Historical Data Relating to the Incorporation of and Abolishment of Counties in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Incorporation
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.