Massachusetts Births and Christenings - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection is an index of births and christenings for the years 1639 to 1915. This index is not complete for any particular place, region or time period. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
 * Name of child
 * Gender
 * Birth date and place
 * Christening date and place
 * Names of parents
 * Race
 * Parents' place of birth

Coverage Table
The coverage table shows the places and time periods of the original records in this collection. The table indicates how many records the collection has from each place. Most of the records in the collection are from the time periods listed in the table; however, the collection may have a few records from before or after the time period.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The person’s name
 * The approximate date and place of birth

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Look at an image of the original record, if possible. The original may contain information that was not recorded in the index
 * Use the information to find other records such as marriage, death, or census records
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname, unless the surname is a common surname. This list can help you identify possible relatives that can be verified by records

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Try viewing any original indexes to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc.
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames, middles name, or an abbreviation of their given name

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Massachusetts.
 * Massachusetts Guided Research
 * Massachusetts Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Births, marriages (1841-1895), and deaths (1841-1899)
 * Massachusetts vital records, 1896-1897, 1899-1900
 * Register of births, marriages, deaths, 1901-1905
 * Massachusetts birth, marriage, death records, 1906-1910, from town clerks
 * Massachusetts vital records deaths, births, marriages, 1911-1915
 * Massachusetts, birth records, 1921-1924

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Massachusetts, Births, 1636-1924
 * Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915
 * Massachusetts Town Births Index, ca. 1630-1905
 * Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920
 * Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Guide to the public vital records of Massachusetts. Boston, Massachusetts : Historical Records Survey, 1942
 * Carroll D. Wright. Report on the custody and condition of the public records of parishes, towns, and counties. Boston, Massachusetts : Wright & Potter, 1889

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.