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1 |  | Early Vital Records of Erie County, 1847-1848: About This Index |
2 | Index to Births | |
3 | Index to Marriages | |
4 | Index to Deaths | |
5 | Introduction courtesy of the Western New York Genealogical Society, used by permission. Source: Western New York Genealogical Society Journal, vol. X, No. 9, December 1983, p. 112, author unknown. It has been lightly edited and updated. | |
6 | Introduction | In 1847, a law requiring the registration of vital records was enacted by the New York State legislature. Unfortunately for genealogists, the result can best be characterized as a brief experiment. The vital records were to be registered in the towns and most towns complied, at least for the year 1847. But either because of lack of interest or enforcement by the State, compliance quickly diminished and in 1851 the law was repealed. From December 1983 to June 1986, the WNYGS Journal published those vital records, based on original forms in the Library collection of The Buffalo History Museum. This collection is not complete and is missing several towns (see below). The names are written on preprinted sheets about 18 x 18 inches. There were separate sheets for births, marriages, and deaths. For the most part, the sheets are in excellent condition, not faded nor brittle nor yellowing. However, legibility occasionally suffers because of excessively ornate script. As to the completeness of the record, one can only guess. However, it should be noted that the death of A. Maria Deffenbach at the age of two weeks in September 1847 in Amherst is not listed in the births of that town. The names were in neither chronological nor alphabetical order, leading one to wonder how the information was obtained and how great the margin for error and the opportunity to forget. |
7 | Towns We DO Have | Alden, Amherst, Aurora, Colden, Eden, Evans, Hamburg, Lancaster, and Newstead |
8 | Towns We DON'T Have | Black Rock, Boston, Brant, Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Clarence, Collins, Grand Island, Holland, Marilla, North Collins, Orchard Park, Sardinia, Tonawanda, Wales, and West Seneca |
9 | Indexed by | Lizz, John & Olivia |
10 | Indexed from | Oversize F127. E6 W47 Western New York Society Journal, December 1983-June 1986 "Early Erie County Vital Records." |
11 | Original sheets: | Mss. A67-27, can be seen by library appointment |
12 | Last updated | March 15, 2022 |
13 | Sharable link: | https://tinyurl.com/TBHM-EarlyVital |
14 | Contact us: | library@buffalohistory.org |
15 | Return to the Buffalo History Museum website |