Vermont Church Records

Historical Background
Before 1900 the largest religious groups in Vermont were the Baptist, Congregational, Episcopal, Methodist, and Roman Catholic churches.

Information Found in the Records
To effectively use church records, become familiar with their content. Click on these links to learn about a specific record type:

Look for online records.
'''Ancestry.com, Findmypast.com, and MyHeritage.com can be searched free of charge at your local family history center or the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

FamilySearch

 * 1765-1908 Index. Incomplete. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1791-1974 Index only. Incomplete. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1871-1965 Index. Incomplete. - How to Use this Collection

Lutheran

 * 1800-1947 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1947, index and images, incomplete. ($)

Methodist

 * New England, Select United Methodist Church Records, 1787-1922, index and images, incomplete. ($)

Presbyterian

 * 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970, index and images, incomplete.($)

Look for digital copies of church records in the FamilySearch Catalog.

 * The FamilySearch Library (FS Library) has a substantial collection of original church records and transcripts on microfilm for churches in the United States.
 * Online church records can be listed in the FamilySearch Catalog under the state, county, or town.
 * If you find a record that has not yet been digitized, see How do I request that a microfilm be digitized?
 * Some records might have viewing restrictions, and can only be viewed at a Family History Center near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations.
 * To find records:
 * a. Click on the records of United States, Vermont.
 * b. Click on Places within United States, Vermont and a list of counties will appear.
 * c. Click on your county if it appears.
 * d. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * e. Click on Places within United States, Vermont [COUNTY] and a list of towns will appear.
 * f. Click on your town if it appears, or the location which you believe was the parish which served your town or village.
 * g. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * h. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. FHL icons.png. The magnifying glass indicates that the record is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the records.

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Consult available finding aids.
These aids generally provide lists of records that are known to exist and information on their location.
 * Historical Records Survey (Vermont). Inventory of Church Archives of Vermont, No.1, Diocese of Vermont, Protestant Episcopal. Montpelier, Vermont: The Survey, 1940. (FamilySearch Library .) This book also includes a historical sketch of each parish or mission.
 * Guide to the Records of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in New England
 * Vermont Catholic Parishes by Year Founded

Correspond with or visit the actual churches.
Some records are still held in the local churches. Contact the current minister to find out what records are still available.
 * Make an appointment to look at the records. Or ask the minister of the church to make a copy of the record for you.
 * To find church staff available, you might have to visit on Sunday.
 * Ask for small searches at a time, such as one birth record or a specific marriage. Never ask for "everything on a family or surname".
 * A donation ($25-$40) for their time and effort to help you would be appropriate.
 * If the church has a website, you may be able to e-mail a message.
 * See the Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters.
 * Each denomination page offers an online address directory of local churches for that denomination.

Check the church records collections in archives and libraries.
Some church records have been deposited for preservation in government archives or in libraries. Watch for links to digitized, online records offered by the archives. Some archives provide research services for a fee. For others, if you cannot visit in person, you might hire a researcher. '''Here you will find archive information unique to the state. Many more archives are kept by denomination. For denominational archives, go to  Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

American-Canadian Genealogical Society Library
American-Canadian Genealogical Society Library 1 Sundial Avenue, Suite 317N Manchester, New Hampshire 03103 Tel: (603) 622-1554
 * Research Services
 * Library Holdings Parish Repertoires and Vital Records

Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society P.O. Box 65128 Burlington VT 05406-5128 Email - MAIL@VT-FCGS.ORG Phone: 1-802-350-1333
 * Vermont Research Information
 * Vermont Genealogy Library Book Search

Baptist
Howe Library University of Vermont Burlington, VT 05405-0036 Phone: (802) 656-2020 Fax: (802) 656-4038
 * Catalog

Episcopal
Episcopal Diocesan Center 5 Rock Point Road Burlington, VT 05401-2735 Phone: (802) 863-3431 Fax: (802) 860-1562
 * Parish Directory: Contact the local parish to request information from the records.

Roman Catholic
Diocese of Burlington 351 North Avenue Burlington, VT 05401 Phone: (802) 658-6110 Fax: (802) 658-0436
 * Genealogy Records
 * The Archives repository makes the heritage of the Diocese of Burlington available for historical researchers within the guidelines of the canon, civil, and diocesan law. The Archives staff views genealogical research as a legitimate and important effort in assisting individuals to place themselves and their families within the context of the history of the Catholic church in Vermont. The archivist will assist researchers within the constraints of available resources such as financial, equipment, space, and staff.


 * Sacramental records for the Diocese of Burlington begin in 1830 even though the Diocese of Burlington was established in 1853. Individuals seeking sacramental records for genealogical research will not receive certified copies of records. Rather, the Archives Department will provide names, dates, and places where sacraments (baptism, marriage, burials) took place, if the records can be located. A copy of the original record will not be provided.


 * Procedures for Requesting Records
 * Vermont Genealogy Library Book Search The Vermont French Genealogy Society has transcribed the records of the diocese. Search the Catalog

Correspond with genealogical or historical societies.
Some church records have been given to historical societies. Also, historical societies may be able to tell you where the records are being held. To find a society near you, consult these lists:
 * Society Hill List of Vermont Societies

Next, go to the Wiki article for your ancestors' denomination.
There are frequently additional, nationwide or regional archives and online collections for each denomination. Find the article for your ancestors' denomination and follow the instructions there to access these sources.

Carefully compare any record you find to known facts about the ancestor
You will possibly find many different people with the same name as your ancestor, especially when a family stayed in a locality for several generations, and several children were named after the grandparents or aunts and uncles. Be prepared to find the correct church records by organizing in advance as many of these exact details about the ancestor as possible:
 * name, including middle name and maiden name
 * names of all spouses, including middle and maiden name
 * exact or closely estimated dates of birth, marriage, and death
 * names and approximate birthdates of children
 * all known places of residence
 * occupations
 * military service details

Carefully evaluate the church records you find to make sure you have really found records for your ancestor and not just a "near match". If one or more of the details do not line up, be careful about accepting the entry as your ancestor. There are guiding principles for deciding how to resolve discrepancies between records that are seemingly close. For more instruction in evaluating evidence, read the Wiki article, Evaluate the Evidence.