Would someone born in 1877 have a birth certificate?

Question

When did birth certificates begin to be used regularly (in the United States)? What about death certificates? The person who I am trying to research was born in Illinois in 1877, and died in 1910 (also in Illinois). Would she have a birth or death certificate? Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

How did you find out the person's birth and death dates?

If you know the location they were buried, the cemetery's administration may have more info.

It can be reasonably concluded that "home births" were not always reported because of the inconvenience and expense it would create for rural residents.

I'd surmise World War 1 was about the time the government got its act together and made birth registration a priority.

Answer 2

Not necessarily. I have two grandparents (MI & WI), both born before 1900, who have affidavits sworn by neighbors or relatives attesting to the fact of their births.

Answer 3

you can go to city hall to ask the staff there.

Answer 4

In most states they started using birth certificates in the 1850's.  However, these records were sporadic and would be found in the county clerk's office where the person was born.  Mandatory registration was enacted as of January 1, 1911 for births and deaths.

Answer 5

Usually people back then recorded births in a bible. Or othe religois books. That was where  they recorded my great grandmothers birthday

Answer 6

I would say yes, your best search would be in the census data base.

Answer 7

Birth certificates began to be regularly used in the late 1800s in most states, with other states not beginning to register all births until the early 1900s. Records that are this old are usually not maintained at the state office; they can usually be found in the courthouse or city hall archives where the event took place. Searching for that county or city website can usually help point you in the right direction. Deaths and births occurring in the 1800s were sometimes registered, but often times they were not. Therefore, there is only a partial chance that the event is on file. For earlier birth certificates, you may be able to find birth or baptism records at local churches.

Answer 8

http://www.vitalrec.com/

this has links for all states (and how to order through this service).  I am not in agreement that "most" states started in the 1850's.  You MIGHT find birth records on town/county levels, as a random thing.. I think the NorthEast us "tended" to keep records much earlier than the Southern states.

Even after legislation, it will not be an absolute that one was filed.  Many people felt them to be an invasion of personal busines ! Another thing to watch for are delayed certificates, for persons who did not have one at birth, but went back and needed one (often when applying for social security). Since those are obviously done years later, they can have errors. Of course.. any record can have errors. *smile*

Answer 9

She would most likely have a death certificate, but finding a birth certificate might be "iffy".  Have you tried searching the Illinois statewide death index?  It is free and gives the death certificate numbers for easy ordering.  Here is the link.

http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/death...

I hope this helps.  Blessings.

Answer 10

Yes, i believe she would have both. because of the time she lived/died, you can probably find cenus records at your local library. Just ask the Clerk.

Im not sure when exactly birth records began use in the USA, but i think it was early 17 hundreds.

Good luck, and God bless You

Answer 11

i wonder if a sensus was done every 5 years around that time.

also I wonder did she leave a will

Answer 12

They possibly could have a birth certificate.  Fulton County's earliest records were in 1878.  They were not required until then.  Have no idea in the whole U. S.  I imagine every state is different and depends on if they had recorders back then.

Answer 13

Depends on the state.  In Virginia, for example, they would because Virginia started using birth certificates in 1863.  In North Carolina, no because NC did not begin using birth certificates until 1913.  You would have to check with the Dept. of Vital Statistics of the specific state.  The Dept. of Vital Statistics of each state keeps, manages, and controls birth certificate records, and each state makes their own laws regarding birth certificates.  The above info I got off the websites for Virginia's Dept. of Vital Stats and the website for North Carolina's Dept. of Vital Stats.

Answer 14

Many states did not start issue certificates for birth and death until the first part of the 20th century.  Once they did a lot of people who were born at home or died at home did not get recorded.  

Now it is very rare for someone to be born at home.  

Each state has its own laws about who,when and where a person can obtain birth and death certificates on another person.  In Texas you use to be able to get a birth certificate on another unless you were immediate family  50 years after birth.  Now it is 75 years due to identity theft.  For deaths in Texas it is 25 years after a person died unless you are immediate family.  Some states have tougher laws.  

So use the link Wendy furnished you and go by what it has for Illinois.

Edit: Death certificates usually have the name, place  and date of birth of the deceased and the cause and time of death.

They will usually have both parents' names including mother's maiden name and their state of birth.  However, sometimes this information might not be there if the informant on the death certificate did not know the parents' names or where they were born.  The veracity of all records usually depends on the informant's knowledge.