New York (Manhattan) County, New YorkEdit This Page

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 North Riding (Westchester, Bronx, New York (Manhattan), Nassau and part of Queens counties).^{[8] [9]}
1683 New York ended Yorkshire, creating New York (Manhattan) County from part of it.^{[8] [9]}
1693 Orange County was given to New York County.^[8]
1698 Orange County was made independent of New York County.^[8]
1874 West Bronx was added to New York County.^[8]
1881 North Brother Island was added to New York County.^[8]
1884 Rikers Island was added to New York County.^[8]
1895 East Bronx was added to New York County.^[8]
1898 The five boroughs were consolidated into New York City, and her county governments were dissolved. The Borough of Manhattan had the same borders as the old New York County.^[11]
1914 Bronx County, with the same borders as its borough, separated from New York County.^{[8] [12]}

Record Loss

Resources

African Americans

• 1799-1810s - Eichholz, Alice and James M. Rose et al. "Slave Births in New York County," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 111, No. 1 (Jan. 1980):13-17. Digital version at New York Family History ($); FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 111.

• Dickenson, Richard. "Abstracts of Early Black Manhattanites," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 116, No. 2 (Apr. 1985):100-104; Vol. 116, No. 3 (Jul. 1985):169-173. Digital version at New York Family History ($); FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 116.

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.
  

Biography

Business Records and Commerce

Cemeteries

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

Some individual cemeteries:

• Grant's Tomb, General Grant National Memorial, Manhattan, New York City BillionGraves. This is the famous 'Grant's Tomb', there is just the one grave site, but this website has the location photos as well with three records associated with the monument inside the building where the tomb lies.
  

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.
  

Federal

U.S. Census Mortality Schedules for New York, 1850-1880:

• Available online at Ancestry ($).
• Deaths are included for the 12 months prior to the census, 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, and 1879-80 beginning 1 June and ending 31 May of the census year.^[13]
• Basic contents of the records include: Name, sex, age, color, marital status, place of birth, month of death, occupation, and cause of death. 1870 also has parents' birthplace. 1880 lists how long a resident of the county.
• Also on FHL Films 1415128–42 which can be ordered through any Family History Center.

State

Church Records

Church records are good substitutes for birth, marriage, and death information and are most often found on a local city/town or county level.  Published and manuscript church records can be found at public, university, and private libraries.

For a brief general history of denominations and a guide to finding various New York denomination's records, see New York Church Records Wiki page.

Baptisms at the Dutch Reformed Church of New Amsterdam 1639-1730
This is the first of a series of files on the baptisms at the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam. Accent marks on names have been left out for simplicity so that the data is acceptable to all computer platforms. Unfortunately many of the records the transcriber had concerning data prior to 1639 are missing, lost, or destroyed after all these years (it is about 20 years ago that he copied most of them). So he only has six baptisms for 1639.

Ann Mensch's Local Catholic Church and Family History & Genealogical Research Guide is a free online resource that identifies the parishes of Manhattan, years parishes were created, contact information, as well as links to online records and research tips. Manhattan parishes fall under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of New York.

Online Church Records

NYGenWeb offers a variety of resources to assist genealogists with Manhattan church records, including maps, church listings, addresses, and photos.

• to 1899 - Records of Burials in the Dutch Church, New York. New York, USA: Reformed Dutch Church, 1899. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  
• 1639-1695 - Marriages of the Reformed Dutch Church in New York, 1639-1695. New York, USA: New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1875. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
• 1639-1730 - New Amsterdam Dutch Reformed Church Baptisms 1639-1730, courtesy: Ancestral Things.
• 1649-1701 - Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam (New York City) Church Members' List, courtesy: Olive Tree Genealogy.
• 1686 - 1686 Membership List, Dutch Church, courtesy: New York State Historical Literature.
• 1688-1802 - New York French Church Baptisms 1688-1802, courtesy: Ancestral Things.
• 1688-1804 - Registers of the Births, Marriages, and Deaths of the "Eglise Françoise à la Nouvelle York": From 1688 to 1804. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1968. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
• 1702-1733 - Baptismal Record of the First Reformed Dutch Church at Jamaica, Long Island, Vol. 1, 1702 to 1733. 1912. Digital version at Internet Archive.
• 1725-1731 - Baptisms, Lutheran Church, New York City, courtesy: Betty Fink.
• 1731-1800 - New Amsterdam Dutch Reformed Church Baptisms 1731-1800, courtesy: Ancestral Things.
• 1733-1800 - Baptismal Record of the First Reformed Dutch Church at Jamaica, Long Island, Vol. 2, 1733-1800. Digital version at Internet Archive.
• 1736-1846 - Baptismal Record of the Reformed Dutch Church at Newtown, Long Island, New York, 1736 to 1846. Marriages by Rev. Garretson at Newtown from 1835 to 1846. 1913. Digital version at Internet Archive.
• 1741-1846 - Baptismal Record of the Reformed Dutch Church at Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, 1741-1846. 1913. Digital version at Internet Archive.
  

  
• 1783-1809 - "Records of Trinity Church Parish, New York City," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 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 ($); FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 90-93. Baptisms.
• 1793-1855 - Gritman, Charles T. Marriage Records, Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York: Register of Marriages Performed by the Rev. Marmaduke Earle, 1793-1855: at Stamford, Connecticut, 1793-1801, at Oyster Bay Long Island, 1802-1855, at New York City, in 1811. New York, 1926. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
• 1800-1851 - Baptismal Record of the First Reformed Dutch Church at Jamaica, Long Island, New York, Vol. III 1800 to 1851. 1913. Digital version at Internet Archive.
• 1802-1831 - Baptismal Record of the First Reformed Dutch Church at Jamaica, Long Island, New York, Vol. IV 1802-1831. 1913. Digital version at Internet Archive.
• 1806-1838 - Adriance, John. "Records of the Reformed Dutch Church at Harlem, N.Y.," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Marriages 1816-1836: Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jan. 1877):41-43; Baptisms 1806-1815, Marriages 1807-1813: Vol. 117, No. 4 (Oct. 1986):228-233; Marriages 1813-1814, Membership Lists 1806-1816, Baptisms 1816-1835: Vol. 118, No. 1 (Jan. 1987):31-38; Adult Baptisms 1816-1835: Vol. 118, No. 2 (Apr. 1987):95; Membership Lists 1816-1838: Vol. 118, No. 3 (Jul. 1987):161-164. Digital version of Volume 8 (only) at Internet Archive - free; New York Family History ($); FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 8, 117-118.
• 1824-1862 - New York, NY: Parish Register of All Saints' Church, 1824-1862 at New York Ancestors ($).
• 1827-1842- Marriages, Baptisms, and Confirmations of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, courtesy: Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society and the New-York Historical Society.
• 1834-1854 - Wolfert, Marion. Index to Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saint Matthew, New York City Records. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
• 1852-1864 - Marriages of the German Evangelical Reformed Church 1852-1864, courtesy: German Genealogy Group.
• 1862-1955 New York, New York City, Saint Peter's Lutheran Church Records, 1862-1955 - FamilySearch Historical Record Collections - free, Baptisms 1862-1871, 1884-1955; Marriages 1862-1955; Deaths 1862-1955.
• 23rd Street Presbyterian Church History, New York, New York, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives. Includes membership lists.

Additional Church Records

Additional church records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as New York (Manhattan) County, New York Church Records  in online catalogs like:

• York+county+new+york+church+records&qt=results_page WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
• Family History Library Catalog (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).

Court Records

Ancestors may have also been involved in municipal, state, or federal court cases. See also New York Court Records and United States Court Records.

Crime and Criminals

Directories

Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups

Gazetteers

Genealogy

• Rootsweb message board for New York (Manhattan) County, New York has many information threads about families that resided in that county. There is a search engine that allows you to search by surname and topic.
  

History

Jewish Records

Congregation Shearith Israel

Land and Property

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.

See New York Land and Property for more details, especially about the papers generated in New York State by large speculative land companies.

Original land records in New York (Manhattan) County, New York began in [?dateyear?]. These records are housed at the [?repository?] in [?town?].

Online

Microforms

Books

Additional land records can sometimes be found using these catalogs:

• WorldCat using the search phase: New York (Manhattan) County, New York deeds. (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog.)
• Family History Library Catalog using the search phrase: 1, New York - Land and Property. (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search.)

Additional resources

Additional resources for New York (Manhattan) County, New York land records may be found in the New York (Manhattan) County, New York – Land Records topic page of the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC). Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the Family History Library Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Maps

1863 Map of New York City and Vicinity from the David Rumsey Collection

Migration

Early migration routes to and from New York (Manhattan) County for European settlers included:^[15]

• the Atlantic Ocean, and Long Island Sound connected New York City with Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and South America
• Hudson River a navigable river stretching from north of Albany then flowing south to empty into the Atlantic Ocean at New York City

• Mohawk River
• Lake Champlain with connections to Richelieu River, Chambly Canal & St. Lawrence River
• Lake Champlain Trail pre-historic
• Champlain Canal 1823
• Erie Canal 1825

• Raritan River a navigable river which rises in Morris County and flows through central New Jersey past Manville to New Brunswick where it meets the tide.
• Great Shamokin Path a pre-historic Indian path from Long Island to Lake Erie mostly in Pennsylvania
• Port of New York City 1624 where ships from around the world brought immigrants, and boats could go up the Hudson River
• Albany Post Road (or Queen's Road, or King's Road) 1669
• King's Highway (or Boston Post Road) 1673 connected Boston, Massachusetts to Charleston, South Carolina and many coastal cities between
• Morris Canal 1831 connected Jersey City, New Jersey (and NY City) to Philipsburg, New Jersey on the Delaware River and part of Pennsylvania
• Delaware and Raritan Canal 1834 connected New Brunswick, New Jersey on the Raritan River (and NY City) to Bordontown, New Jersey on the Delaware River and parts of Pennsylvania

Military

Civil War service men in Brooklyn, New York served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their city or county.^[16]

- 132nd Regiment, New York Infantry

Naturalization and Citizenship

• 1824–1941 New York, Southern District Index to Petitions for Naturalization, 1828-1941 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.
  

• 1907-1924 New York County Supreme Court Naturalization Petition Index, 1907-24 at Ancestry ($).
  

• 1907-1924 Index to Declaration of Intent for Naturalization: New York County, 1907-1924 at Ancestry ($).
  

• 1917-1950 New York, Southern District Naturalization Index, 1917-1950 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.
  

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: FHL Film 1419807 (1st of 294 films). 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^[17]

Newspapers

Obituaries

Periodicals

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

Probate Records

Probate records including original estates and wills for New York are held in the office of the New York (Manhattan) County, New York County Surrogate Court beginning in 1787, or when the county was formed. Prior to 1787, most are housed at the New York State Archives. See New York Probate Records for more information about using probate records.
Content:  Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
Record types:  Wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distribution.

Probate Petitions

In 1830, state law required the Surrogate Court clerk to issue a probate petition for a deceased individual with property. This petition, unique to New York, usually lists the deceased's death date. It also lists the heirs, their relationship to the deceased, and their residence. ^{[18] [19]}

References

1. ↑ New York (New York), Department of Health, "Manhattan birth certificates, 1866-1897; birth index cards, 1866-1897" (Microfilmed by Recordak Corporation in 1963 of original records in the Municipal Archives, New York, New York). FHL Film 1323501 (543 films).
2. ↑ New York County (New York), County Clerk, "Marriage records (New York County, New York), 1830-1853, 1865" (Microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah in 1978 of original records in the New York County Courthouse). FHL Film 1023301.
3. ↑ Italian Genealogical Group, "New York City Death Index Manhattan 1868-1894" in Italian Genealogical Group at http://www.italiangen.org/NYCDEATH.STM (accessed 31 January 2012).
4. ↑ Rosanne Conway, Lists of Inhabitants of Colonial New York Excerpted from the Documentary History of the State of New York (Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1979), 5-12. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Fiche 6046723 (5 fiche); Book 974.7 D4L. Includes "New-York Army List, 1700."
5. ↑ New York County (New York), Register, "Conveyances, 1654-1866" (Microfilm made by Recordak Corporation in 1957-1958 of original records in New York County Courthouse, New York, New York). FHL Film 888232 (448 films).
6. ↑ "New York: Abstract of Wills, 1662-1801, New York County" in New England Historic Genealogical Society American Ancestors at http://www.americanancestors.org/search.aspx?Ca=094&Da=446 (accessed 31 January 2012).
7. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 490. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9} Kathryn Ford Thorne, New York Atlas of Historical County Boundaries (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1993), 33, and 118-19. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 974.7 E7t.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} Wikipedia contributors, "York Shire (Province of New York)" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_Shire_(Province_of_New_York) (accessed 7 January 2012).
10. ↑ Handybook, 478.
11. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Manhattan" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan (accessed 4 January 2012).
12. ↑ Wikipedia contributors , "The Bronx" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bronx (accessed 4 January 2012).
13. ↑ Arlene Eakle, and Johni Cerni, The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1984), 103. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27ts.
14. ↑ "Former Synagogues of NYC," UpFront with NGS: Blog of the National Genealogical Society, http://upfront.ngsgenealogy.org/2011/12/former-synagogues-of-nyc.html, accessed 29 December 2011.
15. ↑ Handybook, 847-61.
16. ↑ Frederick Phisterer, New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. (Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912). Internet Archive digital copy; At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Film 1486494-96; Fiche 6083559-64; Book 974.7 M2p.
17. ↑ Family History Library Catalog, FamilySearch, accessed 6 December 2011, http://www.familysearch.org.
18. ↑ Alice Eichholz, Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources, 3rd ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry Pub., 2004), 479. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27rb 2004.
19. ↑ Henry B. Hoff, "Navigating New York Probate," American Ancestors 12 (Fall 2011): 57.

These petitions are often found in the estate files and can be obtained from the New York (Manhattan) County Surrogate Court.
The petitions for New York (Manhattan) County, New York are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library and its centers:

• 19th century FHL has petitions interfiled by type of estate New York County Probate records. How to use Family History Library Catalog
  

Online Probate Indexes and Abstracts

• 1662-1801 - New York: Abstracts of Wills, 1662-1801, New York County at New York Ancestors ($).
  
• 1665-1916 - SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills.
  
• 1787-1835 Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787 - 1835 at New York Ancestors ($); includes New York (Manhattan) County, New York.^[1]
  

Probate Records on Microfilm

• 1662–1923 Index to Wills FHL Film 872164 (7 films)
• 1743–1910 Letters of Administration Index FHL Film 872170 (9 films)
• 1783–1834 Index to New York City Inventories of Estates FHL Film 514685
• 1807–1926 Rejected Wills Index FHL Film 912806
• 1828–1907 Decrees on Accounting Indexes FHL Film 872176–872177
• 1830–1929 Municipal Archive Indexes FHL Film 899357
• 1622–1786 Probate records, including wills, relative to the Southern District of the State of New York: filed with the State and delivered to the City and County of New York FHL Film 17411
• 1662–1923 Record of Wills FHL Film 872164 (525 films)
• 1743–1866 Letters of Administration Index FHL Film 872170 (53 films)
• 1810–1852 Accounts not in Decrees FHL Film 911786 (28 films)
• 1828–1907 Decrees on Accounting FHL Film 899300 (201 films)

Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts

Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as New York (Manhattan) County, New York probate wills in online catalogs like:

• WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
• Family History Library Catalog (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).

Repositories

Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in New York County (Manhattan), New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1988). At various libraries; FHL Book 974.71 A3g v.1–7. Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Archives, Libraries and Museums

Borough Historian

The County (Borough) Historian may provide access to obituaries, vital records, church records, maps, and family files or journals. Some historians provide search services for their office records and others may refer you to local genealogists who research in the area.

Manhattan Borough Historian's Office^[3]
Muicipal Building
1 Centre Steet, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10007
Phone:(212) 669-8089
Fax: (212) 669-4900

Community Historians

Community District #1
Oliver Allen^[4]
42 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10013

Community District #2
Doris Diether^[4]
107 Waverly Place
New York, NY 10011

Community District #3
Marion Fox^[4]
32 Monroe Street
New York, NY 10002

Community District #4
Mary Brendle^[4]
345 West 55st
New York, NY 10019

Community District #5
E. Michael Mowatt-Wynn^[4]
835 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10032

Community District #6
Lou Sepersky^[4]
420 East 55st
New York, NY 10022

Community District #7
M. Barry Schneider^[4]
340 East 64th Street
New York, NY 10021

Community District #9
Yuien Chin^[4]
37 Hamilton Place
New York, NY 10031

Community District #10
John T. Reddick^[4]
The Arsonal
64th Street and Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10021

Community District #11
Rose Pascale^[4]
331 East 116th Street
New York, NY 10029

Community District #12
James Renner^[4]
395 Ft. Washington Avenue
New York, NY 10033

Courthouses

For information about where the records for New York County are held, see the New York County Courthouse page

Family History Centers

Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources for family history research.

The main FHC for New York (Manhattan) County, New York is the New York City New York Family History Center. For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory.

Societies

Additional Resources: Guide to Genealogical and Historical Societies in New York City and State

Schools

• 1845 - Austin, John D. "Genealogical Data from the 1845 Report of the New-York Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 119, No. 4 (Oct. 1988):207-210; Vol. 120, No. 1 (Jan. 1989):32-34. Digital version at New York Family History ($); FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 119.

Social Groups Online

• New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)

Taxation

Town Records

Town records in New York may include early births, marriages, deaths, divorces, local histories, selected military records, and town meeting minutes. For further details, try the links to individual town Wiki pages found in Places. See also:

• Gordon L. Remington, New York Towns, Villages, and Cities: A Guide to Genealogical Sources (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002). NEHGS online edition; At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 974.7 D27r. Alphabetical list including date founded, if a town history exists, church and cemetery sources, and if a Civil War register (TCR) exists.

Vital Records

Birth

Birth records from 1847 to 1848 and 1853 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 FamilySearch Books Online. Birth records from 1909 to the present can be obtained from the New York City Department of Health ($).

• 1866-1897 Department of Health. Manhattan Birth Certificates, 1866-1897; Birth Index Cards, 1866-1897; FHL Film 1323501 (1st of 543 films).
  

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%.^[5]

• 1880-1909 New York City Birth index at German Genealogy Group - free.
  

• 1880-1909 New York City Births at Italian Genealogical Group - free.
  

• 1881-1965 Births Reported in the City of New York, 1881-1965; FHL Film 1322457 (1st of 30 films).
  

• 1881-1965 Birth Index at Vital Search ($).
  

• 1891-1902 New York Department of Health. Births Reported in the City of New York, 1891-1902. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  

Birth Substitutes

• 1640–1962 New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.
  

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

Marriage

Marriage records from 1847 to 1848 and 1853 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 FamilySearch Books Online. Marriage records from 1929 to the present can be obtained from the City Clerk of New York City ($).

• 1600s-1800s New York City Marriages, 1600s-1800s. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  

• 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($); At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Film 514675 Item 1 or 930131 Item 2. Marriage bonds issued in the State of New York prior to 1784, and the earliest record dating 1664.
  

• 1830-1854 Sawyer, Ray C. Marriages Performed by the Various Mayors and Aldermen of the City of New York, as Well as Justices of the Peace, etc.: 1830-1854. New York, 1989. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  

• 1830-1853, 1865 County Clerk. New York County Marriage Records, 1830-1853, 1865; FHL Film 1023301 Items 1 and 2.
  
• 1866-1937 New York City Grooms Index at Italian Genealogical Group - free.
  

• 1866-1937 New York City Grooms Record index at German Genealogy Group - free.
  

• 1866-1937 New York City Brides Record Index at German Genealogy Group - free.
  

• 1866-1937 New York City Brides Index at Italian Genealogical Group - free.
  

• 1888-1937 New York City Index to Marriages in All Boroughs, 1888-1937; 1653852 Items 1 - 2 (1st of 12 films).
  

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

Marriage Substitutes

• 1686-1980 New York Marriages, 1686–1890 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.
  

• 1788-1817 Index of Marriages and Deaths in New York Weekly Museum: 1788-1817. 1989. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  

• 1789-1796 Furman, Consuelo. Marriage and Death Notices from the New York Weekly Museum, 1789-1796. New York, 1990. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  

• 1790-1793 Furman, Robert. Marriage and Death Notices from the "New-York Weekly Museum", 1790-1793. New York, 1990. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  

• 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.
  

• 1801-1802 Ladies Magazine & Musical Repository, 1801-02 Marriages at RootsWeb - free.
  

• 1802-1821 The Evening Post Newspaper Marriage Announcements: New York 11 March 1802 -- 8 August 1821 at NYGenWeb - free.
  

• 1832-1851 County Clerk. Miscellaneous Filed Papers Index, 1812-1934; FHL Films 1002909 (1st of 17 films).
  
• 1835 1835 Marriages According to the NY Herald at Virginia New York Genealogy - free.
  

• 1835-1855 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).
  

• 1851-2003 Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage & 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.
  

• 1856-1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).
  

• 1860-1865 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York World at World Vital Records ($).
  

• 1864-5, 1874-5 See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for death information for 1864-5, and 1874-5.
  

• 1864-1870 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).
  

• 1871-1876 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).
  

• 1890 New York Herald Marriages 1890 at Virginia & New York Genealogy - free.
• Supplementary List of Marriage Licenses. Albany, N.Y.: University of the State of New York, 1986. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  

Divorce

Divorce judgment papers often include date and place of the marriage and the names and birthdates of any children. Local newspapers may publish notices of divorce actions.

• 1787-1840 Farrell, Charles. "Index to Matrimonial Actions 1787-1840, New York County Clerk's Office," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 129, No. 2 (Apr. 1998):81-88. Digital version at New York Family History ($); FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 129. Divorces and separations.

• 1784-1910 County Clerk. Index to Matrimonial Actions, 1784-1910; FHL Films 1017465-1017467. Contains index to divorces, annulments, and separations.
  

Death

Death records from 1795, 1802 to 1804, 1808, and 1812 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 FamilySearch Books Online. Death records from 1948 to the present can be obtained from the New York City Department of Health ($).

• 1868-1948 New York City Death Index at German Genealogy Group - free.
  

• 1868-1948 New York City Death Records Search 1891-1948 at Italian Genealogical Group - free.
  

• 1888-1965 Department of Health. Index to Deaths, New York City, 1888-1965; FHL Film 1324912 Item 1 (1st of 20 films).
  

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

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

Death Substitutes

• 1748-1758 Sypher, F.J. and John Burnet. Minutes of Coroners Proceedings: City and County of New York, John Burnet, Coroner, 1748-1758. New York, N.Y.: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 2004. FHL Book 974.71 V2s.
  

• 1788-1817 Index of Marriages and Deaths in New York Weekly Museum: 1788-1817. 1989. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  

• 1789-1796 Furman, Consuelo. Marriage and Death Notices from the New York Weekly Museum, 1789-1796. New York, 1990. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  

• 1790-1793 Furman, Robert. Marriage and Death Notices from the "New-York Weekly Museum", 1790-1793. New York, 1990. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  

• 1795–1952 New York Deaths and Burials, 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."
  

• 1801-1802 Ladies Magazine & Musical Repository, 1801-02 Deaths at RootsWeb - free.
  

• 1814-1816 Jensen, Howard. New York City Deaths, 1814-16. Digital version at Ancestry ($). Taken from 1815 and 1816 city directories.
  

• 1835-1855 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).
  

• 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 & 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.
  

• 1856-1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).
  

• 1860-1865 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York World at World Vital Records ($).
  

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

• 1864-5, 1874-5 See Mortality Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for death information for 1864-5, and 1874-5.
  

• 1864-1870 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).
  

• 1871-1876 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).
  

• 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

• 1841-1846 Barber, Gertrude A. Miscellaneous Vital Statistics Other than Death and Marriage Notices Taken from the "Brooklyn Eagle". 1991. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Additional resources for New York County births, marriages and deaths may be found in the New York, New York– Vital Records topic page of the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC). Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FHLC may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the Family History Library Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Voting Registers

Web Sites

• The New York (Manhattan) County NYGenWeb Project, an member of The NYGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
• The USGenWeb Archives Project for New York County.
• The USGenWeb Archives Project for New York County. (Backup site)
• New York County Genealogy

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References

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