Massachusetts Vital Records: Difference between revisions
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* Index to death records, 1630-1848, 1870-1955 | * 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/ www.FamilySearch.org]. | 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/ www.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: | ||
Torrey, Clarence Almon. ''New England Marriages Prior to 1700''. Andover, Massachusetts: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1985. (FHL book 974 V2t; film 1320548 item 14; for source notes, see films 929494–500 [films do not circulate to Family History Centers].) Lists 17th-century marriages of Colonial New England with approximate dates. | Torrey, Clarence Almon. ''New England Marriages Prior to 1700''. Andover, Massachusetts: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1985. (FHL book 974 V2t; film 1320548 item 14; for source notes, see films 929494–500 [films do not circulate to Family History Centers].) Lists 17th-century marriages of Colonial New England with approximate dates. | ||
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Sanborn, Melinda. ''Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1991. (FHL book 974 V2t supp.) Has additional marriages found in Torrey's notes after his death in 1962. | Sanborn, Melinda. ''Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1991. (FHL book 974 V2t supp.) Has additional marriages found in Torrey's notes after his death in 1962. | ||
Sanborn, Melinda. ''Second Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1995. | Sanborn, Melinda. ''Second Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1995. Provides additional marriages found in Torrey's notes after his death in 1962. | ||
=== State Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths === | === 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 1811. They can be found | The Family History Library has records of births, marriages, and deaths beginning as early as 1603, although state records start in 1811. They can be found in a [[Family History Library Catalog Place Search|Place Search]] of the Family History Library Catalog under MASSACHUSETTS - VITAL RECORDS. | ||
You can also obtain copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates for 1841 to 1915 by writing to: | 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 | 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 | ||
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: | 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: | ||
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 FHL film 961262.) Microfilms of original records are in the Division of Vital Statistics, Massachusetts. | 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 FHL film 961262.) Microfilms of original records are in the Division of Vital Statistics, Massachusetts. | ||
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For copies of birth, marriage, and death records from 1916 to the present, write to: | For copies of birth, marriage, and death records from 1916 to the present, write to: | ||
[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 | [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, 1<sup>st</sup> Floor<br>Dorchester, MA 02125-3105 <br>Telephone: 617–740–2600 | ||
State your relationship to the individual you want information about and the reason you want the information. | State your relationship to the individual you want information about and the reason you want the information. | ||
The current fees for copies of state | The current fees for copies of state records can be found at: [http://www.vitalrec.com/ www.vitalrec.com] | ||
=== Divorce Records === | === Divorce Records === | ||
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'''Websites''' | '''Websites''' | ||
[http://www.newenglandancestors.org/ | [http://www.newenglandancestors.org/ vital http://www.newenglandancestors.org/] Vital records of 351 Massachusetts towns from their inception to 1850 and a new database for statewide vital records from 1841-1910. This is a subscription website. | ||
[[Category:Massachusetts]] | |||
Revision as of 10:32, 17 December 2007
Early Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths[edit | edit source]
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, 1646-1955
- 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 www.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:
Torrey, Clarence Almon. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Andover, Massachusetts: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1985. (FHL book 974 V2t; film 1320548 item 14; for source notes, see films 929494–500 [films do not circulate to Family History Centers].) 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. N.l.: Williams Word Processing, 1984. (FHL book 974 V23w.) Has an alphabetical list of his source notes indicating book title, author, publication date, and manuscript titles.
Sanborn, Melinda. Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1991. (FHL book 974 V2t supp.) Has additional marriages found in Torrey's notes after his death in 1962.
Sanborn, Melinda. Second Supplement to Torrey's Marriages Prior to 1700. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1995. Provides additional marriages found in Torrey's notes after his death in 1962.
State Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths[edit | edit source]
The Family History Library has records of births, marriages, and deaths beginning as early as 1603, although state records start in 1811. They can be found in a Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under MASSACHUSETTS - VITAL RECORDS.
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: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcidx.htm
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:
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 FHL film 961262.) 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, 1st 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: www.vitalrec.com
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:
Massachusetts, Secretary of the Commonwealth. Divorce Index, 1952–1970. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974. (FHL films 959804-5.)
Websites
vital http://www.newenglandancestors.org/ Vital records of 351 Massachusetts towns from their inception to 1850 and a new database for statewide vital records from 1841-1910. This is a subscription website.