Index to the Probate Records of Worcester County, Massachusetts

Worcester County was established in 1731 from the counties of Middlesex and Suffolk. The index to the probate records was published in five volumes between 1898 to 1920. The years covered in the complete series are 1731 to 1910. We will be adding volumes of the index to NewEnglandAncestors.org over time.

The most recent addition to this series is the second volume of Series B, which includes the years 1905-10. Volumes 1 and 2 of Series A, which span the years 1731 to 1881, and the first volume of Series B, which includes 1898 to 1904 are also available. Information in the index includes year of record, name, residence, type (or nature) of probate, and case number.

NEHGS has the docket books from 1731 to 1881 on microfilm at the research library in Boston. To obtain photocopies it is necessary to order an In-Depth Research request from our Research Services department. For more information please visit the NEHGS In-Depth Research page.

Please note that additions to the original volumes and corrections to entries in this series were published in subsequent volumes. This database displays the corrected entry either immediately before or after the erroneous entry. Both additions and corrections are identified in the original publication and in this database by the letter A preceding the case number.

For example, the following similar records are shown below for Galon Amsden. Note that the dates are different and that the letter A precedes the case number of the first entry. This indicates that the first entry is the corrected one.

Date / Last Name / First Name / Town / Nature / Case Number

1816 / AMSDEN / Galon / Southborough / Guardianship / A 1686

1817 / AMSDEN / Galon / Southborough / Guardianship /1686

Entries with an A preceding the case number but having no resemblance to the entries preceding or following it represent additions to the volumes.

The original text can be viewed at the NEHGS Research Library. The call number is F72/W9/M45/1898-1920 .

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