Your Guide to Finding New York Ancestors

Postal Code: NY Abbreviation NY
State Capital: Albany
Earliest settlement: 1624
Until 1664, some areas under Dutch control (New Netherlands)
Admitted as the 11th state in 1788
First mostly extant federal census: 1790; Some state census records exist for New York
Statewide birth, death and marriage registration began 1880 (some earlier, some later)
State Land state

There is nothing more helpful that a handy reference book with information specific to the area you are researching. I've listed below those that I know about.

(find in a library) will give you a link to help you find the book in the library closest to you. Most will show libraries near Ann Arbor... to change the location, type in your zip code and you can find libraries near you.

All of the three books listed below have a small section covering each state that includes maps, historical information, vital records coverage and a bibliography of resources for that state.

1. Handybook for Genealogists ( 11th edition) (find in a library) (note: some libraries may have earleir editions; those are perfectly usable)
2. Ancestry's Redbook (you'll want the 3rd edition) (find in a library)
3. The Family Tree Resource Book for Genealogical Research (find in a library)

Here are some books specific to New York research:

Ancestry's New York Fact Sheet

Dollarhide. New York State Censuses & Substitutes

French's Gazateer of the State of New York (1849)-- very helpful if you are reseraching early New York ancestors.

Genealogical Resources in New York (revised ed. of Genealogical Research in New York.) (note this covers onlyrepositories in New York City and Albany--two of the best cities in which to do New York research)

The Graveyard Shift: A Genealogist's Guide to New York City Cemeteries (note this is only NYC)

Remington. New York State Probate Records. A Genealogist's Guide to Testate and Intestate Records. 2002

Remington. New York Towns, Villages, and Cities: A Guide to Genealogical Sources (2002)

Schweitzer. New York Genealogical Research

1866 Map of New York

Periodicals
New York Genealogical and Biographical Record
Tree Talks
Westerm NY Genealogical Society Journal

Video
Hoff. Upstate New York Research

First, bookmark or print out these FHL documents: New York Research Outline
and New York Historical Background,

See what's available at the New York Gen Web , the ALHN / AHGP New York page

Check out the New York Genealogy Guide

Visit the websites of these libraries, archives and societies:

The New York State Library in Albany has a large Local History and Genealogy Section. Their site offers guidance in searching for surnames or local histories. Until the 1980's the NYSL maintained card file indexes that can prove useful in finding people in the many publications published before then. The library says they don't do genealogy research for people, but provide a list of professional searchers. If you can't go to Albany, you might call the library and ask the cheapest way to have someone search these card indexes and photocopy those with surnames of interest. This site also has a very handy guide to locating place names in New York.
Many early family information can be found in the New York DAR records series. The NYSL has a complete run; these can also be ordered through the LDS Library.

The New York Public Library Local History & Genealogy Division has a Guide to Genealogical Research at the New York Public Library. You can search their catalog to find books that might be helpful to your research.

The state of New York is served by the NARA Northeast Region- New York. Here is a .pdf copy of a flyer describing the resources there.

The New York Historical Society maintains a library with an enormous amount of material useful to genealogists. They also offer an e-mail reference service. To make the best use of this service, think long and hard to compose specific question that can be answered fairly readily.

The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society also has a helpful web page. See especially their research aids .

The Central New York Genealogy Society publishes data for upstate counties. See especially their page of links and surname project.

The Western New York Genealogy Society publishes materials covering the western counties.

To find local genealogy societies, see the New York Genealogy Society Directory

Newspapers

Find out about newspapers at the website of the New York Newspaper Project .

Census

In addition to federal census records, there are state census schedules for New York . Learn more about NY State Census Schedules. The 1880 census can be searched for free at Familysearch.org Find other online census records and more census information at censusfinder.com's New York links.

Vital Records

To get information about vital records, check the New York Vital Records (official page) or the Vitalrec New York Page

Immigration and Naturalization

If your ancestors came into New York through Ellis Island, you will want to search the Ellis Island site. Prior to it was Castle Garden. There are some online searchable New York naturalization records and indexes.

If you had ancestors in New Netherlands, you will be interested in work of the New Netherlands Institute. (Note -- when searching the project, you an truncate the search with an *. For example van keu* finds pages with the word van and any word taht starts with keu. But if you use quotation marks "van keu" will find onlypages containing a word that begins with those 6 letters.

Cemeteries

Interment.net: New York Cemeteries

Miscellaneous
Finally, check out New York Black Sheep Ancestors

Work with others

Leave a query on a New York county message board or see if one of the volunteers at Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness: New York can help you.

Other links:
Now look for more helpful New York links:
* Genealogy Today's State Gen Site: New York
* Rootsweb: U.S. Resources: New York
* Genealink's New York Page
* Access Genealogy's List of New YorkLinks
* Cyndi's List New York Page
* Linkpendium's New York Page