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Town
Records |
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In New England, the town clerk is the
principal record keeper on the local level. The
earliest records are called proprietor's
records. Town records generally begin with the
founding of a town and are kept to the present. |
Town records may contain records of births,
marriages, burials, cemeteries, appointments,
earmarks, estrays (records of stray animals),
freeman's' oaths (men becoming eligible to
vote), land records, mortgages, name changes,
care of the poor, school records, surveys, tax
lists, town meeting minutes, voter
registrations, and "warning outs" (of town). |
The original records are in the respective town
clerk's office, at the New Hampshire Historical
Society, or at the New Hampshire Division of
Records Management and Archives. |
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Town Records of Births and Deaths |
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Early vital records exist from the date of
organization of each town--some as early as
1639. Town clerks were required by law to keep
records, starting in 1686. The original records
are located in the respective town clerk's
office. |
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State Records of Births and Deaths |
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In 1883 the state required the towns to send
copies to the state of the vital records in
their possession and all subsequent
registrations. The town clerks copied their
information onto cards and sent the cards to the
New Hampshire Bureau of Vital Records. This was
generally complied with by 1901. |
Until 1883 less than half of the population was
recorded in the vital records. Moreover, these
records often gave very little information about
parents and their birthplaces. After 1901 the
records are very complete and give much more
genealogical information. |
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Marriage Records |
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Town clerks began recording marriages as early
as 1639. As described above, the information was
recorded on cards and sent to the Bureau of
Vital Records. The cards are arranged by the
groom's surname and filed by the first and third
letters. |
After 1901 the records are very complete and
give more information, such as the parents'
names and birthplaces. You can write to the
Bureau of Vital Records (address given below)
for copies.
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The New Hampshire Society has a Card Index to
Publishments of Marriage (Intention) Prior to
1900 (FHL film 1,001,439). They also have a card
index to New Hampshire people listed in the
published vital records of Massachusetts (7
films). |
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Divorce Records |
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Divorce proceedings are usually kept by the
clerk of the Superior Court of each county.
Divorce records prior to 1938 are at the Bureau
of Vital Records. The Bureau of Vital Records
(address given below) has an index to divorces
and annulments prior to 1938 |