Contents of this file:

The file death3.txt (or death3.csv) is an abstract of death records at the Town Hall of Shelburne, Franklin County, Massachusetts. The present file contains 4865 records, from 1836 through 2003, of. persons who died in Shelburne, or who last resided in Shelburne, or who were buried in Shelburne. Sources included death registers (1836-1842, 1843-1853 and 1854-1923), death certificates (1900 and 1904-2003), and town reports (1899-1996).

This file contains additional fields not in the public file: spouse's name; and parents' names and birthplaces.

4865 deaths by year and age, 1836-2003:

Note regarding Shelburne and Shelburne Falls:

Shelburne Falls is a village partly in the Town of Shelburne and partly in the Town of Buckland. The Shelburne Town Office maintains records pertaining only to the Shelburne portion of Shelburne Falls, and to the remainder of the Town of Shelburne. "Shelburne Center," when used, refers specifically to the portion of Shelburne not in Shelburne Falls. To make matters more confusing, usage of the terms "Shelburne" and "Shelburne Falls" is not consistent. In the 19th century, Shelburne and Shelburne Falls were generally considered as separate and non-overlapping. The same addresses appear sometimes with "Shelburne" and sometimes with "Shelburne Falls." In this report "Shelburne" is generally used for Shelburne Falls locations, unless they are known to be in Buckland.

The following fields are included in the files death3.txt and death3.csv:

deathno = sequential death no
sources (A = death registers, D = death certificates; R = Shelburne Town Reports)
(A1 = No. 2 Births Marriages Deaths)
(A2 = Shelburne Births-Marriages-Deaths Register 1843-1853, Shelburne Town Hall)
(A3 = Death Records 1854 thru 1923, Shelburne Town Hall)
deathyear (yyyy)
deathmonth (1-12)
deathday (1-31)
deathdate (mm/dd/yyyy)
page_no = registration number (unique within year_of_death)
lastname (for women, husband's surname)
birthname (for women, father's surname)
firstname (name in parentheses, if present, is maiden name)
birthyear (yyyy)
birthmonth (1-12)
birthday (1-31)
birthdate (dd-mmm)
age_at_death (years)
months (of age at death)
days (of age at death)
given: if given="age", then birthyear, birthmonth and birthday are calculated as below
state_of_birth (or country if outside US)
county_of_birth (or province if outside US)
town_of_birth
state_of_death (or country if outside US)
county_of_death (or province if outside US)
town_of_death
state_of_burial (or country if outside US)
county_of_burial (or province if outside US)
town_of_burial
cemetery ("crem" means cremation)
sex = f(emale) or m(ale)
race = w(hite) or mulatto or colored
marital_status = m(arried), w(idowed), d(ivorced), s(ingle)(never married), l(egitimate)(single)
occupation = usual occupation (incomplete 1976-1992)
industry = industry or business (incomplete 1976-1992)
spouse_surname (for a husband, the wife's maiden name)
spouse_firstname
father_surname
father_firstname
father_birthplace_state (incomplete 1976-1992)
father_birthplace_county (incomplete 1976-1992)
father_birthplace_town (incomplete 1976-1992)
mother_surname (mother's maiden name)
mother_firstname
mother_birthplace_state (incomplete 1976-1992)
mother_birthplace_county (incomplete 1976-1992)
mother_birthplace_town (incomplete 1976-1992)
comments = miscellaneous comments

Calculation of birth date from age at death:
If given="age", then birthyear, birthmonth and birthday are calculated as follows:
birthyear = deathyear - age_at_death + year_carry
year_carry = INT ( ( deathmonth + month_carry - months - 1) / 12)
birthmonth = MOD ( deathmonth + month_carry - months - 1, 12) + 1
monthcarry = INT ( ( deathday - days - 1 ) / days_last_month)
birthday = MOD ( deathday - days + days_last_month - 1, days_last_month ) + 1
days_last_month (1-31) = days in month preceding death date
= IF(deathmonth=3, IF( MOD ( deathyear, 4)=0 , 29, 28) , INT ( ( MOD( 5*deathmonth + 1, 12 ) + 2) / 7 ) + 30 )
(formula above needs to be modified if death occurred in March 1800 or March 1900)

Information in square brackets [ ], including data from other sources, was added by the editor.