Listed are indexes and databases designed to help users research Massachusetts death notices.
People often use Massachusetts obituaries to help with their genealogy search and other types of family history documentation. This state has a rich and extensive history and it can be a valuable source of information for your search. You can gather data online or offline, but the best approach is often to use both methods to have a successful records search.
The majority of the state records online are broken down to different counties, as is the case with many states, but there is some data available for the entire state. Many of each type require a fee, but for those hard to locate or very old records it can be worth it. There is a statewide search that goes back to 1841 but appears to offer only information such as the year the death took place in. Another one provides death and burial records that also start in 1841. The most extensive database is for the state and includes all types of vital records dating back to 1600.
It can be helpful to have the county information to start with, though. For example, if you know the obituary can be found in Essex County, you have a better chance of finding records that date back to 1855, plus less data to sort through during your search. Having the county will also make it easier if you intend to do any searching in person. Suffolk county and Boston, as another example, have records that date back to 1630.
If you intend to do some of your research for Massachusetts obituaries in person, try to get all the data you can online first, before traveling. In other words, get the physical addresses and phone numbers for libraries or other places you intend to visit. When possible, also get the name of someone who may be able to help you. You can establish contact by phone or email in advance to make the search easier upon your arrival.
Libraries are generally a great resource for finding obituaries through newspapers and microfilm. The thing you will want to find out is how the records are stored within a county. For some areas, all of this type of data is stored in one main library. Other areas divide information up between different branches.
Gather as much information ahead of time as possible to make your offline search easier. If you cannot travel to certain areas within Massachusetts, or do not live in the state, you may be able to enlist the help of someone else to retrieve your documentation. Find out if an employee or volunteer with the library can help you. If not, see if there is a branch of genealogy volunteers for the area in Massachusetts that help with this type of work. Massachusetts obituaries can be extremely useful for your record keeping, and this state offers plenty of data to search through.
Finding Massachusetts obituaries is easy thanks to the incredible power of the Internet. There are several huge databases maintained in the state itself and around the country that look to document these important events, and best of all, almost all of these databases are free to use. You can begin your search for Massachusetts obituary records by using the search engine at the Boston Public Library.
The Boston Globe and Boston Herald obituary search engine has information on listings from 1971-1974 and from 1983-2002, so if the listings you are looking for are for this area and for this timeline than you'll be all set. If you are looking for someone who was of the Jewish faith, you may want to consider using the Boston Jewish Advocate Database. It contains over 23,000 listings from 1905-2004. The small town of Natick has its own online system you can check out.
It is the vital records index from 1874-1913 and contains information for residents of Middlesex County. Finally, the Vineyard Gazette newspaper has many of their old listings online as well, including information from as far back as 1850. You can also check the local newspaper website for the town or region you are trying to search.
Listed are indexes and databases designed to help users research Massachusetts death notices.
Clippings from the two major newspapers, the Boston Harold and the Globe, have been indexed and are now searchable from the years 1971 through 1974 as well as 1983 through 2002. The website for the Public Library contains these Massachusetts death notices and has a lookup feature that can easily be used with keywords such as the last name, date of printing, and other important facts.
Below is a list of Massachusetts newspaper obituaries to aid in genealogical research.
There are millions of residents in Boston, Mass, and those who passed away may have their obituaries located at boston.com, the website for the city. To find out, click on the "Today's Globe" tab and then click obituaries and you will be able to read through them as well as to search through them.
The Boston Herald is a well known newspaper for those who live in Boston, Massachusetts, and the online site is a good place to find obituaries. To locate them, simply click on the news and opinion tab at the top of the page and then select obituaries from the menu you will see there.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette, located at Gazettenet.com, is a site for news and information for those who live in Massachusetts. In order to access obituaries, simply click on the tab at the top of the page which says "obituaries" and you will be brought to the correct site to read through and peruse obituaries.
The Foxboro Reporter is the self-titled "gem of Norfolk County" for residents of Foxboro, Massachusetts. For 125 years the paper has been bringing news and obituaries to residents. To locate obituaries on the website, click on the word "obits" on the top of the page next to the home and opinion tabs.
The Wicked Local Harvard page is a site to go to for news from the Harvard Post. This site lists fun stuff, as well as serious information, including obituaries. Obituaries are accessed by mousing over the news tab and then by clicking on the word "obituaries" – this will bring you directly to the correct site.
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