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Welcome to Massachusetts GenealogyResearch in Massachusetts can be an exciting and rewarding experience. With records available for more than 400 years of the state's history, your family is sure to be found in a variety of records available online and at the many archives and libraries located throughout the state.
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About Family History Research in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a great place to do research because of the wealth of historical material that can be found at the state's many archives, libraries, and other repositories. Some of the state's best resources for historical research can be found in the city of Boston. There are many archives and libraries available there that would be helpful to your search. In addition to state level archives, records can also be located at the local level at county courthouses, public libraries, churches, county clerks' offices, cemeteries, and local historical societies. Many records are also now available online at a number of great websites like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch, both of which have searchable databases consisting of billions of records relating to the history of Massachusetts.
Records for the entire state of Massachusetts can be found at the Massachusetts Archives and State Library of Massachusetts in Boston. These records include property deeds, court records, newspapers, local histories, military records, family wills, tax lists, vital records, biographies, and other types of records. It might also be worthwhile to visit the library at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, which is also located in Boston. Their holdings include vital records, immigration records, newspapers, city directories, biographies, and many other types of records. All of these places house billions of records relating to Massachusetts history and genealogy.
There are a number of ways to get copies of vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) in Massachusetts. Massachusetts began statewide registration of vital records in 1906, but some cities began registering these events earlier. The Massachusetts State Archives has vital records indexes starting in 1906, but doesn't hold copies of the original records. Uncertified copies of vital records can be ordered from the Massachusetts Department of Health in Harrisburg. Birth records are open to the general public for births that occurred at least 105 years ago and for marriage and death records that occurred at least 50 years ago. Access to copies of more recent vital records is restricted to immediate family members.
The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah also holds a large collection of historical records relating to the state of Massachusetts. This is the largest and most important genealogy collection in the world and is worth a visit to explore the many billions of records that can be found there. Published material consists of books, microfilm, microfiche, and other records for the 14 counties of Massachusetts. The Family History Library also has smaller family history centers located throughout the world where you can order microfilm and have these records shipped from Utah to the local area where you live. The library has also transcribed and indexed millions of Massachusetts vital, immigration, census, military, and other records which are available to view or download online at FamilySearch.org.
Records for the entire state of Massachusetts can be found at the Massachusetts Archives and State Library of Massachusetts in Boston. These records include property deeds, court records, newspapers, local histories, military records, family wills, tax lists, vital records, biographies, and other types of records. It might also be worthwhile to visit the library at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, which is also located in Boston. Their holdings include vital records, immigration records, newspapers, city directories, biographies, and many other types of records. All of these places house billions of records relating to Massachusetts history and genealogy.
There are a number of ways to get copies of vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) in Massachusetts. Massachusetts began statewide registration of vital records in 1906, but some cities began registering these events earlier. The Massachusetts State Archives has vital records indexes starting in 1906, but doesn't hold copies of the original records. Uncertified copies of vital records can be ordered from the Massachusetts Department of Health in Harrisburg. Birth records are open to the general public for births that occurred at least 105 years ago and for marriage and death records that occurred at least 50 years ago. Access to copies of more recent vital records is restricted to immediate family members.
The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah also holds a large collection of historical records relating to the state of Massachusetts. This is the largest and most important genealogy collection in the world and is worth a visit to explore the many billions of records that can be found there. Published material consists of books, microfilm, microfiche, and other records for the 14 counties of Massachusetts. The Family History Library also has smaller family history centers located throughout the world where you can order microfilm and have these records shipped from Utah to the local area where you live. The library has also transcribed and indexed millions of Massachusetts vital, immigration, census, military, and other records which are available to view or download online at FamilySearch.org.
Immigration to Massachusetts
For almost 400 years, Massachusetts has been one of the primary ports of arrival for immigrants seeking a new life in America. During the 1600s, many immigrants came from the British Isles. The 1700s witnessed a continued influx of people from the British Isles and Germany, and from the mid-1800s to early 1900s, Germans, Irish, Italians and Eastern European Jews came to Massachusetts. After World War II, people came from even farther afield from countries located in the Middle East, Caribbean, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Many immigrants became naturalized U.S. citizens at courts throughout Massachusetts. Records relating to your ancestors' citizenship can thus often be found at county courthouses when they're not available for download online, or on microfilm at places like the Family History Library, NARA, Massachusetts Archives, State Library of Massachusetts, and New England Historic Genealogical Society. Locating these records can sometimes prove difficult and time-consuming. However, immigration records are some of the most widely used in Massachusetts family history research and can provide you with a wealth of detail about your ancestor's life story and origins.
If your ultimate goal is to trace your ancestry beyond Massachusetts to your family's place of origin overseas, it is important to first locate the many different types of records that your immigrant ancestors left behind in Massachusetts. Records like ships' passenger lists, declarations of intention, naturalization petitions, census records, military records, vital records, obituaries, and cemetery records can often provide you with information about your ancestor's birthplace, names of relatives, and other important information. This will help you narrow down your search parameters when your ancestry search continues overseas. It is generally not possible to locate family records in places like Russia, Germany, Poland, or Italy without first conducting extensive research in the USA.
Many immigrants became naturalized U.S. citizens at courts throughout Massachusetts. Records relating to your ancestors' citizenship can thus often be found at county courthouses when they're not available for download online, or on microfilm at places like the Family History Library, NARA, Massachusetts Archives, State Library of Massachusetts, and New England Historic Genealogical Society. Locating these records can sometimes prove difficult and time-consuming. However, immigration records are some of the most widely used in Massachusetts family history research and can provide you with a wealth of detail about your ancestor's life story and origins.
If your ultimate goal is to trace your ancestry beyond Massachusetts to your family's place of origin overseas, it is important to first locate the many different types of records that your immigrant ancestors left behind in Massachusetts. Records like ships' passenger lists, declarations of intention, naturalization petitions, census records, military records, vital records, obituaries, and cemetery records can often provide you with information about your ancestor's birthplace, names of relatives, and other important information. This will help you narrow down your search parameters when your ancestry search continues overseas. It is generally not possible to locate family records in places like Russia, Germany, Poland, or Italy without first conducting extensive research in the USA.
Getting Started with Your Research
Many people wonder where they should begin with their family history research in Massachusetts. If you are new to genealogical research, the first thing you'll need to do is to start building a family tree with the information you already have at your disposal. There are some great genealogy software programs available that will help you get started with this process. Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, Family Historian, and RootsMagic all make great programs that can help you organize your research.
Get started by first creating a pedigree chart for yourself and family group sheets for your parents, grandparents, and other close family members. You can download free copies of these forms at FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com. You can also create these records using a genealogy software program. Family group sheets allow you to record information like family members' birth dates, marriage dates, death dates, burial places, spouses' names, and other information that will be helpful to you as your research progresses. Interview living relatives and take notes about the major events of their lives. Add this information to your family files so that you will have a strong foundation of information as you move forward with your project.
During the initial stages of your research, you can accomplish a great deal using online resources. It is highly recommended that you get subscriptions to websites like Ancestry.com and Fold3.com to help with your ongoing research. Information can also be found online at FamilySearch.org. Many types of records including censuses, World War I draft registration cards, naturalization records, and Social Security Index are available online and will help you put in place the building blocks for the first part of your family tree. Using a combination of online resources along with more traditional archival research at places like the Massachusetts Archives and NARA will allow you to create a thoroughly documented family history.
A professional genealogist could also be helpful to your research in Massachusetts. With the expertise and knowledge of an expert, you can have someone visit local archives and libraries on your behalf throughout the state of Massachusetts. This is especially helpful if you don't live in the area and don't have ready access to court, land, and many other types of records that can often only be found after a visit to a county courthouse, public library, historical society, or town clerk's office. If you would like a professional genealogist to assist you with your ongoing research in Massachusetts and elsewhere, please click here.
It is important when carrying out your research that you are thorough in documenting your family tree. Don't overlook the importance of finding your ancestor's siblings, cousins, and other close relatives. Brick walls are often encountered in genealogical research. To get beyond an apparent impasse it is often worthwhile to approach your research holistically. Many researchers who are new to genealogy often just want to get back as far as possible along a direct paternal or maternal family line. However, it is often the death certificates, obituaries, or other records of your direct ancestor's siblings or other close relatives that will provide you with the breakthroughs you are looking for.
Get started by first creating a pedigree chart for yourself and family group sheets for your parents, grandparents, and other close family members. You can download free copies of these forms at FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com. You can also create these records using a genealogy software program. Family group sheets allow you to record information like family members' birth dates, marriage dates, death dates, burial places, spouses' names, and other information that will be helpful to you as your research progresses. Interview living relatives and take notes about the major events of their lives. Add this information to your family files so that you will have a strong foundation of information as you move forward with your project.
During the initial stages of your research, you can accomplish a great deal using online resources. It is highly recommended that you get subscriptions to websites like Ancestry.com and Fold3.com to help with your ongoing research. Information can also be found online at FamilySearch.org. Many types of records including censuses, World War I draft registration cards, naturalization records, and Social Security Index are available online and will help you put in place the building blocks for the first part of your family tree. Using a combination of online resources along with more traditional archival research at places like the Massachusetts Archives and NARA will allow you to create a thoroughly documented family history.
A professional genealogist could also be helpful to your research in Massachusetts. With the expertise and knowledge of an expert, you can have someone visit local archives and libraries on your behalf throughout the state of Massachusetts. This is especially helpful if you don't live in the area and don't have ready access to court, land, and many other types of records that can often only be found after a visit to a county courthouse, public library, historical society, or town clerk's office. If you would like a professional genealogist to assist you with your ongoing research in Massachusetts and elsewhere, please click here.
It is important when carrying out your research that you are thorough in documenting your family tree. Don't overlook the importance of finding your ancestor's siblings, cousins, and other close relatives. Brick walls are often encountered in genealogical research. To get beyond an apparent impasse it is often worthwhile to approach your research holistically. Many researchers who are new to genealogy often just want to get back as far as possible along a direct paternal or maternal family line. However, it is often the death certificates, obituaries, or other records of your direct ancestor's siblings or other close relatives that will provide you with the breakthroughs you are looking for.
Massachusetts County Records
Many Massachusetts family records can be found online and at large state level archives and libraries in Boston. Many millions of records aren't yet available online, though, and many of these are awaiting your discovery at the local level at county courthouses, historical societies, churches, town clerks' offices, cemeteries, and elsewhere in Massachusetts. To find these and other records, click on the links below to find more information about the specific counties where your ancestors lived in Massachusetts. You'll find information on these pages that will lead you to the specific documentation you're searching for.
It is important to keep in mind when doing research that the names and boundaries of certain counties in Massachusetts have changed over the past few hundred years. Your ancestors may have lived on a certain farm in one county and when borders were redrawn records relating to your family history might have been located in another area entirely. When searching for land, court, tax, and other records it is also a good idea to search for these records in adjacent counties. Following is a complete list of Massachusetts' 14 counties along with their formation dates, county seats, and names of parent counties.
It is important to keep in mind when doing research that the names and boundaries of certain counties in Massachusetts have changed over the past few hundred years. Your ancestors may have lived on a certain farm in one county and when borders were redrawn records relating to your family history might have been located in another area entirely. When searching for land, court, tax, and other records it is also a good idea to search for these records in adjacent counties. Following is a complete list of Massachusetts' 14 counties along with their formation dates, county seats, and names of parent counties.
County
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Formation Date
1685
1761
1685
1695
1643
1811
1812
1662
1643
1695
1793
1685
1643
1731
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County Seat
Barnstable
Pittsfield
Taunton
Edgartown
Salem, Lawrence
Greenfield
Springfield
Northampton
Lowell, Cambridge
Nantucket
Dedham
Brockton, Plymouth
Boston
Worcester
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Parent County
Plymouth Colony
Hampshire County
Plymouth Colony
Dukes County, New York
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Hampshire County
Hampshire County
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Dukes County, New York
Suffolk County
Plymouth County
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Hampshire, Middlesex & Suffolk
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