Dukes County Death Index and Records
Dukes County death records are part of the Massachusetts Death Index and cover Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands, a cluster of islands off the southwestern tip of Cape Cod. Because Dukes County is made up entirely of islands with no land connection to the mainland, accessing its death records has some unique practical considerations. The Massachusetts Death Index for Dukes County includes records from 1926 forward held at the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, older records at the State Archives going back to 1841, and unique island-specific records including those tied to Native American heritage and the area's maritime past. This page explains how to find and order Dukes County death records.
Dukes County Overview
How Dukes County Death Records Work
Massachusetts registers deaths at the city and town level. Dukes County has seven towns: Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah, and Gosnold. Each town clerk registers deaths that occur in their town. The island's seasonal population swells dramatically in summer, which means deaths can occur among people who have no permanent connection to the island. In those cases, the Dukes County town clerk where the death occurred registers the record.
The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) holds Dukes County death records from 1926 through the present. The Massachusetts State Archives holds records from 1841 through 1925. Before 1841, church records, cemetery records, and early town records held by the individual Vineyard towns are the primary sources. Edgartown has records going back to the late 17th century.
Under MGL Chapter 46, Section 9, any death must be filed within 24 hours. On an island, this process works the same as on the mainland, with town clerks handling the registration locally before forwarding records to the state.
Note: Dukes County's year-round population is roughly 20,000, but this can increase to more than 100,000 in peak summer months, which affects the volume of deaths registered in any given year.
Native American Heritage Records in Dukes County
Dukes County holds a distinct place in Massachusetts vital records because of its deep connection to the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). The town of Aquinnah is home to one of two federally recognized Wampanoag tribal governments in Massachusetts. This means some Dukes County death records may intersect with tribal records and Native American heritage documentation in ways that are not common elsewhere in the state.
Tribal records are maintained separately from state vital records and are under the jurisdiction of the tribe. For deaths involving tribal members, records may appear in both state files and tribal archives. Researchers tracing Wampanoag family lines should plan to consult both the standard Massachusetts vital records system and the Aquinnah Cultural Center or the tribe directly.
The Martha's Vineyard Museum in Edgartown holds historical collections that include Vineyard-specific vital records, cemetery inscriptions, and documents tied to the island's Native American communities going back centuries. This is a strong local resource for Dukes County death research that predates the formal state records system.
Dukes County Probate and Family Court
The Dukes County Probate and Family Court handles estate matters for all seven towns on the island. When a Dukes County resident died and left property, a probate case would typically be opened here. Probate files can contain wills, estate inventories, letters of administration, and guardianship records. These are public records and are often useful as secondary sources when a vital record is missing or incomplete.
| Website | Dukes Probate and Family Court |
|---|
The Mass.gov listing page provides current contact information and hours. The screenshot below shows that court page.
Check the Mass.gov link for current hours before making a trip to the island specifically to visit the court.
Historical Dukes County probate records are available in part through the Massachusetts State Archives and through FamilySearch. The Martha's Vineyard Museum also holds some historical estate-related records. For more recent cases, the court maintains an online docket through the Massachusetts trial court system, which you can access remotely.
Dukes County Registry of Deeds
The Dukes County Registry of Deeds is at 81 Main Street in Edgartown. Like other registries across the state, it holds property records that can be useful after a death. When an estate is settled, heirs record new deeds to transfer property. These deeds often reference the probate case and can confirm a death date and the names of heirs.
| Address | 81 Main Street, Edgartown, MA 02539 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (508) 627-4023 |
| Website | Dukes County Official Website |
The Dukes County official website at the link above serves as a portal for county offices. The screenshot below shows that page.
Use this portal to find links to the Registry, county offices, and other local resources for Dukes County death research.
Martha's Vineyard property records can be complex due to the island's history of land use and Native American land rights in certain areas. The Registry staff can help direct you to the right deed books for your research.
Note: Some land in Dukes County, particularly in and near Aquinnah, is subject to tribal land claims and may have a different ownership history than standard Massachusetts property records suggest.
Searching Dukes County Death Records Online
FamilySearch has free Massachusetts death records from 1841 through 1924, including Dukes County. The Massachusetts State Archives has free digital images in the same range. These are the best free starting points for historical Dukes County death research. Given the island's small population, these indexes may be easier to search than in larger counties because there are fewer entries to sort through.
For deaths from 1926 onward, you need the RVRS or the local town clerk. Ancestry.com has a Massachusetts death records collection available by subscription. The Martha's Vineyard Museum in Edgartown is an important local resource. Their library and archives hold historical vital records, newspaper files, and genealogical collections specific to the Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands.
Because Dukes County is a small island community, newspaper death notices in local papers like the Vineyard Gazette can be very detailed and are often easier to search than statewide databases. The Gazette has been published since 1846, and its archives are a valuable tool for island genealogy. Some issues are available through library databases, and the Vineyard Gazette itself maintains historical archives.
Dukes County Death Certificate Contents and Access
A Massachusetts death certificate includes the decedent's full name, date and place of death, age, sex, race, marital status, and usual residence. It also records the cause of death, attending physician or medical examiner, informant name and relationship, and place of burial or cremation. For island deaths, the place of death will show the specific Vineyard town rather than the county.
Death records in Massachusetts are public. MGL Chapter 46, Section 2A governs access. Most people can request a copy without proving a family relationship. Certified copies carry an official seal. If a Dukes County death certificate has an error, MGL Chapter 46, Section 13 provides a process for filing an amendment through the RVRS. The funeral director or a family member can initiate the amendment with supporting documentation.
How to Order a Dukes County Death Certificate
Three options exist. Order from the RVRS for deaths from 1926 forward. Contact the local town clerk in the relevant Vineyard town for deaths registered there. Or order from the State Archives for deaths between 1841 and 1925.
The RVRS is at 150 Mount Vernon Street, Dorchester, MA 02125. Phone: 617-740-2600. Email: vital.recordsrequest@mass.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:45am to 4:45pm. In-person copies are $20 each. Mail orders are $32 per copy. VitalChek online orders are $54 for the first copy. Ordering from the RVRS by mail or online is often more practical than traveling to the island for Dukes County records.
The State Archives is at 220 Morrissey Boulevard in Boston. Phone: 617-727-2816. Email: archives@sec.state.ma.us. Certified copies are $3 each. Digital images from 1841 through 1924 are free to view online. The state's ordering page has step-by-step instructions and current fee information.
Cities in Dukes County
Dukes County has no qualifying cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. The county seat is the town of Edgartown. Other towns include Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah, and Gosnold. None reach the qualifying threshold. All are mentioned here for reference only.
Nearby Counties
Dukes County is an island county with no land borders. The nearest Massachusetts counties by water are listed below.