Massachusetts, Biographical Directory of Loyalists - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States Massachusetts

What is in the Collection?
This collection is an index and images from a published book entitled, "Divided Hearts, Massachusetts Loyalists, 1765-1790: A Biographical Directory." The book contains a preface and key to the genealogies for many of the loyalists. These images are courtesy of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

What Can this Collection Tell Me?
The records may include any of the following:


 * Full names of ancestors
 * Birth dates and places
 * Christening dates and places
 * Marriage dates and places
 * Death dates and places
 * Burial dates and places
 * Names of other family members such as parents, spouses and children
 * Relationships
 * Residences
 * Other biographical details

How Do I Search the Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know:


 * The name of your ancestor
 * The residence of your ancestor
 * The birth date of your ancestor
 * The names of other family members and family relationships

Search by Name by visiting the Collection Page: Fill in the requested information on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about those in the list to what you already know about your own ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person.

View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the appropriate "Book Title" ⇒Select the appropriate "_____________" ⇒Select the appropriate "_____________" which takes you to the images.

Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

With either search keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Download a copy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Use the event dates and places to find family in census records
 * Use the event dates and places to find family in church records
 * Use the event dates and places to find family in military records
 * Use the event dates and places to find family in land records
 * Use the event dates and places to find family in additional town and county records

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking for, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby localities.
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor.

Citing this Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image.

Collection Citation:

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry):

Image Citation: