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Massachusetts Genealogy Guide | Massachusetts Genealogy Guide | ||
''[[United States]]'' [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] '''Massachusetts''' | ''[[United States]]'' [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] '''Massachusetts'''<br> | ||
<br> | This is a genealogical and historical guide to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and its state-level records. You will find help with state vital records, histories, church archives, newspaper collections, genealogical libraries, understanding the court system, military records, and immigration and naturalization records.<br> | ||
== Massachusetts History == | == Massachusetts History == | ||
=== Massachusetts Brief History === | === Massachusetts Brief History === | ||
This region of New England was home to many Algonquian-speaking Indians. They had been visited by British and other European countries' fishermen for more than a century before the first permanent European settlement. Not long before this first settlement began, the native population was decimated by a European-borne disease, likely smallpox, that left many of their villages empty. The Separatist Pilgrims were the first to arrive in 1620 to establish [[Plymouth Colony|Plymouth Colony]] at [[Plymouth Massachusetts genealogy|Plymouth]]. There were several early and later attempts for settlement up the coast into [[Maine|Maine]] (which would be part of Massachusetts until statehood in 1820). The second permanent settlement was by Puritans who arrived in 1629 to establish the [[Massachusetts Bay Colony|Massachusetts Bay Colony]] at [[Salem, Massachusetts|Salem]].<br> | |||
These two colonies coexisted for many years, but geography and politics were on the side of the Massachusetts Bay. The Royal Province of [[New Hampshire|New Hampshire]] was created in 1680 that separated the District of Maine off from the center of population of the colony now firmly established at [[Boston Massachusetts genealogy|Boston]]. The British colonies developed more independent practices regarding trade, religion, and governance. King Charles II finally rescinded the charter for Massachusetts Bay in 1684. This action was implemented by King James II. The colony continued as it was until Sir Edmund Andros arrived to become the Royal Governor of the newly created [[Dominion of New England|Dominion of New England]] effectively in 1686. This united the colonies of Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth. Soon New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Haven, New York, and New Jersey would be added to the Dominion with the government seated at Boston. Andros quickly moved to take away most liberties colonists enjoyed and thus his rule was extremely unpopular. When King James II was overthrown in late 1688 by William and Mary, colonist at Boston overthrew Andros and his administration there in 1689. For lack of guidance by England, the colonies resumed their previous form of governments through 1691.<br> | |||
The next major geo-political event was the merger of the Massachusetts Bay and the Plymouth Colony into the newly rechartered Royal Province of Massachusetts Bay in 1691 that began its new government under Sir William Phips in 1692. The territory included what is Maine and the Elizabeth, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket Islands (the islands removed from the control of New York). Major border disputes were settled as follows: New Hampshire (1740), Rhode Island (1746 - succeeded towns of Barrington, Bristol, Little Compton, Tiverton, Warren, and the newly created Cumberland to R.I.), Connecticut (1749 - succeeded towns of Enfield, Somers, Suffield, and Woodstock to Conn.), New York (1773 - twenty miles west of the Hudson; 1853 - Boston Corners section of Mount Washington to N.Y.), and Maine (1820 - succeeded as new state in Missouri Compromise).<br> | |||
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=== Massachusetts Historical Data === | === Massachusetts Historical Data === | ||
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is divided into fourteen counties. It is there that most court and land records are found. The most of the other commonly used records will be at the town level. Use the guide below to link to the county you want:<br> | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is divided into fourteen counties. It is there that most court and land records are found. The most of the other commonly used records will be at the town level. Use the guide below to link to the county you want:<br> | ||
<center>[[Barnstable County, Massachusetts|Barnstable (1685)]] - [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts|Berkshire (1761)]] - [[Bristol County, Massachusetts|Bristol (1685)]]<br>[[Dukes County, Massachusetts|Dukes (1683/1695)]] - [[Essex County, Massachusetts|Essex (1643)]] - [[Franklin County, Massachusetts|Franklin (1811)]]<br>[[Hampden County, Massachusetts|Hampden (1812)]] - [[Hampshire County, Massachusetts|Hampshire (1662)]] - [[Middlesex County, Massachusetts|Middlesex (1643)]]<br>[[Nantucket County, Massachusetts|Nantucket (1695)]] - [[Norfolk County, Massachusetts|Norfolk (1793)]] - [[Plymouth County Massachusetts genealogy|Plymouth (1685)]]<br>[[Suffolk County, Massachusetts|Suffolk (1643)]] - [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester (1731)]] </center> | <center>[[Barnstable County, Massachusetts|Barnstable (1685)]] - [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts|Berkshire (1761)]] - [[Bristol County, Massachusetts|Bristol (1685)]]<br>[[Dukes County, Massachusetts|Dukes (1683/1695)]] - [[Essex County, Massachusetts|Essex (1643)]] - [[Franklin County, Massachusetts|Franklin (1811)]]<br>[[Hampden County, Massachusetts|Hampden (1812)]] - [[Hampshire County, Massachusetts|Hampshire (1662)]] - [[Middlesex County, Massachusetts|Middlesex (1643)]]<br>[[Nantucket County, Massachusetts|Nantucket (1695)]] - [[Norfolk County, Massachusetts|Norfolk (1793)]] - [[Plymouth County Massachusetts genealogy|Plymouth (1685)]]<br>[[Suffolk County, Massachusetts|Suffolk (1643)]] - [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester (1731)]] </center><br> | ||
Massachusetts was created from two colonies in 1691. So records before that time would be part of:<br> | Massachusetts was created from two colonies in 1691. So records before that time would be part of:<br> | ||
<center>[[Massachusetts Bay Colony|Massachusetts Bay Colony ( | <center>[[Massachusetts Bay Colony|Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629)]] - [[Plymouth Colony|Plymouth Colony (1620)]] </center><br> | ||
Other extinct jurisdictions:<br> | Other extinct jurisdictions:<br> | ||
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*Joseph H. Smith, ''Colonial Justice in Western Massachusetts (1639-1702)'' (Cambridge, Mass., 1961).<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/345561 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; {{FHL|537167|item|disp=FHL book 974.4 P2c}}. | *Joseph H. Smith, ''Colonial Justice in Western Massachusetts (1639-1702)'' (Cambridge, Mass., 1961).<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/345561 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; {{FHL|537167|item|disp=FHL book 974.4 P2c}}. | ||
*Eugene Aubrey Stratton, ''Plymouth Colony: Its History & People 1620-1691'' (Salt Lake City, 1986).<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/15349442 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; {{FHL|513087|item|disp=FHL book 974.4 H2s}}.<br><br> | *Eugene Aubrey Stratton, ''Plymouth Colony: Its History & People 1620-1691'' (Salt Lake City, 1986).<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/15349442 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; {{FHL|513087|item|disp=FHL book 974.4 H2s}}.<br><br> | ||
<center>[[#top|Top of Page]] || [[#court00|Top of Courts]] || [[#court17|Top of Bibliography]]</center> | <center>[[#top|Top of Page]] || [[#court00|Top of Courts]] || [[#court17|Top of Bibliography]]</center> | ||
=== Massachusetts Military === | === Massachusetts Military === | ||