Statewide

Hugh Mason of Watertown, 1605-1678

Cutout from Map of Original Allotments of Watertown

Capt. Hugh Mason, born in Dorking, Surrey, England, in 1605/6, married Hester Wells in Maldon, Essex, before immigrating to New England in 1634. He settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, where he became a prosperous tanner and prominent landowner, acquiring over 150 acres. Mason was a military leader, serving as Captain of the militia and participating in King Philip’s War. He passed away in 1678, leaving behind a significant estate to his numerous children. Hugh and Hester Mason are buried in Arlington Street cemetery, Watertown.

Vital Records of Abington, Massachusetts, to the year 1850 – vol 2

This is Volume 2 of the Abington, Massachusetts vital records book which contains the known marriages and deaths in Abington up to the year 1850. If you need to look at the births recorded please see volume 1. The town of Abington, Plymouth County, was established 10 June 1712 from a part of Bridgewater and certain lands adjoining. On 14 June 1727, part was included in the new town of Hanover. On 31 March 1847, bounds between Abington and Weymouth were established. It’s important that you recognize that your ancestors could have lived on the same farm and been in … Read more

Historic USGS Maps of Massachusetts – Alphabetic Town Listing

Abington (3)Acton (4)Acushnet (5)Adams (5)Agawam (4)Alford (5)Amesbury (2)Amherst (8)Andover (6)Arlington (2)Ashburnham (5)Ashby (3)Ashfield (5)Ashland (8)Athol (5)Attleboro (3)Attleborough (1)Auburn (4)Avon (3)Ayer (2)Barnstable (4)Barre (6)Becket (7)Bedford (7)Belchertown (7)Bellingham (5)Belmont (2)Berkley (2)Berlin (6)Bernardston (3)Beverly (3)Billerica (3)Blackstone (4)Blandford (6)Bolton (4)Boston (9)Bourne (5)Boxboro (5)Boxborough (3)Boxford (4)Boylston (6)Bradford (3)Braintree (4)Brewster (6)Bridgewater (6)Brimfield (7)Brockton (3)Brookfield (4)Brookline (3)Buckland (5)Burlington (4)Cambridge (5)Canton (3)Carlisle (3)Carver (6)Charlemont (6)Charlestown (1)Charlton (8)Chatham (5)Chelmsford (5)Chelsea (2)Cheshire (3)Chester (6)Chesterfield (6)Chicopee (4)Chilmark (5)Clarksburg (3)Clinton (3)Cohasset (4)Colebrook (1)Colrain (4)Concord (4)Conway (7)Copake (1)Cumberland (1)Cummington (4)Dalton (7)Dana (2)Danvers (2)Dartmouth (6)Dedham (4)Deerfield (7)Dennis (2)Dighton (4)Douglas (3)Dover (8)Dracut (3)Dudley (3)Dunstable (4)Duxbury (4)East Bridgewater (2)East Brookfield (1)East Longmeadow (2)Eastham (3)Easthampton (5)Easton (5)Edgartown … Read more

Historic USGS Maps of Massachusetts – Alphabetic Quadrangle Listing

Northeast Corner of 1893 Abington, Massachusetts USGS Topographical Map

Abington Ashburnham Ashby Ashfield Ashley Falls Assawompset Pond Assonet Athol Attleboro Ayer Ayers Village Barnstable Barre Barre Bashbish Falls Becket Becket Belchertown Belchertown Berlin Berlin Bernardston Billerica Blackstone Blackstone Blandford Blue Hills Boston Bay Boston North Boston South Boston Bridgewater Bristol Brockton Brookfield Canaan Chatham Cheshire Chester Chesterfield Clinton Cohasset Colrain Concord Copake Cotuit Cuttyhunk Dedham Duxbury Duxbury East Brookfield East Lee East Providence Easthampton Edgartown Egremont Fall River East Fall River Fall River Falmouth Falmouth Fitchburg Fitchburg Framingham Framingham Franklin Franklin Gardner Gay Head Georgetown Gloucester Gloucester Goshen Grafton Granville Great Barrington Great Point Greenfield Greenfield Greylock Groton Hampden … Read more

Historic USGS Topographical Maps

Southeast Corner of 1917 Abington, Massachusetts USGS Topographical Map

The United States Geological Survey began its topographic atlas of the United States in 1882.  Massachusetts Topographical Maps Alphabetic Quadrangle Listing Alphabetic Town Listing Quadrangles U.S. Geological Survey maps are published in increments of longitude and latitude, which is measured in degrees, minutes and seconds. An individual 15 Minute Series map covers a rectangular area of 15 minutes. For example, the Concord quadrangle has a southern boundary of 43 degrees 0 minutes and a northern boundary of 43 degrees 15 minutes. This can be confusing since most other maps focus on a particular geographic feature, such as a city, state, … Read more

Sources for Boston’s History

Memorial History of Boston vol 1 title page

An efficient list of published and unpublished sources known to the author in 1880 on the history of Boston and it’s surrounding area which compromised Suffolk County. Includes written commentary on the sources which provides insight into the evolvement over time of the various histories.

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