Vital Records

The county recorded birth and death certificates in late 1877. Prior to this, proofs of birth or death could be filed at the courthouse. Proofs of Birth and Deaths 1856–1870 are available for purchase. Marriages have been recorded since the earliest times although some omissions occur. For various reasons, couples sometimes chose to marry in a different county or state, so if not found in one county, search surrounding areas including St. Louis.

 

On this website

On the Member website

  • Births (1874–1919) compiled from official courthouse records. (Name, date of birth, date filed)
  • Deaths (1877 – 1916) compiled from certificates filed at the courthouse. (Names, date died, age)
  • Marriage Records 1845-1869, an index by Buecher. (Names of the bride, groom, officiant, and date).
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Deaths and Stillbirths 1878–1916 abstracted in the Quarterly and Books

Filing a birth or death was not required in Illinois before 1877 and 1916. In 1916 the law changed. Deaths 1916–1971 are indexed (free).

Deaths extracted from certificates filed 1878–1916 are on our Member website, originally published in the SCCGS Quarterly. These include the certificate number, name, age in years, months, and days, and the date of death.

Use the combined Surname and Article Title to find if your ancestor’s marriage date was published. View or obtain the Issue, then order a copy of the original certificate from the County Clerk or from IRAD.

St. Clair County Death Register Extracts Published in the Quarterly

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 Volume Issue Pages
An Overview [about the Death Registers, laws, sample images] 30 1 27 – 30
Book 1: Nov 1877 – 6 February 1879 30 1 31 – 48
Book 1: 8 Feb 1879 – 19 May 1880 30 2 92 – 108
Book 1:  21 May 1880 –15 April 1881 30 3 155 – 166
Book 1: 18 April 1881 – 6 March 1882 30 4 212 – 223
Book One: 8 March 1882 – 28 April 1883 31 1 22 – 23
Book Two:  28 April 1883 – 11 November 1884 31 2 61 – 74
Book Two: 12 Nov 1884 – 24 Dec 1885 31 3 128 – 135
Book Two:  2 January 1886 – 6 July 1886 31 4 181 – 187
Book Two: 10 July 1886 – 31 December 1887 32 1 1 – 15
Book Two: 4 January 1888 – 22 June 1888 32 2 61 – 68
Book Two:  28 June 1888 – 12 October 1888 32 3 121 – 129
Book Two:  12 October 1888 – 9 February 1889 32 4 181 – 186
Book Three: 11 Feb 1889 – 31 Dec 1889 33 1 1 – 13
Book Three: 2 January 1890 – 12 December 1890 33 2 57 – 73
Book Three:  2 January 1891 – 13 December 1891 33 3 121 – 138
Book Three:  18 Jan 1892 – 28 Nov 1892 33 4 181 – 196
Book Four: 28 November 1892 – 2 January 1894 34 1 16 – 34
Book Four:  2 January 1894 – 23 June 1895 34 2 86 – 104, 106
Book Four: 1 July 1895 – 2 March 1896 34 3 147 – 160
Book Four, 3 Mar 1896–3 Jun 1896 34 4 219-225
Book Four 4 June 1896 – 18 October 1897  35  1 27–48
Book Five (circa late 1897 – early 1899)  35  2 61–79
Book Five  (circa 1899, a few early 1900)   35  3 151–163
Book V (filed 1895-1901; five before 1895) 36 2 92–111
Book VI, circa 1902, 1903 (part) 36 3 121–125
Book Seven, circa 1901, 1902, 1903 36 4 197 – 210
Book VII [Seven], circa 1902, 1903 37 1 5–29
Book VII circa 1903, 1904 37 2 79–91
Book VII, 1903, 1904 37 3 121–134
Book VII, 1904 37 4 221–228
Book VII, 1902, 1904, 1905 38 1 37–45
Book VIII, 1905 38 2 81–99
Boox VIII, circa 1905, 1906 38 3 135–153
Book VIII (1905- 1906 part) 38 4 197–218
Book 5 (Additions to 1901, 1902, 1903) 39 1 9–32
Book VIII circa 1907 39 2 61–80
Book IX, part 1, circa 1907 – 1908 39 3 156–169
Book IX, part 2, circa 1908 39 4 203–219
Book IX, 1908 part–1909 part 3 40 1 1–20
Book IX, 1909 continued, 1910 part 4 40 2 79–89
Book IX, part five (circa 1908, 1909) 40 3 153–170
Book IX, part six, circa 1908 – 1909 41 1 41–42
Book X, part one (circa 1910 – 1911) 41 1 43–54
Book X, part two (circa 1910, 1911) 41 2 83–110
Book X, part three (circa 1911, 1912), 41 3 145–173
Book X, part four (1912, 1913) 41 4 181–191
Book XI, part one (1913) 41 4 193–207
Book XI, part two (circa 1913, 1914) 42 1 9–32, 36
Book XI, part three (circa 1914-1915) 42 2 57–96
Book XII  part one (circa 1915-1916) 42 3 151–163
Book XII, part two (1916 part) 42 4 177–190
Book XII, part three (1915, 1916) 43 1 45–50
Book XII, part four (1916) 43 3 137–146
Stillbirth Register Book 1 (1877-1901), part one  42 3 133–150
Stillbirth Register Book 1 (1877–1901), part two  42 4 221–228
Stillbirth Register Book 2 (circa 1902–1910)  43 2 61–80, 106–111
Stillbirth Register Book 2 (circa 1909–1915), part two  43 3 117–134
Stillbirth Register Book 3 (1916)  43 3 135–136, 148
Conclusion of the Death Register Project  43 3 147

Marriages

  • Marriage indexes 1906-1940s appear in the Quarterly, beginning with Volume 30 Nubmer 2 (2007). These articles show facsimiles of the county clerk’s index. Use the combined Surname and article title index to see which issues your ancestor’s name appears. 

Substitutes for vital records

  • Church records may be the best substitute for birth, marriage, and death records when not found at the county level. On the main menu click Collection > Church records or read of many more on our book page.
  • Newspaper articles, tombstones, burial records, and probate files are other sources for vital records – some published in our Quarterly or separate books.

Offsite

  • The Illinois Statewide indexes for marriages (1770s – 1905), and deaths (1916 – 1971) include St. Clair County.
  • FamilySearch.org (some indexes may be in progress or may originate from a wide variety of resources).

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St. Clair County Genealogical Society, PO Box 431, Belleville, IL 62222-0431.
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