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From: "" <>
Subject: Re: [GENMASSACHUSETTS] Help with death in Massachusetts 1940 andafter
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:05:38 -0000
This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Author: bbffrrpp
Surnames:
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.massachusetts.unknown/7440.2.1/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
Hi John,
I have connections to the City of Everett on my family-tree, and about 3-4 yrs. ago, I wrote a letter to the City Clerk asking for death-record information on 5 members of the extended KERR family. They took a while to respond, and they wrote to tell me that there would be something like a $10 or $15 charge for each look-up. And, I didn't want a copy of the certificates, and only wanted a few pieces of information from the record.
I found that office not to be genealogy-friendly. And,later I believe I wrote a letter to the Mayor's office gently complaining about the Clerk's office. There was no response at all.
I just browsed around the web site and found this page which reminds me that they now require seeing a "photo ID" and sometimes other documentation . in order to request a .vital record. from the Clerk's office.
http://www.cityofeverett.com/Everett_files/cityclerk/vitals.htm
Over the yrs., at different times, I've visited City Halls in Cambridge and Somerville, and I need to visit Medford to see how friendly they are to researachers. And, I've been to Town Hall in Arlington. Just like in Everett, you don't have a choice, you need to pay a small fee for getting the certificate. (Somerville is very genealogy-friendly; Cambridge is OK; they charge if you mail a request, but, if you go in person, and only have one or 2 questions, they don't charge.)
Oh, just remembered . I wrote to City Hall in Waltham, and they provided a lot of information for a small fee. And Town Hall in Stoneham provided a lot of information for me. So, my suggestion is to write a formal letter requesting a look-up, and provide as much information as you can in the letter. Then wait for a response telling you whether they will help you or not. Many times, if you are just looking for one piece of information from a record, they will respond in an e-mail.
As John said, "Everett" is also not computer-friendly, so there are no links for an e-mail address. (only one to the Webmaster) But, as with some other cities, if you provide your e-mail address in your formal letter to them, they will respond in an e-mail.
http://www.cityofeverett.com/Everett_files/phone_directory.htm
Hope this helps a little.
Betty (near Lowell, MA)
(on Lists and Boards for 10 yrs.; now an Admin for 9 Lists and 3 Boards)
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