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
Maynard was originally settled in 1638 and was incorporated as a town in 1871 from Stow and Sudbury.
Land Records / Deed Research
Deeds are found at the county level in Massachusetts. Maynard is in Middlesex County. Deeds for Maynard, 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 on the Registry website 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. Pre-1900 indexes are available at FamilySearch.org.
Plans are available online back to 1928. If you don’t find a plan in the Searchable Plan Index then search >Plans, >Unindexed Property Search. Then put the year in the book Field and the Plan number in the Page Number field. Prior to 1928 you will need to call the plan department at the Registry or visit in person.
NOTE: It is best to use the CHROME browser on the Middlesex South Registry website. I was not able to bring up unindexed property using Firefox.
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 ($)
Vital Records
Vital records provide the details about births, marriages and deaths for the people who previously lived in your house.
Find Maynard, MA Vital Records Online:
- Ancestry.com ($)
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001
- AmericanAncestors.org ($)
- MyHeritage.com
- For Vital Records before 1871 see Town Records of Stow and Sudbury
- Vital records of Stow, Massachusetts, to the year 1850 (Internet Archive)
- Vital records of Sudbury, Massachusetts, to the year 1850 (Internet Archive)
- Maynard Vital Records listed in Annual Reports (from the Maynard Public Library)
Probate Records
Probate records for the town of Maynard are found in Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Court records (1643-present) which are available both online and in-person. In-person, Maynard is serviced by the Middlesex County North Probate Court in Lowell.
In-person
Middlesex County North Probate Court
370 Jackson Street, 5th floor, Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 656-7700
Check website for hours and to contact via email or zoom.
Online
- Ancestry.com ($) – Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991
- AmericanAncestors.org ($) – Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – Middlesex County, Probate Records 1648-1924
Preservation Publications
The Massachusetts Historical Commission provides access to historic building surveys at is website MACRIS: Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS). Once at the site, search specifically by town. You can refine by address and historic name.
Maps
Historic Maps of Maynard:
- 1856 Map of Middlesex County by Henry Francis Walling (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1875 Atlas of Middlesex County, Massachusetts by J.B. Beers & Co. (Internet Archive) [image 68 & 69 – use jpg option to download]
- 1879 Plan of Middlesex County (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1879 Panoramic Map of Maynard by O.H. Bailey and J.C. Hazen (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1889 Atlas of Middlesex County (Digital Commonwealth) [image 108]
- 1899-1924 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps (Library of Congress)
Maps are also available online from many website such as:
- Ancestry.com ($)
- 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.
1888 Maynard, MA Tax Valuation List (Maynard Historical Society)
Newspapers
Local newspapers are available online from the Maynard Public Library. Title include the Assabet Valley Beacon (1949-1990), Maynard Enterprise (1915-1959), the Maynard News (1899-1943), and the Maynard Beacon (1991-1993).
If you live in Maynard and have a Maynard Public Library card, you can access the Beacon-Villager (2005-2022) online or from within the library.
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. Use the Newspaper Finder database to locate newspapers for a specific geographic area.
Cemetery Information
Maynard, Massachusetts cemeteries:
- Glenwood Cemetery (founded 1820)
- Saint Bridgets Cemetery
Cemetery Information
- FindaGrave.com – Maynard, MA
- Town of Maynard – Glenwood Cemetery
Local Resources
- Maynard Historical Society
- Maynard Public Library – Local History Collection
- Maynard, MA Historical Commission
- Maynard Public Library Digitized Yearbook Collections (Internet Archive)
Further Reading
Aaltonen, Frank. Maynard Weavers, the Story of the United Co-operative Society of Maynard. Maynard, MA: United Co-operative Society, 1941.
Boothroyd, Paul Sr., Paul Boothroyd, Jr., and Todd E. Boothroyd. The Ammo Dump: A Taking of Heritage. 2023.
Boothroyd, Paul and Lewis Halprin. Assabet Mills Maynard Massachusetts (Images of America: Massachusetts). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 1999.
Boothroyd, Paul and Lewis Halprin. Maynard (Images of America: Massachusetts). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 1999.
Boothroyd, Paul and Lewis Halprin. Maynard (Postcard History Series). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2006.
Brown, Peggy Jo. Hometown Soldiers: Civil War Veterans of Assabet Village & Maynard, Massachusetts. Flying Heron Press, 2005.
Earls, Alan R. Digital Equipment Corporation (MA) (Images of America). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2004.
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
Mark, David A. Hidden History of Maynard. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2014.
Mark, David A. Maynard: History and Life Outdoors. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2011.
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
Town of Maynard Sesquicentennial Committee. Maynard, Massachusetts: A Brief History. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2011.
Voogd, Jan. Maynard, Massachusetts:: A House in the Village (American Chronicles). Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2007.
