The Vosburgh Collection of New York Church Records | New York Genealogical & Biographical Society

Author

Between 1913 and 1921, Royden Woodward Vosburgh (1875-1931) transcribed for The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society records of some 94 New York State Protestant churches, in 104 volumes. In 1922-1925 he transcribed an additional ten volumes of Richmond County church and cemetery records for the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences (SIIAS). The NYG&B Library has copies of these transcripts in its Manuscript Collection. NYG&B filmed the volumes it had commissioned (except those for New York County), and that film series is available at NYG&B and at other libraries. Other filmings of all the NYG&B and SIIAS volumes are available through the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

Many, but not all of these records have been digitized and are available in the New York State Religious Records collection in the NYG&B eLibrary.

Partial inventories of the collection were published in the Record in 1918 (49:11-16) and 1921 (52:152-57). The revised inventory given below covers all of the volumes in the collection, indicating location, church name, years covered, and NYG&B film and manuscript numbers. The film numbers apply only to the NYG&B filming, not to the FHL films of these records.

Records of some of these churches have also been transcribed by others and published by them in book or article form with indexes that are lacking for most of Vosburgh's work. However, researchers who make use of these other publications may still want to check Vosburgh's version of the same records, as he is more likely to have followed the original format of the church registers, and may have read a name differently from the other transcriber. Also, while other transcripts may cover only marriages and baptisms, Vosburgh transcribed these plus deaths or burials, and membership, confirmation and communion rolls.

For more information on Mr. Vosburgh see his obituary in the Record 63(1932):185-86.

The following list is taken from a more detailed compilation available in the Library, prepared by former NYG&B Assistant Librarian Michael Marrone. Members who want to use the manuscript volumes will find those for all counties except New York and Richmond on the open shelves in the New York Room; for the New York County and Richmond County volumes, a call slip must be filled out and presented to a librarian.

Albany County

Albany, First Lutheran, 1784-1900 (reel 1, item 1; MS. A 1, A 2; partial index in A 1)
Albany, First Presbyterian, 1785-1870 (reel 1, item 2; MS. A 2A)
Berne, Reformed Dutch Church of the Beaver Dam, 1763-1877 (reel 1, item 4; MS. B 1A, index)
Berne, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, 1790-1875 (reel 1, item 5; MS. B 2, B 2 index, B 3)
New Scotland, Presbyterian, 1787-1893 (reel 9, item 6; MS. N 13)

Cayuga County

Fleming, Reformed Protestant Dutch Church at the Owasco Outlet, 1807-1886 (reel 9, item 2; MS. O 13)
Owasco, Reformed Dutch, 1799-1834 (reel 9, item 3; MS. O 13)

Columbia County

Canaan, Congregational Church and Society of New Canaan, 1740-1884 (reel 2, item 7; MS. C 3D)
Canaan, First Presbyterian, 1830-1854 (reel 2, item 6; MS. C 3C)
Chatham, Congregational Church of New Concord, 1781-1854 (reel 5, item 6; MS. G 6, index)
Claverack, St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran, 1760-1905 (reel 2, item 9; MS. C 5, index)
Germantown, Christ's Evangelical Lutheran, 1746-1859 (reel 5, item 2; MS. G 3, index)
Ghent, Christ's Evangelical Lutheran, 1801-1901 (reel 5, item 3; MS. G 4, index)
Ghent, Reformed Dutch (known as Christ Church), 1775-1919 (reel 5, item 5; MS. G 6, index)
Hillsdale, Reformed Dutch, b 1776-1849 (reel 6, item 3; MS. H 2, index)
Kinderhook, Reformed Dutch, 1716-1864 (reel 7, item 3; MS. K 1 [3 vols.])
Manorton (Livingston), St. John's Evangelical Lutheran, 1764-1848 (reel 7, item 6; MS. M 2), 1794-1872 (reel 8, item 1; MS. M 3 [2 vols.])
West Copake, Reformed Church of West Copake (formerly Reformed Church of Taghkanick), 1783-1856 (reel 12, item 6; MS. W 6)

Delaware County

Harpersfield, Presbyterian Congregation, 1787-1837 (reel 11, item 2; MS. S 10C)
Moresville (Roxbury), Reformed Dutch, 1836-1889 (reel 9, item 1; MS. P 5, pp. 126-147)
Stamford, First Presbyterian, 1834-1882 (reel 11, item 3; MS. S 10C [2 vols.])
Stamford, St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Hobart, 1794-1907 (reel 11, item 1; MS. S 10A [3 vols.])

Dutchess County

Pine Plains, Round Top Lutheran, 1760-1788 (reel 8, item 6; MS. P 17)

Fulton County

Broadalbin, First Presbyterian, 1799-1895 (reel 8, item 2; MS. M 8, pp. 28-88)
Johnstown, Presbyterian, 1785-1867 (reel 6, item 6; MS. J 1)
Johnstown, St. John's Episcopal, 1815-1862 (reel 7, item 1; MS. J 2)
Mayfield, Reformed Dutch, 1792-1821 (reel 8, item 2; MS. M 8, pp. 1-27)
Perth, First Presbyterian Church of West Galway (formerly First Presbyterian Church in Galloway), 1793-1912 (reel 13, item 2; MS. W 10)
Perth, United Presbyterian Church of Broadalbin, 1821-1918 (reel 8, item 2; MS. M 8, pp. 89-192)

Greene County

Catskill, Reformed Dutch, 1732-1833 (reel 3, item 3; MS. C 14, index)
Durham, First Presbyterian, 1792-1857 (reel 3, item 6; MS. D 2)
Durham, Reformed Dutch Church in Oak Hill, 1794-1832 (reel 4, item 2; MS. D 3)
Durham, Second Presbyterian, 1816-1872 (reel 3, item 7, and reel 4, item 1; MS. D 2)
Prattsville, Reformed Dutch, 1798-1896 (reel 9, item 1; MS. P 5, pp. 1-125)
West Coxsackie, First Reformed, 1738-1918 (reel 3, item 2; MS. C 11, C 12, C13, index to C 11 only)

Herkimer County

German Flatts, Reformed Protestant Dutch, 1763-1848 (reel 5, item 4; MS. G 5 [2 vols.], index)
Herkimer, Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, 1801-1848 (reel 6, item 5; MS. H 8 and H 9, index; and H 10 for land records of the church)

Montgomery County

Florida, United Presbyterian, 1743-1861 (reel 7, item 2; MS. J 2)
Florida, Reformed Protestant Dutch, 1808-1918 (reel 4, item 7, and reel 5, item 2; MS. F 12, pp. 9-189)
Fonda, Reformed (formerly Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Caughnawaga), 1758-1858 (reel 4, item 5; MS. F 3; F 4; F 5)
Glen, First Reformed Protestant Dutch (formerly First R.P.D. Church at Charleston), 1805-1882 (reel 6, item 2; MS. G 18)
Minden, St. Paul's Lutheran (otherwise known as the Geisenberg Church, formerly at Hallsville), 1792-1836 (reel 8, item 3; MS. M 10)
Minden, Reformed Dutch Church at Fort Plain (formerly Reformed Calvinist Church at Canajoharie), 1788-1850 (reel 4, item 6; MS. F 7, index; MS. M25 has additional records 1835-1950)
Palatine, Lutheran Trinity Church of Stone Arabia, 1751-1866 (reel 11, item 4; MS. S 12, S 13, S 14)
Palatine, Reformed Dutch, 1739-1912 (reel 11, item 5, and reel 12, item 1; MS. S 15, S 16, S 17)
St. Johnsville, St. John's Dutch Reformed, 1788-1878 (reel 9, item 9; MS. S 1 and S 2)

New York County

Christ Protestant Episcopal, 1793-1848 (no NYG&B film; MS. N.Y. 25A, 26)
Reformed Dutch Church at Greenwich [Greenwich Village], 1804-1859 (no NYG&B film; LOCALITY SHELF 2 (N71 D101))
Madison Avenue Reformed (formerly Reformed Dutch Church in Sugar Loaf Street, and North West Reformed Dutch Church in Franklin Street), 1808-1850 (no NYG&B film; LOCALITY SHELF 2 (N71 D102))
South Reformed Dutch Church ("in Garden Street" to 1835, "in Murray Street" 1837-48),1812-1853 (no NYG&B film; LOCALITY SHELF 2 (N71 D103))

Oneida County

Clinton,Congregational Church (also known as the Society of Clinton), 1788-1846 (reel 8, item 7; MS. P 17)
New Hartford, Presbyterian Church (formerly the First Religious Society in Whitestown), 1791-1887 (reel 9, item 5; MS. N 14)
Paris, Congregational Church (also known as Paris Religious Society), 1795-1855 (reel 8, item 9; MS. P 8)
Utica, First Presbyterian, 1797-1852 (reel 12, item 5; MS. U 1)
Whitestown, First Presbyterian Church of Whitesboro, 1795-1898 (reel 13, item 3; MS. W 10A)

Oswego County

Oswego, First Presbyterian, 1832-1870 (reel 9, item 4; O 1)

Otsego County

Cherry Valley, First Presbyterian, 1799-1849 (reel 3, item 4; MS. C 17, index)
Cooperstown, Presbyterian, 1800-1869 (reel 3, item 5; MS. C 18, index)
Springfield, First Baptist, 1787-1852 (reel 2, item 5; MS. C 3C)

Rensselaer County

Brunswick, Gilead Evangelical, 1777-1859 (reel 1, item 6; MS. B 6, B7, index in B 6 A)
East Greenbush, Reformed Protestant Dutch,1787-1910 (reel 5, item 7; MS. G 7 [2 vols., index to vol. 1, pp. 1-115])
Hoosick, Reformed Dutch Church of Taishokeat Buskirk (formerly Buskirk's Bridge, or Tiossick) 1792-1873 (reel 12, item 3; MS. T2)
Lansingburgh, First Presbyterian, 1804-1827, 1833-1858 (reel 7, item 4; MS. L 1, pp. 163-183)
Nassau, Reformed Dutch, 1804-1878 (reel 8, item 5; MS. N 1)
North Greenbush, Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Wynantskill, 1794-1889 (reel 13, item 1; MS. W 9)
Schodack, Reformed Dutch Church of Schodackat Muitzeskill, 1770-1832 (reel 9, item 11, and reel 10, item 1; MS. S 5)
Troy, First Presbyterian, 1793-1864 (reel 7, item 4; MS. L 1, pp. 1-162)
Troy, Second Street Presbyterian, 1834-1911 (reel 12, item 4; MS. T 3)
West Sandlake, First Evangelical Lutheran Church (formerly the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rensselaerwyck and Greenbush),1785-1868 (reel 12, item 7; MS. W 7)

Richmond County (Staten Island)

New Springville (in former Town of Northfield), Asbury Methodist Episcopal (formerly M.E. Church in Town of Northfield),1802-1809, 1856-1881 (no NYG&B film; MS. S.I. 7)
Port Richmond (Northfield), Reformed Protestant Dutch Church on Staten Island, 1790-1871 (no NYG&B film; MS. S.I. 2)
Richmond (Northfield), St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal, 1808-1875 (no NYG&B film; MS. S.I. 6)
Rossville (Westfield), St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal, 1844-1877 (no NYG&B film; MS. S.I. 4)
Tompkinsville (Castleton), Reformed Protestant Dutch (in 1922 the Reformed Church of Brighton Heights), 1823-1871 (no NYG&B film; MS. S.I. 3)
Tompkinsville (Castleton), St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal, 1833-1876 (no NYG&B film; MS. S.I. 1)
West New Brighton (Castleton), St.Mary's [Protestant Episcopal], 1849-1875 (no NYG&B film; MS. S.I. 10, includes index)
Woodrow (Westfield), Woodrow Methodist Episcopal, 1798-1876 (no NYG&B film; MS. S.I. 5)

Rockland County

Kakiat, Reformed Dutch, 1774-1864 (reel 12,item 8; MS. W 8)

Saratoga County

Ballston, First Presbyterian, 1783-1865 (reel 1, item 3; MS. B 1)
Charlton, Freehold Presbyterian, 1800-1861 (reel 2, item 8; MS. C 4, index)
Charlton, United Presbyterian Church at West Charlton, 1794-1858 (reel 8, item 8; MS. P 17)
Clifton Park, Reformed Dutch Church of Amity, 1802-1856 (reel 9, item 8; no MS. version)
Schuylerville, Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Saratoga, 1789-1857 (reel 9, item 10; MS. S 3)
Stillwater, First Congregational, 1752-1849 (reel 12, item 2; MS. S 22, pp. 1-40)
Stillwater, First Presbyterian, 1791-1904 (reel 12, item 2; MS. S 22, pp. 40-124)

Schenectady County

Duanesburgh, Reformed Protestant Dutch,1798-1804 (reel 4, item 7; MS. F 12, pp. 1-8)
Niskayuna, Protestant Reformed Dutch, 1783-1861 (reel 9, item 7; MS. N 10)

Schoharie County

Blenheim, Reformed Dutch, 1797-1831 (reel 6, item 1; MS. G 17, pp. 120-179)
Cobleskill, Union Reformed Dutch, 1827-1848 reel 7, item 5; MS. C 7, pp. 193-202)
Cobleskill, Zion's Evangelical Lutheran, 1795-1871 (reel 3, item 1; MS. C 7, pp. 1-189)
Gilboa, Reformed (formerly the Reformed Dutch Church in Dyse's Manor in Broome), 1801-1885 (reel 6, item 1; MS. G 17, pp.1-119)
Middleburgh, Reformed Dutch, 1786-1865 (reel 8, item 4; MS. M 12)
New Rhinebeck, German Reformed (later the Reformed Church of Lawyersville in Cobleskill), 1788-1882 (reel 7, item 5; MS. C 7, pp.1-192)
Schoharie, Reformed (formerly the High and Low Dutch Reformed Congregation), 1730-1892 (reel 10, item 3; MS. S 8A; S 8B, S 8C)
Schoharie, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, 1728-1882 (reel 10, item 2; MS. S 6, S 7, S 8)

Washington County

Cambridge, First United Presbyterian Congregation, 1794-1869 (reel 2, item 3; MS. C 3B)
Cambridge, Protestant Presbyterian Congregation, 1791-1886 (reel 2, item 2; MS. C 3A)
Easton, Reformed Protestant Dutch, 1803-1909 (reel 4, item 3; MS. E 1)
Greenwich, Reformed Dutch (formerly Reformed Dutch Church of Union Village), 1809-1879 (reel 4, item 4; MS. E 1)

Bennington County, Vermont

Sandgate, Congregational, 1782-1835, 1860, 1867 (reel 2, item 4; MS. C 3B)

Warren County, New Jersey Johnsonburg, Hardwick Friends Meeting, 1803-1822, women's minutes (reel 6, item 4; no MS. version)

Originally published in The NYG&B Newsletter, Fall 1998