Massachusetts Genealogy Guide: Difference between revisions

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 Genealogy|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 Genealogy|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 King Charles II finally rescinded the charter for Massachusetts Bay in 1684.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>  

*[[Maine Genealogy|Maine]], records for this region called the District of Maine with counties of its own will all be found under Maine. Only high court and legislative records will be found under their Massachusetts headings.<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 Genealogy|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><br>For counties with online records, the "recorded land" is what is microfilmed and constitutes the majority of the records. There are "registered land" deeds that go through land court. These are deeds are court approved as having clear title (i.e. no encumbrances). It you do not find anything in the first section, always search registered land for deeds since 1899.<br>  

<center>'''Adjacent states: [[Connecticut, United States Genealogy|Connecticut]] | [[Maine Genealogy|Maine]] | [[New Hampshire Genealogy|New Hampshire]] | [[New York Genealogy|New York]] | [[Rhode Island Genealogy|Rhode Island]] | [[Vermont Genealogy|Vermont]]'''</center> {{Massachusetts|Massachusetts}} <!--This was designed by Scott Andrew Bartley in conjunction with the Mass. Wiki Team on 16 April 2013--> |} </div>