New York Vital Records Index - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
This index covers events from 1726 through 1938.

Record History
For over 30 years, volunteer indexers extracted this information from microfilm copies of the original records. In 1998, a few of the entries were published on 7 CDs by the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the "North America Vital Records Index." This index is an index of the births, marriages, and deaths throughout New York. The index is not necessarily complete for any particular place or region.

Why This Record Was Created
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsored this index to help individuals find information about their ancestors.

Record Reliability
Church records and civil registration were official records and are some of the most reliable sources of information available for those who were born, married, or died in New York.

Record Description
The index is an electronic database of information transcribed from original records.

Record Content
The key genealogical facts found in birth index entries may include: 


 * Name of the child
 * Gender
 * Names of the parents
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace
 * Christening date (if the source is a church record)
 * Family History Library Microfilm and item numbers for the source materials

The key genealogical facts found in marriage index entries may include: 


 * Name of the bride and groom
 * Names of the parents
 * Marriage date
 * Marriage place
 * Family History Library Microfilm and item numbers for the source materials

The key genealogical facts found in death or burial index entries may include: 


 * Name of the deceased
 * Gender
 * Names of the parents
 * Name of the spouse (if married)
 * Death or burial date
 * Death or burial place
 * Family History Library Microfilm and item numbers for the source materials

Coverage Table
This collection is a partial index of records for the localities listed below as of April 2010. The table below shows the number of records by locality. Localities not listed may not have any records in this collection.

Most of these records date from the time period indicated in the columns below; however, there may be records before and after these dates. Record counts where the locality information was incomplete are included below under the country name. Because of this, you may wish to search only by state.

As this is an index of records compiled from various sources, it is strongly recommended that you verify the information in original records. Due to privacy laws not all records may be displayed.

How to Use the Records
Use this index to help you learn more about your ancestors. The information could help you identify family relationships and lineages as well as direct you to original records of your ancestors, which may contain additional information.

In birth or christening records, if a surname is not listed for the child, the indexer often assigns the father’s surname to the child. This surname may not be correct. So if you are looking for a birth or christening, search by the given name of the child, adding parents' names and as much locality information as is permitted.

How to find the original record
There are several ways to find a copy of the certificiate.


 * You can get the Family History Library film and find the original there.The information you see on Record Search may show the Family History Library film number and/or a certificate/page number.


 * If the numbers are not there, you can search the film containing certificates even though you don't have a certificate/page number. Doing this means you have to search page by page.
 * Search the index film for a certficate/page number. Film numbers for vital record indexes are in the catalog.
 * You can request a copy of the original certificate from the New York Vital Records Office.

The digital folder number and image number will not help you find the certificate/page on a Family History Library film.

Related Websites
This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying links to related websites here.

Related Wiki Articles
New York Vital Records

Sources of This Collection
"New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/). Index entries derived from digital copies of originals housed in various repositories throughout New York.

"New York Marriages, 1686-1980," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/). Index entries derived from digital copies of originals housed in various repositories throughout New York.

"New York Deaths and Burials, 1795-1952," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/). Index entries derived from digital copies of originals housed in various repositories throughout New York.

Each entry in this index has a source listed. The index may be a compilation of records from a variety of sources, including the following:


 * Family Records
 * Church Records
 * Civil Registration

How to Cite This Source
Instructions for citing this source can be found at: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections