Colonial New England Research Guide

Resources for researching Colonial New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)

History

• Religious
  • Pilgrims vs. Puritans
  • Baptists
  • Quakers

Great Emigration Project

"Census" Records

Technically, the formal U.S. census did not begin until 1790; however, a number of other types of records can serve as censuses of specific areas, including:

• Plymouth Colony distribution of cows (link to)

Church Records

Freemen Status

Land Deeds / Property

Maps

Probate Records

Tax Records

Town Records

Also known as the "grey books" (?check?)...

Misc (incorp. into above)

• Cornell University's "Making of America" includes downloadable books and journals from colonial times.
• New England Historic Genealogical Society - The website has extensive vital records and transcribed books on colonial familes; the library has considerably more.
• A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England by James Savage - Attempted to list all New England settlers before 1692
• Great Migration Project - Volumes profiling every New England immigrant 1620-1640, currently on 1635.
• Mayflower

• Mayflower Passenger List
• Guide to Researching Mayflower Families
• Pilgrims vs. Puritans

• Also on WeRelate

• Massachusetts Online Vital Records Research Guide
• Portal:Puritan Great Migration, including:

• Great Migration Ships