Family Tree Circles Locations
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Massachusetts
Locations
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Wiki
State Offices
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125-3105
Phone: 617-740-2600
Website
The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics administrates copies of birth, death and marriage records that occur in Massachusetts. Information concerning divorces is also collected and maintained at the Registry.
The Massachusetts Archives at Columbia Point
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
Phone: 617-727-2816
Fax: 617-288-8429
Email: archives@sec.state.ma.us
Website
The Archives Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Office is the storage space for the Massachusetts records generated by the state government. These documents are an excellent resource for people studying family history.
Vital Records: 1841-1915
The Archives hold the registration books of births, marriages and deaths from 1841-1915 for all Massachusetts cities and towns. Municipal clerks were responsible for submitting these registration pages to the state (annually). While variations exist in the information submitted, the books generally provide names, dates, residences, occupations and parental information.
Vital Records: Pre 1841
The custodians of pre-1841 vital records are the city and town clerks in Massachusetts. Research libraries including the Massachusetts State Library and the Massachusetts Archives hold the printed volumes of Vital Records prior to 1850.
Vital Records: Post 1915
The municipal clerks' offices or the Department of Public Health and Registry of Vital Records and Statistics hold the vital records after 1915.
Passenger Lists
Massachusetts officials started to record the names of immigrants who arrived by ship in 1848. this procedure continued until 1891.
Census Schedules
Federal census schedules date back to 1790. New schedules were added as the nineteenth century progressed due to the need for more details.
Military Records
Military records in the Archives cover conflicts dating from the seventeenth through the twentieth centuries. The records can be used to identify the service of particular individuals.
Military Records: Adjutant General
The Massachusetts Adjutant General's Office oversees a large collection of military records (which are maintained in Worcester at the Massachusetts National Guard Museum).
The "Massachusetts Archives Collection (1630-1799)"
Felt Collection is an important source of records for early Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire families. This source documents the development of the Massachusetts Bay government and settlement of its lands between 1630 and 1800.
Papers on Maine
The Massachusetts Archives Collection contains a variety of Maine records dating from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Plymouth Colony Records
Plymouth Colony existed as a separate entity throughout most of the seventeenth century. Plymouth Colony consisted of towns currently located in Plymouth, Barnstable, and Bristol Counties. The original colony records for Plymouth, including wills and deeds, are maintained at the Plymouth County Commissioners Office in Plymouth. The Massachusetts Archives holds manuscript transcriptions of these records.
Records of State Institutions
Many of the human services agency records held by the Archives document the activities of various state institutions.
Judicial Records
The Judicial Archives is housed at the Massachusetts Archives.
The Suffolk Files
The Suffolk Files contain the earliest file papers of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and its predecessors.
Judicial Records: Naturalizations
The Judicial Archives holds naturalization records for those persons who were naturalized in the state Superior Courts and some District Courts.
Judicial Records: Divorces
Divorce cases have been heard in Massachusetts courts starting as early as 1639.
Judicial Records: Probate
Probate records have been under the jurisdiction of the courts since the 1630s.
Judicial Records: Name Changes
Prior to 1852 name changes were administered by the General Court.
Judicial Records: Adoptions
Records of adoptions complement the records showing name changes.
Additional Genealogical Information Held by the Archives
Suffolk County Deeds
Deeds for property in Suffolk County (1629-1800) are held by the Archives.
African-American and Native American Resources
In this booklet, there are additional archival records that would be particularly useful to people researching African-American and Native American families.
Other Collections
Other collections held by the Archives may also provide information on families or individuals.
Vital Records
Birth
Location:
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125-3105
Fee: $18 in person
$28.00 mail request
$3.00 stat
$45.00 online
$45.00 fax
Timeframe: Since 1911
Notes: For an additional charge of $15.50, your
order can be shipped Federal Express Overnight.
Death
Location:
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125-3105
Fee: $18 in person
$28.00 mail request
$3.00 stat
$45.00 online
$45.00 fax
Timeframe:
Notes: For an additional charge of $15.50, your
order can be shipped Federal Express Overnight.
Marriage
Location:
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125-3105
Fee: $18 in person
$28.00 mail request
$3.00 stat
$45.00 online
$45.00 fax
Timeframe:
Notes: For an additional charge of $15.50, your
order can be shipped Federal Express Overnight.
Birth
Location:
The Massachusetts Archives at Columbia Point
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
Fee: $3.00
Timeframe: Before 1911
Notes:
Death
Location:
The Massachusetts Archives at Columbia Point
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
Fee: $3.00
Timeframe: Before 1911
Notes:
Marriage
Location:
The Massachusetts Archives at Columbia Point
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
Fee: $3.00
Timeframe: Before 1911
Notes:
Divorce
Location:
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125-3105
Fee:
Timeframe: Since 1952
Notes: Index only since 1952. Inquirer will be
directed where to send request. Certified copies are not available
from State office.
Divorce
Location:
Fee: $3.00
Timeframe:
Notes: Registrar of Probate Court in county where
divorce was granted.
