How To Do Genealogy Research When Vital Records Don’t Exist

Vital records (birth, marriage, and death) are some of the most valuable documents in genealogy research. But what happens when you’re researching a time or place before these records were officially kept? Don’t worry! Other records may provide the same details, even if uncovering them requires a little extra effort.

In this blog post, you’ll learn how newspapers, probate, land, court, and church records (and more) may be the substitute you need to fill in the missing pieces of your ancestor’s life.

Why Knowing Registration Dates Matters

The first step is to understand when vital records registration began in the location you’re researching. This varies widely depending on the country, state, or county.

For example, the United States didn’t have a national system for vital records until the 20th century. Some states began earlier than others—Massachusetts started keeping vital records in the 1600s, while rural areas of the South didn’t consistently register events until the early 1900s.

Knowing the start date for registration helps you avoid wasted time. If you’re searching for a birth certificate from 1820 in a state that didn’t register births until 1880, you won’t find it. Instead, you can shift your focus to alternate sources.

FamilySearch Wiki & The Red Book

Whenever I start my genealogy research, whether it’s in a new location or one I’ve worked in before, I always go to the FamilySearch Wiki first. If you’d like to learn more about it, check out my blog post here.

For the United States, find the state you want to research and then click on the county. You’ll find a section near the top of the page that includes record dates.

Here’s what Essex County, Massachusetts looks like:

And Williamsburg County, South Carolina:

Notice the early dates of Massachusetts vs. South Carolina. They were both members of the original 13 colonies, but have drastically different record dates. Even though Williamsburg County was organized in 1804, it took them over 100 years to start requiring registration of vital information.

Another great resource is Ancestry’s Red Book. It includes dates of vital record registration along with land and probate start dates. You’ll also read about alternate sources and why they are so important to genealogy research. You can pick up an inexpensive copy online (I got mine from Thriftbooks), but it’s also available at many libraries. Check out this link on WorldCat to see if there’s a copy near you.

Now you know where to look to see if records exist for your time and place. But what if you need records before recordkeeping began? Keep reading to see what alternate sources you can use to answer your genealogy questions.

Alternate Records to Use Before Vital Records

When vital records don’t exist, other documents can fill in the gaps. Here are some of the best alternatives:

1. Church Records

Churches often kept meticulous records of baptisms, marriages, and burials. These records can provide dates, relationships, and locations.

• Why they’re useful: Churches were the primary record keepers before the government took over.
• How to find them: Look for parish registers, diocesan archives, or denominational records. Many have been digitized or microfilmed and are available on sites like FamilySearch or local archives.

Ancestry has many wonderful databases that include birth, marriage, and death information. In researching the genealogy of my 3x great-grandfather, John Krewson, I found Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S. Church and Town Records, 1669-2013. This collection included the baptism dates of my 2x great-grandaunt and uncle, who were baptized in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1820. Birth records in Bucks County didn’t begin until 1893, so this is valuable information.

2. Family Bibles

Family Bibles were commonly used to record births, marriages, and deaths.

• Why they’re useful: These records were usually written by someone who witnessed the events or at least had first-hand knowledge of them.
• How to find them: Ask relatives if a family Bible exists. Sometimes they’re passed down or stored with old family papers.

In a paper I wrote to become a certified genealogist, the town clerk of Newburgh, Penobscot County, Maine provided me with a page that included birth and death information for Levi Mudgett’s family and the marriage record for Simon Mudgett and Julia Whitney. This is the only place I have found some of this amazing information (including Simon’s middle name).

3. Census Records

Censuses often provide indirect evidence of vital information, such as ages, relationships, and family structure.

• Why they’re useful: They place individuals in a specific time and location, which can lead to other records.
• How to use them: Look for changes in the household from each census year that might indicate a marriage, birth, or death.

The 1900 U.S. Federal Census has columns for the month and year of birth. Use this information as a clue as most census records don’t tell us who the informant was.

4. Probate and Wills

Probate records and wills can provide death dates and family relationships. At the very least you may find an approximate date from when the will was written to when it was proved. Don’t forget to look for administration papers if your ancestor died intestate (without a will).

• Why they’re useful: They name heirs, which can help reconstruct families.
• How to find them: Many probate and wills can be found at the big genealogy websites (Ancestry, FamilySearch, MyHeritage). You’ll also need to check county courthouses or state archives.

One of the newer places to look for probates and wills is part of the FamilySearch Full-Text Search. To find out how to use it, read The Exciting World of AI: FamilySearch Full-Text Search.

5. Newspapers

Newspapers often published birth, marriage, and death announcements, as well as obituaries.

• Why they’re useful: They might include details you won’t find anywhere else, like cause of death or wedding guests.
• Where to look: Try online newspaper archives or local historical societies.

I research in newspapers every day. You never know what you’ll find. As a professional genealogist, I keep a subscription to Newspapers.com active at all times. It’s been invaluable in my personal research and that of my clients.

With that said, you probably won’t know who the informant was for the information found in newspapers. Use what you discover as clues to go find original records if you can.

6. Land Records

Deeds can sometimes reveal family relationships. While exact dates are uncommon in land records, you may be able to sense ages by the wording of the deed. Was someone selling off a lot of land to his children? Did a father and son buy land and then two years later, it was just the son doing the buying? Perhaps the son became of age legally to purchase on his own.

• Why they’re useful: Transfers of property often mention heirs or spouses.
• How to find them: Online sources like Ancestry and FamilySearch have land records, but also check out county land offices or historical societies. Many of them can be searched for free.

7. Military Records

Military records, including pensions and service files, may include birth and death information. Widow’s pension files most likely include marriage information as they had to prove they were the widow of a soldier.

• Why they’re useful: Pensions often required proof of age or relationships.
• Where to find them: National archives or military-focused genealogy databases like Fold3.

8. Gravestones and Cemetery Records

Most gravestones have death dates. Some may include a birth date, but if they don’t you will be able to calculate an approximate birth date if their age at death is on the stone. Cemetery records might provide additional information.

• Why they’re useful: They’re one of the most direct sources of death dates.
• Where to find them: Visit cemeteries in person or search websites like FindAGrave or BillionGraves.

Take what you find with a grain of salt. You often don’t know who provided the information to put on the stones and if it’s correct. Many times, stones were erected years or decades after the person’s death.

9. Court Records

Court cases, such as guardianships or name changes, can reveal vital details.

• Why they’re useful: They often document family relationships and events.
• How to find them: Search county or state court archives. Plus, Ancestry and FamilySearch often have court records or even town minutes that may provide the information you need.

10. Tax Records

Tax rolls can provide clues about a person’s age or death.

• Why they’re useful: A person’s name disappearing from tax rolls might indicate death.
• Where to look: Check online first, but local archives or genealogical societies may have many more records that aren’t digitized online.

Tips for Using Alternate Records

• Cross-reference: Don’t rely on just one record. Compare multiple sources to confirm details.
• Think creatively: If a record doesn’t exist that will answer your question directly, look for indirect evidence. Piecing together information from several documents is sometimes better than having just one that states the conclusion.
• Understand the context: Learn about the history and record-keeping practices of the area you’re researching.

Tools to Help You

Several online resources can point you to alternate records:

• FamilySearch Catalog: Search by location to find what records are available.
• Ancestry.com Catalog: Explore a wide range of historical databases. Check out my blog post about it here.
• Research Guides: Many state archives offer guides online to help you locate early records.

Finally

Researching before vital records registration began requires patience and creativity. But the rewards are worth it. Alternate records like probate, church, and tax records can provide just as much if not more, information about your ancestors. Understanding where to look and how to use these sources will help you piece together your family’s story, even when vital records are missing.

So, don’t let the lack of official records stop you. Use these alternate sources, and you might uncover details about your ancestors you never expected to find.

Genealogy tip: As you find out about what’s available for a particular location, keep track of it in a locality guide. Then when you go back to that location in the future, you’ll have all you need in one file. For more on making a locality guide, read How To Use A Locality Guide In Your Genealogy Research.

If you’re researching an ancestor and can’t find what you need to prove a birth, marriage, or death, I hope this blog post helped you. If you still need assistance, I’d love to hear about your project. Click below to schedule a 30-minute no-obligation call. I can research for you or we can work together so you can finish the project yourself.