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Map of Massachusetts

Land ownership in Massachusetts descended initially from colony to proprietor and eventually to private ownership by individuals. The general court for each colony, acting as a legislative body, established towns by granting to a group of proprietors blocks of land. The proprietors then divided the land among the settlers in the town. See Roy Akagi, The Town Proprietors of the New England Colonies (1924; reprint, Gloucester: P. Smith, 1963). Published grants before county formation (1643 in Massachusetts Bay, 1685 in Plymouth) are found among the records of the colony, and in Nathaniel B. Shurtleff and David Pulsifer, eds., Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, 1620–1691, 12 vols. (Boston: Commonwealth Printer, 1855–61)

When a county system became established, land transactions became part of the county's records. Eventually, land was sold by proprietors to individuals and then sold between individuals in the form of deeds. While the usual location for deeds is the county seat, larger counties were later divided into districts. For more information on these districts, consult Alice Eichholz, editor, Ancestry's Redbook: American State, County, and Town Sources. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, Inc., 1992). The County Resources section below clarifies the later divisions in counties. The FHL also has microfilm copies of early through mid nineteenth-century deeds.

Eastern States Office
Bureau of Land Management
7450 Boston Blvd.
Springfield, VA 22153
Tel: (703) 440-1600
FAX: (703) 440-1599

Massachusetts Historical Society
1154 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 536-1608
http://www.masshist.org/

Barnstable County
Barnstable County Clerk
3195 Main St., Rm 6A
Barnstable, MA 02630-3195
Telephone: (508) 362-2511

Berkshire County
Berkshire County Clerk
44 Bank Row
Pittsfield, MA 01201-6202
Telephone: (413) 442-6202

Bristol County
Bristol County Clerk
11 Court St.
P.O. Box 567
Taunton, MA 02780-3223
Telephone: (508) 824-4004

Essex County
Essex County Clerk
36 Federal St.
Salem, MA 01970
Telephone: (978) 741-0200 x250

Franklin County
Franklin County Clerk
425 Main Street
Greenfield, MA 01301-3313
Telephone: (413) 774-7011

Hampden County
Hampden County Clerk
50 State St.
Springfield, MA 01102-2027
Telephone: (413) 748-7759

Hampshire County
Hampshire County Clerk
33 King St.
Northampton, MA 01060-3236
Telephone: (413) 584-8500

Middlesex County
Middlesex County Registrar of Probate
P.O. Box 410480
208 Cambridge St
Cambridge, MA 02141
Telephone: (617) 768-5850

Nantucket County
Nantucket County Clerk
16 Broad St.
Nantucket, MA 02554-3500
Telephone: (508) 228-2669

Norfolk County
Norfolk County Clerk
649 High St.
Dedham, MA 02026-1831
Telephone: (781) 326-7200

Plymouth County
Plymouth County Clerk
Russell St
Plymouth, MA 02360
Telephone: (781) 747-6204

Suffolk County
Suffolk County Clerk
City Hall
Room 601
Boston, MA 02101-1706
Telephone: (617) 788-8300

Worcester County
Worcester County Probate Court Clerk
2 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608-1116
Telephone: (508) 770-0825