Today we’ve added fourteen new volumes to Massachusetts: (Image-Only) Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1900 from St. Ann (Gloucester) and Immaculate Conception (Lawrence). This update adds over 2,600 new pages to browse and brings the total number of volumes in this collection to 750.
St. Ann in Gloucester began in 1855 when the old Baptist church was purchased and remodeled. The Catholics in Gloucester built a new, bigger church in 1881. Prior to 1855, Gloucester Catholics may have traveled to St. Mary (Salem) (which became Immaculate Conception) to worship.
Immaculate Conception (Lawrence) was the first Catholic church in Lawrence, established around 1846. In 1848, St. Mary (Lawrence) was established, which would become the dominant Lawrence parish. Throughout the late 1800s, the church administration changed a few times. In 1875, all North Lawrence churches except St. Ann were put under the charge of the Augustinian Order. In 1887, the Augustinians again reorganized, putting St. Mary’s at the center of their organization. So, despite the fact that Immaculate Conception began as an independent parish, it also has been a mission of St. Mary throughout the years.
Immaculate Conception (Lawrence) Index to Baptisms, 1851-1886 happens to pertain two four different volumes from three parishes in Lawrence. It is the index to Immaculate Conception (Lawrence) Baptisms 1851-1871,
Immaculate Conception (Lawrence) Baptisms 1871-1887 and Confirmations 1876-1900, St. Lawrence O’Toole (Lawrence) Baptisms 1875-1887 (forthcoming as of May 3, 2019) and St. Augustine (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1879-1886. It also has a very beautiful title page, illustrated by K.F. Gorman, displayed below.
We’d like to thank the following volunteers for their help scanning these volumes: Bill Wolfendale, Eileen McCarthy, Angela Napolitano, and Francis Alix.
If you need help navigating this collection, please consult our how-to video. The new volumes are listed below:
St. Ann (Gloucester) Baptisms and Marriages, 1855-1866
St. Ann (Gloucester) Baptisms and Marriages, 1866-1870
St. Ann (Gloucester) Baptisms, 1855-1863
St. Ann (Gloucester) Baptisms, 1863-1868
St. Ann (Gloucester) Baptisms, 1871-1879
St. Ann (Gloucester) Baptisms, 1879-1897
St. Ann (Gloucester) Marriages, 1857-1867
St. Ann (Gloucester) Marriages, 1868-1871
St. Ann (Gloucester) Marriages, 1872-1900
Immaculate Conception (Lawrence) Index to Baptisms, 1851-1886 Immaculate Conception (Lawrence) Baptisms 1851-1871
Immaculate Conception (Lawrence) Baptisms 1871-1887 and Confirmations 1876-1900
Immaculate Conception (Lawrence) Marriages, 1852-1872
Immaculate Conception (Lawrence) Marriages, 1872-1887
Please note: This database is available to all NEHGS members. Learn more about becoming a NEHGS guest member (free).