Summer 2008 • Vol. 9, No. 3

Western Massachusetts Families in 1790

by Michael J. Leclerc and Christopher C. Child

Western Massachusetts was a crossroads of migration, with pioneer families arriving from middle and eastern Massachusetts and other New England states and later generations moving north into Vermont and west into New York and beyond. While relatively few of the towns in this area were part of the “official series” of published pre-1850 Massachusetts vital records, the Walter Everett Corbin Collection at NEHGS has served as a major source of records on this area (see New England Ancestors 4:4 [2003]:15–21, and Register 139 [1985]:150–55). The transient nature of families in this area, especially during the post-revolutionary years, makes western Massachusets a major target area for thorough genealogical treatment.

Following the success of the Maine Families in 1790, Vermont Families in 1791, and New Hampshire Families in 1790 series, NEHGS is proud to announce a new publishing venture that will cover families from western Massachusetts enumerated in the first census of the United States. The series will cover families in the counties of Berkshire and Hampshire (which at that time included all territory west of Worcester County). Present-day Franklin and Hampden were formed from Hampshire County in 1811 and 1812 respectively. NEHGS hopes to publish the first volume in 2009.

In 1790 the population of Berkshire County was 30,291, and that of Hampshire County 59,681, making a total of just under 90,000 — slightly larger than Vermont’s 85,425, and slightly less than Maine’s 96,540. New Hampshire was significantly larger, with a population of 141,855.

Like the other series, the Western Massachusetts Families in 1790 volume(s) will contain family sketches for heads of household. The Society seeks genealogists who wish to contribute sketches of families of interest for the series. Each sketch will be credited to the contributor.

Sketches should include the name of the head of household, the town, county, and page number on which it appears, and the household enumeration. Sketches should be presented in Register format. A Word template can be downloaded at www.NewEngland Ancestors.org/publications/register.asp for help with Register style. The sample sketch on page 31 shows you how sketches will appear in final form. All information should be documented with footnotes.

In short, the sketch should start with birth and death data for the head of household. The next paragraph should include date and place of marriage, spouse’s name, spouse’s dates and places of birth and death, and spouse’s parents. Start a new paragraph for each additional spouse of the head of household. (If the spouse was a widow[er] or married again, that information may be included in the same paragraph.)

Next should be brief (one or two paragraphs) biographical data on the head of household and spouse(s), then a list of children in chronological order. For children, birth information comes first, then death, then marriage. If the child or his/her spouse also appears as a head of household in the census, that individual or family should be treated in a separate sketch, which we will cross-reference in the book.

Grandchildren should be listed only if they seem to appear in the census record. For an older head of household with young children, research might show a likely parent with a married child and the latter’s children.

Three towns have missing enumeration schedules — Monson and Northampton (194 and 259 families respectively) in Hampshire County, and Zoar Plantation (today part of Charlemont) with twelve resident families in Berkshire County. For these towns, sketches may be included if it can be satisfactorily proven through vital, land, or pension records, that the household head would have been enumerated in 1790. For instance, Joseph Lyman, Jr. (1731–1804), was born and died in Northampton, all of his children were born there, and deeds indicate no other residence. Thus a sketch for Joseph could be included.

A major benefit of treating all children of heads of household will be connecting “lost children” to “lost ancestors.” Christopher Child published an article about three Rogers siblings of unknown origin in Orleans County, New York. Research suggested that a possible father was George Rogers of Franklin County, Massachusetts. George’s will, entered into probate at Franklin County in 1820, identified his sons in New York by name. Had a sketch of this man’s family, enumerated in Conway, Massachusetts, in 1790, been published, researchers seeking the origins of one of these New York brothers would easily have found the link to George.

Western Massachusetts Families in 1790 will be a major addition to the genealogical literature on this difficult region. With many researchers trying to trace ancestors through New York into New England via western Massachusetts, this series will break down many research barriers. As co-editors of the series, we welcome your contributions to this project.

Michael J. Leclerc is director of special projects at NEHGS and Christopher C. Child is genealogist of the Newbury Street Press.