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Essex County, Massachusetts
Genealogy, History & Facts

Essex County, Massachusetts Facts

When was Essex County, MA Created?
Essex County was founded on May 10, 1643 as one of four original counties created in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

What is the County Seat of Essex County, MA?
The County Seat is located in Salem & Lawrence and the county government was abolished on July 1, 1999

What counties are adjacent to Essex County, MA?
Bordering Counties are Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Suffolk CountyMiddlesex County.

Essex County, MA Vital Records

Where can find Essex County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Essex County vital records can be found at the Massachusetts Office of Vital Records has copies of birth, marriage, divorce and death records. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Massachusetts for current fees and application process. Vital Records have been registered in Massachusetts since 1635. Statewide collection began in 1841. There is a fee for each copy requested. Records for events that occurred from 1841-1910 are available at the State Archives.

Essex County Town Clerks has copies of vital records (birth, marriage, divorce and death records). Clerks respond to inquiries regarding vital records, since most have indexes available.

You can search online for Essex County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for Massachusetts Birth CertificateMarriage CertificateDeath Certificate Applications to mail.

Essex County, MA Census Records


What Essex County, MA census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Essex County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1790-189019001910192019301940.

Essex Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Essex Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Essex Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be found for 1890.

Massachusetts state censuses exist for the years 1855 and 1865. There is free down-loadable and also printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also Massachusetts Census Records Research Guide

Essex County, MA Courthouse and Government Records

Essex County Courthouse

What genealogical records can I find in the Essex County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Essex County court, probate, and land records data as a useful resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Buried away in Massachusetts courthouses and archives everywhere are the ambitions and frustrations of countless Massachusetts residents.

The possibilities are excellent that your forefathers have left a comprehensive document of at least a number of facets of their lives in the Essex County court records. Even if your forebears is not referred to in a Court case, contemplate all of the other procedures that could have lead to him or her to appear in court records. See Also Massachusetts Corthouse Records Research Guide.

Essex County, MA Societies and Family History Resources

What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Essex County, MA?
A list of Essex County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Massachusetts Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.

Where can I connect with other Essex County, MA Researchers through message boards and forums?

What other genealogical resources are available in Essex County, MA?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Essex County. A lot of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some call for a cost. This is just a collection which has been compiled or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site above another.

Essex Co. MA Books, Newspapers & Publications

Essex Co. MA Cemeteries & Church Records

Essex Co. MA Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

Essex Co. MA General and History Websites

Essex Co. MA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

Essex Co. MA Military Records

Essex Co. MA Schools & Directories