Researching Family History

Vital Records to 1850

The Vital Records to 1850 series was compiled and published in the early 20th century for many
municipalities in Massachusetts. These volumes include birth, marriage, and death information and are
transcribed from town and church records, cemeteries, and private sources. The volumes are typically
arranged by birth, marriage, and death, and alphabetically by family surname within each
section. Many, but not all, of the volumes have been digitized.
Vital Records to 1850 (mass.gov PDF)
Online Massachusetts Vital Records (OnGeneology)
Systematic Series 1850 (UMASS Amherst)

Essex Institute Historical Collection : multivolume work published by the Essex Institute to preserve the history of Essex County, its people and places.

The History of Salem Massachusetts by Sidney Perley, 3 Vols.
(974.45 P Sal. Coll.)
Perley chronicled Salem’s early history from 1626-1716. Included in these volumes are comprehensive genealogies of many early Salem settlers and residents.

Vol. 1                Vol. 2                Vol. 3 is only available in print.

A Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England by John Farmer
Published in 1829, this work contains an alphabetical list of the Governors, Deputy Governors, Assistants or Counselors, and Ministers of the Gospel, in several colonies, from 1620 to 1692; Representatives of the General Court of Massachusetts, from 1634 to 1692; Graduates of Harvard College, to 1662; Members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, to 1662; Freemen admitted to the Massachusetts Colony, from 1630 to 1662; with many other of the early inhabitants of New England and Long Island, N. Y., from 1620 to 1675.

Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Vol. I-IV
(929.4 S Sal. Coll.)
Four volume set showing three generations of those who came before 1692. Information derived from the Farmer’s Register.

Vol. 1                Vol. 2                 Vol. 3                Vol. 4

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts
(974.453 R Sal. Coll.)
Volumes 1-8 are available in full online. Volume 9 is available in print at the library. These courts were held at Salem 1636-1641, and at Salem and Ipswich 1641-1692. Name index is included in the back of each volume.

The Original Lists of Persons of Quality…
(974.4592 H Sal. Coll.)
Includes “emigrants, religious exiles, political rebels, serving men sold for a term of years, apprentices, children stolen, maidens pressed, and others who went from Great Britain to the American plantations 1600-1700.” Includes ages, original English homes, names of ships and “other interesting particulars.” Name index in the back.


Available @ the Library

Microfilm

Boston Gazette                 December 12, 1719 – September 17, 1798

Boston Globe                    March 4, 1872 – Dec. 31, 1900

January – December, 1914

January 1, 1948 –

Boston Newsletter          October 1, 1705 – February 29, 1776

Impartial Register            May 12, 1800 – December 30, 1820

(includes Essex Register and Salem Register)

New York Times                September 1851-December 2007

(2007-present available online)

Salem (Evening) News     October 16, 1880 —

Salem Gazette                   February 3, 1795-June 23, 1797

January 1820-December 1839

October 17, 1892-August 1908

Salem Mercury                  October 14, 1786-December 29, 1820

Databases

Ancestry.com Library Edition:  Database of genealogical information.

American Ancestors: an online tool for genealogical research from the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

HeritageQuest: contains census data, family records, local histories, tax lists, city directories, land and probate records, birth, marriage, and death records.

Print Sources

Salem City Directories – 1836-1999 (some gaps) Yearly listing of Salem residents by address and last name.

Vital Records to 1850 –  alphabetical records of births, marriages and deaths gathered from records taken from towns, city clerks, family bibles, church records, court files and cemetery inscriptions.

Planters of the Commonwealth by Charles Edward Banks
(974.4952 B Sal. Coll.)
This book includes lists of passengers to Boston and the Bay Colony from 1620-1640. It also includes names of ships, the passengers’ English homes, and their places of settlement in Massachusetts. Includes name index, place name index, and ship index.

The Winthrop Fleet of 1630  by Charles Edward Banks
(974.4592 B Sal. Coll.)
An account of the vessels, the voyage, the passengers and their English homes from original authorities. Includes name index, place index, and subject index.

Essex Institute Historical Collection (includes name index)
(974.45 E Sal. Coll.)
100+ volumes of articles published by the Essex Institute about Essex County, its people and places.

Directory of the Ancestral Heads of New England Families, 1620-1700
(929.1 H Sal. Coll.)
This text is searchable by surname, and includes information about the male heads of household in New England.

The History of Salem Massachusetts by Sidney Perley, 3 Vols.
(974.45 P Sal. Coll.)
Perley chronicled Salem’s early history from 1626-1716

Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Vol. I-IV
(929.4 S Sal. Coll.)
Four volume set showing three generations of those who came before 1692. Information derived from the Farmer’s Register.

A Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England by John Farmer
(929.1 F Sal. Coll.)
Published in 1829, this work contains an alphabetical list of the Governors, Deputy Governors, Assistants or Counselors, and Ministers of the Gospel, in several colonies, from 1620 to 1692; Representatives of the General Court of Massachusetts, from 1634 to 1692; Graduates of Harvard College, to 1662; Members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, to 1662; Freemen admitted to the Massachusetts Colony, from 1630 to 1662; with many other of the early inhabitants of New England and Long Island, N. Y., from 1620 to 1675.

Other
Salem Cemetery Commission oversees and implements policies regulating the City’s five cemeteries. Call 978-745-0195.

  • Greenlawn Cemetery
  • Charter Street Cemetery
  • Howard Street Cemetery
  • Essex Street Cemetery
  • Broad Street Cemetery

St. Mary’s Cemetery,  226 North St.  (781-322-6300) Catholic Cemetery

Harmony Grove Cemetery, 30 Grove St. (978-744-0554) Private Cemetery

Find a Grave website has burial data online. Use Google to search individual cemeteries and Find a Grave.

Reference Dept Information

Address and Phone:
370 Essex St
Salem, MA 01970
978-744-9667

Second Floor

Parking and Transportation:
Street parking along Essex St between Boston and Beckford Streets.

MBTA bus stop “Essex St opp Monroe St” is in front of the library, served by bus 450

Available Services

  • Computers
  • Printers
  • Copiers
  • Scanners
  • FAX
  • Conference Rooms
  • Museum Passes
  • The Salem News from 1888 – Present
  • Boston Globe & New York Times on microfilm
  • Microfilm readers & printers
  • Newspapers & magazines
  • WiFi (100+ Mbps download)
  • The Salem Room (local history)