1842, also of the section of the Revised Statutes, requiring parents and otliers
to give notice to the clerk, &c., and earnestly requested all those in whose
families there had been any birth or death the past year, to furnish me with
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BIRTHS, HARRIAOES AND DEATHS. 13
the n a co wa i y inlbnnalioii, on or before a gi^en time, whkh time came and
passed, bat no attention whatever was paid to the requirements of law, or to the
reqaest, except in a veiy few instances. I have since, by aid of the sexton,
physician and others, ascertained in what families there had been any births
or deaUis, and by visiting the parents or friends myself, (in almost eveiy in-
stance,) have obtained from them the facts as now recorded, which I believe to
be minutely coirect, but don't know tBhdker nidk a record will be considered au-
HanJUcy ornoL
The transcript of the marriage record herewith forwarded, does not furnish,
perhaps, all the information you might desire or expect, but I shall endeavor to
have it in better shape another year. The acts requiring a record to be kept,
and an annual return to be made, of births, marriages and deaths, will, I doubt
not, be attended with much general benefit ; but it seems to me that aome new
law wQl he necatary to compel parenia and others to furnish town clerks with
the necessaiy information and in the proper time. The present law upon that
point is with us a dead letter, and will probably remain so, as there seems to
bene disposition to heed it at all ; mdeedjthtre wa» iome unwillingneas mamjeiir
ed to give the dak the needful u^ormation t^Ur he had travelled »ome mUee to
oUainiL
I hope. Sir, if the law of March 3, 1842, is to remain in force, that some
new act will be passed, which will awaken parents and others to a sense of
their duty.
Excuse the liberQr I have taken in addressing these lines to you, and accept
the assurance of my esteem.
A. L. BURNHAM, Town Clerk.
To Joan A. BoiXBS, Esq., Seattary of (he CommonweaWL,
GLOucESTsn, May 27, 1843.
Jobh a. B0LI.X8, Esq. : Dear Sir, — ^T have, with much pains, been able
to obtain the information comprised in the foregoing return. * • •
* * * It is my wish that some more compulsory law should be enacted
to remedy the eviL
I am, Sir, your humble servant,
WM. SAVILLB, Town Clerk.
CAMBRineB, May 21, 1843.
To Uie Secretary qf (he CommonweaUh : — Enclosed you have certain returns,
required by law. They are less perfect than could be desired, but as perfect
as I have the means to make them. The town records came into my custody
but a few weeks since, and, during the interval which has elapsed, other pub-
lic and imperative duties have prevented me from rendering them more com-
pleta I purpose to procure immediately a new set of record-books, and to
take eoch measores to easoie fan and perfect records, as shall enable myself.
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14 BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.
or my saccesBor, to approach much more nearly, in 1844, to the degree of ac-
cnracy contemplated by the atatate.
Respectfiilly, &c LUCIUS R. PAIGE.
CHELMSFORD.
As it is impossible to give anything like a fbll retnm, a specimen only is
here given, which is sufficient to show the nutnner in which entries are made.
Deaths are recorded in the same way. It has been customary for many years
to make the entries of marriages by recording the certificate of the clergyman
or magistrate, just as given in ; of course there is a variety of forms used. The
maniagesy I doubt not, are all returned in mnneform.
Last year I spent considerable time in trying to collect the necessary mate-
rials to form as correct a return as possible. Tlda year I have confined myself
lehoUy to the returns received. My reasons for doing so are briefly these : as I
had advertised in four public places, in as many different sections of the town,
previous to making my return last year, stating the substance of the statute,
and the duties and forfeitures of parents, guardians and town clerks, under its
provisions; also urging the faithful discharge of its duties on the part of
parents, in order to enable others to discharge their duty ; and as there has
been such a gross neglect on their part, especially as it concerns deaths, I
thought it was best that the proper department should know the exact state of
things as they now exist, though by so doing I should subject myself to the
penalty of the law. I have no other apology to offer for the neglect of my
duty than what is implied in the foregoing.
E. F. WEBSTER, Town Clerk.
LEXmGTOJ^.
Number of Births as per record, 1
Number of Marriages as per record, - - - - 11
Number of Deaths as per record, . - - . . —
Information derived from other sources than records, show that there has
been at least twenty-three deaths during said year — diseases or cause of
death to roe imknown.
The number of births to me unknown. I posted notice the last year, re-
questing the inhabitants to bring in the number of births, deaths, dz^c, but to
no purpose.
It appears to me, if the secretary of state should furnish the several town
clerks in the state, with blanks, to be posted up in several places in each town,
with the law attached to the same, that the object might be attained.
A true copy of record. Attest :
JOHN MULLIKEN, TWh CMu
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9
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATH& 16
MxDFORD, May 30, 184a
Sir, — ^Yoar circular of April 10, 1843, as also copy of report submitted to
the Legislature of Massachusetts, Feb. 97, 1843, concerning the registry of
bizths, marriages and deaths, were duly received and examined. The sugges-
tions contained in each I consider very appropriate and needful, calculated to
excite more general regard to the subjects referred to, which seem to have
been almost lost on public attention for the last half century.
Our own town records show a very decided and declining neglect from about
the year 1800 to 1834, in which year a new town clerk was elected, (Mr. Wm.
D. Fitch,) who, amongst other reforms just coming into vogue at that time,
called upon the inhabitants (at the same time publishing the old law, with re-
gard to registration,] to walk up and do the needful, and the result was a very
general return of births and deaths which had occurred in previous years.
In 1636, 1 had the honor to be elected clerk of Medford, at which time the
Revised Statutes were published, and some alteration being made therein of
the registry laws, I issued a notice relative thereto, and a large number of en-
tries of births and deaths were consequently made, which, however, annually
continued to lessen till 1841, in which year only ten births and deaths were
entered for record at my office.
On the receipt of the circular of the secretary of the commonwealth, rela-
tive to the returns of births, marriages and deaths, by town clerks, under the
Act of March, 184S, I posted notices, and called upon physicians and others,
in order to glean what I could from these sources, to make up a return in com-
pliance with the law, but the information sought was not very fully responded
to, either from a lack of interest by community in the subject, or from want of
data by physicians to fill the blanks which I placed in their hands — ^therefore
the return made by me was incomplete.
The present year, on the receipt of your letter of instructions, I caused a
circular (a copy of which I shall enclose,) to be placed in the hands of each
family in town, the result of which has been the entering of a considerable
number of births and deaths over former years, many of which occurred in
isrevious years.
Your suggestion that the exaction of the penalty for neglect would give effi-
cacy to the statute, dus., I have duly considered, and doubt not would produce
the desired effect in many instances. But, Sir, in a community like ours, the
laws being generally regarded when known, and the doctrine of persuasion
predominating very largely over coercion, I deemed it most expedient to re-
newedly notify the inhabitants of their liabilities, before enforcing the law,
which I shall now feel at liberty to do in any known case of neglect
I have delayed making the accompanying returns to this late period, in
order to obtain as much information on the subjects referred to as possible, and
yet they are quite unsatisfactory, so far as regards births and deaths. Physi-
cians, to whom I am mainly indebted for a list of deaths, do not always know
the age of their patients, and in many caae^ of adult males not even their oc-
ciqitttioiw.
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16 BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.
If no other alteration of our {nresent registration laws are made, I am of
opinion that the object contemplated by them would be promoted by making it
the duty of physicians to make returns to town clerks of all deaths occurring
in their practice, with the particulars required by the existing statute.
Your remarks in report, on the laws of the commonwealth concerning regis-
tration, are to the point, and must be acquiesced in by every candid mind.
The outlines of a statute to regulate corporate registration, as sketched and
submitted in your report, I fully approve ; being clearly stated, may be readily
understood by all classes in community ; the penalties annexed for neglect are
such as would be likely to cause every one to avoid their infliction, especially
if a moiety of thejine should go to the informant or prosecutor.
The forms prescribed for registration are such as should be adopted, if an
alteration in the law is made agreeably to your views.
The forms of entry in the town of Medford books of record, are such as an-
swer the present requirements of law, which appear to me very far short of the
design, and certainly inadequate to furnish the desired information which your
plan contemplates, and which the growth and mixed character of the popula-
tion of the country requires to be collected, for general and important purposes.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
OUVER BLAKE, Toum CUrk of Medford,
John A. Bollbs, Esq., Secretary of the Comnumwedtth q/* Ma$8*
Natick, May 15, 184a
Hon. John A. Bolles : Sir, — I herewith make a return of births, mar-
riages and deaths, together with a copy of the records of the town of Natick,
in relation to this subject, for the past year. The entries of births, marriages
and deaths, ever since the American Revolution, have been recorded promis-
cuously, as the information has been obtained by the various town clerks, up
to this day. Great pains have been taken the past year, by the town cleri^ to
collect correct information in relation to the subject of inquiry, and with all
the pains so taken, it is very doubtful, to say the least, whether all the facts
have been collected. The subscriber has been town clerk in Natick for fifteen
years, and he recoUecta no instanu of a birth, and but one instance of a death,
having been voluntarily communicated to him within the time by law pre-
scribed for giving such information. If, therefore, the records of this town
should be found very imperfect, the clerk only regrets that others have not
been so desirous of performing the duties devolving on them, as he has to dis-
charge the official duties belonging to the office which he fills.
I am, Sir, very respectfully, your humble servant,
CHESTER ADAMS, Town CUrk qf J^TaiicL
V
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BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. 17
Bolton, May 26, 1843.
Hon. John A. Bolles : Dear Sir, — ^In compliance with your request, I
transmit a copy of the records of births, marriages and deaths, of the town of
Bolton, for the year past, ending May 1, 1843.
All marriages that are soleomized in town, are annually handed in and re-
corded, but am sorry to say little attention has been paid to recording the births
and deaths, as you will perceive by this copy, and it was with much difficulty
that I obtained the necessary information to fill out the blank in the manner I
have, which is not complete, but for the future will endeavor to make it more
perfect. Of the forty-two births in town, only two are on record.
HUMPHREY BARRETT, Town CUrk,
East Douglas, May 18, 1843.
Dear Sir, — I have endeavored to comply with the Act of 1842. I am
aware that the return is very imperfect ; but. Sir, it is chargeable to the ineffi-
ciency of the Act itself. I regard this matter as one of great importance, and
hope that your report or plan of registry will become a law. This would
enable the town clerks to prepare a clear and intelligible record. As the law
now is, no safe conclusions can be drawn.
Yours respectfully, F. BATCHELLER, Town Clerk,
John A. Bolles, Secrdary,
Hardwick, Mmf 22, 1843.
Hon. John A. Bolles : Sir, — When I handed to Mr. Bigelow, last year,
the return of deaths and marriages from this town, and promised I would
" endeavor to get returns of births in future," my reliance was placed on the
facts which I might obtain from my medical brethren. I regret that I have
been able to obtain so little assistance from this source.
In a town like this, it is not very difficult to keep an accurate record of the
(kaUu, but I know not how to procure the facts which would enable me to
keep such a record of births. No one has returned to me, to be recorded, a
Inrth which took place in the year ending May 1, 1843. I requested my
neighbor. Dr. Wardwell, a year ago, to keep, for my use, a list of the births
where he was called in, and he now tells me the number of cases is 20, but he
cannot tell me the parents' names nor the sexes of the children. Dr. Willis
has attended 3 cases, at all of which males were bom, and one was stillborn.
I hear of 3 other cases, attended by two other practitioners. In 24 cases which
I hare attended myself, there have been 8 males and 16 females bom ; 2 of the
males were stillbom.
I am by no means certain that " a few exadiona of the penalty would give
wnver$al efficacy to iht statuUJ*
Among our hills, it has always appeared to me, that people were easier led
than driven, and I think the duties of a town clerk sufficiently onerous and per*
3
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18 BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.
plezing without making him a prosecuting officer. I should rejoice if an accu-
rate registry could be made, and would do all in my power to promote it.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOSEPH STONE, Tovm Clerk.
SOUTHBOROUGH, Jufic 5, 1843.
To the Seereiary of (he ComamnvoeaUh : Dear Sir, — This return would
have been made and forwarded in due time if sickness had not prevented me.
I know there has been 23 births in Southborough from May 1, 1842 up to
May 1, 1843, though not more than 6 of those births have been recorded.
Such has been the delinquency of our citizens. But we design that for the
coming year, in this town, the law shall be strictly complied with, in order to
enable the town clerk to make out his return full and complete.
Your obedient servant, JOEL BURNETT.
Sterling, May 22, 1843.
John A. Bolles, Esq., Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachuseita :
Sir, — Inclosed are the returns of niairiages, births and deaths, in the town
of Sterling, as recorded.
I take the liberty. Sir, to throw into the packet a rough memorandum, from
which I meant to have expressed my ideas of the existing laws on the subject,
but I was taken sick at the time and could not do it. I do it more for an apol-
ogy for my defective returns, than with any expectation of its affording any
useful information, although if clerks of towns would name what they consider
obstacles in making their returns, although not always very weighty, there
might some good come from it.
Six years ago, I found the town records, on these subjects, quite unsatisfac-
tory to me, and I procured three blank books, as you recommend. Sir, except-
ing the lining, which I highly approve of, and the volumes being the right size
I shall get them lined without delay.
I feel a satisfaction in spending my time to do an3rthing right, if I have the
means of so doing, and I presume many others have the same disposition. I
really think the Legislature have something to do, before so desirable an object
can be attained.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T. H. BLOOD, Clerk of the Town of Sterling.
Memorandum. — ^The law is so defective, that it never can effect anything, in
my opinion, until it is revised.
Who is to complain of delinquents for neglecting to return to town clerks,
births and deaths t Town clerks will not be willing to risk their popularity to
do it. Sextons will make lame returns of deaths, their cause, &c.
On account of births, let midwives have some agency in the matter, leaving
parents to return names, Slc. On account of deaths, physicians only will be
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BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. 19
able properly to gire causes, &c. I understand much of the new law is
stroDgly recommended by physicians, to form, as I presume, valuable statistics,
and what can they make from such miserable returns.
But, one great defect is, that the last six months there is no obligation on
any one to return a single birth or death, say previous to 1st May.
MamagtB, — From 1st April to 1st May there will be no return for the year
[in which the town clerk makes his return ?]
In the new law there are imposed considerable duties, and penalties affixed ;
but not a cent compensation for duties performed, &c.
Would it not be well to make it the duty of town treasurers to complain of
delinquents, in making returns to town clerks t
There is quite a difference between volunteering our services and acting in
ooAfbrmity with an injunction of law.
North Brookfield, May 3, 1843.
JoHH A. BoLLBS, Esq., Surttory of iht Commonwealth^ Boston :
Dear Sir, — Your circular under date of April 10th, 1843, with blank re-
turns, forms, &c. came duly to hand. In conformity with instructions con-
tained in the same, I herewith inclose returns of births, marriages and deaths,
for the year ending the first inst., so far as I was able to make them out from
my records ; but so imperfect are they, owing to the delinquency of heads of
families in their reports, that the return is nearly useless. Besides this negli-
gence on the part of parents, &c. there are other difficulties, which I think will
render it impossible to fill the blanks with that degree of accuracy which is
desirable, and I will state some of them. 1st. Births. — The first column is
for number, No. 1, No. 2, &c. to record the order in which they occur. This
cannot be done, for parents cannot report them until they are named, and one
man will perhaps name and report his child the first week, while another wDl
not name his child for six or eight months, so that if it occurs in the last half
of the year, it will probably not be reported and recorded until into the next
year ; this destroys all order, both in numbers and dates. I should think I had
recorded, during the year now just ended, 25 or 30 births, but, as you will see
by the return, only two of them occurred during that year — so that the most
that can be done is to record and report them in the order in which they are
repcfied to the clerk, without any reference whatever to order of date.
2. Marriages. — The same objections exist in tkia record, as to order of date
and number. One clergyman, perhaps, will marry a couple and send his cer-
tificate to the clerk the same day or very soon. Another clergyman will join
a eoople in marriage at the same time, or before, and keep back his certificate
a month or two, and then send it in, and it will be recorded when received. A
third will not report his marriages until the end of th&year, which you see
jumbles them all out of order ; moreover, the end of the year appointed by
law for nunisters and justices to make their return to the clerks, does not eor-
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20 BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.
respond with the time when the clerks are now required to make thtir return ;
by which descrepancy, many marriages which take place immediately pre-
ceding the Ist of May, cannot be returned by the clerk. The law requires
the clerk to record all certificates *' forthwith,*' upon their being handed in.
Again — how are their ages to be ascertained ? and by whom ? particularly old
maids. When there is a law to oblige them to tell their ages to the ministers,
perhaps they will render, but not before. Their color — how is that to be re-
ported? Shall any one be obliged to trace back their descent to Shem, Ham
and Japhet ? or will you be content with a statement that *' he or she is * yery
black,' or * pretty considerable black,' or * rather dark,' or * sandy,' or * light
complexioned;' " these questions, perhaps, don't concern a clerk, though I
am ignorant upon whom the duty would fall.
Record of Deaths. — These can generally be ascertained by the clerk, if he
will inquire of the bell-ringer, the name, age, &c., and of the doctor what the
disease was ; but as for their being reported by the head of a family, I never
knew the instance during the seven years of my clerkship.
Then, in addition to all these impossibilities and difficulties, there is another
which operates, and would, to some extent, if all the others were removed, —
and that is the want of adequate compensation, for no man can afibrd to make
the records and returns that are now required, for the present legal fees, even
with all possible facilities.
Yours, respectfully, CHAS. ADAMS, Jr.
Westborough, May 12, 1843.
Dear Sir, — I herewith make my returns, and as correctly as possible from
the materials I have been able to gather ; have been obliged to call upon cler-
gymen, physicians and mid wives, to enable me to accomplish so much : and
you see at once that it cannot be correct, as there is an increase of population
in this town, which this return disproves. A correct registration cannot be
accomplished under present circumstances. I have repeatedly called upon the
town in their meetings, and posted the tetw, which are a ** terror to evil doers,"
but they heed it not ; therefore, I think if Massachusetts intends accomplish-
ing the object, a new co(U of laws upon the subject must be made, whereby
either greater penalties, or give officers or registrars power or pcoff (which
seems to be the way to accomplish an object,) to go through the town annu-
ally, and see that parents and householders make their true returns. Births —
there are some who employ physicians from other towns, which I cannot learn,
and you will see the sex of some I have not given, nor cannot, unless I go to
their houses, which as yet I am not obliged to do. Marriages — if other towns
make true returns you will have them ; in this town 27 were published — ^return
22 married ; 3 of 22 were not published here — so that you have but 19 of the
27 who were published in this town. Deaths — I have requested the sexton
to keep a record of his burials, with name, age, &c., which he will do, and
another year that return will be made correctly. I am pleased with your re-
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BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. 21
port ; it is bringing the subject immediately before the people, and will soon
accomplish the object. Whether in the marriage department the ages of the
ladies will be found correct, as records are so deficient, is rather doubtful, as
28 is the extreme. Instead of a correct and " true copy" of record of births,
I make a " return" as full and complete as possible, and run the risk of ** pen-
alty." Hoping your efforts will prove successful,
I am truly yours, E. M. PHILLIPS.
Amherst, May 22, 1843.
John A. Bollbs, Esq. : Sir, — ^Accompanying this is a return of the
births, marriages and deaths, in this town, for the year ending May 1, 1843,
with a copy of the records of each, certified as required by the statute. For
five years only has a record of deaths been kept in this ofiice, and those have
been entered, as they have transpired and came to my knowledge, in the form
which you haTo prescribed, excepting the occupation, which was added last
year, according to the requisition of the law. Clergymen were not in the
habit of certifying the marriages solemnized by them, yearly, till 1837. No-
tice was that year issued from this office to each of them, notifying them of
the existing laws upon that subject and that they must be complied with, and
they have since that time yearly conformed to the law. One of the reverend
^ gentlemen sent in a certificate of 211 couple married by him in this town