Description
You'll love this if:
- You're getting started tracing your ancestors in Massachusetts
- You want new ideas and resources to get past a Massachusetts brick wall
- Your genealogy search is focused mainly on Massachusetts—you don't need the full State Research Guides collection
Trace your Massachusetts ancestors with the advice and resources in our State Research Guide! This four-page download includes:
- a how-to article detailing Massachusetts' history and records, with helpful advice on tracking your family there
- the best websites, books and other resources for Massachusetts research, handpicked by our editors and experts
- listings of key libraries, archives and organizations that hold the records you need
- timeline of key events in the state's history
Here's a sampling of the helpful tips you'll get in the Massachusetts guide:
- Boston was among the most-prominent US ports for immigrants arriving from Europe. Ancestry.com and the Massachusetts state archives hold passenger lists.
- Massachusetts took its own censuses in 1855 and 1865, and you can find records of them at FamilySearch, Ancestry.com and American Ancestors.
- As in other New England states, you'll find most Massachusetts records on the town level, not in county offices. Birth, marriage and death records date from the colony's founding.
Plus, each guide contains active web links for one-click access to every recommended online resource. You can view this PDF on your computer and print pages for reference.