New York Vital Records: Difference between revisions

New York Vital Records (view source)

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-== Records of Births and Deaths  ==
+== Overview ==
+Among the laws of the Colony of New York set down in 1664 (following the capture of New York from the Dutch) was the requirement that "The Minister or Town Clark of every parrish shall well and truly and plainly Record all Births Marriages and Burials that shall happen within his Respective parrish, in a Book to be provided by the Churchwardener for that purpose." <ref>''The Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution,'' (Albany, NY: James B. Lyon, State Printer, 1894), p. 19. Digital version at [http://books.google.com/books?id=QKAAAAIAA Google Books]. </ref> Though most communities in New York interpreted this law to mean that the churches were responsible for keeping vital records, there were some marriages licenses recorded by civil authorities. (See Records of Marriages below.)
-Statewide registration of vital statistics began in 1880 and was usually complied with by 1890 for deaths and by 1915 for births. In some areas of Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley, some births, marriages, and deaths were recorded in town records as early as about 1665. For example, Amenia, Dutchess County, has vital records beginning in 1749. Few towns complied with this early law, however. "Governor Andros, when asked by London in 1677 to report the number of births, marriages, and deaths in the colony for the past seven years, replied 'noe account can bee given' of any of these events, because 'Ministers have been soe scarse, and Religions many.'" Lack of an established church explains why New York's vital records are inferior to those of neighboring New England.<ref>"New York's Vital Records Law of 1665," ''The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record,'' Vol. 132, No. 3 (Jul. 2001):170. Digital version at [http://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/public-elibrary New York Family History] ($); {{FHL|161380|item|disp=FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 132}}.</ref><br>
-Births, marriages, and deaths were also recorded for a short time in most counties from 1847 to about 1850. The state legislature passed a law in 1847 requiring school district clerks to send information to the Secretary of State. The law was difficult to enforce, and most school districts stopped doing this by 1852. Historical societies have some of these records, but most are still in the possession of town and county clerks. The very few 1847–1850 vital records that were once on deposit in the New York State Archives have been returned to the towns that deposited them at the archives.<ref>Roger D. Joslyn, "Town of Ramapo Births in 1847," ''The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record,'' Vol. 132, No. 3 (Jul. 2001):168-170. Digital version at [http://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/public-elibrary New York Family History] ($); {{FHL|161380|item|disp=FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 132}}.</ref>
+After the American Revolution, any attempt by civil authorities to record vital events in the State of New York stopped. A meeting of the National Medical Convention in Philadelphia held in 1847 changed all that when a resolution was passed to encourage statewide registration of births, marriages, and deaths via legislation from the individual states. New York jumped on board with the resolution and passed a law requiring the registration of vital events. Unfortunately, the resulting law was convoluted. The trustees of each school district (there were over 10,000 school districts in New York at the time) were required to review the records of the local midwives and doctors and compile births, marriages and deaths and report them to the local town or city clerk. The town and city clerks were compile and submit a report to the county clerk who then reported to the Secretary State. The Secretary of State was then required to submit a report to the State Legislature. Though most communities registered vital events for 1847, the practice quickly fell into disfavor and few towns and cities compiled vital records after 1850.<ref>The Historical Records Survey, ''Guide to Public Vital Records in New York State (Including New York City),'' (Albany, NY: Works Projects Administration, 1942), v. 1, pp. vii-viii.</ref>
-Some cities had pre-1880 registration, such as&nbsp;:
+In the years following the failed 1847 law, some of the cities in New York did start keeping their own vital records. The vital records for this time period are held by the cities that created them and copies are not on file with the state. The cities that kept early vital records included:
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+In 1880, New York created a State Board of Health which was given the responsibility of overseeing the registration of vital statistics. The State Board of Health established a Vital Records division. New York then passed a law that required births, marriages, and deaths be reported to the town, village, or city clerk within three days of their occurrence. The local clerks were then to create a copy of each vital record and forward the originals to the State Board of Health. An 1888 addendum established  penalties for those who failed to report vital events. Because Albany, Buffalo, Yonkers, New York, and Brooklyn were already keeping their own vital records when the 1880 Law was passed, they were considered exempt. ''Guide to Public Vital Records in New York State (Including New York City),'' (Albany, NY: Works Projects Administration, 1942), v. 1, pp. xi.</ref>
+== Records of Births and Deaths  ==
+Statewide registration of vital statistics began in 1880 and was usually complied with by 1890 for deaths and by 1915 for births. In some areas of Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley, some births, marriages, and deaths were recorded in town records as early as about 1665. For example, Amenia, Dutchess County, has vital records beginning in 1749. Few towns complied with this early law, however. "Governor Andros, when asked by London in 1677 to report the number of births, marriages, and deaths in the colony for the past seven years, replied 'noe account can bee given' of any of these events, because 'Ministers have been soe scarse, and Religions many.'" Lack of an established church explains why New York's vital records are inferior to those of neighboring New England.<ref>"New York's Vital Records Law of 1665," ''The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record,'' Vol. 132, No. 3 (Jul. 2001):170. Digital version at [http://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/public-elibrary New York Family History] ($); {{FHL|161380|item|disp=FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 132}}.</ref><br>
+Births, marriages, and deaths were also recorded for a short time in most counties from 1847 to about 1850. The state legislature passed a law in 1847 requiring school district clerks to send information to the Secretary of State. The law was difficult to enforce, and most school districts stopped doing this by 1852. Historical societies have some of these records, but most are still in the possession of town and county clerks. The very few 1847–1850 vital records that were once on deposit in the New York State Archives have been returned to the towns that deposited them at the archives.<ref>Roger D. Joslyn, "Town of Ramapo Births in 1847," ''The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record,'' Vol. 132, No. 3 (Jul. 2001):168-170. Digital version at [http://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/public-elibrary New York Family History] ($); {{FHL|161380|item|disp=FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 132}}.</ref>
 <br>You can learn more about the history and availability of vital records in ''Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in New York State (Including New York City)''. <ref>''Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in New York State (Including New York City)'', three Volumes. (Albany, New York: Historical Records Survey, 1942; ({{FHL|173798|item}} 974.7 V23h; film 928101]; fiche 6046676).</ref> The Family History Library has vital records for a few counties, mostly from 1847–1850 and marriages from 1908 to the 1930s.
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 '''Where can I find the New York Vital Records Index?'''<br>
-Ten copies of the official New York state microfiche index are available to be searched in New York. This index does not cover New York City, Yonkers, Albany or Buffalo. Without this list, these copies can be difficult to locate because of misinformation and a limited web presence. The New York State Library website itself is misleading: "The Indexes are currently available upstate only at the New York State Archives, and Rochester Public Library... The National Archives and Records Administration's Northeast Region office in New York City also has the Indexes."<ref>New York State Library, URL: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/genealogy/vitrec.htm, Page location: NYSED / OCE / NYSL / Research Library / Collections / Genealogy / Vital Records. Last Updated: June 21, 2011.</ref> Again, these are '''not''' the only 3 locations. The New York State Archives website lists the following information:<ref>New York State Archives website, page location = Research: Topics: Genealogy: Vital Records, http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/research/res_topics_gen_vitalstats.shtml. Updated March 2011.</ref><br>Copies of the microfiche index to vital records certificates held by the NYS Department of Health are located at the following locations: <span id="1313449430259S" style="display: none">&nbsp;</span>
+Ten copies of the official New York state microfiche index are available to be searched in New York. This index does not cover New York City, Yonkers, Albany or Buffalo. Without this list, these copies can be difficult to locate because of misinformation and a limited web presence. The New York State Library website itself is misleading: "The Indexes are currently available upstate only at the New York State Archives, and Rochester Public Library... The National Archives and Records Administration's Northeast Region office in New York City also has the Indexes."<ref>New York State Library, URL: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/genealogy/vitrec.htm, Page location: NYSED / OCE / NYSL / Research Library / Collections / Genealogy / Vital Records. Last Updated: June 21, 2011.</ref> Again, these are '''not''' the only 3 locations. The New York State Archives website lists the following information:<ref>New York State Archives website, page location = Research: Topics: Genealogy: Vital Records, http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/research/res_topics_gen_vitalstats.shtml. Updated March 2011.</ref><br>Copies of the microfiche index to vital records certificates held by the NYS Department of Health are located at the following locations: <span style="display: none" id="1313449430259S">&nbsp;</span>
 . New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Empire State Plaza, Albany 12230. Available Monday through Friday, 9:00-4:30, and Saturday, 9:30-4:30 except State holidays. No appointment is needed to use the indexes. Researchers must produce identification, sign a registration form, and comply with the rules of the research room. Several microfiche readers are available for use, however, researchers will be limited to one hour's use of a microfiche reader, if other persons are waiting to use the readers. Note: Staff will search index for a fee.<br>2. National Archives--Northeast Region, 201 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014; telephone (212) 401-1620, email newyork.archives@nara.gov; website www.archives.gov/nyc/<br>3. Rochester Public Library--115 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604; telephone (585) 428-8440, website www3.libraryweb.org<br>4. Onondaga County Public Library, 447 South Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13202; telephone (315) 435-1900; website www.onlib.org. Note: Staff will conduct a basic look-up at [http://www.unyg.com/blog/index.php/2008/03/vital-records-lookups-update-to-the-update/ no charge.]<br>5. Buffalo &amp; Erie County Public Library, Grosvenor Room, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203; telephone (716) 858-8900; website www.buffalolib.org/<br>6. Steele Memorial Library—101 East Church Street, Elmira, NY 14901; telephone (607) 733-8603; website www.steele.lib.ny.us<br>7. Crandall Public Library, Center for Folklife, History &amp; Cultural Programs—251 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801; telephone (518) 792-6508; website www.crandalllibrary.org<br>8. Patchogue-Medford Library—54 E. Main Street, Patchogue, NY 11772; telephone (631) 654-4700; website www.pmlib.org<br>9. Flower Memorial Library—229 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601; telephone (315) 785-7705; website www.flowerlibrary.org<br>10. Broome County Public Library—185 Court Street, Binghamton, NY 13901; telephone (607) 778-6400; website www.bclibrary.info/index.html<br><br>
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 '''Registrar of Vital Statistics'''<br>City Hall<br>Yonkers, NY 10701<br>Telephone: 914-964-3066 <br>Internet: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nysuffol/vroi.html
 '''New York City'''. The New York City counties of Kings, Queens, Richmond, and New York were established in 1683. The Bronx was made a separate borough when the five boroughs were created in 1898, and in 1914 it was made a separate county as well. Between 1898 and 1914 the Bronx was part of New York County but not part of the Borough of Manhattan. For more in-depth treatment of vital records in New York City and its bouroughs [[New York City, New York#Vital_Recotfd|Click Here]].<br>
 == Marriage Records<br>  ==