Genealogical Research
Records, 1683 - 1840: Office of the Town Clerk
The Town of Freetown was established in 1683, making it one of the oldest communities in the Commonwealth. As such, we have assorted records dating back to the 1600s. Some of our records are not full records, in some instances simply being a list of family members with a date of birth/marriage/death. These records are typically sufficient for genealogical research. As these records pre-date those archived by the State Archives and/or the Registry of Vital Records, these records are only at the Office of the Town Clerk. Certified copies of these records are available for the cost of $10 each. Please read the Genealogy Requests section, below, for information on how to obtain these records.
Records, 1841-1930: Massachusetts Archives Division & the Office of the Town Clerk
The State Archives holds records for all Massachusetts cities and towns for the years 1841 through 1930. The State Archives is located at 220 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125. They may be reached by calling 617-727-2816. You may search their indexes in person after registering as a researcher, copy microfilmed original documents (also after registering), or research on-line. Digital copies of Massachusetts Vital Records from this period are available through the Massachusetts Archives website free of charge. Certified copies of their records are available from the Archives by request for $3 each. More information on these vital records, including how to obtain certified copies, can be found on the Massachusetts Archives website.
Certified copies of these records can also be obtained from the Office of the Town Clerk. Certified copies of these records are available for the cost of $10 each. Please read the Genealogy Requests section, below, for information on how to obtain these records.
Records, 1931 to present: Registry of Vital Records & the Office of the Town Clerk
The Registry of Vital Records maintains the original birth, death and marriage records that have occurred in Massachusetts from 1926 to the present. The Registry of Vital Records is located at 150 Mount Vernon Street, Dorchester, MA 02125. They may be reached by calling 617-740-2600. You may search their on-line, microfilm and paper indexes in person during limited hours and for a fee of $9 per hour. You may also submit records requests same day/over the counter for certified copies for $20 per copy.
In addition to the Registry of Vital Records, vital records are filed in the city/town of occurrence and the person's city/town of residence, in the Office of the Town Clerk. Records after 1930 are treated as general vital records requests. Please visit the sections of this website to learn how to obtain certified copies of Birth, Marriage or Death Certificates.
Obtaining Genealogical Records from the Office of the Town Clerk
Genealogy requests are considered public records requests by the Office of the Town Clerk. To make a genealogy request, please provide the name of the person whose record you are requesting, the date of the record and specify the type of record you are in search of (birth, marriage or death). The more information you are able to provide (name of parents, etc), the better the chances are we'll be able to locate the record in question. If you are unsure of a specific date of the record, an estimated date or year may be sufficient. Please direct your request to the Office of the Town Clerk:
| By Phone | By E-Mail | By Mail | In-Person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 508-644-2201, ext 2 | publicrecords@freetownma.gov | P.O. Box 438, Assonet, MA 02702 | 3 North Main St., Assonet, MA 02702 |
The Town Clerk / Master Records Access Officer will provide you with a good faith estimate on the fee and timeline for your request, in accordance with the Massachusetts public records law.
Fee Schedule
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Genealogy Research Fee | Fee Varies Please submit records request to Town Clerk to obtain a good faith estimate |
| Certified Copy of Birth Certificate | $10.00 |
| Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate | $10.00 |
| Certified Copy of Death Certificate | $10.00 |