When I went to Worcester City Hall recently, I noticed that they have a rack with brochures about genealogical research next to the city clerk's window. Even though I wasn't actively involved with genealogy then, I picked up a brochure just out of curiousity. One page was a list of genealogy web sites, such as www.ancestry.com and www.onlinegenealogy.com There was also a page that related specifically to Worcester City Hall and obtaining records from them. I don't have that page in front of me, but I will transcribe it shortly and post it to this list. By the way, do most people on this list live in the Worcester area? I live close by, about 20 minutes by car, in Northbridge. Margie ----- Original Message ----- From: SGoodwin <sgoodwin@massed.net> To: <MAWORCES-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 5:42 PM Subject: Re: [MAWORCES] Research Worcester City Hall and Westborough Town Hall > My experience at Worcester City Hall was that I had to go in with a name and a birthdate (approximate, at least). They then search the indexes and tell you if they find anything. > Sandy

Re: > By the way, do most people on this list live in the Worcester area? I live > close by, about 20 minutes by car, in Northbridge. > > Margie I live in Texas, but my daughter lives in Gardner, MA, which will help with my research in Barre, New Braintree, and Hardwick. I get to visit her and do research at the same time! Any tips for the Worcester County Clerk's office will be greatly appreciated - my next trip in October - hopefully - will allow me time to do some deed research. Those who live in the area have been most helpful in the past with names of town historians, libraries, etc. Thank you all! Gail

To the several people who requested information about the Worcester City Hall: I found the paper that they have as handouts in the hallway near the office of the city clerk. I will transcribe it verbatim below. Please note the date of this document, as I cannot assure that the price or method of search is still accurate. However, when I am in Worcester again, which will be soon, I will stop in the City Hall and inquire about the accuracy of this information, and repost to this mailing list when I receive the updated information. Margie Casey CITY OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT DAVID J. RUSHFORD, CITY CLERK February, 2001 The Worcester City Clerk Department enjoys assisting you in conducting genealogical research. We attempt to conduct a thorough search of our files during times of the day when customers are not waiting at our windows for issuance of certified copies of vital records. Therefore, we ask that you provide us with a written request itemizing any and all name/date information you already know about ancestors. We then collect an estimated fee determined by assessing the number of people and decades we need to search to satisfy your written request. The fee for this type of research is $4 per half-hour. Fees are payable to the City Clerk in cash of money order made payable to the City of Worcester. Responses to genealogical research requests vary from 2 days to 10 days. We respond to you in writing and provide the following: a. in births; the name of the child and date of the birth, b. in marriages; the names of the bride, the groom and the date of the marriage, and c. in deaths, the name of the decedent and the date of death. This method allows you to gain quick and inexpensive access to our files without having to spend large sums of money, and provides an opportunity to determine whether you want to purchase long form certificates. City Clerk Department, Room 206, City Hall, 455 Main Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01608-1889 Telephone: (508) 799-1121 Fax: (508) 799-1194 email: clerk@ci.worcester.ma.us