A dream come true

Colonial LawColonial Massachusetts records are a family historian’s dream come true. From the beginning, early Bay colonists meticulously tracked the goings on of their communities, leaving records of government and community alike. These habits have resulted in a veritable trove of records available for genealogical pursuit, mostly aptly demonstrated in the large Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 collection. However, vital records were not the only documents that these early settlers left behind. Surviving court records for some early Massachusetts counties are quite detailed; despite the wealth of information they contain, they are often overlooked by family historians.

These court records exist in a variety of formats, most often in microfilm collections, but also occasionally in published transcriptions or abstracts. Fortunately for members of American Ancestors, there are a number of court record collections for early Massachusetts and Connecticut that have been digitized, some of which are searchable for more readily available access. In particular, our collection of the records of the Plymouth County (Massachusetts) Court of General Sessions and Common Pleas spans the period 1686-1859.[i] The categories of cases contained within these records include petty crimes, community disputes, financial disagreements, fornication and illegitimacy prosecutions, and some probate settlements or amendments.

It can often be difficult to know how to use these records in genealogical research, so as a demonstration I chose a few examples from the first volume of the Plymouth County collection. Vital records are often the most sought-after data for genealogical research, and court records can be used as substitutes in some cases. Within this collection you will find investigations into suspicious deaths, such as that of William Bradford, Jr., who was killed after the cart he was driving overturned in 1687[ii]:

Court records 1_2

Many readers unfamiliar with early Massachusetts court records might be surprised to discover the number of individuals prosecuted for having children out of wedlock. In addition to offering a fascinating insight into the personal relationships of these early settlers, these cases are sometimes the only record of the births of illegitimate children, births which often were not recorded in the official registers. Additionally, the presentment of married couples whose first child was born too early can help confirm your lineage if you notice discrepancies between the marriage date of a couple and the birth of their first child[iii]:

Court records 2_2

Lastly, there are a number of references to probate records and the support of elderly parents in these court records that can help piece together family relationships. In this example from the March 1698/99 meeting, you can see that Mary Child’s adult children were Joseph Child, Jane Coleman, Elinor Pierce, and Benjamin Child[iv]:

Court records 3_2

These records can also add biographical narrative to your family history. Locating your ancestors in court proceedings allows you a rare insight into their everyday lives and situates them within their community and time in a way that is unique to court records. Who knows, maybe you will find within your own early Massachusetts ancestry a gem like this daring scene from the Pray and Staples family history[v]:

Court records 4_2

 

Notes

[i] Information, Plymouth Court Records, 1686-1859, AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.

[ii] Plymouth Court Records, 1686-1859, vol. 1, p. 4. CD-ROM. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002. Copyright, 2002, Pilgrim Society. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.)

[iii] Plymouth Court Records, 1686-1859, 1: 74.

[iv] Plymouth Court Records, 1686-1859, 1: 35.

[v] Plymouth Court Records, 1686-1859, 1: 65.

Anna Todd

About Anna Todd

Anna holds a Master’s degree in history from the University of Connecticut where she specialized in gender and law in colonial New England. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in English at the University of Southern Mississippi. Prior to joining the research services staff at NEHGS she worked as a page at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center at the University of Connecticut and volunteered with the McCain Library and Archives at the University of Southern Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Eudora Welty House, and the National History Day Organization. Her interests include colonial America, New England, Pennsylvania, and the South, and she enjoys infusing family histories with interesting information found in court records, wills, city directories, and other supplementary sources.View all posts by Anna Todd