New Hampshire Death Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The "New Hampshire, Death Certificates, 1938-1959" collection consists of images of death certificates from the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records in Concord. The Collection is arranged by year, by certificate number, or by surname letter.

The "New Hampshire Death Records, 1654-1947" collection consists of a name index and images of New Hampshire death records. Records consist of index cards that give the name of the deceased, date and place of death, plus often much more information, such as age, place of birth and names of parents. With the town and date of death, the original records can usually be located.

Town clerks began recording deaths as early as 1640. However, the earlier records do not give much information and the information varies depending upon the clerk. In 1866, the state passed laws requiring the registration of vital events. It is estimated that by 1883 almost half of the population was listed in the vital records with 90 percent coverage by the end of the decade. The Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics was created in 1905. They have copies of records made by the town clerks dating from about 1640 to the present.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 3

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person at the time of death
 * The place where the death occurred
 * The approximate death date

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.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s death record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors.

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

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Search for the family in census records
 * Search for other vital records, such as birth and marriage
 * Search for an obituary or cemetery record
 * Search for military records
 * Search for church records

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby localities
 * Consult the New Hampshire Record Finder to find other records

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of New Hampshire.
 * New Hampshire Guided Research
 * New Hampshire Record Finder
 * New Hampshire Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step New Hampshire Research, 1880-Present

Related Family History Library Holdings

 * New Hampshire, death certificates, 1938-1959
 * Death certificates, 1938-1947

Related FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

 * New Hampshire Death Records, 1654-1947
 * New Hampshire Deaths and Burials, 1784-1949
 * New Hampshire, County Probate Estate Files, 1769-1936
 * New Hampshire, Cheshire County, Probate Estate Files, 1886-1900
 * New Hampshire Naturalization and Probate Records, 1643-1948 Grafton County Probate estate files
 * New Hampshire, County Probate Records, 1660-1973

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.