Benin, Mixed Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection spans 1840-2012 and contains images of registered births, marriages, and deaths collected by the government. It also includes cemetery registers, colonial correspondence, newspaper clippings, and court registers. These records came from the Benin National Archive. Benin is a country located in Western Africa and was a French colony from about 1900 to 1958. These records are in French. For help with reading the records see the following wiki articles:
 * France Language and Languages
 * French Word List

Record Content
This collection may contain the following record types: Birth, Marriage, and Death Records may include: Other records will include a variety of information such as further clues to land ownership, education, family, and service records.
 * Birth
 * Marriage
 * Death
 * Cemetery
 * Colonial Correspondence
 * Court Registers
 * Newspaper publications
 * Population Census
 * Land Records
 * Employee records
 * Army records
 * School records
 * General vital records
 * Names of the child, couple, or deceased
 * Parents’ names
 * Date and Place of Birth
 * Date of the Marriage
 * Death Dates
 * Names of Spouse
 * Cause of Death

How to Use the Record
To search the collection it is useful to know the commune (French territorial division) where your ancestor lived as well as their dates. To browse by image: ⇒ Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the 'Department' category ⇒ Select the 'Commune' category ⇒ Select the 'Record Type and Years' category which takes you to the images. Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. To search by index: Fill in the requested information in the boxes on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the individuals in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at the information on several individuals comparing the information about them to your ancestors to make this determination.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date.
 * Use listings of parents, spouses, or siblings to help make more connections.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Be prepared to search through records that aren’t included in the searchable index.

Related Websites

 * Benin Departments
 * Benin Genealogy
 * Africa Websites
 * Africa Historic Maps

Related Wiki Articles

 * Benin, Census, 2002 (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Benin
 * Cotonou Benin Family History Center
 * Africa

Citation for This Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image. Collection Citation: Record Citation (or citation for the index entry): Image Citation: