Canada, Nova Scotia Delayed Births - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes delayed birth records from 1837-1904 from the Archives of Nova Scotia in Halifax. This type of certificate not only shows the facts of birth for the child but also shows the types of evidence presented to Vital Registration to back up the facts of birth. Certificates are not always in chronological order. There are often miscellaneous certificates with varying dates at the end of a volume. Delayed birth registrations began to be kept in 1876.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Delayed birth
 * The full name of the person at the time of birth
 * Date of birth
 * Place of birth (city and state)
 * Mother's full maiden name
 * Mother's place of birth (at least state or country)
 * Full name of the father
 * Father's place of birth (at least state or country)

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The name of a relative or date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Consult the Nova Scotia Record Finder to find other records
 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This can help you find possible relatives
 * Search the records of nearby areas
 * Check for other names. An individual might appear under an unexpected name for a variety of reasons:
 * They might have been listed under a middle name, nickname, or abbreviation of their given name
 * A woman may have returned to her maiden name after the death of her husband
 * Try looking through the other * collection, as your ancestor's birth registration may not have been delayed

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in Nova Scotia.
 * Canada Guided Research
 * Nova Scotia Record Finder

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * edited by Terrence M. Punch with George F. Sanborn, Jr., Genealogist's handbook for Atlantic Canada research 2nd ed. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1997, c1989 FS Library 971.5 D27pt 1997
 * Terrence M. Punch, Genealogical research in Nova Scotia 4th ed. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Nimbus Pub., c1998 FS Library 971.6 D27p 1998
 * The Nova Scotia genealogist Halifax, Nova Scotia: Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia, 1983- FS Library 971.6 D25n
 * Genealogy/biography card index to materials in the Public Archives of Nova Scotia collection, ca. 1650-1990
 * Registers of births, 1864-1877; deaths, 1864-1877; and marriages, 1864-1918
 * Birth records, 1864-1877
 * Nova Scotia, birth registrations, 1864-1877
 * Nova Scotia delayed birth registrations, 1837-1838, 1846-1905; marriage registrations, 1907-1930; City of Halifax burial permits/death registers, 1890-1908; and death registration certificates/books, 1908-1957 (including Halifax Explosion victims, 1917, and deaths at sea or overseas, 1940-1954)

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.