| Annual Reports |
All Chelmsford Annual Town Reports starting in 1875 (Historical Commission website). |
| Cemetery Records |
Search Chelmsford town cemetery records by name, with filters for date and cemetery. The location of the grave is shown on an aerial view of the cemetery, with a 360 degree ground view available (Town website) |
| Directories and Lists |
Chelmsford Directories and Lists of Men and Women. |
| Fire Department | History Starting in 1900 (Historical Commission website) |
|
Genealogy Books |
Hard copy genealogy books in the Barrett-Byam Homestead library (53) are available for research or loan. |
| High School Yearbooks |
All Chelmsford High School Yearbooks starting in 1925. |
| Property Research |
Practical two-page tips on starting your own property research. |
| Select Board | Select Board Members since 1658 (Town website) |
| Vital Records |
Search Chelmsford vital records To 1849. (Internet Archive website). |
Genealogy notes for some of our earliest families:
| Adams WikiTree |
This links to information on Henry Adams and his descendants. (WikiTree.com website)
Henry Adams was the progenitor of the Adams family in America. He was
born in Barton David, England and died October 6, 1646 in Braintree,
Massachusetts. Henry married Edith Squire and they had nine children.
Three of his sons also emigrated, and later moved to Chelmsford: Thomas
(1612-1688), Samuel (1616/17-1690), and John (1622-1706).
The Adams obelisk stands at the top of the hill in the center of the burying ground and numerous descendants of Henry Adams are buried in the Forefathers Burying Ground. |
| Barrett WikiTree |
This links to information on Thomas Barrett and his descendants was contributed by Brian S. Barrett. (WikiTree.com website) |
| Barrett Notebook |
Our scanned notebook containing genealogy of Thomas Barrett and his descendants from our Library collection. |
| Barrett Chart |
Scanned chart showing genealogy of Thomas Barrett and his descendants, from the Barrett notebook. |
| Brackett Info |
The Brackett family was said to be from Wales. Capt. Richard Bracket, born 1610, was a member of the Boston Church in 1631/2, dismissed to the Braintree Church, Oct. 5, 1641. He is also mentioned in the petition for land, Oct. 1, 1645, along with Edward Spalding. Richard's brother, Peter, born in 1612, Deputy & Magistrate, also lived in Braintree. See also, The Pioneers of Massachusetts, Pope, 1900 and the Brackett Genealogy, by H. I. Brackett. |
| Byam Book |
The 1975 book "Descendants of George Byam" By Edwin Colby Byam, Ph.D. is linked here in searchable PDF format by permission of his niece Pamela Byam Rivard. There is also extensive information on the business enterprises of Ezekiel Byam, including his manufacture of the first practical matches in the United States. |
| Fletcher WikiTree |
This links to information on Samuel Fletcher and his descendants. (WikiTree.com website) |
| Fletcher Notebook |
Our scanned notebook (192 pages) on the Fletcher family. Samuel Fletcher was the son of William Fletcher and Lydia Bates, and was born in 1656 in Chelmsford. His father William was one of the proprietors of the town and the first town meeting was held at his house on Crosby Lane, Nov. 22, 1654.The two histories of Chelmsford, available in searchable PDF format in our Library page, also contain considerable information on the early Fletchers. |
| Hildreth WikiTree |
This links to information on Richard Hildreth and his descendants. (WikiTree.com website) |
| Hildreth Notebook |
Our scanned notebook on the Hildreth family. Richard Hildreth, the ancestor of the New England Hildreths, was born in the north of England in 1605, the year of the Gunpowder Plot, a date fixed by the inscription on his gravestone in Chelmsford, Mass. He was therefore fifteen years old at the sailing of the Mayflower. He died at Chelmsford on February 23, 1693. The Early Hildreths of New England, written by Arthur Hildreth, was originally privately printed in 1894. It was read before the reunion of the Hildreth family at Chelmsford on June 16th, 1894, and is included in this notebook. |
| Kidder Info |
John Kidder of Chelmsford, MA, was born in Cambridge, MA in 1655/6 and died at Chelmsford before Oct. 7, 1731. Additional information was provide by members of this family. |
| Richardson Info |
Ezekial Richardson was a follower of Anne Hutchinson and John Wheelwright in 1637 along with many members of the Boston Church during the Antinonmian Controversy. His name was included on the remonstrances in Wheelwright's favor, but was later "erased" when the Court found him guilty of sedition. Although we do not currently have a copy of this document, it is likely that other persons from Chelmsford also supported Wheelwright. |
| Robbins WikiTree |
This links to information on George Robbins and his descendants. (WikiTree.com website) George Robbins was one of the first settlers of Chelmsford. His farm was in the southern part of Chelmsford near Great Brook Farm. He owned a mill on Curve Street in Carlisle, MA. |
| Spalding WikiTree |
This links to information on Edward Spalding and his descendants. (WikiTree.com website) Edward Spalding was progenitor of this family and was residing in Braintree on May 13, 1640. On this day, he became a freeman, meaning he was a member of the established church, entitling him to serve in some governmental capacity, to be a magistrate, to receive land grants, and to serve on a jury. In 1645, his name appeared on the petition for the Chelmsford land grant and he was present at the first town meeting on Nov. 22, 1654. |
Please feel free to contribute your family information!