Marriages in Boston 1700 - 1809

This database combines material from two books, the first concerning 1700-1751 and the second, 1752-1809.

From the introduction of Volume 28: (1700-1751):

"The Twenty-eighth Report of the Record Commissioners contains the marriages recorded on the town records of Boston from 1700 to 1751, collated with the Book of Banns for nearly the same period, with some additions from other authorities.

The records hereinafter printed and principally copied from two volumes of Boston marriages, in the custody of this department.

The first volume, of 188 pages, contains the records from 1689 to 1720 (pages 1 to 34, inclusive; entries previous to 1700 were printed in the ninth report of the Record Commissioners).

The second volume, of 269 pages, contains the marriage records from 1721 to 1751, and is in the handwriting of three town clerks. The entries were made by Samuel Checkley from 1721 to 1734 (pp. 1-118) ; by Samuel Gerrish from 1734 to 1740 (pp. 120-201) ; and by Ezekiel Goldthwait (pp. 202-269).

The publishments, or intentions of marriage, from 1707 to 1751, have been compared with the records and all differences of spelling noted. No earlier publishments are preserved.

The Purposes of marriage, printed on pp. 348-50 of this volume, were taken from an original waste book, in which were also entered: Boston Births, 1693-96; Marriages, 1695-97 ; and Deaths, 1693-96, in one part; while in the other were noted shipments of cattle and their marks.

Those intentions for which no subsequent record of marriage appears have been printed separately. These publishments are in four volumes, and the entries merely give the names, date, and town, nearly all being of Boston. The names of parents were never given.

A volume bound in vellum contains a "Record of Marriages for the County of Suffolk, 1716 to 1731. The Boston marriages recorded in this book have nearly all been found properly entered in the town records. The returns of marriages from other towns have been printed in full.

The copies of church records in the custody of this department have been searched, and all marriages not appearing in the town records have been printed for what they are worth, as the accuracy of the copying cannot be vouched for. The original records have been closely followed; some duplicate entries may appear, though they have been avoided when possible and when they have not differed. The original returns have also been consulted in many cases. A few marriages were found among the files of papers of the Suffolk County Court, and others from the personal record book of Rev. Thomas Cheever. It should bo noted that, some marriages within the period covered by this publication, that do not appear on record, will be found in the volume of marriages from 1751 to 1809 now in progress."

From the introduction of Volume 30 (1752-1809):

"The records hereinafter printed are principally copied from three volumes of Boston marriages in the custody of this department: Vol. 12, 1761 to 1809; Vol. 13, 1760 to 1814; and Vol. 15, 1807 to 1828. Ezekiel Goldthwait was town clerk from 1741 to 1761; * William Cooper, 1761 to 1809; Charles Bulfinch, from November 13 to December 14, 1809 ; and William Clark was elected December 14, 1809.

The publishments or intentions of marriage from 1751 to 1809, inclusive, have been compared with the records, and all differences of spelling noted. The intentions, for which no subsequent records of marriage appear, have been printed separately.

The publishments are in five volumes — Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 — entries merely giving the names, dates and the towns, nearly all being of Boston. The original book in which the marriages from 1751—61 were recorded is supposed to have been lost many years ago, but from the church and court records many marriages have been proven. The intentions of all others not recorded are also printed. A few duplications will be found, which were unavoidable, as the marriages did not appear in the Town Records; but were found later in the Church Records."

The original volumes are available in our Boston Research Library, Call numbers: F73.1 .B74 v.28 and F73.1 .B74 v.30.

To locate additional genealogy and local history resources, search our library catalog.