Massachusetts Census

Federal Censuses

Most federal census records are at the Family History Library (records for 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930), the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. See United States Census for more detailed information about these records.

Population Schedules

Missing records:

• 1800 Suffolk County census is mostly lost.
• 1890 census was destroyed, except for a list of Civil War Union soldiers, which has a published index.

Statewide indexes to federal censuses:

• 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860: book indexes
• 1790–1850: microfiche indexes
• 1870 Hampden County: book index
• 1880 (partial), 1900, 1920 and 1930: Soundex (phonetic) indexes on microfilm
• 1910: no index for Massachusetts

Town indexes to federal censuses:

• Can sometimes help locate names missed in statewide indexes.
• Are sometimes listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under MASSACHUSETTS, [COUNTY], [TOWN]-CENSUS

If an index is not available or omits a name:

• Look for the name in the census.
• In large cities first find the person's address in the city directory for the same year as the census. Then look for that address in the census.

The following reference tools help determine which census schedule microfilm and enumeration district to search for specific addresses:

Kirkham, E. Kay. A Handy Guide to Record- Searching in the Larger Cities of the United States. Logan, Utah: Everton, 1974. (FHL book 973 D27kc; fiche 6010059-60.) Includes ward maps and street indexes for Boston for 1850–1855, 1860, and 1877.

United States. Census Office. Census Descriptions of Geographic Subdivisions and Enumeration Districts.

• 1870 (FHL film 1402859)
• 1880 (FHL film 1402861)
• 1900 (FHL film 1303022)
• 1910 (FHL film 1374005)
• 1920 (FHL film 1842708)

Buckway, G. Eileen. U.S. 1910 Federal Census: Unindexed States: A Guide to Finding Census Enumeration Districts for Unindexed Cities, Towns, and Villages. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, 1992. (FHL book 973 X2bu 1910; fiche 6101340.) Lists all Massachusetts towns (or wards) with their 1910 census enumeration district numbers and FHL film numbers. Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Somerville, Springfield, and Worcester each have special instructions. These often include FHL book or film numbers for city directories.

Malmberg, Emil and Maurine. Street Indexes to Unindexed Cities in the U.S. 1910 Federal Census. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, 1993. (FHL book 973 X2str 1910; fiche 6104151.) Lists Boston street addresses with their corresponding page numbers, 1910 census enumeration district numbers, and FHL film numbers.

Marnier, Mary Lou and Patricia Rougham Bellows. A Research Aid for the Massachusetts 1910 Federal Census. Sudbury, Massachusetts: Computerized Assistance, 1988. (FHL book 974 X22m.) This book gives the wards, precincts, enumeration districts, and starting page for each town. Includes maps. Refers to the National Archives microfilm numbers, which can be matched to Family History Library microfilm numbers.

Mortality Schedules. Mortality schedules for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 list those who died in the year before the census. These are at the Massachusetts State Archives, the National Archives, and the Family History Library:

• 1850 (FHL film 1421015–16)
• 1860 (FHL film 1421017)
• 1870 (FHL film 1421018–19)
• 1880 (FHL film 1421020–23)

State Censuses (1855, 1865)

The original censuses are at the Massachusetts State Archives. The Family History Library has copies of:

Massachusetts, Secretary of the Commonwealth. State Census, 1855–1865. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974. These records are arranged by county and town. They list an individual's name, age, state or country of birth, and occupation.

Web Sites

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Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)