Place:Vermont, United States

source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names

source: Family History Library Catalog

See wikipedia:Vermont for general information about Vermont.

History

Originally inhabited by Native American tribes (Abenaki and Iroquois), much of the territory that is now Vermont was claimed by France but became a British possession after France's defeat in the French and Indian War. For many years, the surrounding colonies disputed control of the area (referred to at the time as the New Hampshire Grants) especially New Hampshire and New York. Settlers who held land titles granted by these colonies were opposed by the Green Mountain Boys militia, which eventually prevailed in creating an independent state, the Vermont Republic, founded during the Revolutionary War and lasting for 14 years (although both NH and NY continued to claim it); Vermont is thus one of four U.S. states (along with Texas, Hawaii, and the brief California Republic) to have at one point existed as its own sovereign nation. In 1791, Vermont joined the United States as the fourteenth state, and the first outside the original Thirteen Colonies.

Vermont's 1790 census actually took place after statehood in 1791. Census coverage included virtually all settled portions of the State.

See wikipedia:Vermont-History for a fuller history of Vermont.

See Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990 for Vermont population history

Timeline

Research Tips

If this section gets too big, move it and link to Vermont_Research_Guide.

Many records are kept at the town clerk's office in each town. The Vermont Department of State maintains a list of the town clerks.

Vital Records

• Vermont Vital Records through its Department of Health
• Vermont Vital Records through its Department of State
• Vermont Tombstone Transcription Project

FamilySearch.org has a variety of collections available for free online:

• Vermont, Births and Christenings, 1765-1908
• Vermont, Marriages, 1791-1974
• Vermont, Deaths and Burials, 1871-1965
• Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005
• Vermont, Town Records, 1850-2005
• Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-1954
• Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-2003

Resource Compilations

• US GenWeb - Vermont
• Vermont State Archives
• The Index to Manuscript Vermont State Papers, better known as the Nye Index, was originally created by Mary Greene Nye, the Editor of State Papers from 1927 until 1950, as a personal name card file. The card file is located in the Reference Room and is open to the public. The Vermont State Archives has automated more than 53,000 cards from the NYE Index, covering all 18th century records. Please note, however, that the records corresponding to this index are stored off-site. Please contact the Reference Room at least two days in advance of your arrival to make arrangements to view records from Manuscript Vermont State Papers.

Genealogical & Historical Societies

• Genealogical Society of Vermont
• List of VT genealogical & historical societies

Research Guides

Outstanding guide to Vermont family history and genealogy (FamilySearch Research Wiki). Birth, marriage, and death records, wills, deeds, county records, archives, Bible records, cemeteries, churches, censuses, directories, immigration lists, naturalizations, maps, history, newspapers, and societies.

People at WeRelate Researching Vermont

Add a link to your user page if you're researching this state.

• Jillaine Smith (Townsend, Wardsboro); (Barber, Doolittle, Hall)