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.
Establishment
Medway was formed in 1713 from the town of Medfield.
Land Records / Deed Research
Deeds are found at the county level in Massachusetts. Medway is in Norfolk County. Deeds for Medway, Massachusetts are available online in two places:
- The Norfolk County, Massachusetts Registry of Deeds (1793 – present)
- FamilySearch.org (1793-1900) [access with free account]
You can also visit the Registry of Deeds in person.
Norfolk County Registry of Deeds
649 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026
(781) 461-6101
Norfolk County was formed in 1793. The first deed recorded in Norfolk County is dated September 24, 1793. If your house was built before 1794, then you will need to look for the older deeds in the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds.
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 ($)
- FindMyPast ($)
Massachusetts State Census Records (1855 & 1865)
Available from:
- Ancestry.com ($) – 1855 census and 1865 census
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – 1855 census and 1865 census
- AmericanAncestors.org ($)
Probate Records
Probate records for the town of Medway, 1793- present, are found in Norfolk County, Massachusetts Probate Court records which are available both online and in-person.
In-person
Norfolk County Probate Court
35 Shawmut Rd, Canton, MA 02021
(781) 830-1200
Check website for hours
Online
- Ancestry.com ($) – Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991 and Norfolk County, MA Probate Index 1793-1900
- AmericanAncestors.org ($) – Norfolk County, MA: Index to Probate records, 1793-1900 and Norfolk County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1793-1900
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – Massachusetts, Norfolk County, probate case files, 1793-1900
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – Probate docket books, and record books (1793-1916) [Norfolk County, Massachusetts]
Vital Records
Vital records provide the details about births, marriages and deaths for the people who previously lived in your house.
Find Medway, MA Vital Records Online:
- Ancestry.com ($)
- FamilySearch.org (free with account)
- AmericanAncestors.org ($)
- MyHeritage.com
- The Record of Births, Marriages and Deaths in the Town of Medway, MA 1778-1872 – https://archive.org/details/recordofbirthsma00fran/
Maps
Medway specific maps:
- 1794 Plan of Medway by John Ellis Jr. (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1831 Plan of Medway by John G. Hales (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1852 Map of Medway by Henry F. Walling (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1853 Map of Medway by Henry F. Walling (Library of Congress)
- 1858 Walling Map of Norfolk County, Massachusetts (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1876 Sherman Atlas of Norfolk County, Massachusetts (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1888 Robinson’s Atlas of Norfolk County (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1876 Map of Medway from Norfolk County Atlas (Ancestry.com, subscription required)
- 1887 Panoramic Map of West Medway – Community Church Area (Library of Congress)
- 1887 Panoramic Map of Medway – Village Street Area (Massachusetts State Archives)
- 1884-1942 Medway Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps (Library of Congress)
- 1898 Plan showing the Norfolk Western and Medfield and Medway Street Railways and their connections (Digital Commonwealth)
Maps are also available online from many website such as:
- Ancestry.com ($)
- Hathi Trust,
- David Rumsey Map Collection,
- Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library
- The Library of Congress
- Digital Commonwealth
Preservation Publications
The Massachusetts Historical Commission provides access to historic building surveys at is website MACRIS: Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS). Once at the site, search specifically by town. You can refine by address and historic name.
City Directories & Residents Lists
City Directories were typically published every year. Because of that they are great for filling in the gaps between the 10 year spread of census records. They are also helpful to identify when people move from place to place.
City Directories are available online at the major database sites like Ancestry.com ($), 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). The Ancestor Hunt website is also great for finding more newspaper resources.
Cemetery Information
Medway, Massachusetts has 3 cemeteries:
- Evergreen Cemetery (founded 1749)
- Oakland Cemetery (founded 1865)
- St. Joseph Cemetery (founded 1876)
Local Resources
- Medway Historical Society website
- Medway Historical Society Facebook page
- Medway Historical Commission
- Medway Town Hall
Further Reading
Donovan, Francis D. The New Grant: A History of Medway. Medway, MA: Town of Medway, 1976.
Ellis, Tom A.C. Medway & Millis’ Civil War Service: A History and Roster. Framingham, MA: Damianos Publishing, 2013.
Hoag, Grace G. and Priscilla N. Howker. Medway (Images of America series). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishers, 2004.
Hurd, D. Hamilton, History Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1884. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/historyofnorfolk00hurd
Jameson, E.O. The History of Medway, Mass., 1713-1885. Providence, RI: Reid Printers, 1886.
Mason, Orion T. The Handbook of Medway History: A condensed history of the Town of Medway. Medway, MA: G.M. Billings, 1913.
Maxwell, Margaret. The Church on Rabbit Hill: A History of the West Medway Community Church. Medway, MA: Community Church of West Medway, 2011.
