The five Mid-Atlantic states represent perhaps the most genealogically diverse region in the United States, yet significant commonalities in their history, record-keeping, settlement, and migrations, make it useful to consider research in these states together. The five states–New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland–were initially settled between 1624 and about 1660, a more compact time frame than any other region. Three major ports brought more immigrants directly to this region than to any other. From Colonial days, a great number of non-English speaking immigrants chose this region for settlement.

Vital records developed relatively early in most of these states, although very inconsistently. Several states passed laws in the mid-1800s regarding the registration of births and deaths, but these laws were not well enforced and were eventually repealed. Later laws were more successful, but often only after the larger cities had shown the value of keeping such records for health and social planning purposes. Consequently, there are tantalizing pieces of early registrations to be searched, but given the limited coverage and compliance, researchers should not expect to find many family members in those records.

From Colonial times to the present, the Mid-Atlantic states have seen the lion’s share of immigrant arrivals to the New World. The port cities of New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore were consistently the most popular in America. Hence, most immigrants who later settled in more western states arrived at these eastern ports. Many immigrants stayed in these port cities and their surrounding suburbs for several years before moving west. Some immigrants remained for their entire lives. Therefore, it is very possible that more Americans have ancestors and relatives who spent at least some time in the Mid-Atlantic states than in any other region.

Fortunately, the passenger lists for these three ports have survived, with minimal loss, from their beginnings in 1820, well into the twentieth century. For Philadelphia, arrival lists of non-British (essentially Germans) date from the 1720s. A growing number of indexes and abstracts of the lists (as books, microfilm, CD-ROM, and online) provide access to most of these extant lists.

Naturalization of these new Americans often occurred in the cities and counties further west where the families eventually settled. However, those who stayed in the east for a few years often naturalized there before moving. An excellent collection of such records, from both federal and local (state) courts is available on microfilm from the Family History Library. Federal court naturalization records are also available through the National Archives.

The sheer size and fluctuation of the population in these states makes genealogical research complex. A short article cannot cover all aspects of such research. Indeed, one or more books would be needed to explore the records and repositories of each state. Fortunately, for most of these states, such books already exist. Therefore, this article introduces the important original records available for each state. Addresses of major repositories and citations of published guides (where available) for each state accompany the article.

Generally these church records survived, and have been published (often several times), making access relatively easy through many libraries. Most have also been extracted into the International Genealogical Index (IGI), making that database an excellent place to begin your search for early New York Dutch families. The arrival of Germans beginning in 1710 in New York saw the establishment of several German churches (generally Lutheran) in the Hudson and Mohawk River valleys. They, too, are usually transcribed and published, providing a helpful way to begin exploring these early Germans.

British settlers in early New York generally came from the New England area, even during the period of Dutch control. These initial settlements were generally in the eastern half of Long Island, as well as much of Westchester County. Later, they continued to spill over into the area between the western boarders of Connecticut and Massachusetts and the Hudson River. In those towns settled by New Englanders, the town records typical of that region often still exist, and many have been published in book form.

The keeping of official vital records, however, did not begin as early or cover as thoroughly as in New York’s eastern neighbors. Following Massachusetts’ lead, an abortive attempt was made, beginning with a state law in 1847, directing towns to record births, marriages, and deaths. There was no enforcement for this law, and most towns did not comply. By 1850, the practice was discontinued. Records still exist in the possession of those towns that did register these vital events. Generally even these records are quite incomplete, including often less than half of the births, and even fewer marriages and deaths.

In 1880, the state again made an attempt to have vital events registered. Full compliance was slow, to the point that most deaths were not well recorded until about 1890, and in some places, births were not thoroughly recorded until about 1915. Any records found prior to these dates need to be considered as having only partial coverage.

Births, marriages, and deaths are recorded in the town where the event took place, and a copy is sent to the state. However, marriages were recorded by county from 1908 to (usually) 1935. Access to New York vital records is restricted. Births and marriages must have occurred at least seventy-five years ago and deaths at least fifty years ago for genealogical access. These time periods can be waived for direct-line ancestors if proof of the relationship and the subject’s death are provided.

Since genealogical requests take four to six months, the state vital records office suggests contacting the local registrar or town clerk, if the location of the event is known. Furthermore, the state does not maintain records for New York City, nor for pre-1914 events in Albany, Buffalo, and Yonkers.

Other major original government records in New York are generally created and maintained at the county level. Since 1787, each county’s Surrogate Court has handled probate matters. Each such court has an index to its probate files, including the all-important probate packets. Often called estate files, these files contain all the documents created during the probate process, either testate or intestate. Beginning in 1830, they generally include a petition listing all the heirs.

Although most wills and other court books have been microfilmed and are available through the Family History Library, the estate files are generally not on microfilm. An excellent new guidebook identifies the available probate records for each county, with addresses, contact information, published sources, and notes on the copies at the Family History Library. Consult Gordon Remington’s New York Probate Records: A Genealogist’s Guide to Testate and Intestate Records (New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002).

Sales of land between individuals were generally recorded in the deed or mortgage books by the county clerk. However, such recording only became mandatory in 1830. Most of these records are also available on microfilm through the Family History Library through about 1900.

A unique resource for New York research is the network of local historians, covering almost every town in the state. They exist to help researchers find and access records of value to their topic of research. Current addresses are on the website of the Association of Public Historians of New York State.

New York City Research

Almost from its founding as a Dutch trading post, New York City has been a distinct and unique place. Our ancestors have called it home since the first permanent settlers arrived about 1624. While it shares much of its history with the colony and state of New York, its records are often kept separate, and therefore are deserving of separate discussion.

Originally New York City (as New Amsterdam) was just the settlement on the southern tip of Manhattan Island. Other areas of that island, as well as neighboring Staten Island and Long Island, developed their own settlements during the Colonial era. During the 1700s and 1800s, the city grew north up the island, eventually including the entire island.

Part of the Bronx (then in Westchester County) was added in 1874, with the rest joining the city in 1895. In 1898, the surrounding metropolitan area was joined into the city of New York, creating the five boroughs of Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn (at the time, the nation’s fourth largest city), Queens, and Richmond. New York City had become a metropolis, and one of the world’s largest cities, both in land and population.

The keeping of vital records varied greatly during the nineteenth century, as the cities and towns that later became greater New York City began keeping such records at different times. Many began with the state law of 1847, but such registration was far from comprehensive. Reasonable registration began in Manhattan and Brooklyn about 1866, with growing compliance to 1881. However, as with all major metropolitan areas, many vital events seem to have been missed, especially births of immigrant families.

The Family History Library has an excellent collection of vital records from the cities and towns that eventually comprised New York City. It includes city births to 1909 and deaths to 1919, with indexes to 1965 for both. Copies of birth records through 1909, and death records through 1948 are at the Municipal Archives, with more recent records at the city’s Department of Health. Marriages through 1937 are also at the Municipal Archives.

Although most city residents don’t appear in land and probate records, some additional sources compensate for the absence. The census records for New York City are remarkably complete and well-indexed. An 1890 police census (mostly unindexed) for Manhattan even compensates for the missing federal census for that year. The 1870 census was taken a second time (in December), providing an additional source for that time period.

City directories provide a necessary annual snapshot of the ever-changing and growing population. Begun in 1786, they were issued virtually every year through 1915. New York directories generally only include Manhattan, and later the Bronx. Brooklyn has its own city directories.

As with the other Mid-Atlantic states, church records are the best source for dates of vital events for the first two hundred years of settlement. Heavily settled by Germans, most Lutheran and Reformed parish registers survive and have been published (sometimes several times). Some were extracted into the IGI, but most were not. In recent years, commercial companies have begun publishing most available church records (German, Quaker, and others) by county in multiple volume sets.

An 1852 state law requested that the Register of Wills in each county keep a record of births and deaths, but compliance was minimal and the requirement ended in 1854. Existing registers are on microfilm at the Family History Library for most counties, but less than half such events were registered.

A later requirement had almost all counties registering births and deaths by 1893, but registrations were still incomplete. Many cities, including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, began keeping such records as early as 1860. The state took over registration in 1906. Marriages, registered by county, generally date from late-1885.

For records prior to 1906, contact the county. For later years, either the county or the Division of Vital Statistics in New Castle may provide copies, but access is restricted to persons to whom the record pertains. This includes direct descendants of deceased persons.

Probate has been a county function since the first counties were created in 1682. The various records are usually maintained by the county orphan’s court in various books, including a Register of Wills. Typically well indexed, researchers generally begin with the Docket or Estate or General Index, which refers to specific indexes, such as wills, bonds, letters of administration, guardianships, etc. Many of these records are available on microfilm through the Family History Library often well into the twentieth century, however, copies are not yet on film for several counties.

The initial granting of land in Pennsylvania was complex, and the process varied over time and location. For assistance with such records, consult Donna Bingham Munger’s Pennsylvania Land Records: A History and Guide for Research (Scholarly Resources, 1991). Subsequent transfers of land (deeds) are recorded by the Recorder of Deeds in each county. Records for all but about ten counties are on microfilm through the early twentieth century at the Family History Library.

Until 1702, New Jersey was two separate colonies, East Jersey and West Jersey, with most settlement along the respective outer boundaries, the Delaware River in the west, and the Atlantic Ocean and Hudson River in the east. English from Long Island and New England joined the Dutch in East Jersey, while West Jersey saw more English Quakers, Germans, Scots, Scotch-Irish, and even French Huguenots.

As with New York, a few towns of New England origin kept some vital records, but most did not comply with the laws passed in the seventeenth century requiring such registration. However, in 1848, New Jersey joined Massachusetts and became the second state to permanently require statewide registration of vital events. As with other states, registration in the early years was not complete.

The state copies of these town registrations from 1848 to 1923 are available on microfilm (through 1940 for deaths) at the state archives (and before 1900, also at the Family History Library). Births through 1867 are also extracted into the IGI.

Thousands of provincial marriage records exist for the colonial time period. Beginning in 1795, the county Court of Common Pleas was to record marriages, but it became a statewide function in 1848. Records through 1940 are on microfilm at the state archives, but copies of marriages after 1878 can only be obtained from the state Department of Health.

Probate in New Jersey has been a county issue since 1784 with the creation of county Orphans’ Courts. Surrogate Courts began handling some probate matters in 1804 and assumed all such duties in 1947, so existing records should still be in that court’s jurisdiction in each county. A useful statewide Index to New Jersey Wills, 1698-1890 (Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1979) includes virtually all surviving probates through 1901. Meanwhile, the wills and many letters of administration were abstracted into thirteen volumes of the Archives of the State of New Jersey, with every-name indexes in each volume.

Deeds prior to 1785 have generally ended up in the Secretary of State’s office in Trenton, but perhaps only about half or less of the deeds of this time period were ever officially recorded. After 1785, this became the responsibility of the county clerks, where the records still survive. Most are also on microfilm (usually through 1901) at the Family History Library.

The keeping of vital records started slowly in Delaware. While some marriage bonds exist beginning in 1744, most government records began during the nineteenth century. The counties began keeping marriage records about 1832, with state registration beginning in 1847.

Births, on the other hand, were slower to begin. Statewide registration was attempted from 1861 to 1863, and resumed in 1881. Even at that point, general compliance did not come until the early 1920s. Some deaths were registered beginning in 1855, but state registration officially began in 1881. With deaths, compliance was achieved by about 1890.

Indexes and records to about 1910 are available through the Family History Library. Vital records for the past forty years (seventy-two years for births) are available from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. For older records, contact the Delaware Public Archives.

Probate records are also kept at the Delaware Public Archives, although microfilm copies to about 1850 are also at the Family History Library. The Register of Wills in each county has kept the probate records since 1682, although the county orphan’s courts also have some records dealing with probate. Abstracts of probate matters through 1800 have been published for all three counties. A statewide index to consult is Donald O. Virdin’s Colonial Delaware Wills and Estates to 1800: An Index (Heritage Books, 1994).

The earliest land grants are generally published in a variety of books dealing with the early records of Delaware. Later land transfers were registered by the County Recorder. Microfilm copies at the Family History Library cover both the deeds and indexes from the late 1600s to the about 1850.

Some county clerks began registering births and deaths beginning about 1865. They are incomplete, and extant copies are now at the Maryland State Archives. The state mandated the keeping of births and deaths in 1898, and those records are at the Division of Vital Records.

Birth records for the last 100 years are only available to the subject or an authorized representative. Death records are restricted to surviving relatives or representatives for twenty years. Microfilm copies of most records are at the state archives but not at the Family History Library.

Marriage records date to 1640 when the General Assembly required the clergy to keep registers. Beginning in 1777, county clerks were required to issue licenses and since 1865, keep returns of marriages performed. The state archives has the records on microfilm from 1777 through 1950. Indexes to these records are available through the Family History Library. Many early marriages, from 1777 to 1820, were published by Robert William Barnes in three volumes, Maryland Marriages (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1975, 1978, 1993).

The earliest probate records were kept by the Secretary of the Province until 1671, and then by the Prerogative Court until 1776. Since that date, the county orphan’s court and register of wills has been charged with this function. Copies on microfilm are at the Maryland State Archives, which also has a card index from 1634 to 1854. Colonial records are also available through the Family History Library.

Virtually all probate records through 1777 have been published in abstract form as well. Wills were abstracted in sixteen volumes by Jane Baldwin Cotton (Genealogical Publishing Co.). The various records of the Prerogative Court have been abstracted in more than thirty volumes, in four series, by Vernon L. Skinner (Westminister, Md.: Family Line Publications). Together, these provide excellent every-name access to virtually all colonial probate records.

Originally, all Maryland land belonged to the Calvert family, the proprietors who were granted it by the English crown. Through 1683, they distributed the land to those who paid the passage of settlers (themselves or others) through the "headright" system. The names of those early settlers have been published by Gust Skordas (through 1680) and Peter Wilson Coldham (1679-1783). The original land records are on microfilm at the state archives and the Family History Library.

Later deeds between individuals were recorded with the county clerk. While the Family History Library has some of these records, all of them are also available from the state archives.

Clearly large cities, with their teaming immigrants and larger numbers of the poorer class, are a challenge for the family historian. Fortunately, some key records are available to assist with research in these locations. Many large eastern cities were among the first to establish vital records offices. Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New York all began keeping limited registers of deaths or burials long before the Civil War, and began registering births decades before their respective states required such action.

Even earlier, these cities began the tradition of publishing city directories listing the households within the city limits. Even recent immigrants were not excluded. Most heads of families appear within a couple of years residence in the city. Although usually only the gainfully employed persons (or widows) are listed, the renewal of the listing on an annual basis provides significant clues to understanding entire families. Locating all the members of a family in each year, and observing their addresses, occupations, and even differing names can suggest conclusions about relationships not clear in other records.

The more developed and compact society typically found in large cities suggests that a greater percentage of city residents will appear in other records. It is more difficult for census takers to overlook families when they are not in a distant rural valley. Cemeteries are better regulated, which encourages better record-keeping than in sparsely settled locales. Churches, on almost every corner, represent all denominations and therefore can service virtually any person’s religious needs.

Big city research is generally more challenging. More people mean more records to sift through and more people sharing a family name without being related. Residents migrated in and out more frequently and in greater numbers, challenging even the most experienced family historian. Take the time necessary to search every possible record. It is the surest way to successfully research in the forests of the large cities.

New York

New York State Towns, Villages and Cities: A Guide to Genealogical Sources, by Gordon Remington (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002).

Genealogical Resources in the New York Metropolitan Area, by Estele M. Guzik, ed. (New York: Jewish Genealogical Society, 1989).

Pennsylvania

A Genealogist’s Guide to Pennsylvania Records, by Helen Hutchison Woodroofe (Philadelphia: Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, 1995).

New Jersey

New Jersey Research Outline (Salt Lake City: Family History Library, 1997).

Delaware

Delaware Genealogical Research Guide, by Thomas P. Doherty (Wilmington, Del.: Delaware Genealogical Society, 1991).

Maryland

Genealogical Research in Maryland: A Guide, 4th ed, by Mary Keysor Meyer (Baltimore: Maryland Historical Society, 1992).

Kory L. Meyerink, MLS, AG, FUGA, is a partner at ProGenealogists.com, the nation’s leading Internet-based genealogical research company. An adjunct family history professor for Brigham Young University, and founder of the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, he is the editor and chief writer of Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records (Ancestry, 1998).

Return to the Ancestry magazine January/February 2003 table of contents.