certificate of Consent, signed by parents or guardians of minors who wished to marry.
 * Marriage License. The information is similar to that of the affidavit. The City Clerk signed this form, empowering authorized persons to marry the applicants. Attachments, such as the divorce decree for the first marriage, birth certificate, and baptismal certificate, can sometimes be found with licenses. (Attachments will be photocopied with licenses found at the NYC Municipal Archives. However, it is not the policy of the City Clerk to photocopy attachments or otherwise provide them to researchers.)
 * Marriage Certificate. This is the City Clerk's marriage certificate, not the Health Department's marriage certificate. The person who performed the marriage was instructed to return the signed license and certificate to the City Clerk for filing.

Search instructions
The index to these licenses is free online at the Internet Archive thanks to Reclaim the Records. In the NYG&B Newsletter, Leslie Corn recommends this search process:


 * If possible, determine the exact marriage date and location/borough. Searching the Health department certificate indexes is a good first step, although you may not always find a certificate to match to a clerk's license.
 * Determine the borough(s) to search: licenses were supposed to be filed in bride's county of residence, but may be in a different county (such as where the marriage certificate was registered). Also, Bronx licenses were issued in Manhattan until 1914 (when Bronx county was created).
 * Determine the year and month(s) to search: licenses were usually filed immediately before the marriage certificate date, but could sometimes be weeks or months ahead.
 * Determine a volume: each volume in the free online index is for both a specific year and specific borough.
 * Search within a volume: each volume is organized in increments of 2-4 months and then, within that increment, by the first two letters of the surname (groom on the left side of a page, bride on the right side).

Request a copy
Currently microfilm copies of New York City marriage licenses are not available at any library. All requests must be made to the NYC Municipal Archives (for licenses between 1908 and 1929) or the Office of the City Clerk (1930 and later).

Do NOT use the online form for requesting a marriage certificate at http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/archives/genealogy.shtml. Instead, send regular postal mail to the NYC Municipal Archives address above. Include the following:
 * Indicate that you require the CITY CLERK LICENSE record
 * Give the license number if you have it (read previous search instructions).
 * Include a check for $15 USD (for each record), payable to "NYC Dept. of Records".

Newspapers
For New York City's five boroughs and some other counties, many newspaper notices of births, marriages, and deaths have been published. See New York Newspapers for a partial list. In the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalog, these notices are listed under:


 * NEW YORK, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - NEWSPAPERS
 * NEW YORK, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - OBITUARIES

Different jurisdictions
Check also under the state and county levels.

Religious institutions
Some church marriage records have been published or have been microfilmed for the five boroughs. An example from the Family History Library collection is:


 * William Scott Fisher, New York City Methodist Marriages, 1785–1893, 2 vols. (Camden, Maine: Picton Press, 1994). ; . Contains a groom index and a bride index, each of which has about 41,000 names.

New York City Divorce records
Divorce records may be obtained from the County Clerk in the County where the divorce decree was granted. For information on how to obtain a copy of a divorce record in New York City boroughs:


 * New York County, Manhattan call (646) 386-5955.
 * Kings County Brooklyn call (718) 643-5894.
 * Queens County call (718) 298-0601
 * Bronx call (718) 590-3638
 * Staten Island call (718) 390-5389

(The Office of the County Clerk does not have a web site.)

New York City Genealogy Websites

 * New York City Genealogy
 * New York City Research (articles on little known resources for New York City)

New York City Places
In 1898 the five boroughs consolidated into New York City. Each borough's border matches its county's border. This Wiki lists the most data about these at the county level except for Brooklyn.