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CHURCH RECORDS
Many churches keep records of baptisms, christenings, confirmations, marriages, burials, memberships, admissions, and removals. Some keep
minutes of church meetings and the histories of their local churches. Each church has its own policies on record keeping.
Church records are very important for family research because civil authorities in most states did not begin registering vital statistics
until after 1900. They are excellent sources...and sometimes the only sources...of names, dates, and places of births, marriages, and deaths.
The records of some denomin- ations, such as the Lutherans, are valuable
for identifying the town or parish an immigrant came from.
Finding Church Records:
Many original church records are still at the local church. Others have been gathered into a church or state archives or deposited with a local
historical society. To locate them, you must first identify your ancestor's denomination.
If you know the denomination:
1)Look for their records in the Locality Search of the LDS Family History Library Catalog at:
http://www.familysearch.org/ The library has a substantial collection of original church records and
transcripts on microfilm. These include records of many denominations, particularly the Quaker, Presbyterian, Congregational, Lutheran,
Reformed, and Roman Catholic churches in the eastern, southern, and midwestern states. Search the library catalog to see what records are
available in your state and county of interest.
2) Write directly to the minister of the local church. The addresses are
usually in city or telephone directories. Some denominations, such as the Roman Catholics and Lutherans, also publish directories.
3) Write to the historical society or church archives that may have the records.
4) Write to the church headquarters to ask where the records of the specific congregation are located.
If you do not know the denomination of your ancestors:
1) Search marriage records, obituaries, family and local histories, cemeteries, and family Bibles for clues.
2) Check local histories and city directories to determine which churches were in the area or neighborhood at the same time as your
ancestors.
3) Write to a local library or historical society for information on churches in the area. Regardless of your family's past or present
denomination, look for family information in the records of other churches in the area.
NOTE:
Use this data as a finding tool, just as you would any other secondary
source. When you find the name of an ancestor listed, confirm the facts
in original sources.
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NOTES
TO RESEARCHERS
When
you use this site, please keep in mind the difference between
primary and secondary sources and the importance of checking those
sources. Accept nothing without further checking. It is our hope
that through this collection of data from many sources, you will
find a piece of the puzzle that you are working on and that may
lead you to other discoveries.
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