Suffolk County, Massachusetts, was created in 1643. The towns that existed within its bounds during the 1600’s 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
- Boston — settled 1625, incorporated 1630
- Roxbury — settled 1630, incorporated 1630
- Dorchester — settled 1630, incorporated 1630
Settled but not Incorporated until after County Formation
None.
Settled and Incorporated after County Formation
None.
Settled in the 1600s, but not incorporated until after 1700
- Chelsea — settled 1624 as Winnisimmet, incorporated 1739
- Revere — settled in 1624 in area of Rumney Marsh, incorporated in 1846 at the Town of North Chelsea.
- Winthrop — settled in 1630 as part of Pullen Point/Winnisimmet area, incorporated in 1852 as Town of Winthrop.
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.