tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post3018010758035903348..comments2024-03-26T11:22:41.940-07:00Comments on Genea-Musings: Massachusetts Land Records Search - By NameRandy Seaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17477703429102065294noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-51834327058401564302016-09-10T06:16:32.991-07:002016-09-10T06:16:32.991-07:00Randy,
Please note for yourself and your readers...Randy, <br /><br />Please note for yourself and your readers that each county's database on http://www.masslandrecords.com/ are individually provided and maintained by each county. Worcester County is the unusual exception in that ALL of their records are digitized and indexed and available online. That will not be the case with other counties. Most counties only go back to 1900 at most online - luckily that is just enough so that we can switch to the Massachusetts Land Record images on FamilySearch.<br /><br />When searching the county databases, researchers should click on the advanced search option to see the start date of available indexed deeds. Often times images are available that aren't indexed but you have to know the book and page number to access those.<br /><br />Marian Marianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04738104230962644360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26204193.post-12361278401333512822016-09-09T10:17:43.276-07:002016-09-09T10:17:43.276-07:00Randy, I use the Worcester County, Massachusetts r...Randy, I use the Worcester County, Massachusetts records on that site quite often. Under "Search Criteria" in the upper left-hand corner of the page, are Pre 1960 Grantor and Grantee Indexes dating back to 1731. Using the information from these indexes, (date, name, Deed Book Number, and Page Number,)you can view images of deeds dating back to 1731 and going forward to 1960.<br />Why are these so valuable to Genealogists?<br />The often give the first name of the wife of the landholder, and the names of the owners of the neighboring properties.<br />They may contain Quit Claims naming living descendants of the landholder.<br />I have also found a marriage contract which was interesting.<br />There are sometimes copies of Death Certificates. This is one of my "Go To" sites for death dates of people who died in Worcester County between 1920 and 1960.<br />L Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11997595978878695934noreply@blogger.com