Today we are releasing updated version of four databases for the state of Massachusetts. In each case, the updated database includes the original images from the manuscript and the index includes full names including parents and spouses where available. The updated volumes are:
In total these four databases now include 160 pages, 6,000 records, and 12,000 searchable names.
This update is made possible by the wonderful efforts of our volunteers. Max Agigian, Tim Belgrad, Linda Weaver, and Ida Nystrom delivered the Attleboro First Church update; Max Agigian, Ria Bhandarkar, and Nell Nies indexed the Attleboro Second Church update; Tate Lehmann, Michael Giannetti, Linda Weaver, and Nell Nies produced the Pembroke update; and Ria Bhandarkar and Kay Sencabaugh re-indexed the East India Marine Society. If you have some time and would like to get involved in the database digitization and indexing process, 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.
Today American Ancestors, the Archive Department of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston (RCAB) and the Catholic Cemetery Association of the Archdiocese of Boston (CCA) are announcing a new database of Catholic cemetery records: Massachusetts: Catholic Cemetery Association Records, 1833-1940. These volumes contain records of lot sales and interments, and 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.
This database will feature 20 cemeteries administered by the CCA in eastern Massachusetts. Today we’re releasing 31 volumes from 9 cemeteries, including over 354,500 records and over 355,500 searchable names. Records from the remaining 11 cemeteries will be added throughout the year.
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.
Records are currently available from the following cemeteries: Calvary (Waltham) Holy Cross (Malden) (not yet complete–more to come) Sacred Heart (Andover) St. George (Framingham) St. James (Haverhill) St. Joseph (Haverhill) St. Jean Baptiste (Lynn) St. Mary (Beverly) St. Mary (Malden)
Future releases will include records from: St. Francis de Sales (Charlestown), St. Paul (Arlington), North Cambridge Catholic (Cambridge), St. Joseph (Lynn), St. Mary (Lynn), Holy Cross (Malden) (additional volumes), Immaculate Conception (Marlborough), St. Mary (Salem), St. Patrick (Stoneham), Catholic Mount Auburn (Watertown), St. Patrick (Watertown), and Calvary (Winchester).
We’d like to thank the following volunteers and interns for their work on these volumes of this database: Arlys LaFehr, Bill Morse, Bob Rainville, Bruce McKeeman, Christina Travella, Daria O’Connor, David Fredette, Elizabeth Handler, Erin Canzano, Fran Danico, Gail Delfosse, Helen Fredell, Jaimie Williams-Peterson, Jane Himmel, Joan Koesterherm, John Hagerty, Julie Esposito, Karen Jarret, Kathy Oberley, Linda Martin Berke, Linda Mathew, Lisa Donovan, Matt Murphy, Melissa Fuller, Michelle Kearns, Nancy Johnson, Pauline Cusson, Peg Camp, Rebecca Searl, Renda Smith, Rick Lagueux, Ross Weaver, Sandy Murphy Mauer, Sharon Dorrity, Therese Mosorjak, Tom Clements, Troy Nikander and Virginia Vaught.
Please note: This database is available to Individual-level and above NEHGS members only. Consider membership.
Today we’ve updatedEarly New England Families, 1641-1700, adding five new sketches. All five sketches pertain to the Phelps family who originally settled in Salem. The new sketches are listed below:
Early New England Families, 1641-1700 is written by Alicia Crane Williams. This study project highlights heads of families mentioned in Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700, focusing on individuals who immigrated from 1641 through 1700, grouped by year of marriage. Read more about “Those Frustrating Phelpses”, via one of Alicia Crane Williams’ most recent Vita Brevis posts.
We’d like to thank Sam Sturgis for his help adding these sketches to our database.
Please note: This database is available to Individual-level and above NEHGS members only. Consider membership.
Today we’re announcing two new sketches for two of our New England study projects: Western Massachusetts Families in 1790 and Early New England Families, 1641-1700.
Helen Ullmann’s lastest book is Western Massachusetts Families in 1790, Volume 4 .Learn more about the included sketches!
This study project focuses on individuals 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.
Early New England Families, 1641-1700 is written by Alicia Crane Williams. This study project highlights heads of families mentioned in Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700. Alicia often publishes helpful Vita Brevis posts related to her research. Recently she has discussed Essex County probates and “Lucky Essex County” about early record keeping in this area.
We’d like to thank Sam Sturgis for his help making these updates possible.
Please note: These databases are available to Individual-level and above NEHGS members only. Consider membership.
Today we’re announcing three new sketches for two of our New England study projects: Western Massachusetts Families in 1790 and Early New England Families, 1641-1700.
Helen Ullmann’s lastest book is Western Massachusetts Families in 1790, Volume 4 .Learn more about the included sketches!
This study project focuses on individuals 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.
Early New England Families, 1641-1700 is written by Alicia Crane Williams. This study project highlights heads of families mentioned in Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700. Alicia often publishes helpful Vita Brevis posts related to her research. Recently she has discussed Essex County probates and “Lucky Essex County” about early record keeping in this area.
We’d like to thank Sam Sturgis for his help making these updates possible.
Please note: These databases are available to Individual-level and above NEHGS members only. Consider membership.
Today we’re announcing three new sketches for two of our New England study projects: Western Massachusetts Families in 1790 and Early New England Families, 1641-1700.
Helen Ullmann’s lastest book has recently come out: Western Massachusetts Families in 1790, Volume 4 .Learn more about the included sketches!
This study project focuses on individuals 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.
Early New England Families, 1641-1700 is written by Alicia Crane Williams. This study project highlights heads of families mentioned in Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700. Be sure to read Alicia’s most recent Vita Brevis post about this project, “Clustering” Salem.
We’d like to thank Sam Sturgis for his help making these updates possible.
Please note: These databases are available to Individual-level and above NEHGS members only. Consider membership.
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.
Today we’re announcing a variety of new and updated sketches to our three New England study projects: Western Massachusetts Families in 1790, Early New England Families, 1641-1700 and Early Vermont Settlers, 1700-1784.
Helen Ullmann’s lastest book has recently come out: Western Massachusetts Families in 1790, Volume 4 .Learn more about the included sketches!
This study project focuses on individuals 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.
Early New England Families, 1641-1700 is written by Alicia Crane Williams. This study project highlights heads of families mentioned in Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700. Be sure to read Alicia’s most recent Vita Brevis post about this project, “Clustering” Salem.
We’d like to thank Sam Sturgis for his help making these updates possible.
We’ve also updated Elkanah Sprague (Hartford)‘s sketch in Early Vermont Settlers, 1700-1784. Scott Andrew Bartley’s study project tracks heads of families who lived in Vermont prior to the Revolutionary War. His sketches so far have focused on Windham and Windsor counties.
Please note: These databases are available to Individual-level and above NEHGS members only. Consider membership.
Catholics have been worshipping in Newburyport since the beginnings of the Archdiocese of Boston. Very early on, devout Catholics might occasionally travel in to Boston to worship. Eventually, this parish began as a mission of Salem. In 1852, a cornerstone was laid for the Immaculate Conception church in Newburyport. When this parish was established, it covered the towns of Ipswich, Rowley, Newbury, West Newbury, Salisbury, and Amesbury. Many of these other towns gained churches of their own as time went on.
Prior to 1861, Catholics in Canton went to Quincy for Mass. In 1861, this town became its own parish. In 1866 the cornerstone was laid for the church.
We’d like to the following volunteers for their help with these parishes: Arlys LaFehr, Barbara Macken, Bob Rainville, Carolyn Jack, Conall O’Cathain, Eileen McCarthy, Eldon Gay, Holly Caughlan, Jack McCellan, Jane Papa, Jim Alcauskas, Judy Welna, Katherine Marshall-Mayer, Kathleen Oberley, Kiera Breitenbach, Kim Bonner, Linda Breveleri, Liz Barnett, Loretta Brown-Aldrich, Mary Alice Yost, Maryanne LeGrow, Mathew Murphy, Meghan McDonagh, Meredith Madyda, Michelle Kearns, Nancy Johnson, Pat Harney, Patricia Ryburn, Patrick Henehan, Paul McCool, Rick Lageux, Sam Sturgis, Sandy Caldwell, Sandy Murphy Mauer, Sara Stinson, Stacey-Rae McCue, Susanne Souza and Tim Belgrad.
St. John the Evangelist (Canton) Baptisms, 1859-1878 St. John the Evangelist (Canton) Baptisms, 1859-1901 St. John the Evangelist (Canton) Confirmations, 1867-1920 St. John the Evangelist (Canton) Marriages, 1861-1901
Please note: This database is available to Individual-level and above NEHGS members only. Consider membership.
Sacred Heart in Watertown was established to serve the Catholics of eastern Watertown, set off from an area that formerly belonged to St. Patrick’s.
Sacred Heart in West Lynn was established in 1894, from an area that used to belong to St. Mary’s parish. See James S. Sullivan’s 100 Years of Progress for a description of the original boundaries.
Page B of St. Jean Baptiste (Lynn) Baptisms, 1886-1892 contains a brief history of the church, “Historique de la Congrégation Canadienne de Lynn, Mass.” Here is a brief translation:
French Canadians first assembled to organize a parish in Lynn the 14th September 1886. The first priest charged to serve the Canadians of Lynn was the P___ (not sure of word) Joseph O. Gadoury of Salem who was nominated by His Grace the Archbishop Williams of Boston the 18th September 1886. The first Mass was sung the 19th September 1886 in Mr. James Buffum’s chapel on Oxford Street in Lynn. Rev. Mr. Parent arrived in Lynn and Salem the 17th May 1887. The dedication of the S.J.B. Church on Franklin Street took place the 4th December 1887 by Mgr. J.J. Williams, Archbishop of Boston. Rev. J.B. Dumontier(?), pastor in Marlboro sung the Mass. Rev. J.A. Biron of Worcester gave the sermon. Rev. J.B. Parent was named pastor the 9th December 1887 and took charge of the parish the 18th December 1887.
We’d like to thank volunteer Debbie Lansing for her help indexing St. Jean Baptiste in Lynn and Sam Sturgis for his help making the Sacred Heart parishes available online.