Massachusetts Research Tips and Strategies: Difference between revisions
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'''Birth and Death information:'''<br> | '''Birth and Death information:'''<br> | ||
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*'''''Statewide registration:''''' | *'''''Statewide registration:''''' Birth and Death records in Massachusetts on the state level start in 1841. General compliance date is unknown. | ||
*''''' | *'''''Town Records:''''' Town records included information about birth, marriage, and death before state registration in 1841. Town records can start as early as the 1630s or when the town was established. | ||
*'''''Access to records:''''' See [[Massachusetts Vital Records]] for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Massachusetts. | *'''''Access to records:''''' See [[Massachusetts Vital Records]] for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Massachusetts. | ||
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*'''''Secondary source:''''' Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event. | *'''''Secondary source:''''' Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event. | ||
*'''''Accuracy:''''' Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help | *'''''Accuracy:''''' Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help verify information. | ||
*'''''List of substitute records:''''' See [[Massachusetts Substitute Records|Massachusetts Substitute Records]] for more information. | *'''''List of substitute records:''''' See [[Massachusetts Substitute Records|Massachusetts Substitute Records]] for more information. | ||
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'''Finding Parents:''' | '''Finding Parents:''' | ||
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*'''''Death records:''''' Death records created by the state starting in | *'''''Death records:''''' Death records created in the town records or by the state starting in 1841 may include information about the parents. However, information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory. | ||
*'''''Obituaries:''''' Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See [[Massachusetts Newspapers]] and [[Massachusetts Obituaries]] for more information. | *'''''Obituaries:''''' Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See [[Massachusetts Newspapers]] and [[Massachusetts Obituaries]] for more information. | ||
*'''''Church records:''''' Knowing the | *'''''Church records:''''' Knowing the denomination of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See [[Massachusetts Church Records]] for more information. | ||
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'''Census Records:''' | '''Census Records:''' | ||
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*'''Finding Parents:''' Massachusetts towns have been recording deaths since the 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1841. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. [[How to Find United States Death Records|Search Massachusetts death records]] | *'''Finding Parents:''' Massachusetts towns have been recording deaths since the 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1841. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. [[How to Find United States Death Records|Search Massachusetts death records]] | ||
*'''Look in all censuses:''' Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. [[United States Census Online|Search U.S. Censuses]]. | *'''Look in all censuses:''' Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. [[United States Census Online|Search U.S. Censuses]]. | ||
== Further Massachusetts Research == | == Further Massachusetts Research == | ||
Revision as of 15:55, 20 February 2025
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Massachusetts Research Strategies[edit | edit source]
Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Massachusetts:
Finding Massachusetts Birth, Marriage or Death Records[edit | edit source]
Finding Massachusetts Records[edit | edit source]
Massachusetts Statewide Databases[edit | edit source]
Massachusetts Research Process[edit | edit source]
- Step-by-Step Massachusetts Research, 1880-Present
- Step-by-Step Massachusetts Research, 1850-1910
- Massachusetts Descendancy Research
- Massachusetts Genealogy Guide
- How to Find Birth Records
- How to Find Marriage Records
- How to Find Death Records
- Massachusetts Genealogy Guide
Massachusetts Research Tips[edit | edit source]
These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Massachusetts:
Birth and Death information:
- Statewide registration: Birth and Death records in Massachusetts on the state level start in 1841. General compliance date is unknown.
- Town Records: Town records included information about birth, marriage, and death before state registration in 1841. Town records can start as early as the 1630s or when the town was established.
- Access to records: See Massachusetts Vital Records for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Massachusetts.
Substitute Records:
- Secondary source: Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event.
- Accuracy: Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help verify information.
- List of substitute records: See Massachusetts Substitute Records for more information.
Finding Parents:
- Death records: Death records created in the town records or by the state starting in 1841 may include information about the parents. However, information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory.
- Obituaries: Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See Massachusetts Newspapers and Massachusetts Obituaries for more information.
- Church records: Knowing the denomination of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See Massachusetts Church Records for more information.
Census Records:
- Check all census years: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census to learn more about them and their family members. See Massachusetts Census Records for more information.
- Clues to other records: There are clues in censuses regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records.
- Finding families: Starting in 1850, all members of the household were listed in the census. By 1880, relationship to the head of household was added.
- Birth information: Towns have been recording births in Massachusetts since the 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1841.A helpful substitute record to find birth information is a death record. However, date and place of birth on a death record is considered secondary information, as it was not recorded at the time of the birth event. The birth information should be corroborated with other substitute records to improve accuracy.
- Finding Parents: Massachusetts towns have been recording deaths since the 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1841. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. Search Massachusetts death records
- Look in all censuses: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. Search U.S. Censuses.
Further Massachusetts Research[edit | edit source]
- Massachusetts Family History Library Research Outline
- MAGenWeb - Massachusetts GenWeb Project
- Massachusetts Genealogy Trails - collection of transcribed data for the state of Massachusetts
- Cyndi's List - Massachusetts genealogy websites
- Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness - State of Massachusetts Records Guide