New Horizons Genealogy

"Specializing in New England and New York Colonial American Ancestry"


Berkshire County Massachusetts Genealogy and History

County Seat: Pittsfield


Search Free Berkshire County Massachusetts Genealogy and Family History Records Online including census, cemetery, vital, military and other genealogical and historical records that can be used for your family history research.

Berkshire County, Massachusetts genealogy and family history page is a place where you can come in and research your genealogy and family history. We also do our best to provide a history of the area, to provide you with an overview of the time in which your ancestors lived.

We regret that we are unable to do personal research for you. All genealogical and family history records we come across are being added to this website. Please keep checking back.


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Berkshire County Massachusetts Genealogy Records Online

Berkshire County Massachusetts Biographies/Biographical Sketches

Berkshire County Massachusetts Cemetery Records

Berkshire County Massachusetts Census Records

Berkshire County Massachusetts Church Records

Berkshire County Massachusetts Cities & Towns

Berkshire County Massachusetts Land Records

Berkshire County Massachusetts Military Records

Berkshire County Massachusetts Obituaries

Berkshire County Massachusetts Tax Lists

Berkshire County Massachusetts Vital Records


Berkshire County History

The Mahican (Muh-he-ka-neew) Native American tribe lived in the area that now makes up Berkshire County until the early 18th century, when the first English settlers and frontiersmen appeared and began setting up farms and homesteads. On April 25, 1724, “The English finally paid the Indians 460 pounds, 3 barrels of cider, and 30 quarts of rum for what is today Berkshire County.” This deal did not include modern Sheffield, Stockbridge, Richmond, and Lenox, which were added later. Berkshire County remained part of Hampshire County until 1760.

In the 19th century, Berkshire County became popular with the American elite, which built what they called "cottages" throughout the countryside. The Gilded Age ended in the early 20th century with the income tax, World War I, and the Great Depression. In the 20th, century some of these cottages were torn or burned down, while others became prep schools, historic sites, or bed-and-breakfast inns.

Today Berkshire County is known throughout the East Coast and the country as the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It includes attractions such as Tanglewood, the Norman Rockwell Museum, Mass MOCA, and Hancock Shaker Village.


Genealogy Research in Berkshire County Massachusetts

Berkshire County Vital Records
Probate & Family Court (Divorce Records)

44 Bank Row
Pittsfield, MA 01201-6202
Phone: (413) 442-6941

Berkshire Athenaeum
Pittsfield's Public Library

One Wendell Avenue
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Local History Department
(413)499-9480 x 6
http://www.pittsfieldlibrary.org/

North Adams Public Library
Genealogy & Local History

74 Church St., North Adams, MA
Phone (413) 662-3133
Website: http://www.naplibrary.com/gen_local/


Adjacent counties


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