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
Natick was originally formed in 1651 as a Native American plantation. It was incorporated as a town in 1781.
Land Records / Deed Research
Deeds are found at the county level in Massachusetts. Natick is in Middlesex County. Deeds for Natick, 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 ($)
Vital Records
Vital records provide the details about births, marriages and deaths for the people who previously lived in your house.
Find Natick, MA Vital Records Online:
- Ancestry.com ($)
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001
- AmericanAncestors.org ($)
- MyHeritage.com
- Books – Vital records of Natick, Massachusetts, to the year 1850 (Internet Archive)
Probate Records
Probate records for the town of Natick are found in Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Court records (1643-present) which are available both online and in-person.
In-person
Natick District Probate Court
600 Concord St., Framingham, MA 01701
(508) 620-9110
Check website for hours
Online
- Ancestry.com ($) – Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991
- AmericanAncestors.org ($) – Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – Middlesex County, Probate Records 1648-1924
Preservation Publications
The Massachusetts Historical Commission provides access to historic building surveys at is website MACRIS: Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS). Once at the site, search specifically by town. You can refine by address and historic name.
Maps
Historic Maps of Natick:
- 1795 Plan of Natick by Isaac Coolidge (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1853 Map of the town of Natick by H.F. Walling (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1856 Map of Middlesex County by Henry Francis Walling (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1860 Plan of house lots in Natick belonging to Eben. Whitney together with a part of Natick Village by George H. Stone (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1874 Maps of Natick by F.C. Tucker (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1877 View of Natick (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1879 Plan of Middlesex County (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1887 Cochituate and North Natick (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1889 Atlas of Middlesex County (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1904 Atlas of Massachusetts by Geo. H. Walker & Co. (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1909-1915 North Natick Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps (Library of Congress)
- 1921 Map of Middlesex County by Walker Lith. & Pub. Co. (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1965 Map of Middlesex County by John E. Shaughnessy (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1975 Map of Middlesex County (Digital Commonwealth)
Maps are also available online from many website such as:
- Ancestry.com ($)
- 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
Natick, Massachusetts cemeteries:
- Boden Lane Cemetery
- Dell Park Cemetery
- Framingham Natick Hebrew Cemetery
- Glenwood Cemetery
- Indian Cemetery
- North Cemetery
- Saint Patricks Cemetery
- South Natick Burial Ground
Cemetery Information
- FindaGrave.com – Natick, MA
- Old Burial Ground in South Natick – Natick Historical Society
Local Resources
- Natick Historical Society
- Natick Historical Commission
- Natick Historic District Commission
- Natick’s Historic Districts (pdf)
- Annual Reports of the Town of Natick – State Library of Massachusetts Digital Collections
- Natick Reconnaissance Survey Town Report by the Mass. Historical Commission
- Morse Institute Library – Natick Local History
Further Reading
Bacon, Oliver N. A History of Natick, from Its First Settlement in 1651 to the Present Time. Boston: Damrell & Moore, 1856. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/ahistorynatickf00bacogoog/page/n10/mode/2up
Biglow, William. History of the town of Natick, Mass. Boston: Marsh, Capen & Lyon, 1830. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/historytownnati00biglgoog/page/n8/mode/2up
Crawford, Michael J. History of Natick, Massachusetts, 1650-1976. Natick: Natick Historical Commission, 1978.
Ellis, Tom A.C. Jr. Natick’s Civil War Service: A History and Roster. Framingham, MA: Damianos Publishing, 2016.
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
Jacobs, Sarah S. Nonantum and Natick. Boston: Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, 1853. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/nonantum/page/n9/mode/2up
Macewen, Florence Lovell. Natick: A Town with Character. Natick, MA : The Morse Institute Library, 1997.
Morley, James W. Natick 1651-2000: The Many Lives of a Storied New England Town.
Morley, James W. Hometown Natick 1945-2000. Natick, MA: The Natick Historical Society, 2010.
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
Natick Federal Savings and Loan Association. The Story of Natick. Natick, Mass.: The Suburban Press, 1948. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/storyofnatick00nati/page/2/mode/2up
Schaller, Anne K. and Janice A. Prescott. Natick (Images of America series). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 1998.
