New England vital records

Where do I find birth, marriage, and death records?

Connecticut

The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records lists most recorded birth, marriage, and death records to 1850. All 55 volumes, which cover 137 towns, were published by Genealogical Publishing Co. Although some volumes are out of print, this series is available at many libraries with New England genealogy collections. The Ricker Compilation of Vital Records of Early Connecticut by Jacquelyn Ladd Ricker is a CD-ROM version, based on the Barbour Collection but including a few more resources. It is alphabetical by surname instead of town.

If you do not have access to the Barbour Collection or the Ricker Compilation, you can contact the Connecticut State Library and request its Genealogical Index Search Service. This service also covers the Bible and Family Records Index, the Hale Collection of Newspaper Marriage and Death Notices 1750-1865, the Hale Collection of Connecticut Cemetery Inscriptions, and the Church Records Index, among others.

The State Vital Records Office in the Connecticut Department of Public Health maintains a statewide registry of all births, marriages, and deaths since July 1, 1897. If you know the town where the event occurred, however, contact the town directly.

Maine

In 1892, Maine started its statewide registration of births, marriages, and deaths. Records from 1892 to 1922 can be ordered from the Maine State Archives. If you visit the Maine State Archives research room in person, you can view records from 1922 to 1955 on microfilm as well.

Check the Maine searchable Marriage Index 1892-1967 and 1976-2009 online.

Check the Maine searchable Death Index 1960-2009 online.

For records from 1923 to the present, contact the Maine Vital Records office.

Massachusetts

At the turn of the 20th century, the Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 series was published. Covering most towns and cities in the Commonwealth, this collection is available at many libraries with New England genealogy collections. It’s also available online to members of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

In 1841, Massachusetts started statewide registration of births, marriages, and deaths. The Massachusetts Archives holds microfilmed copies of the 1841 to 1915 vital records. You can view an index to the 1841-1910 records online.

The New England Historic Genealogical Society offers its members online access to the statewide vital records from 1841 to 1915. Unlike the Mass. Archives search above, these are scanned copies of the actual records.

The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records maintains birth, marriage, and death records from 1916 to the present.

New Hampshire

The New Hampshire State Library has the Sargent Name Index on microfilm that serves as an index to early town records from 1640 to the 1840s. You may find birth and marriage dates listed. Annual town reports often list vital events for the preceding year.

The NH State Archives has some marriage records.

If you know the location of the birth, marriage, or death, you can contact the town or city clerks directly. Or contact the NH Vital Records office.

Rhode Island

The Vital Records of Rhode Island 1636-1850 was compiled by James N. Arnold, starting in 1891. It contains 22 volumes.

From 1879 to 1945, the city of Providence published the Alphabetical Index of the Births, Marriages, and Deaths Recorded in Providence, Rhode Island. It contains 25 volumes.

These collections are available at many libraries with New England genealogy collections. The New England Historic Genealogical Society offers its members online access to both databases.

Birth and marriage records 100 years or older and death records 50 years or older may be obtained from the Rhode Island State Archives.

If you know the location of the birth, marriage, or death, you can contact the town or city clerks directly. Or contact the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Vermont

In 1857, Vermont started statewide registration of births, marriages, and deaths. The Vermont State Archives and Records Administration has all vital records, except those recorded in the last five years. For records created in the last five years, contact the Vital Records office of the Vermont Department of Health.

More Resources

Many vital records have been posted online by FamilySearch or are available on microfilm that can be accessed through a local Family History Center.

The New England Historic Genealogical Society has many vital records available online and in its library in Boston. The society is especially strong in New England and New York records, but also has materials from the United States, Canada, Europe, and around the globe.

You can use credit cards to purchase vital records online using the VitalChek service. This company charges a fee on top of the regular charges, but you may be able to expedite some orders.

Important Tips

Remember, not all births, marriages, and deaths were recorded. Some were recorded and later lost.

Because of privacy issues, some vital records are not always accessible (depending on age of record and/or relationship of person requesting the record).

Sometimes it's easier and quicker to obtain records from town and city clerks rather than statewide vital records offices.

If you need the dates in order to find vital records:

Find church records that contain baptism, marriage, and burial dates. 

 
Look for town, city, or county books that may contain births, marriages, and deaths. See, for example, the History of the Town of Wolfeborough, New Hampshire by Benjamin Franklin Parker (1901).

Search for cemetery inscriptions and grave photographs online for dates, such as at Find a Grave.

Check the Social Security Death Index for birth and death dates. The Index covers most people who died from the 1950s to the present.

If you cannot obtain a death certificate, try to get an obituary. Obituaries sometimes list birth date, birth place, and/or age; parents, siblings, spouse, children, and/or grandchildren; residence; occupation; and other useful information.