Hello Abby, Kellie, and all, I just telephoned the Registrar's office in the "City" of Kingston, and was told: Their records begin with "July, 1881." "New York State's record keeping begins with 1881." Again, in some individual "older towns" they have some records going back further and for whatever reason, "those were not filed with the state." This is what I was just told. Another avenue to explore if known, is the church records. They can go back further. Still another avenue to explore is the Genealogical Society for the County. i.e. Ulster County Genealogical Society has a wealth of information in their library, much to their credit and hard work. Also, local Libraries. Kellie, for Lloyd and Highland, the Elting Library is wonderful. Ulster Co. Genealogical Society: P.O.Box 536, Hurley, New York 12443 Elting Memorial Library in New Paltz: 93 Main Street, New Paltz, NY 12561, Telephone: (914) 255-5030 Richard Frisbie at Hope Farm Press in Saugerties, New York, has a list of various libraries and genealogical societies. http://www.hopefarm.com/ulstrhst.htm The above URL many not be the exact to find the various Libraries, etc., but scouting around his site, will give you information on libraries and societies. Check out the: http://www.hopefarm.com/hotlist.htm#genealogy One of the 'fun' gee whiz facts I found in earlier research is this. If a traveling doctor was at hand during the birth of a child, death of an individual, he may not have recorded it then and there, but instead, in the next town or two he visited. What was the next "town(s)" is anyone's guess! >From past experience in researching, I have found the above to be true. If Lady Luck shines upon us, we can in some cases find older records in the individual Town Clerk's offices. In the "City" of Kingston, there is a Registrar of Vital Statistics. All other are Town Clerks, as Ray said. Sorry I didn't clarify that. Thanks Ray for your message as follows: A clarification on the exchange about a County Registrar of Vital Statistics -- there ain't any such animal. New York collects birth, death and marriage records at the town, city or village level. Registrars of vital statistics in Towns and Villages are the town or village clerks. Cities, like Kingston, do have a separate registrar, so the Registrar for Vital Statistics in Kingston is just for the City of Kingston. So yes, contact the persons given in the answer in Lloyd and New Paltz (with New Paltz, you'll have to consider both the town and the village -- the record could be in either). The village clerk address: Village Clerk, Village of New Paltz, PO Box 877, New Paltz, NY 12561 phone: 914/255/0130 So to Abby, Kellie, and all .... I wish you all the best of luck in the State of New York. Marilyn