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Historical Data Relating to the Incorporation of and Abolishment of Counties in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County |
Date of Incorporation or, First Mention
in the Names of Counties Records |
Reference to Act |
Barnstable |
June 2, 1685 |
Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. VI, p.169 |
Berkshire |
April 21, 1761(1) |
Prov. Laws, Vol. IV, p.432 |
Bristol |
June 2, 1685 |
Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. VI, p.169 |
Dukes |
June 22, 1695(2) |
Prov. Laws, Vol. I, p. 216 |
Essex |
May 10, 1643 |
Mass. Bay Rec. Vol. II, p.38 |
Franklin |
June 24, 1811(3) |
Chapter 61, Acts of 1811 |
Hampden |
February 25, 1812(4) |
Chapter 137, Acts of 1811 |
Hampshire |
May 7, 1662 |
Mass. Bay Rec. Vol. IV Part 2, p.52 |
Middlesex |
May 10, 1643 |
Mass. Bay Rec. Vol. II, p.38 |
Nantucket |
June 22, 1695 |
Prov. Laws, Vol. I, p. 216 |
Norfolk (Extinct) |
May 10, 1643(5) |
Mass. Bay Rec. Vol. II, p.38 |
Norfolk |
March 26, 1793(6) |
Chapter 72, Acts of 1792 |
Plymouth |
June 2, 1685 |
Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. VI, p.169 |
Suffolk |
May 10, 1643 |
Mass. Bay Rec. Vol. II, p.38 |
Worcester |
April 2, 1731(7) |
Prov. Laws, Vol. II, p.584 |
- Act took effect June 30, 1761
- By an act passed by the legislature of New York, November 1, 1683, entitled, "An act to divide this province and dependence into shires and Countyes," the County of Dukes County was established as follows: "Dukes County so contayns the Island and nomans Land." By the Province Charter in 1692 (Prov. Laws, Vol. I, p.9) the "Isles of Cappawock and Nantucket near Cape Cod" were granted to the Province of Massachusetts Bay. June 13, 1693 (Prov. Laws, Vol. I p. 117), the "Islands of Capawock, alias Martha's Vineyard," are referred to. June 22, 1695 (Prov. Laws, Vol. I p. 216), it was ordered that "The Islands of Martha's Vineyard, Elisabeth Islands, the islands called Noman's land and all the dependencies formerly belonging to Dukes County (the Islands of Nantucket only excepted) shall be and remain, and continue to be one county to all intents and purposes, by the name of Duke's County"
- Act took effect December 2, 1811
- Act took effect August 1, 1812
- February 4, 1680, the towns remaining in Norfolk County were re-annexed to Essex county (Mass. Bay Rec., Vol. V, p. 264
- Act took effect June 20, 1793
- Act took effect July 10, 1731
Source: Historical Data Relating to Counties, Cities and Towns in Massachusetts 1997. Prepared by William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth and published by The New England Historic Genealogical Society.
Abolishment of Certain Counties within the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts Though the counties still remain, some county governments in the
Commonwealth have been "abolished", their offices being put
under the direction of certain state offices. Example: the Registry of
Deeds offices in abolished counties are now under the direction of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth's Office; Sheriffs and jails are under
the Secretary of Public Safety. Dates of Abolished County Governments
County |
Date |
Chapter: Section / Acts of |
Franklin |
July 1, 1997 |
151:567 / 1996 |
Middlesex |
July 11, 1997 |
48:1 / 1997 |
Hampden |
July 1, 1998 |
48:1 / 1997 |
Worcester |
July 1, 1998 |
48:1 / 1997 |
Hampshire |
January 1, 1999 |
300:11 / 1998 |
Essex |
July 1, 1999 |
300:11 / 1998 |
Berkshire |
July 1, 2000 |
300:11 / 1998 |
Suffolk |
July 1, 1999 |
Ma. Gen. Law Chapter 34B Sec.1 |
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An historical footnote on county government in New England Generally speaking, New England states do not have as active a county
government system as compared to the rest of the nation. In Massachusetts
for example, state roads (usually numbered routes) are cared for by the
state highway department (MassHighway), while individual communities care
for the non-state roads within their borders. This can cause some
confusion for folks who move here from other parts of the nation as the
opposite appears true in their former home state(s). |
