Massachusetts State Census, 1865 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of an index and images of population schedules listing inhabitants of the State of Massachusetts in 1865. This project was indexed in partnership with the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS). The census schedules consisted of large sheets with rows and columns. The schedules were arranged by street in order of visitation.

In 1855, the legislature directed that a census be taken on June 1 of that year and every 10 years thereafter. The 1865 census was conducted on May 1. The census schedules were delivered to the State Secretary and eventually sent to the State Archives for safe keeping. These records cover more than 95% of the Massachusetts population.

The state census of Massachusetts was taken in order to enumerate the population for representation purposes. Censuses are usually reliable, depending on the knowledge of the informant and the care of the census enumerator. Information may have been given to a census taker by any member of the family or by a neighbor. Some information may have been incorrect or deliberately falsified.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know: • 2

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
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

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

 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Try searching by surname only
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Massachusetts.
 * Massachusetts Guided Research
 * Massachusetts Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Massachusetts Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * 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
 * Massachusetts, 1790 thru 1840 federal census : population schedules
 * Massachusetts, 1850 federal census : population schedules
 * Massachusetts state census, 1855-1865

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Massachusetts State Census, 1855

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Josiah Henry Benton. Early census making in Massachusetts, 1643-1765 : with a reproduction of the lost census of 1765 (recently found) and documents relating thereto. Boston, Massachusetts : C.E. Goodspead, 1905.

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.