Hunting For House Histories

Getting Started with Historical Research

Researching the history of a house or property is one of the most common inquiries we receive at the Natick Historical Society. While most records focus on the period after European colonization, it’s important to acknowledge that this land was originally home to Native peoples, including the Nipmuc, Wampanoag, and Massachusett nations. To learn more about the Indigenous history of this area, we encourage you to explore the websites and resources of those nations.

Online Resources

The following online tools and archives are great places to begin your research. Please note that these resources are not comprehensive, and information about specific homes or former occupants can be difficult to find—but you never know what you might uncover!

• MACRIS: Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System
  Search historic buildings and property records across Massachusetts.

• South Middlesex County Land Records – Video Tutorial
  Learn how to access and navigate land records.

• Natick MapGeo
  View property lines, ownership, and geographic information.

• Natick Vital Records to 1850
  Births, deaths, and marriages up to 1850.

• Map of Natick, circa 1853
  Explore Natick as it appeared in the mid-19th century.

• Real Estate Valuation and Resident List, circa 1892
  Provides property valuations and names of town residents.

• U.S. Census Records (1790–1930)
  Discover past occupants and household information.

Printed Resources at NHS

For deeper research, the Natick Historical Society’s Research Library and Archive holds many local resources:

• Natick List of Residents (1850–2019)

• Town Reports (1850–2019)

• Assessor’s Reports & Real Estate Evaluations (1854–2011)

• Massachusetts State Censuses for Natick (1855 & 1865)

• Resident and Business Directory (1965)

• NHS Map Collections

• NHS Photograph Collections

Still Hunting for a House History?

We’re here to help. If you’d like more assistance, please submit a research request. One of our staff or volunteers will be happy to guide you.