This page contains most of the resources you will need to research the history of your house. If you are new to house history research, please visit the Get Started section. For a quick overview of the process visit 10 Steps to Researching the History of Your House. These guides are also great for local historians and genealogists.
Establishment
Chelmsford was formed in 1655. The area was originally settled in 1643.
Land Records / Deed Research
Deeds are found at the county level in Massachusetts. Chelmsford is in Middlesex County. Deeds for Chelmsford, Massachusetts are available online in two places:
- The Middlesex County North Registry of Deeds (1855 – present)
- FamilySearch.org (1731-1865) [access with free account]
Middlesex County North Registry of Deeds was created in 1855. Deeds are searchable online back to 1976. Search by Book and Page is available back to 1950. You can lookup digitized copies of the index books in the Pre-1976 Grantor and Grantee Indexes (look under the Search Criteria tab). These go back to the creation of Middlesex County, prior to 1855. Once you find the book and page you need use the Unindexed Property Search. Prior to 1855 use the Unindexed Pre-1855 Books option.
Middlesex County North Registry of Deeds
370 Jackson St, Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 322-9000
Middlesex County was formed in 1643.
Census Records (and MA State Census Records)
The most common census records are the US Federal Census Records but Massachusetts also has state census records. Census records help you discover the families that lived in your house. Federal census records are available every 10 years from 1790 to 1950 with the exception of 1890.
U.S Federal Census Records (1790-1950)
Available from:
- Ancestry.com ($) – see if your local library has institutional access free for patrons
- FamilySearch.org (free with account)
- MyHeritage.com ($)
- AmericanAncestors.org ($)
- FindMyPast ($)
Agriculture and Manufacturing Censuses 1850-1880
These were called Federal Census Non-Population Schedules. They provided detailed descriptions of farms and manufacturing businesses. These are available on Ancestry.com ($).
Massachusetts State Census Records (1855 & 1865)
Available from:
- Ancestry.com ($) – 1855 census and 1865 census
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – 1855 census and 1865 census
- AmericanAncestors.org ($)
Vital Records
Vital records provide the details about births, marriages and deaths for the people who previously lived in your house.
Find Chelmsford, MA Vital Records Online:
- Ancestry.com ($)
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001
- AmericanAncestors.org ($)
- MyHeritage.com
- Book – Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849 (Internet Archive)
Probate Records
Probate records for the town of Chelmsford are found in Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Court records (1643-present) which are available both online and in-person.
In-person
Middlesex County North Probate Court
370 Jackson St, Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 656-7700
Check website for hours
Online
- Ancestry.com ($) – Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991
- AmericanAncestors.org ($) – Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – Middlesex County, Probate Records 1648-1924
Preservation Publications
The Massachusetts Historical Commission provides access to historic building surveys at is website MACRIS: Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS). Once at the site, search specifically by town. You can refine by address and historic name.
Maps
Historic Maps of Chelmsford:
- 1794 Two Plans of Chelmsford #1 by Fred French (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1794 Two Plans of Chelmsford #2 by Fred French (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1831 Plan of Chelmsford by John G. Hales (Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center)
- 1856 Map of Middlesex County by Henry Francis Walling (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1871 A Plan of sundry farms at Patucket in the Town of Chelmsford by John Grove Hales (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1879 Plan of Middlesex County (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1893 Map of North Chelmsford by George E. Norris (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1889 Atlas of Middlesex County (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1907 Chelmsford Sanborn Fire Insurance Map (Library of Congress)
- 1921 Map of Middlesex County by Walker Lith. & Pub. Co. (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1965 Map of Middlesex County by John E. Shaughnessy (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1975 Map of Middlesex County (Digital Commonwealth)
- Chelmsford Historical Commission Maps
Maps are also available online from many website such as:
- Ancestry.com ($)
- Hathi Trust,
- David Rumsey Map Collection,
- Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library
- The Library of Congress
- Digital Commonwealth
City Directories & Residents Lists
City Directories were typically published every year. Because of that they are great for filling in the gaps between the 10 year spread of census records. They are also helpful to identify when people move from place to place.
City Directories are available online at the major database sites like Ancestry.com ($), MyHeritage.com ($) and FamilySearch.org. They are also found in local libraries and archives.
Tax Records
Tax records provide the value of property through the years. These can be a great indicator of when changes were made to a property. Check your local library, Town Hall or Archive.org for Town Annual Reports which contain the tax records.
Newspapers
Many old newspapers are available online through Ancestry.com, MyHeritage.com, AmericanAncestors.org, GenealogyBank.com, Newspapers.com, OldNews.com, the Boston Public Library, the American Antiquarian Society (Worcester, MA), Community History Archives. The Ancestor Hunt website is also great for finding more newspaper resources.
Cemetery Information
Chelmsford, Massachusetts cemeteries:
- Forefathers Burial Ground
- Pine Ridge Cemetery
- Saint Joseph Cemetery
- Temple Beth El Cemetery
Cemetery Information
- FindaGrave.com – Chelmsford, MA
- Town of Chelmsford Cemeteries
- Chelmsford Cemetery Commission
- Chelmsford – Search Burial Records
Local Resources
- Chelmsford Historical Society
- Chelmsford Historical Commission
- Chelmsford Historical Commission – Historic Homes
- Town of Chelmsford Brief History and Timeline (pdf)
- Chelmsford Public Library Local History
- Annual Reports of the Town of Chelmsford (State Library of Massachusetts Digital Collections)
- Various Chelmsford Historical Documents (Digitized by the Chelmsford Public Library)
- Chelmsford Reconnaissance Survey Town Report by the Mass. Historical Commission
Further Reading
Allen, Wilkes. The History of Chelmsford, from its origin in 1653, to the year 1820–together with an historical sketch of the church, and biographical notices of the four first pastors. Haverhill, MA: P.N. Green, 1820. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/historyofchelmsfo00alle/page/n5/mode/2up
Buswick, Judy. Looking Back with Eleanor Parkhurst.
Chelmsford Historical Society and Garrison House Association. Chelmsford (Images of America series). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 1999.
Hurd, D. Hamilton, History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts: with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men.. Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1890. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/historyofmiddles01hurdh/page/n5/mode/2up
Lammers, Dorit. German Glass Blowers in Chelmsford. 2005.
Merriam, Fred. Chelmsford Revisited (Images of America series). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2014.
Merriam, Fred. North and West Chelmsford (Images of America series). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2016.
Merriam, Fred. South and East Chelmsford (Images of America series). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2020.
Nason, Rev. Elias. A Gazetteer of the State of Massachusetts. Boston: B. Russell, 1890. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/gazetteerofstate00naso/page/n5/mode/2up
Parkhurst, Eleanor. History of Chelmsford 1910-1970. Courier, 2012.
Parkhurst, George Adams. Nights at the Round Table. 1998.
Parkhurst, George Adams. Small Town Kid: Growing Up in a County Village in the 1920s and 1930s. By the author, 1991.
Perham, Henry Spaulding. A Sketch of the History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. 1890. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/sketchofhistoryo00perh/page/n7/mode/2up
Spalding, Marti. Touring the Forefathers Burying Ground. Chelmsford, Mass. : Spalding Documentation Services, 2003.
Waters, Wilson. History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Lowell, MA: Courier-Citizen Company, 1917. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/historyofchelmsf00wate/page/n9/mode/2up
