Archdiocese of Boston: new searchable records from Marblehead and Ayer

Postcard from Marblehead (Scan by NYPL / Public domain)

Today we’ve added eleven new volumes to Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1920 from Our Lady Star of the Sea in Marblehead and St. Mary in Ayer. This update adds over 14,200 records and over 56,800 names to search.

Early on, Catholics across northeastern Massachusetts travelled to St. Mary’s in Salem to worship. In 1864, Our Lady Star of the Sea in Marblehead became its own parish. Before Danvers had its own parish, Catholics from Danvers came to Marblehead for church.

Prior to the establishment of St. Mary in Ayer, Catholics in this region worshipped in Fitchburg. St. Mary’s was established in 1858. Before Pepperell became an independent parish, Catholics from Pepperell worshipped at St. Mary’s in Ayer.

We’d like to thank Sam Sturgis, Kim Bonner, Judy Welna, Matt Murphy, Amelia Devin Freedman, Barbara Macken, Loretta Brown-Aldrich, Michelle Kearns, Stacey-Rae McCue, Arlys LaFehr, Jane Himmel, Kathleen Moineau, Kathy Oberley, Nancy Johnson, Toni Lattimer, Lauren Jefferson, Patty Ryburn, Sarah Collins, Sara Stinson, Eldon Gay, Carolyn Jack, Maureen McCarthy and Katherine Marshall-Mayer for their help making these parishes available online.

The new volumes are listed below:

Our Lady Star of the Sea (Marblehead) Baptisms, 1865-1870, Grave lots
Our Lady Star of the Sea (Marblehead) Baptisms, 1870-1874
Our Lady Star of the Sea (Marblehead) Baptisms, 1874-1882
Our Lady Star of the Sea (Marblehead) Baptisms, 1881-1907
Our Lady Star of the Sea (Marblehead) Marriages, 1865-1882
Our Lady Star of the Sea (Marblehead) Marriages, 1881-1908
Our Lady Star of the Sea (Marblehead) Marriages, 1908-1920

St. Mary (Ayer) Baptisms, 1856-1866
St. Mary (Ayer) Baptisms, 1867-1902
St. Mary (Ayer) Marriages, 1857-1866
St. Mary (Ayer) Marriages, 1867-1920

Please note: This database is available to Individual-level and above NEHGS members only. Consider membership.