Massachusetts Genealogy Search

Massachusetts has the longest run of vital records in the country. Its towns have recorded births, marriages and deaths since the 1630s under colonial law, the state began collecting copies in 1841, and the Massachusetts Archives in Boston holds the statewide series from 1841 to 1925 with public access. The state censuses of 1855 and 1865 and the town records before 1841, many published in the Vital Records to 1850 series, cover the colonial and early national families.

The New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston, the oldest genealogical society in the country, holds the deepest Massachusetts collection, and the Massachusetts Archives holds the state and county records.

Official sources on this page were checked on September 25, 2026.

Massachusetts statewide genealogy links

• Massachusetts State ArchivesResearch Family History at Massachusetts Archives
• Massachusetts Health and Human Services Registry of Vital Records and StatisticsObtain Vital Records Certificates
• Massachusetts Archives Searchable CollectionsSearch the Massachusetts Archives Collection
• Massachusetts State Archives and Libraries SearchMassachusetts Archives and Libraries Search
• New England Ancestors, Historic Genealogical SocietySearch Historic Society Database
• Massachusetts State Library Genealogical ResourcesMassachusetts Library Genealogical Resources
• Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription ProjectSalem Witch Trials Archive Records
• USGenWeb Archives MassachusettsSearch Massachusetts GenWeb Archives
• National Archives at Boston Genealogy ResourcesMassachusetts Genealogy Research at the National Archives

Massachusetts towns recorded births, marriages and deaths from the 1630s, and statewide registration began in 1841, with the Massachusetts Archives holding the state copies from 1841 to 1925, indexed and open to the public, and the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in Boston holding records since 1926. Massachusetts vital records are public except for certain restricted births, and copies are available to anyone. The town records before 1841 were published for more than 200 towns in the Vital Records to 1850 series, and the town clerks still hold the originals. Divorce records sit with the probate and family court.

• Massachusetts ArchivesVital records 1841 to 1925, state censuses and county records, checked September 25, 2026
• Massachusetts Registry of Vital RecordsBirth, death and marriage certificates since 1926, checked September 25, 2026
• Massachusetts Vital Records guideHow to order certificates and what is public

The Massachusetts Archives holds the 1855 and 1865 state censuses, Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War service records, the Massachusetts Archives Collection of colonial papers from 1629 to 1799, passenger lists for Boston from 1848 to 1891, state prison and institution records and the county court records of the Superior Court of Judicature from the 1600s. Massachusetts took state censuses in 1855 and 1865. The New England Historic Genealogical Society's library and its AmericanAncestors site hold indexed Massachusetts records, and the National Archives at Boston holds federal court, customs and naturalization records for Massachusetts.

• Digital CommonwealthFree digitized Massachusetts records, newspapers and photographs, checked September 25, 2026
• New England Historic Genealogical SocietyLibrary and databases for Massachusetts and New England families, checked September 25, 2026
• National Archives at BostonFederal court, customs and naturalization records for Massachusetts, checked September 25, 2026
• FamilySearch Massachusetts research guideFree indexed Massachusetts records and images, checked September 25, 2026

Massachusetts registries of deeds, one per county or district, hold land records from the 1600s and post free online images through the statewide MassLandRecords site. The probate and family courts of each county hold wills, estates, guardianships and divorces, with the older probate files at the Massachusetts Archives and the Judicial Archives, and town clerks hold vital records and town meeting records. Suffolk County's records cover Boston, and Middlesex and Essex county probate and deed records reach back to the 1640s.

• MassLandRecordsFree online images of Massachusetts registry of deeds records, checked September 25, 2026
• Massachusetts County Public RecordsRegistries of deeds and probate courts for all 14 counties
• Massachusetts Court RecordsTrial Court case information by county

These federal and national sources complement Massachusetts's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when Massachusetts state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.

NARA, National Archives The federal government's primary archive. Holds the U.S. census (1790, 1950), ship passenger lists, naturalization records, military service files, and land entry files.

FamilySearch Free online genealogy platform operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Digitized microfilm copies of many county and state records worldwide.

Library of Congress, Local History & Genealogy The LoC's research guides, city directories, newspapers, and Civil War records, most accessible free online through loc.gov.