Essex County, Massachusetts Genealogy

United States &gt; Massachusetts &gt; Essex County

County Courthouse

 * In 1997, the county governments of Essex, Berkshire, Hampden, Middlesex and Worcester were abolished.
 * Their functions were turned over to state agencies.
 * Sheriffs in these counties still administer jails but their employees are state employees.
 * The legislation to abolish these county governments transferred Registeries of Deeds to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
 * Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth and Suffolk county governments remain substantially unchanged.

Parent County

 * Created 10 May 1643 from the Massachusetts Bay Colony lands.

Populated Places
Beverly, Haverhill, Lawrence, Salem, Andover, more ...

Neighboring Counties
Middlesex | Suffolk | Rockingham County, New Hampshire

Emigration
Vessels sailing from Salem, Massachusetts between 1799 and 1879 made over 7900 voyages to foreign ports. A Crew List was required to be filed stating the vessel's destination and its crew. An Index to those Lists, containing 75,770 names, may be found at http://library.mysticseaport.org/initiative/CrIndex.cfm. The Index may provide the following information:

• Name • Age • Birth Place • Residence • Complexion • Voyage (Name of ship and date)

Web Sites

 * The Essex County MAGenWeb Project, an member of The MAGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Essex County
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Essex County (backup site)
 * FamilySearch.org Family History Library catalog for Essex County