Western Massachusetts Families in 1790

The post-Revolutionary period in Western Massachusetts found families and settlements in constant flux. People were moving westward into New York and northward into Vermont. The transient nature of the period presents certain difficulties for genealogical research. In an attempt to help researchers, members of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society (NEHGS) contributed 50 well-researched and carefully constructed genealogical sketches of Western Massachusetts families using heads of households and a listing of children from 1790. These sketches appear in Western Massachusetts Families in 1790, published in 2012 by the NEHGS.

The geographical area covered includes what is called today Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. In 1790 there were actually only two counties, Hampshire and Berkshire. Franklin and Hampden were separated from Hampshire in 1811 and 1812 respectively. In selecting individual families for this book, the NEHGS began with some 250 families submitted by members. The list was then cut down, choosing families which have little to no representation in existing works, and represent the area as a whole. Every source was double checked for accuracy. All children and spouses were identified and listed as fully as possible. In addition to primary sources, sketches reference old family records, bibles, letters, and other collections compiled for research. All this allows for a level of detail not found in other places.

Each sketch begins with the entries for the head of house as it appears in the 1790 census. For example:

Baldwin, James

2 – 0 – 1 – 0 – 0

The columns represent the following:

1. The number of free white males age 16 and older, including the head of household if male
2. The number of free white males under 16
3. The number of free white females
4. All other free white persons
5. The number of slaves

The remainder of each sketch follows in “Register” style, with vital data on the head of house along with his/her spouse, biographical information, and a listing of their children. Every sketch is well documented, creating an extensive list of sources.

One commentary had this to say about the book:

“This compilation of family histories represents some of the fines contemporary genealogical research for Western Massachusetts. Western Massachusetts Families in 1790 is an essential reference fro anyone conducting serious historical, biographical, or genealogical research on this vital region of western New England.”

There are hundreds of individuals represented withing these sketches. However, the surnames from the 50 heads of household who are sketched are as follows:

• Baldwin
• Beals
• Beaman
• Bigelow
• Bowen
• Burghardt
• Chapman
• Converse
• Cook
• Cranson
• Cutler
• Dorchester
• Fobes
• Frary
• Fuller
• Griswold
• Harwood
• Hastings
• Heath
• Hines
• Holton
• Howard
• King
• Kingsley
• Milliman
• Nelson
• Pepper
• Perry
• Pittsinger
• Rogers
• Thomas
• Thompson
• Tolman
• Tooley/Tully
• Tyler
• Warner
• White
• Williams

Order a copy of Western Massachusetts Families in 1790 for home or library from Family Roots Publishing; Price: $29.35.