Carter County's Early Birth Records

Remember to check alternate spellings for whatever surname you are researching.  
Also, be  advised that the original recorder had a bad habit of not crossing his "t's", so some "t's"  appear to be "l's."  
If you find any discrepancies, please  email me with the  correction.


Kentucky started keeping birth and death records in 1852, stopped in 1862, started again in 1874, 
but didn't get serious about it until 1 January 1911.  
Before that date, births and deaths were recorded at the county level 
and copies were forwarded to the state once a year.   
Because of official indifference and neglect, no records are extant for many of the years before 1911.


Delayed Birth Records

"People lacking official certificates could file delayed birth certificates with the state.  
This became common starting around 1940 due to the requirements of Social Security and military service.  
According to Roseann Hogan, "Kentuckians have filed over a half-million of these delayed certificates... 
Social Security, for a time, accepted completed certificates that were not filed with the Department of Vital Statistics in Frankfort.  
Therefore, it is possible, that even if no official certificate can be found in Frankfort, 
a certificate may have been filed with Social Security or other government agencies."  (Kentucky Ancestry, page 79)

Delayed birth certificates contain name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, race, parents' names, ages, etc. 
similar to regular birth certificates. plus two older witnesses, one related one unrelated.

Delayed Birth Records (PDF)

Delayed Birth Records (Excel)

1911 - 1920 Birth Records