1.1 Check Charlestown’s Historic Resource Study, 1987 for a report on your building. 

In 1987 a large survey was commissioned and over 1,000 buildings were researched and documented. You may get lucky and find a form for your building!

• Massachusetts Historic Commission

The research was conducted in 1987, and we have more information available today, so whether you found a form or not, continue with the following research to verify and expand on this history of your house. 

1.2 Research the Neighborhood and patterns of development. 

Sanborn and Bromley Fire Maps: Available at the Charlestown Branch Library and online through the Leventhal Map Center, these maps show property footprints and can help narrow down construction dates by comparing maps from different years. If your home appears on an 1871 map but not an 1868 map, it was likely built in that period.  

• Maps and Atlases

• 1818 Map
• 1830 Map
• 1852 Map
• 1868, 1871, 1875, 1882, 1885, 1892, 1901, 1912, 1922 Atlases: Atlascope 

Make note of what is shown on each map, from names and numbers (square feet of parcel) to shape of the building. Also note the bibliographic information of each map. Yellow shaded buildings indicate wood framing, red shaded buildings indicate brick and the first initial and last name of the current owner is drawn across the property. 

1.3 Check Property Documents

• Deeds and Titles. 
  • Begin with the most recent purchase and sale of the building and work backward. These legal documents state the seller as the “grantor” and the buyer as the “grantee”. Note the year the transfer occurred, the names of the grantees and grantors, any identifying property information such as street name and dimensions of the parcel and the description of the property e.g. “parcel of land” or “parcel of land with building thereon”, the book and page number of the record, and also the book and page number referenced for all previous transfers.
    • www.MassLandRecords.com (Suffolk County)
      • Present back through 1973: Use search criteria for “address”
      • 1920-1973: Use Search criteria for “Book Search” (Recorded from newer deed.
      • 1874-1920: Use search criteria for “Recorded Land: Unindexed Property Search.” (Book and page number recorded from newer deed.)
    • www.FamilySearch.org (Create a free account)
      • 1874-1778 (Middlesex County)
        • Search > Records > Search by Place > “Indexed Historic Records” scroll down to click on “See all Massachusetts Records” > “Massachusetts Land Records 1620-1986” > Browse all 5,766,135 records > Middlesex

1. “Deed Index” books are organized by the year a transfer was made, then the last name of either the Grantor / Seller or Grantee / Buyer. (Use these to search based on a name obtained from an atlas.)
2. “Deeds” books are organized by year or range of years, then the volume number. (Use these books when you have a book or volume number from a previous deed.)

• Tax Records
  • A sudden increase in property taxes may indicate an addition or major renovation, as improved properties are taxed higher.
  • Find historic ward numbers: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Boston,_Suffolk_County,_Massachusetts_Genealogy#Historical_Wards
  • Boston Tax Records Digitized 1822-1918 (Charlestown 1874-1918) https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2125599
  • Charlestown / Middlesex County Tax Records 1620-1874, City of Boston Archives: 201 Rivermoor St, West Roxbury, MA 02132. Appointment and list of requested books required in advance.
• Building Plans and Permits
  • Inspectional Services Department holds records of alterations, such as additions, plumbing upgrades, or electrical work. For older homes (pre-1900), permits may be sparse or on microfilm. Request digital copies or schedule an appointment to view originals.
  • Inspectional Services Department. 1010 Massachusetts Ave, or search online. 

1.4 Analyze Architectural Clues

• Architectural Style: The building’s design can provide a rough estimate of its age. For example:
  • Pre-1900: Victorian homes often feature ornate details, while Georgian homes have symmetrical designs. See Charlestown: History & Architecture

• Building Materials: Examine materials for clues:
  • Square-head nails suggest late 1700s to early 1800s construction. 
  • Clapboards less than 4’ long indicate late 1700’s to early 1800’s construction while longer, milled boards with straight saw marks indicate 19th-century construction.
  • Gabled and Low-hip roofs indicate a build date earlier than 1850 while flat roofs indicate a build date (or later modification) newer than 1854.