New York Marraige/Birth records

hjr

Hi there,
Like most here, doing work on the family tree. I have traced a relation to New York on the 1940 census, but no matter how I try I cannot find birth records for the kids listed. They were def born in USA but when I search ancestry, or familysearch, I cannot locate them. They were all born between 1918 and 1935. Is there something obvious I'm missing here?

The father of the children is American born, mother Irish born. Father had been married before.

Thanks for your help.

Coolnabacky1873

Welcome to the frustrating world of NYC vital records in the 20th century!:pac:

Firstly, there is a distinction between New York City and the rest of the state. All public vital records for the city are at the NYC Municipal Archives. For the rest of the state they are at the State Dept of Heath in Albany, or from the relevant town.

I'll presume it's NYC so the following applies: what's publicly available includes births before 1910, marriages outside of the last 50 years and deaths before 1949. This is the free online index for those records.

For your time frame, 1918-1935, birth certs are only available at the New York City Dept. of Health.

I'll be honest, these guys can be a total nightmare to deal with. I have had clients who have been denied a death cert for their own father and grandfather!! But don't let that put you off, our professional representative group here in NYC have been making efforts to improve access for those dong genealogy.

As you will see in the link there are all sorts of restrictions on access.

There is an index of births and deaths available up to 1982. This looks like the one on LDS microfilms that will help you.

For those years of birth they might be still alive today or have recently passed away. Therefore, it might be worth seeing if you can find them.

The Familysearch births/baps database for New York State up to 1962 is a real mixed bag, but as always, try it out.

hjr

Thanks Coolnabacky1873,
It does carry a certain frustration to get so close to a record and then....nothing!
In relation to the record I'm chasing, I seem to have found a record of it on the Italiangen site, which lists the wedding. What is the best way to get a copy of this record, or get further details of this certificate, bearing in mind I'm in Ireland!

Thanks for all your help.

Coolnabacky1873

For anything at the Municipal Archives you can apply online or via mail.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/vitalrecords/home.shtml

I also happen to know a certain NYC based genealogist who provides a retrieval and email scan service

Waitsian

Coolnabacky1873 wrote: »

I also happen to know a certain NYC based genealogist who provides a retrieval and email scan service

I'm embrassed to admit it took a few seconds for the penny to drop...!

hjr

mod9maple wrote: »

I'm embrassed to admit it took a few seconds for the penny to drop...!

Haha, not me! Many thanks Coolnabacky1873, I may just take you up on that offer soon, once I get some more records together.

On that note, how much information would you need to track down a birth cert for someone, if I only knew the year they were born and their parents names? I don't know dates/months, etc. It may help me fill in some more blanks!

Coolnabacky1873

Best to PM in the future, don't think I should be 'advertising' a service!

If the birth occurred in NYC before 1910 then check the Italiangen website indexes. No parents names in the online indexes though.

If it was 1910, or later, then since you are in Ireland I reckon the LDS microfilm indexes are the only available option. If these are a direct copy of the microfilmed card indexes that are at the Muni Archives then some will have parents names.

It really is pot luck for birth certs of Irish in NYC before 1910. They did everything through the RC Church and many didn't register births with the city authorities. So if you have a street address you can try and work out the nearest RC Church and write to them for a baptism. Doing that is a whole other barrel of laughs though!

InTheTrees

hjr wrote: »

Haha, not me! Many thanks Coolnabacky1873, I may just take you up on that offer soon, once I get some more records together.

My brother just did some NYC marriage record searches and used a local "researcher". There's really no other way and I was a little hesitant at first but it seems that is the way its done.