Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-04-09
For the Free Press and Time;
Vermont Registration Report; is67'

Mr.. Editor. - Having just completed the
summary of observations which are to accom-
pany the statistics contained in the Eleventh
Registration Report, viii you allow me to occupy
a brief space in your valuable paper, in laying
before the people of the State some Of the results
of that Registration. My object is to awaken a
deeper interest in the subject, and to urge the
Importance of making those reports full and ac-
curate
The Registration law of the State has been in
existence now twelve years and more Ten re-
ports have been published, the eleventh will soon
60 into the hands of the printer, and the matter
for the twelfth is already in the hands OF the
Secretary of State.
In these reports we find three important events
in the social life of the inhabitants of the State
carefully recorded, viz; birth, marriage, and
deaths. Of births &C ,432 have been placed on
record, of marriages 1892, of deaths 47,S79.
Whether for social or legal purposes, each OF
these events is so infinitely recorded that errors
are scarcely possible.
The date of birth, year, month and day of the
month the name the sex the place oil birth !;
and the names, residence and place Of birth Of
its parents, of every child born in the State, is
registered. And so of deaths-the name and
surname of every decedent; the date and place
of decease the age and cause of death ; the
sex and social condition the occupation. (if
any,, and the names of parents, are all recorded.
So also of marriages-the name and surname Of
h e groom and bride, the residence of each at the
time Of marriage, the age of each and date OF
marriage, are registered and all these particulars
may be found in the Office of every Town clerk
in the State. The records of family Bibles may
be lost or destroyed, they often are; but here are
the originals, duly attested and recorded, which
establish the birth, marriage, and death title Of
every man, woman, and child in Vermont and
which may be used in law, or in any way in
which it may be important to prove either fact.
If lost or destroyed, as perchance they may be,
in the Town Clerks Office an attested copy of
them all is deposited in the archives of the State
In questions of legitimacy, of the just inheritance
of property, or of lineal descent in questions
about the right Of dover. of pensions for parents
or children, or of residence, who can estimate
the value of these records? How speedily are
doubts removed or knotty questions solved by
reference to the facts which these reports con-
tain.
But all doubts of the utility and necessity
ofthese records have long since passed away. 1t
only remains to make them more complete and
accurate, in order to render them Of incalculable
value as they accumulate with advancing years.
The registration of 1867 comprises returns
from all the towns in the State save five these
East Haven, Bloomfield. Brighton, Woodford
and Fair Haven, having an aggregate popula-
ton of S,l5s.
During the year, the whole number of births
in the State was 6 ,46s; of which 1922 were
males and Sll4 were females Of52 the sex is
not stated.
During the same period the marriages were
1867 couples or 5,7li persons, number less
by l4l couples than were reported in 1866, but
considerably greater than the number reported
for any year previous to that.
The number of deaths for the same period was
1 ,0ss, of which $50 were males and 2,0s3
females. Of 80 the sex is not given.
Compared with 1866 the number Of births was
81 less; lis greater than in 1865, and rs
greater than in 1864.
The deaths we're pa greater than in 1866,
when 8,s4l were reported; 40 less than in
1865; ,205 less than in 1864. and less by 2l9
than the average for eleven years past, 1877.
The population Of the State being 3l5,o9s,
there was during the year one birth to every
Is : Of the inhabitants, against one - every
IS in 1866. One person out Of every SOL
was married, against one for every j0.o in
SOC; and there was one death to every u
persons living, against one to every - last
year.
The average number of births daily was HIP,
asst year 1872 The number Of marriages was
Z 50 daily against 9.4S in 1866, and Of deaths
10 against 10 80 last year.
The average age Of those who died was 3s.l4, /
asst year 3s.4s.
Such is brief resume of the statistics gathered T
n the eleventh Registration Report Brief .
omments upon these statistics, in their social
nd sanitary aspects, will form the subjects Of
ucceeding articles. l. {. d.
Essex, Vt, March, 1869.