Massachusetts Family History Research

The Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor by William Halsall (1882).

No state in the Union can boast the depth and breadth of vital records sources that is available in Massachusetts. Starting with the arrival of the Pilgrims, vital events have been diligently, although not completely, recorded, preserved, and published. Vital records have been registered in Massachusetts since 1635. Statewide data collection began in 1841. Of 364 towns, 206 had published vital records to 1850.

Search for historical records for ancestors in Massachusetts.


Massachusetts Research Resources:

• Massachusetts Archives
• Massachusetts State Library
• Boston Public Library
• Massachusetts Historical Society
• Massachusetts GenWeb
• New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS): In addition to the extensive collections in the NEHGS research library (Boston), NEGHS maintains a wide range of databases specific to Massachusetts.
• American Antiquarian Society (AAS): Some highlights of the Society’s collection include family bibles; state, county, and local histories; and over 17,000 family histories. See the genealogy research page for information.
• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Northeast region: This facility maintains records from Federal agencies and courts in Massachusetts, including census, military, court, naturalization, and immigration records. See the Genealogy/Family History link for details of the collection.
  
  

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  UK/Ireland Genealogy Records