Greece, New York Genealogy Lookup

Greece genealogy records begin at 1881 when New York State started requiring towns to file births, deaths, and marriages. The Town of Greece sits in Monroe County just west of Rochester. Monroe County is a "consolidated county" for vital records, meaning birth and death records from 1880 on are at the Monroe County Health Department rather than with individual town clerks. This gives Greece researchers a central place to search. The Monroe County Clerk, the Rochester Public Library, and the Monroe County Surrogate's Court add land deeds, court files, census records, and probate records that round out the picture.

Greece Town Clerk Records

The Greece Town Clerk maintains town records and marriage records from 1881 to the present. The office is at Greece Town Hall, 1 Vince Tofany Blvd., Greece, NY 14612. Phone is (585) 225-2000.

Because Monroe County consolidates vital records, birth and death records for Greece residents are at the county Health Department, not with the town clerk. The town clerk does keep marriage records. You can search in person or by mail. Include the full names of the couple and the date if you know it.

The town clerk can also point you to other local resources and offices that may help with your Greece family research.

Monroe County Vital Records for Greece Genealogy

The Monroe County Health Department holds birth records from 1880 to the present and death records from 1880 to the present for all of Monroe County. This includes Greece, Rochester, Irondequoit, and every other town and city in the county. The consolidation makes it simpler for genealogy work because you only need to go to one place.

The office is at 111 Westfall Road, Rochester, NY 14620. Phone is (585) 753-5141. You can visit in person or submit a mail request. Include the full name, the date or approximate date, and the reason for your request. Birth certificates open for genealogy after 75 years if the person is known dead. Death certificates are available after 50 years.

Marriage records for Greece are split. The town clerk has them from 1881. The Monroe County Clerk has marriage records from 1908 to 1935. Check both sources when looking for a marriage record.

Monroe County Clerk Genealogy Records

The Monroe County Clerk maintains land records from 1821 to the present, court records from 1821, marriage records from 1908 to 1935, naturalization records, and New York State Census records for 1825 to 1925. Monroe County was formed from Genesee and Ontario counties in 1821. The office is at 39 West Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614. Phone is (585) 753-1600.

Land deeds are indexed by grantor and grantee. Naturalization records show when ancestors became citizens and often include country of origin and date of arrival. The state census records can fill gaps between the federal census years.

The Monroe County Surrogate's Court has probate records from 1821 to the present. Wills, estate files, and guardianship records are all available. The court is at 39 West Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614. Phone is (585) 753-1601.

For broader Monroe County research, the county historian's office can provide guidance and referrals to local resources.

Rochester Public Library for Greece Genealogy

The Rochester Public Library Central Library is one of the 11 official repositories for the New York State Vital Records Index microfiche. You can search indexes to births from 1881, marriages from 1881, and deaths from 1880. The library also has city directories digitized from 1845 to 1929, suburban directories, will records, maps, census records, church records, and cemetery records.

The library is at 115 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604. Phone is (585) 428-7300. City directories and suburban directories are useful for placing Greece ancestors at specific addresses and learning their occupations. Church and cemetery records fill gaps that government files sometimes leave.

Newspapers on microfilm at the Rochester Public Library are especially helpful. Obituaries often name surviving family members, birthplaces, and burial locations. Marriage announcements and social columns can place your ancestors in specific times and places. The library staff can help you find the right rolls for the time period you need.

State Resources for Greece Genealogy

The New York State Archives holds vital records indexes on microfiche. The Rochester Public Library is the closest official repository for these indexes if you are in the Greece area. The indexes have names, dates, places, and state file numbers.

The NYS Department of Health charges $22 for a three-year search, going up to $202 for wider ranges. Processing takes eight months or longer. The Monroe County Health Department is much faster for Greece records.

The New York State Census was taken in 1825, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925. These state census records sometimes list details the federal census skipped. They are at the State Archives and on Ancestry.com (free for New York residents). For Greece researchers, the state census can fill in gaps between the ten-year federal counts.

Reclaim The Records released the full New York State Death Index from 1880 to 2017. Over 10 million records are free to download, including Greece deaths. You get names, dates, ages, and file numbers. FamilySearch has also microfilmed many Monroe County records, and some are digitized online for free access.

Church records and cemetery transcriptions are another avenue for Greece genealogy. Many families in Greece attended churches in Rochester or in the town itself. Baptismal registers, marriage records, and burial logs kept by churches often predate government vital records and include details like godparents, maiden names, and places of origin.

Nearby Cities for Genealogy

Families in the Rochester area moved between towns regularly. These nearby places may have records for your Greece ancestors.