Hampden County, Massachusetts Genealogy
This is a historical and genealogical guide to the county of Hampden. You will find help with town histories, vital records, deeds and land records, city directories, cemetery records and cemeteries, churches, town records, newspapers, maps, and libraries.
- Massachusetts Genealogy Guide - Guide to Massachusetts State-wide Records
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for parliamentarian John Hampden. It is located in the northwestern area of the state.[1]
Hampden County, Massachusetts Record Dates[edit | edit source]
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| at town creation | at town creation | at town creation | 1812 | 1636 | 1812 | 1779 |
Brief History[edit | edit source]
This region was the first settled area in western Massachusetts Bay Colony centered around Springfield that was settled in 1636. It was first incorporated as the county of Hampshire. The first settlers arrived coming up the Connecticut River valley. The King Philip's War pulled settlers back from many frontier areas in 1675. Springfield has always been the center of trade and culture for this region. When Hampshire County was last divided, Springfield was made the county seat of the new county of Hampden. Realize that the old deeds for the region stayed in Springfield and the old probates moved in 1794 and stayed in Northampton. The county government was abolished on 1 July 1998, but its former jurisdiction is used for state offices as a district.[3]
Historical Data[edit | edit source]
The basic data are from the historical county boundary series[4] with additions from various sources.
| Dates | Events |
|---|---|
| 1 Aug. 1812 | Hampden County set off from the northern half of Hampshire County. [Mass. Acts, 1812, Ch. 137, p. 291] |
| 7 Feb. 1826 | Narrow strips of land exchanged between this county and Tolland Co., Conn., when state boundary straightened. |
| 7 Feb. 1831 | Small gain when Palmer annexed a part of Western [now Warren], Worcester Co. [Mass. Acts, 1831, Ch. 37, p. 545] |
| 4 May 1853 15 May 1855 |
Border between Tolland and Sandisfield, Berkshire Co., clarified - no change - and then redefined. [Mass. Acts, 1853, Ch. 421, Sec. 1, p. 639; 1855, Ch. 358, Sec. 1, p. 755] |
| 9 June 1909 | Large gain when Holyoke annexed a part of Northampton, Hampshire Co. [Mass. Acts, 1909, Ch. 480, Sec. 1, p. 498] |
| 29 Mar. 1910 | Border between Palmer and Ware, Hampshire Co., redefined - no change. [Mass. Acts, 1910, Ch. 471, Sec. 1, p. 422] |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[5]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
County Histories[edit | edit source]
Works written on the county include:
- Biographical Review: this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampden County, Massachusetts (Boston, 1895), 1138 pp.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL book 974.426 D3b and film 496791.
Digital versions at Hathi Trust and Ancestry ($). - Joseph Carvalho III, Black Families in Hampden County, Massachusetts, 1650-1855 (Boston, 1984), 211 pp.; (Boston, 2nd ed., 2011), xxiv, 400 pp.
WorldCat (Other Libraries) and 2nd ed.; FHL book 974.426 F2c and FHL book 974.426 F2c 2011. - Alfred Minott Copeland, ed., Our County and its People: a History of Hampden County, Massachusetts (Boston, 1902), 3v.
WorldCat (Other Libraries) and Index; Not at FHL.
Digital versions at Internet Archive (v. 1, v. 2, and v. 3), Google Books (v. 1 and v. 3), and Ancestry ($) (2v. only). - Clifton Johnson, Hampden County, 1636-1936 (New York, 1936), 3v.
WorldCat (Other Libraries) and Index; FHL book 974.426 H2j v. 1 and 2 only (1999 rep.) and FHL book 974.426 H2j index. - Sketches of the Churches and Pastors in Hampden County, Mass. (Westfield, Mass., 1854), viii, 144 pp.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL book 974.426 K2s and fiche 6019506.
Digital versions at Internet Archive, Google Books, and Ancestry ($). - Harry Andrew Wright, ed., Indian Deeds of Hampden County, being copies of all land transfers from the Indians recorded in the county of Hampden: Massachusetts, and some deeds from other sources, together with notes and translations of Indian place names (Springfield, Mass., 1905), 194 pp.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL book 974.426 R2w.
Digital versions at Internet Archive, Google Books, and Ancestry ($). - The Hampden County MAGenWeb Project, an member of The MAGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
- The USGenWeb Archives Project for Hampden County.
- FamilySearch.org FamilySearch Catalog for Hampden County.
Resources[edit | edit source]
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
In Massachusetts, the original vital records (of births, marriages, and deaths) have been created and maintained by the town or city in which the event occurred. In very early colonial times, copies of these records were submitted to the county, but that practice died out long before this county was established. There were marriage intentions commonly recorded in the bride's home town and additional recordings maybe found in the groom's home town and their current residence.
Massachusetts was the first state to bring a unified state-level recording of these events (but not marriage intentions) in 1841 (Boston excluded until 1850). The associated records of divorce and adoption are handled by the courts. The state has maintained a state-wide index to divorces since 1952, but adoption records will require more researching to discover.
It is easiest to start with the state vital records for events since 1841, though realize the original record is with the town or city. More details can be found on the Massachusetts Genealogy Guide page.
Online Vital Records
- 1626-2001 Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1638-1961 Massachusetts Town Records, ca. 1638-1961 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1841-1920 Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1666-1970 Massachusetts, Delayed and Corrected Vital Records, 1753-1900 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1840-1910 Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1840-1910 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1600-1961 - Massachusetts, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1841-1915 Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Massachusetts, Marriages, 1841-1915 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1840-1910 Massachusetts Death Index at MyHeritge - index only ($)
Cemetery[edit | edit source]
| Tombstone Transcriptions Online | Tombstone Transcriptions in Print | List of Cemeteries in the county |
| Findagrave.com | Family History Library | Findagrave.com |
| USGenWeb | WorldCat | Billion Graves |
| MAGenWeb Archives | FamilySearch Places | |
| Tombstone Project | ||
| MAInterment | ||
| MAGravestones | ||
| Billion Graves | ||
| See Massachusetts Cemeteries for more information. | ||
Census[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1820 | 28,021 | — |
| 1830 | 31,639 | 12.9% |
| 1840 | 37,366 | 18.1% |
| 1850 | 51,283 | 37.2% |
| 1860 | 57,366 | 11.9% |
| 1870 | 78,409 | 36.7% |
| 1880 | 104,142 | 32.8% |
| 1890 | 135,713 | 30.3% |
| 1900 | 175,603 | 29.4% |
| 1910 | 231,369 | 31.8% |
| 1920 | 300,305 | 29.8% |
| 1930 | 335,496 | 11.7% |
| 1940 | 332,107 | −1.0% |
| 1950 | 367,971 | 10.8% |
| 1960 | 429,353 | 16.7% |
| 1970 | 459,050 | 6.9% |
| 1980 | 443,018 | −3.5% |
| 1990 | 456,310 | 3.0% |
| 2000 | 456,228 | −0.0% |
| 2010 | 463,490 | 1.6% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census, 1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Church Records[edit | edit source]
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
- 1837 - 1965 Maine & Massachusetts Case Files of Deceased and Deserted Seamen 1837-1965 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Land Records[edit | edit source]
Land transfers, commonly called deeds, are recorded on the county level in Massachusetts. Not all deeds were recorded as is common practice today. The earliest transactions were charters or grants from the English Crown. Once local government was established, the colony would grant land to settlers directly or to towns to dole out. Some towns first start out as proprietorship and records were recorded there. Once towns were established, deeds were recorded on the county level.
NOTE: Hampden County holds all the original deeds of Hampshire County from its beginning in 1662 to the creation of this county in 1812.
Springfield Registry of Deeds
50 State Street
Springfield MA 01103
Phone 413-755-1722
Email hcrodsd@sec.state.ma.us
Westfield Satellite Office
59 Court Street
Westfield MA 01085
Phone 413-568-2290
Note: See registry page above for temporary location of this office (Sept. 2013).
Records are available at the Registry. Their records ONLINE are:
- Recorded Land [i.e. deeds], 1956-present.
- Recorded Plans, no date.
- Registered Land [i.e. land court], no date.
- Registered Land Plans, no date.
- Deeds, v. 1-238 (1638-1867), indexes: 1636-1800, 1800-1849, 1850-1869, at FHL film 844472 (1st of 164) and New England Historic Genealogical Society.
- Deeds, v. 239-630 (1866-1902), indexes: 1870-1889, 1890-1899, 1900-1909; also Deeds, A-Z (1738-1762); also Springfield deeds, 1634-1664), at FHL film 1480098 (1st of 182) and New England Historic Genealogical Society.
- Harry Andrew Wright, Indian Deeds of Hampden County: being copies of all land transfers from the Indians recorded in the county of Hampden, Massachusetts, and some deeds from other sources together with notes and translations of Indian place names (Springfield, Mass., 1905), 194 pp.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL book 974.426 R2w.
Digital versions at Internet Archive, Google Books, and Ancestry ($).
Town Records[edit | edit source]
- 1626-2001 Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
for more resources
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
- 1635 – 1991 Massachusetts Wills and Probate Records 1635-1991 at Ancestry.com — index and images, $
Other Court Records[edit | edit source]
The court system can appear to be complex. The system was reorganized in 1686/1692, 1859, and 1978. Described below are the most commonly used records for history and genealogy, but realize that this list is incomplete. For more detailed information regarding court structure, see Understanding the Massachusetts Court System.
Older records are held by:
Supreme Judicial Court Archives
(administration - records stored in several off-site facilities and the Mass. Archives)
16th Floor, Highrise Court House
3 Pemberton Square
Boston MA 02109
Phone 617-557-1082
Email Elizabeth.Bouvier@sjc.state.ma.us
Quarterly Court of General Sessions of the Peace[edit | edit source]
This court was active from 1812 to 1827. The court heard criminal cases and had authority over county affairs that included levying taxes, reviewing town bylaws, highways, licensed liquor, regulated jails, supervised the administration of the poor laws, and appointed some county officials.
The records microfilmed:
Inferior Court of Common Pleas[edit | edit source]
This court was active from 1812 to 1859. The court heard all civil cases over 40s unless a case involved freehold or was appealed from a justice of the peace.
The records microfilmed:
Superior Court[edit | edit source]
The Quarterly Court of General Sessions was merged into the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in 1827, and that court was reorganized in 1859 to created the Superior Court as the new lower (i.e. trial) court. It covers both criminal and civil matters.
Supreme Judicial Court[edit | edit source]
The Supreme Judicial Court was established by the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 that combined the former Governor and Council with the Superior Court of Judicature creating the highest state court. This court hears appeals, writ of error, capital offenses, and crimes against the public good. That included divorces until that action was moved to the lower court in 1887.
Naturalization Records[edit | edit source]
- 1871-1991 Massachusetts, United States Naturalization Records, 1871-1991 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1906-1917 Massachusetts, Naturalization Records, 1906-1917 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Naturalization records were created on a variety of governmental levels from the Federal down to the city at the same time. The county records for all levels are outlines below. For more information, see the Massachusetts state page for more on naturalization.
No federal records as yet digitized at NARA.
| Record | Dates | Location | Index | Microfilm/Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supreme Judicial Ct. Ct. of Common Pleas |
1812-1859 | Judicial Archives | Indexed | Records, 1816-1859, at Mass. Arch. RR Final adm. and primary declaration, 1840-1852, FHL films 1480083-1480087 Primary declaration, 1853-1877, FHL films 1479810-1479812 Primary and final papers, 1853-1874, FHL films 1479802-1479809 Index, 1812-1861, at Mass. Arch. RR Index, 1812-1853, FHL film 1479801 Item 2 |
| Superior Court | 1860-1991 | Judicial Archives | Indexed | Records, 1860-1945, at Mass. Arch. RR Pending papers, 1851-1890, and dismissed papers, 1886-1887, FHL film 1479809 Items 2-3 Primary and final papers, 1853-1906, FHL films 1450861-1450864 Naturalization and final adm., 1875-1880, FHL film 1451438 (1st of 5) Cert. of intention, 1875-1893, FHL films 1479809-1479810 Records, 1879-1906, FHL film 1480087 (1st of 9); Declarations, 1906-1931, FHL film 1450792 (1st of 28); Petitions of military personnel, 1918, FHL film 1450864 Item 2; Records, 1927-1945, FHL film 1450864 (1st of 98); Index, 1906-1989, at Mass. Arch. RR and FHL film 2132736 (1st of 23); Index, 1812-1906, FHL film 1464362-1464363; Index, 1906-1986, FHL film 1464331-1464361 |
| Palmer District Court |
1896-1906 | District courthouse, Palmer, in 1990 | Indexed | Docket, records, and index, 1896-1906, FHL film 1673943 |
| Springfield District Court |
1886-1906 | District courthouse, Springfield, in 1990 | Indexed | Declaration and naturalization, 1852-1855, FHL film 1686074 Items 1-2; Naturalization papers and index, 1885-1906, FHL film 1686074 (1st of 18); Index, 1886-1906, FHL film 1686074 Item 7 |
Maps[edit | edit source]
Migration[edit | edit source]
- Connecticut River a navigable river stretching from the border of Quebec, New Hampshire, and Vermont flowing south to through Connecticut into Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean at Old Saybrook, Middlesex County, Connecticut Genealogy
- Alford and Egremont (MA) Turnpike[7] 1812
- Ancram (NY) Turnpike[8] 1805, also sometimes called the Catskill Road, from Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut Genealogy to Catskill, Greene County, New York Genealogy
- Catskill Road 1750s from Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts Genealogy to Catskill, Greene County, New York Genealogy[9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
- Catskill Turnpike (aka Susquehannah Turnpike ) from Catskill, NY to Unadilla, NY; route travelled by Europeans by 1792; toll booths opened by 1804.[14] [11] [15] [16]
- Columbia (NY) Turnpike 1799
- Great Barrington and Aford (MA) Turnpike[17] 1812
- Greenwood Road[18] 1799 from Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut Genealogy to Albany, Albany County, New York Genealogy
- Hampden and Berkshire (MA) Turnpike[19] 1826
- Hillsdale and Chatham Turnpike 1805 from Alford, Berkshire County, Massachusetts Genealogy to Albany, Albany County, New York Genealogy
- Housatonic River (MA) Turnpike[20] 1809
- King's Highway, also known as the upper fork of the Boston Post Road, from Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Genealogy to Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina Genealogy 1650s
- Massachusetts 10th Turnpike[21] 1800
- Massachusetts 12th Turnpike[22] 1812
- Old Connecticut Path[23] [24] [25] 1630 from Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Genealogy to Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut Genealogy
- Rensselaer and Columbia (NY) Turnpike 1799
- Salisbury and Canaan (CT) Turnpike[26] 1801-1829
- Ulster and Delaware Turnpike 1802 from Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut Genealogy to Bainbridge, Chenango County, New York Genealogy
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Revolutionary War[edit | edit source]
- 1775 - 1783 Massachusetts, Revolutionary War, Index Cards to Muster Rolls, 1775-1783 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1805 - 1845 Massachusetts Revolutionary War Bounty Land Applications, 1805-1845 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Hampden County Massachusetts Libraries and Genealogy Societies[edit | edit source]
- Chester Historical Society
Chester, MA
E-mail: kamby64025@comcast.net
Website
- The Hampden Historical Society
Academy Hall 616 Main Street
Hampden, MA 01036
(413) 566-5803
E-mail: hampdenhistoricalsociety01036@yahoo.com
Website Facebook
- Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society
SPO Box 418
West Springfield, MA 01090-0418
Phone Number
E-mail: emailofsociety
Website
- Hampden County MA Historical Societies CountyOffice.org
For information on additional archives and repositories, see
- List of Massachusetts Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies
- Massachusetts Archives for information on additional archives and repositories
- List of Massachusetts Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Boston Massachusetts Family History Center
- Marlborough Massachusetts Family History Center
- Worcester Massachusetts Family History Center
- Berkshire Athenaeum - an affiliate library
- Chicopee Public Library - an affiliate library
- Jones Library Inc. - an affiliate library
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Hampden, County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampden_County,_Massachusetts
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Hampden County, Massachusetts . Page 329-331 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 322-323.
- ↑ Abolished County Governments - Secretary of State, Acts of 1997, Ch. 48, Sect. 1.
- ↑ Massachusetts Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Hampden County, Massachusetts," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampden_County,_Massachusetts, accessed 19 March 2020.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 847-61. WorldCat entry; FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Frederic J. Wood, The Turnpikes of New England and the Evolution of the Same Through England, Virginia, and Maryland (Boston: Marshall Jones, 1919), map between 56 and 57, and 168. Internet Archive version online.
- ↑ Isaac Huntting, History of the Little Nine Partners of North East Precinct and Pine Plains, New York, Dutchess County (Amenia, NY: Chas. Walsh, 1897), 99-101. Google Book edition.
- ↑ List of turnpikes in New York in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 6 November 2014).
- ↑ Ancram Turnpike in Routes in the Northeastern United States: Historic Trails, Roads and Migration Routes (accessed 6 November 2014). The Ancram Turnpike went from Springield, MA to Catskill, NY; and was called the Catskill Road.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Almira E Morgan, The Catskill Turnpike: A Wilderness Path (Ithaca, N.Y.: DeWitt Historical Society of Thompkins County, 1971), 5. Online digital copy.
- ↑ [ Catskill Turnpike] in Routes in the Northeastern United States: Historic Trails, Roads and Migration Routes (accessed 6 November 2014). The Catskill Turnpike went west from Catskill, NY to Bath, NY; the east part was called the Susquehanna Turnpike.
- ↑ Huntting, 97-99.
- ↑ List of turnpikes in New York in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 1 November 2014).
- ↑ Anastassia Zinke, The Susquehanna Turnpike and America's Frontier History in Catskill Mountain Foundation (accessed 1 November 2014).
- ↑ Joan Odess, The Susquehanna Turnpike (pdf accessed 1 November 2014).
- ↑ Wood, map between 56 and 57, and 186-88.
- ↑ Wood, map between 330 and 331, and 348-49.
- ↑ Wood, map between 56 and 57, and 203-205.
- ↑ Wood, map between 56 and 57, and 166-67.
- ↑ Wood, map between 56 and 57, and 76-78.
- ↑ Wood, map between 56 and 57, and 79-80.
- ↑ Old Connecticut Path in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 28 October 2014).
- ↑ Wood, 25.
- ↑ Boston Post Road in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 28 October 2014).
- ↑ Wood, map between 330 and 331, and 363-64.
Connecticut: Hartford | Litchfield | Tolland
