New York Research Tips and Strategies

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Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page

The New York Research Tips and Strategies page consists of links to specific research strategies for New York. It also contains general tips and other resources for finding your ancestors in this locality.

New York Research Strategies[edit | edit source]

Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in New York:

Finding New York Birth, Marriage or Death Records[edit | edit source]

Finding New York Records[edit | edit source]

New York Statewide Databases[edit | edit source]

New York Research Process[edit | edit source]

New York Research Tips[edit | edit source]

These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in New York:

Birth and Death information:

  • Statewide registration: Statewide registration of vital statistics began in 1880 and was usually complied with by 1890 for deaths and by 1913 for births. The New York Department of Health took over in 1914.[1][2]
  • County registration: Births, marriages, and deaths were recorded by the school district clerks for a short time in most counties from 1847 to about 1850. Very few exist as compliance to the law was not enforced.[3]
  • Access to records: See New York Vital Records for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in New York.


Substitute Records:

  • Secondary source: Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event.
  • Accuracy: Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help verify information.
  • List of substitute records: See New York Substitute Records for more information.


Finding Parents:

  • Death records: Death records for as early as 1880 may contain birth and parent information. By 1914, the New York Department of health was required to ask birth and parent information. Information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory.
  • Obituaries: Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See New York Newspapers and New York Obituaries for more information.
  • Church records: Knowing the denomination of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See New York Church Records for more information.


Census Records:

  • Check all census years: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census to learn more about them and their family members. See New York Census Records for more information.
  • Clues to other records: There are clues in censuses regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records.
  • Finding families: Starting in 1850, all members of the household were listed in the census. By 1880, relationship to the head of household was added.

Further New York Research[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ New York Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1992, 1997, 75. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
  2. ↑ "Birth, Marriage, and Death Records," New York State Archives, https://www.archives.nysed.gov/research/birth-marriage-death-records, accessed 21 February 2025.
  3. ↑ New York Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1992, 1997, 75. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
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