how to search for US birth Certs??

[Swy47]

Can someone tell me the best way to track a US birth cert? Great grandmother, Catherine McEvoy, DOB 11 June 1878. I believe born New York city. At some stage travelled to Dublin and married my great grandfather 1902.

[Lisa in California]

One way is to order the certificate from the individual state.  I would suggest typing the state's name, then "vital records"; looking for the official state website (not one of the sites that sell certificates).

New York:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/vital_records/
http://www.health.state.ny.us/vital_records/genealogy.htm

Perhaps someone else may know of a free site to check for New York records.

[Pat Reid]

The 1880 census for New York shows a Catherine McEvoy, one year old, daughter of John and Katy mcEvoy on East 14th street. Other siblings are Patrick 6, Mary 4 and John 2. John 36 and Katy 37 were both born in Ireland.
 
I also found a Catherine McEvoy aged 2, can't make out father's (38) first name. Mother was Catherine 35. Both were born in Ireland. Other siblings were John 13, Francis 11, and Joseph 5. There was also a younger sister 4months old, looks like Mary. All born in NY.
They lived at 224 Powers Street in Brooklyn, NY.

Hope this helps some.

[Jacquie in Canada]

The IGI has a birth extracted from local records for Catherine McEvoy born 11 Jun 1876 in New York, New York with parents Patrick McEvoy and Margaret Coonan. The LDS' source was Manhattan birth certificates, 1866-1897; birth index cards, 1866- 1897. If you think that is your Catherine then you're lucky she was born in New York City because the registration of births began there much earlier than other areas of the state. Here's a link on how to order NYC Vital Records from the NYC Archives:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/vitalrecords/home.shtml
Since you know the date and borough (Manhattan) where the birth was apparently registered then it should cost $15US I believe.

Jacquie

[shellyesq]

Another option, if the person is found on the IGI is the right one, is to request photoduplication from the LDS church, as described here:    http://tiny.cc/17xzi  It costs $2 per copy with a minimum of $4 per order.

[Swy47]

Thank you to all for this information and links. I had found the pension claims from my great grandmother that showed her DOB and place of birth. As i have her social security number i'm going to check back with the welfare office in Dublin to re-check the birth dates on their files. Not sure what info they have or what they'll give me but worth a try. Tks all.

[Jacquie in Canada]

I have come across a number of instances where the date of birth an individual gave to get a social security number has been out from what is on birth or other official records. Some may be different by a few days while some have had the same day and month but the year was different by 1 or 2 years.

Jacquie

[Swy47]

Thanks and i've found it's the same on the irish census records dates incorrect. The copies i have of the pension forms for Catherine were typed and clearly showed DOB 11 June 1878, age 69 at the time of making claim in 1948. I know her marriage date so i'll request a copy of that and maybe find more clues. I'll try find one of her parents names before requesting a birth cert.


Catherine McEvoy, DOB 11 June 1878

[bsheridan]

My great grandfather was a Patrick McEvoy & Margaret (nee Coonan).  I believe they had a daughter Catherine, born 11 June 1876 (1866-1897; birth index cards, 1866-1897; New York (New York), Department of Health). They were from Dublin, Ireland originally, but spent some time in the US (New York). Is there a link here?