Early birth registrations can be found in the following states:
Connecticut – Town Clerks were responsible for keeping birth data by 1650. Some towns have complete records and others are incomplete. The Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection is housed at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford and is also available on microfilm at major libraries. This Collection contains an index for persons born before 1870 and a few after 1870. Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 is available as an online database at www.ancestry.com. Information includes:
- Child’s Name
- Parents’ Names
- Birth Date
- Birth Place
- Son or Daughter/Relationship
Maryland – The Maryland State Archives has a very limited index of early births recorded by court clerks, some as early as the late 1600’s. The Anglican Church kept birth registrations when it became the official church of the colony in 1692. Maryland counties formed by 1772 have parish registers, but they are not complete. Inventory of the church archives of Maryland is available as an online database at www.ancestry.com.
New Hampshire – Town records as early as 1640 have been microfilmed, and include an index that was a WPA project. Films are available at the New Hampshire State Library. New Hampshire, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records are available online at familysearch.org.
Rhode Island – Vital Records as early as 1636 are available in the James Newell Arnold Collection. This collection has 21 volumes of details extracted from birth, baptism, marriage, military and death records from the state of Rhode Island. Rhode Island, VitalExtracts, 1636-1850 is available as an online database at www.ancestry.com. The Card Catalog also lists Rhode Island, Births, 1636-1930.
Vermont – Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-1954 are available online at familysearch.org.
Early birth registrations can be found for the following cities:
Baltimore, MD – 1875
Manhattan, NY – 1847
New Orleans, LA – 1790, but not complete. New Orleans, Louisiana Birth Records Index, 1790-1899 is available as an online database at www.ancestry.com.
Philadelphia, PA – Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Births are available as an online database at familysearch.org. The birth registers cover the 1860-1903 time period.
This list is not complete, but offers a glimpse into early birth registrations in a few areas. Additional information can be found in a WIKI search at familysearch.org. Search also in the FamilySearch Catalog or Keyword for the name of a specific state or city followed by the word birth.
Give Genealogy a Place in Your Heart!
©2014 Sharon D Monson