CITY OF BOSTON.

In Board of Aldermen, May 2, 1864.

Laid on the table, and 500 copies ordered to be printed.

Attest:

S. F. MCCLEARY, City Clerk.

REPORT.

TO THE CITY COUNCIL:

In conformity with the ordinance defining the duties of the City Registrar, the undersigned has the honor herewith to submit his Annual Report of the Births, Marriages, and Deaths in the city of Boston during the year 1863. The usual Tables, and details illustrative of the same, are annexed, together with such observations as have seemed to him not out of place in a document of this character.

The value of a system of registration of Births, Marriages, and Deaths was recognized in this State at an early period, and persistent efforts were employed to render its operations efficient. The records in this office attest the zeal and fidelity of our ancestors in this work; and many in our own day are constantly availing themselves of their labors for purposes of individual and public benefit. Few are aware of how much has been added to the common stock of knowledge from materials recorded, it may be, two hundred years ago, by some unpretending individual whose only official designation may still be read in quaint old characters, and in an equally quaint style, "Clarke of the writts." These materials, sometimes of great historic value, and always

interesting, have been industriously gleaned by the careful and patient antiquary, and modestly sent forth to find conspicuous places on the shelves of public libraries, and of men of liberal culture. Works of this character have rapidly increased during the last few years; and though they do not readily make their way to popular regard, their value is daily acknowledged by the discerning few.

The value that a system of registration has in determining the growth of population, and the consequent increase of material wealth, is so obvious, that the wonder is, that there can be found any intelligent person, as is too often the case, who will hazard the question, — Of what conceivable public good can it be, that a formal record should be made of the day when John Smith was ushered "into this breathing world;" or when he took to himself a partner "for better or worse;" and lastly, of the day when he made his exit from things terrestrial? The querist can understand why John's birthday should be all-absorbing to his worthy parents, - not altogether free of interest to his better half, and possibly of some slight concern to the small circle of friends among whom he was wont to revolve with more or less brilliancy; but as to the value of those events to the town, city, or state, that is quite another affair, and they find considerable difficulty in satisfactorily disposing of the question. By such querists, these every-day events are regarded merely as so many independent occurrences, and not, as they are, links in a chain that unites the past with the future.

While there is so much ignorance or indifference on this subject, there is some compensation in the fact

that there are a few (and the number is steadily increasing) who are desirous of knowing who were their grandfathers; and that, if ordinary care be exercised, a considerable portion of the next generation will know what three fifths of the present one are profoundly ignorant of, -the maiden names of their grandmothers. It would surprise many to realize how little they know of their origin, and astonish not a few to be told that it would require considerable thinking on their part to name their grandfathers' birthplaces, and a still larger number to designate the places where their grandmothers were born.

To many, these familiar and simple facts doubtless appear of little consequence; but events occur almost daily, which show how much has been lost by individuals who are unable to produce a public record to authenticate a birth, marriage, or death. A week spent in this office by those who regard the matter of registration as of doubtful utility, would afford them abundant reason to change their minds.

The records for the past year have been made with all the care that such details would admit of; and it is believed that in no city of this country, of equal size, can similar records be found as complete and accurate as those belonging to Boston.

BIRTHS.

The collection of the facts connected with the registration of the births was made by Messrs. Adams. Sampson, & Co., the well known compilers of the "Boston Directory." This work has been performed