Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699

From the introduction to the book:

"The Record Commissioners of the City of Boston herewith offer the ninth volume printed under their charge. It was intended and is believed to contain every entry of birth, death, and marriage recorded as happening in the town of Boston in the first seventy years of its existence, and now found in the office of the City Registrar and every entry of baptism on the records of the First Church for the same period."

"The Town Records require much longer notice. The authorities of the Colony of Massachusetts intended from the beginning to provide for a complete record of all children born within its limits, and of all deaths and marriages ; and at various times took action to secure such record."

"For most of the years before 1700 the record of births seems to be quite full and complete; but sometimes, as in 1675, nearly all was lost by some chance. The years 1647-50 are also evidently imperfect. The deaths and marriages are less regularly recorded, and there is a long break in each. No deaths were recorded 1665-88, and no marriages 1663-79."

The original volume is available in our Boston Research Library, call number: F73.1 B74 V.9.

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