EARLIEST BIRTHS INDEX

From 1877 through 1881, with some delayed birth index entries before 1877

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Contributors' Notes

We have done the best at interpreting/transposing the handwriting of the earliest through 1881 birth entries as we know how. Some entries in handwriting were very hard to read. We are proud to make these birth entries freely available for all genealogical researchers. And, we hope you enjoy the fruits of our volunteerism.

No effort was made to correct entries or omit a double entry. The typed entries are as close to the original entries as was possible.

We know when the births were recorded the pronunciation of unfamiliar names to the doctor or birth assistant were written down incorrectly.

Some birth records were recorded as early as 1877. Many births were not recorded before the 1916 law was inacted. A variety of reasons can readily be guessed. Many births were assisted by family members or midwives. Doctors were only fined a few dollars for failure to record a birth.

Delayed Birth records were made by parents or by the birth person him/herself going to the courthouse to have the certificate made, say, years later. A Delayed Birth Certificate usually required 3 proofs, such as a school attendance record, a Bible record, and a letter from one of the parents or siblings of the birth person.

Name changes were common. Sometimes parents, or the birth person, simply decided to change their name without taking legal action. If the name was changed without legally changing it at the courthouse, the changed name is not the legal name of the birth person.

When you can't find your ancestor and want to be sure it was not recorded, think of different variations of a surname. Ask yourself how could it have been misspelled.

If you can prove errors in the typed entries through birth certificates or legal changes of birth certificates, please contact the County Clerk's Office, Macoupin County Courthouse, Carlinville, IL 62626, phone 217-854-3214.

For details on how to obtain a copy of a Macoupin County IL birth certificate from an entry in this index, contact the courthouse 217-854-3214.

Typed, proofread, and contributed 20 Mar 1998 by Macoupin Research Group, internet volunteers: Carolynn Jones Bettis of IL, Larry Clark of MD, Mary Collins of MO, Debi Faris of FL, Gloria Frazier of MO, Judy Gronwold of IL, Becky Hargett of IL, Mary Ann Stewart Kaylor of IL, Cindy LeMons of CA, Richard Neumann of WA, Frank Oglesby of NJ, Pam Robertson Ripplinger of IL, Susan VonBehren Ruth of TN, Tracy Smith of AZ, and Judy York of WA.