Massachusetts Colonial Records

History
The Plymouth Colony in 1620 and the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 were the first permanent European settlements. The Bay Colony originally included parts of New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Southern Maine.

Statewide Records and Resources
1622-1788, Massachusetts State Archives collection, colonial period. Digitized but not indexed. This collection includes agricultural, dispositions, ecclesiastical, estates, foreign affairs, Hutchinson's correspondence, Indian affairs, maritime, military, and other records.

Court Records
Under the Charter of 1629, all official meeting notes were listed as "courts." General Court (1620-1684, 1692-1825).
 * 1628-1777. Film 0954385. Digitized but not indexed.

Court of Assistants (1630-1686, 1689-1692) This was the appellate court for county and inferior courts. It also was the jurisdiction for capital crimes and divorces. For a short time in the 1680s, the Court of Assistants was under the Governor and Council appointed by the Crown.
 * Records of the court of Assistants of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, 1630-1692. 3 Vols. (Boston: County of Suffolk, 1901-1928, film 046679).

Vice-Admiralty Court (1714-1772, 1692-1775)
 * 1718-1772, Court records and account books. Film 902790. Digitized but not indexed.

Massachusetts Governor and Council
 * 1760-1786, Divorce Records. Film 0946895, item 3. Digitized but not indexed.

Military Records

 * . Digitized and indexed.
 * 1603-1779, French and Indian War muster roll index cards. Digitized but not indexed.