Manhattan Borough, New York Genealogy

United States New York  New York City  New York (Manhattan) County

Officially, the Borough of Manhattan is one of five boroughs of greater New York City since 1898. The county is coterminous with the Borough of Manhattan (meaning they have identical borders).



Boundary Changes
1664 Yorkshire became the first large government unit (not actually a county) organized by New York after the English took control from the Netherlands. It was divided into three ridings including North Riding (Westchester, Bronx, New York (Manhattan), Nassau and part of Queens counties). 1683 New York ended Yorkshire, creating New York (Manhattan) County from part of it. 1693 Orange County was given to New York County. 1698 Orange County was made independent of New York County. 1874 West Bronx was added to New York County. 1881 North Brother Island was added to New York County. 1884 Rikers Island was added to New York County. 1895 East Bronx was added to New York County. 1898 The five boroughs were consolidated into New York City, and her county governments were dissolved. The Borough of Manhattan had the same borders as the old New York County. 1914 Bronx County, with the same borders as its borough, separated from New York County.

African Americans

 * 1799-1810s - Eichholz, Alice and James M. Rose et al. "Slave Births in New York County," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 111, No. 1 (Jan. 1980):13-17. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.


 * Dickenson, Richard. "Abstracts of Early Black Manhattanites," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 116, No. 2 (Apr. 1985):100-104; Vol. 116, No. 3 (Jul. 1985):169-173. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Bible Records

 * 1581–1917 New York, Family Bible Records at Ancestry– ($); Index. Database is a collection of genealogically important records taken from the Bibles of colony and state residents. Reveals the Bible's original owner, brief record of descendants,and a particular event such as birth or marriage as recorded in Bible.

Cemeteries
Cemetery records often reveal birth, death, relationship, military, and religious information.

Some individual cemeteries:


 * Grant's Tomb, General Grant National Memorial, Manhattan, New York City BillionGraves. This is the famous 'Grant's Tomb', there is just the one grave site, but this website has the location photos as well with three records associated with the monument inside the building where the tomb lies.

Census
For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see New York Census.


 * The 1890 Census is lost. For a substitute, see Directories.

Church Records


Baptisms at the Dutch Reformed Church of New Amsterdam 1639-1730 This is the first of a series of files on the baptisms at the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam. Accent marks on names have been left out for simplicity so that the data is acceptable to all computer platforms. Unfortunately many of the records the transcriber had concerning data prior to 1639 are missing, lost, or destroyed after all these years (it is about 20 years ago that he copied most of them). So he only has six baptisms for 1639.

Ann Mensch's Local Catholic Church and Family History &amp; Genealogical Research Guide is a free online resource that identifies the parishes of Manhattan, years parishes were created, contact information, as well as links to online records and research tips. Manhattan parishes fall under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of New York.

Online Church Records

NYGenWeb offers a variety of resources to assist genealogists with Manhattan church records, including maps, church listings, addresses, and photos.


 * to 1899 - Records of Burials in the Dutch Church, New York. New York, USA: Reformed Dutch Church, 1899. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1639-1695 - Marriages of the Reformed Dutch Church in New York, 1639-1695. New York, USA: New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1875. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1639-1730 - New Amsterdam Dutch Reformed Church Baptisms 1639-1730, courtesy: Ancestral Things.
 * 1649-1701 - Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam (New York City) Church Members' List, courtesy: Olive Tree Genealogy.
 * 1686 - 1686 Membership List, Dutch Church, courtesy: New York State Historical Literature.
 * 1688-1802 - New York French Church Baptisms 1688-1802, courtesy: Ancestral Things.
 * 1688-1804 - Registers of the Births, Marriages, and Deaths of the "Eglise Françoise à la Nouvelle York": From 1688 to 1804. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1968. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1702-1733 - Baptismal Record of the First Reformed Dutch Church at Jamaica, Long Island, Vol. 1, 1702 to 1733. 1912. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * 1725-1731 - Baptisms, Lutheran Church, New York City, courtesy: Betty Fink.
 * 1731-1800 - New Amsterdam Dutch Reformed Church Baptisms 1731-1800, courtesy: Ancestral Things.
 * 1733-1800 - Baptismal Record of the First Reformed Dutch Church at Jamaica, Long Island, Vol. 2, 1733-1800. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * 1736-1846 - Baptismal Record of the Reformed Dutch Church at Newtown, Long Island, New York, 1736 to 1846. Marriages by Rev. Garretson at Newtown from 1835 to 1846. 1913. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * 1741-1846 - Baptismal Record of the Reformed Dutch Church at Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, 1741-1846. 1913. Digital version at Internet Archive. [[Image:]]
 * 1783-1809 - "Records of Trinity Church Parish, New York City," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1782-1784: Vol. 90, No. 1 (Jan. 1959):18-30; 1783-1785: Vol. 90, No. 2 (Apr. 1959):111-116; 1785-1786: Vol. 90, No. 4 (Oct. 1959):210-216; 1786-1787: Vol. 91, No. 1 (Jan. 1960):39-54; 1787-1788: Vol. 91, No. 2 (Apr. 1960):100-109; 1788-1789: Vol. 91, No. 3 (Jul. 1960):167-173; 1789-1790: Vol. 91, No. 4 (Oct. 1960):221-232; 1790: Vol. 92, No. 1 (Jan. 1961):15-22; 1792: Vol. 92, No. 2 (Apr. 1961):72-79; 1792-1793: Vol. 92, No. 3 (Jul. 1961):153-160; 1793-1794: Vol. 92, No. 4 (Oct. 1961):202-207; 1794-1795: Vol. 93, No. 1 (Jan. 1962):22-28; 1795-1797: Vol. 93, No. 2 (Apr. 1962):75-84; 1797-1799: Vol. 93, No. 3 (Jul. 1962):149-157; 1799-1809: Vol. 93, No. 4 (Oct. 1962):206-220. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Baptisms.
 * 1793-1855 - Gritman, Charles T. Marriage Records, Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York: Register of Marriages Performed by the Rev. Marmaduke Earle, 1793-1855: at Stamford, Connecticut, 1793-1801, at Oyster Bay Long Island, 1802-1855, at New York City, in 1811. New York, 1926. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1800-1851 - Baptismal Record of the First Reformed Dutch Church at Jamaica, Long Island, New York, Vol. III 1800 to 1851. 1913. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * 1802-1831 - Baptismal Record of the First Reformed Dutch Church at Jamaica, Long Island, New York, Vol. IV 1802-1831. 1913. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * 1806-1838 - Adriance, John. "Records of the Reformed Dutch Church at Harlem, N.Y.," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Marriages 1816-1836: Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jan. 1877):41-43; Baptisms 1806-1815, Marriages 1807-1813: Vol. 117, No. 4 (Oct. 1986):228-233; Marriages 1813-1814, Membership Lists 1806-1816, Baptisms 1816-1835: Vol. 118, No. 1 (Jan. 1987):31-38; Adult Baptisms 1816-1835: Vol. 118, No. 2 (Apr. 1987):95; Membership Lists 1816-1838: Vol. 118, No. 3 (Jul. 1987):161-164. Digital version of Volume 8 (only) at Internet Archive - free; New York Family History ($);.
 * 1824-1862 - New York, NY: Parish Register of All Saints' Church, 1824-1862 at New York Ancestors ($).
 * 1834-1854 - Wolfert, Marion. Index to Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saint Matthew, New York City Records. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1852-1864 - Marriages of the German Evangelical Reformed Church 1852-1864, courtesy: German Genealogy Group.
 * 1862-1955 - free, Baptisms 1862-1871, 1884-1955; Marriages 1862-1955; Deaths 1862-1955.
 * 23rd Street Presbyterian Church History, New York, New York, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives. Includes membership lists.

Genealogy

 * Rootsweb message board for has many information threads about families that resided in that county. There is a search engine that allows you to search by surname and topic.

Jewish Records
The Museum of Family History has compiled a list of synagogues that operated in Manhattan between 1869 and 1933. Rabbis and addresses are identified.

Land and Property
Original land records in began in [?dateyear?]. These records are housed at the [?repository?] in [?town?].

Online



Microforms



Books



Maps
1863 Map of New York City and Vicinity from the David Rumsey Collection

Migration
Early migration routes to and from New York (Manhattan) County for European settlers included:


 * the Atlantic Ocean, and Long Island Sound connected New York City with Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and South America
 * Hudson River a navigable river stretching from north of Albany then flowing south to empty into the Atlantic Ocean at New York City
 * Mohawk River
 * with connections to Richelieu River, Chambly Canal &amp; St. Lawrence River
 * Lake Champlain Trail pre-historic
 * Champlain Canal 1823
 * Erie Canal 1825
 * Raritan River a navigable river which rises in Morris County and flows through central New Jersey past Manville to New Brunswick where it meets the tide.
 * Great Shamokin Path a pre-historic Indian path from Long Island to Lake Erie mostly in Pennsylvania
 * Port of New York City 1624 where ships from around the world brought immigrants, and boats could go up the Hudson River
 * Albany Post Road (or Queen's Road, or King's Road) 1669
 * King's Highway (or Boston Post Road) 1673 connected Boston, Massachusetts to Charleston, South Carolina and many coastal cities between
 * Morris Canal 1831 connected Jersey City, New Jersey (and NY City) to Philipsburg, New Jersey on the Delaware River and part of Pennsylvania
 * Delaware and Raritan Canal 1834 connected New Brunswick, New Jersey on the Raritan River (and NY City) to Bordontown, New Jersey on the Delaware River and parts of Pennsylvania

Military
Civil War service men in Brooklyn, New York served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their city or county.


 * - 132nd Regiment, New York Infantry

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1824–1941 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.


 * 1907-1924 New York County Supreme Court Naturalization Petition Index, 1907-24 at Ancestry ($).


 * 1907-1924 Index to Declaration of Intent for Naturalization: New York County, 1907-1924 at Ancestry ($).


 * 1917-1950 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.

Indexes

 * 1792-1989 Index to Petitions for Naturalization filed in New York City, 1792-1989 at Ancestry ($). This database is based on NARA's Soundex Index to Petitions for Naturalization filed in Federal, State, and Local Courts located in New York City, 1792-1989. All 5 boroughs are included.

The Family History Library has also acquired this comprehensive index for the years 1792 through 1906 on microfilm:. The courts this index covers are:


 * City Court of Brooklyn, 1836-1894
 * Kings County Court, 1806-1906
 * New York City Marine Court, 1806-1849
 * New York County Common Pleas Court, 1792-1895
 * New York County Superior Court, 1828-1895
 * New York City and County Supreme Court, 1868-1906
 * Queens County Court, 1799-1906
 * Queens County Surrogate Court, 1888-1898
 * Richmond County Court, 1869-1906
 * U.S. Circuit Court Southern District, 1846-1876
 * U.S. District Court Eastern District, (Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties), 1865-1906
 * U.S. District Court Southern Court Southern District, (New York, Bronx and also Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Richmond, Rockland, Sullivan and Westchester counties), 1824-1906

Probate Records
The petitions for are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library and its centers:


 * 19th century FHL has petitions interfiled by type of estate . How to use Family History Library Catalog

Online Probate Indexes and Abstracts


 * 1662-1801 - New York: Abstracts of Wills, 1662-1801, New York County at New York Ancestors ($).
 * 1665-1916 - SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills.
 * 1787-1835 Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787 - 1835 at New York Ancestors ($); includes.

Probate Records on Microfilm


 * 1662–1923 Index to Wills
 * 1743–1910 Letters of Administration Index
 * 1783–1834 Index to New York City Inventories of Estates
 * 1807–1926 Rejected Wills Index
 * 1828–1907 Decrees on Accounting Indexes
 * 1830–1929 Municipal Archive Indexes
 * 1622–1786 Probate records, including wills, relative to the Southern District of the State of New York: filed with the State and delivered to the City and County of New York
 * 1662–1923 Record of Wills
 * 1743–1866 Letters of Administration Index
 * 1810–1852 Accounts not in Decrees
 * 1828–1907 Decrees on Accounting

Repositories
Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in New York County (Manhattan), New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1988). ; . Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Borough Historian
The County (Borough) Historian may provide access to obituaries, vital records, church records, maps, and family files or journals. Some historians provide search services for their office records and others may refer you to local genealogists who research in the area.

Manhattan Borough Historian's Office Muicipal Building 1 Centre Steet, 19th Floor New York, NY 10007 Phone:(212) 669-8089 Fax: (212) 669-4900

Community Historians
Community District #1 Oliver Allen 42 Hudson Street New York, NY 10013

Community District #2 Doris Diether 107 Waverly Place New York, NY 10011

Community District #3 Marion Fox 32 Monroe Street New York, NY 10002

Community District #4 Mary Brendle 345 West 55st New York, NY 10019

Community District #5 E. Michael Mowatt-Wynn 835 Riverside Drive New York, NY 10032

Community District #6 Lou Sepersky 420 East 55st New York, NY 10022

Community District #7 M. Barry Schneider 340 East 64th Street New York, NY 10021

Community District #9 Yuien Chin 37 Hamilton Place New York, NY 10031

Community District #10 John T. Reddick The Arsonal 64th Street and Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10021

Community District #11 Rose Pascale 331 East 116th Street New York, NY 10029

Community District #12 James Renner 395 Ft. Washington Avenue New York, NY 10033

Courthouses
For information about where the records for New York County are held, see the New York County Courthouse page

Schools

 * 1845 - Austin, John D. "Genealogical Data from the 1845 Report of the New-York Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 119, No. 4 (Oct. 1988):207-210; Vol. 120, No. 1 (Jan. 1989):32-34. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Social Groups Online

 * New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)

Vital Records

 * 1841-1846 Barber, Gertrude A. Miscellaneous Vital Statistics Other than Death and Marriage Notices Taken from the "Brooklyn Eagle". 1991. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Birth
A digital version of the Family History Library's guide to New York City birth records is available.


 * 1866-1897 Department of Health. Manhattan Birth Certificates, 1866-1897; Birth Index Cards, 1866-1897;.

One study concludes there was a significant amount of under-registration of births in Manhattan. In 1855, 13% were recorded; in 1875, 33%; in 1896, 35%; in 1935, 80%; and by 1955, 91%.


 * 1880-1909 New York City Birth index at German Genealogy Group - free.


 * 1880-1909 New York City Births at Italian Genealogical Group - free.


 * 1881-1965 Births Reported in the City of New York, 1881-1965;.


 * 1881-1965 Birth Index at Vital Search ($).


 * 1891-1902 New York Department of Health. Births Reported in the City of New York, 1891-1902. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Birth Substitutes


 * 1640–1962 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.


 * 1851-2003 Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage &amp; Death Announcements, 1851-2003 at Ancestry ($) - includes New York Times.

Marriage
A digital version of the Family History Library's guide to New York City marriages is available.


 * 1600s-1800s New York City Marriages, 1600s-1800s. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1664–1784 New York. Secretary of State, Names of Persons for Whom Marriage Licenses Were Issued By the Secretary of the Province of New York, Previous to 1784 (Albany, New York: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1860). At Cornell University digital library-free; Internet Archive - free; Ancestry edition($); ; . Marriage bonds issued in the State of New York prior to 1784, and the earliest record dating 1664.


 * 1830-1854 Sawyer, Ray C. Marriages Performed by the Various Mayors and Aldermen of the City of New York, as Well as Justices of the Peace, etc.: 1830-1854. New York, 1989. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1830-1853, 1865 County Clerk. New York County Marriage Records, 1830-1853, 1865;.
 * 1866-1937 New York City Grooms Index at Italian Genealogical Group - free.


 * 1866-1937 New York City Grooms Record index at German Genealogy Group - free.


 * 1866-1937 New York City Brides Record Index at German Genealogy Group - free.


 * 1866-1937 New York City Brides Index at Italian Genealogical Group - free.


 * 1888-1937 New York City Index to Marriages in All Boroughs, 1888-1937;.


 * 1898-1937 Marriage Index at Vital Search ($).

Marriage Substitutes


 * 1686-1980 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.


 * 1788-1817 Index of Marriages and Deaths in New York Weekly Museum: 1788-1817. 1989. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1789-1796 Furman, Consuelo. Marriage and Death Notices from the New York Weekly Museum, 1789-1796. New York, 1990. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1790-1793 Furman, Robert. Marriage and Death Notices from the "New-York Weekly Museum", 1790-1793. New York, 1990. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1800–1855 New York Marriage Notices at Ancestry– ($); Index. This database is a collection of marriage notices published in newspapers around the state. Contains name of bride and groom, marriage date, marriage location, residence, and newspaper found in.


 * 1801–1880 Barber Collection- Newspaper Marriages at Ancestry– ($); Index. Information extracted from the Brooklyn Eagle and the New York Evening Post.


 * 1801-1802 Ladies Magazine &amp; Musical Repository, 1801-02 Marriages at RootsWeb - free.


 * 1802-1821 The Evening Post Newspaper Marriage Announcements: New York 11 March 1802 -- 8 August 1821 at NYGenWeb - free.


 * 1832-1851 County Clerk. Miscellaneous Filed Papers Index, 1812-1934;.
 * 1835 1835 Marriages According to the NY Herald at Virginia New York Genealogy - free.


 * 1835-1855 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).


 * 1851-2003 Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage &amp; Death Announcements, 1851-2003 at Ancestry ($) - includes New York Times.


 * 1856–1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at Ancestry– ($); Index. These newspaper notices refer to people up and down the East Coast as well as midwesterners and persons from as far west as the State of California. Also browseable.


 * 1856-1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).


 * 1860-1865 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York World at World Vital Records ($).


 * 1864-5, 1874-5 See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for death information for 1864-5, and 1874-5.


 * 1864-1870 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).


 * 1871-1876 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).


 * 1890 New York Herald Marriages 1890 at Virginia &amp; New York Genealogy - free.
 * Supplementary List of Marriage Licenses. Albany, N.Y.: University of the State of New York, 1986. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1784-1910 County Clerk. Index to Matrimonial Actions, 1784-1910; . Contains index to divorces, annulments, and separations.

Death
A digital version of the Family History Library's guide to New York City death records is available.


 * 1868-1948 New York City Death Index at German Genealogy Group - free.


 * 1868-1948 New York City Death Records Search 1891-1948 at Italian Genealogical Group - free.


 * 1888-1965 Department of Health. Index to Deaths, New York City, 1888-1965;.


 * 1892-1902 Deaths Reported in the City of New York. New York: Department of Health. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1898-1913 Death Index at Vital Search ($).

Death Substitutes


 * 1748-1758 Sypher, F.J. and John Burnet. Minutes of Coroners Proceedings: City and County of New York, John Burnet, Coroner, 1748-1758. New York, N.Y.: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 2004..


 * 1788-1817 Index of Marriages and Deaths in New York Weekly Museum: 1788-1817. 1989. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1789-1796 Furman, Consuelo. Marriage and Death Notices from the New York Weekly Museum, 1789-1796. New York, 1990. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1790-1793 Furman, Robert. Marriage and Death Notices from the "New-York Weekly Museum", 1790-1793. New York, 1990. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1795–1952 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index. The entries are primarily from the IGI along with some entries derived from compiled and original records such as Family Records, Church Records, and Civil Registration. There may be entries that cite a specific source.


 * 1801–1890 Barber Collection- Newspaper Deaths at Ancestry– ($); Index. Information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."


 * 1801-1802 Ladies Magazine &amp; Musical Repository, 1801-02 Deaths at RootsWeb - free.


 * 1814-1816 Jensen, Howard. New York City Deaths, 1814-16. Digital version at Ancestry ($). Taken from 1815 and 1816 city directories.


 * 1835-1855 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).


 * 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Census for death information.


 * 1851-2003 Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage &amp; Death Announcements, 1851-2003 at Ancestry ($) - includes New York Times.


 * 1856–1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at Ancestry– ($); Index. These newspaper notices refer to people up and down the East Coast as well as midwesterners and persons from as far west as the State of California. Also browseable.


 * 1856-1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).


 * 1860-1865 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York World at World Vital Records ($).


 * See Town Clerks' Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military for death information.


 * 1864-5, 1874-5 See Mortality Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for death information for 1864-5, and 1874-5.


 * 1864-1870 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).


 * 1871-1876 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at World Vital Records ($).


 * 1909-1911 The Forgotten of Ellis Island - Deaths in Quarantine, 1909-1911 - free.


 * 1980-present New York Times and New York City Newspapers Obituaries Archive at Obits Archive.

Additional Resources

Web Sites

 * The New York (Manhattan) County NYGenWeb Project, an member of The NYGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for New York County.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for New York County. (Backup site)
 * New York County Genealogy