Step-by-Step New Hampshire Research, 1880-Present

New Hampshire Step-by-step research 1880--present

Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.

What are the best questions to ask?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
 * 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History


 * Creating Oral Histories

What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.

Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.

 * A census is a count and description of the population for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day.
 * For each person living in a household (depending on the year), their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military can be listed.
 * Searching for a family in census records every ten years can identify all the children in a family.
 * Searching in earlier census records to find someone as a child can identify parents.

Using clues to lead to census record searches.
'''Estimating from her age at her marriage, Alice Theresa Moul was born in 1927-1929 in New Hampshire. The first step would be to look for the family in the 1930 census taken just after her birth.''' '''In this 1930 census of Manchester, Hillsborough, New Jersey, John and Madeline Moul with a daughter Alice T. are a surprise. The census states that Madeline was 19 years old at her first marriage and she is now 23. So this is John Moul's second marriage and Melvin F. and Gertrude M. are children from his previous marriage.''' '''The next goals would be : Here are the results of those searches:
 * following the family in the 1940 census to identify additional children, and
 * finding John Moul's first family in the 1920 census.

Finding the next earlier generation.
'''The next goal will be to discover the parentage of John Moul. In the 1910 census, he should be a 17-18-year-old, hopefully listed in his parents' home. This is the only Moul family with a son that age. Here, he is called Jonathon instead of John. Research in other types of records will be necessary to verify that he is "John" Moul.''' Here is the same family in 1900 census. Next, censuses in 1920 and 1930 document changes in the family over time. In the 1920 census, we learn that Jonathan and Mary Moul were naturalized (became citizens) in 1887.



Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.
States, counties, or (even towns in some states) recorded births, marriages, and deaths.
 * In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations.
 * A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
 * A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.

Using census clues to lead to a birth certificate.
Census information gives approximate birth years and probable birth places, and that information leads to finding important birth records. In addition to basic birth date and place, a birth certificate can give age, birthplace, occupation, etc. about the parents.

This New Hampshire birth index gives the birth date and place of the children, but also Mary J. Loxton's maiden name.

Using census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.
Finding marriage records can:
 * establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
 * find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.

Using the census clues to lead to a death certificate.
Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death: -
 * birth date and place of the deceased
 * maiden name of the wife
 * names of the deceased's parents
 * birth places of the deceased's parents.

Some of the examples shown above are index entries. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. In some cases, the image of the original is found online. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate in other cases.



How to Find the Records
There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates:
 * online databases
 * writing to a county courthouse (prior to the beginning of state civil registration)
 * purchasing them through the mail

Records at the County Courthouse.
These records were originally created by county clerks, and then copies were sent to the state. County clerks can be willing to help find all the birth records for one family or perform other searches that the state would not do. To contact county clerks by e-mail or telephone, go to the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: New Hampshire Counties.

Order Certificates from New Hampshire Vital Records Department.
Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).


 * Where to Write for New Hampshire Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records

For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in New Hampshire, see How to Find New Hampshire Birth Records, How to Find New Hampshire Marriage Records, and How to Find New Hampshire Death Records.

Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.
There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details.

Obituaries

 * Online New Hampshire Death Records &amp; Indexes
 * Archives.com Obituaries for New Hampshire ($)
 * Newspaper Obituary collection for New Hampshire: starts about 2003 to present ($)
 * Genealogy Bank
 * Ancestry.com United States Obituary Collection for New Hampshire ($)
 * Chronicling America has some historical issues for the state of New Hampshire online.
 * 50States, New Hampshire Newspapers.
 * NewsLink, New Hampshire Newspapers
 * New Hampshire Obituaries
 * — index and images
 * Search for obituaries in ProQuest Newspapers.com Library ($)

Cemeteries

 * Online New Hampshire Death Records &amp; Indexes
 * Colonial Gravestone Inscriptions in the State of New Hampshire ($)
 * New Hampshire, Find A Grave Index, 1692-2011
 * Find A Grave for New Hampshire
 * Interment.net for New Hampshire
 * Billion Graves for New Hampshire
 * New Horizons Genealogy New Hampshire Cemetery Database
 * A Very Grave Matter, scroll down on the left past Massachusetts and Maine
 * New Hampshire Cemeteries, Central New Hampshire Gravestone Photos
 * New Hampshire Cemetery Records
 * New Hampshire Cemetery Records

U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

 * The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
 * The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
 * You can search these records online at
 * Also at Ancestry.com, ($), index.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.


 * If you find an ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.

For more information, see New Hampshire Obituaries and New Hampshire Cemeteries.

Step 5: Search military records: World War I and World War II draft cards.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information. - Example of a World War I draft card. - Example of a World War II draft card.





'''Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.
- For more information and additional collections, see New Hampshire Military Records.
 * , index and images.
 * , index and images.

Step 6: Look for church records online.
Church records function as vital records. Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
 * An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
 * Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
 * Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.



FamilySearch Indexes

 * 1656-1938 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1714-1904 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1720-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1771-1905 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection;  index & images, very incomplete
 * 1784-1949 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Ancestry.com Indexes

 * 1714-1904 New Hampshire, Births and Christenings Index, 1714-1904 ($)
 * 1654-1949 New Hampshire, Death and Burial Records Index, 1654-1949 ($)

Lutheran

 * 1781-1969 - U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969, index and images, incomplete.($)

Other Collections
-
 * Dunham-Wilcox-Trott-Kirk indexes church, cemetery, probate and other early New England, New York and New Jersey records with links to abstracts of the records.
 * For help with church records kept in New Hampshire, see New Hampshire Church Records.
 * To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.
Example of a will.
 * County probate records include '''probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
 * In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
 * Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.



Search these indexes and images for probate records.

 * United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search: New Hampshire
 * New Hampshire, Wills and Probate Records, 1643-1982, ($), index and images, incomplete.
 * , images/no index
 * , images/no index
 * , images/no index
 * New Hampshire State Papers

Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
Each New Hampshire county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: New Hampshire Counties

For more information, see New Hampshire Probate Records and United States Probate Records.

Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step. Example of intent to become a citizen.



New Hampshire Immigration Records

 * United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records
 * U.S. Passport Applications for New Hampshire, 1795-1925 ($)
 * Passenger and Immigration Lists Index for New Hampshire, 1500s-1900s ($)

New Hampshire Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

 * 'United States Naturalization and Citizenship Online Genealogy Records
 * , images/no index
 * Images only.
 * Browse Only.
 * New Hampshire, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1832-1945, index & images ($).
 * , images.
 * at FamilySearch — index
 * at FamilySearch — index

For more information, see New Hampshire Emigration and Immigration and New Hampshire Naturalization and Citizenship.

Local Histories

 * Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
 * Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: New Hampshire; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
 * Google Books. Use keywords "New Hampshire" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
 * Family History Books
 * County and Town Histories:*Internet Archive.Use keywords "New Hampshire" and the county name.
 * Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use New Hampshire and the name of the county.

FamilySearch Collected Local Histories

 * Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
 * If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
 * Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
 * In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
 * A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.

Biography Collections
These collections of biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or use the "Find" function on a computer.
 * American Biographical Library for New Hampshire ($)
 * County and Town Histories New Hampshire, with biographies
 * New Hampshire biography and autobiography, e-book
 * New Hampshire notables: presenting biographical sketches of men and women who have helped shape the character of the Granite State, e-book
 * Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation Vol. 1, e-books, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4
 * State builders; an illustrated historical and biographical record of the state of New Hampshire at the beginning of the twentieth century, e-book
 * Men of progress: biographical sketches and portraits of leaders in business and professional life in and of the state of New Hampshire, e-book
 * New Hampshire women: A collection of portraits and biographical sketches of daughters and residents of the Granite state, e-book
 * One thousand New Hampshire notables; brief biographical sketches of New Hampshire men and women

Step 10: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.
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 * Historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.
 * Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc.
 * Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the area.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.


 * Find the society on the internet, and they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, one of their members can be hired to search the collection for you.

This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society.

Historical Images
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * New Hampshire, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * New Hampshire, United States Historical Images, Old Version

New Hampshire Online Genealogy Records
Search any other online records listed in New Hampshire Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the New Hampshire Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * New Hampshire Online Genealogy Records

Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in New Hampshire.
This article focused more on New Hampshire state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in New Hampshire. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.