Vermont Vital Records: Difference between revisions

Vital records were first kept in Vermont from the earliest permanent settlement, about 1760. All original records are maintained by the town or city and can be viewed at the town or city clerk’s office. The present vital registration law was enacted in 1857. This statute required that all vital events be recorded in the town where they occurred. A centralized registration system was established in 1919.

The central registration of birth, marriage, death, and divorce records have been divided into the responsibilities of two state agencies. For vital records from 1760 to 5 years ago, contact:

Vermont State Archives & Records Administration
Office of the Secretary of State
1078 Route 2, Middlesex
Montpelier, Vt. 05633-7701
Phone: (802) 828-3700
Internet: Vermont State Archives

For Vital Records for the 5 most recent years, contact:

Department of Health and Vital Statistics
108 Cherry St., P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402
Telephone: 802-863-7275
Internet: Vermont Health Department

VitalRec.com ($)

Birth Records[edit | edit source]

Birth records usually show the name and sex of the child, and the names of parents, with the mother’s maiden name. The birth records may also show the birth places and ages of the parents, mother’s maiden name, occupation of the father, and number of children born to the mother. A year by year search may reveal other children born to the couple. Birth records of adopted children may give the birth parents but have frequently been amended to show only the adoptive parents.

FamilySearch Historical Records. Vermont, Births and Christenings, 1765-1908, with a description of the collection.

Marriage Records[edit | edit source]

Marriage records usually mention the names of the bride and groom, the date and place of the marriage, and the home town of both the bride and groom. They also may show the names of the parents of each of them.

Gretna Greens. When an eloping Vermont couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places like Niagara Falls, NY, Elkton, Cecil, Maryland, or Prince William County, Virginia.^[1]Niagara Falls was the closest, so probably most eloping couples would go there.

Death Records[edit | edit source]

Death records usually give information about the deceased, such as name, age, birth date, state or country of birth. They also may include the names of parents, the date and place of death, as well as the cause of death. The informant may be a close relative and the names of the physician and mortician may be provided.

Cause of Death[edit | edit source]

Causes of Death - use this resource when trying to interpret a disease or medical condition listed on a death record or certificate

Divorce Records[edit | edit source]

Divorce Certificates are available through the Department of Health for the last 5 years. By clicking the Department of Health link this will take you to the form to fill out. For certificates prior to the last five years you would need to contact Vermont State Archives and Records.

Since vital records were kept from the founding of a town, search the town records also for the original information. See the Vermont Town Records page for details.

Vermont Divorce Index 1925-2003 ($)

Vital Records Indexes[edit | edit source]

Vermont. Secretary of State. General Index to Vital Records of Vermont, Early to 1870. ^[2]This index includes births, deaths, marriages, and most gravestones. They are arranged alphabetically within the year. Some cards are filmed out of sequence.

Vermont. Secretary of State. General Index to Vital Records of Vermont, 1871–1908. ^[3]This index includes births, deaths, and marriages. They are arranged alphabetically by surname. Some cards are filmed out of sequence. Re-filmed cards are on the end of some rolls.

Vermont. Secretary of State. State Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1909–1942. ^[4] They are arranged alphabetically by surname.

Vermont. Secretary of State. State Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1942–1954. ^[5]They are arranged alphabetically by surname.

Additional helps[edit | edit source]

Substitute Records[edit | edit source]

Vermont Church Records

Vermont Cemetery Records

Vermont Military Records

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 you are unable to locate vital records recorded by governments, search for church records of christening, marriage, death or burial. A family BIble may have been used to record births, marriages and deaths.
Privacy laws may restrict your access to some vital records. Copies of some vital records recorded in the last 100 years may be unavailable 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 Vermont to locate records filed by the State and then search the name of the county to locate records kept by the county.

References[edit | edit source]

↑ Arlene H. Eakle, "Have you searched and searched for a marriage without finding it?" in Genealogy Blog at http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/have-you-searched-and-searched-for-the-marriage-without-finding-it/[accessed February 22, 2012]
↑ Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1951. (On 287 FS Library films beginning with FS Library 27455.)
↑ Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1967, 1994–95. (On 122 FS Library films beginning with FS Library 540051.)
↑ Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1994–97. (On 278 FS Library films beginning with FS Library 1953261.)
↑ Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1994–96. (On 133 FS Library films beginning with FS Library 1953789.)

[Eakle1-1] Arlene H. Eakle, "Have you searched and searched for a marriage without finding it?" in Genealogy Blog at http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/have-you-searched-and-searched-for-the-marriage-without-finding-it/[accessed February 22, 2012]

[2] Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1951. (On 287 FS Library films beginning with FS Library 27455.)

[3] Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1967, 1994–95. (On 122 FS Library films beginning with FS Library 540051.)

[4] Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1994–97. (On 278 FS Library films beginning with FS Library 1953261.)

[5] Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1994–96. (On 133 FS Library films beginning with FS Library 1953789.)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-=== Birth, Marriage, and Death Records<br /> ===
+{{VT-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
+| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
+| link2=[[United States Vital Records|U.S. Vital Records]]
+| link3=[[Vermont, United States Genealogy|Vermont]]
+| link4=
+| link5=[[Vermont Vital Records|Vital Records]]
+}}
-Birth records usually show the name and sex of the child, and the names of parents, with the mother’s maiden name. The birth records may also show the birth places and ages of the parents, mother’s maiden name, occupation of the father, and number of children born to the mother. A year by year search may reveal other children born to the couple. Birth records of adopted children may give the birth parents but have frequently been amended to show only the adoptive parents.
+{| width="70%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
+|-
+| width="44%" | __TOC__
+| valign="middle" | <center>'''&nbsp; [[Image:Vital Records Collage.JPG|center|250px|Vital Records Collage.JPG]]&nbsp;'''
+=== Vital Records Reference Dates  ===
-Marriage records usually mention the names of the bride and groom, the date and place of the marriage, and the home town of both the bride and groom. They also may show the names of the parents of each of them.
+Vermont's vital records start the following years:
-Death records usually give information about the deceased, such as name, age, birth date, state or country of birth. They also may include the names of parents, the date and place of death, as well as the cause of death. The informant may be a close relative and the names of the physician and mortician may be provided.
+{| width="396" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" align="center" style="width: 396px; height: 75px"
+|-
+| valign="middle" height="35" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | '''&nbsp;&nbsp;Birth, Marriage, and Death Records'''
+|-
+| valign="middle" height="35" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="left" | Towns: abt. 1760
+|-
+| valign="middle" height="35" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="left" | Statewide: 1857 Law for town clerks
+|-
+| valign="middle" height="35" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="left" | Centralized Registration:&nbsp;1919
+|}
-Vital records were first kept in Vermont from the earliest permanent settlement, about 1760. All original records are maintained by the town or city and can be viewed at the town or city clerk’s office. The present vital registration law was enacted in 1857. This statute required that all vital events be recorded in the town where they occurred. A centralized registration system was established in 1919.
+<br>
+</center>
+|}
-The central registration of birth, marriage, death, and divorce records have been divided into the responsibilities of two state agencies. For vital records from 1760 to 10 years ago, contact:
+== Vermont Birth, Marriage, and Death Records Online ==
+=== Birth Records ===
+*'''1700-2008''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/500/vermont-births-marriages-and-deaths-1700-2008 Vermont: Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1700-2008] at American Ancestors - index & images ($)
+*'''1720-1908''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4661 Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
+*'''1732-2005''' {{RecordSearch|1987653|Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont, Town Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1760-1954''' {{RecordSearch|1784223|Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & Images
+*'''1760-2008''' {{RecordSearch|2075288| Vermont Vital Records, 1760-2008}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1765-1908''' {{RecordSearch|1675544|Vermont Births and Christenings, 1765-1908}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont Births and Christenings - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
+*'''1850-2005''' {{RecordSearch|1627819|Vermont Town Records, 1850-2005}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont, Town Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1909-2008''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1605 Vermont Birth Records, 1909-2008] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
+*'''1909-Onward''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20371/vermont-births?s=275764761 Vermont, Births] at MyHeritage — index ($)
+*'''1981-2001''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8957 Vermont Birth Index, 1981-2001] at Ancestry — index ($)
-'''Vermont Public Records Division'''<br />General Services Center<br />Public Records Division, Drawer 33<br />Montpelier, VT 05633-7601<br />Telephone: 802-828-3286<br />Internet: http://birthdatabase.net/vermont/birth-records.htm<br /><br />For Vital Records for the 10 most recent years, contact:
+===Marriage Records===
+*'''Pre-1700''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3824 US New England Marriages Prior to 1700] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
+*'''1600s-1900s''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/united-states-marriages?state=vermont US Marriages – Vermont] at Findmypast — index & images ($)
+*'''1700-2008''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/500/vermont-births-marriages-and-deaths-1700-2008 Vermont: Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1700-2008] at American Ancestors - index & images ($)
+*'''1720-1908''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4661 Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
+*'''1732-2005''' {{RecordSearch|1987653|Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont, Town Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1760-1954''' {{RecordSearch|1784223|Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & Images
+*'''1760-2008''' {{RecordSearch|2075288| Vermont Vital Records, 1760-2008}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1791-1974''' {{RecordSearch|1675550|Vermont Marriages, 1791-1974}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
+*'''1850-2005''' {{RecordSearch|1627819|Vermont Town Records, 1850-2005}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont, Town Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1909-2008''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1606 Vermont Marriage Records, 1909-2008] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
+*'''1981-2001''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8956 Vermont Marriage Index, 1981-1984, 1989-2001] at Ancestry — index ($)
-'''Department of Health and Vital Statistics'''<br />108 Cherry St., P.O. Box 70<br />Burlington, VT 05402<br />Telephone: 802-863-7275<br />Internet: http://healthvermont.gov/research/records/vital_records.aspx or
+===Death Records===
+*'''1700-2008''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/500/vermont-births-marriages-and-deaths-1700-2008 Vermont: Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1700-2008] at American Ancestors - index & images ($)
+*'''1720-1908''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4661 Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
+*'''1732-2005''' {{RecordSearch|1987653|Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont, Town Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1760-1954''' {{RecordSearch|1784223|Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & Images
+*'''1760-2008''' {{RecordSearch|2075288| Vermont Vital Records, 1760-2008}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1850-2005''' {{RecordSearch|1627819|Vermont Town Records, 1850-2005}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont, Town Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
+*'''1871-1965''' {{RecordSearch|1675549|Vermont Deaths and Burials, 1871-1965}} at FamilySearch — [[Vermont Deaths and Burials - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
+*'''1909-2008''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1607 Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
+*'''1981-2001''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3269 Vermont Death Index, 1981-2001] at Ancestry — index ($)
-[http://www.vitalrec.com/vt.html www.vitalrec.com/vt.html]
+===Divorce===
+*'''1925-2003''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8954 Vermont Divorce Index, 1925-2003] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
-=== Indexes ===
+== Vermont Vital Records  ==
-Vermont. Secretary of State. ''General Index to Vital Records of Vermont, Early to 1870''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1951. (On 287 FHL films beginning with 027455.) This index includes births, deaths, marriages, and most gravestones. They are arranged alphabetically within the year. Some cards are filmed out of sequence.
+Vital records were first kept in Vermont from the earliest permanent settlement, about 1760. All original records are maintained by the town or city and can be viewed at the town or city clerk’s office. The present vital registration law was enacted in 1857. This statute required that all vital events be recorded in the town where they occurred. A centralized registration system was established in 1919.
-Vermont. Secretary of State. ''General Index to Vital Records of Vermont, 1871–1908''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1967, 1994–95. (On 122 FHL films beginning with 540051.) This index includes births, deaths, and marriages. They are arranged alphabetically by surname. Some cards are filmed out of sequence. Re-filmed cards are on the end of some rolls.
+The central registration of birth, marriage, death, and divorce records have been divided into the responsibilities of two state agencies. For vital records from 1760 to 5 years ago, contact:
-Vermont. Secretary of State. ''State Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1909–1942''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1994–97. (On 278 FHL films beginning with 1953261.) They are arranged alphabetically by surname.
+*'''Vermont State Archives &amp; Records Administration'''<br>Office of the Secretary of State<br>1078 Route 2, Middlesex<br>Montpelier, Vt. 05633-7701<br>Phone: (802) 828-3700<br>Internet: [http://vermont-archives.org/ Vermont State Archives]<br><br>For Vital Records for the 5 most recent years, contact:
-Vermont. Secretary of State. ''State Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1942–1954''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1994–96. (On 133 FHL films beginning with 1953789.) They are arranged alphabetically by surname.
+'''Department of Health and Vital Statistics'''<br>108 Cherry St., P.O. Box 70<br>Burlington, VT 05402<br>Telephone: 802-863-7275<br>Internet: [http://healthvermont.gov/research/records/vital_records.aspx Vermont Health Department]
-=== Divorce Records ===
+*[http://vitalrec.com/ VitalRec.com] ($)<br>
-From 1861 to 1968 divorce records can be found at the [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/vermont.htm Vital Records Office] in Montpelier. Divorce proceedings since 1968 can be obtained from the [http://healthvermont.gov/research/records/divorce_form.aspx Division of Vital Statistics] in Burlington. The addresses for these two agencies can be found at the beginning of this section.
+=== Birth Records  ===
-Since vital records were kept from the founding of a town, search the town records also for the original information. See the [[Vermont Town Records|“Town Records”]] section of this outline for details. Vital records can be found in the Family History Library Catalog Place Search under:
+'''Birth''' records usually show the name and sex of the child, and the names of parents, with the mother’s maiden name. The birth records may also show the birth places and ages of the parents, mother’s maiden name, occupation of the father, and number of children born to the mother. A year by year search may reveal other children born to the couple. Birth records of adopted children may give the birth parents but have frequently been amended to show only the adoptive parents.
-VERMONT- VITAL RECORDS<br />VERMONT, [COUNTY]- VITAL RECORDS<br />VERMONT, [COUNTY], [TOWN]- VITAL RECORDS
+*FamilySearch Historical Records. {{RecordSearch|1675544|Vermont, Births and Christenings, 1765-1908}}, with a [[Vermont Births and Christenings - FamilySearch Historical Records|description]] of the collection.
+=== Marriage Records  ===
+'''Marriage''' records usually mention the names of the bride and groom, the date and place of the marriage, and the home town of both the bride and groom. They also may show the names of the parents of each of them.
+'''[[Gretna Greens in the United States|Gretna Greens]].''' When an '''eloping''' Vermont couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places like [[Niagara County, New York Genealogy|Niagara Falls, NY]], [[Cecil County, Maryland Genealogy|Elkton, Cecil, Maryland]], or [[Prince William County, Virginia|Prince William County, Virginia]].<ref name="Eakle1">Arlene H. Eakle, "Have you searched and searched for a marriage without finding it?" in ''Genealogy Blog'' at http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/have-you-searched-and-searched-for-the-marriage-without-finding-it/[accessed February 22, 2012]</ref>Niagara Falls was the closest, so probably most eloping couples would go there.
+=== Death Records  ===
+'''Death '''records usually give information about the deceased, such as name, age, birth date, state or country of birth. They also may include the names of parents, the date and place of death, as well as the cause of death. The informant may be a close relative and the names of the physician and mortician may be provided.<br>
+==== Cause of Death ====
+*[[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
+== Divorce Records  ==
+'''Divorce '''Certificates are available through the [https://www.healthvermont.gov/health-statistics-vital-records/vital-records-population-data/divorce-and-dissolutions Department of Health] for the last 5 years. By clicking the Department of Health link this will take you to the form to fill out. For certificates prior to the last five years you would need to contact [https://sos.vermont.gov/vsara/explore/people/vital-records/ Vermont State Archives and Records].
+Since vital records were kept from the founding of a town, search the town records also for the original information. See the [[Vermont Town Records|Vermont Town Records]] page for details.
+*[https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8954/ Vermont Divorce Index 1925-2003] ($)
+== Vital Records Indexes  ==
+*Vermont. Secretary of State. ''General Index to Vital Records of Vermont, Early to 1870''. <ref>Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1951. (On 287 FS Library films beginning with {{FSC|27455}}.) </ref>This index includes births, deaths, marriages, and most gravestones. They are arranged alphabetically within the year. Some cards are filmed out of sequence.<br>
+*Vermont. Secretary of State. ''General Index to Vital Records of Vermont, 1871–1908''. <ref>Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1967, 1994–95. (On 122 FS Library films beginning with {{FSC|540051}}.) </ref>This index includes births, deaths, and marriages. They are arranged alphabetically by surname. Some cards are filmed out of sequence. Re-filmed cards are on the end of some rolls. <br>
+*Vermont. Secretary of State. ''State Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1909–1942''. <ref>Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1994–97. (On 278 FS Library films beginning with {{FSC|1953261}}.)</ref> They are arranged alphabetically by surname. <br>
+*Vermont. Secretary of State. ''State Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1942–1954''. <ref>Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1994–96. (On 133 FS Library films beginning with {{FSC|1953789}}.) </ref>They are arranged alphabetically by surname.
+== Additional helps  ==
+=== Substitute Records  ===
+[[Vermont Church Records|Vermont Church Records]]
+[[Vermont Cemeteries|Vermont Cemetery Records]]
+[[Vermont Census|Vermont Census]]
+[[Vermont Newspapers|Vermont Newspapers]]
+[[Vermont Obituaries|Vermont Obituaries]]
+[[Vermont Periodicals|Vermont Periodicals]]
+[[Vermont Military Records|Vermont Military Records]]
+=== Tips  ===
+*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.
+*If you are unable to locate vital records recorded by governments, search for church records of christening, marriage, death or burial.&nbsp; A family BIble may have been used to record births, marriages and deaths.
+*Privacy laws may restrict your access to some vital records.&nbsp; Copies of some vital records recorded in the last 100 years may be unavailable to anyone except a direct relative.
+*Search for Vital Records in the FamilySearch Catalog by using a '''Place Search''' and then choosing '''Vital Records'''.&nbsp; Search for&nbsp;'''Vermont''' to locate records filed by the State and then search the '''name of the county''' to locate records kept by the county.
+== References  ==
+<references />
+{{Vermont2|Vermont}} {{U.S. Vital Records}}
+[[Category:Vermont Vital Records]]