Vital Record

What it is:

A vital record refers to the document that records a major life event, such as a birth, death, or marriage record for an individual. See more detail below.

Birth Record

What it is:

Documents the event of a live birth.

Possible data included:

individual name, date of birth, place of birth, parent names, age of parents, marital status of parents, occupations, race, residence, sibling data

Death Record

What it is:

Documents the death of an individual.

Possible data included:

individual name, date of death, place of death, cause of death, attending physician, place of birth, sex, race, occupation, marital status, spouse's name, parents' names, slave status, Social Security number, residence, informant's name, relationship of informant to deceased, place of cremation or burial.

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Marriage Record

What it is:

Documents the marriage of two individuals. There are several types of marriage records: marriage banns, intention of marriage, application for marriage license, marriage license, marriage certificate.

Possible data included:

Full names of groom and bride (maiden name), ages at marriage, place of marriage, name of officiator, race, residence, birth dates, birth places, previous marriage, occupations, parents' names.

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Census Record

What it is:

A government enumeration of the inhabitants of a region taken at a regular interval of years. Each census may be comprised of several different schedules. We are concerned primarily with the population schedules. The census provides demographic information for every member of each household. The data available varies from census to census.

U.S. Federal Census records have been taken every ten years since 1790. The latest census records available to researchers are those of the 1930 census. While originals still exist in some states, census records are available on microfilm only.

Federal census records from 1940 to 2000 are restricted to those whom the information is about, their authorized representatives, or heirs. This information is available in transcript only, requested from the Census Bureau. Overview of U.S. Federal Census.

New York State census records have been taken for the entire state every ten years since 1825, with the exceptions of 1885 and 1895. Between 1885 and 1905, the census was taken once in 1892. The earliest New York State census in 1790 was for Albany County only. Overview of New York State Census.

Possible data included:

Names, sex, ages of persons in household. Head of household and relationship of persons to the head of household. Marital status. Place of birth of all persons in household and place of birth of each person's parents. Citizenship status, mother language, literacy in English. Occupation, school attendance, and unemployment. Handicapped status. Property and estate information. Address and type of home.

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Passenger Arrival List

What it is:

Also known as a "Passenger List" record. A list of persons entering the country with the intention of settling in the United States. These records are organized by port of entry.

Possible data included:

Nationality, place of birth, ship name, port, entry date, person's age, height, hair color, profession, place of last residence, address of destination, relationship to people at destination, amount of money carried.

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Naturalization Record

What it is:

A document of the federal government proceeding in which persons adopt the citizenship of the United States. Two sets of records are involved. The First Papers, or Declaration of Intention, and the Final Papers which include the petition, oath of allegiance and certificate of naturalization.

Possible data included:

Name, birth place, birth date, nationality, country of emigration, port of entry, date of entry, and ship name.

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City Directory

What it is:

A listing of inhabitants of a city. New York City directories date back to 1780 and continue up to 1933. Telephone books continue this type of listing for large cities.

Possible data included:

Name of family, name of individuals in household, address, occupation of head of household, last known residence.

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Land Deed

What it is:

A land record that documents the sale, transfer, or bargain of land ownership. The deed also contains the guarantee of title to the property.

Possible data included:

Chain of ownership of land parcel, means by which transaction is made, names and addresses of owners, transaction years.

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Probate Records

What they are:

Court documents relating to the estate of a deceased individual. Probate is the process through which a will is proved, or its validity established, and its execution overseen. If the individual did not have a will, probate is the process of distribution of assets according to local law.

Possible data included:

Wills, estate inventories, names of executors, distribution of assets, heirs, minor children, debt information

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Local Records

What they are:

This general category covers a variety of records held at the local, tow, or county level. It includes church, cemetery, school, organization, and business records and local newspapers.

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