Berkshire County, Massachusetts Genealogy

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Guide to Berkshire County, Massachusetts ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

County Facts
County seat: Pittsfield
Organized: June 30, 1761[1]
Parent County(s): Hampshire[2]
Neighboring Counties
Bennington (VT) • Columbia (NY) • Dutchess (NY) • Franklin • Hampden • Hampshire • Litchfield (CT) • Rensselaer (NY)
See County Maps
Courthouse
Massachusetts, Berkshire County Courthouse.png
Location Map
185x185

County Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

Berkshire County has always been at the crossroads of settlers on the move. As the western side of the Berkshire Mountains, those moving west from all other Massachusetts counties, Rhode Island, and much of Connecticut, and occasionally from very southern New Hampshire and Vermont would converge here. Many would continue west into New York state or up the western side of Vermont following the first roads that allowed easy travel through this region. It was never a populous county, but the rugged terrain was often where "lost" ancestors called home. Berkshire's county government was abolished on 1 July 2000, but its former jurisdiction is used for state offices as a district.[3]

The county was named for Berkshire, England.[4] It is located in the western area of the state.[5]

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
76 East St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: 413-499-7487
Berkshire Courthouse

Berkshire County, Massachusetts Record Dates[edit | edit source]

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[6]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
at town creation at town creation at town creation 1761 1761 1761 1779
* Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1841. General compliance year unknown. See also Town Records

Record Loss[edit | edit source]

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

Populated Places[edit | edit source]

MassachusettsConnecticutVermontNew YorkLitchfield CountyHartford CountyBennington CountyWindham CountyColumbia CountyRensselaer CountyHampden CountyHampshire CountyFranklin CountyBerkshire CountyGranbyHartlandColebrookNorfolkNorth CanaanSalisburyNorth EastAncramCopakeHillsdaleAusterlitzCanaanChathamNew LebanonStephentownNassauSand LakePoestenkillBrunswickPittstownGraftonPetersburghBerlinPownalStamfordReadsboroWhitinghamMonroeRoweCharlemontHawleyAshfieldPlainfieldCummingtonChesterfieldWorthingtonMiddlefieldChesterHuntingtonMontgomeryRussellGranvilleBlandfordTollandSandisfieldOtisBecketWashingtonPeruWindsorSavoyFloridaHinsdaleNew MarlboroughMontereyTyringhamLeeLenoxSheffieldMount WashingtonEgremontGreat BarringtonAlfordStockbridgeWest StockbridgeRichmondHancockPittsfieldDaltonLanesboroughCheshireNew AshfordAdamsNorth AdamsClarksburgWilliamstown
Modern towns and cities in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.


For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[9]

Cities
Towns
Villages
Census-designated places


History Timeline[edit | edit source]

The basic data are from the historical county boundary series[10] with additions from various sources. 

cellpadding="1" border="1" width="100%"

|- ! width="15%" scope="col" | Dates ! width="85%" scope="col" | Events |- | 30 June 1761 | Berkshire County was created from the western third of Hampshire County. [Mass. Col. Acts, Vol. 4, Ch. 33 [1760/1], Sec. 1, p. 432] |- | 30 June 1768 | Loss when part of Plantation #3 was included in the new town of Worthington, Hampshire Co. [Mass. Col. Acts, Vol. 4, Ch. 16 [1768], Sec. 1, p. 1028] |- | 23 June 1779 | Loss when part of Plantation #5 was included in the new town of Cummington, Hampshire Co. [Mass. Col. Acts, Vol. 5, Ch. 6 [1779/80], Sec. 1, p. 1072-1073] |- | 12 Mar. 1783 | Loss when parts of Becket, Partridgefield [now Peru], and Washington along with Chester, Prescott's Grant, and Worthington in Hampshire Co. were included in the new town of Middlefield, Hampshire Co. [Mass. Acts, 1783, Ch. 19, Sec. 1, p. 228] |- | 9 Feb. 1785 | Loss when Myrifield Grant and unincorporated county land created the new town of Rowe, Hampshire Co. [Mass. Acts, 1785, Ch. 2, Sec. 1, p. 230] |- | 9 Mar. 1793 | Loss when part of Plantation #7 was annexed to Hawley, Hampshire Co. [Mass. Acts, 1793, Ch. 18, Sec. 1, p. 242] |- | 21 Feb. 1822 | Loss when the Gore was combined with the western part of Rowe, Hampshire Co., to create the new town of Monroe, Hampshire. [Mass. Acts, 1822, Ch. 93, Sec. 1, p. 707] |- | 2 Apr. 1838 | Loss when part of the territory known as Zoar was annexed to Charlemont and Rowe, Hampshire Co. [Mass. Acts 1838, Ch. 56, Sec. 1, p. 344 and Ch. 57, Sec. 1, p. 345] |- | 4 May 1853
15 May 1855 | Border between Sandisfield and Tolland, Hampden Co., clarified then redefined. [Mass. Acts, 1853, Ch. 293, p. 535; 1855, Ch. 358, Sec. 1, p. 755] |- | 11 Jan. 1855 | Loss when the southwest corner of the county [and state] known as Boston Corner annexed to Columbia Co., N.Y. |}

Resources[edit | edit source]

Bible Records[edit | edit source]

Biographies[edit | edit source]

Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Berkshire County, Massachusetts online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Massachusetts Cemeteries for more information.


Census Records[edit | edit source]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1790 30,263 —
1800 33,885 12.0%
1810 35,907 6.0%
1820 35,720 −0.5%
1830 37,835 5.9%
1840 41,745 10.3%
1850 49,591 18.8%
1860 55,120 11.1%
1870 64,827 17.6%
1880 69,032 6.5%
1890 81,108 17.5%
1900 95,667 18.0%
1910 105,259 10.0%
1920 113,033 7.4%
1930 120,700 6.8%
1940 122,273 1.3%
1950 132,966 8.7%
1960 142,135 6.9%
1970 149,402 5.1%
1980 145,110 −2.9%
1990 139,352 −4.0%
2000 134,953 −3.2%
2010 131,219 −2.8%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Church Records[edit | edit source]

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records[edit | edit source]

The court system can appear to be complex. The system was reorganized in 1686/1692, 1859, and 1978. Described below are the most commonly used records for history and genealogy, but realize that this list is incomplete. For more detailed information regarding court structure, see Understanding the Massachusetts Court System.

Quarterly Court of General Sessions of the Peace
This court was active from 1761 to 1827. The court heard criminal cases and had authority over county affairs that included levying taxes, reviewing town bylaws, highways, licensed liquor, regulated jails, supervised the administration of the poor laws, and appointed some county officials.

There are no records microfilmed. Contact the Supreme Judicial Court Archivist above for the location of the original records.

Inferior Court of Common Pleas
This court was active from 1761 to 1859. The court heard all civil cases over 40s unless a case involved freehold or was appealed from a justice of the peace.

Online Court Index and Records:


Superior Court
The Quarterly Court of General Sessions was merged into the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in 1827, and that court was reorganized in 1859 to created the Superior Court as the new lower (i.e. trial) court. It covers both criminal and civil matters.

Online Court Index and Records:

Supreme Judicial Court
The Supreme Judicial Court was established by the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 that combined the former Governor and Council with the Superior Court of Judicature creating the highest state court. This court hears appeals, writ of error, capital offenses, and crimes against the public good. That included divorces until that action was moved to the lower court in 1887.

Online Court Index and Records:

Insolvency Court
Online Court Index and Records:

Directories[edit | edit source]

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]

Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]

Genealogies[edit | edit source]

Guardianship[edit | edit source]

Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]

Land transfers, commonly called deeds, are recorded on the county level in Massachusetts. Not all deeds were recorded as is common practice today. The earliest transactions were charters or grants from the English Crown. Once local government was established, the colony would grant land to settlers directly or to towns to dole out. Some towns first start out as proprietorship and records were recorded there. Once towns were established, deeds were recorded on the county level.

Berkshire County is divided into three land districts:

Northern Berkshire District Registry of Deeds
65 Park Street
Adams MA 01220
Phone 413-743-0035
Email nbrd@sec.state.ma.us
This district covers Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, Lanesborough, New Ashford, North Adams, Savoy, Williamstown, and Windsor.

Online Land Indexes and Records


Berkshire Middle District Registry of Deeds
44 Bank Row
Pittsfield MA 01201
Phone 413-443-7438
This district covers Becket, Dalton, Hinsdale, Lee, Lenox, Otis, Peru, Pittsfield, Richmond, Stockbridge, Tyringham, and Washington.

Online Land Indexes and Records


Southern Berkshire District Registry of Deeds
334 Main Street - Suite 2
Great Barrington MA 01230
Phone 413-528-0146
Email SBRD@sec.state.ma.us
This district covers Alford, Egremont, Great Barrington, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Sandisfield, Sheffield, and West Stockbridge.

Online Land Indexes and Records


Local Histories[edit | edit source]

Works written on the county include:

Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

VermontBennington CountyRensselaer CountyColumbia CountyDutchess CountyLitchfield CountyHampden CountyHampshire CountyFranklin CountyMA BERKSHIRE.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

There are so many published maps of interest to genealogists and historians that this list will not be recreated here. The focus is with resources you can access online and in the FamilySearch Library.

Migration[edit | edit source]

NY MA CT.png

Migration routes for early European settlers to and from Berkshire County included:[11]

Military Records[edit | edit source]

Revolutionary War

Civil War

World War I

Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]

Naturalization records were created on a variety of governmental levels from the Federal down to the city at the same time. The county records for all levels are outlines below. For more information, see the Massachusetts state page for more on naturalization.

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records - Covering Multiple Courts

Online Federal Naturalization Indexes and Records for Various Federal Courts in Berkshire County
Various Federal Courts - Originals at NARA M1299, National Archives - Waltham
Indexes

Records

Online County Courts Naturalization Indexes and Records
Indexes

Records

Newspapers[edit | edit source]

Obituaries[edit | edit source]

Other Records[edit | edit source]

Periodicals[edit | edit source]

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Probate and Family Court is organized on a county level in Massachusetts since the creation of the counties. The main records genealogists seek are testate (wills), intestate (administrations), guardianships, and divorces (since 1922), though there are many more that are valuable to any researcher, too. See a further discussion of the topic in general on the Massachusetts Genealogy Guide.

Berkshire Probate and Family Court
44 Bank Row
Pittsfield MA 01201
Phone 413-442-6941

Original Records
The original indexes, dockets, records, and files from 1761 to 1865 are at the Judicial Archives in Boston. Records after 1865 are at the courthouse. The file papers exist, but have never been microfilmed or digitized. The first docket book [i.e. the key to the recorded records] was never microfilmed and represents a major obstacle for probates before 1835.

Online Probate Indexes and Records



Original Records on Microfilm at New England Historic Genealogical Society:

  • Probate Index, 1761-1930 [i.e. index to docket books]
  • Probate Dockets, #5575-30403, 1835-1917 [Note: First docket book never filmed]
  • Probate Records, v. 1-224, 1761-1916 [Note: v. 1-58, 1761-1865, also at Massachusetts Archive]
  • Inheritance Tax Records, v. 1-2, 1907-1921
  • Record of adjournments, 1894-1907
  • Court of Insolvency, dockets, v. 3-4, 1860-1899
  • Court of Insolvency, records of assignments, v. 2, 1878-1910
  • Court of Insolvency, certificates of discharge, 1879-1899

School Records[edit | edit source]

Social Security Records[edit | edit source]

Tax Records[edit | edit source]

Town Records[edit | edit source]

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

It is easiest to start with the state vital records indexes (listed below) for births, marriages, and deaths since 1841. Massachusetts was the first to require a consistent recording of these events statewide. Original vital records (starting as early as 1639) are found with the clerk of the town or city where the event occurred. See the Massachusetts Genealogy Guide and Massachusetts Vital Records pages for more details.


Birth[edit | edit source]

Marriage[edit | edit source]

Death[edit | edit source]

Divorce[edit | edit source]


Research Facilities[edit | edit source]

Archives[edit | edit source]

For state-wide and regional facilities, see Massachusetts Archives and Libraries.

FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

  • FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
  • FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

Libraries[edit | edit source]

Listed below are libraries in Berkshire County. For state-wide library facilities, see Massachusetts Archives and Libraries.

Berkshire Athenaeum
One Wendell Avenue
Pittsfield MA 01201
Phone 413-499-9480
Email pittsref@cwmars.org
Premier genealogical collection and recipient of the NARA Pittsfield microfilm.
Website

Berkshire Family History Association
PO Box 1437
Pittsfield MA 01202
Website

For information on additional archives and repositories, see: Massachusetts Archives for information on additional archives and repositories

Museums[edit | edit source]

Societies[edit | edit source]

Listed below are societies in Berkshire County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Massachusetts Societies.

Berkshire Historical Society
780 Holmes Road
Pittsfield MA 01201
413-442-1793
Email: melville@berkshirehistory.org
Website

Berkshire County Historical Societies CountyOffice.orgWebsite

Websites[edit | edit source]

  • FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

Research Guides[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Individual County Chronologies by John H Long; online by Newberry Library
  2. ↑ Individual County Chronologies by John H Long; online by Newberry Library
  3. ↑ Abolished County Governments - Secretary of State, Acts of 1998, Ch. 300, Sect. 11.
  4. ↑ Britannica, “Berkshire County, Massachusetts, https://www.britannica.com/place/Berkshire-county-Massachusetts
  5. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Berkshire, County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkshire_County,_Massachusetts
  6. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Berkshire County, Massachusetts . Page 329-331 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 322-323.
  7. ↑ Individual County Chronologies by John H Long; online by Newberry Library
  8. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Massachusetts. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  9. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Berkshire County, Massachusetts," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkshire_County%2C_Massachusetts, accessed 08 March 2020.
  10. ↑ Massachusetts Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
  11. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 847-61. WorldCat entry; FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  12. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Old Albany Post Road" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Albany_Post_Road (accessed 23 June 2011).
  13. ↑ Frederic J. Wood, The Turnpikes of New England and the Evolution of the Same Through England, Virginia, and Maryland (Boston: Marshall Jones, 1919), map between 56 and 57, and 168. Internet Archive version online.
  14. ↑ Isaac Huntting, History of the Little Nine Partners of North East Precinct and Pine Plains, New York, Dutchess County (Amenia, NY: Chas. Walsh, 1897), 99-101. Google Book edition.
  15. ↑ List of turnpikes in New York in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 6 November 2014).
  16. ↑ Ancram Turnpike in Routes in the Northeastern United States: Historic Trails, Roads and Migration Routes (accessed 6 November 2014). The Ancram Turnpike went from Springield, MA to Catskill, NY; and was called the Catskill Road.
  17. ↑ Almira E Morgan, The Catskill Turnpike: A Wilderness Path (Ithaca, N.Y.: DeWitt Historical Society of Thompkins County, 1971), 5. Online digital copy.
  18. ↑ Catskill Turnpike in Routes in the Northeastern United States: Historic Trails, Roads and Migration Routes (accessed 6 November 2014). The Catskill Turnpike went west from Catskill, NY to Bath, NY; the east part was called the Susquehanna Turnpike.
  19. ↑ Huntting, 97-99.
  20. ↑ List of turnpikes in New York in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 1 November 2014).
  21. ↑ Anastassia Zinke, The Susquehanna Turnpike and America's Frontier History in Catskill Mountain Foundation (accessed 1 November 2014).
  22. ↑ Joan Odess, The Susquehanna Turnpike (pdf accessed 1 November 2014).
  23. ↑ Wood, map between 56 and 57, and 186-88.
  24. ↑ Wood, map between 330 and 331, and 348-49.
  25. ↑ Wood, map between 56 and 57, and 203-205.
  26. ↑ Wood, map between 56 and 57, and 166-67.
  27. ↑ Wood, map between 56 and 57, and 76-78.
  28. ↑ Wood, map between 56 and 57, and 79-80.
  29. ↑ Handybook, 851.
  30. ↑ Bethlehem Pike in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 17 November 2014).
  31. ↑ Handybook, 851.
  32. ↑ Fort Oswego in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 2 July 2011).
  33. ↑ Mohawk Trail in Routes in the Northeastern United States: Historic Trail, Roads, and Migration Routes in RootsWeb (accessed 10 Jan 2019).
  34. ↑ Old Connecticut Path in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 28 October 2014).
  35. ↑ Wood, 25.
  36. ↑ Boston Post Road in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 28 October 2014).
  37. ↑ Wood, map between 330 and 331, and 363-64.


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Migration Routes



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