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
New Bedford was formed in 1787 from the town of Dartmouth. It was originally settled in 1640. New Bedford became a city in 1847.
Land Records / Deed Research
Deeds are found at the county level in Massachusetts. New Bedford is in Bristol County. Deeds for New Bedford, Massachusetts are available online in two places:
- The Southern Bristol County, Massachusetts Registry of Deeds (online searchable deeds only go back to 1946. Visit in person for earlier deeds or contact the registry to mail you copies of the deeds. You can also use FamilySearch to view deeds up to 1902.) Index books in pdf format from 1837-1973 are available online.
- FamilySearch.org (Bristol County 1686-1902) [access with free account]
- View online Grantor and Grantee Index Books for 1686-1866 for all towns in Bristol County
You can also visit the Registry of Deeds in person.
Southern Bristol County Registry of Deeds
25 N. Sixth Street in New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 993-2603
Bristol County was formed in 1685. The Southern Bristol County Registry of Deeds was established in 1837.
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 ($) – 1855 census and 1865 census
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – 1855 census and 1865 census
- AmericanAncestors.org ($)
Vital Records
Vital records provide the details about births, marriages and deaths for the people who previously lived in your house.
Find New Bedford, MA Vital Records Online:
- Ancestry.com ($)
- FamilySearch.org (free with account)
- AmericanAncestors.org ($)
- MyHeritage.com
- Books – Vital records of New Bedford, Massachusetts to the year 1850 (Internet Archive)
Probate Records
Probate records for the city of New Bedford are found in Bristol County, Massachusetts Probate Court records which are available both online and in-person.
In-person
Bristol County Probate Court – New Bedford
505 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
508-977-6040
Check website for hours
Online
- Ancestry.com ($) – Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991
- AmericanAncestors.org ($) – Bristol County, MA: Probate Files Papers, 1686-1880
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – Bristol County (Mass.) probate records 1690-1881
- FamilySearch.org (free with account) – Probate records 1687-1916; index, 1687-1926 [Bristol County, Massachusetts]
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 New Bedford:
- 1834 Map of New Bedford by J. Congdon (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1847 Plan of New Bedford by E. Thompson (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1850 Plan of the City of New Bedford (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1851 Map of Bristol County (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1852 Map of Bristol County by Henry Francis Walling (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1857 Map of New Bedford and Fairhaven by Robert G. Ingraham (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1858 Map of Bristol County by Henry Francis Walling (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1871 Map of Bristol County by Henry Francis Walling (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1871 Atlas of Bristol County by F.W. Beers & Co. (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1885 Coastal map of New Bedford, Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Rochester by Henry Gannett (Salem State University)
- 1876 View of the city of New Bedford, Mass. by O.H. Bailey & Co. (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1876 View of the city of New Bedford, Mass. by O.H. Bailey & Co. (Library of Congress)
- 1881 Atlas of New Bedford City by Geo. H. Walker & Co. (Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center)
- 1895 Map of New Bedford (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1896 Map of New Bedford, Mass & Vicinity (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1911 Atlas of the City of New Bedford by Walker Lith. Pub. Co. (Digital Commonwealth)
- 1888 – 1906 New Bedford 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.
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
New Bedford, Massachusetts cemeteries:
- Captain Joseph Snow Gravesite
- Clarks Point Cemetery
- Congregational Church Cemetery
- East Family Burial Ground
- Friends Burying Ground
- Griffin Street Cemetery
- Hammond Family Cemetery
- Hathaway Family Cemetery
- Noel Taber Cemetery
- Oak Grove Cemetery
- Peckham West Cemetery
- Pine Grove Cemetery
- Plainville Cemetery
- Polish National Catholic Cemetery
- Reynolds Cemetery
- Rural Cemetery
- Sacred Heart New Cemetery
- Sacred Heart Old Cemetery
- Saint Anthony of Padua Churchyard
- Saint John the Baptist Cemetery
- Saint Marys Cemetery
- Seamans Bethel Church Memorial
- Tobey Family Cemetery
Cemetery Information
Local Resources
- New Bedford Historical Society
- YouTube – New Bedford Historical Society
- New Bedford Historical Commission
- New Bedford Preservation Society – Historic Marker Program
- Facebook – New Bedford Ma. Historic Photo Club
- New Bedford Public Library – Obituary Index, Local News Index 1792-1894
- Mass. Memories Road Show New Bedford
- New Bedford Whaling Museum – Whaling Crew List Database
- New Bedford Whaling Museum Digital Collection – search for journals, logbooks, artifacts, and photos
- Explore New Bedford – Timeline of Its History
- New Bedford Reconnaissance Survey Report by the Massachusetts Historical Commission
Further Reading
Ellis, Leonard Bolles. History of the Fire Department of the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1772-1890. New Bedford, E. Anthony & Sons, 1890. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/historyoffiredep00elli/page/n5/mode/2up
Gardner, Edmund. Captain Edmund Gardner, of Nantucket and New Bedford: His journal and his family.
New Bedford, MA: Bullard, 1958. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/captainedmundgar00gard/page/n5/mode/2up
Gartaganis, Arthur John. The History of the Greek community in New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1915-1955. New Bedford, MA: .J. Gartaganis, 2000.
Hegarty, Reginald B. New Bedford’s History. New Bedford, MA: Reynolds Printing, Inc., 1959.
Hurd, D. Hamilton, History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men. Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1883. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/historyofbristol00hurd/page/n5/mode/2up
Kelley, Jesse Fillmore and Adam Mackie. History of the Churches of New Bedford. New Bedford: E. Anthony & Sons, 1869. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/historyofcchurch00kell/page/n5/mode/2up
McDonald, Christopher. The Military History of New Bedford (Images of America series). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2001.
Maiocco, Carmen. The Avenue, Memories of Acushnet Avenue. Carmen Maiocco, 1992.
Maiocco, Carmen. The Center: Downtown New Bedford in the 1950’s. Carmen Maiocco, 1998.
Medeiros, Peggi. New Bedford Mansions: Historic Tales of County Street. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2015.
Mulderink, Earl F. New Bedford’s Civil War. New York: Fordham University Press, 2014.
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
Pease, Zephaniah W. History of New Bedford. New York: The Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1918. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/historyofnewbedf01peas/page/n7/mode/2up
Ricketson, Daniel. The History of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts. New Bedford: Published by the author, 1858. Available at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/historyofnewbedf00rick/page/n5/mode/2up
Sammarco, Anthony and Paul Buchanan. New Bedford (Images of America series). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2003.
Walters, Jane C. A Guide to New Bedford’s Black Heritage Trail. 1976.
