Search Nantucket County Genealogy Records

Nantucket County genealogy records are some of the most well-documented island records in New England, with land deeds, probate files, vital records, and whaling-era documents covering the island's long history as both a Quaker settlement and the world's leading whaling port. Nantucket has a unique governmental structure: the county and the town are coextensive, meaning they cover the same geographic area and the same governmental functions. Researchers searching Nantucket County genealogy records will find primary sources at the Nantucket County Registry of Deeds, the Probate Court, and especially at the Nantucket Historical Association Research Library.

Nantucket County Registry of Deeds

The Nantucket County Registry of Deeds is at 16 Broad Street, Nantucket, MA 02554. The phone is 508-228-7250. Free online searching is available through MassLandRecords, which hosts the statewide land records portal. You can search by name, book and page, document number, or property address, and document images are available through the online system.

Deed records are a key source for Nantucket genealogy research. Because the island's population was relatively small and many families stayed for multiple generations, the same surnames appear in deed records over and over. This makes it easier to trace a single family line through property transfers across a long span of time. Land on the island was prized, and families held onto it carefully. Deeds naming grantors, grantees, witnesses, and heirs can place an ancestor on the island at a specific time and connect them to other family members.

The unique county-town structure of Nantucket means that county records and town records are largely the same collection. There is no separate "county" government distinct from the town, so researchers do not need to distinguish between county and municipal records the way they would in a mainland county. All land, probate, and court records for the island are held through the single Nantucket county/town government.

American Ancestors, the research arm of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, holds significant Nantucket collections and is one of the strongest sources for island genealogy research outside of official records.

American Ancestors holds Nantucket County genealogy collections including probate file papers, family records compiled by earlier researchers, and databases specific to island families and the whaling era.

Nantucket County Probate Records

Nantucket County probate records cover wills, estate inventories, administration papers, and guardianship files for the island's residents. Given the island's small population and the fact that many families stayed for generations, Nantucket probate records can be remarkably specific about family relationships. A will from the whaling era often names not just children but grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and even long-standing employees or crew members, all of which can help researchers build out a family tree.

Many historical Nantucket probate records have been published or digitized. FamilySearch at familysearch.org has a county wiki page listing available collections and providing context for understanding Nantucket's unique record-keeping history. Massachusetts probate records from the historical period are accessible through FamilySearch without charge, making it a useful first stop before reaching out to the courthouse.

American Ancestors holds Nantucket County Probate File Papers covering the early and historical period. These compiled collections can be searched online by NEHGS members and are one of the strongest secondary sources for Nantucket probate research. The combination of official court records and the NEHGS collections covers most of what researchers will need for the historical period.

Vital Records for Nantucket County Genealogy

Nantucket vital records follow the standard Massachusetts pattern for most of the historical period. State registration began in 1841. The Massachusetts State Archives holds birth, marriage, and death records from 1841 to 1925. In-person copies cost $3 each. For records from 1926 forward, contact the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in Dorchester.

Before 1841, Nantucket vital records were kept by the town clerk and by various religious organizations, particularly Quaker meetings. The Nantucket Quaker community was large and active, and their meeting records document births, marriages, and deaths in considerable detail for the Friends community on the island. These meeting records are held at the Nantucket Historical Association and through Quaker record repositories elsewhere in New England.

Many early Nantucket vital records have been published in print. The Nantucket Vital Records series compiled and published records from the early settlement period forward, and these printed volumes are available at major genealogy libraries and through the Nantucket Historical Association. FamilySearch has digitized Massachusetts Town Clerk records from 1626 to 2001, which includes Nantucket records and is freely searchable online. This published and digitized material makes Nantucket one of the easier Massachusetts counties for early vital record research, despite its island location.

Certified copies of birth, marriage, and death records can be ordered through the state at mass.gov. Access rules are governed by M.G.L. Chapter 46, which sets out the statewide registration and access requirements for vital records.

Nantucket Historical Association Research Library

The Nantucket Historical Association Research Library is the single most important genealogy resource on the island. The NHA holds manuscripts, family papers, ship logs, crew lists, photographs, maps, vital record transcriptions, and genealogy compiled by earlier researchers. For anyone with Nantucket ancestors, a visit to the NHA or a research request to their staff is often essential. Much of what the NHA holds is not duplicated anywhere else.

Whaling records are a specialty of the NHA collection. Nantucket was the leading whaling port in the world during the late 1700s and early 1800s, and the island's prosperity was built on the industry. Crew lists, voyage records, ship manifests, and accounts document the men who sailed on Nantucket whaling ships. Many of these men were island-born, and their family connections appear throughout the NHA's records. Even men who appear in no other document type can often be traced through crew lists and ship logs.

Many pre-1850 Nantucket genealogy records have been published and are available through the New England Historic Genealogical Society. NEHGS, through its American Ancestors program, holds databases and compiled genealogies covering Nantucket families that were assembled from both official records and private family papers. Their collections complement the NHA holdings and the official county registry records.

The MassLandRecords statewide portal links directly to Nantucket County deed records and is the fastest path to online land record searches for the island.

Note: Because Nantucket County and the Town of Nantucket are the same governmental entity, there is no distinction between county and municipal record-keeping on the island. All official records, whether labeled county or town, are held through the same offices at 16 Broad Street and nearby county buildings in Nantucket town.

Researching Nantucket County Genealogy Records

Nantucket genealogy research rewards a layered approach. Start with the free online resources: FamilySearch's Massachusetts collections, the MassLandRecords deed portal, and the county wiki at FamilySearch. These will often get you partway to an answer without cost. Then check American Ancestors for their Nantucket-specific databases if you have or can get a membership.

For whaling-era research, crew lists and ship logs at the NHA are the next layer. Many families are documented in these records even when they do not appear prominently in vital records or deeds. The island's central role in the industry means that whaling documents are unusually well preserved and catalogued on Nantucket.

Quaker records are the key to pre-1841 vital records for a large portion of the island's population. The Quaker meeting recorded births, marriages, and deaths among Friends, and these records are more detailed than many comparable religious records. If your Nantucket ancestor was a Friend, the meeting records are worth checking before the published vital record series.

The Massachusetts State Archives in Boston holds state-level records for Nantucket that complement the island's own holdings. For records from the 1841 to 1925 period, the Archives are the official repository for births, marriages, and deaths registered in the county.

Towns in Nantucket County

Nantucket County has no cities that meet the population threshold for individual pages on this site. The county and the Town of Nantucket are the same entity, covering the same geographic area. All county records and town records are held at the same government offices in Nantucket town. There are no separate municipal governments within the county.

Nearby Counties

Nantucket County is an island county with no land borders. The nearest Massachusetts county on the mainland is Barnstable County on Cape Cod. For ancestors with connections to both Nantucket and the Cape, or who moved between the island and the mainland, checking Barnstable County records is a productive next step.