i remember a genealogy workshop some years back entitled "NEW YORK: Black Hole of Genealogy". and of the smaller black holes that make it up, Niagara County is one of the blackest. -- I don't make jokes. I just watch the government & report the facts. ~Will Rogers ---------- >From: niagara@unchi.org (Ellen Keyne Seebacher) >To: NYNIAGAR-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: State Records >Date: Fri, Aug 18, 2000, 1:17 AM > >> Could someone tell me how far back NYS's records are available for >> births, deaths, and marriages? > > A state law was passed in 1880 mandating _all_ cities and towns to > keep birth/marriage/death records, but compliance was spotty (50-90%) > for over a generation; a stricter law had to be passed in 1915. > > Earlier birth, death, and/or marriage records are available in a few > jurisdictions (including NYC, Albany, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Rochester, > Syracuse, Utica, Yonkers) though they aren't directly relevant to > Niagara County research. However, you might find a *few* marriages > from the 1847-1850 period: an 1847 state law required registration > of marriages, and most jurisdictions tried to comply for a couple of > years, though eventually everyone just gave up. (If anyone knows of > an index to Niagara County marriages for this period, *please* share!) > > > Ellen <niagara@unchi.org> > > > ==== NYNIAGAR Mailing List ==== > The New York State Archives and Records Administration is at > <http://www.sara.nysed.gov/>. > >