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Massachusetts Research Outline |
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Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Obituaries
Periodicals
Probate Records
Societies
Taxation
Town Records
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions
LAND AND PROPERTY
During the colonial period, land was granted by the General Court to proprietors After proprietors sold their land or a town was incorporated, town clerks recorded deeds and mortgages. These records are at the town halls; the Family History Library has copies of most of them.
Plymouth Colony records (1632–1701) are in:
Shurtleff, N. B. and David Pulsifer, eds. Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England. 12 vols. Boston: William White, 1855-61. (FHL book 974.4 N2n; film 944128-29; fiche 6046866; computer number 93368.)
Massachusetts Bay Colony records (1628–1685) are in:
Shurtleff, Nathaniel B. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England. 5 vols. Boston: W. White, 1853-54. (FHL book 974.4 N2s; fiche 6046893; computer number 253457.)
After a county was created, land records were recorded at county registry of deeds offices. Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, and Worcester counties have more than one office because they are divided into two or more land districts. Addresses of the offices are found in Genealogist's Handbook for New England Research (see the “Gazetteers” and “For Further Reading” sections of this outline).
The Family History Library has most county land records and indexes from the county's creation to the early 1900s. For example, see Suffolk County deeds:
Suffolk County (Massachusetts) Register of Deeds: Records of Deeds, 1639–1885; Indexes to Deeds, 1639–1920. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1969. (On 1128 FHL films; computer number 350419.)
Boston and Suffolk County records (1629–1697) are in:
Suffolk Deeds. 14 vols. Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, 1880-1906. (FHL book 974.46 R2s; vols. 1-14 are on 5 films, beginning with FHL film 1033902; vols. 1-2, 4-7, 9-11, and 14 are on FHL fiche 6046903; computer number 83836.)
Many maps are available from the Massachusetts State Archives. The Family History Library has:
Atlases with Massachusetts maps for the years 1790, 1810, 1823, 1838, 1857, 1862, 1878, 1884, and 1917 (FHL film 002083; various computer numbers.) These maps appear on many items on this film.
Massachusetts, Harbor and Land Commission. Massachusetts Town Boundary Atlases, 1898–1916. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974. (FHL film 954154-56; computer number 184795.)
United States, Geographical Survey. Topographic Maps of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Washington, D.C.: United States Geological Survey, 1950, 1964–1965. (FHL map 974 E7uss; computer number 122979.) Has topographical survey maps showing home sites, roads, lakes and streams, churches, cemeteries, etc.
Ward Maps of the United States Cities. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, [1975?]. (FHL fiche 6016577–6016590; computer number 181937.) Has city ward maps for Boston for 1800–1896.
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Proprietor and Town Records
, who also granted land. These records are located at the Massachusetts State Archives and other repositories. The state archives also has records and papers relating to proprietary grants, land claims, grants of bounty lands to soldiers, boundary disputes, and surveyors' records.
County Records
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