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
Groton was formed in 1655. The area was also originally settled in 1655.
Land Records / Deed Research
Deeds are found at the county level in Massachusetts. Groton is in Middlesex County. Deeds for Groton, Massachusetts are available online in two places:
- The Middlesex South Registry of Deeds (1643 – present)
- FamilySearch.org (1731-1865) [access with free account]
Deeds are searchable online back to 1900. Images of Book 1 – 1024 are available in the Unindexed Property Search under Search Criteria. When using Unindexed Property Search enter the book number and leave the page number blank. I was only able to pull up books through Book 999 (roughly 1867). Between the Registry of Deeds and FamilySearch most everything should be available online. Browsable Grantor Indexes 1896-1973 are available on the registry site.
Middlesex South Registry of Deeds
208 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 679-6300
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 ($)
Vital Records
Vital records provide the details about births, marriages and deaths for the people who previously lived in your house.
Find Groton, MA Vital Records Online:
- Ancestry.com ($)
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001
- AmericanAncestors.org ($)
- MyHeritage.com
- Books – Vital records of Groton, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849 (Internet Archive)
- Book – The Early Records of Groton, Massachusetts 1662-1707 (Internet Archive)
Probate Records
Probate records for the town of Groton are found in Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Court records (1643-present) which are available both online and in-person.
In-person
Middlesex County North Probate Court
370 Jackson St, Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 656-7700
Check website for hours
Online
- Ancestry.com ($) – Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991
- AmericanAncestors.org ($) – Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – Middlesex County, Probate Records 1648-1924
Preservation Publications
The Massachusetts Historical Commission provides access to historic building surveys at is website MACRIS: Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS). Once at the site, search specifically by town. You can refine by address and historic name.
Maps
Historic Maps of Groton:
- 1794 Plan of Groton by Oliver Prescott, Jr. (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1794 Plan of Groton, Pepperell and Shirley by Oliver Prescott, Jr. (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1831 Map of the town of Groton by Caleb Butler (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1856 Map of Middlesex County by Henry Francis Walling (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1879 Plan of Middlesex County (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1885 Map of Groton Plantation (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1886 Map of Groton (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1886 Panoramic Map of Groton (Library of Congress)
- 1889 Atlas of Middlesex County (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1896-1921 Groton Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps (Library of Congress)
- 1904 Atlas of Massachusetts by Geo. H. Walker & Co. (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1921 Map of Middlesex County by Walker Lith. & Pub. Co. (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1965 Map of Middlesex County by John E. Shaughnessy (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1975 Map of Middlesex County (Digital Commonwealth)
Maps are also available online from many website such as:
- Ancestry.com ($)
- 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
Groton, Massachusetts cemeteries:
- Groton Cemetery
- Longley Family Burial Site
- Old Burying Ground
Cemetery Information
- FindaGrave.com – Groton, MA
- Town of Groton, MA Cemetery Information
- Plan of Groton Cemetery (Digital Commonwealth)
- Epitaphs from the old burying ground in Groton, Massachusetts. With notes and an appendix by Samuel Abbott Green (Internet Archive)
Local Resources
- Groton History Center – lots of resources
- Groton Historical Commission
- Groton Public Library – Local History/Genealogy – The Historical Room has lots of resources such as town reports, maps, diaries, newspapers, yearbooks, directories, preservation surveys and more.
- Annual Reports of the Town of Groton – State Library of Mass. Digital Collections
- A Brief History of Groton, MA
- Groton Historic Resources Survey Project Final Report
- Groton Reconnaissance Survey Town Report by the Mass. Historical Commission
- Groton Memories Oral History Project
Further Reading
Boutwell, Francis Marion. Old Highways and Landmarks of Groton, Massachusetts. Groton, 1884. Available at Google Books
Butler, Caleb. History of the town of Groton, including Pepperell and Shirley, from the first grant of Groton plantation in 1655. Boston: T.R. Marvin, 1848. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofg00butl/page/n9/mode/2up
Green, Samuel Abbott. Two Chapters in the Early History of Groton, Massachusetts. Groton, MA: 1882. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/twochaptersinear00gree/page/n3/mode/2up
Green, Samuel Abbott. The Boundary Linds of Old Groton. Groton, MA: 1885. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/boundarylinesofo00gree/page/n9/mode/2up
Green, Samuel Abbott. An Historical Sketch of Groton, Massachusetts. 1655-1890. Groton, 1894. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch01gree/page/n5/mode/2up
Green, Samuel Abbott. Roll of Honor, Groton, Massachusetts [Civil War]. Groton, 1897. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/rollofhonorgroto00gree/page/n1/mode/2up
Green, Samuel Abbott. Three Military Diaries Kept by Groton soldiers in Different Wars. Groton, 1901. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/threemilitarydia00gree/page/n7/mode/2up
Green, Samuel Abbott. An Historical Address Delivered at Groton, Massachusetts, July 12, 1905. Groton, 1905. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/historicaladdres01gree/page/n5/mode/2up
Green, Samuel Abbott. Colonel William Prescott and Groton Soldiers in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Groton, 1909. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/colonelwilliampr00gree/page/n7/mode/2up
Groton Historical Society. Groton (Images of America series). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2010.
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
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
Richardson, Edward Adams. The Community Groton, Massachusetts: The Story of a Neighborhood. Ayer, MA: 1911. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/communitygrotonm00rich/page/n3/mode/2up
Tercentenary, 1655-1955, Groton, Massachusetts. Groton, MA: Tercentenary Booklet Committee, 1955. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/tercentenary165500unse/page/n5/mode/2up
