Staten Island Borough, New York Genealogy

United States New York  New York City  Richmond County (Staten Island)

Guide to Richmond County New York and Staten Island genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, military, immigration and naturalization records.



Richmond County New York Historical Facts
The Borough of Staten Island is one of five boroughs of The City of Greater New York. It became a borough of New York City in 1898. Before that time, it was an independent county in the State of New York (Richmond County). Today, it is still an independent county but is simultaneously a borough of the City.

When it first became part of New York City, it was called the Borough of Richmond. In 1975, it was officially renamed the Borough of Staten Island. Both terms are found in records.

Name Changes
Staten Island has rarely had any boundary changes, but there have been political changes which altered its name and the location of records.

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 West Riding (Staten Island, Brooklyn, and modern Elmhurst in Queens). 1683 New York extinguished Yorkshire, creating Richmond County from part of Yorkshire. 1687 Administrative divisions were started which eventually evolved into townships. 1898 Staten Island joined New York City as the Borough of Richmond. At this time, vital statistics began to be collected at the city level instead of at the county level. 1975 The Borough of Richmond was officially renamed the Borough of Staten Island. It is still an independent county.

Bible Records


''Chiefly Bible records: copied from those of the Staten Island Hist. Society at Port Richmond, Staten Island, N.Y.'' Photocopies of transcripts of family bible records collected in the 1930's. The digital images of this collection have also been posted at the Richmond County Genweb site. This is also available at Ancestry ($) and on FHL film 0509187

Biography
The Staten Island Museum Library &amp; Archives has a special collection on Biographies.

Books

 * Prominent Men of Staten Island, A.V. Hubbell, New York, 1893. Available free at Internet Archive.
 * Staten Island and Its People, Leng, Charles W. and William T. Davis, Lewis Historical Pub. Co., 1930-1933. Available online at Hathi Digital Trust.

Business Records and Commerce
The Staten Island Museum Library &amp; Archives holds special collections in Business &amp; Industry and the Chamber of Commerce.

Books

 * Made on Staten Island : Agriculture, Industry, and Suburban Living in the City, Charles L. Sachs and Nancy H. Waters, Staten Island Historical Society, Richmondtown, Staten Island, New York, 1988. Find it at WorldCat.
 * Staten Island, New York City: Its Industrial Resources and Possibilities. Commerce and Industry Association of New York. Industrial Bureau. New York, N.Y. : [s.n.], 1922. Find it at WorldCat.

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

Census
Two early documents are:


 * 1655 - Van Laer, A.J.F. "A List of Settlers on Staten Island Who Survived the Massacre of 1655," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 34, No. 3 (Jul. 1903):210-211. Digital versions at Google Books; and at New York Family History ($);.


 * 1706 - Stillwell, John E. "Census of Staten Island in the Year 1706," Historical and Genealogical Miscellany: Data Relating to the Settlement and Settlers of New York and New Jersey, Vol. 1 (1903):149-155. Digital version at Internet Archive - free.

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

New York State
New York often took censuses in the years between the federal censuses. The state census records may have columns that were different or more unusual than those found on federal censuses. The responses and years of coverage may give additional information on the family.

In Richmond County, the state census was taken beginning in 1855. The various ways to access it are listed below.

Church Records

 * to 1899 - Records of Burials in the Dutch Church, New York. New York, USA: Reformed Dutch Church, 1899. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1688-1804 - Registers of the Births, Marriages, and Deaths of the "Eglise Françoise à la Nouvelle York" : from 1688 to 1804. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1968. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1696-1790 - Port Richmond Reformed Dutch Church Baptisms 1696-1790, courtesy: NYGenWeb; Ancestral Things
 * 1696-1828 - Wright, Tobias Alexander, ed. Records of the Dutch Reformed Church of Port Richmond. New York, USA: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1909. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive; World Vital Records ($); another World Vital Records ($) version. Dutch Reformed Church of Port Richmond baptisms 1696-1772; United Brethren Congregation births/baptisms 1749-1853, marriages 1764-1863, deaths/burials 1758-1828; St. Andrews Church at Richmond births/baptisms 1752-1795, marriages 1754-1808.
 * 1696-1790 - "Records of the Reformed Dutch Church of Port Richmond, Staten Island, N.Y. Baptisms," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1696-1715: Vol. 36, No. 3 (Jul. 1905):177-184; 1715-1721: Vol. 36, No. 4 (Oct. 1905):267-276; 1720-1726: Vol. 37, No. 1 (Jan. 1906):27-34; 1726-1731: Vol. 37, No. 2 (Apr. 1906):122-130; 1731-1738: Vol. 37, No. 3 (Jul. 1906):189-196; 1738-1790: Vol. 37, No. 4 (Oct. 1906):284-302. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Internet Archive has digitized Vol. 36 and Vol. 37 - free.
 * 1696- - "Register Boek Van De K--K[?] Namen Der Kinderen Dewelck Gedoopt Bennen Op Staten Eylandt Van D - Beginne Van Het Jaer Anno 1696," in John E. Stillwell, Historical and Genealogical Miscellany: Data Relating to the Settlement and Settlers of New York and New Jersey. Vol. 1 (New York, 1903). Digital version at Internet Archive - free.
 * 1749-1863 - "Records of the United Brethren Congregation, Commonly Called Moravian Church, Staten Island, N.Y.," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Baptisms 1749-1800: Vol. 38, No. 1 (Jan. 1907):39-54; Baptisms 1798-1813: Vol. 38, No. 2 (Apr. 1907):113-128; Baptisms 1813-1827: Vol. 38, No. 3 (Jul. 1907):177-192; Baptisms 1821-1837: Vol. 38, No. 4 (Oct. 1907):257-272; Baptisms 1834-1851: Vol. 39, No. 1 (Jan. 1908):17-32; Baptisms 1851-1862, Marriages 1764-1782: Vol. 39, No. 2 (Apr. 1908):93-108; Marriages 1782-1815: Vol. 39, No. 3 (Jul. 1908):167-178; Marriages 1815-1835: Vol. 39, No. 4 (Oct. 1908):253-268; Marriages 1835-1863: Vol. 40, No. 1 (Jan. 1909):33-45. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Internet Archive has digitized Vol. 38, Vol. 39, and Vol. 40 - free.
 * 1764-1863 - Staten Island - Moravian Church, Marriages 1764-1863, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
 * 1790-1811 - Staten Island Dutch Reformed Church Marriages 1790-1811, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
 * 1790-1871 - Vosburgh, Royden Woodward. "Marriage Records of the Reformed Dutch Church on Staten Island," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Marriages 1790-1803: Vol. 124, No. 1 (Jan. 1993):9-12; Marriages 1803-1811: Vol. 124, No. 2 (Apr. 1993):90-91; Marriages 1811-1820: Vol. 124, No. 3 (Jul. 1993):157-160; Marriages 1820-1825: Vol. 124, No. 4 (Oct. 1993):230-232. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.
 * 1823-1871 - Vosburgh, Royden Woodward. Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in Tompkinsville, Staten Island, Richmond County, N.Y. 2 vols. 1922. Digital version at NYGenWeb (partial). Baptisms and births 1823-1854; marriages 1824-1854; members 1823-1854; church officers 1848-1858; members 1854-1871; marriages 1852-1871.
 * 1813-1901 St. Andrew's church records, Staten Island, Contains birth and death records, 1813-1900

Books

 * The earliest volume of Staten island records, 1678-1813. Historical Records Survey of the Work Projects Administration (New York, N.Y.) 1942. Available free at Hathi Digital Trust.
 * Liber A (1680-1709) is transcribed in: Historical and genealogical miscellany: Data relating to the early settlement and settlers of New York and New Jersey, Vol. I, John E. Stillwell, M.D. New York, 1903. Available free at the Internet Archive.

Crime and Criminals
The infamous Polly Bodine murder case occurred here in December 1843.

African-American

 * Afro-American vital records and 20th century abstracts of Richmond County Staten Island 1915 and 1925 New York State census records, Richard Dickenson and Julie Moody Ojelade, Staten Island, New York: Sandy Ground Historical Society, c1985. 974.726 F2

Gazetteers
Staten Island names ; ye olde names and nicknames; William Thompson, Davis and Charles William Leng, Natural Science Association, The Standard Press: New Brighton, N.Y., 1896. Free at the Internet Archive.

Genealogy

 * Rootsweb message board for Richmond County 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 Richmond (Staten Island). Synagogue names and addresses are included.

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

Online



Microforms



Books



Migration
Early migration routes to and from for 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
 * 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 including New York City and Philadelphia
 * 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 including Philadelphia.

Revolutionary War
Richmond County men served in the 2nd New York Regiment. However, few Staten Islanders fought on the side of the Patriots.

Staten Island was occupied by the British army during most of the war. In 1775 the 3,000 residents of Staten Island were among the most loyal of British subjects in North America. They sold provisions to the Royal Navy; and instructed their delegates to the New York Provincial Congress to vote against American independence. But by the end of the war and the occupation, Staten Islanders were ready to celebrate the withdrawal of British forces. Those who still had British sympathies, or feared retribution for their Tory activities, fled to Canada or the British Isles.

In 1776, the Billop house (now called Conference House) on Staten Island was the site of a peace conference which attempted to end the Revolutionary War. Edward Rutledge, John Adams, General Howe and Benjamin Franklin were among those in attendance. The attempt failed because the Patriots continued to insist on Independence from the English Crown.

Civil War
Available towns. Registers are only available for: Southfield.

There were draft riots in 1863 in New York City. On Staten Island, men of means procured substitutes by means of a $300 payment. The lists of men who were drafted, therefore do not mean they actually served.. The transcribed list is available at RootsWeb.

Regiments. Those who served were assigned to various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county.


 * - 132nd Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 145th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 191st Regiment, New York Infantry

Other Resources
Census records. Federal census records may help in identifying soldiers or their survivors. The Federal 1890 Census Veterans and Widows Census Schedules survives. There is a transcription at Richmond County GenWeb. These records may also be found in Schedules enumerating Union veterans and widows of Union veterans of the Civil War, FHL film number 0338206, which has been digitized and is available online at Family Search.

Original letters from Staten Island soldiers who served in the Union Army have been digitized and are online free at Staten Island Soldiers.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Italian Genealogical Group offers free indexes to the following:


 * Petitions: 1898-1903, 1907-1959
 * Declarations: 1906-1953, 1957
 * Military: 1918, 1919, 1921-1924
 * Intentions: 1883 - 1898


 * 1865–1957 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

Online Abstracts and Indexes

 * 1787-1847 - 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

 * 1787–1967 Probate Records: Index to Wills, 1787–1959; Wills, 1787–1967; Guardianship, 1882–1940; Decrees and orders, 1882–1967. Surrogate Court
 * 1664–1866 Probate Records: Index to Wills, 1787–1863, Guardianship, 1787–1866. Surrogate Court

Books
1670-1800:Staten Island wills and letters of administration, Richmond County, New York, 1670-1800: as found in the Surrogates Court, New York County, New York and abstracted by the New York Historical Society, 1892-1908 and Staten Island references found in the New Jersey colonial documents, Charlotte Megill Hix, Bowie, Md. : Heritage Books, 1993. Find it at WorldCat.

Repositories
Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Richmond County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1985). ; . Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Archives, Libraries and Museums
College of Staten Island (CUNY) Archives and Special Collections Library, 1L-216 2800 Victory Boulevard Staten Island, New York 10314 Phone 718-982-4128 Fax: 718-982-4127 Email: archives@mail.csi.cuny.edu

Richmondtown Library New York Public Library 200 Clarke Avenue (at Amber St.) Staten Island, New York 10306 Phone:718-668-0413 Email Other public libraries in Staten Island

Staten Island Museum aka Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences History Library and Archives 75 Stuyvesant Place Staten Island, New York 10301 Phone: 718-727-1135 ext. 122, archivist Dorothy D'Eletto, Archivist/Researcher History Archives &amp; Library Collection

Wagner College The Horrmann Library 1 Campus Road Staten Island, New York 10301 Phone: 718-390-3401 Email: library@wagner.edu


 * Archives of the Metropolitan New York Synod
 * Evangelical Lutheran Church in American, dating from 1786
 * College archives

Borough Registrar
New York City Registrar Borough of Staten Island Staten Island Business Center 350 St. Marks Place Staten Island, New York 10457


 * Official record of real estate and personal property transfers, recording deeds and mortgages

City Clerk's Office
City Clerk's Office Borough Administrator Robin Aryakia Staten Island Office Borough Hall Building 10 Richmond Terrace, Third Floor, Room 311 Staten Island, New York 10301 Phone: 718-816-2290


 * Marriages from 1866 to 1907
 * After 1907 if bride's residence or licenses of nonresidents was obtained in Staten Island

Courthouses
The Richmond (Staten Island) County Clerk's office land records; the Surrogate Court has probate records; and the County Health Department has marriage and death records. For further information about where the records for Richmond County are held, see the Richmond (Staten Island) County Courthouses page.

Societies
Sandy Ground Historical Society 1538 Woodrow Road Staten Island, New York 10309 Phone: 718-317-5796


 * contains "largest documentary collection of African-American culture and history of Staten Island"

Staten Island Historical Society Historic Richmond Town 411 Clarke Avenue Staten Island, New York 10306-1198 Phone: 718-351-1611 Fax: 718-351-6057 Email: sihs-library@si.rr.com

Quarter publication: Richmondtown Restoration: Newsletter of the Staten Island Historical Society, Staten Island Historian

Tottenville Historical Society PO Box 70185 Staten Island, New York 10307-0185 Phone: 646-291-7005 Email: info@tottenvillehisotry.com


 * They provide research services in their library and off-site at local repositories for a fee. They accept requests through mail or email. For more information.

Social Groups Online

 * New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)

Taxation

 * 1699–1734 Tax assesment rolls New York Public Library; . These rolls are a great finding aid to locate someone that was a city resident and finding the ward they belonged to; includes renters and owners. There is a break in the years from 1710 to 1720. The rolls from 1721 to 1734 include Queens, Richmond, and Westchester as well as New York City.

Birth
Slave Birth Records in the Town of Castleton, 1799 -1824 online (free) at Statenislandgenealogy.com

Birth records from 1898 to 1909 are held at the New York City Municipal Archives. They are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library. A digital version of the Family History Library's guide to New York City birth records is available at. Birth records from 1909 to the present can be obtained from the New York City Department of Health ($).


 * 1847-1897 Department of Health. Index to Births, Richmond County, New York, 1847-1897;.
 * 1881-1965 Births Reported in the City of New York, 1881-1965;.
 * 1898-1902 Births Reported in the City of New York, 1891-1902 at Ancestry ($).
 * 1898-1965 Birth Index at Vital Search ($).
 * 1898-1909 Department of Health. Division of Vital Statistics. State of New York (Richmond Borough) Certificate and Record of Birth, 1898-1909..
 * 1898-1965 Department of Health. Births Reported in the City of New York, 1881-1965..
 * 1901-1909 New York City Birth index at German Genealogy Group - free.
 * 1901-1909 New York City Births at Italian Genealogical Group - free.

Birth Substitutes


 * 1640–1962 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.
 * See Town Clerks' Registers of Men who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military for birth information.
 * 1851-2003 Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage &amp; Death Announcements, 1851-2003 at Ancestry ($) - includes New York Times.

Marriage
Marriage records from 1898 to 1937 are held at the New York City Municipal Archives. They are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library. A digital version of the Family History Library's guide to New York City marriages is available at. Marriage records from 1929 to the present can be obtained from the City Clerk of New York City ($).


 * 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.


 * 1665-1800 Early New Jersey Marriages Relating to Staten Islanders at NYGenWeb - free.


 * 1882-1897 Richmond County Clerk. Card Index to Marriages, 1882-1897..


 * 1897-1932 Marriage Records Richmond County, New York, 1897-1932..


 * 1898-1937 New York City Grooms Index at Italian Genealogical Group - free.


 * 1898-1937 New York City Brides Index at Italian Genealogical Group - free.
 * 1898-1937 New York City Grooms Record index at German Genealogy Group - free.
 * 1898-1937 Marriage Index at Vital Search ($).
 * 1898-1937 New York City Brides Record Index at German Genealogy Group - free.
 * 1898-1937 New York City Index to Marriages in All Boroughs, 1888-1937;.

Marriage Substitutes


 * 1686-1980 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.
 * 1790-1947 Pantle, Alberta. Records of Marriages and Deaths from the New York Magazine, or Literary Repository, 1790-1797, 1900-1905, 1924-1947 and Bible Records. MSS., Staten Island Historical Society Museum. Microfilmed 1967:.
 * 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."
 * 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.
 * 1864-5, 1874-5 See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for marriage information for 1864-5, and 1874-5.
 * 1875 Marriages Records on the 1875 State Census at NYGenWeb - free.

Death
Death records from 1898 to 1948 are held at the New York City Municipal Archives. They are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library. A digital version of the Family History Library's guide to New York City death records is available at. Death records from 1948 to the present can be obtained from the New York City Department of Health ($).


 * 1847-1897 Department of Health. Index to Deaths, Richmond County, New York, 1847-1897;.
 * 1892-1902 Deaths Reported in the City of New York. New York, USA: Department of Health. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1898-1948 New York City Death Records Search 1891-1948 at Italian Genealogical Group - free.
 * 1898-1948 New York City Death Index at German Genealogy Group - free.
 * 1898-1913 Death Index at Vital Search ($).
 * 1898-1949 Department of Health. Richmond County, New York Death Certificates, 1898-1949;.
 * 1898-1965 Department of Health. Index to Deaths, New York City, 1888-1965;.

Death Substitutes


 * 1790-1947 Pantle, Alberta. Records of Marriages and Deaths from the New York Magazine, or Literary Repository, 1790-1797, 1900-1905, 1924-1947 and Bible Records. MSS., Staten Island Historical Society Museum. Microfilmed 1967:.
 * 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– ($); Index. Information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."
 * 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Census for death information.
 * 1849-50 1850 Census Mortality Schedules at NYGenWeb - free.
 * 1851-2003 Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage &amp; Death Announcements, 1851-2003 at Ancestry ($) - 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.
 * 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.
 * 1874-5 Deaths Recorded on the 1875 State Census at NYGenWeb - free.
 * 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.
 * 1999-2011 Index to Some Staten Island Obituaries at NYGenWeb - free.

Richmond County New York Genealogy Websites

 * The Richmond County (Staten Island) NYGenWeb Project, an member of The NYGenWeb Project
 * Staten Island Genealogy