GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Massachusetts Births

This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find birth information for your ancestor. Use this page after first completing the birth section of the Massachusetts Guided Research page.

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1620-1988:  Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1841-1910:  Massachusetts Vital Records  American Ancestors ($)
 * 1860-1970:  Massachusetts, Birth Index  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1620-1850:  Massachusetts, Town Birth Records  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1911-1915:  Massachusetts: Vital Records  at American Ancestors ($)

Additional Records with Birth Information
Substitute records may contain information about more than one event and are used when records for an event are not available. Records that are used to substitute for birth events may not have been created at the time of the birth. The accuracy of the record is contingent upon when the information was recorded. Search for information in multiple substitute records to confirm the accuracy of these records.

Tips for finding births
Successfully finding birth records in online databases depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
 * Spelling variations. Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Search with spelling variations for the first and last name of your ancestor.
 * Search parents. Search for the parents, if known, as the child's first name may not be on the birth record.
 * Search given name. Search by given name (leave out the last name) with the approximate date of birth.
 * Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate birth date or parent's names if known.
 * Date range. Expand the date range of the search by 5 years.
 * Search state. Search using the state name only instead of by county.

Known Record Gaps
Records Start
 * 1635 Birth records were kept but registration was inconsistent in some areas.
 * 1841 Statewide Registration.

Records Published Collection coverage tables show the places and time periods of original records published. Check the coverage table for the collections you searched which did not include your ancestor. Gaps in the online collection may require searches in other records or original birth records at an archive.
 * Massachusetts Births and Christenings (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Records Destroyed The following counties had record loss. Click on the county for more information.