African American Resources for Massachusetts

African American Online Genealogy Records

Online Resources

 * 1846-1867 U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Marriage Records, 1846-1867 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1855-1865 Massachusetts: People of Color in the State Census, 1855-1865 at American Ancestors - index ($)
 * 1861-1872 United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872 at FamilySearch
 * 1865-1874 Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1874
 * African American Digital Bookshelf - a growing list of digital books on FamilySearch and other websites
 * Discover Freedmen - this site searches all of the Freedmen's Bureau record collections on FamilySearch altogether (and redirects there)

History
To learn about the history and end of slavery in Massachusetts, see "African Americans and the End of Slavery in Massachusetts".

Freedman’s Bank
An excellent source is the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company (visit the African American Freedman's Savings and Trust Company Records page to learn more). This company was created to assist African American soldiers of the Civil War and freed slaves. Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company signature cards or registers from 3 March 1865 to 25 July 1874 may list the name of the depositor, date of entry, age, birthplace, residence, complexion, name of employer or occupation, wife or husband’s name, death information, children’s names, name of father and mother, brothers’ and sisters’ names, remarks, and signature. Early books sometimes contained the name of the former master or mistress and the name of the plantation. Copies of death certificates were sometimes attached to the entries. The collection is organized alphabetically by state, then city where the bank was located, then date the account was established, then account number.

Online collections of Freedman's Bank records:
 * United States, Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1874
 * U.S., Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1871 ($)

Freedmen's Bureau
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands was created by the US government in 1865 until 1872 to assist former slaves in the southern United States. The Bureau created a wide variety of records extremely valuable to genealogists. Such documents include censuses, marriage records, and medical records. These records often include full names, former masters and plantations, and current residences. For 1865 and 1866, the section on abandoned and confiscated lands includes the names of the owners of the plantations or homes that were abandoned, confiscated, or leased. It gives the county and location, a description of the house, the number of acres owned, and the number of cabins of former slaves. These films do not appear to contain the names of former slaves.

To find Freedmen's Bureau records:

Other FamilySearch collections not included: These reports primarily contain statistical and historical information.
 * DiscoverFreedmen - the search on this site will utilize all of the Freedmen's Bureau records on FamilySearch, including:
 * 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1861-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1865-1872  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * More collections are available in the FamilySearch Catalog. Search for "FREEDMEN - MASSACHUSETTS" in the Subjects search bar to find.

Marriage

 * Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915 - information may include marriage date and place and the bride and groom’s name, race, age, number of marriage, residence, occupation, birthplace, and parents

The Freedmen's Bureau (1865-1872) was created by the US government to assist former slaves in the southern United States. One of their responsibilities was to record the marriages (past and present) of the former slaves. These records can be found in the collections below and include the lists of marriages that occurred previously, marriage certificates, and marriage licenses. The information contained on the records may include the name of the husband and wife/groom and bride, age, occupation, residence, year or date of marriage, by whom, number of children, and remarks.
 * United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872
 * U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Marriage Records, 1846-1867

Death

 * Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915 - information may include name, death date and place, age, residence, gender, race, marital status, spouse, birthplace, cause of death, parents and their birthplaces, and burial date and place

Archives and Libraries
Museum of African American History 46 Joy Street Beacon Hill Boston, MA Phone: 617.725.0022

Societies
Massachusetts Historical Society 1154 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02215-3695 Phone: 617.536.1608

Includes a web presentation entitled "African Americans and the End of Slavery in Massachusetts".