Massachusetts, United States Genealogy

Guide to Massachusetts ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Massachusetts Information
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts entered the Union on February 6, 1788, as the sixth state. Massachusetts was created from Province of Massachusetts Bay and is located in the New England region of the United States. It is governed under its original constitution, which was adopted in 1780. Boston (also known as "The Hub" and "Beantown") became the capitol city of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1632. It has served as the state capitol since 1780. Massachusetts has 14 counties.

A vital resource for locating historical records in Massachusetts is the text Report on the Custody and Condition of the Public Records of Parishes, Towns, and Counties, published in 1889, showing the existence and quality of existing records by each town and religion. Additionally, it states important dates of when towns may have separated or altered town lines.

Massachusetts Clickable Map
Many genealogy records are kept on the county level in the United States. Click on a county below to go to the county Wiki article listing more information.

Counties
Obsolete Jurisdictions of Massachusetts:  Cornwall (ME) · Devonshire (ME) · Dominion of New England · Dukes (NY) · Maine · Massachusetts Bay Colony · New Hampshire · New Netherland · Norfolk (old) · Plymouth Colony · Yorkshire (ME)

FamilySearch Resources
Below are FamilySearch resources that can assist you in researching your family.
 * Facebook Communities - Facebook groups discussing genealogy research
 * Learning Center - Online genealogy courses
 * Historical Records - databases and record images on FamilySearch
 * Family History Center locator map

Additional Resources

 * edited by Rhonda R. McClure, Genealogist's handbook for New England research 6th ed. Boston, Massachusetts : New England Historic Genealogical Society®, 2022 FS Library 974 D27mr
 * Ralph J. Crandell, Genealogical research in New England Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Company, c1984 FS Library 974 D27gr
 * David Allen Lambert, Research in Massachusetts Falls Church, Virginia : National Genealogical Society, ©2018 FS Library 974.4 D27L 2018
 * Massachusetts Research Outline – Original FamilySearch Library research outline; contains many out of date links
 * American ancestors : newsmagazine of the New England Historic Genealogical Society Boston, Massachusetts : New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010- FS Library 974 D25nea
 * New England Historic Genealogical Society, (1970) 19 rolls
 * Cyndi's List - Massachusetts genealogy sites on the internet
 * Access Genealogy – Genealogy guide for Massachusetts
 * Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness - Guide to Ancestry and Family Tree Records for Massachusetts


 * Every Name Index