Old Norfolk County was created in 1643 by the Massachusetts Bay Colony as part of its original county system. At the time, Massachusetts claimed authority not only over its present territory but also over much of what is now southern New Hampshire. In 1675, the English Crown ruled that Massachusetts had no valid jurisdiction over New Hampshire. As a result, the New Hampshire towns were removed from Massachusetts control and Old Norfolk County was left geographically and administratively unworkable. Old Norfolk County effectively ceased to function on 22 January 1679/1680 with the creation of the Province of New Hampshire. Its four northern towns were transferred to the new province, while Haverhill and Salisbury were placed under Essex County, Massachusetts for judicial purposes. Despite this reorganization, officials continued to record deeds in the Norfolk County books from all parts of the former county until as late as 1714.
The towns that existed within its bounds during that period fall into four groups: (1) those settled and incorporated before the county’s creation, (2) those that were settled, but not incorporated until after the county formation, (3) those that were both settled and incorporated after the county formation in 1643, and (4) those settled in the 1600s but not incorporated until the 1700s.
Understanding when a community was first settled is important to genealogical research. See the section on why this matters below.
Settled or Incorporated before County Formation
- Weymouth — settled 1622 as part of the Wessagusset Colony, incorporated 1635
- Dover (NH) — settled 1623, incorporated 1633
- Portsmouth (NH) — settled 1630 as Strawbery Banke, incorporated 1653
- Boston — settled 1630, incorporated 1630
- Braintree — settled 1634, incorporated 1640
- Dedham — settled 1635, incorporated 1636
- Hampton (NH) — settled 1638, incorporated 1639
- Exeter (NH) — settled 1638 as Squamscott, incorporated 1638
- Salisbury — settled 1638 as Colchester, incorporated 1640
Settled but not Incorporated until after County Formation
- Haverhill — settled 1640, incorporated 1645
Both settled and incorporated after 1643
- Medfield — settled 1649, incorporated 1651. Transferred to Suffolk County in 1675 and in 1675 and thereafter to the new Norfolk County.
- Wrentham — settled 1660 as Wollomonopoag, incorporated 1673
Settled in the 1600s, but not incorporated until after 1700
None.
Why This Matters
Knowing when a community was settled helps genealogical research for several practical reasons:
Records and Jurisdiction. Settlement dates mark when civil and ecclesiastical structures appear. Before a town exists, records may be filed under another jurisdiction, such as a parent town, a plantation, or a county seat. Misplaced land deeds, tax lists, births, and marriages often trace back to the older authority.
Migration Paths. Early settlement chronology shows how families moved. Newer towns drew population from older ones nearby. Identifying the source town can help locate origins and family networks.
Religious Organization. Churches usually formed after settlement reached a stable population. Baptism, marriage, membership, and burial records follow this timeline and may predate full civil incorporation. Knowing the sequence helps researchers know where to look for vital events.
Boundary Changes. Towns that spun off from larger parent towns frequently carried their early settlers in the parent’s records. Without the settlement context, researchers may search the wrong place or wrong period.
Land Distribution. Early land grants, proprietors’ records, and allotments were tied to initial settlement schemes. These often contain the earliest named individuals in an area and may provide the original deed to the parcel of property.
Demographic Context. Settlement dates signal when families first appear in an area and help differentiate between pioneers and later arrivals.