RUMFORD — Among the items stored inside the vault at the Town Hall are registry books for the town’s births, marriages and deaths, dating as far back as 1892.

These registry books are popular with people doing genealogy research.

There are more than 30 of these books in various conditions, depending upon their ages. The newest books are dated from the 1960s, bound differently and not used as much as the older ones.

Beth Bellegarde, town clerk and treasurer, said the town is going to start sending out books by mid-month to be rebounded, starting with the oldest, a book called “Registry of Births – A1.” This book has handwritten listings from 1892-1908 and includes records that have been inserted, with some pages torn and taped.

“There are a few others that are almost as bad, but we use this one the most and it’s in the worst shape,” said Bellegarde.

A couple of years ago, she began asking for money in the budget to go toward this work.

“It’s the responsibility of each town to keep their physical records secure, safe and usable. To me, that’s what I’m doing. If I don’t do this, they’ll become more damaged,” she said.

Kofile Preservation Co. from Essex, Vermont, will do the work.

“One of the reasons I went with this company is that I will have access to the information even when the book is being worked on. I can call this company with what I need and they can give me that information (from a Rumford book they have),” said Bellegarde.

“The first book is going to cost quite a bit. After that gets done, they’ll be a few costly ones, then the newer books have less damage and cost less,” she said. The work will be done over a period of 10 years, one book at a time. 

“With the first one, they will repair all the damage from the tape, take care of the inserts, and the whole book will be rebounded,” said Bellegarde.

The estimate is about $3,000 for the first book, with costs for subsequent books between $1,000 to $2,000. Repairs to the newer ones will cost less than $1,000.

“You wouldn’t believe how much we use this book here for genealogy purposes,” said Bellegarde, referring to the first book. “In the course of a year, I might get into it one to two times a month, probably more, for people asking for information.”

She also has some unofficial records that date further back in the 1800s.

“That information is only as good as the information given to the town at the time, but I’ve been successful with helping people find information as far back as 1800,” she said.

“They’re all very, very excited when they can find something, and disappointed when they can’t. My satisfaction is helping people find something. Anything — last name, middle initial, date of birth,” said Bellegarde. Some searches take two hours and others only five minutes. “But it’s usually at least half an hour,” she said.

People are just looking to go back as far as they can, she said.

“Sometimes they’re looking for their own family tree. They’re looking for aunts, uncles and cousins. Generally, they’re looking for any kind of information that can help them go back a little bit further,” she said.

Bellegarde said sometimes there are questions about broken families where the father had more than one wife because of death or divorce, and the researcher is trying to find step or half-siblings.

“One of the things I tell people is not to come in here with preconceived ideas because if you do, we won’t find it. But if you come in with an open mind, we might find something. Sometimes they’re determined that that person is who they thought it was because their uncle told them.”

The records often tell a different story. “It’s not necessarily that way when you start looking,” she said.

Bellegarde said that except during elections, people with genealogy questions can visit her office without an appointment.

“If they come in and I can help them, I do. I very much enjoy it. I want to do my own at some point,” she noted.

There are rules regarding sharing information from these registry books.

“If they’re looking for recent genealogy, they have to show a relationship for me to give that information to them,” said Bellegarde.

The records for births for 75 years are closed, so researchers have to show proof of relationship. For marriages, it’s 50 years; for deaths, 25.

“When someone calls me up and wants to know something, I have to go check and make sure I’m in compliance. I try not to promise anyone anything over the phone,” she said. The first thing she does is ask for identification. 

“If it’s a closed record, I can’t give any information over the phone anyway, so they have to come and see me, or do it by mail,” she said.

In order to access a death record from the last 25 years, a researcher has to show a legitimate reason for wanting it, she said.

“Either it’s yours or a family member,” she said. All marriages over 50 years are open records, she said.

Bellegarde can be reached during business hours by calling 207-364-3001, ext. 214.

[email protected]

“Sometimes they’re looking for their own family tree. They’re looking for aunts, uncles and cousins. Generally, they’re looking for any kind of information that can help them go back a little bit further.” — Rumford Town Clerk/Treasurer Beth Bellegarde on genealogy research.