New York, Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains church records for the years 1660 to 1954 from the state of New York, with a few other churches in New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The church records vary by place and denomination. Some of the representative churches include:
 * Congregational Church of Paris (Paris, New York)
 * Eighth Avenue Presbyterian Church (New York City)
 * Reformed Dutch Church (Amity, New York)
 * Protestant Reformed Dutch Church (Tappan, New York)
 * Forty-Second Street Presbyterian Church (Richmond County)
 * Congregation Church (Exeter)
 * Second Baptist Church (Fishkill)
 * Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Peter the Apostle (Rhinebeck)
 * Society of Friends (Monmouth County, New Jersey)

What Can these Records Tell Me?
Church records may contain:
 * The names of the members
 * Dates for significant events, such as birth, marriage, and death
 * The names of parents
 * The names of witnesses, oftentimes relatives

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person
 * The denomination of church they attended
 * Where they attended church

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Search for vital records on the state and county level, such as birth, marriage, and death
 * Use the information found in the record to find the family in census records
 * Search the county where the family lived for land, probate, cemetery, and immigration records, where applicable.

I Can’t Find The Person I’m Looking for, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or oftentimes initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of New York.
 * New York Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing this Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.