Suffolk County, Massachusetts Genealogy

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This is a historical and genealogical guide to the county of Suffolk. 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.


County Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

The county was named for Suffolk, England, which means "southern folk. It is located in the central area of the state.[1]

Suffolk County, Massachusetts Record Dates[edit | edit source]

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records[2]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
at town creation at town creation at town creation 1671 1639 1636 1779
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1841. General compliance year unknown.

Brief History[edit | edit source]

Suffolk County was one of the four original counties when Massachusetts Bay Colony Genealogy created counties in 1643 and had an undefined western border. It established and claimed as far west as Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut Genealogy. Initially, the county included Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, Dedham, Braintree, Weymouth, Hingham, and Nantasket [now Hull]. In 1671, Mendon was added from Middlesex County. For a brief time, the county was part of the Dominion of New England Genealogy from 1686 to 1689. The county eventually became part of the Royal colony of Massachusetts Bay. All towns to the south were lost to the creation of Norfolk County in 1793, leaving only Boston and Chelsea. Hingham and Hull protested their removal and thus remained in Suffolk County until they were transferred to Plymouth County in 1803. Boston was incorporated as a city in 1822. The city started annexing towns back: Roxbury (1868), Dorchester (1870), Brighton (1874), Charlestown (1874), West Roxbury (1874), and Hyde Park (1912). The county government was abolished on 1 July 1999, 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
10 May 1643 Suffolk County created as one of the four original counties formed out of Massachusetts Bay Colony. [Mass. Rec., 2: 38]
8 July 1663 Lost the section now called the northeast corner of Rhode Island when King Charles II granted that colony a charter that defined its borders. [Bowen's Disputes, 33; Swindler, 8: 368]
-- May 1664 Lost to New Plymouth Colony when provincial line is demarcated to what is now referred to as the "Old County Line." [Bradford, 427n]
27 Feb. 1664/5 Gained from Rhode Island Colony as royal commissioners set that colony's borders as the Blackstone River and the east side of Narragansett Bay. [Arnold, 1: 315]
15 Mar. 1689/90 Gained on county's undefined western border when Massachusetts created the town of Woodstock (now wholly within the state of Connecticut). [Bowen's Disputes, 53-58; Bowen's Woodstock, 1: 31]
7 Oct. 1691 Massachusetts Bay Colony given new provincial charter by King William III and Queen Mary II, but does not affect the borders. [Mass. Col. Acts, 1: ch. 27 (1692-1693), sec. 1, p. 63; Swindler, 5: 80]
18 Mar. 1711/2 The "Old Colony Line" declared the border between Suffolk, Bristol and Plymouth counties with no change in boundaries. [Mass. Col. Acts, 21: ch. 152 (1711), p. 799]
10 July 1731 Part of the western section set off with the western half of Middlesex County to form Worcester County. [Mass. Col. Acts, 2: ch. 8 (1730-1731), sec. 1, p. 584]
17 Feb. 1746/7 Southwestern tip annexed to Providence Plantations by royal settlement in 1746. [Arnold, 2: 157; R.I. Rec., 5: 207-209]
20 Nov. 1770 Small area changed to Plymouth County when Bridgewater gained from Stoughton. [Mass. Col. Acts, 5: ch. 15 (1770-1771), sec. 1, p. 116]
3 Mar. 1792 When Medway and Sherburne redefined their border, that also redefined the line between Suffolk and Middlesex County. [Mass. Acts 1792, ch. 23, sec. 1, p. 155]
20 June 1793 Southwestern three-quarters and town of Cohasset set off as new county of Norfolk. [Mass. Acts 1793, ch. 43, sec. 1, p. 272 and ch. 9, sec. 1, p. 314]
18 June 1803 Towns of Hingham and Hull annexed to Plymouth County. [Mass. Acts 1803, ch. 14, sec. 1, p. 246]
6 Mar. 1804 The northern part of Dorchester, Norfolk County, called "Dorchester Neck" annexed and now called the neighborhood of "South Boston."
22 Feb. 1825 Minute change between Boston and Brookline adjusts border between Suffolk and Norfolk counties. [Mass. Acts 1825, ch. 90, p. 73]
25 Mar. 1834 Boston annexed Thompson Island from Dorchester, Norfolk County. [Mass. Acts 1834, ch. 102, p. 129]
16 Mar. 1836 Border between Boston and Roxbury, Norfolk County, established. [Mass. Acts 1836, ch. 37, p. 681]
19 Apr. 1837 Water border between Boston and Roxbury, Norfolk County, established. [Mass. Acts 1837, ch. 202, sec. 1, p. 222]
22 Feb. 1841 Chelsea lost northern long but narrow strip of land to Saugus, Norfolk County. [Mass. Acts 1841, ch. 30, sec. 1, p. 350]
3 May 1850 Water border between Boston and Roxbury, Norfolk County, established. [Mass. Acts 1850, ch. 281, sec. 1, p. 460]
21 May 1855 Boston gained from Dorchester, Norfolk County, a very small piece of land. [Mass. Acts 1855, ch. 468, sec. 1, p. 907]
3 Apr. 1860 Border changed slightly when line changed from the center of the street between Boston and Roxbury to the side of the street. [Mass. 1860, ch. 172, sec. 1, p. 138]
6 Jan. 1868 Border changed when Boston annexed the town of Roxbury from Norfolk County. [Mass. Acts 1867, ch. 359, sec. 1, p. 754]
3 Jan. 1870 Border changed when Boston annexed the town of Dorchester from Norfolk County. [Mass. Acts 1869, ch. 349, sec. 1, p. 646]
2 Apr. 1870 Border changed slightly when line changed from the center of the street between Boston and West Roxbury to the side of the street. [Mass. 1870, ch. 146, sec. 1, p. 21, 95]
18 June 1870 Boston gained a small piece of land from Brookline, Norfolk County. [Mass. 1870, ch. 374, sec. 1, p. 290]
12 Apr. 1872 Boston gained Mt. Hope Cemetery from West Roxbury, Norfolk County. [Mass. 1872, ch. 197, sec. 1, p. 143]
5 Jan. 1874 Boston annexed towns of Brighton and Charlestown from Middlesex County.
Boston annexed town of West Roxbury from Norfolk County. [Mass. Acts 1873, ch. 286, sec. 1, p. 716; ch. 303, sec. 1, p. 747; ch. 314, sec. 1, p. 810]
8 May 1874 Border changed slightly when a small piece of land gained from Brookline, Norfolk County. [Mass. Acts 1874, ch. 220, sec. 1, p. 143]
29 May 1874 Border changed slightly when line between Boston and Newton, Middlesex County was adjusted. [Mass. Acts 1874, ch. 277, sec. 1, p. 189]
1 July 1875 Border changed slightly when a small piece of land was lost to Newton, Middlesex County. [Mass. Acts 1875, ch. 184, sec. 1, p. 773]
27 May 1890 Border changed slightly when the line between Boston and Brookline, Norfolk County, was adjusted. [Mass. Acts 1890, ch. 339, sec. 1, p. 299]
4 May 1891 Border changed slightly when the line between Boston and Somerville, Middlesex County, was adjusted. [Mass. Acts 1891, ch. 294, sec. 1, p. 856]
13 Apr. 1894 Border changed slightly when the line between Boston and Brookline, Norfolk County, was adjusted. [Mass. Acts 1894, ch. 242, sec. 1, p. 219]
29 Mar. 1898 Border changed slightly when the line between Boston and Cambridge and Newton, Middlesex County, was adjusted along the Charles River. [Mass. Acts 1898, ch. 251, sec. 1, p. 185]
13 May 1898 Border changed slightly when the line between Boston and Newton, Norfolk County, was adjusted. [Mass. Acts 1898, ch. 431, sec. 1, p. 376]
29 Mar. 1910 Border changed slightly when the line between Boston and Cambridge, Middlesex County, was adjusted along the Charles River. [Mass. Acts 1910, ch. 312, sec. 1, p. 239]
1 Jan. 1912 Boston annexed the town of Hyde Park, Norfolk County. [Mass. Acts 1911, ch. 469, sec. 1, p. 450, and ch. 583, sec. 1, p. 600]

Record Loss[edit | edit source]

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Populated Places[edit | edit source]


MassachusettsSuffolk CountyNorfolk CountyPlymouth CountyMiddlesex CountyEssex CountyNorfolk CountyBostonChelseaRevereWinthropNeedhamBrooklineDedhamWestwoodNorwoodCantonRandolphBraintreeWeymouthHinghamHullQuincyMiltonNewtonWatertownWalthamLexingtonWoburnWinchesterArlingtonBelmontCambridgeSomervilleMedfordStonehamMelroseMaldenEverettSaugusLynnNanhant
Modern city and town borders in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.




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
Historic communities
  • Boston needed to grow its tax base, so over the years, various towns were annexed to Boston. These towns had a vibrant history and their own set of records before they became part of Boston and thus Suffolk County. These towns are:


County Histories[edit | edit source]

Works written on the county include:

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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 1700. 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

Birth[edit | edit source]

Marriage[edit | edit source]

Death[edit | edit source]

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Cemeteries[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
Billion Graves
See Massachusetts Cemeteries for more information.


Census[edit | edit source]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1790 44,865 —
1800 28,015 −37.6%
1810 34,381 22.7%
1820 43,940 27.8%
1830 62,163 41.5%
1840 95,773 54.1%
1850 144,517 50.9%
1860 192,700 33.3%
1870 270,802 40.5%
1880 387,927 43.3%
1890 484,780 25.0%
1900 611,417 26.1%
1910 731,388 19.6%
1920 835,522 14.2%
1930 879,536 5.3%
1940 863,248 −1.9%
1950 896,615 3.9%
1960 791,329 −11.7%
1970 735,190 −7.1%
1980 650,142 −11.6%
1990 663,906 2.1%
2000 689,807 3.9%
2010 722,023 4.7%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Church Records[edit | edit source]


List of Churches and Church Parishes

Land Records and Atlases[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. For Suffolk County, they start in 1639.

Suffolk Registry of Deeds
24 New Chardon Street
Boston MA 02114
Phone 617-788-6250
Email Suffolk.Deeds@sec.state.ma.us

Original records

The records since 1976 can be viewed from their Search Page. Note the search criteria and search option menus in the upper left corner. This is a relatively new site (2012) and less transparent than before.

  • Land Record books.
    Note: Records from 1893 (v. 2171) are online as "unindexed property." From the search page above, go to the Search Criteria menu and click on "Unindexed Property Search" and enter the volume and page you want and click search. A dialogue box appears below. Click on any link and another dialogue box appears to the right. Click on the tab "View Images" and a pop-up window will display the page (if it does not, you need to allow this site or disable your pop-up blocker).
    Record location:
    Deeds, v. 7871 (1964) to present are in the main section of the Registry.
    Deeds, v. 4553-7870 (1924-1964) are in the "Old" Bookroom at the back of the Registry building.
    Deeds, v. 2171-4552 (1893-1924) are not currently physically accessible (but are online as mentioned above).
    Deeds, v. 101-2170 (1800-1893) are at:
Massachusetts Archives
220 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston MA 02125
Phone 617-727-2816 (ask for Archives Reference Desk).
Deeds, v. 1-100 (1639-1799) are at the Archives above, but restricted. These deeds can be seen on microfilm and have been transcribed verbatim to 1688 (see published records below).
  • Land Court records.
  • Grantor/Grantee index, 1961-1978 (online).
  • Old Recorded Land Plan books, v. 1-5, 7 (from 1800s).
  • Recorded Land Plan Index, 1935-1999 (online).
  • Suffolk County Atlases (online):
    Boston, 1874, 1890 (w/Roxbury), 1899, 1910, 1917, 1938 (all w/S. Boston).
    Brighton, 1897, 1917, 1925.
    Charlestown, 1875, 1901, 1912 (w/E. Boston).
    Chelsea, 1874, 1914, 1981.
    Dorchester, 1904, 1910, 1933.
    East Boston, 1892, 1901, 1912 (see Charlestown).
    Hyde Park, 1912.
    Roxbury, 1890 (see Boston), 1895, 1899, 1906, 1931.
    West Roxbury, 1874, 1896, 1905, 1914.
Original records on microfilm
Published records
Suffolk Deeds Online
  • Volume - Years covered - Links
  1. - 1629-1653 - Internet Archive and Google books.
  2. - 1653-1656 - Internet Archive and Google books.
  3. - 1656-1661 - Internet Archive and Google books.
  4. - 1661-1665 - Internet Archive and Google books.
  5. - 1665-1668 - Internet Archive and Google books.
  6. - 1668-1672 - Internet Archive and Google books.
  7. - 1670-1672 - Internet Archive and Google books.
  8. - 1672-1674 - Internet Archive and Google books.
  9. - 1674-1676 - Internet Archive and Google books.
  10. - 1676-1678 - Internet Archive and Google books.
  11. - 1678-1680 - Internet Archive and Google books.
  12. - 1680-1683 - Internet Archive and Google books.
  13. - 1683-1686 - [No Internet Archive version found] and Google books.
  14. - 1686-1688, 1697 - Internet Archive andGoogle books.
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Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

Essex CountyNorfolk CountyMiddlesex CountyMA SUFFOLK.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Newspapers[edit | edit source]

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Probate and Family Court is organized on a county level in Massachusetts since the creation of the counties. The main records genealogists seek are testate (wills), intestate (administrations), guardianships, and divorces (since 1922), though there are many more that are valuable to any researcher, too. See a further discussion of the topic in general on the Massachusetts page.

Suffolk County Probate and Family Court
PO Box 9667
24 New Chardon Street - 3rd Floor
Boston MA 02114
Phone 617-788-8300

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

Online Probate Indexes and Records


Original records
  • First series, 1636-1893:
    Record books:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    File papers:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    Published Index:
    Index to the Probate Records of the County of Suffolk, Massachusetts from the year 1636 to and including the year 1893 (Boston, 1895), 3v.
    Digital version of all three volumes at Hathi Trust.
    WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL Large Q book 974.46 S2g v. # or film 496888.
  • Second series, 1894-1909:
    Record books:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    File papers:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    Published Index:
    Index to the Probate Records of the County of Suffolk, Massachusetts from the year 1894 to and including the year 1909 (Boston, 1911-1913), 2v.
    WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL Large Q book 974.46 S2ga v. # or film 1597848 Items 4-5.
  • Third series, 1910-1922:
    Record books:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    File papers:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    Published Index:
    Index to the Probate Records of the County of Suffolk, Massachusetts from the year 1910 to and including the year 1922 (Boston, 1927), 2v.
    WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL film 1492663 Items 1-2.
  • Fourth series, 1923-1935:
    Record books:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    File papers:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    Published Index:
    Index to the Probate Records of the County of Suffolk, Massachusetts from the year 1923 to and including the year 1935 (Boston, 1941), 3v.
    WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL book 974.46 P22i.
  • Fifth series, 1936-1947:
    Record books:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    File papers:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    Published Index:
    Index to the Probate Records of the County of Suffolk, Massachusetts from the year 1936 to and including the year 1947 (Boston, 1951), 3v.
    WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL book 974.46 P22i.
  • Sixth series, 1948-1958:
    Record books:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    File papers:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    Published Index:
    Index to the Probate Records of the County of Suffolk, Massachusetts from the year 1948 to and including the year 1958 (Boston, 1961), 2v.
    WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL book 974.46 P22i.
  • Seventh series, 1959-1968:
    Record books:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    File papers:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    Published Index:
    Index to the Probate Records of the County of Suffolk, Massachusetts from the year 1959 to and including the year 1968 (Boston, 1969), 3v.
    WorldCat (Other Libraries).
  • Eighth series, 1969-1979:
    Record books:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    File papers:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    Published Index:
    Suffolk County Probate Court 10 Year Index, 1969-1979 (Boston, 1995?), 3v.
    WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL, but at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
  • Ninth series, 1980-1997:
    Record books:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    File papers:
    [Contact Court Archivist]
    Published Index:
    Public Index of Matters Concerning Probate, 1980-1987 Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Suffolk Probate & Family Court (Boston, 2000), 3v.
    WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL, but at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
Microfilm records
Published records
  • Winifred Lovering Holman and Mary Lovering Holman, "Suffolk County Probate (1686-1692)" in The American Genealogist. These were the probate records during the unpopular Andros Administration, which combined several colonies into one seated at Boston. This article starts with a Miscellaneous Index of estates that do not appear in the probate file papers. The bulk is the regular docket entries. Online at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). Volume and page numbers (see below):
  • 12 [1935-36], 175-184, 222-234
  • 13 [1936-37], 98-106
  • 14 [1937-38], 34-45
Also at FHL book 973 D25aga v. #; WorldCat (Other Libraries).
  • Suffolk County Wills: Abstracts of the earliest wills upon record in the County of Suffolk, Massachusetts: from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register (Baltimore, 1984), 432 pp.
    Digital version at Ancestry ($).
    WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL book 974.46 P2s or film 1320548 Item 1.
  • Melinde Lutz Sanborn, Miscellaneous Docket Index, Suffolk County, Mass. Probate Records, 1639-1866 (Derry, N.H., 1997 or Rockport, Me., 1997), 31 pp.
    This booklet indexes several hundred early Suffolk County probate records where the original file papers were lost prior to the Civil War and only the entries in the copybook remain today. The booklet includes the individual's name, date of the earliest entry, type of entry, and volume and page reference in the copybook series.
    WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL book 974.46 P2sm.
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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

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Adlow Collection[edit | edit source]

This collection is held by the Boston Public Library Rare Books Department and only a fraction of the collection is found in the twelve finding aids. In 1954, Judge Elijah Adlow discovered a heap of rubbish in the Suffolk County courthouse basement. It was a pile of more than 40,000 document - pleadings from trials during the Revolutionary period. They were transferred by the judge to Boston Public Library in 1967.

Some of the records are with library and others are with the Judicial Archives. Some topics:

  • writs of attachment; writs of execution; criminal complaints; recognizances; writs of commitment; militia delinquencies; warrant to order persons out of town; petitions from poor prisoners; notices concerning depositions; health dept. complaints; opinions and judgments; summonses; jury material
  • for Court of General Sessions, Court of Sessions, and General Sessions of the Peace all for Suffolk County, ca. 1760 to 1825
  • bound volumes for Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Cumberland, Dukes, Hampshire, Kennebec, Lincoln, Middlesex, Plymouth, and Suffolk Supreme Judicial Court, 1780s-1800
  • Suffolk County Coroner's inquests, 1775-1860 (calendar of these)
  • Warnings out, Boston, 1763-1779, and other towns (all calendared)
  • Court of Common Pleas, writs (calendared)
  • Prisoners lists, sheriffs' and jailers' accounts, prison doctor's accounts, jail inspections, Court Street addition, Leverett Street construction, and Courthouse construction (calendared)

Suffolk Files[edit | edit source]

The Suffolk Files contain the earliest file papers of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and its predecessors, the Court of Assistants and the Superior Court of Judicature (1620-1800). There are also some records of the county courts and the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace. The records contain cases not just from Suffolk County, but from Massachusetts and parts of Maine and New Hampshire. This was the result of the circuit nature of several of the courts and the fact that most of the action brought before the upper courts had been appealed from lower courts throughout the region. Extensive indices of every person, place, and subject, as well as date and calendar indices were prepared. Microfilm of the Suffolk Files and indices is available at the Massachusetts Archives Reading Room.

Original records
  • [Contact Court Archivist]
Microfilmed records

This is an inventory of the microfilms held by the Judicial Archives and available at the Massachusetts Archives Reading Room.

  • Suffolk Files, FHL film 909870 (first of 1639 reels).
  • Index to calendar index, 1629-1700.
  • Calendar index, #1-4878, 1643-1700; undated 24362-28991, 98505-98885, 129996-130016, 162001-162525, 1629-1700.
  • Index to Suffolk Files, A-Z, 1629-1729.
  • Index to Suffolk Files, A-Z, 1730-1799.
  • Misc. index to Court Files, A-Z, 1629-1795.
  • County index, #100001-108682, 129726-130072, 1687-1799.
  • County index, #13700-141578, York, Cumberland, Lincoln, Hancock, Washington counties, 1734-1797.
  • County index, Essex, Norfolk, Middlesex counties, 1731-1797.
  • County index, Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Hampshire, Plymouth counties, 1733-1797.
  • County index, #15200-156870, Worcester, 1736-1797.
  • Date index, 1618-1693.
  • Index to fragments, #1-1590, 1629-1700, undated.
  • Suffolk Files, #1-175581, v. 1-1287 (738 reels).
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County Courts[edit | edit source]

This court was active from 1636 (called a quarterly court and then the county court when Suffolk was created in 1643) to 1692. The court heard all civil causes up to 10 shillings (raised to 40 shillings in 1647) and all criminal causes not concerning life, limb, or banishment. These were all jury trials. These records are included in the Suffolk Files mentioned above.

Microfilmed records
Published records
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Quarterly Court of General Sessions of the Peace[edit | edit source]

This court was active from 1692 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. A county copy of marriages were recorded here from 1726 to 1737.

Original records
  • [Contact Court Archivist]
Microfilmed records
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Inferior Court of Common Pleas[edit | edit source]

This court was active from 1692 to 1859. The court heard all civil cases over 40s unless a case involved freehold or was appealed from a justice of the peace.

Original records
  • [Contact Court Archivist]
Microfilmed records
Published
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Superior Court[edit | edit source]

This court was created in 1859 and combines the authority of the two courts listed above. The Superior Court has original jurisdiction in civil actions over $25,000, and in matters where equitable relief is sought. It also has original jurisdiction in actions involving labor disputes where injunctive relief is sought, and has exclusive authority to convene medical malpractice tribunals.

The Court has exclusive original jurisdiction in first degree murder cases and original jurisdiction for all other crimes. It has jurisdiction over all felony matters, although it shares jurisdiction over crimes where other Trial Court Departments have concurrent jurisdiction. Finally, the Superior Court has appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative proceedings.

Superior Court Administrative Office
Suffolk County Courthouse, 13th Floor
Three Pemberton Square
Boston MA 02108
Phone 617-788-8130

Older records are held by:
Supreme Judicial Court Archives
(administration)
16th Floor, Highrise Court House
3 Pemberton Square
Boston MA 02109
Phone 617-557-1082
Email Elizabeth.Bouvier@sjc.state.ma.us

Original records
  • [Contact Court Archivist]
Microfilmed records
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Supreme Judicial Court[edit | edit source]

This is the highest court in the state and taking cases by appeal, writ of error, capital offenses, and "every Crime whatsoever that is against the public good."

Supreme Judicial Court for The County of Suffolk
John Adams Court House, 1st Floor
One Pemberton Square - Suite 1300
Boston MA 02108
Phone 617-557-1050
Email sjccountyclerk@sjc.state.ma.us

Older records are held by:
Supreme Judicial Court Archives
(administration)
16th Floor, Highrise Court House
3 Pemberton Square
Boston MA 02109
Phone 617-557-1082
Email Elizabeth.Bouvier@sjc.state.ma.us

Microfilmed records
Published
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Miscellaneous Court Records[edit | edit source]

Miscellaneous Records

  • Miscellaneous papers (arranged chronologically), v. 1-4, 1679-1808, from the county courthouse, these records include deeds, wills recongizances, accounts, writs, summons, and miscellaneous papers.
    FHL films 902791-902794.
  • Sacco & Vanzetti, committee files, 1927-1939 (2 reels).
    At the Massachusetts Archives.

County Sheriff

Court of Admiralty

Divorce Records
Jurisdiction over divorce matters changes over time. The Governor and Council heard cases before 1785, then it was the Supreme Judicial Court until 1887, followed by the Superior Court until 1922, and presently this is a matter for the Probate and Family Court (with minor exceptions in all periods). See the various court records above and learn more about divorce on the Massachusetts state page.

Naturalization Records
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. NOTE: The only court hearing naturalizations in Suffolk County from Sept. 1906 to 1991 was the U.S. Federal District Court

Federal Naturalization Records for Suffolk County
Record Dates Location Index Microfilm/Online
Supreme Judicial Court 1790-1845 National Archives - Waltham Part of Card Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906, NARA M1299, FHL film 1429671 (1st of 117) Petitions, FHL Digital Capture 7208356 (1st of 15); Part of the United States, New England Petitions for Naturalization Index, 1791-1906
U.S. Circuit Court 1845-1878 National Archives - Waltham Part of Card Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906, NARA M1299, FHL film 1429671 (1st of 117) Petitions, FHL Digital Capture 7239020 (1st of 471; Part of the United States, New England Petitions for Naturalization Index, 1791-1906
Superior Court (Civil) 1856-1884 National Archives - Waltham Part of Card Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906, NARA M1299, FHL film 1429671 (1st of 117) Petitions, FHL Digital Capture 7208272 (1st of 29); Part of the United States, New England Petitions for Naturalization Index, 1791-1906
Superior Court (Criminal) 1860-1906 National Archives - Waltham Part of Card Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906, NARA M1299, FHL film 1429671 (1st of 117) Petitions, FHL Digital Capture 7208301 (1st of 33); Part of the United States, New England Petitions for Naturalization Index, 1791-1906
Boston Municipal Court 1806-1859
1885-1905 		National Archives - Waltham Part of Card Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906, NARA M1299, FHL film 1429671 (1st of 117) Petitions, 1806-1859, FHL Digital Capture 7221557 (1st of 36); Petitions, 1885-1905, FHL Digital Capture 7221555
All part of the United States, New England Petitions for Naturalization Index, 1791-1906
Charlestown District Municipal Court 1902-1906 National Archives - Waltham Part of Card Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906, NARA M1299, FHL film 1429671 (1st of 117) Petitions, FHL Digital Capture 7221654 (1st of 3); Part of the United States, New England Petitions for Naturalization Index, 1791-1906
Chelsea Police Court 1886-1906 National Archives - Waltham Part of Card Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906, NARA M1299, FHL film 1429671 (1st of 117) Petitions, FHL Digital Capture 7221660 (1st of 8); Part of the United States, New England Petitions for Naturalization Index, 1791-1906
Dorchester District Municipal Court 1902-1906 National Archives - Waltham Part of Card Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906, NARA M1299, FHL film 1429671 (1st of 117) Petitions, FHL Digital Capture 7239072; Part of the United States, New England Petitions for Naturalization Index, 1791-1906
Roxbury District Municipal Court 1885-1906 National Archives - Waltham Part of Card Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906, NARA M1299, FHL film 1429671 (1st of 117) Petitions, FHL Digital Capture 7239038 (1st of 4); Part of the United States, New England Petitions for Naturalization Index, 1791-1906
West Roxbury District Municipal Court 1892-1906 National Archives - Waltham Part of Card Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906, NARA M1299, FHL film 1429671 (1st of 117) Petitions, FHL Digital Capture 7239057; Part of the United States, New England Petitions for Naturalization Index, 1791-1906
Suffolk County Naturalization Records to 1906
Record Dates Location Index Microfilm/Online
Supreme Judicial Court 1790-1864 Judicial Archives Card index
Court of Common Pleas 1790-1856 Judicial Archives No index - in NARA soundex?
Boston Municipal Court 1800-1860
1885-1905 		File papers and summaries found in Records Books in Judicial Archives Volume index, 1822-1859; Docket index, 1855-1905; Part of Card Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906, NARA M1299, FHL film 1429671 (1st of 117) Part of the United States, New England Petitions for Naturalization Index, 1791-1906
Superior Court 1782-1910 Superior Court, in 1988 Index in each volume Partitions and executions from Court of Common Pleas, 1782-1850, and Superior Court, 1850-1907, also intentions from Supreme Judicial Court, 1803-1832, FHL film 1530934-1530935
Primary and final declarations and naturalizations, 1864-1888, with card index, 1856-1884, FHL film 1530549 (1st of 29)
Superior Court 1856-1884 Judicial Archives (with gaps) Card index
Chelsea District Court 1885-1906 Judicial Archives Indexed
Dorchester District Court 1902-1906 Judicial Archives Part of Card Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906, NARA M1299, FHL film 1429671 (1st of 117)
East Boston District Court 1885-1906 District clerk's office, in 1988 Indexed App. for naturalization, papers, FHL films 1530509-1530510
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Naturalization Records[edit | edit source]

Maps[edit | edit source]

This list includes maps of particular interest to genealogists, and is not an effort to trace the vast cartographic history of the county in full.

  • Griffith Morgan Hopkins, Atlas of the County of Suffolk, Massachusetts (Philadelphia, 1873-1875), 7v.
    v. 1 - Boston proper; v. 2 - Roxbury (Boston Wards 12-15); v. 3 - South Boston and Dorchester; v. 4 - East Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop; v. 5 - West Roxbury (Boston Ward 17); v. 6 - Charlestown (Boston Wards 20-22); v. 7 - Brighton (Boston Ward 19).
    WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL X Large Folio 974.46 E7h v. #.
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Military[edit | edit source]

Revolutionary War[edit | edit source]

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Voter Records[edit | edit source]

Suffolk County Massachusetts Libraries and Genealogy Societies[edit | edit source]

  • Massachusetts Historical Society
    1154 Boylston Street
    Boston MA 02215
    Phone 617-536-1608
    Website
    This is the oldest historical society in the country founded in 1791. It is a private library with no fee for access. They are not a genealogical library, though they hold historical material useful for genealogical research. Their strength is their vast manuscript holdings and pre-1820 print collection. They are the home for the Adams Family Papers. The library has free wifi access and their catalog is online
  • New England Historic Genealogical Society
    99-101 Newbury Street
    Boston MA 02116
    Phone 617-536-5740
    Website
    This is the oldest genealogical society in the United States founded in 1845 by members of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Its strengths are colonial period, New England, northeast United States, Eastern Canada, and United Kingdom. They have an extensive manuscript collection and a large genealogical database online that includes the Massachusetts Vital Records from 1841 to 1920. It is a private membership organization which grants the user access to their library holdings and online databases. There is free wifi in the library and their catalog is online.

For information on additional archives and repositories, see

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

Migration[edit | edit source]

New England Migration Routes.png
Migration routes for early European settlers to and from Suffolk County, Massachusetts Genealogy included:[6]

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References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Suffolk, County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffolk_County,_Massachusetts
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Suffolk 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.
  3. ↑ Abolished County Governments - Secretary of State.
  4. ↑ Massachusetts Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
  5. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Suffolk County, Massachusetts," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffolk_County,_Massachusetts, accessed 5 March 2020.
  6. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 847-61. WorldCat entry; FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  7. ↑ Handybook, 847, 856.
  8. ↑ Boston Post Road in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 16 October 2014).
  9. ↑ Handybook, 848, 856.
  10. ↑ Agnes Edwards (Rothery), PDF Book: The Old Coast Road From Boston to Plymouth (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1920), 7. At various libraries (WorldCat).
  11. ↑ Handybook, 850, 856.
  12. ↑ Edgar Allen Beem, Maine Road Trip: Route 1: Many Names, One History in Down East - The Magazine of Maine (accessed 27 October 2014).
  13. ↑ William Dollarhide, Map Guide to American Migration Routes 1735-1815 (Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1997), 2-4, and 7. (FHL Collection Book 973 E3d). WorldCat entry.
  14. ↑ King's Highway (Charleston to Boston) in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 21 November 2014).
  15. ↑ Handybook, 851, 856.
  16. ↑ Mohawk Trail in Routes in the Northeastern United States: Historic Trail, Roads, and Migration Routes in RootsWeb (accessed 6 October 2014).
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Handybook, 852, 856.
  18. ↑ Old Connecticut Path in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 28 October 2014).
  19. ↑ Boston Post Road in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 28 October 2014).
  20. ↑ Cobb's Tavern in Rising Star Lodge, A.F. and A.M. (accessed 16 October 2014).


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Migration Routes



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