Massachusetts Vital Records: Difference between revisions

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''[[United States|United States]] > [[Massachusetts|Massachusetts]] > Massachusetts Vital Records'' UNDER CONSTRUCTION
| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
| link2=[[United States Vital Records|U.S. Vital Records]]
| link3=[[Massachusetts, United States Genealogy|Massachusetts]]
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| link5=[[Massachusetts Vital Records|Vital Records]]
}}


==Online Resources==
<br>'''Introduction to Vital Records'''  
*'''1640-1849''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62748/ Massachusetts, U.S., Vital Records, 1640-1849] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1700-1925''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=62997 Massachusetts, U.S., Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1700-1925] at Ancestry — index & images ($); ''Also at: [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61401/ Ancestry] ($)''


==Massachusetts Birth, Marriage, and Death Records Online==
[[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]]&nbsp;has&nbsp;additional research guidance&nbsp;on researching and using vital records. A copy or an extract of most original records can be&nbsp;purchased from&nbsp;the [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/Massachusetts.htm Massachusetts Vital Records State Department of Health] or the&nbsp;Town Clerk's office where the event occurred.  
===Births===
*'''Pre-1850''' [http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/massachusetts-vital-records-to-1850 Massachusetts Vital Records To 1850] at Findmypast — index & images ($)
*'''Pre-1850''' [https://www.fold3.com/title/90/massachusetts-vital-record-transcripts Massachusetts Vital Record Transcripts] at Fold3 — index & images ($)
*'''1620-1850''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search?firstname=john&allData=true&searchPage=Advanced-Search&database=Massachusetts%3A%20Vital%20Records%2C%201620-1850&exactRecordType=true Massachusetts Vital Records] at AmericanAncestors — index & images ($)
*'''1620-1850''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4094 Massachusetts Town Birth Records, 1620-1850] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1620-1988''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1620-1900s''' [https://www.fold3.com/title/91/massachusetts-vital-records Massachusetts Vital Records] at Fold3 — index & images ($)
*'''1626-2001''' {{RecordSearch|2061550|Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1630-1905''' {{RecordSearch|2241430|Massachusetts Town Births Index, ca. 1630-1905}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts Town Births Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1636-1920''' {{RecordSearch|2400643|Massachusetts Births, 1636-1920}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts, Births - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1638-1961''' {{RecordSearch|2285844|Massachusetts Town Records, ca. 1638-1961}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts Town Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1639-1915''' {{RecordSearch|1675197|Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915}} at FamilySearch — index
*'''1650-1915''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/category-search/344/vital-records-incl-bible-cemetery-church-and-ssdi Massachusetts Vital Records] at American Ancestors — index ($)
*'''1700-1850''' [https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61401 Massachusetts Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records] at Ancestry — index & images ($); ''Also at: [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61401/ Ancestry] ($)''
*'''1753-1900''' {{RecordSearch|2268583|Massachusetts Delayed and Corrected Vital Records, 1753-1900}} at FamilySearch — index & images
*'''1840-1910''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10907/united-states-massachusetts-birth-index-1840-1910?s=275764761 Massachusetts Birth Index, 1840-1910] at MyHeritage — index ($)
*'''1841-1910''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search?firstname=john&allData=true&searchPage=Advanced-Search&database=Massachusetts%3A%20Vital%20Records%2C%201841-1910&exactRecordType=true Massachusetts Vital Records] at AmericanAncestors — images ($)
*'''1841-1910''' [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/vitalrecordssearch/VitalRecordsSearch.aspx Massachusetts Citations to Vital Records - 1841-1910] at Massachusetts State Archives — index
*'''1841-1895''' [https://www.fold3.com/title/92/massachusetts-vital-records-index-1841-1895 Massachusetts Vital Records Index 1841-1895] at Fold3 — index ($)
*'''1841-1915''' {{RecordSearch|1536925|Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915}} at FamilySearch — index & images; ''Also at: [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5062 Ancestry]($)''
*'''1841-1920''' {{RecordSearch|1928860|Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts State Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1860-1970''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3928 Massachusetts Birth Index, 1860-1970] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1911-1915''' [http://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search/?database=Massachusetts%20Vital%20Records,%201911-1915 Massachusetts Vital Records] at AmericanAncestors — images ($)
*'''1916-1920''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/2738/massachusetts-vital-records-1916-1920 Massachusetts Vital Records] at AmericanAncestors; index & images ($)
*[http://www.fold3.com/title_89/massachusetts_printed_vital_records/ Massachusetts Printed Vital Records], search collection or browse by town and page


===Marriages===
{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="100%" border="0"
*'''Pre-1699''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2081 American Marriages Before 1699] at Ancestry — index ($)
|-
*'''Pre-1700''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3824 New England Marriages Prior to 1700] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
| width="44%" | __TOC__
*'''Pre-1800''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48585 Early Massachusetts Marriages Prior to 1800, Vol. I], [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48190 Vol. II], [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48586 Vol. III], [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48191 Vol. IV] at Ancestry — images ($)
| valign="middle" | <center>'''&nbsp; [[Image:Vital Records.jpg|center|250px]]&nbsp;&nbsp; '''<br></center>
*'''Pre-1850''' [http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/massachusetts-vital-records-to-1850 Massachusetts Vital Records To 1850] at Findmypast — index & images ($)
{| style="width: 396px; height: 75px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="396" align="center" border="1"
*'''Pre-1850''' [https://www.fold3.com/title/90/massachusetts-vital-record-transcripts Massachusetts Vital Record Transcripts] at Fold3 — index & images ($)
|-
*'''1600s-1900s''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/united-states-marriages?state=massachusetts US Marriages – Massachusetts] at Findmypast — index & images ($)
| valign="middle" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffcc" height="35" | '''Marriage Records'''&nbsp;
*'''1620-1850''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4079 Massachusetts, U.S., Town Marriage Records, 1620-1850] at Ancestry ($)
| valign="middle" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffcc" height="35" | '''Death/Will'''&nbsp;'''Records'''
*'''1620-1850''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search?firstname=john&allData=true&searchPage=Advanced-Search&database=Massachusetts%3A%20Vital%20Records%2C%201620-1850&exactRecordType=true Massachusetts Vital Records] at AmericanAncestors — index & images ($)
|-
*'''1620-1900s''' [https://www.fold3.com/title/91/massachusetts-vital-records Massachusetts Vital Records] at Fold3 — index & images ($)
| valign="middle" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffcc" height="35" | [http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7853&cj=1&o_xid=0000584978&o_lid=0000584978 1633 - 1850] $  
*'''1620-1988''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
| valign="middle" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffcc" height="35" | [http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#c=1463156;p=collectionDetails 1841 - 1915]
*'''1626-2001''' {{RecordSearch|2061550|Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
|}
*'''1633-1850''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7853 Massachusetts Compiled Marriages, 1633-1850] at Ancestry — index ($)
 
*'''1695-1910, 1921-1924''' {{RecordSearch|1675351|Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910, 1921-1924}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910 - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
<br>
*'''1638-1961''' {{RecordSearch|2285844|Massachusetts Town Records, ca. 1638-1961}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts Town Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
 
*'''1650-1915''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/category-search/344/vital-records-incl-bible-cemetery-church-and-ssdi Massachusetts Vital Records] at American Ancestors — index ($)
|}
*'''1700-1850''' [https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61401 Massachusetts Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records] at Ancestry — index & images ($); ''Also at: [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61401/ Ancestry] ($)''
 
*'''1753-1900''' {{RecordSearch|2268583|Massachusetts Delayed and Corrected Vital Records, 1753-1900}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts, Delayed and Corrected Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images; ''Also at: [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61901/ Ancestry]($)''
== Massachusetts&nbsp;Birth, Marriage and Death Records Online  ==
*'''1784-1840''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3393 Massachusetts Marriage Index, 1784-1840] at Ancestry — index ($)
 
*'''1841-1895''' [https://www.fold3.com/title/92/massachusetts-vital-records-index-1841-1895 Massachusetts Vital Records Index 1841-1895] at Fold3 — index ($)
The following is a list of online resources useful for locating Massachusetts Vital Records which consist of [[United States Birth Records|births]], adoptions, [[United States Marriage Records|marriages]], divorces, and [[United States Death Records|deaths]]. Check [[Massachusetts Vital Records|Massachusetts Vital Records&nbsp;Online]] for more information about the resources listed below. Most online resources for Massachusetts Vital Records are indexes. After locating a person in an index always consult the original record to [[Contradictions and discrepancies|confirm the information]] in the index. '''<br>'''
*'''1841-1910''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search?firstname=john&allData=true&searchPage=Advanced-Search&database=Massachusetts%3A%20Vital%20Records%2C%201841-1910&exactRecordType=true Massachusetts Vital Records] at AmericanAncestors — images ($)
 
*'''1841-1910''' [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/vitalrecordssearch/VitalRecordsSearch.aspx Massachusetts Citations to Vital Records - 1841-1910] at Massachusetts State Archives — index
*[http://fhlfavorites.info/Links/USA_States/States_Frames/Massachusetts/massachusetts.htm Massachusetts Links] from [http://fhlfavorites.info/ fhlfavorites.info] -&nbsp;Free
*'''1841-1915''' {{RecordSearch|1469062|Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915 - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images; ''Also at: [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2511 Ancestry]($), [http://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30033/massachusetts-marriages-1841-1915?s=218489221 MyHeritage]($)''
*[http://userdb.rootsweb.ancestry.com/regional.html#Massachusetts Massachusetts Databases] listed on [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ Rootsweb.com]&nbsp;- Free
*'''1841-1920''' {{RecordSearch|1928860|Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts State Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*USGenWeb.org [http://magenweb.bettysgenealogy.org/ Massachusetts Site] - Free
*'''1901-1955, 1966-1970''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2966 Massachusetts Marriage Index, 1901-1955 and 1966-1970] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*Search for Massachusetts Collections on [http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#start FamilySearch Record Search] under [http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#r=0;p=allCollections Canada, USA, and Mexico] - Free
*'''1911-1915''' [http://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search/?database=Massachusetts%20Vital%20Records,%201911-1915 Massachusetts Vital Records] at AmericanAncestors — images ($)
*The Vital Records Search and Information Directory for [http://www.daddezio.com/records/room/RR-MA-NDX.html Massachusetts] - Free/$  
*'''1916-1920''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/2738/massachusetts-vital-records-1916-1920 Massachusetts Vital Records] at AmericanAncestors; index & images ($)
*Wee Monster Links for Massachusetts [http://home.att.net/~wee-monster/vitalrecords.html#Massachusetts... Birth &amp; Marriage]&nbsp;and [http://home.att.net/~wee-monster/deathrecords.html Death] Records -&nbsp;Free/$  
*[http://www.fold3.com/title_89/massachusetts_printed_vital_records/ Massachusetts Printed Vital Records], search collection or browse by town and page
*Linkpendium Links for [http://www.linkpendium.com/genealogy/USA/MA/ Massachusetts Genealogy and History], including individual Counties&nbsp;-&nbsp;Free/$&nbsp;
*Progenealogists Links for the [http://progenealogists.com/genealogysleuthb.htm United States].&nbsp;Use '''Ctrl + F''' on the keyboard to search for '''Massachusetts''' or '''MA''' -&nbsp;Free/$
*Search the [http://www.ancestry.com/search/locality/dbpage.aspx?tp=2&p=24&categoryFilterID=34&showPaging=true Massachusetts Birth, Marriage &amp; Death] Records at Ancestry.com - $&nbsp;
*Order [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/Massachusetts.htm Massachusetts Certificates] online -&nbsp;<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1247073573052_30" /><span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1247073573052_178" />$&nbsp;
 
== Birth Records  ==
 
Early Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths
 
Early [[Massachusetts|Massachusetts]] vital records were recorded by town clerks. Records of births, marriages, and deaths to 1850 for about 215 towns have been published. Most of these are on microfilm and microfiche at the Family History Library. These often include information from town, church, cemetery, county, and other records. Although records of about 100 towns have not been published in book form, many of these records have been published in periodicals such as the Mayflower Descendant, with concentration on Plymouth, Bristol, and Barnstable Counties.
 
For Boston the Family History Library has microfilms of:
 
*Birth records, 1630-1799, 1849-1890
*Index to birth records, 1630-1955
*Marriage records, 1646-1889
*Index to marriage records, 1646-1910
*Death records, 1630-1970
*Index to death records, 1630-1848, 1870-1955
 
Many of the births and marriages recorded in the town records have been extracted and are listed in the [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=igi/search_IGI.asp&clear_form=true International Genealogical Index] at [http://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org]. The Clarence Torrey collection of New England marriages prior to 1700 is at the [http://www.newenglandancestors.org/ New England Historic Genealogical Society] and on microfilm at the Family History Library:
 
*''New England Marriages Prior to 1700''. <ref>Torrey, Clarence Almon. ''New England Marriages Prior to 1700''. Andover, Massachusetts: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1985. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;titleno=146171&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;disp=New+England+marriages+prior+to+1700%20%20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*,0,0 film 1320548] item 14; for source notes, see [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;titleno=290345&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;disp=New+England+marriages+prior+to+1700%20%20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*,0,0 films 929494–500] [films do not circulate to Family History Centers].) </ref>Lists 17th-century marriages of Colonial New England with approximate dates.
 
*''Torrey's Bibliography to His Source Notes for New England Marriages Prior to 1700''. <ref>N.l.: Williams Word Processing, 1984. </ref>Has an alphabetical list of his source notes indicating book title, author, publication date, and manuscript titles.
 
*''New England Marriages Prior to 1700'' <ref>Torrey, Clarence Almon. ''New England Marriages Prior to 1700''. </ref>is on CD, edited and published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society. It has complete citations for almost all the sources cited. See also [http://www.NewEnglandAncestors.org www.NewEnglandAncestors.org].
 
*''Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700''. <ref>Sanborn, Melinde. ''Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1991. </ref>Has additional marriages found in Torrey's notes after his death in 1962.
 
*''Second Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700''. <ref>Sanborn, Melinde. ''Second Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1995. </ref>Provides additional marriages found in Torrey's notes after his death in 1962.
 
*''Third Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700''. <ref>Sanborn, Melinde Lutz, ''Third Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700''. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., [date not handy] </ref>includes the first and second supplements. It has many marriages from the Great Migration Study Project, sponsored by the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
 
'''State Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths&nbsp; <br>'''
 
The Family History Library has records of births, marriages, and deaths beginning as early as 1603, although state records start in 1841. They can be found in a [[Family History Library Catalog Place Search|Place Search]] of the Family History Library Catalog under:
 
::MASSACHUSETTS - VITAL RECORDS.
 
Most vital records from 1841 to 1910 are online at [http://www.NewEnglandAncestors.org New England Ancestors], open to members of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.&nbsp; You can also obtain copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates for 1841 to 1915 by writing to:
 
Massachusetts State Archives at Columbia Point<br>220 Morrissey Boulevard<br>Boston, MA 02125<br>Telephone: 617–727–2816<br>Fax: (617) 288-8429<br>Email: [mailto:archives@sec.state.ma.us archives@sec.state.ma.us]'''<br>'''Internet: [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcidx.htm Massachusetts State Archives]  


===Deaths===
Writing to the [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ELE/eleclk/clkidx.htm town clerk]can be the quickest way to get birth, marriage, and death information. The Family History Library has some of the vital records on microfilm:  
*'''Pre-1850''' [http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/massachusetts-vital-records-to-1850 Massachusetts Vital Records To 1850] at Findmypast — index & images ($)
*'''Pre-1850''' [https://www.fold3.com/title/90/massachusetts-vital-record-transcripts Massachusetts Vital Record Transcripts] at Fold3 — index & images ($)
*'''1620-1850''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search?firstname=john&allData=true&searchPage=Advanced-Search&database=Massachusetts%3A%20Vital%20Records%2C%201620-1850&exactRecordType=true Massachusetts Vital Records] at AmericanAncestors — index & images ($)
*'''1620-1900s''' [https://www.fold3.com/title/91/massachusetts-vital-records Massachusetts Vital Records] at Fold3 — index & images ($)
*'''1620-1988''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2495 Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1620-1850''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4080 Massachusetts, U.S., Town Death Records, 1620-1850] at Ancestry - ($)
*'''1638-1961''' {{RecordSearch|2285844|Massachusetts Town Records, ca. 1638-1961}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts Town Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1626-2001''' {{RecordSearch|2061550|Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1640-1961''' {{RecordSearch|2285843|Massachusetts Town Deaths Index, ca. 1640-1961}} at FamilySearch - [[Massachusetts Town Deaths Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1700-1850''' [https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61401 Massachusetts Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records] at Ancestry — index & images ($); ''Also at: [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61401/ Ancestry] ($)''
*'''1753-1900''' {{RecordSearch|2268583|Massachusetts Delayed and Corrected Vital Records, 1753-1900}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts, Delayed and Corrected Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images; ''Also at: [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61901/ Ancestry]($)''
*'''1795-1910''' {{RecordSearch|1675350|Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910}} at FamilySearch — index
*'''1840-1910''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10906/united-states-massachusetts-death-index-1840-1910?s=275764761 Massachusetts Death Index, 1840-1910] at MyHeritge — index ($)
*'''1841-1895''' [https://www.fold3.com/title/92/massachusetts-vital-records-index-1841-1895 Massachusetts Vital Records Index 1841-1895] at Fold3 — index ($)
*'''1841-1910''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search?firstname=john&allData=true&searchPage=Advanced-Search&database=Massachusetts%3A%20Vital%20Records%2C%201841-1910&exactRecordType=true Massachusetts Vital Records] at AmericanAncestors — images ($)
*'''1841-1910''' [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/vitalrecordssearch/VitalRecordsSearch.aspx Massachusetts Citations to Vital Records - 1841-1910] at Massachusetts State Archives — index
*'''1841-1915''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2101 Massachusetts Death Records, 1841-1915] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1841-1915, 1921-1924''' {{RecordSearch|1463156|Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915, 1921-1924}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1841-1920''' {{RecordSearch|1928860|Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts State Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]] — images
*'''1844''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5973 Massachusetts Deaths, 1844: Vol. 8, Barnstable to Hampshire; Volume 9, Middlesex to Worcester] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1901-1980''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3659 Massachusetts Death Index, 1901-1980] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1911-1915''' [http://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search/?database=Massachusetts%20Vital%20Records,%201911-1915 Massachusetts Vistorical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index; ''Also at: [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7457 Ancestry]($), [http://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search/?database=Massachusetts%20Death%20Index,%201970-2003 AmericanAncestors]($)''
*'''1916-1919''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20894/massachusetts-deaths-1916-1919?s=275764761 Massachusetts Deaths, 1916-1919] at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
*'''1916-1920''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/2738/massachusetts-vital-records-1916-1920 Massachusetts Vital Records]
*'''1935-2014''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3693 US Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1936-2007''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60901 US Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1962-2014''' {{RecordSearch|1202535|US Social Security Death Index}} at FamilySearch — [[United States Social Security Death Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*[http://www.fold3.com/title_89/massachusetts_printed_vital_records/ Massachusetts Printed Vital Records], search collection or browse by town ($)
*'''1970-2003''' {{RecordSearch|1949332|Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003}} at FamilySearch — [[Massachusetts Death Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
*'''1969-2010''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/massachusetts-deaths-1969-2010 Massachusetts Deaths, 1969-2010] at Findmypast; index & images


===Boston===
*''Births, Marriages (1841–1895); Indexes to Births and Marriages (1841–1905), Deaths (1841–1971)''. <ref>Secretary of the Commonwealth, Massachusetts. ''Births, Marriages (1841–1895); Indexes to Births and Marriages (1841–1905), Deaths (1841–1971)''. (On 398 rolls of film, beginning with Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;titleno=23177&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;disp=Births%2C+marriages+%281841%2D1895%29%2C%20%20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*,0,0 film 961262].) </ref>Microfilms of original records are in the Division of Vital Statistics, Massachusetts.
*'''1630-1895''' [http://www.fold3.com/title_751/massachusetts_vital_records_boston/ Boston Vital Records, 1630-1895], from Holbrook Collection
*'''1700-1800''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/27/boston-ma-births-1700-1800 Boston, MA: Births, 1700-1800]


== Birth, Marriage, and Death Records  ==
For copies of birth, marriage, and death records from 1916 to the present, write to:
===Introduction===
In Massachusetts, the original vital records (of births, marriages, and deaths) have been created and maintained by the town or city in which the event occurred. In very early colonial times, copies of these records were submitted to the county, but that practice died out before 1800. There were marriage intentions commonly recorded in the bride's home town and additional recordings may be found in the groom's home town and their current residence.<br>


Massachusetts was the first state to bring a unified state-level recording of these events (but not marriage intentions) in 1841 (Boston excluded until 1850).
[http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2terminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Government&L2=Departments+and+Divisions&L3=Department+of+Public+Health&L4=Programs+and+Services+K+-+S&sid=Eeohhs2&b=terminalcontent&f=dph_vital_records_g_about&csid=Eeohhs2 Registrar of Vital Statistics<br>]150 Mt. Vernon Street, Floor<br>Dorchester, MA 02125-3105 <br>Telephone: 617–740–2600
*[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/massachusetts.htm '''Where to Write for Massachusetts Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records''']


===Dates===
State your relationship to the individual you want information about and the reason you want the information.  
::*The recording of these records was ordered by the government as early as 1639, though not all places followed the law.  The [[Massachusetts|Commonwealth of Massachusetts]] was the first state to create a permanent, statewide recording system starting in 1841. It is notable that the city of Boston lagged behind in reporting to the state and its records do not show up in the state system until a tougher regulation was implemented in 1850 (though the city did record these records locally). <br>


*Accessing the records:
The current fees for copies of state records can be found at: [http://www.vitalrec.com/ VitalRecords.com]
::*The original record still is found with the clerk of the town or city. Both [[Massachusetts Bay Colony|Massachusetts Bay Colony]] and [[Plymouth Colony|Plymouth Colony]] started to collect these records in a central location, but the practice died out by the mid-17th Century. The only vital records closed to the public are the original births of amended records and those can be opened by a judge.  


::*All these records back to the earliest settlement of a town can always be viewed at the [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleclk/clkidx.htm '''town or city clerk’s office''].
[http://www.sec.state.ma.us/vitalrecordssearch/VitalRecordsSearch.aspx Massachusetts State Archives] has put the Death Record Index for the State of Massachusetts on-line, 1841-1910,&nbsp;[https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Massachusetts_%E2%80%93_Vital_Records_:_On-line_Death_Record_Index_1841-1910 Read more.]
::*Almost all town and city vital records have been '''microfilmed by the FamilySearch Library'' and '''microfiched by the Holbrook Research Institute''' of Oxford, Mass. [now Archive Publishing of Provo, Utah]. This tends to be the most complete record of the event.  
::*For records after 1841, here should be a second copy with the state which sometimes has abbreviated information from the original. This second copy is the most widely available source for researchers. It has been preserved by the same two vendors listed above and can be found online in a variety of places and forms as listed below.  


=== Pre-1850 and "Tan Books" ===
Images of certificates are online at [http://www.newenglandancestors.org/research/Database/MASS_BMD/default.asp New England Historic Genealogical Society]<br><br>The New England Historic Genealogical Society has vital records of 351 Massachusetts towns from their inception [http://www.newenglandancestors.org/database_search/Vital_records.asp to 1850], statewide vital records from [http://www.newenglandancestors.org/database_search/Mass_Bmd.asp 1841-1910], and vital records [http://www.newenglandancestors.org/database_search/mass_bmd1915.asp 1911-1915]. This is a subscription website.


Before 1900, a few towns started publishing their own vital records in book form. The records were usually re-arranged into alphabetical order but separated by births, marriages, and deaths. Church and private records were added to get a more complete record and were clearly noted. The Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants published a few of these volumes along with the Systematic History Fund (a state fund); Essex Institute in Salem; Topsfield Historical Society, and others. The greatest number were published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston, in part from their Eddy Town-Record Fund. About two-thirds of the state (roughly 236 towns) has been published from the original town records and a few still are being released today. Check the [http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Online_Vital_Records_Research_Guide Massachusetts Online Vital Records Research Guide] for a listing of the towns published so far. There are links to some online versions below. A search in Google will reveal many town / region specific sites that have reproduced the volumes online or pdf versions available for downloading.
The [http://ma-vitalrecords.org/ Massachusetts Vital Records Project] has transcribed many of the vital records of Massachusetts to 1850.  


====Tan Books====
[http://books.google.com/books?as_q=&num=10&as_brr=1&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_libcat=0&as_brr=1&lr=&as_vt=Vital+Records+of+Massachusetts+to+the+Year+1850&as_auth=&as_pub=&as_sub=&as_drrb=c&as_miny=&as_maxy=&as_isbn= Google Online Books: Vital Records of Massachusetts to the Year 1850]&nbsp; 571 online books with full preview and fully searchable.  
For most Massachusetts towns, the New England Historical & Genealogical Society, the Salem Institute, and several other entities published the vital records of the town up to 1850 as part of a somewhat coordinated project. These are called the '''"Tan Books."''' Because they were published in the early 20th century, they are out of copyright and are widely available in digitized form. When entities such as Ancestry advertise databases containing vital records up to 1850, they are usually talking only about these books.--[http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Online_Vital_Records_Research_Guide Massachusetts Online Vital Records Research Guide]


The [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/vitalrecordssearch/vitalrecordssearch.aspx Massachusetts Archives] has a free online search of the indexes for vital records for many towns in Massachusetts for 1841-1910. After finding the record you desire from this index, you can find the applicable microfilm at the Family History Library to see the actual record.


=== 1841 - 1925 ===
=== Adoption Records ===


The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was the first state to create statewide vital records in the modern sense starting in 1841. The Massachusetts Archives currently holds original manuscript vital records for the years 1841 to 1925. To find out how to research vital records this time period, visit the Archives [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcvitalrecords/vitalrecordsidx.htm website]. 
open / closed/ state statutes


[http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/ '''Massachusetts Archives''']<br>220 Morrissey Blvd.<br>Boston MA 02125<br>Phone 617-727-2816<br>[http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/archrs/hrsidx.htm Hours and Directions]
== Marriage Records  ==


Researchers can view digital images of vital records through the [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcdigitalrecords/digitalrecordsidx.htm links] available on the Archives website.
Many '''eloping couples '''went to Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts to be married avoiding the waiting period between the time of issuing a license and the performance of the marriage.


Certified copies of births, marriages, and deaths can be ordered in person or by mail only, as pre-payment is required. Instructions for ordering certified copies of vital records are listed on the Archives [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcvitalrecords/vitalrecordsidx.htm website]. 
=== Massachusetts Marriage Re<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1259707948671_854" /><span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1259707948671_713" />cords, 1841-1915&nbsp; ===


Except in rare circumstances, the Archives does not provide non-certified photocopies of vital records through the mail.
A name index and images of Massachusetts marriage records&nbsp;are available for free online at FamilySearch Record Search. To access these records, see [http://fsbeta.familysearch.org/s/collection/show?uri=http://10.242.202.117:8080/wcds/container/externalId/org.familysearch.easy.collection_id/1469062 Massachusetts Marriage Records, 1841-1915] . A description of this record collection is available at the Family Search Wiki article: [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Massachusetts_State_Marriage_Records Massachusetts State Marriage Records].


In addition to standard births, marriages, and deaths, the Archives holds the amended and corrected vital records through v. 86.  
== <br>Divorce Records ==


Researchers should note that the City of Boston did not begin comprehensive vital records reporting until approximately 1850. 
From 1738 to about 1888, divorce records may have been filed in the county court, governor's council records, superior court of judicature, or supreme judicial court. After 1888 proceedings were usually filed at the county probate court and superior court. The library has some of these court records, including:


Massachusetts Vital Records are available online in these additional locations:
*''Divorce Index, 1952–1970''. <ref>Massachusetts, Secretary of the Commonwealth. ''Divorce Index, 1952–1970''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;titleno=76413&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;disp=Divorce+index%2C+1952%2D1970%20%20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*,0,0 films 959804-5.)] </ref>


[https://www.americanancestors.org/index.aspx '''New England Historic Genealogical Society''']<br>99 - 101 Newbury Street<br>Boston MA 02116<br>Phone 888-296-3447
== Death Records  ==


The NEHGS has two online databases at their American Ancestors website for 1841 to 1910 and 1911 to 1915. You must be a member of the Society to access these indexes and the actual records which are linked from this index. The records are searchable in the same manner as the Mass. Archives above, though the last name can be searched by Soundex. If you go to the library, there are book indexes in five-year blocks for births, 1900-1950, marriages, 1900-1955, 1966-1970, and deaths, 1900-1980. They also have the amended birth records indexes for to 1929 (1 v.) [going back to 1841], to 1944 (2 v.), to 1962 (3 v.), to 1965 (1 v.), and to 1968 (1 v.). These indexes beyond 1920 are not generally available elsewhere.
== Substitute Records  ==


[https://familysearch.org/ '''FamilySearch Library''']<br>35 North West Temple Street<br>Salt Lake City UT 84150<br>Phone 866-406-1830
[[Massachusetts Church Records|Massachusetts Church Records]]  


This library and its many branches (where you can borrow the microfilm for a small fee) will have all the same records as listed above. You can access online for free:
[[Massachusetts Cemeteries|Massachusetts Cemetery Records]]  
*''' FamilySearch Historical Record Collections'''
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1536925 Massachusetts, Births, 1841-1915]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1469062 Massachusetts, Marriages, 1841-1915]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1463156 Massachusetts, Deaths, 1841-1915, 1921-1924]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1928860 Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2268583 Massachusetts, Delayed and Corrected Vital Records, 1753-1900]


''' FamilySearch Catalog'''
[[Massachusetts Census|Massachusetts Census]]
*{{FSC|23177|item|disp=Births, Marriages, (1841-1895), and deaths (1841-1899)}}
*{{FSC|686575|item|disp=Massachusetts vital records, 1896-1897, 1899-1900}}
*{{FSC|785398|item|disp=Register of births, marriages, and deaths, 1901-1905}}
*{{FSC|1037797|item|disp=Massachusetts birth, marriage, death records 1906-1910, from town clerks}}
*{{FSC|1343540|item|disp=Massachusetts vital records deaths, births, marriages 1911-1915}}
*{{FSC|3742629|item|disp=Massachusetts vital record  (1916-1920)}}
*{{FSC|2859768|item|disp=Massachusetts Birth records, 1921-1925}}
*{{FSC|3662283|item|disp=Massachusetts, Bristol County birth records, 1924}}
*{{FSC|3662286|item|disp=Massachusetts, Hampden County birth records, 1924}}
*{{FSC|3662287|item|disp=Massachusetts, Middlesex County birth records, 1924}}
*{{FSC|3658672|item|disp=Massachusetts, Plymouth County birth records, 1924}}
*{{FSC|3662288|item|disp=Massachusetts, Suffolk County, birth records, 1924}}
*{{FSC|3662284|item|disp=Massachusetts, Worcester County, birth records, 1924}}
*{{FSC|3010705|item|disp=Massachusetts Marriage records, 1921-1924}}
*{{FSC|3010706|item|disp=Massachusetts Death records, 1921-1924}}
*{{FSC|3658670|item|disp=Massachusetts, Hampden County death records, 1923}}
*{{FSC|3658671|item|disp=Massachusetts, Middlesex County, death records, 1923}}
*{{FSC|3658673|item|disp=Massachusetts, Worcester County, death records, 1923}}
*{{FSC|746653|item|disp=Delayed and corrected vital records, 1753-1900}}


=== 1926 - Present  ===
[[Massachusetts Newspapers|Massachusetts Newspapers]]


The original state records are held by:
[[Massachusetts Military Records|Massachusetts&nbsp;Military Records]]


[https://www.mass.gov/orgs/registry-of-vital-records-and-statistics '''Registry of Vital Records and Statistics''']<br>150 Mount Vernon St., 1st Floor<br>Dorchester MA 02125<br>Phone 617-740-2600<br>Email [mailto:vital.recordsrequest@mass.gov vital.recordsrequest@mass.gov]<br>They have limited research hours
[[Massachusetts Periodicals|Massachusetts Periodicals]]  


This office only makes certified copies of vital records. There are several ways to [https://www.mass.gov/ordering-a-certificate purchase copies] both online and in person. This office also has the amended birth records after v. 42 (1900) and a statewide index to divorces from 1952 to the present (though the record itself will be with the probate court). There is a computerized index for the most recent records and five-year block indexes for births, marriages, and deaths onsite.
[[Massachusetts History|Massachusetts History]]  


Every five years, another block of five years is transferred to the State Archives and at the same time is made available through the New England Historic Genealogical Society and to the FamilySearch Library. This office restricts access only by the fact that they are the only ones with the records. These records are open to the public. The original town copies are always open to the public.<br>
== Lost or Missing Records  ==


Ancestry.com has the following (index only):
Barnstable County,


*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3659 Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980] ($)<br>
== Tips  ==
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7457 Death Index, 1970-2003] ($)<br>
<center>[[Massachusetts Vital Records#top|Top of Page]]</center>


=== Cause of Death ===
*Information listed on vital records is given by an informant.&nbsp; Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) of the record.&nbsp; 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 record.
*[[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
*If your are unable to locate vital records recorded by governments, search for church records of christenin, marriage, death or burial,&nbsp; A&nbsp; family Bible may haave been used to record births, marriages and deaths.
*Privacy laws may arestrict your access to some vital arecords.&nbsp; Copies of some vital arecords recorded in the last 100 years may be unavailabale to anyone except a direct relative.
*Search for Vital Records in the&nbsp; Family History Library Catalog by using a '''Place Search''' and then choosing '''Vital Records'''.&nbsp; Search for '''Massachusetts '''to locate records filed by the state and then serach the '''name of the county''' to locate records kept by the county.


== Divorce Records ==
== Archives, Libraries and Societies ==


Divorce records have been handled by the probate court system since 1922 and commonly filed where the couple last lived together. These are public records (with minor exceptions). There is a statewide index that starts in 1952 at the Registry listed above. Before that, the county Superior Court had jurisdiction. From 1786 to 1887, all cases were administered through the Supreme Judicial Court. All these records are held at the Judicial Archives in the Mass. Archives facility. The earliest divorce records are scattered through a variety of courts who held joint jurisdiction.
*[[Massachusetts Archives and Libraries|Massachusetts Archives and Libraries]]
*[[Massachusetts Societies|Massachusetts Societies]]
*[[Massachusetts Societies|Massachusetts]]


The Supreme Judicial Court created a fact sheet for the public '''in 2004''' and the summary of it is below:
<br>


{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
== References  ==
|-
! width="125" scope="col" | Dates
! width="775" scope="col" | Description
|-
| 1639-1692
| Divorce petitions were filed in a variety of courts, including the county courts, the General Court, and the Court of Assistants. Records of the General Court and the Court of Assistants have been published. The Original records are available in the Suffolk Files Collection, the Massachusetts Archives Collection, and in the county courts.
|-
| 1692-1775
| Divorces were heard by the Governor and Council (from 1755 to 1757, six petitions were heard by the General Court). The original records are found in the Massachusetts Archives Collection, Suffolk Files Collection, and the county courts.
|-
| 1775-1785
| The Council had jurisdiction then. Search for them in the Massachusetts Archives Collection and the Council records.
|-
| 1785-1796
| The Massachusetts Acts and Resolves granted jurisdiction over divorce to the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC). These original records are in the Suffolk Files Collection. Check the microfilm "county index" in the Archives reading room. They will refer to various SJC Record Books. See the chart below for these record books.
|-
| 1796-1887
| The divorce will be in the Supreme Judicial Court in the county in which the couple was residing. Most of the Record Books are indexed (see location chart below). These records will have a summary of the grounds for divorce, date and place of marriage, where the couple lived until the divorce, and sometimes the names and ages of the children. The file papers are generally in the year and term that the divorce was finalized (i.e. six months after it was granted) and arranged by docket (case) number. Post 1860 file papers are in off-site storage. See the [mailto:Elizabeth.Bouvier@sjc.state.ma.us Judicial Archivist] for information to see these records.
|-
| 1887
| Jurisdiction over divorces was moved to the Superior Court. These records are indexed chronologically in separate divorce docket books. The Judicial Archives (in the same building with the Mass. Archives) has divorce indexes and/or docket books on microfilm in the Archives reading room for all counties except for Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties. Those are in their respective Superior Court.
|-
| 1922
| The Probate and Family Court began hearing divorce concurrently with the Superior, though most came to this court. Each probate court kept alphabetical indexes to these records. There is a statewide index since 1952 at the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (listed above).
|}


For the location of the records, use the chart below that was created by the Supreme Judicial Court Archives '''in 2004''':
<references />
<center>Location of Massachusetts Divorce Records </center>
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
! width="125" scope="col" | County
! width="200" scope="col" | Supreme Judicial Court
! width="175" scope="col" | SJC Microfilm
! width="200" scope="col" | Superior Court
! width="175" scope="col" | SC Microfilm
|-
| Barnstable
| All records in courthouse
| n/a
| n/a
| n/a
|-
| Berkshire
| SJC Record Books in the Judicial Archives and microfilm available at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield
| n/a
| SC records and index card file in Judicial Archives
| 1888-1927 in Archives Reading Room
|-
| Bristol
| SJC Record Books in the Judicial Archives
| 1862-1889 in Archives Reading Room
| SC Divorce dockets in the Judicial Archives. The file papers in the Superior Court, Taunton
| Divorce Dockets in Archives Reading Room
|-
| Dukes
| n/a
| n/a
| n/a
| n/a
|-
| Essex
| SJC Record Books in courthouse, Salem, and file papers in off-site storage. A consolidated index, 1785-1904, on microfilm in Archives Reading Room
| 1797-1820 in Archives Reading Room
| 1887-1927 SC Divorce indexes in Judicial Archives and file papers in off-site storage.<br>Probate Court Divorce Index, 1922-1944, in Judicial Archives and file papers in off-site storage
| See consolidated index in Archives Reading Room
|-
| Franklin
| SJC Record Books in Judicial Archives and file papers in off-site storage
| 1872-1887 in Archives Reading Room
| SC Divorce Record Books in Judicial Archives. The index is at the courthouse in Greenfield. The file papers are in off-site storage
| In Archives Reading Room
|-
| Hampden
| SJC Record Books in Judicial Archives and file papers in off-site storage
| SJC Divorce Index in Archives Reading Room
| SC Divorce Dockets and file papers in off-site storage
| Divorce Index in Archives Reading Room
|-
| Hampshire
| SJC Record Books and file papers in Judicial Archives
| n/a
| SC Divorce Record Books in Judicial Archives and file papers in off-site storage
| n/a
|-
| Middlesex
| SJC Record Books in Judicial Archives
| 1807-1887 in Archives Reading Room
| SC Divorce Dockets in Judicial Archives and file papers in off-site storage
| 1887-1938 in Archives Reading Room
|-
| Nantucket
| All records in courthouse
| n/a
| n/a
| n/a
|-
| Norfolk
| SJC Record Books in Judicial Archives
| n/a
| SC Divorce Dockets in Judicial Archives and file papers in off-site storage
| n/a
|-
| Plymouth
| SJC Record Books in Judicial Archives
| 1813-1889 in Archives Reading Room
| SC Dockets and index in Judicial Archives and file papers in off-site storage
| Dockets and index in Archives Reading Room
|-
| Suffolk
| SJC Record Books and file papers in Judicial Archives
| 1760-1786 in Archives Reading Room and 1786-1804 in Suffolk Files Collection
| SC Divorce Record Books and index in Superior Court Civil Clerk's office and file papers in off-site storage
| 1887-1916 in Archives Reading Room
|-
| Worcester
| SJC Record Books in Judicial Archives
| 1797-1887 in Archives Reading Room
| SC Divorce Dockets (1887-1890 vol. missing) and index in Judicial Archives and file papers in off-site storage
| 1887-1936 Docket Books and index in Archives Reading Room
|}
<center>[[Massachusetts Vital Records#top|Top of Page]]</center><br>  


[[Category:Massachusetts Vital Records]]
[[Category:Massachusetts|Vital]]
[[Category:Record_Types_of_the_United_States]]
[[Category:United_States_Vital_Records]]

Revision as of 18:40, 14 April 2010

United States > Massachusetts > Massachusetts Vital Records UNDER CONSTRUCTION


Introduction to Vital Records

Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. 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 Massachusetts Vital Records State Department of Health or the Town Clerk's office where the event occurred.

 
Vital Records.jpg
  
Marriage Records  Death/Will Records
1633 - 1850 $ 1841 - 1915


Massachusetts Birth, Marriage and Death Records Online[edit | edit source]

The following is a list of online resources useful for locating Massachusetts Vital Records which consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths. Check Massachusetts Vital Records Online for more information about the resources listed below. Most online resources for Massachusetts Vital Records are indexes. After locating a person in an index always consult the original record to confirm the information in the index.

Birth Records[edit | edit source]

Early Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths

Early Massachusetts vital records were recorded by town clerks. Records of births, marriages, and deaths to 1850 for about 215 towns have been published. Most of these are on microfilm and microfiche at the Family History Library. These often include information from town, church, cemetery, county, and other records. Although records of about 100 towns have not been published in book form, many of these records have been published in periodicals such as the Mayflower Descendant, with concentration on Plymouth, Bristol, and Barnstable Counties.

For Boston the Family History Library has microfilms of:

  • Birth records, 1630-1799, 1849-1890
  • Index to birth records, 1630-1955
  • Marriage records, 1646-1889
  • Index to marriage records, 1646-1910
  • Death records, 1630-1970
  • Index to death records, 1630-1848, 1870-1955

Many of the births and marriages recorded in the town records have been extracted and are listed in the International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.org. The Clarence Torrey collection of New England marriages prior to 1700 is at the New England Historic Genealogical Society and on microfilm at the Family History Library:

  • New England Marriages Prior to 1700. [1]Lists 17th-century marriages of Colonial New England with approximate dates.
  • Torrey's Bibliography to His Source Notes for New England Marriages Prior to 1700. [2]Has an alphabetical list of his source notes indicating book title, author, publication date, and manuscript titles.
  • New England Marriages Prior to 1700 [3]is on CD, edited and published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society. It has complete citations for almost all the sources cited. See also www.NewEnglandAncestors.org.
  • Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700. [4]Has additional marriages found in Torrey's notes after his death in 1962.
  • Second Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700. [5]Provides additional marriages found in Torrey's notes after his death in 1962.
  • Third Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700. [6]includes the first and second supplements. It has many marriages from the Great Migration Study Project, sponsored by the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

State Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths 

The Family History Library has records of births, marriages, and deaths beginning as early as 1603, although state records start in 1841. They can be found in a Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

MASSACHUSETTS - VITAL RECORDS.

Most vital records from 1841 to 1910 are online at New England Ancestors, open to members of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.  You can also obtain copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates for 1841 to 1915 by writing to:

Massachusetts State Archives at Columbia Point
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
Telephone: 617–727–2816
Fax: (617) 288-8429
Email: archives@sec.state.ma.us
Internet: Massachusetts State Archives

Writing to the town clerkcan be the quickest way to get birth, marriage, and death information. The Family History Library has some of the vital records on microfilm:

  • Births, Marriages (1841–1895); Indexes to Births and Marriages (1841–1905), Deaths (1841–1971). [7]Microfilms of original records are in the Division of Vital Statistics, Massachusetts.

For copies of birth, marriage, and death records from 1916 to the present, write to:

Registrar of Vital Statistics
150 Mt. Vernon Street, Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125-3105
Telephone: 617–740–2600

State your relationship to the individual you want information about and the reason you want the information.

The current fees for copies of state records can be found at: VitalRecords.com

Massachusetts State Archives has put the Death Record Index for the State of Massachusetts on-line, 1841-1910, Read more.

Images of certificates are online at New England Historic Genealogical Society

The New England Historic Genealogical Society has vital records of 351 Massachusetts towns from their inception to 1850, statewide vital records from 1841-1910, and vital records 1911-1915. This is a subscription website.

The Massachusetts Vital Records Project has transcribed many of the vital records of Massachusetts to 1850.

Google Online Books: Vital Records of Massachusetts to the Year 1850  571 online books with full preview and fully searchable.

The Massachusetts Archives has a free online search of the indexes for vital records for many towns in Massachusetts for 1841-1910. After finding the record you desire from this index, you can find the applicable microfilm at the Family History Library to see the actual record.

Adoption Records[edit | edit source]

open / closed/ state statutes

Marriage Records[edit | edit source]

Many eloping couples went to Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts to be married avoiding the waiting period between the time of issuing a license and the performance of the marriage.

Massachusetts Marriage Records, 1841-1915 [edit | edit source]

A name index and images of Massachusetts marriage records are available for free online at FamilySearch Record Search. To access these records, see Massachusetts Marriage Records, 1841-1915 . A description of this record collection is available at the Family Search Wiki article: Massachusetts State Marriage Records.


Divorce Records[edit | edit source]

From 1738 to about 1888, divorce records may have been filed in the county court, governor's council records, superior court of judicature, or supreme judicial court. After 1888 proceedings were usually filed at the county probate court and superior court. The library has some of these court records, including:

  • Divorce Index, 1952–1970. [8]

Death Records[edit | edit source]

Substitute Records[edit | edit source]

Massachusetts Church Records

Massachusetts Cemetery Records

Massachusetts Census

Massachusetts Newspapers

Massachusetts Military Records

Massachusetts Periodicals

Massachusetts History

Lost or Missing Records[edit | edit source]

Barnstable County,

Tips[edit | edit source]

  • 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 record.
  • If your are unable to locate vital records recorded by governments, search for church records of christenin, marriage, death or burial,  A  family Bible may haave been used to record births, marriages and deaths.
  • Privacy laws may arestrict your access to some vital arecords.  Copies of some vital arecords recorded in the last 100 years may be unavailabale to anyone except a direct relative.
  • Search for Vital Records in the  Family History Library Catalog by using a Place Search and then choosing Vital Records.  Search for Massachusetts to locate records filed by the state and then serach the name of the county to locate records kept by the county.

Archives, Libraries and Societies[edit | edit source]


References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Torrey, Clarence Almon. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Andover, Massachusetts: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1985. (Family History Library film 1320548 item 14; for source notes, see films 929494–500 [films do not circulate to Family History Centers].)
  2. ↑ N.l.: Williams Word Processing, 1984.
  3. ↑ Torrey, Clarence Almon. New England Marriages Prior to 1700.
  4. ↑ Sanborn, Melinde. Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1991.
  5. ↑ Sanborn, Melinde. Second Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1995.
  6. ↑ Sanborn, Melinde Lutz, Third Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., [date not handy]
  7. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth, Massachusetts. Births, Marriages (1841–1895); Indexes to Births and Marriages (1841–1905), Deaths (1841–1971). (On 398 rolls of film, beginning with Family History Library film 961262.)
  8. ↑ Massachusetts, Secretary of the Commonwealth. Divorce Index, 1952–1970. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974. (Family History Library films 959804-5.)

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