The New England states, other than Massachusetts, adopted a
statewide system of collecting vital records (birth, marriage,
and death) in the late 19th century. [Mass. was first in the
mid-19th century]. After those dates you should be able to find
any such record in the statewide system. Usually, the state
official asked that the town clerks to submit their records for
previous years as well, which was done on a voluntary basis. So,
in Maine you have a pre-1892 statewide collection that includes
some but certainly not all towns. Vermont has a collection of
vital records pre-1870, etc. New Hampshire has a similar set
that has been microfilmed. It functions the same as the others.
Some towns are included and most are not. However, New Hampshire
is unique in that its order of surnames is not alphabetical as
are the records of Maine and Vermont. New Hampshire alphabetizes
the surnames by the first letter, then third letter, then second
letter. So when searching the name Wallis or Wallace, it is WLA.
It is therefo