Bristol County, Massachusetts Genealogy

United States Massachusetts  Bristol County

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

Brief History
Bristol County was settled by the Pilgrims who came from older towns in what is now Plymouth County. The area was at the center of the King Philip's War in 1675/6 and many settlers temporary moved back to the east. Though records are on a county system for land and probate records, the is divided into several districts for each.

Historical Data
The basic data are from the historical county boundary series with additions from various sources.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. Top of Page

Towns and Cities
The following list of present-day Bristol County towns and cities links them to their individual pages. There you will find a list of other names used for the town or city and of villages and sections of the town or city. Acushnet (1860) | Attleboro (1694) | Berkley (1735) Dartmouth (1664) | Dighton (1712) | Easton (1725) Fairhaven (1812) | Fall River (1803) | Freetown (1683) Mansfield (1775) | New Bedford (1787) | North Attleborough (1887) Norton (1711) | Raynham (1731) | Rehoboth (1645) Seekonk (1812) | Somerset (1790) | Swansea (1667) Taunton (1639) | Westport (1787) Annexed to Rhode Island in 1747: Barrington (1717) | Bristol (1680) | Little Compton (1674) | Tiverton (1694)

Annexed to Rhode Island in 1862: Pawtucket (1829-1862) Top of Page

County Histories
Works written on the county include:

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 * Alanson Borden, Our County and its People; a Descriptive and Biographical Record of Bristol County, Massachusetts ([Boston], 1899), xii, 799, 418 pp. WorldCat (Other Libraries); (with digital link) [see other editions]. Digital versions at Internet Archive and Ancestry ($).
 * D. Hamilton Hurd, ed., History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men (Philadelphia, 1883), xii, 922 pp. WorldCat (Other Libraries); . Digital versions at Internet Archive, Google Books (pt. 1 and pt. 2), and Ancestry ($).
 * Frank Walcott Hutt, ed., A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts (New York, 1924), 3v. WorldCat (Other Libraries);.
 * Jonathan Longley, "Complete List of the Congregational Ministers in the County of Bristol, Ms." in American Quarterly Register, 12 [1839/40]: 135-149. WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.
 * The Bristol County MAGenWeb Project, an member of The MAGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Bristol County.
 * FamilySearch Catalog for Bristol County.

Vital Records
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. Top of Page

Land Records
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.

Bristol County is divided into three land districts:

Northern Bristol County Registry of Deeds 11 Court Street Taunton MA 02780 Phone 508-822-0502 Email [mailto:registry@tauntondeeds.com registry@tauntondeeds.com] This district covers Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Easton, Mansfield, North Attleborough, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Taunton.

There is a satellite office at: Attleboro Satellite Office 75 Park Street Attleboro MA 02703 Phone 508-455-6100 No registered land (land court) can be filed here. Original records Records are available at the Registry. Their records ONLINE are:

Original records on microfilm Original records online
 * Recorded Land [i.e. deeds], 1970-present.
 * Recorded Plans, 1827-present.
 * Registered Land [i.e. land court], 1992-present.
 * Registered Land Plans, 2008-present.
 * Bristol County Deeds, 1-556 (1686-1900), and index (1686-1956), at FamilySearch and New England Historic Genealogical Society.
 * Bristol County Deeds, 5-7 (1706-1713), at FamilySearch.
 * Records of deeds, 1686-1904 [Bristol County, Massachusetts], at FamilySearch.
 * Records of deeds, 1686-1910 [Bristol County, Massachusetts], at FamilySearch.
 * The above microfilms are digitized and available at the FamilySearch links above. Caveat: These records are yet to be indexed AND all three districts are mixed together without distinction.

Fall River Registry of Deeds 441 Main Street Fall River MA 02720 Phone 508-673-2910 Email [mailto:frdeeds@verizon.net frdeeds@verizon.net] This district covers Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, and Freetown. Original records Records are available at the Registry. Their original records started in 1884 and ONLINE are: [Note: start dates are not given]:

Original records on microfilm Original records online
 * Recorded Land [i.e. deeds], 1971-present. Books 1-1024 (1884-1971) images are available online, but the book and page must be known.
 * Recorded Plans, n/a.
 * Registered Land [i.e. land court], n/a.
 * Registered Land Plans, n/a.
 * Fall River District Deeds, 1-153 (1686-1891), and 1-70 (1891-1900); Index, grantee to 1911, grantor to 1901, at . Note: The earliest deeds are copies from the Taunton District.
 * Record of deeds in the land records of the town of Tiverton: pertaining to real estate formerly in the town of Tiverton but now in the State of Mass., 1746-1817, at.
 * The above Fall River District Deeds microfilm is digitized and available at the FamilySearch link above. Caveat: These records are yet to be indexed AND all three districts are mixed together without distinction.

Southern Bristol County Registry of Deeds 25 North 6th Street New Bedford MA 02740 Phone 508-993-2605 This district covers Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, New Bedford, and Westport. Original records Records are available at the Registry. Their records ONLINE are [Note: start dates are not given]:

Original records on microfilm Original records online Top of Page
 * Recorded Land [i.e. deeds], n/a; Index, 1978-present.
 * Recorded Plans, n/a.
 * Registered Land [i.e. land court], n/a; Index, 1990-present.
 * Registered Land Plans, n/a.
 * New Bedford District Deeds, 1-228 1687-1903; Index, 1686-1837, 1837-1902, at . Note: Earliest deeds are copies from the Taunton District. This district started in 1837.
 * The above microfilms are digitized and available at FamilySearch.org. Caveat: These records are yet to be indexed AND all three districts are mixed together without distinction.

Revolutionary War

 * 1775 - 1783 at FamilySearch — images

Probate Records
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 Genealogy Guide.

Bristol County Probate &amp; Family Court Registry 40 Broadway Suite 240 Taunton MA 02780 Phone 508-977-6040 Email [mailto:info@bristolcountyprobate.com info@bristolcountyprobate.com]

The original records are either at the courthouse or at the Judicial Archives in Boston. Their located has not been researched.

There are two satellite offices:

Fall River Probate &amp; Family Court 289 Rock Street Fall River MA 02720 Phone 508-672-1751

New Bedford Probate &amp; Family Court 505 Pleasant Street New Bedford MA 02740 Phone 508-999-5249

Online Probate Records
 * 1635 – 1991 Massachusetts Wills and Probate Records 1635-1991 at Ancestry.com — index and images, $

Original records on microfilm
 * Bristol County Probate file papers, 1690-1881, 1881-1926, at FHL film 469935 (1st of 350) and New England Historic Genealogical Society and [Massachusetts_Genealogy_Guide#Archives|Massachusetts Archives] (to 1881).
 * Bristol County Probate: records, 1-379 (1687-1916); Dockets, 1881-1915; Index, 1687-1881, at FHL film 464527 (1st of 199), New England Historic Genealogical Society, and [Massachusetts_Genealogy_Guide#Archives|Massachusetts Archives] (records and dockets to 1900).
 * Bristol County Probate Index, 1687-1881, 1881-1926, at New England Historic Genealogical Society and [Massachusetts_Genealogy_Guide#Archives|Massachusetts Archives].
 * Bristol County Probate Index, 1927-1952, 1952-1957, 1957-1961, 1962-1966, at the [Massachusetts_Genealogy_Guide#Archives|Massachusetts Archives].

Original records published Top of Page
 * H. L. Peter Rounds, Abstracts of Bristol County, Massachusetts Probate Records (Baltimore, 1987-1988), 2.v [covers 1687-1762]. WorldCat (Other Libraries); . Note: The first few volumes of probate were abstracted in The Genealogical Advertiser, WorldCat (Other Libraries);, but superseded by the above volumes. Published online at Hathi Trust (search only). Digital version at Ancestry ($) (v. 1 and v. 2).
 * H. L. Peter Rounds, "Abstracts of Bristol County, Massachusetts Probate Records," v. 3 (1762-1768), in manuscript, published in the Mayflower Descendant:
 * original volume 18 (1762-1765): 45 [1995]: 13-24, 159-164; 46 [1996]: 39-44, 171-174; 47 [1997]: 13-18.
 * original volume 19 (1765-1768): 47 [1997]: 13-18, 133-138; 48 [1998]: 59-64, 129-134; 49 [2000]: 22-33.
 * original volume 20 (1767-1768): 49 [2000]: 125-143. Note: The manuscript ends at page 253, but the original volume goes to page 559.

Other Court Records
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 [mailto:Elizabeth.Bouvier@sjc.state.ma.us Elizabeth.Bouvier@sjc.state.ma.us] Top of Page | Top of Court

Quarterly Court of General Sessions of the Peace
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.

The records microfilmed: The records microfilmed/published:

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 * Records, 1702-1738, at.
 * Mixed court records, 1780-1868, at FHL film 905544.
 * Helen Schatvet Ullmann, "Bristol County Court of General Sessions Extracts" in the Mayflower Descendant:
 * 1697-1701, 59 [2010]: 183-191.
 * 1702-1714, 60 [2011]: 96-108, 181-191; 61 [2012]: 90-97, 186-191.

Inferior Court of Common Pleas
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.

The records microfilmed:

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 * Records, 1696-1859, index, 1730-1767, 1833-1857, at FHL film 899093 (1st of 23).
 * Records, 1714-1814 [refilming in same year?], at FHL film 901268 (1st of 5).
 * Mixed court records, 1780-1868, at FHL film 905544.

Superior Court
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.

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 * Divorce docket books, 1909-1918, at the [Massachusetts_Genealogy_Guide#Archives|Massachusetts Archives].
 * Mixed court records, 1780-1868, at FHL film 905544.
 * Oscar Frank Stetson, Bristol County, Massachusetts Court Records, 1749-1903 (which court(s) not identified, but includes Bristol County divorces online ($)), 1078 leaves, at Mss 601, R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, New England Historic Genealogical Society.

Supreme Judicial Court
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.

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 * Record books, v. 1-20, 1797-1889; dockets, 1799-1806, at the [Massachusetts_Genealogy_Guide#Archives|Massachusetts Archives].
 * Transcripts of the trial of Lizzie Borden at the [Massachusetts_Genealogy_Guide#Archives|Massachusetts Archives].
 * Court records, 1-9 (1797-1861), index, 1848-1858, at FHL film 903377 (1st of 4).
 * Oscar Frank Stetson, Bristol County, Massachusetts Court Records, 1749-1903 (which court(s) not identified, but includes Bristol County divorces online ($)), 1078 leaves, at Mss 601, R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, New England Historic Genealogical Society.

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. Federal Naturalization Records for Bristol County

Bristol County Naturalization Records

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Maps
There are so many published maps of interest to genealogists and historians that this list will not be recreated here. The focus is with resources you can access online and in the Family History Library.

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 * F. W. Beers, Atlas of Bristol Co., Massachusetts from actual surveys (New York, 1871), FHL film 1597942 Item 6 and online for view or sale at Historic Map Works.
 * George H. Walker, New Map of Bristol County (1881), online for view or sale at Historic Map Works.
 * Henry Francis Walling, Map of Bristol County, Massachusetts (1852), at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, Boston Public Library.
 * Henry Francis Walling, Map of the County of Bristol Massachusetts, based upon the trigonometrical survey of the state (1858), at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, Boston Public Library.

Migration
Migration routes for early European settlers to and from included:

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 * Bay Road from Boston, Massachusetts to New Bedford, Massachusetts about 1652
 * King's Highway, also known as the Boston Post Road, from Boston, Massachusetts to Charleston, South Carolina 1650s
 * Old Roebuck Road from Boston, Massachusetts to Providence, Rhode Island 1636
 * Atlantic Ocean

Bristol County Massachusetts Libraries and Genealogy Societies
Old Colony Historical Society 66 Church Green Taunton MA 02780 Phone 508-822-1622 The society's Genealogy and Local History Research focuses on the "Old Colony" that now includes Barnstable, Bristol, and Plymouth Counties.

Family History Centers
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