New England Cousins
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Genealogical research with a focus on northeastern New England
| "When I was a boy, I read in the genealogy of the Potts family that my great- great-grandmother's older half-brother, Capt. Joseph Potts, a Revolutionary War veteran, became deranged in 1777. I felt so sorry for dear old Uncle Joe who had lost his reason -- until I finally learned that deranged was a military term meaning that he had served his tour of duty and was no longer needed." -- Milton Rubincam, Pitfalls in Genealogical Research, p. 42, copyright 1987 by Ancestry Incorporated. |
| A Few Online Resources |
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Copyright 2010 Ruy A. Cardoso. All rights reserved.
There are a number of very popular online resources that are mentioned time and
time again on genealogy web sites: Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest (available through
many local libraries), NewEnglandAncestors.org, FamilySearch.org, RootsWeb.com,
and others. Presumably you don't need to hear about them again here, though all
are very useful for New England research. I would also recommend Google Books
(http://books.google.com) as a worthwhile place to search for images of out-of-print
books.
But there are a number of less well-known but valuable web sites particular to the
area in which I work, especially for Essex County. I have listed a few of them below.
Feel free to email me with suggestions for other links to include on this page.
time again on genealogy web sites: Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest (available through
many local libraries), NewEnglandAncestors.org, FamilySearch.org, RootsWeb.com,
and others. Presumably you don't need to hear about them again here, though all
are very useful for New England research. I would also recommend Google Books
(http://books.google.com) as a worthwhile place to search for images of out-of-print
books.
But there are a number of less well-known but valuable web sites particular to the
area in which I work, especially for Essex County. I have listed a few of them below.
Feel free to email me with suggestions for other links to include on this page.
The Massachusetts Archives page, "Researching Your Family's History at the
Massachusetts Archives" (http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcgen/genidx.htm)
This is an excellent listing of the wide variety of materials available at this Archive.
Apart from mention of the usual Massachusetts vital records (currently covering the
period 1841-1915) and the Massachusetts censuses for 1855 and 1865, note the
handy by-county listing of available probate records near the bottom of the page. You
can also see information on everything from military records to passenger lists to
naturalization records.
Massachusetts Archives" (http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcgen/genidx.htm)
This is an excellent listing of the wide variety of materials available at this Archive.
Apart from mention of the usual Massachusetts vital records (currently covering the
period 1841-1915) and the Massachusetts censuses for 1855 and 1865, note the
handy by-county listing of available probate records near the bottom of the page. You
can also see information on everything from military records to passenger lists to
naturalization records.
Detail from birth records of West Newbury, Essex County, MA for January and February of 1854,
MA Archives Volume 381, page 252.
MA Archives Volume 381, page 252.
The New Hampshire Provincial and State Papers Series
(http://www.sos.nh.gov/archives/nhstatepapers.html)
This is a tremendous resource for anyone researching pre-Revolutionary New
Hampshire genealogy, though be forewarned that the files are very large and so can
be slow to download. Of particular value are the provincial probate records in
Volumes 31-39, though the Revolutionary War rolls and documents in Volumes
14-17 and Volume 30 are also of interest. The series also contains court records
from 1640-1692 (Volume 40) and a variety of records relating to the formation of the
early towns. Be sure to see the index at the top of the page as well along with the
other links at the top-level site.
(http://www.sos.nh.gov/archives/nhstatepapers.html)
This is a tremendous resource for anyone researching pre-Revolutionary New
Hampshire genealogy, though be forewarned that the files are very large and so can
be slow to download. Of particular value are the provincial probate records in
Volumes 31-39, though the Revolutionary War rolls and documents in Volumes
14-17 and Volume 30 are also of interest. The series also contains court records
from 1640-1692 (Volume 40) and a variety of records relating to the formation of the
early towns. Be sure to see the index at the top of the page as well along with the
other links at the top-level site.
The Registry of Deeds for Rockingham County, New Hampshire
(http://www.nhdeeds.com/rock/web/start.htm)
If you click on "Search County Records" in the left-hand margin, then on "Accept
Agreement" at the bottom of the main page that comes up, you will be rewarded with
the ability to search the county's deed indexes back into the 1600s both by name and
time period. Check this index before starting deed research in this county.
(http://www.nhdeeds.com/rock/web/start.htm)
If you click on "Search County Records" in the left-hand margin, then on "Accept
Agreement" at the bottom of the main page that comes up, you will be rewarded with
the ability to search the county's deed indexes back into the 1600s both by name and
time period. Check this index before starting deed research in this county.
Maine Wills 1640-1760 at MaineGenealogy.net
(http://www.mainegenealogy.net/maine_wills.asp)
This is an online version of the well-known compilation by William Sargent,
containing over 400 early Maine wills. These are transcriptions, not image files, but
appear to be reasonably accurate overall. Be sure to look at the substantial other
data at the top-level site (much of it taken from early volumes of the New England
Historical and Genealogical Register) -- you may get lucky and find information
particular to a town you are researching.
(http://www.mainegenealogy.net/maine_wills.asp)
This is an online version of the well-known compilation by William Sargent,
containing over 400 early Maine wills. These are transcriptions, not image files, but
appear to be reasonably accurate overall. Be sure to look at the substantial other
data at the top-level site (much of it taken from early volumes of the New England
Historical and Genealogical Register) -- you may get lucky and find information
particular to a town you are researching.
Document images from the Salem Witchcraft Trials at the University of Virginia's
Electronic Text Center (http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/salem/17docs.html)
Transcriptions near the top, document images near the bottom, and in between is
the extra bonus of the Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County
(1636-1686). Even apart from their genealogical interest, many of these documents
make for fascinating reading.
Electronic Text Center (http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/salem/17docs.html)
Transcriptions near the top, document images near the bottom, and in between is
the extra bonus of the Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County
(1636-1686). Even apart from their genealogical interest, many of these documents
make for fascinating reading.
Detail from arrest warrant for Gloucester women Esther Elwell, Rebecca Dike, and Abigail Rowe,
all accused of witchcraft, dated 5 November 1692, from the Suffolk Court Files at the MA
Archives, Docket 2689A, Volume 32, page 17. The complete image appears at:
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/archives/Suffolk/S017A.html.
all accused of witchcraft, dated 5 November 1692, from the Suffolk Court Files at the MA
Archives, Docket 2689A, Volume 32, page 17. The complete image appears at:
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/archives/Suffolk/S017A.html.
Images of Deeds for Essex County, Massachusetts from 1641 to 1709
(http://www.salemdeeds.com/historic.asp)
I look forward to the day when this series of images is extended into the later 1700s,
but even as it stands, the site is wonderful in offering an opportunity to view so many
images directly. At the least you can practice reading the handwriting of the time.
Navigating through the pages can be a bit tedious, though you'll get no dust on your
fingers while doing it.
(http://www.salemdeeds.com/historic.asp)
I look forward to the day when this series of images is extended into the later 1700s,
but even as it stands, the site is wonderful in offering an opportunity to view so many
images directly. At the least you can practice reading the handwriting of the time.
Navigating through the pages can be a bit tedious, though you'll get no dust on your
fingers while doing it.
John Slaughter and Jodi Salerno's pages for Massachusetts vital records
(http://ma-vitalrecords.org/)
This site focuses largely on Essex County (though Middlesex County is coming right
along) and contains indexes, transcriptions, and images from the well-known "Tan
Books". John, Jodi, and a team of volunteers have done a wonderful job of
extracting, proofreading, and posting this data for all to use. Be sure to visit the
parent page as well (http://essexcountyma.net/) for some other useful links, including
more than 200 Essex County will transcriptions.
(http://ma-vitalrecords.org/)
This site focuses largely on Essex County (though Middlesex County is coming right
along) and contains indexes, transcriptions, and images from the well-known "Tan
Books". John, Jodi, and a team of volunteers have done a wonderful job of
extracting, proofreading, and posting this data for all to use. Be sure to visit the
parent page as well (http://essexcountyma.net/) for some other useful links, including
more than 200 Essex County will transcriptions.
The Essex County Probate Index, 1638-1840 (link currently inactive; to be revised)
(http://www.ancestryandgenealogy.com/freedataessexprobate.asp)
This is an online version of the index published by Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Unlike the
Ancestry.com version, it requires no subscription. Check this index before starting
probate research in this county.
(http://www.ancestryandgenealogy.com/freedataessexprobate.asp)
This is an online version of the index published by Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Unlike the
Ancestry.com version, it requires no subscription. Check this index before starting
probate research in this county.