Massachusetts Descendancy Research

Step 1. Find descendants in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
Census records, widely indexed, are a fast way to identify members of families, their approximate year of birth, and the state where they were born. That information hints where to look for birth, marriage, and death records for more detailed information. One disadvantage is they are 10 years apart. Children born and dying within that 10-year span can be overlooked. Federal Censuses State Censuses

For more information on census records, see Massachusetts Census and United States Census.

Step 2: Find birth, marriage, and death records online.
Government records, known as civil registration or vital records, were kept in Massachusetts statewide beginning in 1841, although counties may have kept earlier records. They provide full dates and places. They are sometimes indexed, and can be searched by child or parent names. They are especially useful because they name other family members, For example, marriage records name the parents of the bride and groom. Death records are especially helpful because they name parents, who lived years earlier, even before other records were kept. Coverage in the earlier years can be incomplete however. In some states, church records were gathered to provide earlier certificates.

Births
 * 1620-1850: Massachusetts Town Birth Records at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1620-1988: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records at Ancestry; index & images, ($)
 * 1630-1905: at FamilySearch; index & images
 * 1636-1924: at FamilySearch; index
 * 1639-1915: at FamilySearch; index only
 * 1700-1850: Massachusetts Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records at Ancestry; index & images, ($)
 * 1753-1900: at FamilySearch; index & images
 * 1840-1910: Massachusetts Birth Index at MyHeritage; index ($)
 * 1840-1915: at FamilySearch; index & images; Also at Ancestry ($)
 * 1860-1970: Massachusetts Birth Index at Ancestry; index & images, ($)

Marriages
 * pre 1699: American Marriages at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * pre 1700: New England Marriages at Ancestry; index & images, ($)
 * pre 1800: Early Massachusetts Marriages Vol. I, Vol. II, Vol. III, Vol. IV at Ancestry; images only ($)
 * 1600-1961: Massachusetts Marriages at Findmypast; index & images, ($)
 * 1620-1850: Massachusetts Town Marriage Records at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1633-1850: Massachusetts Compiled Marriages at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1695-1910, 1921-1924: at FamilySearch; index only
 * 1700-1850: Massachusetts Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records at Ancestry; index & images, ($)
 * 1784-1840: Massachusetts Marriage Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1841-1915: at FamilySearch; index & images; Also at Ancestry ($), MyHeritage ($)
 * 1861-1956: Marriages performed by three Rabbis in Boston, Chicago and Massachusetts at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1901-1955, 1966-1970: Massachusetts Marriage Index at Ancestry; index & images, ($)
 * Old Colony Ancestors Marriages at GenealogyToday ($)

Deaths 
 * 1620-1850: Massachusetts Town Death Records at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1620-1988: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records at Ancestry; index & images, ($)
 * 1640-1961: at FamilySearch; index & images
 * 1700-1850: Massachusetts Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records at Ancestry; index & images, ($)
 * 1795-1910: at FamilySearch; index only
 * 1840-1910: Massachusetts Death Index at MyHeritage; index only ($)
 * 1841-1915: Massachusetts Death Records at Ancestry; index & images, ($)
 * 1841-1915, 1921-1924: at FamilySearch; index & images
 * 1844: Massachusetts Deaths Vol. 8, Barnstable to Hampshire; Volume 9, Middlesex to Worcester at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1901-1980: Massachusetts Death Index at Ancestry; index & images, ($)
 * 1935-2014: US Social Security Death Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1936-2007: US Social Security Applications at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1962-2014: at FamilySearch; index only
 * 1969-2010: Massachusetts Deaths at Findmypast; index only ($)
 * 1970-2003: at FamilySearch; index only; Also at Ancestry ($), AmericanAncestors ($)
 * Online Massachusetts Death Records & Indexes at DeathIndexes

For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Massachusetts, see How to Find Massachusetts Birth Records, How to Find Massachusetts Marriage Records, and How to Find Massachusetts Death Records.

Step 3: '''Try to find additional details about descendants in obituaries and cemetery records online.
These records can be especially useful for details about births and deaths that took place before 1841. Frequently, family members are buried near each other. FindAGrave, often lists details, not even listed on the tombstone, but added to the website by family members or researchers. - Obituaries Cemeteries
 * Massachusetts Obituaries
 * Obituaries.com
 * Archives.com Obituaries for Massachusetts ($)
 * Newspaper Obituary collection for Massachusetts: starts about 2003 to 2011 ($)
 * Genealogy Buff User-Contributed Obituaries
 * ProQuest Newspapers.com Library ($)
 * Obituary Links Page, by town and county
 * Online Massachusetts Death Records &amp; Indexes
 * Ancestry.com United States Obituary Collection for Massachusetts ($)
 * Massachusetts Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1988 - Current) at Genealogy Bank
 * Obits.Archive
 * Massachusetts Obituaries, by county and town
 * 1899-2012 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1980-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Find-A-Grave
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current at Ancestry
 * Billion Graves
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * BillionGraves Index at Findmypast ($)
 * at FamilySearch – How to Use This Collection
 * Farber Gravestone Collection
 * Massachusetts Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy
 * Massachusetts Cemetery Records at Interment
 * Massachusetts Cemetery Records at New Horizons Genealogy
 * Cemetery Transcriptions from the NEHGS Manuscript Collections, 1650-2000 at American Ancestors ($)
 * Massachusetts Tombstone Transcription Project at USGenWeb Transcription Project
 * Online Massachusetts Obituary and Cemetery Indexes at DeathIndexes
 * Massachusetts Cemeteries at A Very Grave Matter

For more information, see Massachusetts Obituaries and Massachusetts Cemeteries.

Step 4: Explore Historical Images for additional online records about descendants.
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * Massachusetts, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * Massachusetts, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Step 5: Search any other online records listed in Massachusetts Online Genealogy Records.
The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Massachusetts Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * Massachusetts Online Genealogy Records