Dukes County Death Records Search
Dukes County death records cover Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands, with each town clerk on the island maintaining its own records since there is no county-level vital records office. This guide explains how to request certified copies, which offices to contact, what the island location means for your search, and where to find historical records for this unique Massachusetts county.
Dukes County Overview
How to Get Dukes County Death Records
Dukes County covers Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands. Like the rest of Massachusetts, the county has no central vital records office. Death records are held by the town clerk in each of the seven island towns: Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Gosnold, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and West Tisbury. When a death occurs in Edgartown, the Edgartown Town Clerk holds that certificate. A death in Oak Bluffs goes to the Oak Bluffs Town Clerk, and so on.
The Edgartown Town Clerk is the most commonly contacted office because Edgartown is the county seat and one of the more populous towns on the island. The office is at 70 Main Street, P.O. Box 35, Edgartown, MA 02539. Phone: 508-627-6110. Fax: 508-627-6119. Email: wwilliams@edgartown-ma.us. For all other Dukes County towns, contact the town clerk in the specific community where the death occurred. Call ahead to confirm hours, fees, and request methods.
| Office | Edgartown Town Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 70 Main Street, P.O. Box 35, Edgartown, MA 02539 |
| Phone | 508-627-6110 |
| Fax | 508-627-6119 |
| wwilliams@edgartown-ma.us |
If you are researching from the mainland and can't easily reach island offices, the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) is a strong option. The RVRS holds death records from 1926 to the present for all Massachusetts communities, including every Dukes County town. They are at 150 Mount Vernon St, 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125. Phone: (617) 740-2600.
Note: Getting to Dukes County offices in person requires a ferry trip from the mainland. For records requests, mail or online methods through the RVRS or town clerks are strongly recommended to avoid an unnecessary trip to the island.
Dukes County Death Certificates: Ordering Options
For deaths from 1926 onward, the RVRS is the most practical option for people on the mainland. Walk-in service at 150 Mount Vernon St in Dorchester costs $20 per certified copy and is available Monday through Friday, 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM. Mail requests cost $32 per copy and take roughly 7 to 10 business days. You can also order through VitalChek online. The first certificate runs $54; each additional copy is $42. That price includes VitalChek's service fee. Email RVRS at vital.recordsrequest@state.ma.us.
The state's full ordering guide explains what documents you need and how each method works. The death certificates information page covers eligibility and what to bring for in-person requests.
The Dukes County Registry of Deeds is at the Main Street, Edgartown, MA 02539 (mailing: P.O. Box 5231). Phone: 508-627-4025. Fax: 508-627-7821. Email: registry@dukescounty.org. The Registry holds land records dating back to the 1600s. Land records can be viewed online through masslandrecords.com. Copy fees are $1.00 per page. The Registry does not hold death certificates, but its historical records can be useful in estate research involving Dukes County property.
The Dukes County Clerk office is at 81 Main St., P.O. Box 1267, Edgartown, MA 02539. This office handles county court and administrative records, not vital records.
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 46 governs all vital records in the state, including those for every Dukes County town on Martha's Vineyard.
What Dukes County Death Records Show
Massachusetts death certificates follow a uniform state format. Every certificate includes the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, age, and sex. The cause and manner of death are recorded as reported by the attending physician or medical examiner. Whether an autopsy occurred is also noted.
Standard fields also cover the decedent's birthplace, occupation, and residence at time of death. Parent names and spouse name (when applicable) are included. Disposition of remains, the funeral director's information, and the local registrar's signature are all part of the final certificate. MGL Chapter 46, Section 9 specifies exactly what each Massachusetts death certificate must contain. The state's full set of Chapter 46 laws is available at the Massachusetts General Laws page.
Note: Gosnold, one of the seven Dukes County towns, covers the Elizabeth Islands and is one of the most remote communities in Massachusetts. Contact the Gosnold Town Clerk directly for deaths occurring there.
Historical Dukes County Death Records
For older Dukes County deaths, the Massachusetts Archives in Boston holds death records from 1841 through 1930. Free digital images from 1841 to 1925 are available through FamilySearch. Certified copies from the Archives cost $3 each and take about 4 to 6 weeks. The Archives are at 220 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, phone 617-727-2816.
The Dukes County Registry of Deeds holds land records dating back to the 1600s, making it one of the older land record offices in New England. While these are not death records, they can provide supporting evidence for genealogical research, particularly for tracking family property through multiple generations. Records can be viewed for free online. The New England Historic Genealogical Society at American Ancestors also maintains Massachusetts vital records indexes that include Dukes County material.
Martha's Vineyard has a well-documented history of church records and town reports going back to the early colonial period. Local libraries and the Martha's Vineyard Museum hold historical collections that may supplement the official vital records for older death research.
Death Records Access and Law in Dukes County
Massachusetts death records are public. MGL Chapter 46, Section 2A opens vital records to public inspection. You do not need to prove a family connection or legal purpose to get a copy of a Dukes County death certificate. This applies to records held by any of the seven island town clerks and to records held at the state RVRS level.
Amendments to Dukes County death records fall under MGL Chapter 46, Section 13. Contact the town clerk that holds the original record to start a correction. Supporting documents are usually required. The RVRS can assist with state-level amendments for records in their system.
The island setting does not change the legal framework. The same Massachusetts vital records laws apply in Dukes County as everywhere else in the state. The practical difference is that in-person access requires ferry travel; mail and online methods are the most convenient options for most requesters.
Towns in Dukes County
Dukes County has seven towns and no cities: Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Gosnold, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and West Tisbury. None reach the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. For death records in any Dukes County town, contact that town's clerk directly or use the state RVRS resources listed above. Because the county is island-based, mail and online requests are often the most practical approach.
Nearby Massachusetts Counties
- Barnstable County (accessible by ferry)
- Nantucket County (separate island)