Charlestown Land Records 1638-1802

Charlestown is one of the oldest towns in Massachusetts and at one time contained in part or whole the towns of Woburn, Burlington, Stoneham, Malden, Somerville, Reading, Medford, Cambridge and West Cambridge. Under penalty of law, all land transactions conducted between citizens of Charlestown had to be officially registered in the "Towne Booke," later contained in the Charlestown Book of Possessions. Responding to public concern over the deterioration of these folios and the possible loss of this valuable historical resource, the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston began a project to transcribe and reorganize the Book of Possessions and other early Massachusetts records. This volume makes available the second revised edition of the report on public land records of Charlestown as published by the Record Commissioners in 1883. Some 300 entries describing land holdings, transactions and disputes appear as in the original folios, with a short introduction and preforatory note from the Commissioners detailing the organization and production of the report. All extraneous material not related to Charlestown lands has been excised and an extensive index of full names, estates, and pertinent subject matter has been appended. An excellent addition to any genealogical research collection.