Bronx Borough, New York Genealogy

(Redirected from Bronx County, New York)

Guide to Bronx Borough (previously Bronx County), New York ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

This page describes sources of genealogical data about Bronx Borough, New York Genealogy families, including links to smaller localities at the bottom of this page. New York-related pages show useful statewide sources. United States pages explain the terminology and contents of genealogical records. Information about Bronx County is included here.


Bronx Borough, New York
Map
Map of New York highlighting Bronx Borough
Location in the state of New York
Map of the U.S. highlighting New York
Location of New York in the U.S.
Facts
Founded January 1, 1914
County Seat New York City
Courthouse
New York, Bronx County Courthouse.png
Address Office of Bronx Borough President
851 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10451
Bronx Website


New York City map with the Bronx highlighted in yellow.

Bronx Borough, New York Historical Facts

Description

The county was named for Jonas Bronck. The county is located in the southeast area of the state. [1]

Bronx Borough, New York Record Dates

Officially, the Borough of Bronx is one of five boroughs of New York City since 1914. The county is coterminous with the Borough of Bronx (meaning they have identical borders.) Generally, Bronx Borough refers to city government and Bronx County refers to state government. Although colloquially called, "The Bronx," the official name is, "Bronx."

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[2]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1898 1897 1898 1914 1657 1914 1663
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1880. General compliance for births by 1915 and deaths by 1890.


Parent county: In 1914 Bronx was created as a separate borough of New York City mostly from the mainland part of New York (Manhattan) County. [3] [4]

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).[4] [5]
1683 New York extinguished Yorkshire. What later became the Bronx was then created part of Westchester County from part of Yorkshire.[4] [5]
1874 The West Bronx was annexed to New York County.[4] [6]
1895 Areas east of the Bronx River were annexed to New York County.[4] [6]
1898 What became the five boroughs were consolidated into New York City, and her county governments were dissolved. Bronx joined New York City attached to Manhattan.[6]
1914 Bronx was separated from Manhattan. Bronx borough/county borders are the same.[4] [6]

Bronx map 1873.png
Bronx map 1874.png
Bronx map 1895.png





































Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Bronx Borough New York Genealogy Resources

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

Online Grave Transcripts Published Grave Transcripts County Cemetery Directories
Findagrave.com* FamilySearch Library* Findagrave.com*
Interment.net* WorldCat* Tombstone Project*
New York Gravestones* Names in Stone*
NYGenWeb* BillionGraves*
BillionGraves* FamilySearch Places
Names in Stone*
Linkpendium*
Ancestry*
*See the New York Cemeteries page for details about each site.

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

Census

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1790 1,781
1800 1,755 −1.5%
1810 2,267 29.2%
1820 2,782 22.7%
1830 3,023 8.7%
1840 5,346 76.8%
1850 8,032 50.2%
1860 23,593 193.7%
1870 37,393 58.5%
1880 51,980 39.0%
1890 88,908 71.0%
1900 200,507 125.5%
1910 430,980 114.9%
1920 732,016 69.8%
1930 1,265,258 72.8%
1940 1,394,711 10.2%
1950 1,451,277 4.1%
1960 1,424,815 −1.8%
1970 1,471,701 3.3%
1980 1,168,972 −20.6%
1990 1,203,789 3.0%
2000 1,332,650 10.7%
2010 1,385,108 3.9%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

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

Before the annexation, see Westchester County.

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.[7]
  • 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 FS Library Films 1415128–42.
State
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City

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.

Online Records

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Local Catholic Church and Family History & Genealogical Research Guide is a free online resource that identifies the parishes of the Bronx, years when parishes were created, contact information, as well as links to online records and research tips. Bronx is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York.

  • Records of Burials in the Dutch Church, New York. New York, USA: Reformed Dutch Church, 1899. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  • 1838-1918 West Farms Reformed Church FS Library film 960993-960994 Minutes of consistory meetings, lists of members, records of marriages and baptisms, 1838-1866, Minutes of consistory meetings, 1866-1918
  • 1886-1925 Zion German Presbyterian Church FS Library film 960995 Contains minutes of meetings, lists of officers and members, records of baptisms, marriages and deaths. Text in German and English.

Church Histories

  • Frederick L. Attwood, History of Fordham Manor Reformed Church: 2703 Reservoir Avenue, Bronx, New York, 1696-1946 (Bronx, N.Y.?: The Church?, 1946). Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  • John Campbell, History of the Church of the Mediator: Kingsbridge, New York (New York: unknown, 1990). Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  • Atley W. Henry, Fordham Manor Reformed Church: 2703 Reservoir Avenue, New York 63, New York: 250th Anniversary Historical Pageant (Bronx, N.Y.?: The Church?, 1991). Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  • 250th Anniversary Services Celebrating the Foundation of Fordham Manor Reformed Church: 2703 Reservoir Avenue, New York 63, New York : November 17, through November 24, 1946 (Bronx, N.Y.?: The Church?, 1991). Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Additional Church Records

Additional church records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Bronx Borough, New York Genealogy Church Records in online catalogs like:

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

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political or Religious Groups

Maps and Gazetteers

New York County (Manhattan Borough)Queens County (Borough)Westchester CountyBergen CountyNY BRONX.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Genealogy

History

Origins and name of Bronx

  • Bronx was called Rananchqua by the native Siwanoy band of Lenape ("the Delawares" to Europeans), while other Native Americans knew the area as Keskeskeck. It was divided by the Aquahung River.
  • Jonas Bronck (died 1643), a Dutch sea-captain born in Sweden (about 1600), entering New Netherland in 1639, became the first recorded European settler in the area. He leased land from the Dutch West India Company on the neck of the mainland immediately north of the Dutch settlement in Harlem, and bought additional tracts from the local tribes. He eventually accumulated 500 acres (about 200 hectares, 2 square km, or 3/4 of a square mile) between the Harlem River and the Aquahung, which became known as Bronck's River, or "the Bronx". Dutch and English settlers referred to the area as Bronck's Land.

Before 1914

  • The development of Bronx is directly connected to its strategic location between New England and New York (Manhattan). Control over the bridges across the Harlem River plagued the period of British colonial rule. Kingsbridge, built in 1693 where Broadway reached the Spuyten Duyvil Creek, was a possession of the lords of Philipse Manor. The tolls they charged were resented by Bronx farmers with crops and cattle to sell in New York. It was angry farmers who built a "free bridge" across the Harlem River which led to the abandonment of tolls altogether.
  • The territory now contained within Bronx County was originally part of Westchester County, one of the 12 original counties of the English Province of New York. The present Bronx County was contained in the town of Westchester and parts of the towns of Yonkers, Eastchester, and Pelham. In 1846, a new town, West Farms, was created by division of Westchester; in turn, in 1855, the town of Morrisania was created from West Farms. In 1873, the town of Kingsbridge (roughly corresponding to the modern Bronx neighborhoods of Kingsbridge, Riverdale, and Woodlawn) was established within the former borders of Yonkers.
  • The consolidation of Bronx into New York City proceeded in two stages. In 1873, the state legislature annexed Kingsbridge, West Farms and Morrisania to New York, effective in 1874; the three towns were abolished in the process.[20][21] In 1895, three years before New York's consolidation with Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, the whole of the territory east of the Bronx River, including the Town of Westchester (which had voted in 1894 against consolidation) and portions of Eastchester and Pelham, were annexed to the city. City Island, a nautical community, voted to join the city in 1896.
  • 1 January 1898: The consolidated City of New York was born, including Bronx as one of the five distinct Boroughs. (At the same time the Bronx's territory moved from Westchester County into New York County, which already contained Manhattan and the rest of pre-1874 New York City.)
  • 19 April 1912: Those parts of New York County which had been annexed from Westchester County in the past decades were newly constituted as Bronx County, the 62nd and last county to be created by the state, effective in 1914. Bronx County's courts opened for business on January 2, 1914 (the same day that John P. Mitchel started work as Mayor of New York City). Source:Bronx_County, New York

Jewish Records

The Museum of Family History has compiled a list of synagogues that operated in Bronx. Synagogue names, addresses, and town associations (nationalities) are included.[8]

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 Bronx Borough, New York Genealogy began in [?dateyear?]. These records are housed at the [?repository?] in [?town?].

Online Land Indexes and Records


Microforms

  • 1657-1895 Certified copies of Westchester County (now Bronx County) deeds, 1657-1895 FS Library film 1413001 (first of 90 films - Index included: Grantees and grantors 1667 - 1895. One needs to search the indexes first since the libers (volumes) in the FamilySearch Catalog do not list years. When using the indexes be sure to record liber and page numbers from the New York column. The records include "general and referees' deeds, leases, easements, reservations and other instruments except mortgages, affecting the right, title and interest in real property, showing names of grantor, grantee, witness or other principal parties ... Arr. chron. by date of certification."
  • 1874-1890 Conveyances of land originally in New York County (now Bronx County), New York, 1874-1890 FS Library film 1413005 (first of 23 films - Grantee and Grantor indexes included: 1874 - 1890. Deeds are organized according to New York liber numbers and "original page numbers" rather than Bronx liber and page numbers. When using indexes be sure to record liber and page numbers from the New York column. Records include "Certified copies of general and referees' deeds, leases, easements, reservations, and other instruments except mortgages, affecting the right, title and interest to real property located in sections 9-13 and recorded in the New York County register's office ... Arr. chron. by date instrument recorded in New York County register's office."

Books

Additional land records can sometimes be found using these catalogs:

Additional resources

Additional resources for Bronx Borough, New York Genealogy land records may be found in the Bronx Borough, New York Genealogy – Land Records topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog . Copies of records on FS Library microfilm and microfiche may be available for viewing at various FamilySearch Centers. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Maps

Nybronx.jpg

Migration

Early migration routes to and from Bronx County for European settlers included:

Military Records

Civil War

Civil War service men in Bronx County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county.

- 5th Regiment, New York Infantry (Duryee Zouaves), Company F.
- 6th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery, Companies C, H and K.
- 17th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company C.
- 20th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company H.
- 78th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B and C.
-135th Regiment, New York Infantry

Naturalization and Citizenship

Indexes

The FamilySearch Library has also acquired this comprehensive index for the years 1792 through 1906 on microfilm: FS Library 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[9]

Newspapers

Obituaries

Occupations

Periodicals

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

Probate Records

West Bronx (west of the Bronx River)

East Bronx (east of the Bronx River)

Online Probate Indexes and Records

Repositories

Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Bronx County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1988). ExLibris digital copy - free; At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.7275 A3g Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Archives, Libraries, and Museums

Bronx Library Center
New York Public Library
310 East Kingsbridge Road
Bronx, New York 10458
Phone: 718-579-4244
Website

City Island Historical Society and Nautical Museum
190 Fordham Street
P.O. Box 82
Bronx, New York 10464
Phone: 718-885-0008
Email: CIHS@cityislandmuseum.org
Website
Focuses on nautical, marine, sailing, boat-building history and City Island families.

Kingsbridge Historical Society
426 West 259th Street
Bronx, New York 10471
Phone: 718-796-1195
Website

Leonard Lief Library - Lehman College
250 Bedford Park Blvd West
Bronx, New York 10468-1589
Phone: 718-960-8577 and 718-960-7766
Email: libref@lehman.cuny.edu
Website

City Register

Office of the City Register - Official record of real estate and personal property transfers, recording deeds and mortgages

City Clerk's Office

City Clerk's Office
Bronx Office
Supreme Court Building
851 Grand Concourse
Bronx, New York 10451
Phone: 718-590-5307

  • Marriages from 1866 to 1907
  • After 1907 if bride's residence or licenses of nonresidents was obtained in the Bronx
County Historian's Office

Bronx Borough Historian
3309 Bainbridge Avenue
Bronx, New York 10467
Phone: 718-881-8901
The County 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.

Courthouses

The County Clerk's office has marriage, divorce, court and naturalization records. For further information about where the records for Bronx County are held, see the Bronx County Courthouses page.

Societies

The Bronx County Historical Society

Administration Office
3309 Bainbridge Avenue
The Bronx, NY 10467
Phone: (718) 881-8900
Fax: (718) 881-4827
Email: administration@bronxhistoricalsociety.org
Hours: Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm
Facebook
Research Library
3309 Bainbridge Avenue
The Bronx, NY 10467
Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 9 am - 5 pm by appointment only
To book an appointment or for general questions, contact the librarian at (718) 881-8900
Email: librarian@bronxhistoricalsociety.org
The Bronx County Archives
Hours: Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm by appointment only
To book an appointment, contact the archivist via email at archivist@bronxhistoricalsociety.org

Social Groups Online

Taxation

Town Records

Town records in New York may include early births, marriages, deaths, divorces, local histories, selected military records, and town meeting minutes. Vital records from 1880/1882 are kept by town and village clerks, although some (Kent’s and Putnam Valley’s) are available in the County Historian’s Office. See:

  • New York Towns, Villages, and Cities: A Guide to Genealogical Sources by Gordon L. Remington. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002. FS Library Book 974.7 D27r; At various libraries (WorldCat); 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 1898 to 1909 are held at the New York City Municipal Archives. They are also available on microfilm at the FamilySearch Library. A digital version of the FamilySearch Library's guide to New York City birth records is available. Birth records from 1909 to the present can be obtained from the New York City Department of Health ($).

Birth Substitutes

Marriage

Marriage records from 1898 to 1937 are held at the New York City Municipal Archives. They are also available on microfilm at the FamilySearch Library. A digital version of the FamilySearch Library's guide to New York City marriages is available at FamilySearch Digital Library. Marriage records from 1929 to the present can be obtained from the City Clerk of New York City ($).

Marriage Substitutes

Divorce
  • Pre–1787 All divorces were granted by the governor or legislature and were very rare.
  • 1787–1847 All divorces were granted by the court of chancery. These records are found in the New York State Archives or for the New York City area at the New York County Clerk's office.These divorces were granted only on the grounds of adultery.
  • 1847–present All divorces are handled by the county Supreme Court where the divorce was granted. Divorce files in New York are sealed for 100 years. Contact the County Clerk for information about divorce records.

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.

Death

Death records from 1898 to 1948 are held at the New York City Municipal Archives. They are also available on microfilm at the FamilySearch Library. A digital version of the FamilySearch Library's guide to New York City death records is available. Death records from 1948 to the present can be obtained from the New York City Department of Health ($).

Death Substitutes

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Bronx County births, marriages and deaths may be found in the New York, Bronx– Vital Records topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog . Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Voting Records

Places


Research Facilities

Archives

FamilySearch Centers

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

  • FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
  • FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

Bronx Borough, New York Genealogy Websites

References

  1. Wikipedia contributors, "Bronx, New York" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bronx accessed 19 Nov 2018
  2. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Bronx Borough, New York. Page 488-493 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 490-492.
  3. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 488. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Kathryn Ford Thorne, New York Atlas of Historical County Boundaries (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1993), 33, 118-19, and 207-209. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.7 E7t.
  5. 5.0 5.1 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 16 December 2011).
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Wikipedia contributors , "The Bronx" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bronx (accessed 4 January 2012).
  7. Arlene Eakle, and Johni Cerni, The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1984), 103. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27ts.
  8. "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.
  9. FamilySearch Catalog, FamilySearch, accessed 6 December 2011, https://www.familysearch.org.