--- title: 8 More Vital Record Alternatives description: 8 More Vital Record Alternatives image: https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Mss-A-0078-Deaths1-235x300-1.jpg --- # [Vita Brevis A resource for family history from AmericanAncestors.org](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. # 8 More Vital Record Alternatives [April 28, 2015](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/2015/04/8-more-vital-record-alternatives) [Research Methods](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/tag/research-methods), [NEHGS Collections](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/tag/nehgs-collections), [Research tips](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/tag/research-tips) [Lindsay Fulton](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/author/lfulton) [![Bible record for the Ebenezer Berry family, 1835-1936. R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, NEHGS.](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Mss-A-0078-Deaths1-235x300-1.jpg?width=235&height=300&name=Mss-A-0078-Deaths1-235x300-1.jpg)](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Mss-A-0078-Deaths1-1.jpg) Bible record for the Ebenezer Berry family, 1835-1936. R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, NEHGS. Yesterday I wrote about [substitute records](http://vita-brevis.org/2015/04/7-vital-record-alternatives/) that can be used to locate elusive modern vital records. These alternative records can be especially beneficial when an index to the civil vital records is unavailable. Using these alternatives, you can then contact the appropriate authority to provide a copy of the original vital record. However, what do you do when a vital record simply does not exist? It’s a common problem, especially when documenting older generations, as each state legislated its own vital record compliance. Luckily you can consult several vital record alternatives that can be used to prove birth, marriage, or death. (Most will be accepted as proof by a lineage society.) Here are a few examples: 1. **Probate records**. Probate records, such as wills and administrations, can provide the names of a deceased’s heirs and sometimes the date of death (or an approximation based on the date a will is probated). [NEHGS](http://library.nehgs.org/) maintains a large collection of New England and Atlantic Canada probate on microfilm. Additionally, several U.S. town and county probate collections are available digitally at [FamilySearch.org](http://www.familysearch.org/) or on microfilm at the [Family History Library.](https://familysearch.org/catalog-search) 2. **Deeds.** Sometimes deeds identify specific relationships between the grantor (seller) and the grantee (purchaser). This can be especially helpful in identifying the first name of a grantor’s spouse. Most deed records for the New England states are available on microfilm at [NEHGS](http://library.nehgs.org/), while other U.S. land records are available digitally at [FamilySearch.org](http://www.familysearch.org/) or on microfilm at the [Family History Library](https://familysearch.org/catalog-search). 3. **Military records**. From [draft cards](http://vita-brevis.org/2014/12/world-war-i-draft-registrations/) to pension records, these records often provide very specific information about a soldier’s birth, marriage, and death. In fact, pension records can even include pages that were torn from a family Bible. Some military records are available at [fold3.com](http://fold3.com); [Ancestry.com](http://www.ancestry.com); and [FamilySearch.org](http://www.familysearch.org). 4. **Cemetery records (tombstones or burial records).** Be sure to check with a local genealogical/historical society for cemetery transcriptions, as the stone may have been removed or damaged. Also, some national cemetery databases include: [findagrave.com](http://www.findagrave.com); [billiongraves.com](http://billiongraves.com/); and [MooseRoots](http://www.mooseroots.com/). 5. **Church records**. Baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and funeral records may have been recorded with the church, and not registered on the local or state level. To locate a church record, you must first identify your ancestor’s religion and/or congregation. Some records are still maintained by the original church (or church archives), while others may have been microfilmed or published. [NEHGS](http://library.nehgs.org/) maintains a large collection of compiled church records from across the United States, and the [Family History Library](http://www.familysearch.org/) has some church records on microfilm. 6. **Bible records.** Although rare to find, Bible records can be significantly helpful when available. To locate a Bible record specific to your ancestors, contact the local historical society, archive, or genealogical society associated with the family. NEHGS maintains a large collection of bible records in the [ Stanton Avery Special Collections](http://www.americanancestors.org/browse/library-and-special-collections/special-collections/). 7. **Published genealogies and local histories.** Often unacceptable as proof for a lineage society, these published resources can at least provide an approximation of birth, marriage, and death. [NEHGS](http://library.nehgs.org/) has a collection of 30,000 published genealogies and 40,000 local histories. Also, several sites have digitized material, including the [NEHGS Digital Library and Archive](http://library.nehgs.org/); [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/index.php); [Google Books](http://books.google.com/); and [Family History Books.](https://books.familysearch.org/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?dscnt=1&dstmp=1393871434763&vid=FHD_PUBLIC&fromLogin=true) 8. **City directories**. Like census records, city directories can be used to approximate a person’s date of death, as the person may disappear from the record altogether, or their spouse may be listed as a widow. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, the directory will identify a specific date of death. [NEHGS](http://library.nehgs.org/) maintains a large collection of city directories, as well as [ancestry.com](http://www.ancestry.com). [![A page from the 1850-51 edition of the Utica City Directory.](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/city-directory-300x217-1.jpg?width=300&height=217&name=city-directory-300x217-1.jpg)](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/city-directory-1.jpg) A page from the 1850-51 edition of the Utica City Directory. Again, these are just a few of the alternative records available. In fact, if you have a favorite alternative resource, please include the information in the comments below. Every suggestion helps! ### Share this: - [mailto:?body=https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/2015/04/8-more-vital-record-alternatives](mailto:?body=https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/2015/04/8-more-vital-record-alternatives) - - - More - - ![Lindsay Fulton](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/hubfs/Lindsay_Fulton_Jan25.jpg) ## About Lindsay Fulton Lindsay Fulton is a nationally recognized professional genealogist and lecturer who joined American Ancestors in 2012. She leads the Research and Library Services team as Chief Research Officer, as well as the research team working on 10 Million Names. In addition to helping constituents with their research, Lindsay has authored a Portable Genealogists on the topics of Applying to Lineage Societies and the United States Federal Census (1790-1950), and is a frequent contributor to the American Ancestors blog, Vita-Brevis. She was featured in the Emmy-Winning Program: Finding your Roots: The Seedlings, a web series inspired by the PBS series “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.", as well as another popular PBS series, “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love.” Before, American Ancestors, Lindsay worked at the National Archives and Records Administration in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she designed and implemented an original curriculum program exploring the Chinese Exclusion Era for elementary school students. She holds a B.A. from Merrimack College and M.A. from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Area of Expertise: State and Federal Censuses, New England, Ireland, and New York research, with a focus on research methodology and organization. Lindsay also oversees the research team working on the 10 Million Names project.[View all posts by Lindsay Fulton →](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/author/lfulton) [← Why I Love Revolutionary War Pension Records](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/2015/04/why-i-love-revolutionary-war-pension-records) [7 Vital Record Alternatives →](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/2015/04/7-vital-record-alternatives) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ### Recent Posts [Sailor Bill and His Forgotten Wife](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/sailor-bill-and-his-forgotten-wife) [Professor X](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/professor-x) [Part I: Malaga Island, Maine](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/part-i-malaga-island-maine) [The Norwegian folge](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/the-norwegian-folge) [Research…in a Miniskirt? 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