The New York City Municipal Archives holds records from Staten lsland labeled “Staten Island Court” however, these records originated from the Richmond County Clerk’s office and thus include far more than court-related documents. The items may not have been cataloged, therefore the 76-page inventory is critical to researchers.
Aaron Goodwin in New York City Municipal Archives: An Authorized Guide for Family Historians provides an alphabetical listing, which include inventories of “Actions” and “Special Proceedings” [name change, incompetency, and conservatorship records].
The College of Staten Island’s article "Staten Island Research Materials at Other Institutrions: A Guide," by Dr. James Kaser describes some of the collection. The inventory is reprinted with permission of the New York City Municipal Archives.
A selected list of titles in the inventory:
| Court Records |
1820 - 1942 (earliest item appears to be jury lists from 1820) |
| Common Pleas [court records] | 1783 - 1815 |
| Tax Deeds | late 1800s |
| Coroner’s Inquests | 1851 - 1897 |
| Corporation Contracts | 1935 - 1937 |
| Liens and Building Loans | 1848 - 1929 |
| Exemptions from Military duty | 1917 |
| Lis Pendens [court calendars] | 1824 - 1899 |
| Certificates of Incorporation | 1848 - 1929 |
| Bonds | 1788 - 1929 |
| Divorce Judgments | 1861 - 1933 [some may be restricted] |
| Transcripts | 1828 - 1929 |
| “Old Files” | various years |
| Naturalization Affidavits | 1820 - 1906 [one of the many Naturalization related collections] |