Search Greenburgh Genealogy Records

Greenburgh genealogy records start at 1881 for births, deaths, and marriages held by the town clerk. The Town of Greenburgh is in Westchester County, one of the original New York counties formed in 1683. Westchester County adds land records from the 1680s, court files, naturalization records, military discharges, and probate records to the search. The Westchester County Historical Society has family files, manuscripts, photographs, maps, and cemetery records. Between town, county, and historical society sources, Greenburgh family lines can often be traced back well into the 1800s or even the colonial period.

Greenburgh Town Clerk Vital Records

The Greenburgh Town Clerk maintains birth records from 1881 to the present, death records from 1881, and marriage records from 1881. The office is at Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Avenue, Greenburgh, NY 10607. Phone is (914) 993-1500.

You can visit in person to search indexes and get copies. Mail requests are accepted too. Send the full name, date or approximate date, record type, and a note that this is for genealogy. Fees are typically $10 to $20 per copy. The town clerk may hold some records from the 1847 to 1849 period when New York briefly required local vital records collection, though those early files are scarce.

Birth certificates open for genealogy after 75 years if the person is known dead. Death certificates are available after 50 years. Marriage certificates need 50 years and proof both spouses have died.

Westchester County Records for Greenburgh Genealogy

The Westchester County Clerk holds land records from the 1680s to the present, court records, naturalization records, and military discharges. Marriage records cover 1908 to 1935. Westchester was one of the original New York counties formed in 1683, so records here go back centuries. The office is at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., White Plains, NY 10601. Phone is (914) 995-3080.

Land records are indexed by grantor and grantee. Naturalization records show when immigrants became citizens and often list country of origin, date of arrival, and other details useful for genealogy. Military discharge records can help with veteran ancestors.

The Westchester County Surrogate's Court has probate records from 1683 to the present. Wills, estate inventories, letters of administration, and guardianship records are all on file. Probate records often reveal family connections that vital records miss. The court is at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., White Plains, NY 10601. Phone is (914) 995-3081.

For broader Westchester County research, the county archives maintain additional government records and historical documents.

Westchester County Historical Society Genealogy

The Westchester County Historical Society holds extensive genealogy collections including family files, manuscripts, photographs, maps, and cemetery records for Westchester County. The society is at 2199 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford, NY 10523. Phone is (914) 592-4323.

Family files organized by surname can sometimes provide information you will not find in government records. Cemetery transcriptions are useful when death records are missing or incomplete. Maps and atlases can show where ancestors lived and what property they owned. The society can also refer you to local historical organizations and churches that may have additional records.

Greenburgh includes several villages and hamlets, each with its own character and sometimes its own local records. Checking village offices and local churches can turn up baptismal records, burial records, and membership rolls that fill gaps in the official files.

The Westchester County Archives also maintain county government records and historical documents. These can include poorhouse records, court case files, and administrative records that touch on individual residents of Greenburgh and other towns in the county. If your ancestors interacted with county government in any way, these files may have useful details.

State Resources for Greenburgh Genealogy

The New York State Archives in Albany holds vital records indexes on microfiche for births from 1881, marriages from 1881, and deaths from 1880. These cover Greenburgh and all of Westchester County. Index entries give names, dates, places, and state file numbers. You use the file number to order a copy.

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. Going to the Greenburgh Town Clerk is usually much faster.

The New York State Census was taken in 1825, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925. These state census records sometimes have details the federal census skipped, like years of residence. They are available at the State Archives and on Ancestry.com (free for New York residents).

Reclaim The Records released the full New York State Death Index from 1880 to 2017 for free download. Over 10 million records include Greenburgh deaths with names, dates, ages, and file numbers.

FamilySearch has microfilmed many Westchester County records including probate files, land records, and church registers. Some of these are digitized and free online. Church records from Greenburgh-area congregations can predate government vital records and include baptisms, marriages, and burials with family details that official files do not capture. Cemetery transcriptions for Greenburgh and surrounding areas may also be available through local genealogy groups and the Westchester County Historical Society.

Colonial and early American records for Westchester County are unusually rich. The county was settled early and kept good records through the colonial period. If your Greenburgh ancestors go back to the 1700s or earlier, the county clerk's land records, the Surrogate's Court wills, and the historical society collections are all worth searching.

Nearby Cities for Genealogy

Families in Westchester County moved between towns and cities often. Check these nearby places for records on your Greenburgh ancestors.