Today, we’ve added 4 more volumes to Boston, MA: Provident Institution for Savings, 1817-1882. This update adds over 40,000 names to search.
The new volumes are:
Signature 11, 1854-1858
Signature 14, 1863-1867
Waste Book 1C, 1820
Waste Book 4C, 1821-1833
The Provident Institution for Savings in the Town of Boston was one of the first savings bank to be incorporated in the United States. About 80% of the individuals represented in the early records of this bank were immigrants to Boston. The Waste Books provide lists of daily transactions that happened at the bank–often one person is depositing money in benefit of another person. Residence locations are provided (usually a town), and occupations are often recorded.
If you are interested in the subject of bank records in general, be sure to watch genealogist Eileen Pironti’s webinar, Using Bank Records in Family History Research.
This database is still a work in progress. When complete, the database will contain 6 signature books and 6 “waste” (transaction) books. Three signature books and six waste books are currently available.
This database is possible through our partnership with the Boston Athenaeum. The Boston Athenaeum holds the original record books and performed the digitization of all the images. The full collection at the Boston Athenaeum is Provident Institution for Savings in the Town of Boston Records.
We’d like to thank our volunteers Judy Welna, Loretta Aldrich, Barbara Macken, Wendy Sheppard, Laura Engehardt, Blaine Parker, Barbara Foote, Gale Stevenson, Gig Moineau, Leslee Johnston, Maya Kuzma, Michale Giannetti, Katie McCarver, Liz Odell, Ellie Witham, Jannean James, Chelsea Hester, Charlie Watson, Ida Nystrom, Nancy Borman, and Margaret Parker for their work on this update.
Please note: This database is available to Individual-level and above NEHGS members only. Consider membership.