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Norfolk County, Massachusetts

County Court, Probate, Land & Tax Records  •  County Census Records
County Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records
County Cemeteries & Graveyards  •  County Church & Bible Records

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Norfolk County was created on March 26, 1793 (Chapter 72, Acts of 1792. Act took effect June 20, 1793) and was formed from Suffolk County. The County was named for the English county of Norfolk. The County Seat is Canton.

Old Norfork County was formed on May 10, 1643 (Mass. Bay Rec. Vol. II, p.38) and abolished on February 4, 1680, the towns remaining in Norfolk County were re-annexed to Essex county (Mass. Bay Rec., Vol. V, p. 264). Exeter, Salisbury, Hampton, Haverhill, Dover, and Portsmouth (formerly Strawberry Banke) were town in this county until it was abolished. All but Salisbury and Haverhill are now in New Hampshire. Records for these towns in this period are located here.

Counties adjacent to Norfolk County are Middlesex County (north), Suffolk County (northeast), Plymouth County, Bristol County (south), Providence County, Rhode Island (southwest), Worcester County (west).

Cities, Towns & Communities include: Avon, Bellingham, Braintree, Brookline, Canton, Chestnut Hill, Cohasset, Dedham, Dover, East Walpole, East Weymouth, Foxborough, Franklin, Holbrook, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Milton, Needham, Norfolk, North Weymouth, Norwood, Plainville, Quincy, Randolph, Sharon, South Weymouth, Stoughton, Walpole, Wellesley, Westwood, Weymouth, Wollaston, Wrentham.

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County Court, Probate and Tax Records

See Also Massachusetts Land Records, Marriage Records, Court, Tax & Probate Records

PLEASE READ!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. Plymouth County towns of Hingham and Hull were part of Norfolk County from 1793-1803.

The Official County website is located at http://www.norfolkcounty.org/. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. For Town Records contact the Town Clerk (Helpful Telephone Listings for your City/Town Hall)

Norfolk County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1793 and is located at 649 High Street, P.O. Box 69, Dedham, MA 02026-0069; (781) 461-6122 Fax: (781) 326-4742

Norfolk County Clerk of Probate Court has Probate Records from 1793 and is located at 35 Shawmut Road, Canton, MA 02021, (781) 830-1200, Fax (781) 830-4310. Original county established 10 May 1643 - disbanded 4 February 1680. Probate Records 1643 - 1714 are at Essex County Probate Court, Salem.

Probate records, including the administration of estates, probate of wills, and the appointment of guardians, have been under the jurisdiction of the courts since the 1630s. County courts and later, county judges of probate, were responsible for these functions until 1783, when the probate courts were established. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the probate and family courts were given jurisdiction over adoptions, divorces, name changes, and domestic relations.

Norfolk County Clerk of Superior Court has Court Records from 1793 and is located at 650 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026; (781) 326-1600

Tax records can be found at both the local and state levels. Massachusetts State Archives has tax returns for 1768 and 1771 as well as incomplete tax valuations for 1775, 1776, 1777 and 1778. The Massachusetts State Library holds them for 1780, 1783, 1784, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1800, 1801, 1810, and 1811.

Earlier taxes for the towns exist as well. Other tax lists may still be available at the town office. The U.S. Direct Tax of 1798 for most counties remains extant. The surviving originals are at the New England Historic Genealogical Society and accessible on microfilm there and through the FHL

Below is a list of online resources for Norfolk County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Norfolk County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Research In Vital Records or Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Massachusetts

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, 150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st floor, Dorchester, MA 02125-3105; (617) 740-2600, Fax: (617) 825-7755. It can take up to 2 months to get a vital record from Massachusetts.

Vital Records have been registered in Massachusetts since 1635. Statewide collection began in 1841. Records for events that occurred from 1841-1915 are available at the State Archives (617) 727-2816. Earlier records may be available at the City or Town of Occurrence.

  • Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates: The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics maintains birth, death and marriage records that occur in Massachusetts from 1916 to the present.
    • Cost: Initial search and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $28.00 per certificate by mail or $18.00 when ordered in Person. Make your check or money order payable to "The Commonwealth of Massachusetts". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. The cost of each record includes a ten-year search if the exact date or place of event is not known. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $28.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • In Person: The Registry counter is open to the public from Monday - Friday:  8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Directions - List of state holidays on which the office is closed. The cost for each certified copy of a record is $18.00 at the Registry counter which includes a ten-year search if the exact date and place of event is not known. Note that ONLY CERTIFIED COPIES of records are issued by the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, regardless of intended use.
    • Processing Time: 20-30 business days of receipt when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ONLINE BELOW
  • Divorce Certificates:The Registry also maintains an index of divorces from 1952 to the present. Copies of the divorce records are available from the probate court where the divorce was obtained.
    • Cost: Make your check or money order payable to "The Commonwealth of Massachusetts". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. The cost of each record includes a ten-year search if the exact date or place of event is not known. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: 20-30 business days of receipt when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ONLINE BELOW
  • Ordering Vital Records - You can also order
  • Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Certificates to mail.

Below is a list of online resources for Norfolk County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Norfolk County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Massachusetts

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

  Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Norfolk County, Massachusetts are 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940.

Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree inNorfolk County, Massachusetts are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Norfolk County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Norfolk County Census Records by clicking the link below:

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County Maps & Atlases

See Also Statewide Maps that exist for Massachusetts

Below is a list of online resources for Norfolk County Maps. Email us with websites containing Norfolk County Maps by clicking the link below:

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County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Massachusetts

Below is a list of online resources for Norfolk County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Norfolk County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Massachusetts Genealogical Addresses

Below is a list of online resources for Norfolk County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Norfolk County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Submit a website for Norfolk Co. Genealogical Addresses
  • Braintree Historical Society, 786 Washington Street, Braintree, MA 02184; Phone: (617) 848-1640
  • Dedham Historical Society, P.O. Box 215, Dedham, MA 02027; Phone: (781) 326-1385
  • Needham Historical Society, 53 Glendoon Road, Needham, MA 02492; Phone: (781) 455-8860
  • Randolph Historical Society, 360 North Main Street, Randolph, MA 02368
  • Wellesly Historical Society, Dadmun-McNamara House, 229 Washington Street, P.O. Box 81142, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481; Phone: (781) 235-6690
  • National Archives - Northeast Region, Boston, Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center, 380 Trapelo Road, Waltham, Massachusetts, 02452-6399; Phone: (781) 663-0130, Fax: (781) 663-0154, E-mail: waltham.archives@nara.gov (Serves Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.)
  • Commonwealth Museum and State Archives Building, 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125; (617) 727-2816, fax 288-8429. As the Massachusetts State Archives, the repository holds all state copies of vital records (1841-95); passenger lists for the Port of Boston (1848-91); federal census records (state copies, 1850-70, with 1880 on microfilm) with all supplemental federal schedules and state censuses for 1855 and 1865; legislative records from the General Court with land grants, petitions, tax records (1643-1787); Eastern land records for the settlement of Maine; human service institution records,; all military records for the state through the Revolution; records of human services institutions; and Judicial Archives beginning with colony era courts to mid-nineteenth century courts.
  • Massachusetts Historical Society, 1154 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215; Main number: (617) 536-1608. Although not a genealogical library, the collection includes rare books, personal papers, manuscripts, particularly the Thwing Collection of Early Bostonians, and rare books focusing particularly on Boston, Massachusetts and New England.
  • State Library of Massachusetts, 341 State House, Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133; Ph: 617.727.2590. Its genealogical collection includes extensive newspaper collections and indexes; town and county histories; town and county maps and atlases; and city directories back to 1787.
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Massachusetts Library Directory
  • Massachusetts Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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County County Cemeteries & Graveyards

See Also Research In Cemetery Records or Cemetery Records in Massachusetts

There are many churches and cemeteries in Norfolk County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Norfolk County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Below is a list of online resources for Norfolk County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Norfolk County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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County Church & Bible Records

See Also Research In Church Records or Church & Bible Records in Massachusetts

 

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

Below is a list of online resources for Norfolk County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Norfolk County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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