Rochester was incorporated 1686 in Plymouth County. Many of the early settlers came from Marshfield, Scituate and Sandwich. At first, the southern boundary extended to Buzzard's Bay and included the villages of Mattapoisett and Sippican (Scippican). Later, parts of Rochester went to the neighboring towns of Wareham, Marion, Mattapoisett and Fairhaven. Other surrounding towns are Acushnet, Freetown, Lakeville and Middleboro. Twenty-six volumes were filmed for this set of microfiches. Of special interest are Book #3A and Book #10. Book #3A records marriages of 1810-1852 from many towns, and as far away as Sandwich, Bridgewater and Fall River. Part of Book #10, a topical guide to Books No. 1-8, was compiled by Abraham Holmes, Rochester Town Clerk circa 1818-1832.

Rochester First Book of Records 1664-1730. Book 1.

Though labeled as Births 1664-1730, Marriages 1716-1729, Highway Layouts, Warrants 1729, this book actually chronicles births from about 1646-1755, marriage intentions from 1724-1732+, marriages from about 1687-1730 and burials/deaths from about 1697-1725+. Earlier and later deaths may be found with the birth records. Town records, intermixed with the vital records, include minutes of town meetings, town accounts, land records, highway layouts, ear marks and the count of wildcats and foxes. The Table of Contents is puzzling. Also confusing is page numbering; the handwritten numbers are referenced here. Among the pages listing births are 3-6, 8, 30-33, 38-48, 49-60, 63, 77, 101, 113, 119 and 133. Most of the marriage intentions (a few as late as 1771), are found on pages 31-32, 36-37, 45, 64 and 95. Marriages are on pages 1-2 and 26-28. Burials and deaths (some as late as 1767) are on pages 7-8.

Vital and Town Records 1646-1751, 1:1-48

FICHE 1

Vital and Town Records 1680-1755, 1771; 1:49-108

FICHE 2

Town and Vital Records 1700-1749, 1:109-135

FICHE 3

Rochester Proprietor Records 1679-1795. Book 1A.

This is the "propriety first book of records". Most of the records relate to land, but other data are found; e.g.; the birth in 1684 of Eikabod Burg on page 89. Names of some of the proprietors are indexed in the book below.

Proprietors Records 1679-1795, 1A:1-58

FICHE 4

Proprietors Records 1679-1795, 1A:59-119

FICHE 5

Proprietors Records 1679-1795, 1A:120-147, 1-32

FICHE 6

Rochester Proprietor Index Book 1679-1748.

This small book indexes some names from the above volume and, apparently, from another volume of about 320 pages. Although the index starts with the letter "B", "A" eventually appears--along with additional entries for most letters of the alphabet.

Index of Proprietors 1679-1748

FICHE 7

Rochester Second Book of Records 1708-1791. Book 2.

Also labeled as Births 1735 on, Marriages, Town Meetings 1752, Quakers, Warrants 1731, this volume has birth records from 1708-1785, marriage and intentions records from 1731-1770, death records from 1728-1791, and town records from about 1714-1775. Births are found on the first 30 pages and are indexed. Marriages and marriage intentions are mainly clustered from pages 43-59 and 154-164. Deaths are on pages 100-102. Isolated birth, marriage or death entries may be found on other pages; e.g., a 1769 death on page 51 and a 1769 marriage intention on page 171. Town records are found throughout the volume and are indexed. They include: town meeting minutes, church membership lists, and town boundary renewals. Quaker memberships of 1731-1736 are listed on pages 59 and 55; there may be more on other pages. Anabaptists in 1758 and 1763 are listed on pages 161 and 158. Affidavits regarding the marriage of an Indian couple, Cornelius Sonet and Patience Tom, appear on page 151. A late entry, an 1830 estate settlement, is scribbled on the last page of the volume.

Birth & Town Meeting Index

FICHE 8

Births & Deaths 1708-1783, 2:0-20

FICHE 8

Births 1717-1785, 2:21-30

FICHE 9

Town Meetings 1736-1767, 2:31-34, 42

FICHE 9

Ear Marks 1732-1775, 2:34-41

FICHE 9

Marriages & Intentions 1731-1764, 2:43-55

FICHE 9

Marriage Intentions 1752-1754, 1743-1749; 2:56-59

FICHE 10

Town Records 1729-1740, 2:60-90

FICHE 10

Town Records 1740-1755, 2:91-124

FICHE 11

Deaths 1728-1791, 2:100-102; Intents 1754, 2:101

FICHE 11

Town Records 1755-1769, 2:125-155, 157

FICHE 12

Marriages & Intentions 1763-1770, 2:154-158

FICHE 12

Marriage Intentions 1754-1763, 1769; 2:159-164, 171

FICHE 13

Highway & Town Records 1734-1758, 2:164-167, 173-174

FICHE 13

Legal Notice for Estate Settlement 1830, 2:175

FICHE 13

Rochester Town & Vital Records 1751-1826. Book 3.

Also labeled as Rochester Births 1755 on, Marriages, Warrants 1791, Town Meetings. Much of the ink in this volume is badly faded. Still, most records can be read. Vital records include births from 1751-1817, marriages from 1769-1794 and marriage intentions from 1769-1780 and 1787-1795. Among the town records are: a copy of the Declaration of Independence (page 13); a partial census of 1794 residents (pages 29-30, 71); and a listing of goods and services subject to price control (page 224).

Births 1751-1817, 3:1-22

FICHE 14

Census 1794 & Town Records 1794-1795, 3:29-34

FICHE 14

Earmarks 1813-1826, 1775-1794, 3:36-42

FICHE 14

Earmarks 1794-1804, 1813; 3:43-49

FICHE 15

Oaths & Town Records 1790-1796, 3:49-77

FICHE 15

Town Records 1770-1795, 3:78-113

FICHE 16

Town Records 1774-1783, 3:114-148

FICHE 17

Town Records 1783-1788, 3:149-183

FICHE 18

Town Records 1788-1791,1772-1782; 3:184-197,221-223

FICHE 19

Marriages & Intentions 1769-1795; 3:197-221

FICHE 19

Price-Controlled Goods & Services, 3:224

FICHE 13

Rochester (& Environs) Marriages 1810-1852. Book 3A.

This is Charles Hooper's Book of Records, and it "commenced in Bridgewater." Perhaps he was a district clerk. It is not clear where all of the marriages occurred, but the residences of brides and grooms include Bridgewater, Carver, Fall River, Fairhaven, Rochester, Middleborough, New Bedford, Sandwich and Wareham. Marriages in 1836 and 1837 were performed in Middleborough; those from 1842-1852 were performed in Rochester.

Court Records 1816, 3A:3-4

FICHE 20

Marriages 1810-1852, 3A:5-10

FICHE 20

Oaths of Office and Warrants 1823-1858, 3A:9-12

FICHE 20

Rochester Town & Vital Records 1744-1826. Book 4.

This book is also referenced as Town Records 1795-1814, but earlier and later dates are found. The vital records scattered in the book include, but may not be limited to: births, and some associated deaths, 1744-1824 (pages 91-125); marriages and intentions 1780-1823 (pages 50-85, 89-90, 164-177, 190, 208-211); and deaths 1768-1816 (page 170). Additional town records, from about 1794-1826, consist of minutes of town meetings, pew deeds and other church records, fence divisions, earmarks and strays. Church records include a few Quaker, Baptist and Episcopal memberships from about 1806-1813 that are interspersed among other town records (i.e., pages 178-184 and 304-331). At least one estate settlement, that of Leonard Haskell in 1796 (page 199), is found. As in Book 3, the Declaration of Independence is copied (pages 92, 142). Some dates are lost in tight bindings.

Town Records 1794-1799, 4:1-27

FICHE 21

Town Records 1799-1801, 4:28-49

FICHE 22

Marriage Intentions 1795-1798, 4:50-56

FICHE 22

Marriage Intentions 1798-1812, 4:57-85

FICHE 23

Town Records 1795-1801, p 86

FICHE 23

Town Records 1802-1814, 1826-1827; 4:87-93, 98-99

FICHE 24

Marriage Intentions 1812-1814, 4:89-90

FICHE 24

Births 1744-1824, 4:91, 94-97, 99-114

FICHE 24

Births & Deaths 1751-1823, 4:115-125

FICHE 25

Town Records 1796-1815, 4:126-142

FICHE 25

Town Records 1796-1815, 1823-1827; 4:143-163

FICHE 26

Marriages 1790-1811, 1823, 4:164-167

FICHE 26

Marriage Publishments 1780-1784, 4:168-174

FICHE 26

Deaths 1768-1816, Fences 1824; 4:170-171

FICHE 26

Marriage Publishments 1785-1786, 4:175-177

FICHE 27

Church Memberships 1812, 1806, 4:178-180, 184

FICHE 27

Town Records 1798-1825, 4:180-196, 199-207

FICHE 27

Marriages 1793-1796, 1806-1807; 4:190, 208

FICHE 27

Town Records 1798-1826; 4:209, 212-238

FICHE 28

Marriages 1796-1816; 4:210-211

FICHE 28

Town Records 1802-1808, 4:239-271

FICHE 29

Town Records 1806-1809, 4:272-302

FICHE 30

Town Records 1809-1813, 1799; 4:304-331

FICHE 31

Rochester Town & Vital Records 1754-1840. Book 5.

This book is also labeled as Town Records; Births 1779, Marriage Intentions, Warrants 1814, Recorded Deeds, Pew Deeds. Among the vital records in the volume are births from 1754-1840, marriage intentions from 1814-1830, marriages and deaths from 1792-1825. Most births are found on pages 311-328 and 420-459; most marriage intentions on pages 5-49 and 329-372;, most marriages on pages 91-96, 329-372, 474-475; and most deaths on pages 507-515 and 547-559. Other town records, from about 1815-1840, are found throughout the volume, and include fence divisions, pew deeds, ear marks, town meetings, town account, jury lists, town boundaries and oaths of office. Two or three members of the Christian Society are named on page 493. First settlers are listed on pages 505-506, in an 1818 extract of an earlier historical record. There are some blank pages in the book; e.g., 477-493, 498-501 and 516-529.

Intentions 1814-1822, 5:5-49; Town Records 1815-1820, 5:50-58

FICHE 32

Town Records 1818-1828, 1835, 1842; 5:59-90

FICHE 33

Marriages 1792-1825; 5:91-96

FICHE 33

Town Records 1828, 1814-1815; 5:98-125

FICHE 33

Town Records 1815-1818, 5:126-186

FICHE 34

Town Records 1816-1818, 5:187-246

FICHE 35

Town Records 1817-1820, 1824-1828; 5:247-310

FICHE 36

Births 1770-1828, 5:311-316

FICHE 36

Births 1773-1840, 5:317-328

FICHE 37

Marriage and Intentions 1819-1830, 5:329-372

FICHE 37

Town Records 1828, 1824; 5:376-379

FICHE 37

Town Records 1816-1829, 5:380-413

FICHE 38

Births 1754-1840, 5:420-443

FICHE 38

Births 1769-1835, 5:444-459

FICHE 39

Town Records 1815-1840, 5:460-476, 495-497, 515

FICHE 39

Marriages 1820-1823, 5:474-475

FICHE 39

History & First Settlers 1638-1690, 5:505-506

FICHE 39

Deaths 1792-1824, 5:507-516

FICHE 39

Oaths 1817-1829; 5:529-539, 547-548, 552, 554

FICHE 40

Deaths 1795-1825; 5:547, 549-550, 553, 555-559

FICHE 40

Rochester Town Meetings 1770-1869. Book 5A.

Some of these records are of the First Precinct, others are of the First Parish. All appear to be related to the First Congregational Church.

First Precinct Records 1770-1787, 5A:1-27

FICHE 41

First Precinct Records 1787-1796, 5A:28-56

FICHE 42

First Precinct Records 1797-1815, 5A:57-86

FICHE 43

First Precinct Records 1815-1830, 5A:87-115

FICHE 44

First Precinct/Parish Records 1830-1850, 5A:116-145

FICHE 45

First Parish Records 1850-1869, 5A:146-171

FICHE 46

Rochester Town Meetings 1818-1883. Book 6.

At first, the pages in this book are numbered singly. Later, double pages are counted as one. If numbered consistently, there would be about 165 double pages or 330 single pages. Besides town meeting minutes, militia lists are included. Also found are names of candidates for various offices, and the number of votes for each.

Town Records 1818-1830, 6:1-62

FICHE 47

Town Records 1830-1844, 6:63-100

FICHE 48

Town Records 1845-1856, 6:101-134

FICHE 49

Town Records 1858-1875, 6:135+

FICHE 50

Town Records 1875-1883, Book 6

FICHE 51

Rochester Town Meetings 1819-1833. Book 7.

Includes some town accounts.

Town Records 1819-1820, 7:1-58

FICHE 52

Town Records 1820-1822, 7:59-126

FICHE 53

Town Records 1822-1825, 7:127-192

FICHE 54

Town Records 1825-1828, 7:193-260

FICHE 55

Town Records 1828-1832, 7:261-324

FICHE 56

Town Records 1833-1834, 7:325-345

FICHE 57

Rochester Town & Vital Records 1760-1857. Book 8.

The label of Births 1763, Intentions 1845, Deaths 1835 is not all-inclusive.

Among the records found in this book are: births (and some deaths) 1760-1840, marriage intentions 1830-1857, and marriages 1835-1837. Events before 1824 occurred before they were recorded in the book. Note the partial index on pages 312-323.

Births & Deaths 1760-1840, 8:2-46

FICHE 58

Oaths of Office 1835, 1838-1841; 8:47-51, 77-83

FICHE 58

Marriages 1835-1837, 1855; 8:52-54

FICHE 58

Oaths of Office 1841-1855, 8:84-129

FICHE 59

Marriage Intentions 1855-1857, 1844-1845; 8:131-141

FICHE 59

Marriage Intentions 1845-1855, 1830-1832; 8:142-209

FICHE 60

Marriage Intentions 1832-1842, 8:210-279

FICHE 61

Marriage Intentions 1842-1844, 8:280-288

FICHE 62

Oaths of Office 1830-1838, 8:292-309

FICHE 62

Fence Divisions 1830 & Index, 8:310-323

FICHE 62

Births & Deaths 1828-1838

FICHE 62

Rochester Town & Vital Records 1822-1835. Book 9.

This book is also labeled as Oaths 1833, Marriages 1831, Deaths 1832, but earlier and later events are found. Note an 1832 birth on about page 95; there may be others.

Deaths 1832-1833, 9:3-28

FICHE 63

Marriages 1822-1835, 9:37-53

FICHE 63

Marriages 1822-1835, 9:54-64, about 94-99

FICHE 64

Oaths of Office 1833-1834, 1924-1930, 1832; 9:78-91+

FICHE 64

Rochester Town & Vital Records 1646-1851. Book 10.

Also labeled as Births, Marriages 1761, Deaths 1815, Meetings, Roads, Miscellaneous, this book would be better described as an indexed Topical Guide 1646-1824+ and Town Records 1834-1851. The first 222 pages are a monument to Abraham Holmes, town clerk of Rochester from about 1818-1832. Here he transcribed data from the first eight books of town records, after sorting it topically into a "digested index" or guide. Topics of special interest are births, deaths and marriages. Other topics include deeds, town boundary lines, Revolutionary affairs, school and poor house records. Public servants are identified throughout time; e.g., tax collectors, assessors, town clerks and justices of the peace. For accomplishing such a task with these records (and without a computer!), Holmes deserves honor. An index to his transcript is found on pages 534-543. Dates listed below for pages 1-222 are approximated. Vital records through 1822 are transcripts; many after that are original records.

Births 1708-1824+ A-W, 10:<1-16

FICHE 65

Topical Guide of Books 1-8, 1679-1824+, 10:20-58

FICHE 65

Topical Guide of Books 1-8, 1679-1824+, 10:59-120

FICHE 66

Deaths 1743-1832 A-B, 10:121-124

FICHE 66

Deaths 1743-1832 C-W & H, 10:125-154

FICHE 67

Marriages 1755-1838 A-T, 10:157-184

FICHE 67

Marriages 1755-1831 W-Y, B, H, C, 10:185-194, 222

FICHE 68

Topical Guide of Books 1-8, 1679-1824+, 10:195-221

FICHE 68

Town Records 1836-1851, 10:224-238

FICHE 68

Town Records 1834-1846, 1857-1858, 1883; 10:239-352

FICHE 69

Town Records 1842-1843 10:333-390

FICHE 70

Town Records 1844-1846, 10:391-448

FICHE 71

Town Records 1846-1847, 1833-1836, 10:449-508

FICHE 72

Town Records 1836-1842, 10:509-532

FICHE 73

Index of Topical Guide to Books 1-8, 10:534-543

FICHE 73

Rochester Marriages 1695-1799. Book 11.

Surprisingly, the 1900 naturalization of Rudolph E. Weller is on page 62.

Out-of-Town Marriages 1695-1799, 11:2-60

FICHE 74

Rochester Vital Records 1790-1861. Book 12.

Also labeled as Births, Marriages, Deaths 1803-1844, this book records earlier and later events. Births, from about 1790-1848, are arranged by family. Some of the births occurred in other towns. Most of the marriage records are from 1833-1844 and 1854-1856; those later and earlier include an 1812 marriage on page 365. A few 1837 marriage intentions are recorded. Death records are mostly from 1824-1837 and 1855-1856, but others may be interspersed with the birth records. There are many blank pages in this book, including pages 213-285 and 294-344.

Birth Index 1790-1848+, B-Y. Book 12

FICHE 75

Death Index 1824-1856,A-Y&L,12:1-14

FICHE 75

Births 1798-1844, 12:15-60

FICHE 75

Births 1790-1848, 12:61-180

FICHE 76

Births 1790-1848, 1855, 1859, 1861, 12:181-212,367-368

FICHE 77

Deaths 1824-1835, 1855-1856; 12:285-293, 369-372

FICHE 77

Marriages 1833-1844, 1854-1856, 1864, 1859; 12:345-375

FICHE 77

Births & Deaths 1791-1837, Book 12

FICHE 78

Rochester Militia Records 1824-1832.

This is the orderly book of the company of infantry in Rochester.

Militia Records 1824-1832, pp 1-58

FICHE 79

Rochester Town Records 1835-1853. Book 13.

Besides minutes of town meetings, militia and other lists of names are found in this volume.

Town Meetings 1835-1837, 13:1-53

FICHE 80

Town Meetings 1837-1841, 13:54-113

FICHE 81

Town Meetings 1841-1843, 13:114-171

FICHE 82

Town Meetings 1844-1846, 13:172-231

FICHE 83

Town Meetings 1846-1850, 13:232-293

FICHE 84

Town Meetings 1850-1853, 13:294-351

FICHE 85

Rochester Town Records 1839-1856. Book 15.

This book records deeds (i.e., business agreements) and disputes. The deeds were recorded from 1839-1856 and include sales of personal property, crops, animals and land. Some were written many years before they were recorded. Dispute statements comprise pages 210-263.

Deeds Recorded 1839-1848, 15:1-55

FICHE 86

Deeds Recorded 1848-1850, 15:56-115

FICHE 87

Deeds Recorded 1850-1855, 15:116-177

FICHE 88

Deeds & Disputes Recorded 1855-1856, 15:178-237

FICHE 89

Disputes & Deeds Recorded 1856, 15:238-267

FICHE 90

Rochester Births 1844-1872, Marriages 1845-1854 & Deaths 1842-1854. Book 17.

This is a register of births 1844-1854 and 1856-1872, marriages 1845-1854 and deaths 1842-1854. Births of 1855 are recorded in Book #19.

Births 1844-1848, 17:2-45

FICHE 91

Births 1848-1853, 17:46-93

FICHE 92

Births 1853-1870, 17:96-157

FICHE 93

Births 1871-1872, 17:158-163

FICHE 94

Marriages 1845-1854, 17:1-34; Deaths 1842-1847, 17:1-10

FICHE 94

Deaths 1847-1852, 17:11-60

FICHE 95

Deaths 1852-1854, 17:61-76

FICHE 96

Rochester Births 1872-1900, Marriages 1859-1900, Deaths 1855-1900. Books 18, 19, 21. Three books in one, Number 18 registers births from 1872-1900 and for 1855, Number 19 registers marriages of 1855-1900; and Number 21 registers deaths of 1855-1900. Some of the records, especially deaths from 1857-1862, are faded badly.

Births 1872-1886, 18:1-37

FICHE 97

Births 1886-1900, 1855, 18:38-59

FICHE 98

Marriages 1857-1858, 19:2-5

FICHE 98

Marriages 1859-1882, 19:6-46

FICHE 99

Marriages 1883-1900, 1855-1856, 19:47-66

FICHE 100

Deaths 1857, 21:2-7

FICHE 100

Deaths 1860-1881, 21:8-53

FICHE 101

Deaths 1882-1900, 21:54-77