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'''Birth and Death information:'''<br> | '''Birth and Death information:'''<br> | ||
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*'''''Statewide registration:''''' | *'''''Statewide registration:''''' Birth and Death records in Massachusetts on the state level start in 1841. General compliance date is unknown. | ||
*''''' | *'''''Town Records:''''' Town records included information about birth, marriage, and death before state registration in 1841. Town records can start as early as the 1630s or when the town was established. | ||
*'''''Access to records:''''' See [[Massachusetts Vital Records]] for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Massachusetts. | *'''''Access to records:''''' See [[Massachusetts Vital Records]] for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Massachusetts. | ||
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*'''''Secondary source:''''' Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event. | *'''''Secondary source:''''' Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event. | ||
*'''''Accuracy:''''' Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help | *'''''Accuracy:''''' Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help verify information. | ||
*'''''List of substitute records:''''' See [[Massachusetts Substitute Records|Massachusetts Substitute Records]] for more information. | *'''''List of substitute records:''''' See [[Massachusetts Substitute Records|Massachusetts Substitute Records]] for more information. | ||
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'''Finding Parents:''' | '''Finding Parents:''' | ||
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*'''''Death records:''''' Death records created by the state starting in | *'''''Death records:''''' Death records created in the town records or by the state starting in 1841 may include information about the parents. However, information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory. | ||
*'''''Obituaries:''''' Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See [[Massachusetts Newspapers]] and [[Massachusetts Obituaries]] for more information. | *'''''Obituaries:''''' Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See [[Massachusetts Newspapers]] and [[Massachusetts Obituaries]] for more information. | ||
*'''''Church records:''''' Knowing the | *'''''Church records:''''' Knowing the denomination of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See [[Massachusetts Church Records]] for more information. | ||
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'''Census Records:''' | '''Census Records:''' | ||
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*'''Finding Parents:''' Massachusetts towns have been recording deaths since the 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1841. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. [[How to Find United States Death Records|Search Massachusetts death records]] | *'''Finding Parents:''' Massachusetts towns have been recording deaths since the 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1841. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. [[How to Find United States Death Records|Search Massachusetts death records]] | ||
*'''Look in all censuses:''' Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. [[United States Census Online|Search U.S. Censuses]]. | *'''Look in all censuses:''' Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. [[United States Census Online|Search U.S. Censuses]]. | ||
== Further Massachusetts Research == | == Further Massachusetts Research == | ||
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