Shannon, It is very possible that the births were never recorded. Many more births were by midwife than by doctors at that time, and some doctors were poor at reporting. New York City births were not reported to Albany. They had their own system. The hospital births you mentioned might have been reported, but I have never heard of a direct link between hospitals and the state for the sake of reporting. Such reporting is doubtful. The percentage of births in hospitals at that time would have been very low. Your ancestors may not have been born in the place of baptism. A paid researcher in Albany could check the NYS Dept of Health Death Index on microfiche at the NYS Archives for you. It would tell where they were born, and when. The researcher could also order the birth certificates for you. If you wish to do that, I can put you in touch with someone. Cliff Lamere ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Foon123@aol.com wrote: >I am trying to locate birth records for ancestors who lived in Irvington in >the late 1880s and early 1890s. I sent requests to the Clerk's Office there >and was told they only have information on people who were born at home not >in hospitals. (I don't know whether or not these ancestors were born in a >hospital). I even checked with the Town of Greenburgh, Village of Dobbs Ferry, >but no luck. I have the baptismal records for these ancestors, but was hoping >to gain some insight into their parents from the birth records. > >Does anyone have any suggestions on where I could research further? Were >births in New York also sent to Albany for recordation? Is it possible that >these births were never recorded? > >Thank you for any help you can give me! >Shannon > > > >