Author Archive

Three new sketches in Western Massachusetts Families in 1790

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by ToddC4176 at en.wikipedia [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Today we’re announcing three new sketches in Western Massachusetts Families in 1790.  These new sketches focus on Alexander Berry from Pelham and Mary Cleveland and Jacob Chamberlin from Dalton.

Alexander Berry lived from 1747-1830 and married Martha “Patty” Smith.  They had five children.  Jacob Chamberlin lived from 1766 to about 1851.  He and his wife, Dorothy Cleveland had nine children.  Mary [Griffon] Cleveland was born in 1743/4 and died in 1812.  She married Ephraim Cleveland and together they had six children.

This study project focuses on individual enumerated in the 1790 census in historic Berkshire and Hampshire counties, also including modern Franklin and Hampden counties.  Sketches for this project are submitted to editor Helen Schatvet Ullmann, CG, FASG by NEHGS members and other interested researchers.  If you are interested in submitting a sketch for Volume 5, please review our project home page.

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

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New database: Chelsea, MA: Marriages by Rabbi Icik Benkovitz, 1922-1956

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The Tobin Bridge connecting Chelsea nad Boston, Tichnor Bros. Inc., Boston, Mass. [Public domain]

Chelsea, MA: Marriages by Rabbi Icik Benkovitz, 1922-1956 is our newest database, presented thanks to the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at New England Historic Genealogical Society.  Rabbi Icik Benkovitz lived in Chelsea, MA from 1822-1963. He was born in Lithuania in 1853.  He served two synagogues, Zemach Zedeck on Everett Avenue and Shaare Zion on Orange Street.  He was 110 when he died, serving actively as a spiritual leader until only a few weeks before his death.  The Benkovitz family donated these records to the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center.

This database contains 306 marriages and 4,076 searchable names.  David Rosen of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston provided the scanned images and the index upon which this collection is based; Susan Posner also contributed work to the index.

This database offers the following indexed fields (where the information was provided):

  • Last name
  • First name
  • Parents’ names
  • Spouse’s name
  • Date
  • Location
  • Age
  • Street address
  • Occupation
  • Marital status
  • Place of birth
  • Parents’ places of birth

While Rabbi Benkovitz was based in Chelsea, some of the marriages took place in nearby towns such as Boston, Brookline, Everett, and Revere.  The “Street address” and “Place of birth” fields bring even further geographic diversity, encompassing brides and grooms from Maine, New York, Vermont, Wisconsin, Michigan, Russia, Lithuania, Romania, Latvia and more.

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

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Archdiocese of Boston: St. John the Evangelist (Canton) now browsable

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Map of Canton, 1878 by http://maps.bpl.org [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]

Today we’ve added four new volumes to Massachusetts: (Image-Only) Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1900 from St. John the Evangelist in Canton.  This update adds over 500 new pages to browse.

Early Catholics in Canton were ministered to as part of missions from the Quincy churches or Sts. Peter and Paul in South Boston.  In 1861, Canton became an independent parish of its own, with responsibility for the church in Stoughton as well (Immaculate Conception (Stoughton) would later in turn become an independent parish).

We’d like to thank volunteers Francis Alix, Bill Wolfendale and Eileen McCarthy for their help scanning this parish.

If you need help navigating this collection, please consult our how-to video.  The new volumes are listed below:

St. John the Evangelist (Canton) Baptisms, 1859-1878
St. John the Evangelist (Canton) Baptisms, 1859-1900
St. John the Evangelist (Canton) Confirmations, 1867-1900
St. John the Evangelist (Canton) Marriages, 1861-1900

Please note: This database is available to all NEHGS members.  Learn more about becoming a NEHGS guest member (free).

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Archdiocese of Boston: St. Mary Star of the Sea (Beverly) now searchable

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View of the Beach at Beverly, Massachusetts, 1860
by John Frederick Kensett [Public domain]

Today we’ve added four new volumes to Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1900 from St. Mary Star of the Sea in Beverly.  This update adds 5,488 records and 21,265 names to search.

St. Mary Star of the Sea in Beverly began as a mission of Immaculate Conception (Salem).  The church was dedicated in Beverly in 1870, and in 1871 they became their own parish.  St. Mary Star of the Sea in Beverly also ran missions in Manchester and Ipswich, and as the Catholic population grew, a second church was built in Beverly Farms, called St. Margaret.

We’d like to thank Sam Sturgis for his help making this parish available on our site.  The new volumes are listed below:

St. Mary Star of the Sea (Beverly) Baptisms, 1871-1895
St. Mary Star of the Sea (Beverly) Baptisms, 1895-1900
St. Mary Star of the Sea (Beverly) Confirmations, 1898-1900
St. Mary Star of the Sea (Beverly) Marriages, 1871-1900

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

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Archdiocese of Boston: St. Mary (Georgetown) now browsable

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Stereoscopic view of Georgetown commons in winter, by New York Public Library [Public domain]

Today we’ve added four new volumes to Massachusetts: (Image-Only) Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1900 from St. Mary in Georgetown.

St. Mary (Georgetown) began as a mission of Haverhill.  By 1870, the Catholics of Georgetown were able to purchase a church in which to worship.  The priests of this parish also ministered to other towns including West Newbury and Rowley.  St. Patrick’s in Groveland was a mission to this parish, and many of the records for St. Patrick are included in the volumes below.

We’d like to thank volunteers Ross Weaver and Eileen McCarthy for their help scanning this parish.

If you need help navigating this collection, please consult our how-to video.  The new volumes are listed below:

St. Mary (Georgetown) Baptisms and Marriages, 1874-1891
St. Mary (Georgetown) Baptisms and Marriages, 1874-1891 (copy)
St. Mary (Georgetown) Baptisms and Marriages, 1891-1898
St. Mary (Georgetown) Baptisms, Marriages and Confirmations, 1898-1900

Please note: This database is available to all NEHGS members.  Learn more about becoming a NEHGS guest member (free).

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Archdiocese of Boston: St. Vincent de Paul (South Boston) now browsable

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Statue of St. Vincent de Paul found in the South Boston church in 1895, p. 57 of One Hundred Years of Progress

Today we’ve added seven new volumes to Massachusetts: (Image-Only) Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1900 from St. Vincent de Paul in South Boston.  This update adds over 1,700 images to browse and brings our total number of available volumes to 700!

St. Vincent de Paul was established in 1848 as part of the Cathedral parish.  It became an independent parish in 1862.  It was initially located in the Fort Hill neighborhood, which had many immigrants.  Fort Hill was on the southern end of the Shawmut peninsula–it is not the same as the Fort Hill neighborhood in Roxbury.  In the 1860s the city of Boston decided to level the hill and “revitalize” the neighborhood, replacing homes with warehouses and businesses.  The dirt of the leveled hill was used to build more land along the harbor edge.  The forced relocation of this neighborhood caused some dispersal of the parishioners, but many moved to the same area in South Boston, where new territory was set off from Sts. Peter and Paul parish in 1872. St. Vincent’s parish continued in this new location.  The history of this parish continued to reflect the growth of Boston as a city–in 1895 James S. Sullivan described the location of the church at the time of its construction: “The lot was situated at the corner of E and Third Streets and then but one block removed from tide water.  The water has since receded before the march of improvement and now several blocks intervene.” (p.57).  If you look at a map now, there are many blocks between that intersection and the harbor!

We’d like to thank the following volunteers for their help with this parish: Francis Alix, Eileen McCarthy, Angela Napolitano, and Ross and Linda Weaver.

If you need help navigating this collection, please consult our how-to video.  The new volumes are listed below:

St. Vincent de Paul (South Boston) Baptisms and Marriages, 1862-1897
St. Vincent de Paul (South Boston) Baptisms and Marriages, 1872-1885
St. Vincent de Paul (South Boston) Baptisms, 1862-1871
St. Vincent de Paul (South Boston) Baptisms, 1872-1882
St. Vincent de Paul (South Boston) Baptisms, 1898-1900
St. Vincent de Paul (South Boston) Confirmations, 1870-1900
St. Vincent de Paul (South Boston) Marriages, 1880-1900

Please note: This database is available to all NEHGS members.  Learn more about becoming a NEHGS guest member (free).

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Archdiocese of Boston: St. Mary Star of the Sea (East Boston) now searchable

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Ave maris stella, from Copenhagen MS Thott. 547 4°

Today we’ve added four new volumes to Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1900  from St. Mary Star of the Sea in East Boston. This update adds 27,006 names and 7,787 records to search.

Star of the Sea has been one of the Virgin Mary’s titles since medieval times.  Many coastal churches bear this name, invoking her protection over seafaring parishioners.  Ave stella maris was a popular medieval hymn based around this title.  The image above shows a version of the hymn written in the 1300s.  St. Mary Star of the Sea (East Boston) was established in 1864 and dedicated in 1868.

We’d like to thank Sam Sturgis for his help making this parish available on our site.  The new volumes are listed below:

St. Mary Star of the Sea (East Boston) Baptisms, 1866-1897
St. Mary Star of the Sea (East Boston) Baptisms, 1898-1900
St. Mary Star of the Sea (East Boston) Confirmations, 1884-1900
St. Mary Star of the Sea (East Boston) Marriages, 1866-1900

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

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Archdiocese of Boston: Our Lady of the Assumption (East Boston) now searchable

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Modern East Boston and surroundings from above

Today we’ve added 3 new volumes to Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1900 from Our Lady of the Assumption in East Boston.  This update adds 53,006 names and 14,488 records to search. Our Lady of the Assumption was built as the Catholic population was growing and growing in East Boston.  Construction commenced on the building in 1869 and was completed in 1873.  We’d like to thank Sam Sturgis for his help making this parish available on our site.  The new volumes are listed below:

Our Lady of the Assumption (East Boston) Baptisms and Confirmations, 1869-1892
Our Lady of the Assumption (East Boston) Baptisms, 1892-1900
Our Lady of the Assumption (East Boston) Marriages, 1870-1896

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

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Archdiocese of Boston: new browsable records from Foxborough and Watertown

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Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Watertown, MA, Fall 2018

Today we’ve added seven new volumes to Massachusetts: (Image-Only) Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1900 from St. Mary (Foxborough) and St. Patrick (Watertown).

Catholics worshiped in Foxborough as early as 1857, but the congregation saw two different church fires by 1877 which may account for why these records do not begin until 1878.

Catholics in Watertown initially were part of a collaborative of Catholics who went to Waltham for Mass.  In 1848 St. Patrick’s Church in Watertown was completed.

We’d like to thank the following scanners for their help with this project: Eileen McCarthy, Francis Alix, Angela Napolitano, and John Phlo.

If you need help navigating this collection, please consult our how-to video.  The new volumes are listed below:

St. Mary (Foxborough) Baptisms and Marriages, 1878-1900
St. Mary (Foxborough) Baptisms, 1896-1900

St. Patrick (Watertown) Baptisms, 1855-1877
St. Patrick (Watertown) Baptisms, 1877-1895
St. Patrick (Watertown) Baptisms, 1896-1900
St. Patrick (Watertown) Marriages, 1855-1895
St. Patrick (Watertown) Marriages, 1896-1900

Please note: This database is available to all NEHGS members.  Learn more about becoming a NEHGS guest member (free).

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Archdiocese of Boston: New browsable records from Revere and Lawrence

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Immaculate Conception, Revere from One Hundred Years of Progress by James Sullivan, page 517

Today we’ve added fourteen new volumes to Massachusetts: (Image-Only) Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1900 from Immaculate Conception in Revere and St. Anne in Lawrence.  This update adds over 1,600 new images to browse.

Revere was initially part of the parish of St. Rose of Lima in Chelsea, and then became a mission of Immaculate Conception in Everett.  In 1888, work began on a church of their own for Revere’s Catholics.

St. Anne in Lawrence came about in 1871 when it was determined there were enough French Catholics in Lawrence to establish a congregation of their own.

We’d like to thank the following volunteers for their help making this update possible: Angela Napolitano, Ross and Linda Weaver, Eileen McCarthy, Max Agigian, and Francis Alix.

If you need help navigating this collection, please consult our how-to video.  The new volumes are listed below:

Immaculate Conception (Revere) Baptisms, 1889-1900
Immaculate Conception (Revere) Baptisms, 1889-1900 (copy)
Immaculate Conception (Revere) Confirmations, 1889-1900
Immaculate Conception (Revere) First Communions, 1889-1900
Immaculate Conception (Revere) Marriages, First Communions, and Confirmations, 1889-1900

St. Anne (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1883-1889
St. Anne (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1890-1898
St. Anne (Lawrence) Baptisms, 1899-1900
St. Anne (Lawrence) Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1871-1885
St. Anne (Lawrence) Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1878-1885
St. Anne (Lawrence) Confirmations, 1880-1900
St. Anne (Lawrence) Deaths, 1890-1900
St. Anne (Lawrence) Marriages, 1883-1897
St. Anne (Lawrence) Marriages, 1898-1900

Please note: This database is available to all NEHGS members.  Learn more about becoming a NEHGS guest member (free).

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