Genealogy
Holmes Library Genealogy Group
The Genealogy Club meets monthly at 1pm on the First Wednesday of the Month.
Join other amateur family historians in a casual atmosphere to share findings, resources and ideas of your mutual interest. Can’t make a meeting?
The Library offers in house resources to this diligent groups such as access to Ancestry.com, use of a laptop and projector for group work.
Local Genealogical Resources
Starred (*) resources are of primary importance to the Halifax researcher.
Ancestry.com* In Library: databases available through our library computers.
Halifax Historical Society* This organization should be the first contact for those seeking their family history in Halifax.
Plymouth County Genealogists, Inc. – [from the website] a society of genealogists at all levels of proficiency, from beginners to professionals, whose primary purpose is to promote interest in genealogy and family histories affecting families in Plymouth County, Massachusetts and elsewhere.
USGenWeb site for Halifax*
Includes transcriptions for Halifax Cemeteries
Massachusetts Genealogical Resources
Boston City Archives
Voters registrations for Boston, census, tax and teachers records.
Boston College: Irish Genealogy and Family History Resources
The O’Neill Library carries a wide variety of Irish American resources.
Boston Public Library*
Resources include MA newspapers on microfilm, city directories, vital records, obituary card index, New England Naturalization Petitions Index (1790-1906), Biographical dictionaries and bibliographies, American Loyalist Claims.
Obtain a library card in the Reference Room to access materials.
Family History Center of the Church of Latter Day Saints*
IGI, family search and on-loan microfilm covering world-wide genealogical resource.
Family History Centers in the area are located at 379 Gardner St., Hingham (617-749-9835) and 400 Cross Rd., North Dartmouth (508-994-8215).
Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts
Burial records for over 65,000 individuals in 62 Boston area Jewish cemeteries.
Massachusetts Archives*
Vital records to 1910 for all of MA with indexes, Mass Census 1855 and 1865, Passenger lists for port of Boston with index, military records (1643-1781), records of Plymouth County and more
Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics*
Birth, marriage and death records from 1911.
Mayflower Society
Dedicated to the heritage of the Pilgrim ancestors.
National Archives and Records Administration*
Holdings include Federal census records, passenger arrival lists for Boston, New Bedford, Portland, Providence, Galveston, Canadian border with indexes, Naturalization records, Civil War service records, WWI Draft Registrations, WWII Crimes records.
Finding Aid for the National Archives, Northeast Region
New England Historic Genealogical Society*
USA censuses, vital records for New England towns, 1000s of New England genealogies, Griffith’s Valuation for Ireland, Germans to America (1850-1891, 60+ vols.) and more.
Non-members may use the library with a $15 one-day pass.
Plymouth Country Registry of Deeds and Probate
Probate and land records.
State Library of Massachusetts
Large selection of military histories, newspapers and other Mass info.
The Irish Ancestral Research Association (TIARA)
Established to develop the growth, study and exchange of ideas among people and organizations interested in Irish genealogical and historical research and education.
General Resources and Search Engines
American Family Immigration History Center
Home of the Ellis Island web site.
Ancestry.com*
In Library: databases available through our library computers.
From Home:Download charts and forms. [membership fee required to use databases]
Cyndi’s List
The most comprehensive list of links to online genealogy. This is the site for MA but you can connect to any state or country’s site via the home page.
Heritage Quest Online
Download charts and forms. [membership fee required to use databases]
Rootsweb.com
One of the oldest genealogical sites on the web. Offers mailing lists for all parts of the world as well as the largest surname list (over 800,000).
Social Security Death Index
Generated from the U.S. Social Security Administrations Death Master File, contains the records of deceased persons who possessed Social Security numbers and whose death had been reported to the SSA.
Forms, Glossaries, General Research Tips, and Other Links
Ancestry.com
Download charts and forms (pdf format- print blank or type in your information)
Free Genealogy Forms and Charts
from Genealogysearch.org
Getting Organized
from Genealogy.com
Glossary of Genealogy Terms
from Genealogy.com
Old Time Illnesses
from rootsweb.com