Step-by-Step New York Research, 1880-Present

New York

Research 1880--present

Step-by-Step New York Research 1880--to the present Table of Contents
1. Contact living relatives. 2. Online census records. 3. Births, marriages, and deaths online. 4. Obituary, cemetery and Social Security records online. 5. Military records online. 6. Church records. 7. Wills and probate. 8. Immigration records. 9. Printed local histories or biographies. 10. Historical or genealogical societies. 11. FamilySearch tools. 12. County records.

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Some online records have restrictions, due to contractual agreements, allowing them to be used only at FamilySearch Centers or FamilySearch Affiliate Library. This pop-up warning has links to lists of addresses of the many affiliate libraries that are available throughout the world. Subscription websites such as Ancestry.com, FindMyPast, and MyHeritage and many others offer complimentary service at these affiliate libraries and at most local libraries.

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Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.

Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.

What are the best questions to ask?

In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :

• 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History at ThoughtCo.com
• Creating Oral Histories at FamilySearch Wiki

What documents should be collected or copied?

Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.

Announcements of births, weddings, and anniversaries Baby and wedding books Certificates Deeds, and property records Family Bibles Family reunion notices and records Fraternal or society records Insurance policies

Journals and diaries Letters and cards Licenses (business, marriage, fishing, driving) Naturalization documents Newspaper clippings and obituaries Medical records Military service and pension documents Occupational awards

Passports Personal histories and biographies Photograph albums Printed Notices and Announcements Programs (graduation, award ceremonies, funerals) School records Scrapbooks Wills and trusts

Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.

A census is a count and description of the population of a country, state, county, or city for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day. For each person living in a household you might find (depending on the year) their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military.

Use the clues found through family sources to lead to census record searches.

Let's assume that, for example, that this marriage certificate is found in the home of a relative. Analyzing this document tells which census records to search for the family. Edward E. Schwert and Virginia Peters were married in June of 1940 in New York. The certificate also details their birth information. He was born in 1913, she in 1914, both in Buffalo, New York.

Edward and Virginia Schwert should be listed in the 1950, 1940, a 1930, 1920, and 1910 U.S. censuses of New York, and in the 1925 and 1915 state censuses of New York. Up through 1940, they could be listed in the homes of their parents. 1950 census of Belmont, Allegay, New York The family of Edward and Virginia Schwert, with children David, Donald, and Douglas.

We find Edward Schwert in 1940 lodging in the household of a seemingly unrelated family.

In 1930, Edward is in Buffalo, Erie, New York, with his mother, Catherine; a sister, Gladys; and a brother, Kenneth. He is 15 years old.

In 1925, Edward is with his parents, Joseph and Catherine Schwert, sister, Gladys, and brother, Kenneth. We cannot locate the family in 1920, using indexed records. Reading the original census of Buffalo might locate them, however. In 1915, there is a 30-day-old baby, Edward, in the home of Joseph and Catherine Schwert. This does not match the birthdate of the adult Edward. There is time for this Edward to die and a second Edward to be born. This needs further investigation.

Using census records to research for an older generation.

In the 1915 census, Joseph A. Schwert was described as 30 years old, putting his birth in about 1885, in New York.

Starting in 1910 working back through time, we find Joseph in several censuses in the home of Frank C. and Julia K. Schwert, both from Germany. Frank was born in November 1851. Julia was born in May, 1854. Their oldest son, John was also born in Germany. Piecing together all the information in these records, we identify these children in the family: John, born November 1880/81 Frank, born January 1883 Joseph, born June 1884 Elizabeth, born November 1886 Paul, born January1888 Martha, born April 1892 The 1900 census is the most detailed census. One important fact is found in the 1900 census, which shows that Frank, Julia, and John Schwert immigrated to the United States in 1881.

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Look for ancestors in as many censuses as possible.
Use the clues from each census for hints where to find families in both earlier and later census records.

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1850 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com 1860 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com 1870 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com 1880 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com 1900 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com

1910 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com 1920 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com 1930 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com 1940 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com 1950 census: NARA Index FamilySearch Images

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NewYork State Census Records:

• New York, State Census, 1892
• New York, State Census, 1905
• New York, State Census, 1915
• New York, State Census, 1925

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For more information, see New York Census and United States Census.

Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.

States, counties, or even towns in some states recorded births, marriages, and deaths.

• In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations. *A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
• A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.

Using census clues to lead to a birth certificate.

Census information gives approximate birth years and probable birth places, and that information leads to finding important birth records.

Edward and Virginia (Peters) Schwert had three sons listed in the 1950 census, all born in New York:

• David P. Schwert, age 8, born in about 1942
• Douglas P., age 4, born in about 1946
• Donald P., born that year

In the various New York birth indexes available online, this record shows up:

Using census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.

Finding marriage records can:

• establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
• find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.
  

Guess that the marriage would be recorded searching in the year of the first child's birth working backwards in time.

Examples of marriage index entries.

Using the census clues to lead to a death certificate.

Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death:

• birth date and place of the deceased
• maiden name of the wife
• names of the deceased's parents
• birth places of the deceased's parents.

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Example of death index entry.

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The examples shown above are index entries. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate.

How to Find the Records

There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates:

• online databases
• writing to a town clerk
• purchasing them from the state through the mail (New York except New York City New York City at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov

Online databases, usually indexes, with some images

• This chart gives links to some New York online databases for these records:

1640-1962 New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index 1660-1862 New York Baptisms 1660-1862 at Findmypast — index & images ($) 1704-1962 New York, Church and Civil Births and Baptisms, 1704-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index 1875-1916 New York, Yonkers, Birth and Death Registration and Indexes, 1875-1916 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index 1878-1909 New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Birth Index, 1878-1909 at Ancestry — index ($) 1879-1909 Searching the New York City Birth Index in One Step at Steve Morse — index 1881-1942 New York, Birth Index, 1881-1942 at MyHeritage — index & images ($) 1881-1942 New York, Birth Indexes outside of New York City, 1881-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index Also, see How to Find New York Birth Records.

1600-1784 New York, U.S., Marriage Index, 1600-1784 at Ancestry — index ($) 1686-1980 New York Marriages, 1686-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images Pre-1699 American Marriages Before 1699 at Ancestry — index ($) 1784 Names of Persons for Whom Marriage Licenses Were Issued by the Secretary of the Province of New York, Previous to 1784 at Ancestry — index & images ($) 1800-1855 New York, U.S., Marriage Notices, 1800-1855 at Ancestry — index ($) 1801-1880 New York, U.S., Marriage Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1880 (Barber Collection) at Ancestry — index & images ($) 1847-1936 New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images 1864-1937 Searching the New York City Marriage Indexes in One Step 1864-1937 at SteveMorse — index 1866-1937 New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937 at Ancestry — index ($) 1868-1871 New Canaan (CT) Era: Marriages and Deaths in New York State, 1868-1871 at American Ancestors — index & images ($) 1881-1967 New York State, Marriage Index, 1881-1967 at Ancestry — index & images ($) 1950-1995 New York, New York City Marriage Licenses Index, 1950-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images New York Marriage Records at LDS Genealogy — index New York Marriages Index at Gen Lookups — index The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, by New York Genealogical and Biographical Society; Greene, Richard Henry. New York: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1870-1872. Online at: Vol. 1 - Internet Archive; Vol. 2 - Internet Archive; Vol. 3 - Internet Archive Also, see How to Find New York Marriage Records.

1758-1862 New York Deaths and Burials 1758-1862 at Findmypast — index & images ($) 1795-1952 New York Deaths and Burials, 1795-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images 1801-1890 New York, U.S., Death Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1890 (Barber Collection) at Ancestry — index & images ($) 1835-1880 New York City Death Notices, 1835-1880 at Findmypast — index & images ($) 1862-1948 New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Death Index, 1862-1948 at Ancestry — index ($) 1868-1871 New Canaan (CT) Era: Marriages and Deaths in New York State, 1868-1871 at American Ancestors — index & images ($) 1875-1916 New York, Yonkers, Birth and Death Registration and Indexes, 1875-1916 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index 1880-1956 New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index 1935-2014 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($) 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — index ($); Picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off by providing information filed in the application or claims process 1957-1963 New York State Health Department, Genealogical Research Death Index, 1957-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index 1957-1972 New York State Deaths, 1957-1972 at MyHeritage — index & images ($) 1962-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index New York Death Records at LDS Genealogy — index Online New York Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index Also, see How to Find New York Death Records.

Order Certificates from Various New York Offices

Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).

State office has records since 1880. For records before 1914 in Albany, Buffalo, and Yonkers, or before 1880 in any other city, write to Registrar of Vital Statistics in city where event occurred. For the rest of the State, except New York City, write to State office.

• Where to Write for (New York except New York City) Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records
• Where to Write for New York City Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records
  
  

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For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in New York, see How to Find New York Birth Records, How to Find New York Marriage Records, and How to Find New York Death Records.

Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.

There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details.

Example of an obituary.

Example of a FindAGrave Record.

Example of a Social Security Record.

Gather as many obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records as possible.

Obituary Collections

• 1930-Current U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1980-2014 United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 2001-2014 Currentobituary.com index, 2001-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• Find Online Obituaries, Newspapers, Cemetery and Death Records at ObitsArchive.com — index & images ($)
• Newspaper and Funeral Home Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
• New York Genealogy Data at GenealogyBuff — index
• New York Newspapers and Obituaries at LDS Genealogy — index
• Online New York Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
• United States Obituary Notices at Findmypast — index ($)

Cemetery Collections

• 1652-1910 New York: Long Island Cemetery Inscriptions, 1652-1910 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• 1949-1969 United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
• BillionGraves — index & images
• BillionGraves Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
• Cemetery Directory A - N at NYGenWeb — index
• Cemetery Directory O - Y at NYGenWeb — index
• FindaGrave — index & images
• Find a Grave Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
• Names in Stone, Cemetery Maps at Names in Stone — index & images
• New York Cemeteries at USGenWeb Tombstones — index
• New York Cemetery Records at LDS Genealogy — index
• New York Cemetery Records at New Horizons Genealogy — index
• New York Death Records and New York Cemetery Records at Interment.net — index
• New York Gravestone Photo Project at New York Gravestones — index
• New York State Cemetery Abstracts at Findmypast — index & images ($)
• Online New York Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
• Revolutionary War Graves of Soldiers Buried in New York at New Horizons Genealogy — index

U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

• The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
• The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
• You can search these records online at

• 1935-2014 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — index ($); Picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off by providing information filed in the application or claims process
• 1962-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

• If you find an ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.

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For more information, see New York Obituaries and New York Cemeteries

Step 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards.

There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information.

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Example of a World War I draft card.

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Example of a World War II draft card.

Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.

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• 1917-1918 United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1942 United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

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For more information and additional collections, see New York Military Records.

Step 6: Look for church records.

Church records function as vital records.

• An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
• Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
• Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.
  

Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration in 1880.

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Example of christening index entry.

Search for church records that can provide additional birth, marriage, and death information.

FamilySearch Indexes

• 1640-1962 New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
• 1660-1954 New York, Church Records, 1660-1954 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
• 1686-1980 New York Marriages, 1686-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1704-1962 New York, Church and Civil Births and Baptisms, 1704-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
• 1704-1995 New York, Church and Civil Marriages, 1704-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
• 1795-1952 New York Deaths and Burials, 1795-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1824-1962 New York, Church and Civil Deaths, 1824-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

MyHeritage Indexes

• 1660-1862 New York Baptisms 1660-1862 at Findmypast — index & images ($)

Findmypast

• Discover your family in the Catholic Heritage Archive at Findmypast — index & images ($)

Catholic

• 1695-1954 U.S., French Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1695-1954 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• New York Catholic Records Databases at Findmypast — index & images ($)
• New York Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms at Findmypast — index & images ($)
• New York Roman Catholic Parish Marriages at Findmypast — index & images ($)

Dutch Reformed

• 1639-1801 New York, NY: Marriages in the Reformed Dutch Church, 1639-1801 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• 1639-1989 U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1701-1995 U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1727-1803 New York: Records of Burials in the Dutch Church, 1727-1803 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Membership Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Vital Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Episcopal

• 1767-1970 New York, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of New York Church Records, 1767-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1800-1970 New York, Episcopal Diocese of Central New York Church Records, 1800-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1800-1970 New York, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of Rochester Church Records, 1800-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Lutheran

• 1697-1771 New York: Early Records of the Lutheran Church, 1697-1771 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• 1722-1760 Lutheran Church in New York and New Jersey, 1722-1760 : Lutheran Records in the Ministerial Archives of the Staatsarchiv, Hamburg, Germany, by Hart, Simon and Harry J. Kreider. n.p.: United Lutheran Synod of New York and New England, 1962. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
• 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1800-1947 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1947 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1868-1970 U.S., Evangelical Covenant Church, Swedish American Church Records, 1868-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1903 Some Early Records of the Lutheran Church, New York, Holland Society of New York, 1903, p. 1-118(*) Justus Falckner, Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, Holland Society of New York, et al. at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Methodist

• 1775-1949 New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, U.S., United Methodist Church Records, 1775-1949 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1887-1904 New York, U.S., Frank S. Rowland Church Register, 1889-1917 at Ancestry - images ($)

Presbyterian

• 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970, index & images, incomplete.($)

Quaker (Society of Friends)

• 1607-1943 U.S., Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol I–VI, 1607-1943 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1680-1940 U.S., Hinshaw Index to Selected Quaker Records, 1680-1940 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1681-1935 U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1800-1990 U.S., Quaker Cemetery Records, 1800-1990 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• New York State Family History Records at New York Genealogical and Biographical Society — index & images ($)
• The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record(*) New York Genealogical and Biographical Society at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• U.S., Surname Index to Quaker Records at Ancestry — images ($)

Other Collections

• Dunham-Wilcox-Trott-Kirk at DunhamWilcox.net — index
• New York Church Records : Vosburgh Collection(*) Vosburgh, Royden Woodward and New York Genealogical and Biographical Society at FamilySearch Catalog — images

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These are the easiest records to access, but more records are available:

• For help with church records kept in New York, see New York Church Records.
  
• To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.

• County probate records include probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
• In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
• Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.
  

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Search these indexes and images for probate records.

Currently, these records are digitized online:

• 1626-1836 New York Wills, 1626-1836 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1629-1971 New York Probate Records, 1629-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1659-1999 New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1662-1801 New York: Abstracts of New York County Wills, 1662-1801 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• 1666-1822 New York, U.S., Estate Inventories and Accounts, 1666-1822 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1787-1835 New York: Abstracts of Wills, Admins. and Guardianships, 1787-1835 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• New York Counties Will Books Testators Records at SAMPUBCO — index
• New York Probate Records at LDS Genealogy — index

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Probate Information in County Pages

Each New York county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: New York Counties

Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.

The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.

Examples of passenger lists.

Passenger lists, both the index and the original, for the Schwert/Schwertfeger (the family shortened its name after arriving in New York):

Look for immigrant ancestors in shipping lists and citizenship sources.

Immigration records

• United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records

• 1675-1920 New York, Genealogical Records, 1675-1920 at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1820-1846 New York, New York, Index to Passenger Lists, 1820-1846 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1820-1850 New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Immigration Lists, 1820-1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1820-1891 New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1891 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1820-1957 New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1846-1851 Passengers Arriving in New York from Ireland 1846 - 1851 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
• 1846-1851 United States Famine Irish Passenger Index, 1846-1851 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1881-1894 Dutch Immigrants: New York Passenger Lists, 1881-1894 at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1887-1921 New York, New York, Soundex to Passenger and Crew Lists, 1887-1921 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1892-1924 New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1902-1956 New York, Northern Arrival Manifests, 1902-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1906-1942 New York Book Indexes to Passenger Lists, 1906-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1909-1957 New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1917-1957 New York, New York, Index to Alien Crewmen Who Were Discharged or Who Deserted, 1917-1957 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1917-1967 New York State, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1917-1967 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild, New York, New York at Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild (ISTG) Online at: Vol. 1 - ISTG; Vol. 2 - ISTG; Vol. 3 - ISTG; Vol. 4 - ISTG; Vol. 5 - ISTG; Vol. 6 - ISTG
• List of Early Immigrants to New Netherland, The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Volume 15, by New York Genealogical and Biographical Society and Richard Henry Greene. New York City: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1884. Online at: Internet Archive
• New York Immigration Records at LDS Genealogy
• One-Step Webpages by Stephen P. Morse at SteveMorse — index
• The Statue of Liberty—Ellis Island Foundation, Inc at Statueof Liberty.org — index
• United States, Passenger and Crew Lists at Findmypast — index & images ($)

New York Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

• United States Naturalization and Citizenship Online Genealogy Records

• 1791-1980 New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1792-1906 US, Naturalization Index - NYC Courts, 1792-1906 at fold3 — index & images ($)
• 1792-1989 New York, U.S., Index to Petitions for Naturalization filed in New York City, 1792-1989 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1794-1943 New York, U.S., State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1794-1943 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1794-1995 U.S., Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1799-1847 New York, U.S., Naturalization Papers of Central and Western New York State, 1799-1847 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1816-1845 New York City, Selected Naturalization Records, 1816-1845 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1824-1941 New York, Southern District Index to Petitions for Naturalization, 1824-1941 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: fold3 ($)
• 1824-1991 New York, U.S. District and Circuit Court Naturalization Records, 1824-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1825-1871 New York, U.S., Alien Depositions of Intent to Become U.S. Citizens, 1825-1871 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1840-1957 U.S., Naturalization Records, 1840-1957 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1850-1883 New York, U.S., Emigrant Savings Bank Records, 1850-1883 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1865-1906 US, Naturalization Index - NY Eastern, 1865-1906 at fold3 — index & images ($)
• 1865-1937 US, Naturalizations - NY Eastern, 1865-1937 at fold3 — index & images ($)
• 1865-1957 New York, Eastern District Naturalization Petitions, Index, 1865-1957 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: fold3 ($)
• 1882-1944 New York, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1882-1944 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1897-1944 US, Naturalizations - NY Southern, 1897-1944 at xfold3 — index & images ($)
• 1906-1925 US, Naturalization Index - NY Eastern, 1906-1925 at fold3 — index & images ($)
• 1907-1924 New York, New York, U.S., Index to Declarations of Intent, 1907-1924 at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1907-1924 New York, U.S., New York County Supreme Court Naturalization Petition Index, 1907-1924 at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1907-1966 New York, Western District, Naturalization Index, 1907-1966 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: fold3 ($)
• 1917-1950 New York, Southern District Naturalization Index, 1917-1950 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: fold3 ($)
• 1918 U.S., World War I Soldier Naturalizations, 1918 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1941-1946 New York, U.S., Southern District, World War II Military Naturalization Index, 1941-1946 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1950-1955 New York, U.S., Southern District Court, Korean War Military Naturalization Index, 1950-1955 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

• Denizations, Naturalizations, and Oaths of Allegiance in Colonial New York at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• Early New York Naturalizations at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• Online New York State Naturalization Records and Indexes at German Roots — index

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Step 9: Search for printed local histories or biography collections online.

Local Histories

• Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
• Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories:

• Hathi Trust Digital Library. Don't use the keywords New York; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
• Google Books. Use keywords "New York" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
• Family History Books
• County and Town Histories
• Internet Archive. Use keywords "New York" and the county name.
• Ancestry.com ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use New York and the name of the county.

FamilySearch Collected Local Histories

• Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
• If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:

• Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
• In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
• A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.

Biography Collections

These collections of biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or use the "Find" function on a computer.

• 1890-1940 New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Member Biographies Image Browse at Findmypast — index & images ($); Also at: Findmypast — index ($)
• American Biographical Library at Ancestry — index ($)
• County and Town Histories, New York at LearnWebSkills — index & images
• Early Settlers of New York State, Vol. I at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• Early Settlers of New York State, Vol. II at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• Famous Families of New York; Historical and Biographical Sketches of Families which in Successive Generations have been Identified with the Development of the Nation, by Margherita Arlina Hamm. New York, London: G. P. Putnam's Songs, 1902. Online at: Vol. 1 - HathiTrust; Vol. 2 - HathiTrust
• New York Genealogy at New York Genealogy — index
• Northern New York, Genealogical and Family History of Northern New York at RootsWeb — index
• Who's Who in New York City and State: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporaries at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Step 10: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.

• County historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.

• Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc.
• Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the county.
• Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia than you.

• If you can find the society on the internet, they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, you can hire one of their members to search the collection for you.
• For more information, see New York Societies.
  

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The online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the list to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings.

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Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society.

Step 11: Use other FamilySearch tools.

Historical Images

Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.

• New York, United States Historical Images, New Version
• New York, United States Historical Images, Old Version

New York Online Genealogy Records

Search any other online records listed in New York Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the New York Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.

• New York Online Genealogy Records

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Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in New York.

This article focused more on New York state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in New York. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.

• Albany
• Allegany
• Bronx
• Broome
• Cattaraugus
• Cayuga
• Chautauqua
• Chemung
• Chenango
• Clinton
• Columbia
• Cortland
• Delaware
• Dutchess
• Erie
• Essex
• Franklin
• Fulton
• Genesee
• Greene
• Hamilton
• Herkimer
• Jefferson
• Kings (Brooklyn)
• Lewis
• Livingston
• Madison
• Monroe
• Montgomery
• Nassau
• New York
  (Manhattan)
• Niagara
• Oneida
• Onondaga
• Ontario
• Orange
• Orleans
• Oswego
• Otsego
• Putnam
• Queens
• Rensselaer
• Richmond
  (Staten Island)
• Rockland
• Saint Lawrence
• Saratoga
• Schenectady
• Schoharie
• Schuyler
• Seneca
• Steuben
• Suffolk
• Sullivan
• Tioga
• Tompkins
• Ulster
• Warren
• Washington
• Wayne
• Westchester
• Wyoming
• Yates

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“Current” indicates records are available as recently as privacy laws allow. This date can change from year to year. To determine the exact dates available, contact the respective organization/repository.

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