Vital Records

By Karen Coombs

Information Recorded At Birth, Marriage, and Death

Vital Records began as early as the 1500’s in some countries such as: England, Scotland, Wales and other European Nations.

In England, the records were under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction until 1837, when the government set up Civil Registry.

For birth, marriage, or death information after 1837, a Civil Registry Index will need to be searched. If an entry is located, you can request a copy of the specific certificate and it will be sent to you for a fee.

Before 1837, the records were kept in parishes and a copy also sent to the Archbishop. Consequently, you will have two choices—Parish Records and/or Bishop’s Transcripts.

Both the Bishop’s Transcripts and the Parish Records can be ordered from the Family History Library.

In the Family History Library Catalog:

· Select place

· Type in parish name

· Select parish from list

· Select church records

· Select Parish Records or Bishop’s Transcripts with the appropriate date range.

When looking at the film, take time to see how the records were assembled by the parish recorder. You will find christening instead of births, and burials instead of deaths.

Be sure to record the dates in the proper blanks on the Family Group Record.

Problems you may encounter:

Parish Records

· Handwriting

· Bleed through

· Town pages

· Latin

· Special script for numbers

Bishop’s Transcripts

· Handwriting

· Latin and special script for numbers

· Small pieces of paper with information in small script

· Lost sheets

· Damage to the paper

Check both types of records if possible. There may be some discrepancy between the two records.

In America, some areas of the country kept vital records earlier than other areas.

· The New England States were settled by religious groups so vital

records are prevalent.

· Southern States were settled by individuals looking for land.

Vital records are scarce because they were not a priority in their lives.

In the early years of America, vital records were kept either by the church or by the town. Be sure to look for both sets of records.

Eventually, each state passed a law requiring the counties to keep vital information and send it to a central repository within the state.

The Redbook has a table for each state that lists the date each county began keeping vital information. It is important to consult this source so you don’t waste time looking for records that do not exist.

Types of records you may find:

Birth:

· Birth Certificate

· Passport

· Delayed Birth Certificate—created for a Social Security claim

· Church Records

· 1900 Census—gives month and year

· Registers in town records

· Death Certificate—later forms included a birth date

Marriage:

· Applications

· Licenses

· Certificates

· Banns—a notice posted on the church door three times before the wedding

· Bonds—a statement by the groom and relative of the bride, deferring costs of litigation in case the marriage was nullified

· Contracts

· Divorce Records

· Church Records

Death:

· Death Certificate

· Obituaries

· Funeral Home Records

· Cemetery Records

· Church Records

· Social Security Death Index

Social Security Death Index

· Established in 1936

· 330 million numbers issued

· An application was filled out when a number was applied for

· A copy of the application can be requested for a fee. Proof of death and social security number are required.

Reasons you may not find your ancestor in the Social Security Death Index:

· Ancestor is not deceased

· Death of the ancestor was not reported to the Social Security

Administration.

· Ancestor did not receive Social Security benefits

· Ancestor did not file an application with the Social Security Administration and receive payments. Benefits received by spouse and children will be filed under the name of each individual not the ancestors name.

Reasons for not having a Social Security Number:

· Government employee—they had their own retirement plan.

· Separate retirement plan such as: railroad

· Non-employed person such as: wives

· Self-employed person such as: farmers

Other collections at our Family History Center:

· Vital Records Index

· Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700

o 37,000 marriages from New England area

o Information taken from manuscript collections at the New England Historical Society.

o Film #929494 - #929500

o Information which may by included—husband’s name, husband’s date of birth and date of death, wife’s maiden name, wife’s surname from past marriages, name of former husband, date of marriage, place of residence, and source.