Massachusetts Genealogy

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Overview of Massachusetts records

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Overview of Massachusetts Genealogy Records

• History: Massachusetts was first settled in 1620 and became a state in 1788.
• Birth records: Some birth records were kept by the government starting as early as 1639, but they are incomplete. Statewide registration of births began in 1841. Birth records are kept by the individual towns. Birth records for 1926 and later can be obtained from the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics .
• Marriage records: Some marriage records were kept by the government starting as early as 1639, but they are incomplete. Statewide registration of marriages began in 1841.  Marriage records are kept by the individual towns. Marriage records for 1926 and later can be obtained from the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics .
• Death records: Some death records were kept by the government starting as early as 1639, but they are incomplete. Statewide registration of deaths began in 1841.  Death records are kept by the individual towns. Death records for 1926 and later can be obtained from the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.
• Divorce records: Early divorce records are found in various court records. Divorce records from 1798 to 1887 were kept by the Supreme Judicial Court in each county. Starting in 1887, the Superior Court for each county kept the records. Starting in 1922, the county probate courts have been keeping divorce records.
• Census records: The first federal census available for Massachusetts is 1790. There are federal censuses publicly available for 1790, 1800 (partial), 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950. There were state censuses taken in 1855 and 1865.
• County records: Court, probate, land, naturalization, and tax records were kept by the individual counties.
• Other records: Many cities and towns had newspapers, records kept by churches, cemeteries, histories, school, city directories, and other records that can be located on the city pages on this site. Records specific to minority groups can be found in the Minority Records section.
• All records: Online indexes and images of many of the above records can be found by using the links on this site.