Worcester County, Massachusetts Genealogy
Guide to Worcester County, Massachusetts ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information
Description
The county was named for Worcester, England. It is located in the north-central area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse
Worcester County Courthouse
225 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: 508-831-2010
Worcester County, Massachusetts Record Dates
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.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| at town creation | at town creation | at town creation | 1731 | 1731 | 1731 | 1779 |
Record Loss
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
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:[7]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Historic communities | ||
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Extinct Town: Dana (1801-1938)
History Timeline
Worcester County was created in the middle of the two largest counties with a third county throwing in another small part collecting the towns of Lancaster, Leicester, Lunenburg, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Westborough, and Worcester from Middlesex County; Hassanamisco [later Grafton], Medfield, Mendon, Oxford, Sutton, Uxbridge, and Woodstock from Suffolk County; and Brookfield and "the south town laid out to the Narraganset soldiers" [likely Brimfield] from Hampshire County. Settlement was mainly an outgrowth of the older settlements to the east and to a lesser degree from the Connecticut River Valley. There was an influx after the Revolutionary War that included migration up from Rhode Island and Connecticut in addition to the east. This is the largest county in area and there have been fifteen attempts to split the county though none were successful. The county seat is Worcester, the second largest city in all of New England. The county government was abolished on 1 July 1997, but its former jurisdiction is used for state offices as a district.[8]
The basic data are from the historical county boundary series[9] with additions from various sources.
| Dates | Events |
|---|---|
| 10 July 1731 | Worcester County was created from area along the undefined border between Hampshire County to the west and Middlesex County to the east plus the southwestern corner of Suffolk County that included what is now Woodstock, Connecticut. [Prov. Laws, 2: 584] |
| 29 June 1732 | Added land from Groton and Littleton in Middlesex Co. when the town of Harvard was established. |
| 14 June 1735 | Added land from Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., when western half of town was set off as the new town of Upton, Worcester Co. |
| 16 Jan. 1741/2 | Added land from Brimfield and Kingsfield [now Palmer], Hampshire Co., with western part of Brookfield to set off the new town of Western [now Warren]. |
| -- May 1749 | Woodstock, Connecticut seceded to Connecticut. |
| 12 Apr. 1753 9 June 1756 |
Borders redefined and dispute between Hardwick and Greenwich, Hampshire Co., settled. |
| 5 Jan. 1764 | Small gain to Western [now Warren] from Palmer, Hampshire Co. |
| 5 Feb. 1765 | Small loss when part of Hardwick annexed to Greenwich, Hampshire Co. |
| 6 Mar. 1767 | Small loss when part of Ashburnham was annexed to northern half of Fitchburg, Middlesex Co., to set off the new town of Ashby, Middlesex Co. |
| 25 Feb. 1783 | Small loss when part of Harvard annexed to Boxborough, Middlesex Co. |
| 15 Oct. 1783 | Part of Athol and Royalton set off to create the new town of Orange, Hampshire Co. |
| 16 Mar. 1784 | Small gain when parts of Bolton and Northborough set off to create the new town of Berlin with a small part annexed from Marlborough, Middlesex Co. |
| 7 Mar. 1786 | Small gain when Southborough annexed part of Framingham, Middlesex Co. |
| 16 Nov. 1792 | Large triangular piece of land in Ashburnham annexed to Ashby, Middlesex Co. |
| 15 July 1794 | Small gain when Western [now Warren] annexed part of Palmer, Hampshire Co. |
| 18 Feb. 1801 | Large gain when parts of Hardwick and Petersham set off to create the new town of Dana with a part annexed from Greenwich, Hampshire Co. |
| 20 June 1807 | Small gain when Northborough annexed part of Marlborough, Middlesex Co. |
| 8 Mar. 1808 | Small gain when Upton annexed part of Hopkinton, Middlesex Co. |
| 7 Feb. 1816 | Small gain when Athol annexed part of Orange, Hampshire Co. |
| 8 Feb. 1823 | Small loss when a part of Western [now Warren] was annexed to Ware, Hampshire Co. |
| 3 Nov. 1826 | Irregularities of the county line with Windham Co., Conn., straightened. |
| 11 Feb. 1829 | One acre gained when Bolton annexed part of Marlborough, Middlesex Co. |
| 3 Mar. 1829 | Small loss when a part of Fitchburg was annexed to Ashby, Middlesex Co. |
| 5 Feb. 1830 | Small gain when Athol annexed part of New Salem, Franklin Co. |
| 7 Feb. 1831 | Small loss when a part of Western [now Warren] was annexed by Palmer, Hampden Co. |
| 27 Mar. 1835 | Gained when Milford annexed part of Holliston and Hopkinton, Middlesex Co. |
| 16 Mar. 1837 | Gained when Athol annexed part of New Salem, Franklin Co. |
| 16 Mar. 1838 | Redefined border between Bolton and Marlborough, Middlesex Co. |
| 24 Mar. 1843 | Small loss when a part of Southborough was annexed by Marlborough, Middlesex Co. |
| 3 Mar. 1846 25 Apr. 1848 |
Border redefined between Lunenburg and Shirley, Middlesex Co. |
| 1 Apr. 1859 | Small gain when Milford annexed part of Holliston, Middlesex Co. |
| 20 Mar. 1868 | Small loss when part of Bolton was annexed by Hudson, Middlesex Co. |
| 7 Mar. 1872 | Exchanged between Mendon and Bellingham, Norfolk Co. |
| 16 May 1901 1 May 1905 |
Redefined border for Southborough and Berlin with Marlborough and Hudson, Middlesex Co. |
| 14 June 1906 | Small loss when part of Harvard was annexed by Boxborough and Littleton, Middlesex Co. |
| 16 May 1907 | Redefined border for Milford and Upton with Hopkinton, Middlesex Co. |
| 28 Apr. 1938 | Large gain when Quabbin Reservoir created and "drowned" four towns. Petersham annexed part of Dana, and Greenwich and Prescott, Hampshire Co., and Hardwick annexed part of Greenwich. |
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1790 | 56,764 | — |
| 1800 | 61,192 | 7.8% |
| 1810 | 64,910 | 6.1% |
| 1820 | 73,625 | 13.4% |
| 1830 | 84,355 | 14.6% |
| 1840 | 95,313 | 13.0% |
| 1850 | 130,789 | 37.2% |
| 1860 | 159,659 | 22.1% |
| 1870 | 192,716 | 20.7% |
| 1880 | 226,897 | 17.7% |
| 1890 | 280,787 | 23.8% |
| 1900 | 346,958 | 23.6% |
| 1910 | 399,657 | 15.2% |
| 1920 | 455,135 | 13.9% |
| 1930 | 491,242 | 7.9% |
| 1940 | 504,470 | 2.7% |
| 1950 | 546,401 | 8.3% |
| 1960 | 583,228 | 6.7% |
| 1970 | 637,969 | 9.4% |
| 1980 | 646,352 | 1.3% |
| 1990 | 709,705 | 9.8% |
| 2000 | 750,963 | 5.8% |
| 2010 | 798,552 | 6.3% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census, 1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
Church Records
- 1785-1919 Worcester, MA: Records of the First Unitarian Church, 1785-1919 at American Ancestors - index ($)
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
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.
Older records are held by:
Supreme Judicial Court Archives
(administration - records stored in several off-site facilities and the Mass. Archives)
16th Floor, Highrise Court House
3 Pemberton Square
Boston MA 02109
Phone 617-557-1082
Email Elizabeth.Bouvier@sjc.state.ma.us
Quarterly Court of General Sessions of the Peace
This court was active from 1731 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.
Online Court Indexes and Records
- 1731-1862 Records of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, 1731-1862, v. 1-20(*) Worcester County Court of General Sessions of Peace at FamilySearch Catalog - images
Microfilmed Originals at the Massachusetts Archives:
- Court of General Sessions, v. 1-8, 1731-1827.
Published Records:
- Franklin P. Rice, ed., Records of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace for the County of Worcester, Massachusetts, from 1731 to 1737 (Worcester, Mass., 1882), 197 pp. WorldCat (Other Libraries); FS Catalog book 974.43/W2 H25w v. 5 and film 864091 Item 4. Digital versions at Internet Archive, Google Books, and Hathi Trust.
Inferior Court of Common Pleas
This court was active from 1731 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 Indexes and Records
- 1731-1784 Records of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for Worcester County, 1731-1784, v. 1-11(*) Worcester County Inferior Court of Common Pleas at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1784-1859 Court Records, 1784-1859, v. 12-131(*) Worcester County Court of Common Pleas at FamilySearch Catalog - images
Microfilmed Originals at the Massachusetts Archives:
- Court of Common Pleas, Executions, Record Book, [1744-1765]
- Court of Common Pleas, Record Books, v. 1-131, 1731-1859
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 Indexes and Records
- 1797-1887 Divorce Docket books, 1891-1936, v. 2-(*) Worcester County Supreme Judicial Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
Microfilmed Originals at the Massachusetts Archives:
- Superior Court, Divorce Index, 1887-1936
- Superior Court, Divorce Docket Books, v. 2-11, 1888-1936 [v. 1 missing]
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 Indexes and Records
- 1797-1887 Court Records (Including Divorces), 1797-1887(*) Worcester County Supreme Judicial Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
Microfilmed Originals at the Massachusetts Genealogy Guide:
- Supreme Judicial Court, Record Books, v. 1-30, 1797-1887
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
- 1837-1965 Maine & Massachusetts Case Files of Deceased and Deserted Seamen 1837-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Scots-Irish
- 1700-1850 Worcester, MA: Scots-Irish Settlers, 1700-1850 at American Ancestors - index & images ($)
Funeral Homes
Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
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. Worcester County is divided into two districts. The county was one district until the creation of the Northern District on 1 August 1884.
Worcester Northern District Registry of Deeds
Putnam Place
166 Boulder Drive, Suite 202
Fitchburg, MA 01420
978-342-2132
Email: fitchreg@sec.state.ma.us
Website
This district includes Ashburnham, Fitchburg, Leonminster, Lunenburg, and Westminster. Records date back to 1868.
Online Land Indexes and Records - Northern District:
- Worcester Northern Registry of Deeds at Worcester Northern District Registry of Deeds
Records include:
- Recorded Land indexes, 1955-present (Note: indexes prior to 1982 have not been verified).
- Recorded Land Scanned Index by name, 1868-1965 (Note: work in progress).
- Recorded Land images.
- Recorded Land Plan indexes and images.
- Land Court name index, 1899-present.
- Land Court document images, 1899-present.
- Land Court certificates, 1899-present.
- Recorded Land indexes, 1955-present (Note: indexes prior to 1982 have not been verified).
There are no microfilmed records from this district.
Worcester South District Registry of Deeds
90 Front Street, Suite C201
Worcester, MA 01608
508-368-7000
Email: Worcester.Deeds@sec.state.ma.us
Website
This district included the entire county up to 1884 and all southern towns not listed above after that.
Online Land Indexes and Records - Southern District:
- 1620-1986 Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1722-1889 Deeds, 1722-11795 and Index to Deeds, 1731-1889(*) Worcester County Register of Deeds at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- Recorded Land Name Search at Worcester Registry of Deeds - Deeds are searchable by index since 1961. The older deeds can be viewed on the site, but only by volume and page. The records fully indexed online are:
- Deeds [recorded land], 1961-present.
- Plans, 1900-present.
- Registered Land [Land Court], 1899-present.
- Registered Land Plans, 1899.
- Deeds [recorded land], 1961-present.
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Works written on the county include:
- Massachusetts: Historical Data Relating to Cities and Towns at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
- Biographical Review ... containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts (Boston, 1899), 1229 pp.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FS Catalog book 974.43 D3b and film 1698091 Item 4 (with digital link).
Digital versions at Internet Archive and Ancestry ($). - Francis Everett Blake, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Warnings, 1737-1788 (Worcester, Mass., 1899; rep. Camden, Me., 1992), 101 pp.
WorldCat (Other Libraries) (1992 ed.); FS Catalog book 974.43 N2w (1992 ed.).
Digital versions at Internet Archive and Google Books. - Rufus Choate, Argument for the Division of Worcester County on the petition of O. L. Huntley and others (Boston, 1854), 67 pp.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FS Library.
Digital versions at Internet Archive, Google Books, and Ancestry ($). - Zelote Wood Coombs, "Worcester County: its history, with discussion of attempts to divide it" in Worcester Historical Society Publications, New Series, 1 [1928-1935]: 169-184.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FS Catalog book 974.43/W2 H25wa. - Ellery Bicknell Crane, History of Worcester County, Massachusetts (New York, 1924), 3v.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FS Catalog book 974.43 H2c v. # and film 1573584 Item 5 (with digital links for v. 1-2). - [Isaac Goodwin], "A Catalogue of the Several Congregational Ministers in the County of Worcester" in Worcester Magazine and Historical Journal, 2 [1826]: 371-375.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FS Library film 1698203 Item 5.
Digital versions at Internet Archive and Google Books. - William B. Harding, "Origins of the Names of the Towns in Worcester County" in Proceedings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity 5 [1883], 97-117.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FS Catalog book 974.43/W2 H25w v. #. - D. Hamilton Hurd, ed., History of Worcester County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men (Philadelphia, 1889), 2v. (1762 pp.).
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FS Catalog book 974.43 H2hd v. # and film 2055450 and 2055304 and FS Library digital book.
Digital versions at Internet Archive (v. 1 and v. 2) and Hathi Trust. - Lincoln Newton Kinnicutt, Indian Names of Places in Worcester County, Massachusetts, with interpretations of some of them (Worcester, Mass., 1905), 59 pp.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FS Library digital book.
Digital versions at Internet Archive and Google Books. - Kevin Joseph MacWade, "Worcester County, 1750-1774: a study of a provincial patronage elite," Ph.D. dissertation, Boston Univ., 1974, vii, 193 leaves.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FS Library. - Abijah P. Marvin, History of Worcester County, Massachusetts, ... from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its cities and towns (Boston, 1879), 2v.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FS Library film 1321003 Item 1 and 1425612 Item 3 (with digital link).
Digital versions at Internet Archive (v. 1 and v. 2), Google Books (v. 1 and v. 2), and Hathi Trust. - Thomas Noyes, "Complete List of Congregational Ministers, in the County of Worcester, Mass., from its settlement to the present time" in American Quarterly Register, 10 [1837-1838]: 47-65.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FS Library. - Peter Whitney, The History of the County of Worcester, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: with a particular account of every town from its first settlement to the present time; including its ecclesiastical state, together with a geographical description of the same, to which is prefixed, a map of the county, at large, from actual survey (Worcester, Mass., 1793), vi, 339 pp.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FS Library film 1321014 Item 3.
Digital versions at Internet Archive and Hathi Trust. - Henry Augustus Willis, "The Division of Worcester County" in Proceedings of the Fitchburg Historical Society, 3 [1902]: 70-83.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FS Catalog book 974.43/F1 H2f v.#.
Digital versions at Internet Archive, Google Books, and Haiti Trust. - The Worcester County MAGenWeb Project, an member of The MAGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
- The USGenWeb Archives Project for Worcester County
- FamilySearch.org FamilySearch Catalog for Worcester County
Maps and Gazetteers
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.
- F. W. Beers, Atlas of Worcester County, Massachusetts (1870), FS Catalog book Large Q 974.43 E5b (1971 rep.) and FS Library CD-ROM no. 1481, or online for view or sale at Historic Map Works.
- Newberry Library, Chicago. Digital version online at Massachusetts Historical County Boundaries.
- Henry F. Walling, Map of Worcester County, Massachusetts (1857), at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, Boston Public Library.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
Revolutionary War
- 1775-1783 Massachusetts, Revolutionary War, Index Cards to Muster Rolls, 1775-1783 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1805-1845 Massachusetts Revolutionary War Bounty Land Applications, 1805-1845 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
Naturalization and Citizenship
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
- 1871-1991 Massachusetts, United States Naturalization Records, 1871-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1906-1817 Massachusetts, Naturalization Records, 1906-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
Federal Naturalization Records for Worcester County
| Record | Dates | Original Records | Online Indexes | Online Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior Court | 1837-1906 | NARA M1299 - National Archives - Waltham | ||
| Court of Common Pleas | 1798-1859 | NARA M1299 - National Archives - Waltham | ||
| Western Worcester District Court (Brookfield) | 1902-1906 | NARA M1299 - National Archives - Waltham | ||
| First Eastern Worcester District Court (Westborough) | 1892-1906 | NARA M1299 - National Archives - Waltham | ||
| Second Eastern Worcester District Court (Clinton) | 1885-1906 | NARA M1299 - National Archives - Waltham | ||
| First Northern Worcester District Court (Gardner) | 1883-1906 | NARA M1299 - National Archives - Waltham | ||
| First Southern Worcester District Court (Southbridge) | 1898-1905 | NARA M1299 - National Archives - Waltham | ||
| Third Southern Worcester District Court (Milford) | 1900-1903 | NARA M1299 - National Archives - Waltham | ||
| Central Worcester District Court | 1885-1906 | NARA M1299 - National Archives - Waltham | ||
| Fitchburg Police Court | 1885-1904 | NARA M1299 - National Archives - Waltham | ||
| Winchendon District Court | 1906 | NARA M1299 - National Archives - Waltham | ||
| Worcester Police Court | 1851-1854 | NARA M1299 - National Archives - Waltham |
Worcester County Naturalization Records
| Record | Dates | Original Records | Online Indexes | Online Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior Court | 1809-1991 | Judicial Archives | ||
| Clinton District Court | 1891-1896 | Judicial Archives | Card index | No microfilm |
| Dudley/Webster District Court | 1885-1906 | Judicial Archives | Card index | No microfilm |
| Fitchburg District Court | 1885-1906 | Judicial Archives | Cord index | No microfilm |
| Grafton/Westborough District Court | 1885-1906 | Judicial Archives; NARA M1299 - National Archives - Waltham | ||
| Worcester District Court | 1850-1855 1885-1906 |
Judicial ArchivesNARA M1299 - National Archives - Waltham |
Newspapers
- 1800s-1999 Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry ($)
- 1800-Current Massachusetts, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate and Family Court is organized on a county level in Massachusetts since the creation of the counties. The main records genealogists seek are testate (wills), intestate (administrations), guardianships, and divorces (since 1922), though there are many more that are valuable to any researcher, too. See a further discussion of the topic in general on the Massachusetts Genealogy Guide page.
Worcester Probate and Family Court
225 Main Street Suite 2001
Worcester MA 01608
508 831-2200
Original records
Older records are held by:
Supreme Judicial Court Archives
(administration - records stored in several off-site facilities and the Mass. Archives)
16th Floor, Highrise Court House
3 Pemberton Square
Boston MA 02109
Phone 617-557-1082
Email Elizabeth.Bouvier@sjc.state.ma.us
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1635-1991 Massachusetts Wills and Probate Records 1635-1991 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1731-1881 Worcester County, MA: Index to Probate Records, 1731-1881 at American Ancestors - index ($)
- 1731-1881 Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881 at American Ancestors - index & images ($)
- 1731-1881 Probate Files, 1731-1881(*) Worcester County Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1731-1916 Probate Records, 1731-1916; Index, 1731-1881(*) Worcester County Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1731-1925 Massachusetts, Worcester County, Probate Files, 1731-1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1731-1925 Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S., Probate Files, 1731-1925 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
- 1798-1854 Probate Records, 1798-1854(*) Worcester County Supreme Judicial Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Original Records on Microfilm at Massachusetts Archives; and New England Historic Genealogical Society
- Indexes, 1731-1881, see published books below
- Docket books, no. 1-68399
- Record books, v. 1-833, 1731-1915
- Signed releases, 1865-1879 (only at Massachusetts Archives)
Manuscript and Published Records
- Janet K. Pease, "Worcester County, Massachusetts, Probate Abstracts, 1748-1751" (S.l., 1979), 47 leaves, FS Library film 1033623 Item 7.
- Index to the Probate Records of the County of Worcester, Massachusetts [1731-1920] (Worcester, Mass., 1898-1920), 5v.
WorldCat (Other Libraries); FS Catalog book 974.43 P2h v. # (with digital link for up to 1881).
Digital versions at Internet Archive: Series A, 1731-1881, A-King, Series A, 1731-1881, K-Z, Series B, 1881-1897, Series B, 1897-1909, Series B, 1910-1920; Hathi Trust - 5v.; and Ancestry ($) (1731-1881). - Shirley R. Pizziferri, "Early Worcester County Probate Records" in Mayflower Descendant. Search this journal at Search this journal at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). Enter volumes and page numbers (see below).
|
|
|
- Note: These are abstracts from the original file papers arranged in chronological order as the cases were filed covering July 1731 to March 1746.
- Ruth Q. Wellner, "Worcester County, Massachusetts, Probate Abstracts" in Mayflower Descendant. Search this journal at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). Enter volumes and page numbers (see below).
- 53 [2004], 171-178
- 54 [2005], 13-26, 137-151
- 55 [2006], 53-71
- 56 [2007], 32-46
- 58 [2009], 11-26
- Note: These are abstracts from the original file papers arranged in chronological order as the cases were filed covering May 1746 to September 1747 and a continuation from the previous item.
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Town Records
Worcester County, Massachusetts Genealogy
This is a historical and genealogical guide to the county of Worcester. You will find help with town histories, vital records, deeds and land records, city directories, cemetery records and cemeteries, churches, town records, newspapers, maps, and libraries.
- Massachusetts Genealogy Guide - Guide to Massachusetts State-wide Records
Vital Records
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
- 1620-1988 Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 at Ancestry ($)
- 1626-2001 Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1638-1961 Massachusetts Town Records, ca. 1638-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1753-1900 Massachusetts, Delayed and Corrected Vital Records, 1753-1900 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1840-1910 Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1840-1910 at MyHeritage - index ($)
- 1841-1920 Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
Marriage
- 1600-1961 Massachusetts, United States Marriages at at Findmypast — index ($) — index $
- 1620-1988 Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 at Ancestry ($)
- 1626-2001 Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1638-1961 Massachusetts Town Records, ca. 1638-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1841-1915 Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images; Also at: MyHeritage; index ($), Ancestry ($).
- 1841-1920 Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
Death
- 1620-1988 Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 at Ancestry ($)
- 1626-2001 Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1638-1961 Massachusetts Town Records, ca. 1638-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1840-1910 Massachusetts Death Index at MyHeritage - index only ($)
- 1841-1920 Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1916-1919 Massachusetts Deaths, 1916-1919 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1972-Onward Massachusetts, Worcester, Worcester Deaths at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- Massachusetts, Worcester, Worcester Deaths at MyHeritage — index ($)
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
For state-wide and regional facilities, see Massachusetts Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
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
- Franklin Massachusetts FamilySearch Center
- Marlborough Massachusetts FamilySearch Center
- Worcester Massachusetts FamilySearch Center
- Chelmsford Public Library - an affiliate library
- Leominster Public Library - an affiliate library
- Reuben Hoar Library - an affiliate library
- Thomas Crane Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Worcester County. For state-wide library facilities, see Massachusetts Archives and Libraries.
- Worcester Public Library
3 Salem Square
Worcester, MA 01608
Telephone:508-799-1655
Website
For information on additional archives and repositories, see
Museums
- Worcester Historical Museum
30 Elm Street
Worcester, MA 01609
Telephone:508)-753-8278
Email: info@worcesterhistory.net
Website
Societies
Listed below are societies in Worcester County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Massachusetts Societies.
- American Antiquarian Society
185 Salisbury Street
Worcester MA 01609
(508) 755-5221
Email: library@americanantiquarian.org
Website
This is the largest collection of U.S. printed material to 1876 in the United States. It has extensive newspaper and manuscripts holdings and a strong genealogical collection. A detailed guide to the collection by subject is available online and also find items in their online catalog.
- Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc.
P. O. Box 215
Ashland, MA 01721-0215
Bristol, Merrimack Valley, Middlesex and Worcester Counties
Website Facebook
- Worcester County MA Historical Societies CountyOffice.orgWebsite
Websites
- 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
References
- ↑ Massachusetts Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed on 11 April 2021.
- ↑ Massachusetts Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed on 11 April 2021.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Worcester, County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://www.britannica.com/place/Worcester-county-Massachusetts
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Worcester 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.
- ↑ Massachusetts Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed on 11 April 2021.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Worcester County, Massachusetts," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester_County,_Massachusetts, accessed 5 March 2020.
- ↑ Abolished County Governments - Secretary of State, Acts of 1997, Ch. 48, Sect. 1.
- ↑ Massachusetts Atlas of Historical County Boundaries