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New Hampshire Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

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The town or city clerk’s office is the place where vital events are officially recorded in New Hampshire. Today each town or city sends copies of its vital events to the New Hampshire Department of State, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics, 29 Hazen Dr., Concord, NH 03301 <www.sos.nh.gov/vitalrecords/index.html>. Statewide compilation, however, did not begin until a law was passed in 1866 requiring the secretary of state to make a report of all vital events for each of the towns. Total compliance with the law was not accomplished until the 1880s, and even then the practice of sending a copy of the vital event to the secretary of state was not uniform. By 1905, when the Bureau of Vital Records was established, regular statewide recording became a reality.

A statewide compilation, gathered from earlier town vital records, generated the alphabetical arrangement which exists today in the card file at the bureau and in the microfilm collections at the New England Historic Genealogical Society (see Massachusetts) and the Family History Library (FHL). This alphabetical compilation is incomplete since some towns did not send all their pre-1905 vital records to the bureau. It is therefore important to check the town clerk’s official records directly if no event is found in the bureau’s compilation.

Births that were recorded before 1901 and deaths, marriages, and those divorce records from the 1870s to 1948 can be personally searched at the bureau. The current price for a copy, in person or by mail, is $12; phone orders are accepted at an additional charge if a credit card is used (see Court Records).
A computerized statewide system for recording birth records is being created. When finished, it will be possible to obtain a birth record for anyone in New Hampshire at any of the participating town or city clerk’s offices. Statutory restrictions to records will still remain, however.

The alphabetical arrangement of the compilation at the bureau and consequently on microfilm requires some explanation. The system used was an early version of Soundex. Vital records are broken down into type of event (birth, marriage, and death) and time period, and then by the first and third letter of the last name to determine the proper card file drawer in which to search for the event. Cards exist for grooms, but brides before 1947 are on a separate microfilm index since they are not included on separate cards in the compilation. After 1901 for births and 1947 for deaths, marriages, and divorces, a researcher has to demonstrate a direct interest in the event to view or receive a copy of the record.

Children not named at birth later had their names added in the town or city office records. This practice, particularly prevalent in the last half of the nineteenth century, meant that the name eventually given did not always get sent to the state compilation. French-Canadian families might have used the baptismal names of “Joseph” or “Marie” in the copy sent to the state.

There are printed versions of New Hampshire vital records for some towns including Colebrook (1873–86), Croydon (to 1900), Danville (1760–1886), Dover (1640–1850), Hampton (to 1900), Hampton Falls (to 1899), Keene (1742–1881), Laconia marriages (1826–92), Londonderry (to 1910), and South Hampton (1743–1886). A large number of typescripts of southeastern town vital records were prepared by Priscilla Hammond and others and are located at the New Hampshire Historical Society (see Archives, Libraries, and Societies), with some at the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Town reports, generated by each town every year, include vital records for residents during the previous year. The printed reports are available both at the individual town (or city) clerk’s office, but a complete set for all towns is at the New Hampshire State Library.

When the microfilming project of New Hampshire town records was completed, an every-name card index created by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) for town records kept before approximately 1850 was microfilmed as well. Births, deaths, and marriages were included in the records as early as 1640 although there is no consistency, and they are far from complete. The original card index is held by the New Hampshire State Library. Both the town records and the WPA index are available on microfilm at the New England Historic Genealogical Society and through the FHL. A notable omission in the index is the town of Exeter, which was completely overlooked.

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How to Order New Hampshire Birth, Death, Divorce and Marriage Certificates

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.

Bureau of Vital Records, 71 South Fruit St, Concord, NH 03301; (800) 852-3345 Ext 4651 or in NH - (603) 271-4650; Fax: (603) 271-3447

The Bureau of Vital Records has Birth, Marriage and Death since 1883. Effective July 1, 2010, the cost of Certificates is $15. Copies of divorce records may be obtained from the State office or from the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted.

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), freemens' 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 or at the New Hampshire Historical Society.

Ordering Vital Records - You can also order

  • Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Certificates to mail. Order Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records or Death Records.

    Ordering Vital Records by Mail - Make check or money order payable to Treasurer, State of New Hampshire. One may visit the bureau and do research in person. They have a room, staffed by volunteers, where one may use the actual records. This is handy for people doing descendant genealogy because they may ask for all the records for one surname. The hours are from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday (except Wed which closes at 3:30pm). Certificate Application. Send the completed application (with payment and photo identification) to: NH DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DIVISION OF VITAL RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, REGISTRATION / CERTIFICATION, 71 SOUTH FRUIT STREET, CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03301-2410

    Links For Birth Records

    Links For Marriage Records

    Links For Death Records

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