Search Massachusetts Historical Records
Uncover your Bay State ancestors through early colonial town registries, deep historical probate files, and Port of Boston passenger manifests.
Researching Ancestry in the Bay State
From the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620 to the massive waves of Irish and Italian immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries, Massachusetts holds some of the deepest and most intact historical archives in the United States.
However, researching in New England requires a completely different strategy than the rest of the country. In Massachusetts, the Town was the center of daily life, not the County. Town clerks began recording births, marriages, and deaths in the 1630s—over two centuries before most other states. To successfully map your Massachusetts family tree, you must master the intersection of town-level vital statistics and county-level legal archives.
Explore Massachusetts Record Collections
Select a collection below to navigate the unique structure of Massachusetts archives and bridge the gap to your early New England ancestors.
Massachusetts was the very first state to mandate statewide vital registration in 1841. Access these post-1841 state health department indexes alongside the legendary pre-1850 town-level registries (often referred to by genealogists as the "Tan Books"). Expert Tip: If you cannot find a colonial ancestor in town records, look at baptismal logs using our Vital Records Collections Guide.
Navigate federal population schedules (1790–1950). To bypass missing federal data, researchers should heavily utilize the highly detailed 1855 and 1865 Massachusetts State Censuses, which perfectly capture the massive influx of immigrants arriving during the mid-19th century industrial boom.
Uncover deep military roots. Our archives span from early colonial militia rolls (King Philip's War) and the legendary Revolutionary War minutemen of Lexington and Concord, to the civil war regiment histories of units like the famed 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
Crucial Rule: While vital records were kept by the town, land and estate records were always kept at the County level. Uncover colonial wealth and hidden relationships by searching county registries of deeds and probate courts. Learn how to navigate these county archives with our guide: How to Find Old Wills and Probate Records from the 1800s.
Discover historical obituaries, political affiliations, and community events from major metro dailies like The Boston Globe to small-town maritime gazettes in Salem and New Bedford. Learn how to find your ancestors in the local news by reading our guide on Finding Ancestors in Local Society Pages.
Trace ancestral arrivals into New England. While New York is famous for Ellis Island, the Port of Boston was the primary gateway for millions of Irish and Canadian immigrants. Learn how to track down specific maritime arrivals with our Ship and Passenger Manifest Strategies. Did your ancestor come down from Nova Scotia or Quebec via train? You need our guide on Early Canadian Border Crossing Records.
Frequently Asked Questions About Massachusetts Genealogy
What are the Massachusetts "Tan Books"?
The "Tan Books" (officially known as the Vital Records of Massachusetts to the Year 1850) are a massive collection of published books that transcribed the original birth, marriage, and death records for over 200 Massachusetts towns. They are considered the gold standard for researching 17th, 18th, and early 19th-century New England ancestors.
Why can't I find my ancestor's property deed in the town hall?
In Massachusetts, towns handle vital records, voter rolls, and local taxes, but Counties handle the court system and property lines. If you are looking for an ancestor's land deed, mortgage, or final will, you must search the specific County Courthouse (or regional Registry of Deeds) where the town is located.
Are Plymouth Colony records separate from Massachusetts Bay?
Yes, originally. Plymouth Colony (founded in 1620) and the Massachusetts Bay Colony (founded in 1630) operated as two entirely separate historical entities with their own record-keeping systems until they officially merged in 1692. If your ancestor lived in Plymouth, Barnstable, or Bristol counties before 1692, you must look for their documents in the specific Plymouth Colony Records archives.