Documenting Your Family History with Vital Records

Vital records are the recorded documentation created by and kept under government authority that document the main life events of an individual. Vital records include birth certificates, marriage licenses and/or certificates, divorce certificates, and death certificates and are an integral component in your family history research.

Here in the United States, records are typically held by the County and State offices. Depending on the age of the record you are looking for, it may be available online for free through one of your favorite genealogy sites. However, some records have to be ordered for a fee with various restrictions based on which record you’re looking for and how you’re related to the person you’re researching.

Vital records are a genealogist’s best friend as they can not only provide information about a specific person, but can also prove relationships across generations. Used as foundational blocks, these records can be invaluable in ensuring you are researching the correct person, and are building your tree backed up by documentation, not just hints found on genealogy sites or other people’s (possible mis-) information found online.  

Birth Certificates

Although all states had birth records by 1919, the standardized version was not uniformly adopted until the 1930’s. In 1946, the National Office of Vital Statistics took over birth certificates across the United States.

An imperfect system for a number of years, Birth Certificates are the records that seem hardest to find but are always worth looking for.

Birth Certificates typically contain:

• Full name

• Birthdate

• Place of birth

• Parent’s names

Additionally, depending on where and when the certificate is issued, a certificate might also include the addresses, birthdates, and occupations of both parents.

If a birth certificate was not created or cannot be obtained, keep in mind that details of ones birth may also be contained within family notes/journals, in the family Bible, or in town or church records.

Marriage Licenses & Certificates

Depending on when and where a marriage license was issued, it will likely include the some, if not all, of the below:

• Full name of bride and groom (when talking about ancestors, we’re talking pre-SCOTUS same-sex ruling here, forward language is and will be different. YAY!)

• Ages of the bride and groom

• Address/residence at the time the license was filed

 Some records may also include further helpful information like their race, birth dates, occupations, the names of the parents.

Additionally, depending on the record you find, you may also learn whether each member of the couple are single, widowed, or divorced.

In some cases, typically when the bride was under-age, you may also find the name of the person who gave consent for them to marry (usually their parent or legal guardian).

Divorce Records

Historically, records of divorce are noteably less common, though not unheard of, and contain information on family members, their marital history, property/residences, and dates of other important events such as the children’s births.

Death Certificates/Records

Death records tend to contain the most information about an individual, depending on who the informant was and who filled out the form, including:

• Name

• Sex

• Race

• Age at time of death

• Occupation

• Marital status and name of spouse

• Birthplace

• Social Security Number

• Parent’s names

• Date, place, and cause of death

• How remains have been handled (cremation or burial)

• Date and place of cremation or burial

Death records can also be rather intense as they not only mark one’s official passing, but can often uncover (or confirm) uncomfortable truths about disease or tragic deaths. 

In the end…

Documenting our ancestor’s lives is a vital component to ensuring that our research is correct, supports the oral histories we’ve been handed down, and provides a solid foundation for building a tree based on facts. When you add it all up, ensuring your research and documentation are correct, will allow you to continue building backwards through each generation with confidence.

Onward,

Melis