Massachusetts State and Colonial Census Records
Massachusetts State census records were taken every ten years from 1855 to 1945, but only the original population schedules for the 1855 and 1865 census still exist. All other state census years are lost or destroyed.
The originals, as well as microfilmed copies of the 1855 and 1865 Massachusetts State Census, are now located at the Massachusetts Archives.
Both state series have similar information as the 1850 and 1860 federal census. In addition, both the 1855 and 1865 state census records contain categories for deaf, dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper or convict. The 1865 also has information about whether a man is over the age of 16 and owns taxable property. It also has recorded columns for a legal voter or a naturalized voter.
Massachusetts Substitute Census Records:
Massachusetts Tax Valuation Lists are one of the most valuable, and most often neglected sources of genealogical information and prove to be a great census substitute. They usually divulge the names of heads of households and other males aged 16 or over and can be used to prove parentage when no other records are available. Tax lists place individuals in a particular place at a particular time and indicate the type and amount of property owned. See The Beginner's Guide to Using Tax Lists.
Statewide Massachusetts Census Records
- 1790 Federal Census of the US at the U. S. Census Bureau
- 1813 Pension List: Massachusetts
- 1818 Massachusetts Pensioners Of The United States
- 1820 Pension List: Massachusetts
- 1840 Census of Pensioners - Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Pensioners Of Revolutionary War Struck Off The Roll
- 1855 Massachusetts State Census
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census
- 1880 Federal Census Search at Family Search
- Massachusetts Mortality Schedules
Barnstable County:
-
Barnstable County Massachusetts 1855 Census
- Ancestry.com Free Trial
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me:
Other Census Records:
Berkshire County:
- 1855 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me:
Other Census Records:
Bristol County:
- 1675 Householders in Taunton, MA
- 1855 - Adopt Me
- 1865 State Census for Fairhaven, Bristol County, Massachusetts
- 1865 State Census for Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts
- 1865 State Census for Somerset, Bristol County, Massachusetts
Other Census Records:
Dukes County:
- 1855 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census of "East Parish", Tisbury, Dukes Co., Massachusetts
Other Census Records:
Essex County:
1855 Essex County Massachusetts State Census Records
- 1855 Georgetown, MA Census
- 1855 Hamilton, Massachusetts Census Index
- 1855 Hamilton, Massachusetts Census
- 1855 Middleton, Massachusetts Census Index
- 1855 Middleton, Massachusetts Census Records
- 1855 Topsfield, Massachusetts Census Index
- 1855 Topsfield, Massachusetts Census Records
- 1855 Wenham, Massachusetts Census Index
- 1855 Wenham, Massachusetts Census Records
1865 Essex County Massachusetts State Census Records
Substitute Census Records:
- 1782 Householders Census - Essex Twp.
- 1814 Census - Essex Twp.
- 1641-1650 Land Holders Haverhill, MA
- 1677 Freeholders, Rowley, Essex County, MA
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Manchester, Essex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Marblehead, Essex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Methuen, Essex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Middleton, Essex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Newburyport, Essex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Salisbury, Essex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Wenham, Essex County
- 1798 Householders in Haverhill, MA
- 1840 Census of Pensioners - Essex County, MA
- 1850 Essex County Massachusetts Mortality Schedule
Franklin County:
- 1855 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me:
Substitute Census Records:
Hampden County:
- 1855 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me:
Other Census Records:
Hampshire County:
- 1855 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me:
Other Census Records:
Middlesex County:
1855 Middlesex County, Ma. Census- 1855 Town of Bedford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts State Census Index
- 1855 Town of Bedford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts State Census Records
- 1855 Town of Stow, Middlesex County, Massachusetts State Census Index
- 1855 Town of Wayland, Middlesex County, Massachusetts State Census Index
- 1855 Town of Wayland, Middlesex County, Massachusetts State Census Records
- 1865 Town of Bedford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts State Census Index
- 1865 Town of Bedford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts State Census Records
Substitute Census Records:
- 1679 Billerica Tax List
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Acton, Middlesex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Ashby, Middlesex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Bedford, Middlesex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Billerica, Middlesex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Cambridge, Middlesex Co.
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Concord, Middlesex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Dunstable, Middlesex Co.
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Framingham, Middlesex Co.
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Groton, Middlesex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Holliston, Middlesex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Hopkinton, Middlesex Co.
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Lexington, Middlesex Co.
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Lincoln, Middlesex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Littleton, Middlesex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Marlborough, Middlesex Co.
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Medford, Middlesex Co.
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Pepperell, Middlesex Co.
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Stow, Middlesex County
- The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771: Sudbury, Middlesex County
- 1840 Census of Pensioners - Middlesex County, MA
Nantucket County:
- 1855 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me:
Other Census Records:
Norfolk County:
- 1855 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me:
Other Census Records:
Plymouth County:
1855 Plymouth County, Ma. State Census
- 1855 Halifax, Ma. Census Index
- 1855 Halifax, Ma. Census Records - Section 1
- 1855 Halifax, Ma. Census Records - Section 2
- 1855 Halifax, Ma. Census Records - Section 3
- 1855 Hanover, Ma. Census Index
- 1855 Hanover, Ma. Census Records
- 1855 Hanson, Ma. Census Index
- 1855 Hanson, Ma. Census Records
- 1855 Hull, Ma. Census Index
- 1855 Hull, Ma. Census Records
- 1855 Plympton, Ma. Census Index
- 1855 Plympton, Ma. Census Records
1865 Plymouth County, Ma. State Census
- 1865 Halifax, Ma. Census Index
- 1865 Halifax, Ma. Census Records
- 1865 Hull, Ma. Census Index
- 1865 Hull, Ma. Census Records
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census for Middleboro
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census for Wareham
1865 Plymouth County, Ma. Mortality Schedules
1865 Plymouth County, Ma. Military Census
Plymouth County, Ma. Census Substitutes:
- 1623 - 1640 Early Scituate Families
- 1646 and 1670 Duxbury Freemen - Plymouth County, MA
- 1840 Census of Pensioners - Plymouth County, MA
- 1867 General Directory of Wareham, Plymouth County
Suffolk County:
- 1855 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me:
Substitute Census Records:
Worcester County:
- 1855 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me
- 1865 Massachusetts State Census - Adopt Me:
Other Census Records:
If you know of a link that should be added to this list, please submit it to: add a link
Books of Interest:
- State Census Records, by Ann S. Lainhart
- Map Guide to the U.S. State Censuses, by William Thorndale and William Dollarhide