How to Find Massachusetts Death Records: Difference between revisions

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''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Vital Records|US Vital Records]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[How to Find United States Death Records|How to Find United States Deaths]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Massachusetts]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Massachusetts Vital Records|Vital Records]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]'' '''Massachusetts Deaths'''__NOTOC__
| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
| link2=[[United States Vital Records|U.S. Vital Records]]  
| link3=[[How to Find United States Death Records|How to Find U.S. Death Records]]
| link4=[[Massachusetts Vital Records|Massachusetts Vital Records]]
| link5=[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records|How to Find Massachusetts Death Records]]
}} __NOTOC__
 
Guide to '''Massachusetts Death Records, Massachusetts ancestry, genealogy and family history''', death records, and family history.<br>


Massachusetts Towns have been recording deaths since the 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1841.  
Massachusetts Towns have been recording deaths since the 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1841.  
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:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records#Deaths_before_1841|Deaths before 1841]]'''</span>  
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records#Deaths_before_1841|Deaths before 1841]]'''</span>  
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records#Deaths_from_1841_thru_1925|Deaths from 1841 thru 1925]]''' </span>  
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records#Deaths_from_1841_thru_1920|Deaths from 1841 thru 1920]]''' </span>  
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records#Deaths from 1926 to Present|Deaths from 1926 thru present]]'''</span>  
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records#Deaths_from_1921_thru_present|Deaths from 1921 thru present]]'''</span>  
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Estimate United States Death Information|Death year unknown]]'''</span>
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Estimate United States Death Information|Death year unknown]]'''</span>


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| [https://www.mass.gov/doc/list-of-vital-records-to-1850/download 1600-1850 - Massachusetts Vital Records]  
| [http://ma-vitalrecords.org/ 1600-1850 - At Massachusetts Vital Records Project]  
| '''Free;''' Links to digital books with vital records transcriptions for most Massachusetts towns. Includes births, marriages, and deaths. Downloadable pdf: "Vital Records to 1850".
| '''Free;''' Transcriptions and images of Massachusetts town vital records. Includes births, marriages, and deaths. The collection is comprised of records for over 150 Massachusetts towns.
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| [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 1620-1988 at Ancestry]   
| [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 1620-1988 at Ancestry]   
| '''($), [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 free at FamilySearch centers.]''' Database and images of Massachusetts town records that include births, marriages, and deaths. The collection is comprised of records for over 260 Massachusetts towns.
| '''($), [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 free at family history centers.]''' Database and images of Massachusetts town records that include births, marriages, and deaths. The collection is comprised of records for over 260 Massachusetts towns.
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|[https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/190/massachusetts-vital-records-1620-1850 1620-1850 - At American Ancestors]
|'''($)'''
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| width="10%" | <br>  
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| [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4080 1620-1850 at Ancestry]   
| [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4080 1620-1850 at Ancestry]   
| '''($), [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4080 free at FamilySearch centers.]''' Index to published town death records for many, but not all Massachusetts towns. Also on [https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/massachusetts-vital-records-1620-1850/image/?rId=0&filterQuery=databasename:1850~location:United%20States~category:Vital%20Records%20(incl.%20Bible,%20Cemetery,%20Church%20and%20SSDI) AmericanAncestors.org] ($); free at FamilySearch centers.  
| '''($), [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4080 free at family history centers.]''' Index to published town death records for many, but not all Massachusetts towns. Also on [https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/massachusetts-vital-records-1620-1850/image/?rId=0&filterQuery=databasename:1850~location:United%20States~category:Vital%20Records%20(incl.%20Bible,%20Cemetery,%20Church%20and%20SSDI) AmericanAncestors.org] ($); free at family history centers.  
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| {{RecordSearch|1675350|Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910}} at FamilySearch.
| [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1675350 1795-1910 - Massachusetts Death and Burials at FamilySearch]
| '''Free at FamilySearch;''' Index to death and burial records from the state of Massachusetts.
| '''Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries;''' Index to death and burial records from the state of Massachusetts.
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== '''Deaths from 1841 through 1925'''  ==
== '''Deaths from 1841 thru 1920'''  ==


Massachusetts was the first state to initiate statewide registration of vital records beginning in 1841. However, the city of Boston, which had kept records prior to this time, didn't start reporting their vital statistics to the state until about 1850. Records from 1841 to 1925 are housed at the Massachusetts Archives. Every five years, another block of five years is transferred from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics to the Archives.  
Massachusetts was the first state to initiate statewide registration of vital records beginning in 1841. However, the city of Boston, which had kept records prior to this time, didn't start reporting their vital statistics to the state until about 1850. Records from 1841 to 1920 are housed at the Massachusetts Archives. Every five years, another block of five years is transferred from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics to the Archives.  


For deaths that occurred during this time period, try the following databases:  
For deaths that occurred during this time period, try the following databases:  
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|[http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcvitalrecords/vitalrecordsidx.htm Massachusetts, Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1841-1920, at the Massachusetts Archives]
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|'''Free'''; Includes links to Family Search databases with digitized images of Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841 to 1920.
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|[https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/191/massachusetts-vital-records-1841-1910 1841-1910 - At American Ancestors]
|'''($)'''
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| '''Free;''' Browse only collection. Includes deaths, 1916-1920 and amended vital records, 1841-1920
| '''Free;''' Browse only collection. Includes deaths, 1916-1920 and amended vital records, 1841-1920
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|[https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/190/massachusetts-vital-records-1620-1850 1620-1850 - At American Ancestors]
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| [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/vitalrecordssearch/VitalRecordsSearch.aspx 1841-1910 - Massachusetts Archives database]  
| '''Free;''' Also on [http://www.americanancestors.org/Search.aspx?Ca=344&Da=191 AmericanAncestors.org] ($), free at family history centers. Searchable index of Massachusetts birth, marriage, and death records.
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| [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 1620-1988 - Ancestry.com]  
| [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 1620-1988 - Ancestry.com]  
| '''($) [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 free at family history libraries];''' Database and images of Massachusetts town records that include births, marriages, and deaths. The collection is comprised of records for over 260 Massachusetts towns.
| '''($) [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 free at family history libraryies];''' Database and images of Massachusetts town records that include births, marriages, and deaths. The collection is comprised of records for over 260 Massachusetts towns.
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| [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/192/massachusetts-vital-records-1911-1915 1911-1915 - At American Ancestors]
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| '''($)'''
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|[https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/2738/massachusetts-vital-records-1916-1920 1916-1920 - At American Ancestors]
|'''($)'''
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| align="left" colspan="2" | '''Can't find your ancestor in the index?'''  
| align="left" colspan="2" | '''Can't find your ancestor in the index?'''  
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== '''Deaths from 1926 to Present'''  ==
== '''Deaths from 1921 thru present'''  ==
   
   
Death records beginning in 1921 to the present are located at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. The MDPH maintains no online index for these records. Try to find your ancestor in one of the indexes below.<br>  
Death records beginning in 1921 to the present are located at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. The MDPH maintains no online index for these records. Try to find your ancestor in one of the indexes below.<br>  
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| width="30%" | {{RecordSearch|1949332|1970-2003 - At FamilySearch.org}}  
| width="30%" | {{RecordSearch|1949332|1970-2003 - At FamilySearch.org}}  
| width="60%" | '''Free;''' Includes index only. Also on [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7457 Ancestry.com] ($), [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7457 free at FamilySearch centers.]
| width="60%" | '''Free;''' Includes index only. Also on [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7457 Ancestry.com] ($), [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7457 free at family history centers.]
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| [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3659 1901-1980 - At Ancestry]  
| [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3659 1901-1980 - At FamilySearch.org]  
| '''($), [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3659 free at FamilySearch centers;]''' Searchable index of Massachusetts death records, 1901-1980.
| '''($), [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3659 free at family history centers;]''' Searchable index of Massachusetts death records, 1901-1980.
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| width="10%" | <br>  
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| [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 1620-1988 - At Ancestry]  
| [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 1620-1988 - At FamilySearch.org]  
| '''($), [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 free at FamilySearch centers];''' Database and images of Massachusetts town records that include births, marriages, and deaths. The collection is comprised of records for over 260 Massachusetts towns.
| '''[http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 free at family history centers];''' Database and images of Massachusetts town records that include births, marriages, and deaths. The collection is comprised of records for over 260 Massachusetts towns.
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| [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/511/massachusetts-death-index-1970-2003 1970-2003 - At American Ancestors]
| '''($), Index'''
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| align="left" colspan="3" | '''Social Security Death Index'''  
| align="left" colspan="3" | '''Social Security Death Index'''  
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*{{RecordSearch|1202535|United States Social Security Death Index for Massachusetts- starts 1962}} Index.  
*{{RecordSearch|1202535|United States Social Security Death Index for Massachusetts- starts 1962}} Index.  
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3693 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014] ($)  
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3693 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014] ($)  
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60901 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007], Incomplete ($).  
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60901 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007], Incomplete, ($).  
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| width="50%" align="center" colspan="2" | [http://www.vitalrec.com/ma.html#County From Town Clerk] <br>[http://www.mass-doc.com/vitals_research.htm Massachusetts Vital Records]  
| width="50%" align="center" colspan="2" | [http://www.vitalrec.com/ma.html#County From Town Clerk] <br>[http://www.mass-doc.com/vitals_research.htm Massachusetts Vital Records]  
| width="50%" align="center" colspan="2" | [https://www.mass.gov/orgs/registry-of-vital-records-and-statistics From Registry of Vital Records and Statistics]
| width="50%" align="center" colspan="2" | [http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/admin/dmoa/vitals/ From Registry of Vital Records and Statistics]
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| width="25%" align="center" | '''Pros'''  
| width="25%" align="center" | '''Pros'''  
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'''If you do not know the exact date or place of death:'''<br> For a fee, the [https://www.mass.gov/info-details/vital-records-service-fees Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics] will do a 10 year search. <br> <br> '''If you do not want to order the death record, there are [[Substitute Records For United States Death Information|other records with death information]] you can search.<br>'''  
'''If you do not know the exact date or place of death:'''<br> For a fee, the [http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/admin/dmoa/vitals/ Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics] will do a 10 year search. <br> <br> '''If you do not want to order the death record, there are [[Substitute Records For United States Death Information|other records with death information]] you can search.<br>'''  
<center>[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records#Next_Step:_When_did_the_death_occur.3F|Return to top: Choose another death year]]</center>  
<center>[[How to Find Massachusetts Death Records#Next_Step:_When_did_the_death_occur.3F|Return to top: Choose another death year]]</center>  
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Revision as of 13:12, 13 November 2017

United States Gotoarrow.png US Vital Records Gotoarrow.png How to Find United States Deaths Gotoarrow.png Massachusetts Gotoarrow.png Vital Records Gotoarrow.png Massachusetts Deaths

Massachusetts Towns have been recording deaths since the 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1841.

Next Step: When did the death occur? [edit | edit source]
Death Records
Choose a time period:

Learn more about U.S. Death Records

Deaths before 1841[edit | edit source]

For deaths that occurred during this time period, try the following databases:

Includes Index and Digital Images

1600-1850 - At Massachusetts Vital Records Project Free; Transcriptions and images of Massachusetts town vital records. Includes births, marriages, and deaths. The collection is comprised of records for over 150 Massachusetts towns.

1620-1988 at Ancestry ($), free at family history centers. Database and images of Massachusetts town records that include births, marriages, and deaths. The collection is comprised of records for over 260 Massachusetts towns.

1620-1850 at Ancestry ($), free at family history centers. Index to published town death records for many, but not all Massachusetts towns. Also on AmericanAncestors.org ($); free at family history centers.

1795-1910 - Massachusetts Death and Burials at FamilySearch Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Index to death and burial records from the state of Massachusetts.
Can't find your ancestor in the index? Tips for searching indexes
No death record for your ancestor? Other records with death information
Return to top: Choose another death year


Deaths from 1841 thru 1920[edit | edit source]

Massachusetts was the first state to initiate statewide registration of vital records beginning in 1841. However, the city of Boston, which had kept records prior to this time, didn't start reporting their vital statistics to the state until about 1850. Records from 1841 to 1920 are housed at the Massachusetts Archives. Every five years, another block of five years is transferred from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics to the Archives.

For deaths that occurred during this time period, try the following databases:

Includes Index and Digital Images

1841-1920 - At FamilySearch.org Free; Browse only collection. Includes deaths, 1916-1920 and amended vital records, 1841-1920

1841-1910 - Massachusetts Archives database Free; Also on AmericanAncestors.org ($), free at family history centers. Searchable index of Massachusetts birth, marriage, and death records.

1620-1988 - Ancestry.com ($) free at family history libraryies; Database and images of Massachusetts town records that include births, marriages, and deaths. The collection is comprised of records for over 260 Massachusetts towns.
Can't find your ancestor in the index? Tips for searching indexes
No death record for your ancestor? Other records with death information
Return to top: Choose another death year


Deaths from 1921 thru present[edit | edit source]

Death records beginning in 1921 to the present are located at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. The MDPH maintains no online index for these records. Try to find your ancestor in one of the indexes below.

For deaths that occurred during the time period, try the following databases:

Includes Index and Digital Images
1970-2003 - At FamilySearch.org Free; Includes index only. Also on Ancestry.com ($), free at family history centers.

1901-1980 - At FamilySearch.org ($), free at family history centers; Searchable index of Massachusetts death records, 1901-1980.

1620-1988 - At FamilySearch.org free at family history centers; Database and images of Massachusetts town records that include births, marriages, and deaths. The collection is comprised of records for over 260 Massachusetts towns.
Social Security Death Index

Order the Certificate[edit | edit source]

With an exact date (from your records or an index above) you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From Town Clerk
Massachusetts Vital Records 		From Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Pros Cons Pros Cons
It's cheaper and faster than ordering from the state Town websites can be more difficult to use Onsite researchers can access public death indexes Only certified copies of records are issued, regardless of intended use. It's cheaper to order the record from the town clerk

If you do not know the exact date or place of death:
For a fee, the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics will do a 10 year search.

If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Related Wiki Articles[edit | edit source]

v • d• e
Links to Massachusetts-related articles
Topics
Counties
Obsolete MA
Jurisdictions
Major
Repositories
Allen County Public Library (Ft. Wayne IN) · American Antiquarian Society · Berkshire Athenaeum · Boston Massachusetts FamilySearch Center · Boston Public Library · Dedham Historical Society Library · Harvard University Houghton Library · Haverhill Public Library · Jones Library · Massachusetts Historical Society · Massachusetts State Archives · National Archives at Boston · New England Historic Genealogical Society · New York Public Library NY · Onondaga Historical Association Library (Syracuse NY) · Peabody Essex Museum · Pittsfield Federal Records Center · Plymouth Public Library · Registry of Vital Records and Statistics · Springfield History Library and Archives · State Library of Massachusetts · University of Massachusetts Amherst Library · Vermont Historical Society (Barre VT) · Western Reserve Historical Society (Cleveland, OH)
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