Genealogy in Franklin County, Massachusetts
Town of Monroe

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Information

Monroe lies in the northwestern part of Franklin County and is roughly bounded by Stamford and Readsboro (both towns in Bennington County, Vermont) on the north, Rowe on the east, and Florida (in Berkshire County) on the south and west. Monroe was organized February 21, 1822 from part of Rowe and a gore of common lands north of Florida.

In 1874, Elias Nason described the town of Monroe as follows:

Monroe

occupies the north-western extremity of Franklin County, and contains 38 farms, 38 dwelling-houses, 50 voters, and 201 inhabitants. Its boundaries are the Vermont State line on the north, the Deerfield River (separating it from Rowe) on the south-east, and Florida on the south and west. The town has an area of 12 square miles, which is drained by the Deerfield River and a fine affluent running diagonally through the place, and bearing the name of "Mill Brook." The land is rough and mountainous, resting on a basis of calcareous gneiss, and rocks of the Quebec group. It is chiefly adapted to the growth of timber, and the rearing of sheep, of which it has 143. It produced, in 1865, 4,000 pounds of maple-sugar, and prepared, by four saw-mills, 86,000 feet of lumber for the market. The opening of the Hoosac Tunnel, near this town, has much enhanced the value of its noble forest. Monroe has two district-schools, for the support of which it appropriated, in 1871, $250. Its valuation is $52,227; and rate of taxation, $3.73 per $100.

This place was formed of the "gore" north of Florida, named in honor of President James Monroe, and incorporated Feb 21, 1822. The settlement was commenced about the beginning of this century by Daniel Caneday of Coleraine, who was soon joined by Ebenezer Howard, Samuel Gore, the Rev. David Ballou, and others.

The Revs. MOSES BALLOU, HOSEA F. BALLOU, and J. HIX, Universalist ministers, were born in this town.

(Source: Nason, Elias, 1811-1887. A gazetteer of the state of Massachusetts : with numerous illustrations on wood and steel / by Elias Nason. -- Boston : B.B. Russell, 1874. -- p. 344-345)

Online Genealogical Resources

The following resources may provide information useful in researching Monroe families.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Bibliography

The following bibliography lists sources that may be useful in researching the genealogy and history of families that have lived in the Monroe area. The bibliography is arranged by subject category and alphabetically by author and title within each category. Information on library holdings is recorded in the box following each citation. For published items, only holdings of libraries profiled on the Archives and Libraries page are given when known. For unpublished and other rare sources, any library known to hold the item is listed. Many of the items listed here are also available at other libraries and research centers in New England, New York, and elsewhere.

Original records and other items microfilmed by the LDS Family History Library (also known as the Genealogical Society of Utah) are also listed below. These microfiches and microfilms are available via interlibrary loan through the LDS family history centers. Make a note of the microfiche or microfilm reel number(s) needed in order to place a request at one of the LDS family history centers.

History

• History of Monroe, Massachusetts. -- Salt Lake City : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1972.
  on 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
  Microfilm of typescript in Greenfield, Massachusetts.
  
  

  Holdings: LDS Family History Library (LDS FHL microfilm number 0886777 item 7)



• Town of Monroe, Massachusetts, 1822-1972 / Monroe Sesquicentennial Committee. -- [Monroe, Mass.] : Monroe Sesquicentennial Committee, 1972.
  93 p.: ill., map.
  
  

  Holdings:

Town Records

• Monroe (Mass.). Town Clerk.
  Town records, 1822-1868. -- Salt Lake City : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1972.
  on 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
  Microfilm of original records in Monroe, Massachusetts.
  Contains records of town meetings, finances, school records, votes and some militia rolls.
  No circulation to family history centers.
  
  

  Holdings: LDS Family History Library (LDS FHL microfilm number 0886876 item 1)

Vital Records

• Monroe (Mass.). Town Clerk.
  Massachusetts vital records. Monroe, 1777-1896. -- Oxford, Mass. : Holbrook Research Institute, 1990.
  20 microfiches.
  
  

  Holdings:



• Monroe (Mass.). Town Clerk.
  Vital and town records, 1793-1900. -- Salt Lake City : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1972, 1993. 2 microfilm reels ; 35 mm.
  Microfilm of original records in Monroe, Massachusetts.
  
  

  Part title, etc.	Dates	LDS FHL microfilm number
  Births, deaths, marriages, and marriage intentions with some deeds	1793-1855	0766943
  Births, marriages, and deaths	1850-1900	1888837

  
  

  Holdings: LDS Family History Library (for LDS FHL microfilm numbers, see the table above)

General Information

The following resources may provide useful information on the Monroe town area.

• Franklin County Chamber of Commerce - Town Profiles - Monroe

  Includes current information on Monroe as well as a brief history of the town.

Related Pages

• Genealogy in Franklin County, Massachusetts

• Genealogy in Franklin County, Massachusetts - Town of ...

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