Maryland Vital Records: Difference between revisions

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=== Records of Births and Deaths Before Statewide Registration  ===
| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
| link2=[[United States Vital Records|U.S. Vital Records]]
| link3=[[Maryland, United States Genealogy|Maryland]]
| link4=
| link5=[[Maryland Vital Records|Vital Records]]
}}


[[United States Vital Records|Vital Records]] consist of [[United States Birth Records|births]], adoptions, [[United States Marriage Records|marriages]], divorces, and [[United States Death Records|deaths]] recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. [[Locating United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]] has additional research guidance on researching and using vital records. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/Maryland.htm Maryland Vital Records State Department of Health] or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.  
A few counties recorded births and deaths before 1720 in the county land records of [[Portal:Maryland|Maryland]]. The information has been indexed and is available at the Maryland State Archives. The Family History Library has film copies of the county land records.  


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From 1865 to 1899 some county clerks and the Secretary of the Senate maintained birth and death records. These records are incomplete, and the exact dates of the records vary from county to county. These records are available at the Maryland State Archives. You can see one of two sources for lists of birth and death records kept during these years:
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| valign="middle" | <center>'''  [[Image:Vital Records Collage.JPG|center|350px|Vital Records Collage.JPG]]  '''<br></center>
=== Vital Records Reference Dates  ===


Maryland's civil records start the following years:
Meyer, Mary Keysor. ''Genealogical Research in Maryland: A Guide''. Baltimore, Malryland: Maryland Historical Society, 1992. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=975.2+D27m+ 975.2 D27m] 1992.) Pages 16 to 17 have a list of birth and death records.


{| width="100%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
Radoff, Morris Leon. ''The County Courthouses and Records of Maryland: Part Two: The Records''. Annapolis, Maryland: Hall of Records Commission, 1963. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=146470&disp=The+county+courthouses+and+records+of+Ma%20%20&columns=*,0,0 975.2 B4ma no. 13]; fiche [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=filmhitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&filmno=6054101 6054101] parts 4-6 and fiche [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=146470&disp=The+county+courthouses+and+records+of+Ma%20%20&columns=*,0,0 6054105]).  
|-
| width="16.6%" align="center" | <br>
| width="16.6%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | '''[[Maryland Vital Records#Birth_Records|Birth]]'''  
| width="16.6%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | '''[[Maryland Vital Records#Marriage_Records|County Marriages]]'''
| width="16.6%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | '''[[Maryland Vital Records#Death_Records|Death]]'''
|-
| width="16.6%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | Earliest
| width="16.6%" align="center" | 1640
| width="16.6%" align="center" | 1640
| width="16.6%" align="center" | 1640
|-
| width="16.6%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | Statewide Registration
| width="16.6%" align="center" | 1898
| width="16.6%" align="center" | 1777
| width="16.6%" align="center" | 1898
|}


<br>
An important source of death information taken from court books from 1718 to 1777 is:


|}
Bell, Annie Walker Burns. ''Maryland Record of Deaths''. Annapolis, Maryland: A. Bell, 1936. (Family History Library film [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=filmhitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&filmno=924445 924445] item 2). <!--{12035412038903} --><!--{12035412038904} --><!--{12035412038905} -->


== Maryland Birth, Marriage and Death Records Online ==
=== Statewide Registration of Births and Deaths ===


===Births===
The counties started recording births and deaths in 1898. Baltimore City, Maryland began recording births and deaths in 1875. These records and accompanying indexes are at the Division of Vital Records or Maryland State Archives.  
*'''1639-1995''' {{RecordSearch|1674912|Maryland Births and Christenings, 1639-1995}} at FamilySearch - [[Maryland Births and Christenings - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1662-1911''': [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2565 Maryland Births and Christenings Index] at Ancestry; index only ($)
*'''1665-1995''' {{RecordSearch|2384981|Maryland, Births and Baptisms, 1665-1995}} at FamilySearch - [[Maryland, Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1875-1922''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20867/maryland-births-1875-1922?s=275764761 Maryland Births, 1875-1922] at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
*'''1898-1909''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/series.aspx?ID=sm199 Birth Index, 1898-1909, MSA SM199]at Maryland State Archives - index
*'''1898-1910''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/series.aspx?ID=s1963 Birth Records, 1898-1910, MSA S1963] at Maryland State Archives - records
*'''1898-1922''' [https://archive.org/details/md_birth_certificates Maryland Birth Certificates] and [https://archive.org/details/baltimore_md_birth_certificates Baltimore Maryland Birth Certificates] '''1875-1922''' at Internet Archive ([https://www.reclaimtherecords.org/records-request/31/ Reclaim The Records]) - certificate images (100-year legal restriction on publicly available certificates)
*'''1910-1913''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/series.aspx?ID=s1988 Birth Records, 1910-1913, MSA S1988] at Maryland State Archives - records
*'''1910-1950''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/series.aspx?ID=sm27 Birth Index, 1910-1950, MSA SM27] at Maryland State Archives - index & soundex
*'''1914-1922''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/series.aspx?ID=sm35 Birth Records, 1914-1922, MSA SM35] at Maryland State Archives - records
<br>


===Marriages===
Birth records over 100 years old are available through the [http://www.msa.md.gov/ Maryland State Archives]. Birth records from 1925 to the present are available through the Department of Mental Health &amp; Hygiene. Contact them at [http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/lifeevents/birth&deathcert.htm www.dhmh.state.md.us/lifeevents/birth&amp;deathcert.htm]  
*'''pre 1699''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2081 American Marriages, pre 1699] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1634-1777''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4738 Maryland Compiled Marriage Index, 1634-1777] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1655-1850''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7846 Maryland Compiled Marriages, 1655-1850] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1658-1940''' {{RecordSearch|2523377|Maryland County Marriages, 1658-1940}} at FamilySearch - [[Maryland County Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
*'''1666-1970''' {{RecordSearch|1675199|Maryland Marriages, 1666-1970}} at FamilySearch — [[Maryland Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
*'''1667-1899''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4729 Maryland Compiled Marriages, 1667-1899] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1761-1947''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/united-states-marriages?state=maryland United States Marriages – Maryland, 1761-1947] ($) index, some images
*'''1778-1800''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48201 Maryland Marriages, 1778-1800] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1801-1820''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48202 Maryland Marriages, 1801-1820] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1911-Onward''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20828/maryland-marriages?s=275764761 Maryland Marriages] at MyHeritage; index & images ($)
*'''1914-1930''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/series.aspx?ID=s1498 Marriage Index, Male, 1914-1930, MSA S1498] at Maryland State Archives - index, alpha and soundex mixed
*'''1914-2013''' [https://archive.org/details/md-marriage-records?sort=title Maryland Marriage Records] and [https://archive.org/details/baltimore_md_marriage_records?sort=title Baltimore Maryland Marriage Certificates] '''1914-1940''' (statewide includes thereafter) at Internet Archive ([https://www.reclaimtherecords.org/records-request/31/ Reclaim The Records]) - certificate images
*'''1931-1940''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/series.aspx?action=viewSeries&ID=S1951 Marriage Certificates, 1931-1940, Soundex Index, MSA S1951] at Maryland State Archives - index
*'''1951-1968''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/series.aspx?action=viewSeries&ID=SM224 Statewide Female Index, 1951-1968, MSA SM224] at Maryland State Archives - index
*'''1951-1968''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/series.aspx?action=viewSeries&ID=SM223 Statewide Male Index, 1951-1968, MSA SM223] at Maryland State Archives - index
*'''1951-1968''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/series.aspx?action=viewSeries&ID=SM224 Marriage Index, Female, 1951-1968, MSA CM73] at Maryland State Archives - index
*'''1951-1977''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/series.aspx?action=viewSeries&ID=S1851 Statewide Index, 1951-1977, MSA S1851] at Maryland State Archives - index
*'''1969-1972''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/series.aspx?action=viewSeries&ID=SM226 Statewide Female Index, 1969-1972, MSA SM226] at Maryland State Archives - index
*'''1969-1972''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/series.aspx?action=viewSeries&ID=SM225 Statewide Male Index, 1969-1972, MSA SM225] at Maryland State Archives - index
*'''1978-1989''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/viewer.aspx?page=MarriageIndexes:1978-1989 Statewide Index, 1978-1989] at Maryland State Archives - index
*'''1990-2011''' [https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/series.aspx?action=viewSeries&ID=SE144 Statewide Index, 1990-2011, MSA SE144] at Maryland State Archives - index<br>


===Deaths===
Birth records within the last 100 years may be obtained only by the individual named on the certificate or a parent, legal guardian, or authorized representative. Authorized representatives must submit a court order or a notarized statement signed by either parent or the person named on the certificate.  
*'''1697-1800''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/70877/ Web: Maryland State Archives, Index to Deaths and Burials, 1697-1800] at Ancestry - index ($); incomplete coverage
*'''1875-Onward''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20863/maryland-deaths?s=275764761 Maryland Deaths] at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
*'''1877-1992''' {{RecordSearch|1675198|Maryland Deaths and Burials, 1877-1992}} at FamilySearch - [[Maryland Deaths and Burials - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1898-2014''' [https://www.baltimoregenealogysociety.org/BCGShome/resources/maryland-death-index/ Death Index, 1898-1903, 1969-2014, and Baltimore City '''1874-2014''' (with gaps)] at Baltimore County Genealogical Society - incomplete; index
*'''1898-2012''' [http://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/viewer.aspx?page=death Death Records] at Maryland State Archives - multiple indexes and images (100-year policy restriction on online certificates)
*'''1898-2012''' [https://archive.org/details/md-death-certificates?sort=title Maryland Death Certificates] and [https://archive.org/details/baltimore-md-death-certificates?sort=title Baltimore Maryland Death Certificates] '''1875-1972''' (statewide includes thereafter) at Internet Archive ([https://www.reclaimtherecords.org/records-request/31/ Reclaim The Records]) - certificate images
<br>


'''Order Certificates'''<br>
Records of deaths within the last 20 years are restricted to surviving relatives or authorized representatives.  
*Order [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/Maryland.htm Maryland Certificates] - $.


== Birth Records  ==
The Maryland State Archives has microfilm copies of the records and most of the indexes. For genealogical purposes, you can obtain the information in the restricted records from the Archives. The Family History Library does not have copies of these records.


Some births were recorded in colonial Maryland by the Maryland General Assembly but not many survived or where ever recorded (no state records from 1800 until 1865). Birth registration was inconsistant but started again in 1865. In '''1875''', Baltimore began recording births.<br>
Official (certified) copies of all birth and death records since 1968 (since 1875 for Baltimore City) can be requested. Contact the National Archives at msa.md/gov/mas/refserv/html/vitalrec.html for current fees.  


In 1898, the General Assembly passed a law that initiated the registration of births in the 23 counties (Chapter 312, Acts of 1898). At first, compliance with the law on the local level was incomplete. As the State Board of Health gradually increased its control over the local boards, registration became more reliable. Researchers should keep in mind, however, that as late as 1914 the Board of Health was still working to increase compliance with the law, and some births went unrecorded.
'''Division of Vital Records'''<br>P.O. Box 68760<br>6550 Reistertown Road<br>Reistertown Road Plaza<br>Baltimore, MD 21215-0020<br>Telephone: 800-832-3277 or 410-764-3038<br>Fax: 410-358-7381<br>Website: [http://www.vsa.state.md.us/html/apps.html www.vsa.state.md.us/html/apps.html]


The 1898 law dictated that "the record of a birth shall state the date and place of its occurrence, name in full, sex and color, and the number of the child, whether living or still born, and the names, color, occupation, birth place and residence of parents, name and address of the physician, midwife or attendant at the birth".
For a fee the [http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/refserv/html/vitalrec.html State of Maryland Archives] will provide:


The Maryland State Archives also has indexing from 1875 through 1950. The early index (1875-1919) is arranged alphabetically by the surname of the child (or by the parents' surname if the child's name is not given). The index provides the child's name (if given), the names of the parents, the date of birth, and the county. The later index (1920-1950) is in Soundex order by the surname of the child; within the Soundex classification it is alphabetical by the father's first name. When no father's name is given, the card is filed at the beginning of the Soundex class. Children of unmarried couples are listed twice, under the names of both parents. This later index provides the names of the child and the parents, the date and county of birth, and the child's race and birth order. Although these indexes are open to the public, please note that the birth certificates themselves are restricted for 100 years after the date of birth. <ref>[https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/viewer.aspx?page=birth-former Maryland State Archives, Guide to Government Records, Birth Records]</ref>
*Copies of death records through 1991 (through 1994 for Baltimore City, Maryland). The archives will certify county death records if requested.  
*Extracts (unofficial transcripts) of restricted birth and death records for genealogical purposes. The card index to births gives the birth date of the child and his race, sex, and names of parents.  
*Copies of restricted death records for surviving relatives of the deceased.
*Copies of restricted birth records if you provide evidence that the person named in the birth record is dead.


The Maryland State Archives provides four online death indexes for its selected death records at: [http://mdvitalrec.net/cfm/dsp_search.cfm mdvitalrec.net/cfm/dsp_search.cfm]


For detailed information about availability, content, and history about birth records in Maryland click on this link: 
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:[[Maryland Vital Records: Birth|Maryland Vital Records: Birth]] <br>
=== Marriage Records ===


== Marriage Records  ==
Beginning in 1640 the Maryland General Assembly required the clergy to post marriage banns and keep registers of marriages. Since 1777, county clerks have been required to issue marriage licenses and, since 1865, to keep ministers' returns.


Records of marriages were generally the first vital records kept consistently in Maryland by the Maryland General Assembly. Early colonial marriage records includes banns and marriage registers. By '''1777''', marriage licenses were required but it wasn't until 1865 that the county court recorded all marriages in Maryland.
For copies of marriage records from 1777 through 1950, write to the Maryland State Archives. There are no restrictions on who may obtain copies of the records. The Maryland State Archives has the following indexes, which are open to the public:


For more information about availability, content, and history about marriage records in Maryland, click on this link:
*Card indexes of marriages from 1650 to 1695 and from 1777 to 1886.
*A series of card indexes to Baltimore City, Maryland marriage records for 1777 to 1851.
*A statewide soundex index to the records of 1914 to 1930. (There is no statewide index of marriage records from 1941 to 1951.)


[[Maryland Vital Records: Marriages|Maryland Vital Records: Marriages]]
The Family History Library has microfilm copies from the Maryland State Archives of the early marriage records to the 1850s but does not have microfilm copies of the indexes.


== Death Records ==
You can also write to the county clerk or the Baltimore City, Maryland clerk for marriage records. The records from 1777 to the present are open to the public without restrictions. However, these offices do not have the statewide indexes that are available at the Maryland State Archives. They often have only microfilm copies of the early records. Or you can contact the Division of Vital Records for marriage records after 1950. Visit the Maryland Archives’ website at [http://www.msa.md.gov www.msa.md.gov] for a complete listing of marriage indexes available for various jurisdictions from 1640 to the present.


The earliest death records in Maryland was the Maryland General Assembly requiring the registration of burials.  This lasted until 1695.  The Maryland General Assembly assigned responsibility to the Circuit Courts in 1865 and the County Courts in 1898 - but compliance was spotty. It wasn't until '''1914 '''that all deaths in Maryland were recorded.
Examples of some available published sources of Maryland marriage records are:


For more information about availability, content and history about death records in Maryland, click on this link:<br>
Barnes, Robert William. ''Maryland Marriages''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1975, 1978, 1993. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=246241&disp=Maryland+marriages%2C+1634%2D1777%20%20&columns=*,0,0 975.2 K2bar] covers 1634-1777, Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=975.2+K2ba 975.2 K2ba] covers 1778-1800 and Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=619389&disp=Maryland+marriages%2C+1801%2D1820%20%20&columns=*,0,0 975.2 K2baa] covers 1801-1820.) These volumes contain marriages 1634 to 1777&nbsp;and marriages 1778 to 1800.


:[[Maryland Vital Records: Death|Maryland Vital Records: Death]]
Bell, Annie Walker Burns. ''Maryland Marriage Records''. 23 Volumes N.p., 1938-9. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=975.2+V25b 975.2 V25b]; films [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=filmhitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&filmno=873768 873768]-75; fiche [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=256171&disp=Maryland+marriage+records%20%20&columns=*,0,0 6046950].) These volumes give marriage information found in pre-1800 wills, deeds, and court records.


=== Cause of Death ===
''Marriage Records: Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia, 1624-1915''. Orem, Utah: Automated Archives, 1998. (Family History Library CD-ROM no. 9 pt. 4; does not circulate to Family History Centers.) This source indexes marriage records from 1624 to 1915 and lists spouse and marriage date and place.
*[[Historical Causes of Death|Causes of Death]] - use this resource when trying to interpret a disease or medical condition listed on a death record or certificate


=== More Online Resources ===
''Marriage Index: Maryland, 1655-1850''. [Novato, California]: Brøderbund Software, 1996. (Family History Library CD-ROM no. 9 pt. 224.) Does not circulate to Family History Centers. Index to about 250,000 original marriage records. Shows spouse and marriage date and place.


[http://vitalrec.msa.maryland.gov/pages/search.aspx Maryland Death Records &amp; Indexes] (deathindexes.com)
=== Divorce Records ===


== Divorce Records  ==
The Maryland legislature had jurisdiction over divorce proceedings until prohibited by the Maryland Constitution of 1851. An 1842 law gave divorce authority to the chancery court and the county courts. During the colonial years in Maryland divorce was not commonly granted. Some early divorce records have been published in:


'''Before the Revolutionary War''', no divorces were granted in Maryland. Between the '''close of the Revolution and 1842''', the state legislature granted divorces. Myer abstracted these records:  
Meyer, Mary K. ''Divorces and Names Changed in Maryland: By Act of the Legislature, 1634-1867.'' Mt. Airy, Maryland: Pipe Creek Publications, Inc. 1991. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=975.2+V28m 975.2 V28m] (1634-1854) and Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=975.2+V2ma 975.2 V2ma] (1684-1867)).


*Myer, Mary Keysor. ''Divorces and Names Changed in Maryland by Act of the Legislature 1634-1854.'' [http://www.worldcat.org/title/divorces-and-names-changed-in-maryland-by-act-of-the-legislature-1634-1854/oclc/58864611?referer=br&ht=edition Worldcat ]; {{FSC|246249|item|FS Library Book 975.2 V28}}.
Since 1853, divorce records have been kept by the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the divorce was granted. Baltimore records are kept by the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Baltimore City. Many records from Baltimore City and metropolitan counties have been transferred to the Maryland State Archives.  


For divorces '''after 1854''', and if the county and date of the divorce are known, contact the clerk of the circuit court in the county in which the divorce was granted. Baltimore records are kept by the [https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/circuit/clerk/marriage-divorce Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Baltimore City.... Many records from Baltimore City and many metropolitan counties have been transferred to the [[Maryland State Archives|Maryland State Archives]].  
Since 1991, divorce records have been sent to the Division of Vital Records.  


For divorces granted '''before 1992''', there is no statewide index. For a research fee, the Maryland State Archives will search its resources for a 5-year period in the county where the divorce is believed to have occurred and the counties adjoining it.  For divorces '''after 1992''', the [https://health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/home.aspx Division of Vital Records] can verify the county the date of the divorce, but cannot issue a certified copy of the decree.
To find birth, marriage, death, and divorce records in the&nbsp;Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog, search:  


For more detailed information about availability, content, and history, see [[Maryland Divorce Records|Maryland Divorce Records]].
MARYLAND - VITAL RECORDS


== Additional Helps  ==
MARYLAND, [COUNTY] - VITAL RECORDS


=== Tips  ===
MARYLAND, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS


*Information listed on vital records is given by an informant. Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) of the record.  The closer the relationship of the informant to the Subject(s) and whether or not the informant was present at the time of the event can help determine the accuracy of the information found on the records.
=== Web Sites ===
*If you are unable to locate vital records recorded by govenments, search for church records of chiristening, marriage, death or burial.  A family Bible may have been used to record births, marriages and deaths.
*Records for African American may be recorded in separate files with separate indexes.
*Privacy laws may restrict your access to some vital records.  Copies of some vital records recorded in the last 100 years may be uanavailable to anyone except a direct relative.
*Search for Vital Records in the FamilySearch Catalog by using a '''Place Search''' and then choosing '''Vital Records'''.  Search for '''Maryland''' to locate records filed by the State and then search the '''name of the county '''to locate records kept by that county.<br>


=== Research Guides  ===
http://mdvitalrec.net/cfm/dsp_search.cfm


Staff at the [[Maryland State Archives|Maryland State Archives]] prepared the following online guides:  
http://home.att.net/~wee-monster/deathrecords.html


*[https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/viewer.aspx?page=adoption Adoption Records]
http://[http://home.att.net/~wee-monster/vitalrecords.html home.att.net/~wee-monster/vitalrecords.html] <!--{120406192731240} --><!--{120406192731241} --><!--{120406192731242} --><!--{120406192731243} --><!--{120406192731244} --><!--{120406192731245} --><!--{120406192731246} --><!--{120406192731247} --><!--{120406192731248} --><!--{120406192731249} --><!--{120406192731250} --><!--{120406192731251} --><!--{120406192731252} -->
*[https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/viewer.aspx?page=birth Birth Records]
*[https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/viewer.aspx?page=marriage Marriage Records]
*[https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/viewer.aspx?page=divorce Divorce Records]
*[https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/viewer.aspx?page=death Death Certificates/Records]


In addition, the Maryland State Archives hosts an online [https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/refserv/workshop/000001/html/begworkshop.html Beginning Genealogy Workshop].
[[Category:Maryland]]
 
=== Lost and Missing Records  ===
 
'''Counties with fragmented records:'''
 
Allegany (1893), Anne Arundel (1704), Calvert (1882), Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester (1852), Frederick, Harford (1858), Kent (1720), St. Mary's (1831), Somerset (1831), Talbot, Washington (1871)
 
=== Substitute Records  ===
 
*[[Maryland Church Records|Maryland Church Records]]: Depending on the denomination, church records may contain information about birth, marriage and death.
 
*[[Maryland Cemeteries|Maryland Cemetery Records]]: Cemetery records are a rich source of birth and death information.  These records may also reveal family relationships.
 
*[[Maryland Census|Maryland Census]]: Census records are a valuable source for birth and marriage information. You may also determine approximate time of death when the individual disappear from the census. This is a good place to begin a search.
 
*[[Maryland Newspapers|Maryland Newspapers]]: Besides obituaries, local newspapers may contain birth and marriage announcements and death notices.  Also check newspaper social columns for additional information.
 
*[[Maryland Obituaries|Obituaries]]: Obituaries found in newspapers can list the age of the deceased, birth date and place, death date and place, and names of living relatives and their residences.
 
*[[Maryland Periodicals|Maryland Periodicals]]: Local genealogical and historical societies often publish periodicals which may contain abstracted early birth, marriage and death information.
 
*[[Maryland Military Records|Maryland Military Records]]: Military pension records can give birth, marriage and death information,  In addtion, soldiers' homes records can included this same information.
 
*[[Maryland Probate Records|Maryland Probate Records]]: If no death record exists, probate records may be helpful in estimating when an individual has died. Probate records in the 20th Century often contain the exact death date.
 
*[[Maryland History|Maryland History]]: Local histories, family histories and biographies can all be sources of birth, marriage and death information. Often this information is found in county-level records or in surname searches of the FamilySearch Catalog.
 
=== More Online Links  ===
 
*[https://usgenwebsites.org/mdgenweb/ MDGenWeb]
 
== FamilySearch Library Maryland Vital Records Collections ==
 
<br>This is a collection of FamilySearch Library records which are abstracted, indexed and titled the [[Maryland Vital Records Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|Maryland Vital Records Index.]] For over 30 years, volunteer indexers extracted this information from microfilm copies of the original records. In 1998, a few of the entries were published on 7 CDs by the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the "North America Vital Records Index." This index is an index of the births, marriages, and deaths throughout Kentucky. The index is not necessarily complete for any particular place or region.
 
These records are available online for free at [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list/?fcs=recordType%3AVITAL&ec=recordType%3AVITAL&cqs=maryland%20 FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.]
 
{{Template:Pros-MD}}
 
== References  ==
 
<references />
 
{{Maryland|Maryland}} {{U.S. Vital Records}}[[Category:Adoptio...]
 
[[Category:Maryland Vital Records|Vital]] [[Category:United_States_Vital_Records]]

Revision as of 20:35, 22 October 2008

Records of Births and Deaths Before Statewide Registration[edit | edit source]

A few counties recorded births and deaths before 1720 in the county land records of Maryland. The information has been indexed and is available at the Maryland State Archives. The Family History Library has film copies of the county land records.

From 1865 to 1899 some county clerks and the Secretary of the Senate maintained birth and death records. These records are incomplete, and the exact dates of the records vary from county to county. These records are available at the Maryland State Archives. You can see one of two sources for lists of birth and death records kept during these years:

Meyer, Mary Keysor. Genealogical Research in Maryland: A Guide. Baltimore, Malryland: Maryland Historical Society, 1992. (Family History Library book 975.2 D27m 1992.) Pages 16 to 17 have a list of birth and death records.

Radoff, Morris Leon. The County Courthouses and Records of Maryland: Part Two: The Records. Annapolis, Maryland: Hall of Records Commission, 1963. (Family History Library book 975.2 B4ma no. 13; fiche 6054101 parts 4-6 and fiche 6054105).

An important source of death information taken from court books from 1718 to 1777 is:

Bell, Annie Walker Burns. Maryland Record of Deaths. Annapolis, Maryland: A. Bell, 1936. (Family History Library film 924445 item 2).

Statewide Registration of Births and Deaths[edit | edit source]

The counties started recording births and deaths in 1898. Baltimore City, Maryland began recording births and deaths in 1875. These records and accompanying indexes are at the Division of Vital Records or Maryland State Archives.

Birth records over 100 years old are available through the Maryland State Archives. Birth records from 1925 to the present are available through the Department of Mental Health & Hygiene. Contact them at www.dhmh.state.md.us/lifeevents/birth&deathcert.htm

Birth records within the last 100 years may be obtained only by the individual named on the certificate or a parent, legal guardian, or authorized representative. Authorized representatives must submit a court order or a notarized statement signed by either parent or the person named on the certificate.

Records of deaths within the last 20 years are restricted to surviving relatives or authorized representatives.

The Maryland State Archives has microfilm copies of the records and most of the indexes. For genealogical purposes, you can obtain the information in the restricted records from the Archives. The Family History Library does not have copies of these records.

Official (certified) copies of all birth and death records since 1968 (since 1875 for Baltimore City) can be requested. Contact the National Archives at msa.md/gov/mas/refserv/html/vitalrec.html for current fees.

Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 68760
6550 Reistertown Road
Reistertown Road Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21215-0020
Telephone: 800-832-3277 or 410-764-3038
Fax: 410-358-7381
Website: www.vsa.state.md.us/html/apps.html

For a fee the State of Maryland Archives will provide:

  • Copies of death records through 1991 (through 1994 for Baltimore City, Maryland). The archives will certify county death records if requested.
  • Extracts (unofficial transcripts) of restricted birth and death records for genealogical purposes. The card index to births gives the birth date of the child and his race, sex, and names of parents.
  • Copies of restricted death records for surviving relatives of the deceased.
  • Copies of restricted birth records if you provide evidence that the person named in the birth record is dead.

The Maryland State Archives provides four online death indexes for its selected death records at: mdvitalrec.net/cfm/dsp_search.cfm


Marriage Records[edit | edit source]

Beginning in 1640 the Maryland General Assembly required the clergy to post marriage banns and keep registers of marriages. Since 1777, county clerks have been required to issue marriage licenses and, since 1865, to keep ministers' returns.

For copies of marriage records from 1777 through 1950, write to the Maryland State Archives. There are no restrictions on who may obtain copies of the records. The Maryland State Archives has the following indexes, which are open to the public:

  • Card indexes of marriages from 1650 to 1695 and from 1777 to 1886.
  • A series of card indexes to Baltimore City, Maryland marriage records for 1777 to 1851.
  • A statewide soundex index to the records of 1914 to 1930. (There is no statewide index of marriage records from 1941 to 1951.)

The Family History Library has microfilm copies from the Maryland State Archives of the early marriage records to the 1850s but does not have microfilm copies of the indexes.

You can also write to the county clerk or the Baltimore City, Maryland clerk for marriage records. The records from 1777 to the present are open to the public without restrictions. However, these offices do not have the statewide indexes that are available at the Maryland State Archives. They often have only microfilm copies of the early records. Or you can contact the Division of Vital Records for marriage records after 1950. Visit the Maryland Archives’ website at www.msa.md.gov for a complete listing of marriage indexes available for various jurisdictions from 1640 to the present.

Examples of some available published sources of Maryland marriage records are:

Barnes, Robert William. Maryland Marriages. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1975, 1978, 1993. (Family History Library book 975.2 K2bar covers 1634-1777, Family History Library book 975.2 K2ba covers 1778-1800 and Family History Library book 975.2 K2baa covers 1801-1820.) These volumes contain marriages 1634 to 1777 and marriages 1778 to 1800.

Bell, Annie Walker Burns. Maryland Marriage Records. 23 Volumes N.p., 1938-9. (Family History Library book 975.2 V25b; films 873768-75; fiche 6046950.) These volumes give marriage information found in pre-1800 wills, deeds, and court records.

Marriage Records: Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia, 1624-1915. Orem, Utah: Automated Archives, 1998. (Family History Library CD-ROM no. 9 pt. 4; does not circulate to Family History Centers.) This source indexes marriage records from 1624 to 1915 and lists spouse and marriage date and place.

Marriage Index: Maryland, 1655-1850. [Novato, California]: Brøderbund Software, 1996. (Family History Library CD-ROM no. 9 pt. 224.) Does not circulate to Family History Centers. Index to about 250,000 original marriage records. Shows spouse and marriage date and place.

Divorce Records[edit | edit source]

The Maryland legislature had jurisdiction over divorce proceedings until prohibited by the Maryland Constitution of 1851. An 1842 law gave divorce authority to the chancery court and the county courts. During the colonial years in Maryland divorce was not commonly granted. Some early divorce records have been published in:

Meyer, Mary K. Divorces and Names Changed in Maryland: By Act of the Legislature, 1634-1867. Mt. Airy, Maryland: Pipe Creek Publications, Inc. 1991. (Family History Library book 975.2 V28m (1634-1854) and Family History Library book 975.2 V2ma (1684-1867)).

Since 1853, divorce records have been kept by the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the divorce was granted. Baltimore records are kept by the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Baltimore City. Many records from Baltimore City and metropolitan counties have been transferred to the Maryland State Archives.

Since 1991, divorce records have been sent to the Division of Vital Records.

To find birth, marriage, death, and divorce records in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog, search:

MARYLAND - VITAL RECORDS

MARYLAND, [COUNTY] - VITAL RECORDS

MARYLAND, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS

Web Sites[edit | edit source]

http://mdvitalrec.net/cfm/dsp_search.cfm

http://home.att.net/~wee-monster/deathrecords.html

http://home.att.net/~wee-monster/vitalrecords.html

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