Church Marriages Database (48,537 records)

Last updated November 3, 2024
Our Church Marriages Database contains indices of Brides and Grooms dating from 1842, for the following Churches:

German Reformed (Hoboken) | Our Lady of Sorrows | St. Leonard's | Zion Evangelical
St. Jacobus | German Evangelical Reformed | Most Holy Trinity | Good Shepherd Lutheran |
St. John's Lutheran | Trinity Reformed | St. Benedict | St. Francis | St. Bernard | St. Pauls German Presbyterian
English Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Ascension | Christ Church Manhasset   

Diocese of Brooklyn, Diocesan Archives

The Diocesan Archives contains nearly 8,000 cubic feet of records, including records of closed schools and parishes. This database includes the records of the following churches:
Our Lady of Mercy (1858-1920) was located at Schermerhorn Street, near Bond Street, Brooklyn  3,588 records.
Sacred Heart (1908-1930) .  107 records.
St. Bernard (1872-1941), was located at Rapelye Street and Hicks Street, in Red Hook. Marriages:1873-1920 - 584 records.
St. Benedict (1853-1973), was located on the south side of Fulton Street west of Ralph Avenue. Marriages: 1853-1920 - 1,479 records.
St. Francis in the Field (1850-1891), was located at Putnam Ave. north of Bedford Ave, in Bedford. Marriages: 1860-1882 - 258 records.
St. George & St. Ann, Fort Greene, Brooklyn, NY (1860-1986). Located at 251 Front Street at the corner of Gold Street; closed in 1986 and merged with St. George’s Church at 203 York Street. 620 records.
St. Louis Church (1873-1960s) Ellery Street, near Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn. The records are in French. 1873-1902 - 9,234 records.
St. Monica (1913-1923) located at 160th Street in Jamaica, Queens, built in 1856. 316 records.


The Diocesan Archives does not charge a fee for sacramental records needed for church use. We do ask for a donation of at least $25 to cover the cost of staff time to research all other requests. Please make your check or money order payable to the ‘R.C. Diocese of Brooklyn’. Send your request using the "Brooklyn Diocese Request Form" on the search results page or on the Diocesan Archives web page to the following mailing address:
      R.C. Diocese of Brooklyn
      Office of the Archivist
      310 Prospect Park West
      Brooklyn, NY 11215
Note: If you are not the individual whose record is being requested please provide proof of death if the person is deceased or power of attorney if the person is still living.

German Reformed Church
Hoboken, New Jersey (1874-1900)

This Church's records contain an index of Brides and Grooms, parents and witnesses, covering the years 1874 - 1900.

These records were provided by Dr. Luther A. Dittmer, who transcribed/translated the original records. The original books are now in the Archives of the (German) Reformed Church of America in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The years 1900-1959 are also at the Archives.

There is additional information available for records displayed on our web site. Send any requests, with a complete description of the existing record that was displayed, to:
German Genealogy Group
ATTN: Record Request
Post Office Box 1004
Kings Park, NY 11754 

The entire record will then be e-mailed back to you.

This church, situated on the northwest corner of Garden and Sixth Streets, was the first church in Hoboken to hold German language services. It was started in 1856 on Church Square by Rev. Dr. Leopold Mohn. The Classis of Bergen approved its organization as a Reformed church on August 5, 1856, following a petition for organization signed by twenty persons, ten of whom were heads of families. The present building was erected in 1860 at a cost of $10,000. The Rev. Dr. Leopold Mohn, who organized the congregation, was called to be its pastor in 1856, and through his work the congregation continued to grow. He served the church until his death in 1885. [See: Annals of the Classis of Bergen: of the Reformed Dutch Church, and of the Churches Under its Care... By Benjamin Cook Taylor]
[Also see: http://www.njchurchscape.com/Hoboken-DeutscheEvangelical.html]

A thank you to Dr. Dittmer!

Preface (in German)

Our Lady of Sorrows - Roman Catholic Church
Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY (1890-1942)

Our Lady of Sorrows was formerly located at Morgan Avenue and Harrison Place in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY. This German parish church was founded in 1889 and the early parishioners were primarily  German immigrants. The early records are perhaps the only place you will find a town of origin for your ancestors. The last baptism was performed on February 8, 1942 and the last marriage on February 15, 1942.

This database holds 1,398 marriage records from the years 1890 - 1942.

All requests for records of Our Lady of Sorrows RC Church must be in writing. A suitable donation is suggested.Send your request along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the following address:

St Joseph Patron of the Universal Church
185 Suydam Street
Brooklyn, NY 11221

When writing, please give as much information as possible along with the book number, page and entry number, which can be found within this database. Keep in mind that there may be more information contained within the church book record that you’ll receive on the certificate. It is suggested that you ask for the entire record when making your request for a certificate. It is also suggested that you include a donation along with your request.

St. Leonard’s of Port Maurice - Roman Catholic Church
Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY (1872-1978)

St. Leonard’s Church was formerly located at 199 Jefferson Street, which is at the corner of Wilson Avenue and Jefferson Street, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY. This German parish church was founded in 1871 and the parishioners were primarily German immigrants. These early records are perhaps the only place you will find the town of origin for your ancestors. St. Leonard’s closed its doors in 1978 and the church was demolished in 2001.

This database holds 5,763 marriage records from the years 1872 - 1978.

All requests for records of St. Leonard’s RC Church must be in writing. A suitable donation is suggested.Send your request along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the following address:

St Joseph Patron of the Universal Church
185 Suydam Street
Brooklyn, NY 11221

When writing, please give as much information as possible along with the book number, page and entry number, which can be found within this database. Keep in mind that there may be more information contained within the church book record that you’ll receive on the certificate. It is suggested that you ask for the entire record when making your request for a certificate. It is also suggested that you include a donation along with your request.

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Zion German Evangelical Lutheran Church
Brooklyn Heights, NY (1856-1969)

Zion is located at 125 Henry Street, Brooklyn Heights, NY. The church was founded in 1856 and is still in existence.

This database holds 6,303 marriage records from the years 1856 - 1969.

If you find a record of interest, send a written request with a donation check payable to German Genealogy Group of $3.00 for each record requested to:

German Genealogy Group
ATTN: Record Request
Post Office Box 1004
Kings Park, NY 11754

When writing, please give as much information as possible along with the book number, page and entry number, which can be found within this database.
We will provide an image of the original church register which is hand-written and in German.
Please include a donation check payable to German Genealogy Group for $3.00 for each record requested. 
Please include an e-mail address so we can send a digital image of the record, which will enable you to enlarge it for viewing. 

The Deutsche Evangelisch-Lutherische Zions-Gemeinde had its start on the first Sunday in Advent (December 2nd) of 1855. On that morning, twelve German immigrants met for worship with Pastor Friedrich W. T. Steimle in a small rented hall at the corner of Nassau and Fulton Streets.

Although there were other Protestant churches in the area, some even using the German language, these founders wanted to preserve their identity and their heritage as Lutheran Christians, firmly committed to the Holy Scriptures and the 16th-century Lutheran Confessions. As a way of keeping pure doctrine, they obligated the congregation to always use German for worship and church business.

Many German immigrants soon joined the new congregation, which moved to a larger hall at 189 Washington Street in May 1856, when the name Zion was adopted. By November of that year, Zion had grown enough to be incorporated and the present building was purchased for $14,500.  Although it was built in 1839 as a Dutch Reformed church, the building was being used as a concert hall until Zion dedicated it on the first Sunday in Advent (November 30) of 1856. Zion thus occupies the oldest church building still in use in Brooklyn Heights.

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St. Jacobus Lutheran Church/Evangelical Lutheran Church
72-01 43rd Avenue, Woodside, NY 11377

This database contains an index of names within the records of St, Jacobus, a Lutheran Church. The early records are perhaps the only place you will find a town of origin for your ancestors. The Church is still operating. The databases we have created are not 100% complete and contain only the records that were made available to us. There are additional records that we are attempting to transcribe from old German script.

 
The records in this database are as follows:
  
Marriage Records: (2,045) – 1891-2005

All requests for church records must be in writing. Send your request along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the above address. A suitable donation is suggested.

When writing, please give as much information as possible along with the book number, page and entry number, which can be found within this database. Keep in mind that there may be additional information contained within the church book record that you will receive on the certificate. It is suggested that you ask for the entire record when making your request for a certificate. It is also suggested that you include a donation along with your request.

As part of our Heritage Preservation Program, members of the German Genealogy Group have spent many hours computerizing an index to the various church records on this web site. We are grateful to the Pastor of St. Jacobus for allowing us to make these indexes available to genealogists all over the world.

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German Evangelical Reformed Church
New York, NY (1852-1864)

The German Evangelical Reformed Church records contains an index of Brides and Grooms covering the years 1852-1864. It is a work in progress and more years will be added as the work is completed.

The original records are presently located at the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society in New York City. 
To arrange for copies of the original records contact:

Ms. Joan Koster-Morales
Email: NYRoots (at) aol (dot) com

There is a $10 copy charge for these records.

The First Reformed German Church was organized in 1853 by the Rev. John Frederick Busche. The church was located at 97 & 99 Suffolk Street between Delancey and Rivington Streets in Manhattan. He was the first pastor and served the church for forty-seven years, until just one week before his death on July 10, 1893.

The Rev. Busche was born August 5, 1817 at Meinsdorf, Province of Brandenburg, Prussia. When he was 18 he entered the University of Berlin in Germany. His first assignment was in London, England and after one year he was sent to Liverpool as a missionary to the Germans of that city. In 1844 he came to New York City where he did missionary work for another 2 years. In 1846 he was licensed and ordained in Philadelphia and in that same year became the pastor of the Forsyth Street Church in New York City which at the time was an independent church. Also in 1846 he was commissioned by the Synod of the United States to organize the New York Classis. Dr. Busche married Miss Anne Kerr in February 1850 and they had two sons and three daughters. Mrs. Busche died in August 1884 and their 5 children survived Rev. Bushe upon his death in 1893. Rev. Busche is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

From 1893 until 1905 the Rev. E. G. Fuessle was pastor and in the year 1900 the name of the church was changed to St. Paul's Evangelical Reformed Church at which time it was located on 141st Street in the Bronx.  See: http://www.nycago.org/Organs/Brx/html/StPaulEvRef.html

The index is a work in progress and has been contributed by Joan Koster-Morales, Professional Genealogist, specializing in New York City German Americans.

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Most Holy Trinity - Roman Catholic Church
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY (1842-1933)

Most Holy Trinity Church is located at 138 Montrose Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, between Manhattan Avenue and Graham Avenue. This German parish church was founded in 1841 and the parishioners were primarily German immigrants. These early records are perhaps the only place you might find the town of origin for your ancestors.

This database holds 6,001 records from the years 1842 - 1940.

When writing, please give as much information as possible along with the book number, page and entry number, which can be found in the search results for this database. A form for this purpose can be downloaded by clicking the “Documents & Forms” button that will appear directly after your search results.

We will provide an image of the original hand-written church register. You must include an e-mail address so we can send a digital image of the record, which will enable you to enlarge it for viewing.

If you find a record of interest, send a written request with a donation check payable to German Genealogy Group of $3.00 for each record requested to:

German Genealogy Group
ATTN: Record Request
P.O. Box 1004
Kings Park, NY 11754-1004

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The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
Francis Lewis Boulevard at 100th Avenue
Bellaire (Queens), NY 11429

The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Bellaire, Queens, New York was organized April 1, 1925.  The cornerstone for their church building was laid on September 20, 1925. Due to changing demographics in Bellaire, the congregation disbanded, holding their last service on September 9, 1973. In 1973 the congregation merged with the Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Fort Salonga, Long Island, and the organ and stained glass windows were moved there. The Good Shepherd church register is now located at the Abiding Presence Lutheran Church.

The records in this index include: Marriages    1925 - 1973

The register entries include much additional information such as residence, names of witnesses and marriage license number.

All requests for records of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church must be in writing (a form is available following a successful search).  A donation of at least five dollars ($5.00) is requested (payable to Abiding Presence Lutheran Church) for each individual genealogical record for which they are asked to search. You will receive a scanned image of the register entry. Please send your request along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope (or an email address if you would like to receive the results that way) to the following address:

Good Shepherd Record Request
Abiding Presence Lutheran Church
4 Trescott Path
Fort Salonga, NY 11768

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St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded in May of 1844. The cornerstone for the present church building at 195 Maujer Street in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn was laid in 1883. The church opened at that location on November 4, 1884. 

In 1926, with many church members moving to the Glendale section of Queens, St. John's started looking for a location in that area. The church was dedicated at 88-24 Myrtle Avenue in 1937. At present, records from both churches are held in the Glendale location. 

The records in this index currently include:
Marriages    1868-2002

All requests for records of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church must be in writing (a form is available following a successful search).  A fee of ten dollars ($10.00) is required (payable to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church) for each individual genealogical record for which they are asked to search. Please send your request along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope (or an email address if you would like to receive the results that way) to the following address:

Genealogical Record Request
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
88-24 Myrtle Avenue
Glendale, NY 11385

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Trinity Reformed Church
Ridgewood, Queens, New York

In 1843 an English speaking congregation was formed in New York City on Avenue B and Fifth Street. It was part of the Reformed Church of America. In 1853 a group of German Speaking people in Williamsburg, Brooklyn formed The Deutsche Evangelishe Lutherische St. Petri Kirche (the German Evangelical Church of St. Peters). In 1919 these two groups merged and formed the Trinity Reformed Church of Brooklyn, located at 66-30 60th Place in Ridgewood, Queens, New York. The Evangelical Mission Church on Avenue B, corner of Fifth Street in New York also combined with them. Trinity Church is part of the Reformed Church of America.

The records in this database are as follows:
7,879 Marriage Records:   1855-1995

When writing, please give as much information as possible along with the book number, page and entry number, which can be found within this database.
We will provide an image of the original church register which is hand-written.  
Please Include your e-mail address so we can send a digital image of the record, which will enable you to enlarge it for viewing.

If you find a record of interest, send a written request with a donation check payable to German Genealogy Group of $3.00 for each record requested to:

German Genealogy Group
ATTN: Record Request
Post Office Box 1004
Kings Park, NY 11754

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St. Paul’s German Presbyterian Church of Fosters Meadow (Elmont)

The records in this index include: Marriages,  1870 - 1924, 429 records

In the mid -1860s, a German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in Fosters Meadow and plans were made to build a small church and churchyard. A few years later the congregational decided to change its affiliation to the Presbyterian Church which it remains today.

Records started to be kept in 1870 with the arrival of the first resident pastor. In the latter part of the 20th Century, it was believed that the original records were lost in a fire in the original church building. While the building did burn in 1905, it was in the process of being moved off-site to make way for a new church and was empty of contents. In 2017, George Bauer, a descendant of founding members of the church, discovered that the original records had been sent to the Presbyterian Archives in Philadelphia for safe-keeping and had recently been digitized by Ancestry.com. To access these records, you must have an Ancestry.com account or use your local public library or Family History Library account. Follow the blue link below to the fostersmeadow.com site which explains the records and has a link to them on Ancestry.com.

https://fostersmeadow.jimdo.com/houses-of-worship/st-paul-s/st-paul-s-german-presbyterian/ 

The English Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Ascension
Boro Park, Brooklyn, New York

The church was located at Thirteenth Ave and Fifty First Street, in Boro Park, Brooklyn, New York. This database holds the following records:
Marriages 1908 - 1958, 139 records

When writing, please give as much information as possible along with the book number, page and entry number, which can be found in the search results for this database. A form for this purpose can be downloaded by clicking the “Documents & Forms” button that will appear directly after your search results.

We will provide an image of the original hand-written church register. You must include an e-mail address so we can send a digital image of the record, which will enable you to enlarge it for viewing.

If you find a record of interest, send a written request with a donation check payable to German Genealogy Group of $3.00 for each record requested to:

German Genealogy Group
ATTN: Record Request
P.O. Box 1004
Kings Park, NY 11754-1004

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Christ Church, Episcopal
Manhasset, New York

Christ Church was founded in Queens County long before Nassau County was created.  Local residents formerly traveled all the way to St. George’s Episcopal Church in Hempstead.  The trustees paid $195.47 for the land in 1802. This church is active and hosts annual tours of its cemetery with costumed re-enactors telling the history of the noteworthy deceased.

Records in this index currently include
Marriages 1824 - 1950; 855 Records

Record requests have a suggested donation of $10 per record, and must be in writing; see the Record Request Form after your search.

As part of our Heritage Preservation Program, members of the German Genealogy Group have spent many hours computerizing indices to the various church records on this web site. We are grateful to the Pastors of the Churches for allowing us to make these indexes available to genealogists all over the world.

If you would like to contribute time to other current
Heritage Preservation projects, please contact us by clicking  here.