Montana, County Births and Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records

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Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004
CID1930397
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This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
Montana, 
United States
Montana flag.png
Flag of Montana
US Locator Montana.png
Location of Montana
Record Description
Record Type Births and Deaths
Collection years 1840-2004
FamilySearch Resources
Related Websites
Archive
Multiple county recorder offices, Montana


What is in This Collection?[edit | edit source]

The collection consists of registers and certificates of births and deaths acquired from county courthouses for the years 1840 to 2004. The following counties have records in this collection:

  • Broadwater
  • Deer Lodge
  • Jefferson
  • Lewis and Clark
  • Powell
  • Silver Bow

Some counties began recording births and deaths as early as 1864. These records have usually been kept by the clerk of the court in each county. Statewide registration of vital statistics began in Montana in 1907 and was generally complied with by 1920. These records were created to keep track of the vital events happening in the lives of the citizens and to safeguard their legal interests. They are generally reliable but can vary depending on the knowledge of the informant.

Image Visibility[edit | edit source]

Whenever possible FamilySearch makes images and indexes available for all users. However, rights to view these data are limited by contract and subject to change. Because of this there may be limitations on where and how images and indexes are available or who can see them. Please be aware some collections consist only of partial information indexed from the records and do not contain any images. For additional information about image restrictions see Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.

To Browse This Collection[edit | edit source]

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004.

What Can These Records Tell Me?[edit | edit source]

The following information may be found in these records:

Birth

  • Child’s name, gender and race
  • Child’s birth date and place of birth
  • Whether child was stillborn or living
  • Number of child in the family, 1st, 2nd, etc.
  • Names of parents, including maiden name of mother
  • Parents' residence
  • Father’s occupation
  • Birthplace of father
  • Birthplace of mother

Death

  • Name and age of deceased
  • Date and place of death including county, township and city/village
  • Age in days, months, and years
  • Gender, race, marital status, occupation and residence of deceased
  • Birthplace of deceased
  • Name of parents and their birth place
  • Name of spouse
  • Cause of death
  • Name and address of person reporting death
  • Burial information

Collection Content[edit | edit source]

Sample Images[edit | edit source]

  • Montana, County Birth Record Examples

  • Birth Record Part 1 1921

  • Birth Record Part 2 1921

  • Death Register 1925-1926

  • Death Certificate (example 1) 1900

  • Death Certificate (example 2) 1953

How Do I Search This Collection?[edit | edit source]

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

  • The name of your ancestor
  • The date of the birth or death
  • The place where the birth or death occurred

Search the Index[edit | edit source]

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.
  1. Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
  2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images[edit | edit source]

View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page:

  1. Select the County
  2. Select the Record Type, Year Range, Volume Number/Letter to view the images.
Tip
 More images are available in the FamilySearch Catalog at Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004. Some catalog records link to multiple references. In this case, click on a reference to find a camera icon to see images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?[edit | edit source]

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?[edit | edit source]

I Found the Person I was Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]

  • Use the information to find a marriage
  • Use the information to find the family in census records
  • Search for church, land, and probate records


I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]

  • Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
  • Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
  • If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
  • Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
  • Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names.

Research Helps[edit | edit source]

The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Montana.

Known Issues[edit | edit source]

Click here for a list of known issues with this collection.

Citing This Collection[edit | edit source]

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation:
The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Citing this Collection.
Record Citation:
When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.
Image Citation:
When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.
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