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| Petition for a [http://avalon.law.yale.edu/17th_century/charter_002.asp | | Petition for a [http://avalon.law.yale.edu/17th_century/charter_002.asp Charter of New England] by the Northern Company of Adventurers settling between 40°N and 45°. | ||
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| 3 Nov. 1620 | | 3 Nov. 1620 | ||
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This section is currently being worked on ----- | This section is currently being worked on ----- | ||
{| width="85%" border="1 | {| width="85%" border="1" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;" class="wikitable" | ||
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! colspan="3" | Quick Links to Massachusetts Bibliography | ! colspan="3" | Quick Links to Massachusetts Bibliography | ||
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*Carroll D. Wright, ed., ''History of Wages and Prices in Massachusetts: 1752-1883'' (Boston, 1885), 313, 57 pp.<br>Digital version at [http://archive.org/details/cu31924000539753 Internet Archive].<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/12491927 WorldCat (Other Libraries)] (see other entries); Not at FHL.<br> | *Carroll D. Wright, ed., ''History of Wages and Prices in Massachusetts: 1752-1883'' (Boston, 1885), 313, 57 pp.<br>Digital version at [http://archive.org/details/cu31924000539753 Internet Archive].<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/12491927 WorldCat (Other Libraries)] (see other entries); Not at FHL.<br> | ||
<center>[[#top|Top of Page]] || [[#bib00|Top of Histories and Genealogies]]</center> | <center>[[#top|Top of Page]] || [[#bib00|Top of Histories and Genealogies]]</center> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
== Massachusetts Genealogy Records == | == Massachusetts Genealogy Records == | ||
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The original record still is found with the clerk of the town or city. All these records back to the earliest settlement of a town can always be viewed at the [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleclk/clkidx.htm town or city clerk’s office]. Most all town and city vital records have been microfilmed by the Family History Library and microfiched by the Holbrook Research Institute of Oxford, Mass. [now Archive Publishing of Provo, Utah]. This tends to be the most complete record of the event. Since 1841, there should be a second copy with the state and sometimes has abbreviated information from the original. This second copy is the most widely available source for researchers. It has been preserved by the same two vendors listed above and can be found on online in a variety of places and forms as listed below.<br> | The original record still is found with the clerk of the town or city. All these records back to the earliest settlement of a town can always be viewed at the [http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleclk/clkidx.htm town or city clerk’s office]. Most all town and city vital records have been microfilmed by the Family History Library and microfiched by the Holbrook Research Institute of Oxford, Mass. [now Archive Publishing of Provo, Utah]. This tends to be the most complete record of the event. Since 1841, there should be a second copy with the state and sometimes has abbreviated information from the original. This second copy is the most widely available source for researchers. It has been preserved by the same two vendors listed above and can be found on online in a variety of places and forms as listed below.<br> | ||
{| width="50%" border="1" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto; | {| width="50%" border="1" class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;" | ||
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! colspan="2" | Quick Links to Vital Records | ! colspan="2" | Quick Links to Vital Records | ||
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The earliest settlers in this region were issued patents or charters directly or through various types of companies established for settlement and/or trade. See the [[#Historical_Data|Historical Data]] table to identify these early documents. Once the two major colonies were settled (i.e. [[Plymouth Colony|Plymouth Colony]] and [[Massachusetts Bay Colony|Massachusetts Bay Colony]]), land was distributed by their colonial governments through grants. [[Massachusetts Bay Colony|Massachusetts Bay Colony]] established a county system in 1643 and land was recorded in the county deeds from then on. [[Plymouth Colony|Plymouth Colony]] used a centralized system and recorded these deeds colony-wide from 1620 to 1685 until it finally established a county system in 1685. The land records for the area now called [[Maine|Maine]] were always kept separately first entirely as was later was called York County. For each of these areas, land was granted for many years after the initial settlement as the colony expanded into uncharted territory given to it under the various patents and charters. All subsequent sales were recorded by the county. Though the vast majority of land transactions were recorded, it was not a requirement that this be done. It was in the best interest of the owner to do so, and legal advantages were given to such recordings. To search for land records, see the guide for the [[#Counties|county]] of interest and use the resources found there<br> | The earliest settlers in this region were issued patents or charters directly or through various types of companies established for settlement and/or trade. See the [[#Historical_Data|Historical Data]] table to identify these early documents. Once the two major colonies were settled (i.e. [[Plymouth Colony|Plymouth Colony]] and [[Massachusetts Bay Colony|Massachusetts Bay Colony]]), land was distributed by their colonial governments through grants. [[Massachusetts Bay Colony|Massachusetts Bay Colony]] established a county system in 1643 and land was recorded in the county deeds from then on. [[Plymouth Colony|Plymouth Colony]] used a centralized system and recorded these deeds colony-wide from 1620 to 1685 until it finally established a county system in 1685. The land records for the area now called [[Maine|Maine]] were always kept separately first entirely as was later was called York County. For each of these areas, land was granted for many years after the initial settlement as the colony expanded into uncharted territory given to it under the various patents and charters. All subsequent sales were recorded by the county. Though the vast majority of land transactions were recorded, it was not a requirement that this be done. It was in the best interest of the owner to do so, and legal advantages were given to such recordings. To search for land records, see the guide for the [[#Counties|county]] of interest and use the resources found there<br> | ||
{{anchor|court00}} | {{anchor|court00}} | ||
=== Court System === | === Court System === | ||
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This is the history of the court system. It is broken up into historical periods and then a discussion of special courts, records, legal definitions, and bibliography. Realize that except for the upper courts, all records and actions were on the county level. To find detailed information regarding a particular county's courts, see that county page from the [[Massachusetts Genealogy Guide#Counties|links provided above]]. | This is the history of the court system. It is broken up into historical periods and then a discussion of special courts, records, legal definitions, and bibliography. Realize that except for the upper courts, all records and actions were on the county level. To find detailed information regarding a particular county's courts, see that county page from the [[Massachusetts Genealogy Guide#Counties|links provided above]]. | ||
{| width="85%" border="1 | {| width="85%" border="1" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;" class="wikitable" | ||
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! colspan="3" | Quick Links to court history | ! colspan="3" | Quick Links to court history | ||
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*Emory Washburn, ''Sketches of the Judicial History of Massachusetts from 1630 to the Revolution in 1775'' (Boston, 1840), 407 pp.<br>Digital versions at [http://archive.org/details/sketchesofjudici00washuoft Internet Archive] and [http://books.google.com/books?id=gpssAAAAIAAJ Google Books].<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/681506733 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; Not at FHL.<br> | *Emory Washburn, ''Sketches of the Judicial History of Massachusetts from 1630 to the Revolution in 1775'' (Boston, 1840), 407 pp.<br>Digital versions at [http://archive.org/details/sketchesofjudici00washuoft Internet Archive] and [http://books.google.com/books?id=gpssAAAAIAAJ Google Books].<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/681506733 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; Not at FHL.<br> | ||
*William Henry Whitmore, ''A Bibliographical Sketch of the Laws of the Massachusetts Colony from 1630 to 1686'' (Boston, 1890), xliii, 150 pp.<br>Digital version at [http://archive.org/details/bibliographicals00whit Internet Archive] and [http://books.google.com/books?id=n7kZAAAAMAAJ Google Books].<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1882470 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; Not at FHL.<br><br> | *William Henry Whitmore, ''A Bibliographical Sketch of the Laws of the Massachusetts Colony from 1630 to 1686'' (Boston, 1890), xliii, 150 pp.<br>Digital version at [http://archive.org/details/bibliographicals00whit Internet Archive] and [http://books.google.com/books?id=n7kZAAAAMAAJ Google Books].<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1882470 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; Not at FHL.<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> | ||
=== Cemeteries === | === Cemeteries === | ||
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*David Allen Lambert, ''A Guide to Massachusetts Cemeteries'' (Boston, 2002, 2nd ed., 2009), xvii, 345 pp.<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/318339243 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; {{FHL|1567884|item|disp=FHL book 974.4 V34L}} (both for 2nd ed.).<br> | *David Allen Lambert, ''A Guide to Massachusetts Cemeteries'' (Boston, 2002, 2nd ed., 2009), xvii, 345 pp.<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/318339243 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; {{FHL|1567884|item|disp=FHL book 974.4 V34L}} (both for 2nd ed.).<br> | ||
<center>[[#top|Top of Page]]</center> | |||
=== Census === | |||
This section is focused on statewide, non-Federal census. Though many types of substitute records exist, only censuses will be addressed here.<br><br>The first census was taken in 1765. It enumerated statistically the number of houses, families, and people who were categorized under white males, white females (each with the number above and below age 16), Negro and Mulatto, Indians (each with the number of males and females), and French Neutrals (male and female, both above and below age 16). The town tallies were published at the end of Benton's book listed below.<br><br>The Provincial Congress needing to raise funds in 1775 determined it should be done by the population of the colonies. By an act on 16 Feb. 1776, the General Court of Massachusetts ordered a census to be taken to include the name of the heads of each family, number of white people, number of Negroes and Mulattoes, and the whole number within each family. These returned were to be submitted by each town.<br><br>The Congress again wanted an enumeration in 1781, but that resulted in creating estimates based on the current polls at the time. The Congress requested another census on 17 Feb. 1783 and Massachusetts responded in 1784 for an "accurate account of the quantity of land within this Commonwealth granted to, or surveyed for, any person, the number of buildings thereon, and of its inhabitants." Returns by town were to be made to the Secretary of the Commonwealth as of 1 Sept. 1784.<br><br>Massachusetts took two censuses in 1837 - one of inhabitants and the other of ratable polls. In 1840, the Commonwealth elected to take their own census along with the one the Federal government was doing. The state count was roughly 20,000 less than the Federal tally for 1840 and 1850. The Commonwealth started its own decennial census in 1855 and these continued through 1975. The only surviving schedules are for 1855 and 1865, and returns for 1915. The Legislature decided to change the basis of representation in the state from inhabitants to legal voters in 1857. At the same time, they repealed the duplicate state census they conducted along side the Federal census. The provision for legal voters was repealed in 1860 and that tally was done in conjunction with the decennial censuses of the state on the fifth year.<br><br>For 1855, the census recorded every person by name in the household, age, sex, color, occupation, place of birth, and whether a person was deaf, dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper, or convict. Enumerators is twenty-two (22) towns listed the exact place of birth. These towns are:<br>Abington, Andover, Brimfield, Brookline, Carlisle, Dennis, Enfield, Harwich, Holland, Ipswich, Marshfield, New Ashford, North Attleboro, Pembroke, Provinctown, Shutesbury, Wayland, Wellfleet, Westport, Wilmington, and Yarmouth.<br>'''These records are available online at FamilySearch as {{RecordSearch|1459985|Massachusetts, State Census, 1855}}'''.<br><br>For 1865, the census recorded every person by name in the household, age, sex, color, place of birth, marital status, occupation, whether a person was deaf, dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper, or convict, and whether a man was a ratable poll (i.e. over 16 with enough property to be taxed), and a legal voter or a naturalized voter. Enumerators is ninety-six (96) towns listed the exact place of birth. These towns are:<br>Ashburnham, Ashfield, Bedford, Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Brimfield, Brookline, Carlisle, Charlestown, Chatham, Cheshire, Chester, Cummington, Dartmouth, Dennis, Dorchester, Dunstable, Edgartown, Essex, Falmouth, Florida, Foxborough, Framingham, Freetown, Gill, Gosnold, Grafton, Greenwich, Groton, Hadley, Halifax, Hancock, Harwich, Hawley, Holland, Hopkinton, Ipswich, Lee, Leicester, Lenox, Lexington, Leyden, Littleton, Lunenburg, Lynn (Wds. 3-5), Lynnfield, Marlborough, Marshfield, Melrose, Middleton, Milton, Monroe, Monson, Monterey, Needham, New Ashford, New Bedford (Wd. 4), New Salem, North Bridgewater [''now Brockton''], North Reading, Northfield, Palmer, Pepperell, Quincy, Reading, Rehoboth, Rochester, Rockport, Russell, Scituate, Sharon, Sherborn, Shutesbury, Somerset, South Danvers [''now Peabody''], Stoughton, Sutton, Swampscott, Tisbury, Uxbridge, Ware, Wareham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellfleet, Wendell, Westborough, Westford, Westminister, Weymouth, Williamsburg, Wilmington, Winthrop, and Yarmouth.<br>'''These records are available online at FamilySearch as {{RecordSearch|1410399|Massachusetts, State Census, 1865}}'''.<br><br>This is a short bibliography on the subject of censuses in Massachusetts:<br> | |||
*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, 1905), 104 pp.<br>Digital versions at [http://archive.org/details/earlycensusmaki00bentgoog Internet Archive] or [http://books.google.com/books?id=fSlXZijctyMC Google Books].<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2100989 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; Not at FHL.<br> | |||
*William H. Dumont, "A Short Census of Massachusetts - 1779" in the ''National Genealogical Society Quarterly'', 49: 14-20, 96-100, 137-141; 50: 26-28, 207-214; 51: 44-48.<br>This is included because of the title, but it should be noted that this is not a census.<br> | |||
*Charles Ferris Gettemy, ''An Historical Survey of Census Taking in Massachusetts'' (Boston, 1919), 57 pp.<br>Digital version at [http://books.google.com/books?id=CkwaAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA697 Google Books].<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/814843879 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; Not at FHL.<br> | |||
*Samuel Abbott Green, "The First Census of Massachusetts" [''i.e. 1765''] in ''Publications of the American Statistical Association'', New Ser., 2 [1890-1891]: 182-185.<br>Digital version at [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2276526 Jstor] (free).<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/41125188 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; Not at FHL.<br> | |||
*Ann S. Lainhart, ''State Census Records'' (Baltimore, 1992), 116 pp.<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/26517040 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; {{FHL|568961|item|disp=FHL book 973 X2Lai}}.<br> | |||
*Ann Smith Lainhart, ''1855 and 1865 Massachusetts State Censuses For ...'' (Boston, 1986-1992), in 64 volumes for the seventy-three (73) towns of Acton, Bedford, Billerica, Boxboro, Boxford, Bradford, Bridgewater, Brighton, Burlington, Charlestown (2v.), Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Essex, Georgetown, Groton, Groveland, Halifax, Hamilton, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hull, Ipswich, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lynnfield, Manchester, Marlborough, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Medford, Melrose, Middleborough, Middleton, Nahant, Natick, Newbury, North Andover, North Bridgewater [''now Brockton''], Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Rockport, Saugus, South Reading [''now Wakefield''], Sherborn, Shirley, Stoneham, Stow, Sudbury, Swampscott, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Wareham, Watertown, Wayland, Wenham, West Bridgewater, West Cambridge [''now Arlington''], West Newbury, Westford, Weston, Wilmington, and Winchester.<br> | |||
*"Old Census of Massachusetts" [''1764-65''] published in the ''Columbian Centinel'', issue 17 Aug. 1822, p. 1, cols. 2-3.<br> | |||
<center>[[#top|Top of Page]]</center> | |||
=== Military === | === Military === | ||