The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1877-01-27
An Unobserved Law.

law requiring tho registering of births, mar
riages and deaths was passed by the Legislature
Of 1865, and for time was observed in this coun-
ty but we think very little if any attention ispaid
to it now. The Denton Journal Of late date says
on this subject:
ain obedience to the State Constitution which
vent into effect previously to the meeting of the
Legislature in 1865, and in conformity with
communication Of the then acting Governor, tho
Legislature passed an act, March oath, 1855, pro-
rdng for tho registration of births, marriages and
ieaths By reference to the records in the Clerks
Office, VIC find that this law has been, with few
exceptions, entirely unobserved. AS We think this
is matter Of much interest and Importance, not
only to this, but to every other community, we
commend it to the attention Of or readers. Sec-
ion |, of tho Law directs that the Clerks Of the
Circuit Courts shall roooive and record the date of
every birth, place of BIRTH the name Of the child,
it's and color, the names of the parents, the
cupaton of the father the residence of the parents
and the date Of the record. That thoy shsll re-
ceivc and record all marriages, otc. That they
shall receive and record the date of every death,
the name Of the deceased, the Sex, color, condi-
ton, age, residence, occupation, place Of death,
place Of birth, names and place of residence of
parents, disease cause Of death, place Of burial
and date of record.
Soc. g. directs, that parents shall give notice to
| the Clerk Of every birth and death happening in
! their house that the eldest person next of kin
shall give notice of the death of his kindred the
| keeper of prison, hospital, almshouse or othel
public institution, shall give notice Of every birth
and death happening among the persons under
| his charge tho person eolcmnizing or performing
tho marriage ceremony shall give notice; any
such person negleotng or refusing to give such no
tice for the space of six months after birth,
rage or death, shall forfeit and pay sum not ex
cecding five dollars.
The act further provides that physicians having
attended persons in their laet illness SHALL wher
requested within fifteen days after tho decease o.
such person, forthwith furnish information of thu
| duration of the last sickness, etc. That every
! sexton, coroner, undertaken other person hav
ing charge of the obsoquies or fuecral rites pro
liminary to the interment of the body of strange
or fricndless person. shall forthwith obtain and re
turn to the clerk of the county or city in which tn
death occurred; any person neglecting or refusin:
to make such return within one month thereafte
shall forfeit and pay sum not exceeding ten dol
lars.
The act further provides that the records mad
in the Clerks Office, relative to births, marriage
and deaths shall be primd facie evidence in lega
proceedings of the facts recorded.
That it shall be the duty of the Clerks Of tn
| Circuit Courts to enforce by suit in the namo o
the State the recovery Of forfeitures and penalte
imposed by this act.
The reasons for making such law and the i'm
portanoe of having it complied with, arc obvious
Often in establishing the fact of marriage, etc
oonsiderablotime and money spent in collecting
evidence to prove what these records would show
And, sometimes, parties whose evidence wou
prove such facts, die, thus destroying all proc
without some such registry hence its value.