Massachusetts Births - FamilySearch Historical Records/Known Issues

Question 1
Question 1: Some names are linked to the wrong images. How can the correct images be found? Answer 1: When a name is not found on the image the name is linked to, it can occasionally be found by moving forward or backward one or two images using the arrow keys. If the image still cannot be found, please refer to question and answer #2.

Question 2
Question 2: All or parts of some images are missing. Are these images available? Answer 2: There are places in this collection where images were accidentally omitted or where only part of the image was captured when the film was digitized and placed online. This creates broken or invalid links. However the images can be viewed on the original film. Films for this locality are available and can be ordered for viewing into the nearest FamilySearch Center. For instruction on how to search the FamilySearch library for a Microfilm/Fiche and order it to view at your local FamilySearch Center, please see: Ordering Microfilm or Microfiche.

Question 3
Question 3: There are birth records in this Massachusetts collection that identify the birth location as Lynn, Steuben, New York. Is this correct? Answer 3: All birth records in this collection showing the birth location as Lynn, Steuben, New York are incorrect. The correct birth location is Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts.

Question 4
Question 4: In the waypoint 004341189, which contains records from Chicopee, Hampton, Massachusetts for 1871, pages 8 and 9 are missing. The pages should be found between images 447 and 448. Are these pages available? Answer 4: These images are not available. They were not copied onto the original microfilm of the record.

Question 5
Question 5: I see other states besides Massachusetts (and foreign countries) listed as a birth place in the search results. Is this correct? Answer 5: Practically all 50 states, and some foreign countries, are represented in this collection because some of the records are of births registered in Massachusetts, which did not necessarily occur in Massachusetts. In addition, the birth place in question could be representative of a parent’s birth place. It is always a good idea to view the image to verify the recorded birth place.

Question 6
Question 6: I can see no records for the town of Adams in Berkshire County for the year 1897. Can you tell me where those records are? Answer 6: The records for the town of Adams in Berkshire County were indexed incorrectly as being in Bristol County. They are located in the waypoint 004341222 images 23-31 when browsing. If you are searching for records from Adams in Berkshire County for 1897, you will need to use Bristol as a filter rather than Berkshire. If you see Adams, Bristol, Massachusetts on the record details page, it can be assumed to be from Berkshire County.

Question 7
Question 7: I see records from Westford, Connecticut in this collection. Is this correct? Answer 7: Records from Digital Folder Number: 4341196 showing the location as Westford, Connecticut are really from Westford, Massachusetts.


 * Go to the Massachusetts Births - FamilySearch Historical Records wiki article
 * Go to the Massachusetts, Births, 1841-1915 collection at FamilySearch.org