User:Adsellers/Sandbox WikiProject:Ideas for New Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Genealogy Page

This page contains introductions to, and genealogical record links for, the city of Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts For a more detailed historical and genealogical guide to the town and city of Boston please click on this link: For a list of the genealogical records kept on this page, please view and use the Table of Contents box below:
 * Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Genealogy

Description
Historical Boston, then only the land of a peninsula, was a faction of the land mass it is today after massive land-fill projects of the mid- to late-19th century (the rubble from the Great Boston Fire of 1872 help fill in the waterfront) and the annexing of six towns from two counties (as listed above). Boston was first settled by passengers of the Winthrop Fleet of 1630 who first lodged in Charlestown. These first settlers were Puritans, the religious group wanting to change the Church of England from working inside the church. Called the "City on the Hill" by Gov. John Winthrop, the "hub" as we now call it became the center of trade, education, government, wealth, and power. It was the capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, then the Royal colony of Massachusetts, and finally the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
 * Boston.gov
 * Boston, Massachusetts at Wikipedia

Shortly after its settlement, Boston had become a major settlement. It was the largest town in British North America for the first hundred years. Because of that, the town and later city became a draw for immigrants from around the world. Though the first two hundred years saw mostly English arrivals, Scots, Irish, and French were found here, too. It was after 1820 that immigrants from other European countries started arriving in large numbers. The gate was opened by the Irish fleeing the potato famine in 1847. The next wave included more Irish (their dominance starting in the early 20th century is a testament to their number), but also Germans, Italians, and Syrians. The end of the century saw French Canadians, Russian and Polish Jews, and Swedes arriving. The 21st century brought African Americans from the South, Southeast Asian immigrants (especially Chinese and Vietnamese), Muslims, and Puerto Ricans. Many other ethnicities can be found in pockets all over Boston, and walking in downtown one will likely here many languages being spoken.

Parent Towns
Boston at times was called Shawmut, Tremont, and Trimountaine

Populated Places
Includes Neighborhoods, Villages, Unincorporated Communities, Districts, and Census-Designated Places: Sections (excluding most of the named squares) in downtown Boston include Andrew Square, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Boston Common, Boston Harbor, Chinatown, City Point, Copley Square, East Boston (Eastie), Faneuil Hall, Fenway, Financial District, The Flat (i.e. of Beacon Hill), Fort Point, Government Center, Haymarket Square, Kenmore, Leather District, Logan Airport, Longwood, North End, Scollay Square, Seaport, South End, South Bay, South Boston (Southie), Washington Village, and West End. Islands that are currently part of Boston are: Apple Island*, Belle Island (formerly Hog's Island)*, Bird Island*, Breed's Island*, Calf Island (formerly Apthrop Island), Castle Island*, Deer Island*, Gallop's Island, George's Island, Governor's Island, Great Brewster Island, Green Island (or North Brewster Island), Little Brewster Island, Little Calf Island, Long Island, Lovell's Island, Middle Brewster Island, Nixes mate, Noddle Island*, Outer Brewster Island, Rainsford Island, Shag Rocks, Spectacle Island, The Graves, Thompson's Island, and Wood Island* [* denotes land-fill has made it part of the mainland now and the others are part of the Boston Harbor Island National Recreation Area]

Boundary Changes
Towns annexed from Boston: Border changes Top of Page
 * Brighton (1807-1874)
 * Charlestown (1630-1874)
 * Dorchester (1630-1870)
 * Hyde Park (1868-1912)
 * Roxbury (1630-1868)
 * West Roxbury (1851-1874)

Adjacent Towns

 * Middlesex Co.: Cambridge | Everett | Medford | Newton | Somerville | Watertown |
 * Norfolk Co.: Brookline | Canton | Dedham | Milton | Needham | Quincy |
 * Plymouth Co.: Hull
 * Suffolk Co.: Chelsea | Revere | Winthrop |

Town Records
In New England most original vital records of birth, marriage, and death can be found at the town clerk's office

Boston City Hall
1 City Hall Sq. Boston, Massachusetts 02201-1020 Telephone: 617-635-4500 Email: [mailto:mayor@boston.gov mayor@boston.gov]
 * Contact Boston City Hall

Boston City Clerk
1 City Hall Sq., RM 601 Boston, Massachusetts 02201-2014 Telephone: 617-635-4601 Email: [mailto:cityclerk@boston.gov cityclerk@boston.gov]
 * City Clerk

Boston Public Records
1 City Hall Sq., RM 615 Boston, Massachusetts 02201 Email: [mailto:publicrecords@boston.gov publicrecords@boston.gov]
 * Public Records, ($)

Marriages

 * 1700-1809 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., Marriages, 1700-1809 at Ancestry - index ($); Also at: American Ancestors ($)

Resources
For more County and State resources see:

Maps
This selection incudes town, county, state, and historical maps

Military
Some Records are Searchable by Town