On 7/14/2011 3:06 PM, Jan Walker wrote: > I heard from one of the libraries in Franklin County that the records burned > back in the 1800's. > > Has anyone else ever heard this? > > Jan in IA Jan: It is inherently unlikely that "the records burned" for Franklin County, for one simple reason. Until relatively recently, most vital records were kept by the towns, in the possession of the town clerks. The odds of *every* town in the county having its records go up in flames is minuscule. However, what may have been meant is that a *particular* town's records burned. In that case, of course it is possible. (In some small towns, the town clerk's home was where the records were kept.) Also, the probate district records for the county might have been lost -- although technically not part of county government, a probate district usually keeps all the records for the county regarding wills, guardianships, etc. because most Vermont counties had, or have, one probate district. It is up to the probate court to decide where in the county to keep things -- there is no reason why it would have to be in, or near, the county courthouse. No reason why it couldn't be, either, as far as I know. Darrell