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Archiver > GenMassachusetts > 2007-07 > 1185935911


From: Carol Botteron <>
Subject: Re: [GENMASSACHUSETTS] How Were Vital Records Recorded ~1700?
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007 22:38:31 -0400
References: <mailman.2943.1185934145.9735.genmassachusetts@rootsweb.com>
In-Reply-To: <mailman.2943.1185934145.9735.genmassachusetts@rootsweb.com>


>From: "Dale H. Cook" <>
>
>Prior to 1841 Massachusetts law required town and city clerks to
>record births, marriages and deaths occurring in their
>municipalities. There was, however, no standard for recording that
>information. Therefore the records vary from town to town, and from
>clerk to clerk within a town. Clerks depended partly on their
>personal knowledge of events in the lives of town folk, and partly
>on having the town folk come to them with that information.

Thank you! I was guessing something like the conversation you
suggested, but it's great to have my speculation substantiated.

Are images of the town books (e.g. Dorchester ca. 1705) available
for viewing anywhere? I don't see it in the NEHGS library catalog,
but maybe it's on microfilm and not in the catalog. (Prefer images
of the originals rather than transcribed.)

Carol B.

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