Author Archive

Archdiocese of Boston: new searchable records from Lowell

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A New View of the City of Lowell, 1851 (Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Today we’ve added 11 new volumes to Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1920 from Holy Trinity and Notre Dame de Lourdes in Lowell. This update adds over 17,500 records to search.

The new volumes are listed below:

  • Holy Trinity (Lowell) Baptisms, 1903-1910
  • Holy Trinity (Lowell) Baptisms, 1910-1914
  • Holy Trinity (Lowell) Baptisms, 1914-1917
  • Holy Trinity (Lowell) Baptisms, 1918-1920
  • Holy Trinity (Lowell) Marriages, 1903-1916
  • Holy Trinity (Lowell) Marriages, 1916-1920
  • Notre Dame de Lourdes (Lowell) Baptisms, 1908-1916
  • Notre Dame de Lourdes (Lowell) Baptisms, 1916-1920
  • Notre Dame de Lourdes (Lowell) Confirmations, 1909-1920
  • Notre Dame de Lourdes (Lowell) First Communions and Confirmations, 1909-1920
  • Notre Dame de Lourdes (Lowell) Marriages, 1908-1920

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

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Archdiocese of Boston: new searchable records from Quincy

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Excerpt of map of the town of Quincy, Massachusetts, 1857 (map by Henry Francis Walling; public domain via Wikimedia Commons).

Today we’ve added 8 new volumes to Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1920 from Sacred Heart and St. Mary in Quincy. This update adds over 6,600 records and more than 21,000 names to search.

We’d like to thank Sam Sturgis for his help in making these parishes available online.

The new volumes are listed below:

  • Sacred Heart (Quincy) Baptisms, 1903-1920
  • Sacred Heart (Quincy) Baptisms, 1920
  • Sacred Heart (Quincy) Confirmations, 1918-1920
  • Sacred Heart (Quincy) Marriages, 1903-1920
  • St. Mary (Quincy) Baptisms, 1919-1920
  • St. Mary (Quincy) First Communions, 1900-1920
  • St. Mary (Quincy) First Confirmations, 1901-1920
  • St. Mary (Quincy) Marriages, 1900-1920

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

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Archdiocese of Boston: new searchable records from Braintree, Lawrence and Middleborough

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Postcard depicting Webster Street in Middleborough, Massachusetts, c. 1910; Artist unknown (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Today we’ve added 34 new volumes to Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1920 from Holy Rosary, Sacred Heart, and St. Anne in Lawrence, Sacred Heart in Middleborough, and St. Francis of Assisi in Braintree. This update adds over 70,000 records and more than 120,000 names to search.

We’d like to thank Sam Sturgis for his help in making these parishes available online.

The new volumes are listed below:

  • St. Francis of Assisi (Braintree) Baptisms, 1903-1919
  • St. Francis of Assisi (Braintree) Baptisms, 1919-1920
  • St. Francis of Assisi (Braintree) Confirmations, 1908-1920
  • St. Francis of Assisi (Braintree) Marriages, 1903-1920
  • Holy Rosary (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1902-1908
  • Holy Rosary (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1904-1914
  • Holy Rosary (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1908-1911
  • Holy Rosary (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1911-1914
  • Holy Rosary (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1914-1917
  • Holy Rosary (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1917-1919
  • Holy Rosary (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1919-1920
  • Holy Rosary (Lawrence) Confirmations, 1905-1920
  • Holy Rosary (Lawrence) Confirmations, 1919-1920
  • Holy Rosary (Lawrence) Deaths, 1917-1920
  • Holy Rosary (Lawrence) First Communions, 1903-1920
  • Holy Rosary (Lawrence) Marriages, 1904-1908
  • Holy Rosary (Lawrence) Marriages, 1908-1918
  • Holy Rosary (Lawrence) Marriages, 1918-1920
  • Sacred Heart (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1904-1908
  • Sacred Heart (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1909-1915
  • Sacred Heart (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1915-1920
  • Sacred Heart (Lawrence) Confirmations, 1906-1920
  • Sacred Heart (Lawrence) Deaths, 1904-1920
  • Sacred Heart (Lawrence) Marriages, 1904-1920
  • St. Anne (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1904-1913
  • St. Anne (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1913-1916
  • St. Anne (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1916-1920
  • St. Anne (Lawrence) Deaths, 1913-1920
  • St. Anne (Lawrence) Marriages, 1906-1920
  • Sacred Heart (Middleborough) Baptisms, 1911-1916
  • Sacred Heart (Middleborough) Baptisms, 1917-1920
  • Sacred Heart (Middleborough) Confirmations, 1908-1920
  • Sacred Heart (Middleborough) Marriages, 1886-1916
  • Sacred Heart (Middleborough) Marriages, 1917-1920

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

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Archdiocese of Boston: new searchable records from Cambridge, Lawrence and North Chelmsford

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Postcard of a Lowell-bound streetcar on Essex Street in Lawrence, Massachusetts, c. 1906 (photographer unknown, public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Today we’ve added 17 new volumes to Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1920 from Our Lady of Pity in Cambridge, Holy Trinity in Lawrence, and St. John the Evangelist in North Chelmsford. This update adds over 20,000 records and over 50,000 names to search.

We’d like to thank Sam Sturgis for his help making these parishes available online.

The new volumes are listed below:

  • Our Lady of Pity (Cambridge) Baptisms, 1904-1914
  • Our Lady of Pity (Cambridge) Baptisms, 1918-1920
  • Our Lady of Pity (Cambridge) First Communions, 1902-1920
  • Our Lady of Pity (Cambridge) Marriages, 1908-1920
  • Holy Trinity (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1904-1910
  • Holy Trinity (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1910-1914
  • Holy Trinity (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1914-1918
  • Holy Trinity (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1918-1920
  • Holy Trinity (Lawrence) Confirmations, 1913-1920
  • Holy Trinity (Lawrence) Marriages, 1904-1917
  • Holy Trinity (Lawrence) Marriages, 1917-1920
  • St. John the Evangelist (North Chelmsford) Baptisms, 1893-1910
  • St. John the Evangelist (North Chelmsford) Baptisms, 1907-1916
  • St. John the Evangelist (North Chelmsford) Baptisms, 1910-1919
  • St. John the Evangelist (North Chelmsford) Baptisms, 1919-1920
  • St. John the Evangelist (North Chelmsford) Marriages, 1893-1915
  • St. John the Evangelist (North Chelmsford) Marriages, 1910-1920

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

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New database: Descendants of Nathaniel Woodward, 1630-1900

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Arrival of Winthrop’s Company in Boston Harbor, 1630 by William Formby Halsall, (Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

We are excited to announce a new database: Descendants of Nathaniel Woodward, 1630-1990. This database includes vital and residence records from Some Descendants of Nathaniel Woodward who came from England to Boston about 1630 by Harold Edward Woodward. Transcribed information also includes spouses’ and parents’ first and last names, and includes birth, baptism, marriage, death, burial and residence records. The records range from 1614 to 1984, with the bulk of records being between 1630 -1900. This new database makes nearly 7,000 names fully searchable.

The original volume is kept in the 7th Floor Stacks at NEHGS, call number CS71. W91 1984.

We’d like to thank our dedicated volunteer Pauline Cusson for her help in indexing the records for this database. If you would like to become part of the team working on rewarding genealogical projects, please contact Rachel Adams, Database Services Volunteer Coordinator via email at rachel.adams@nehgs.org.

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

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Archdiocese of Boston: new searchable records from Boston, Chelsea and Lynn

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Postcard with a view of Lynn, Massachusetts from High Rock, 1909 (Artist unknown, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Today we’ve added 19 new volumes to Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1920 from three parishes: Our Lady of Ostrobrama (Boston), St. Stanislaus (Chelsea) and St. Jean Baptiste (Lynn). This update adds over 20,000 names to search.

The new volumes are listed below:

  • Our Lady of Ostrobrama (Boston) Baptisms, 1916-1920
  • Our Lady of Ostrobrama (Boston) Baptisms, 1920
  • Our Lady of Ostrobrama (Boston) Marriages, 1916-1920
  • St. Stanislaus (Chelsea) Baptisms, 1911-1916
  • St. Stanislaus (Chelsea) Baptisms, 1916-1920
  • St. Stanislaus (Chelsea) Baptisms and Marriages, 1907-1918
  • St. Stanislaus (Chelsea) Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1905-1906
  • St. Stanislaus (Chelsea) Confirmations, 1907-1918
  • St. Stanislaus (Chelsea) Confirmations, 1912-1920
  • St. Stanislaus (Chelsea) Deaths, 1907-1918
  • St. Stanislaus (Chelsea) Deaths, 1918-1920
  • St. Stanislaus (Chelsea) First Communions, 1911-1914
  • St. Stanislaus (Chelsea) Marriages, 1907-1918
  • St. Stanislaus (Chelsea) Marriages, 1912-1920
  • St. Stanislaus (Chelsea) Various Records, 1907-1918
  • St. Jean Baptiste (Lynn) Baptisms, 1903-1909
  • St. Jean Baptiste (Lynn) Baptisms, 1910-1915
  • St. Jean Baptiste (Lynn) Baptisms, 1915-1920
  • St. Jean Baptiste (Lynn) Marriages, 1907-1920

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

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Massachusetts: Catholic Cemetery Association Records, 1833-1940: new cemeteries

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Detail of grave marker at St. Paul Cemetery in Arlington, Massachusetts, 2020. (photographer unknown; public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Today we are excited to announce that we have added 4 new cemeteries to Massachusetts: Catholic Cemetery Association Records, 1833-1940: North Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge), St. Mary (Lynn), St. Mary (Salem) and St. Patrick (Watertown). This final update adds 34 new volumes and over 177,000 records to this database and concludes our work on this project, which has been in process since 2019.

The records in this database are primarily lot sales and interments, and may include information about lot owners, date of burial and location of burial. Some of the people represented in these written records may not have purchased a grave marker or their marker may have eroded with time, making this collection essential for research into Catholic burials in this region.

In addition to the searchable database, maps of each cemetery are being made available to help locate burial plots. Where possible, maps include sections, ranges and in some cases narrative description of how headstones are arranged by row and lot number. Also included are points of interest such as entrances, exits, flag poles, monuments, offices and spigots. Special sections for the burials of infants, priests and religious are also noted.  Links to the cemetery maps can be found in the Database Description. Watch our how-to video for instructions on navigating to the database and using the cemetery maps. Included in this update we’ve also added links to new maps in the database description.

Newly available maps include):

The new volumes are listed below.  Books labelled Cambridge Catholic belong to the North Cambridge Catholic cemetery.

  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Burials, 1846-1854
  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Burials, 1848-1851
  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Burials, 1851-1854
  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Burials, 1854-1855
  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Burials, 1856
  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Burials, 1856-1859
  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Burials, 1859-1861
  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Burials, 1862-1866
  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Burials, 1866-1875
  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Lot Assignments, 1846-1858
  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Lot Sales, 1845-1848
  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Lot Sales, 1849-1853
  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Lot Sales, 1853-1876
  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Lot sales, 1859-1863
  • Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Lot Sales, 1863-1881
  • North Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) A-Z Index Lot Owners, 1846-1934
  • North Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Burials, 1852-1866
  • North Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Burials, 1867-1877
  • North Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Burials, 1881-1908
  • North Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Burials, 1883-1892
  • North Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Burials, 1925-1940
  • North Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Lot Assignments, 1846-1873
  • North Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Lot Owners, A-S, 1847-1868
  • North Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Lot Owners, S-Z, 1847-1868
  • North Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge) Lot Sales, 1846-1877
  • St. Mary (Lynn) Interments, 1860-1940
  • St. Mary (Lynn) Interments, 1919-1933
  • St. Mary (Lynn) Lot Locations and Owners
  • St. Mary (Lynn) Lot Sales, 1860-1884
  • St. Mary (Salem) Interments and Lot Sales, 1874-1900
  • St. Mary (Salem) Interments and Lot Sales, 1901-1927
  • St. Mary (Salem) Interments, 1928-1940
  • St. Patrick (Watertown) Burials, 1908-1918
  • St. Patrick (Watertown) Burials, 1928-1940
  • St. Patrick (Watertown) Burials, 1930-1940
  • St. Patrick (Watertown) Interments, 1908-1918
  • St. Patrick (Watertown) Lot Sales, 1860-1884

We’d like to thank the following volunteers for their work on these volumes of this database: Paul McCool, Mirca Sghedoni, Peg Camp, John Hagerty, Rick Lagueux, Lisa Butler, Kathy Oberley, Ross Weaver, Sandy Murphy Mauer, Daria O’Connor, Linda Martin Berke, Robyn Choate, Peggy Burchenal, Elaine Wood, Eileen McCarthy, Bill Morse, Jane Himmel, Jaime Williams-Peterson, Becki Clarke, Gail Delfose, Nancy Johnson, Renda Smith, Karen Jarret, Bob Rainville, Tom Clements, Mara Witzling, Jan Lundquist, David Fredette, Karen Buchinger, Nina Manno, Kathy Marshall-Mayer, Karen Ristic, Arlys LaFehr, Fran Danico, Susan Van Allen, Toni Lattimer, Sara Stinson, Elizabeth Handler, Linda Mathew, Melanie Nelson, Carolyn Jack, Pam Hugie, Jeanne Brown, Joan Koesterherm, Bill Kerrigan, Gale Stevenson, Michelle Kearns, Matt Murphy, Maryanne LeGrow, Conall O’Cathain, Sharon Dorrity, Alida Baker, Maureen Keillor, Helen Fredell, Janet Essency, Eldon Gay, Joyce McKenna, Mary Alice Yost, Lisa Bisio, Pam Johnson, Therese Mosorjak, Bill Fenton, Joan Sullivan, Judy Welna, Paula Hines, Nora Galvin, Patty Ryburn, and Becky Brownell-Smith.

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

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New volumes: Boston, MA: Provident Institution for Savings, 1817-1882

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View of Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts, c. 1870 (Photographer unknown; Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Today we’ve added 3 more volumes to  Boston, MA: Provident Institution for Savings, 1817-1882. This update adds over 40,000 records to search. This final update concludes this database project, which has been in process since 2019.

The new volumes are:

Signature Book 1, 1817-1823

Signature Book 4, 1836-1841

Signature Book 26, 1880-1884

The Provident Institution for Savings in the Town of Boston was one the first savings banks 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 occurred 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 general subject of bank records, be sure to watch genealogist Eileen Pironti’s webinar, Using Bank Records in Family History Research.

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 holding information for the collection available at the Boston Athenaeum can be found here: Provident Institution for Savings in the Town of Boston Records.

We’d like to thank our volunteers Leslee Johnston, Gale Stevenson, Judy Welna, Loretta Aldrich, Laura Crook Brisso, Gig Moineau, Rosemary Durica, Karen Buchinger, Paula Muggleton, Carol Demers, Alan Phelps, Gail Wine, Carol Farrington, Cece Lasley, Nancy Borman, Sandy Caldwell, Ida Nystrom, Charlie Watson, Margaret Parker, Diana Beltrao, Barbara Macken, Pat Dalpiaz, Rich Wood, Gayle Smalley, Lin Martin-Berke, Ann Sheparson, Elaine Wood, Ron Wilson, Ellie Witham, and Amanda Opalenik for their work on this update.

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

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Archdiocese of Boston: new searchable records from Roxbury, South Boston, Tewksbury, and Weymouth

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Excerpt from an 1880 map of Weymouth, Massachusetts (E.H. Bigelow, 1880; Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons).

Today we’ve added 10 new volumes to Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1920 from St. Philip in Roxbury, St. Monica in South Boston, St. William in Tewksbury, and Sacred Heart in Weymouth. This update adds over 30,000 names to search.

We’d like to thank Sam Sturgis for his help in making these parishes available online.

These new volumes are listed below:

St. Philip (Roxbury) Marriages, 1908-1920

St. Monica (South Boston) Baptisms, 1908-1920

St. Monica (South Boston) Marriages, 1918-1920

St. William (Tewksbury) Baptisms and Marriages, 1904-1920

St. William (Tewksbury) Baptisms, 1911-1920

St. William (Tewksbury) Baptisms, 1920

St. William (Tewksbury) Marriages, 1920

Sacred Heart (Weymouth) Baptisms, 1896-1920

Sacred Heart (Weymouth) Confirmations, 1886-1920

Sacred Heart (Weymouth) Marriages, 1896-1920

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

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New volumes: Boston, MA: Provident Institution for Savings, 1817-1882

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Photograph of Copley Square, circa 1888 (Library of Congress, Public Domain).

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.

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