Every now and then I come across amazing resources that contain loads of the kinds of information many of us are seeking. When I do, I just can't resist indexing and sharing them because the answers to so many mysteries are hidden away in the annals of such publications.
In this instance, I discovered The Historical Collections of the Essex Institute. This periodical contains tons of information you'd probably have a hard time finding anywhere else including abstracts of wills, deeds, births, marriages, deaths, baptisms, church records, cemetery epitaphs, genealogies, biographies, photos, illustrations, and more. The records pertain to the people and places of Essex County, Massachusetts. Towns in Essex County include: Amesbury, Andover, Beverly, Boxford, Danvers, Essex, Georgetown, Gloucester, Groveland, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lawrence, Lynn, Lynnfield, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marblehead, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Nahant, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Peabody, Rockport, Rowley, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wenham, and West Newbury.
I'm not aware of any digitally searchable sites to search the contents of the many volumes, but all the volumes are shared freely online and shortcuts to each volume can be found in the list below. This list is useful because many of the volumes are not all properly titled, making specific volumes harder to find. So, like I've done many times now, I spent my day creating this list for easier future use. Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with it before diving in, and you'll see it's not too hard to check it for information about your family.
Only two of the four or five general indexes were found, covering Volumes 1-27 and Volumes 41-50, but all the volumes do contain their own index. Yes, it's tedious to check them all, but if it's any consolation, remember that in the 80+ years these were published, they were released quarterly. Subscribers had to wait three months for the next issue! How fortunate are we that today we have the opportunity to view them ALL, anytime, free of charge?
The Table of Contents at the beginning of each volume is another place to check for relevant and interesting stories and information. So, without further ado, here's the collection - Historical Collections of the Essex Institute Shortcuts:
Index Vol 1-27 > Link
Index Vol 41-50 > Link
1859 Vol 1 Contents > Link
1859 Vol 1 Index > Link
1859 Vol 1 Issue 1 > Link
1859 Vol 1 Issue 2 > Link
1859 Vol 1 Issue 3 > Link
1859 Vol 1 Issue 4 > Link
1859 Vol 1 Issue 5 > Link
1859 Vol 1 > Link
1860 Vol 2 Contents > Link
1860 Vol 2 Index > Link
1860 Vol 2 Issue 1 > Link
1860 Vol 2 Issue 2 > Link
1860 Vol 2 Issue 3 > Link
1860 Vol 2 Issue 4 > Link
1860 Vol 2 Issue 5 > Link
1860 Vol 2 Issue 6 > Link
1860 Vol 2 > Link
1861 Vol 3 Contents > Link
1861 Vol 3 Index > Link
1861 Vol 3 Issue 1 > Link
1861 Vol 3 Issue 2 > Link
1861 Vol 3 Issue 3 > Link
1861 Vol 3 Issue 4 > Link
1861 Vol 3 Issue 5 > Link
1861 Vol 3 Issue 6 > Link
1861 Vol 3 > Link
1862 Vol 4 Contents > Link
1862 Vol 4 Index > Link
1862 Vol 4 Issue 1 > Link
1862 Vol 4 Issue 2 > Link
1862 Vol 4 Issue 3 > Link
1862 Vol 4 Issue 4 > Link
1862 Vol 4 Issue 5 > Link
1862 Vol 4 Issue 6 > Link
1862 Vol 4 > Link
1863 Vol 5 Contents > Link
1863 Vol 5 Index > Link
1863 Vol 5 Issue 1 > Link
1863 Vol 5 Issue 2 > Link
1863 Vol 5 Issue 3 > Link
1863 Vol 5 Issue 4 > Link
1863 Vol 5 Issue 5 > Link
1863 Vol 5 Issue 6 > Link
1863 Vol 5 > Link
1864 Vol 6 Contents > Link
1864 Vol 6 Index > Link
1864 Vol 6 Issue 1 > Link
1864 Vol 6 Issue 2 > Link
1864 Vol 6 Issue 3 > Link
1864 Vol 6 Issue 4 > Link
1864 Vol 6 Issue 5 > Link
1864 Vol 6 Issue 6 > Link
1864 Vol 6 > Link
1865 Vol 7 Contents > Link
1865 Vol 7 Index > Link
1865 Vol 7 Issue 1 > Link
1865 Vol 7 Issue 2 > Link
1865 Vol 7 Issue 3 > Link
1865 Vol 7 Issue 4 > Link
1865 Vol 7 Issue 5 > Link
1865 Vol 7 Issue 6 > Link
1865 Vol 7 > Link
1866 Vol 8 Contents > Link
1866 Vol 8 Index > Link
1866 Vol 8 Issue 1 > Link
1866 Vol 8 Issue 2 > Link
1866 Vol 8 Issue 3 > Link
1866 Vol 8 Issue 4 > Link
1868 Vol 8 > Link
1869 Vol 9 > Link
1871-1872 Vol 11 Contents > Link
1871-1872 Vol 11 Index > Link
1871 Vol 11 Issue 1 > Link
1871 Vol 11 Issue 2-3 > Link
1872 Vol 11 Issue 4 > Link
1872 Vol 11 > Link
1874 Vol 12 Contents > Link
1874 Vol 12 Index > Link
1874 Vol 12 Issue 1 > Link
1874 Vol 12 Issue 2 > Link
1874 Vol 12 Issue 3 > Link
1874 Vol 12 Issue 4 > Link
1874 Vol 12 > Link
1875 Vol 13 Contents > Link
1875 Vol 13 Index > Link
1875 Vol 13 Issue 1 > Link
1875 Vol 13 Issue 2 > Link
1876 Vol 13 Issue 3 > Link
1876 Vol 13 Issue 4 > Link
1877 Vol 14 Contents > Link
1877 Vol 14 Index > Link
1877 Vol 14 Issue 1 > Link
1877 Vol 14 Issue 2 > Link
1877 Vol 14 Issue 3 > Link
1877 Vol 14 Issue 4 > Link
1878 Vol 14 > Link
1878 Vol 15 Contents > Link
1878 Vol 15 Index > Link
1878 Vol 15 Issue 1-2 > Link
1878 Vol 15 Issue 3-4 > Link
1879 Vol 16 Contents > Link
1879 Vol 16 Index > Link
1879 Vol 16 Issue 1 > Link
1879 Vol 16 Issue 2 > Link
1879 Vol 16 Issue 3 > Link
1879 Vol 16 Issue 4 > Link
1879 Vol 16 > Link
1880 Vol 17 Contents > Link
1880 Vol 17 Index > Link
1880 Vol 17 Issue 1 > Link
1880 Vol 17 Issue 2 > Link
1880 Vol 17 Issue 3 > Link
1880 Vol 17 Issue 4 > Link
1881 Vol 18 Contents > Link
1881 Vol 18 Index > Link
1881 Vol 18 Issue 10-12 > Link
1881 Vol 18 Issue 1-3 > Link
1881 Vol 18 Issue 4-6 > Link
1881 Vol 18 Issue 7-9 > Link
1881 Vol 18 > Link
1882 Vol 19 Contents > Link
1882 Vol 19 Index > Link
1882 Vol 19 Issue 10-12 > Link
1882 Vol 19 Issue 1-3 > Link
1882 Vol 19 Issue 4-6 > Link
1882 Vol 19 Issue 7-9 > Link
1882 Vol 19 > Link
1883 Vol 20 Contents > Link
1883 Vol 20 Index > Link
1883 Vol 20 Issue 10-12 > Link
1883 Vol 20 Issue 1-3 > Link
1883 Vol 20 Issue 4-6 > Link
1883 Vol 20 Issue 7-9 > Link
1883 Vol 20 > Link
1884 Vol 21 Contents > Link
1884 Vol 21 Index > Link
1884 Vol 21 Issue 10-12 > Link
1884 Vol 21 Issue 1-3 > Link
1884 Vol 21 Issue 4-6 > Link
1884 Vol 21 Issue 7-9 > Link
1885 Vol 22 Contents > Link
1885 Vol 22 Index > Link
1885 Vol 22 Issue 10-12 > Link
1885 Vol 22 Issue 1-3 > Link
1885 Vol 22 Issue 4-6 > Link
1885 Vol 22 Issue 7-9 > Link
1885 Vol 22 > Link
1886 Vol 23 Contents > Link
1886 Vol 23 Index > Link
1886 Vol 23 Issue 10-12 > Link
1886 Vol 23 Issue 1-3 > Link
1886 Vol 23 Issue 4-6 > Link
1886 Vol 23 Issue 7-9 > Link
1887 Vol 24 Contents > Link
1887 Vol 24 Index > Link
1887 Vol 24 Issue 10-12 > Link
1887 Vol 24 Issue 1-3 > Link
1887 Vol 24 Issue 4-6 > Link
1887 Vol 24 Issue 7-9 > Link
1888 Vol 24 > Link
1888 Vol 25 Contents > Link
1888 Vol 25 Index > Link
1888 Vol 25 Issue 10-12 > Link
1888 Vol 25 Issue 1-3 > Link
1888 Vol 25 Issue 4-6 > Link
1888 Vol 25 Issue 7-9 > Link
1889 Vol 26 Contents > Link
1889 Vol 26 Index > Link
1889 Vol 26 Issue 1-3 > Link
1889 Vol 26 Issue 4-6 > Link
1889 Vol 26 Issue 7-12 > Link
1889 Vol 26 Vol-26 > Link
1889 Vol 26 > Link
1890 Vol 27 Contents > Link
1890 Vol 27 Index > Link
1890 Vol 27 Issue 10-12 > Link
1890 Vol 27 Issue 1-3 > Link
1890 Vol 27 Issue 4-6 > Link
1890 Vol 27 Issue 7-9 > Link
1891 Vol 28 Contents > Link
1891 Vol 28 Index > Link
1891 Vol 28 Issue 10-12 > Link
1891 Vol 28 Issue 1-3 > Link
1891 Vol 28 Issue 4-9 > Link
1891 Vol 28 > Link
1892 Vol 29 Contents > Link
1892 Vol 29 Index > Link
1892 Vol 29 Issue 10-12 > Link
1892 Vol 29 Issue 1-3 > Link
1892 Vol 29 Issue 4-6 > Link
1892 Vol 29 Issue 7-9 > Link
1893 Vol 30 Contents > Link
1893 Vol 30 Index > Link
1893 Vol 30 Issue 1-3 > Link
1893 Vol 30 Issue 4-6 > Link
1893 Vol 30 Issue 7-12 > Link
1893 Vol 30 > Link
1894-1896 Vol 31 Contents > Link
1894-1895 Vol 31 Index > Link
1895 Vol 31 Issue 13-24 > Link
1894 Vol 31 Issue 1-6 > Link
1894 Vol 31 Issue 7-12 > Link
1894-1895 Vol 31 > Link
1896 Vol 32 Contents > Link
1896 Vol 32 Index > Link
1896 Vol 32 Issue 1-6 > Link
1896 Vol 32 Issue 7-12 > Link
1896 Vol 32 > Link
1897 Vol 33 Contents > Link
1897 Vol 33 Index > Link
1897 Vol 33 Issue 1-6 > Link
1897 Vol 33 Issue 7-12 > Link
1897 Vol 33 > Link
1898 Vol 34 Contents > Link
1898 Vol 34 Index > Link
1898 Vol 34 Issue 1-6 > Link
1898 Vol 34 Issue 7-12 > Link
1898 Vol 34 > Link
1899 Vol 35 Contents > Link
1899 Vol 35 Index > Link
1899 Vol 35 Issue 1 > Link
1899 Vol 35 Issue 2 > Link
1899 Vol 35 Issue 3 > Link
1899 Vol 35 > Link
1900 Vol 36 Contents > Link
1900 Vol 36 Index > Link
1900 Vol 36 Issue 1 > Link
1900 Vol 36 Issue 2 > Link
1900 Vol 36 Issue 3 > Link
1900 Vol 36 Issue 4 > Link
1900 Vol 36 > Link
1901 Vol 37 Contents > Link
1901 Vol 37 Index > Link
1901 Vol 37 Issue 1 > Link
1901 Vol 37 Issue 2 > Link
1901 Vol 37 Issue 3 > Link
1901 Vol 37 Issue 4 > Link
1901 Vol 37 > Link
1902 Vol 38 Contents > Link
1902 Vol 38 Index > Link
1902 Vol 38 Issue 1 > Link
1902 Vol 38 Issue 2 > Link
1902 Vol 38 Issue 3 > Link
1902 Vol 38 Issue 4 > Link
1902 Vol 38 > Link
1903 Vol 39 Contents > Link
1903 Vol 39 Index > Link
1903 Vol 39 Issue 1 > Link
1903 Vol 39 Issue 2 > Link
1903 Vol 39 Issue 3 > Link
1903 Vol 39 Issue 4 > Link
1903 Vol 39 > Link
1904 Vol 40 Contents > Link
1904 Vol 40 Issue 1 > Link
1904 Vol 40 Issue 2 > Link
1904 Vol 40 Issue 3 > Link
1904 Vol 40 Issue 4 > Link
1904 Vol 40 Issue 5 > Link
1904 Vol 40 > Link
1905 Vol 41 Contents > Link
1905 Vol 41 Index > Link
1905 Vol 41 Index > Link
1905 Vol 41 Issue 1 > Link
1905 Vol 41 Issue 2 > Link
1905 Vol 41 Issue 3 > Link
1905 Vol 41 Issue 4 > Link
1905 Vol 41 > Link
1906 Vol 42 Contents > Link
1906 Vol 42 Issue 1 > Link
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1906 Vol 42 Issue 3 > Link
1906 Vol 42 > Link
1907 Vol 43 Contents > Link
1907 Vol 43 Index > Link
1907 Vol 43 Issue 1 > Link
1907 Vol 43 Issue 2 > Link
1907 Vol 43 Issue 3 > Link
1906 Vol 43 Issue 4 > Link
1907 Vol 43 Issue 4 > Link
1907 Vol 43 > Link
1908 Vol 44 Contents > Link
1908 Vol 44 Index > Link
1908 Vol 44 Issue 1 > Link
1908 Vol 44 Issue 2 > Link
1908 Vol 44 Issue 3 > Link
1908 Vol 44 Issue 4 > Link
1908 Vol 44 > Link
1909 Vol 45 Contents > Link
1909 Vol 45 Index > Link
1909 Vol 45 Issue 1 > Link
1909 Vol 45 Issue 2 > Link
1909 Vol 45 Issue 3 > Link
1909 Vol 45 Issue 4 > Link
1909 Vol 45 > Link
1910 Vol 46 Contents > Link
1910 Vol 46 Index > Link
1910 Vol 46 Issue 1 > Link
1910 Vol 46 Issue 2 > Link
1910 Vol 46 Issue 3 > Link
1910 Vol 46 Issue 4 > Link
1910 Vol 46 > Link
1911 Vol 47 Contents > Link
1911 Vol 47 Index > Link
1911 Vol 47 Issue 1 > Link
1911 Vol 47 Issue 2 > Link
1911 Vol 47 Issue 3 > Link
1911 Vol 47 Issue 4 > Link
1911 Vol 47 > Link
1912 Vol 48 Contents > Link
1912 Vol 48 Index > Link
1912 Vol 48 Issue 1 > Link
1912 Vol 48 Issue 2 > Link
1912 Vol 48 Issue 3 > Link
1912 Vol 48 Issue 4 > Link
1912 Vol 48 > Link
1913 Vol 49 Contents > Link
1913 Vol 49 Index > Link
1913 Vol 49 Issue 1 > Link
1913 Vol 49 Issue 2 > Link
1913 Vol 49 Issue 3 > Link
1913 Vol 49 Issue 4 > Link
1913 Vol 49 > Link
1914 Vol 50 Contents > Link
1914 Vol 50 Index > Link
1914 Vol 50 Issue 1 > Link
1914 Vol 50 Issue 2 > Link
1914 Vol 50 Issue 3 > Link
1914 Vol 50 Issue 4 > Link
1914 Vol 50 > Link
1915 Vol 51 Contents > Link
1915 Vol 51 Index > Link
1915 Vol 51 Issue 1 > Link
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1915 Vol 51 Issue 4 > Link
1915 Vol 51 > Link
1916 Vol 52 Contents > Link
1916 Vol 52 Index > Link
1916 Vol 52 Issue 1 > Link
1916 Vol 52 Issue 2 > Link
1916 Vol 52 Issue 3 > Link
1916 Vol 52 Issue 4 > Link
1916 Vol 52 Vol-52 > Link
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1917 Vol 53 Contents > Link
1917 Vol 53 Index > Link
1917 Vol 53 Issue 1 > Link
1917 Vol 53 Issue 2 > Link
1917 Vol 53 Issue 3 > Link
1917 Vol 53 Issue 4 > Link
1917 Vol 53 > Link
1918 Vol 54 Contents > Link
1918 Vol 54 Index > Link
1918 Vol 54 Issue 1 > Link
1918 Vol 54 Issue 2 > Link
1918 Vol 54 Issue 3 > Link
1918 Vol 54 Issue 4 > Link
1918 Vol 54 > Link
1919 Vol 55 Contents > Link
1919 Vol 55 Index > Link
1919 Vol 55 Issue 1 > Link
1919 Vol 55 Issue 2 > Link
1919 Vol 55 Issue 3 > Link
1919 Vol 55 Issue 4 > Link
1919 Vol 55 Vol-55 > Link
1919 Vol 55 > Link
1920 Vol 56 Contents > Link
1920 Vol 56 Index > Link
1920 Vol 56 Issue 1 > Link
1920 Vol 56 Issue 2 > Link
1920 Vol 56 Issue 3 > Link
1920 Vol 56 Issue 4 > Link
1920 Vol 56 > Link
1921 Vol 57 Contents > Link
1921 Vol 57 Index > Link
1921 Vol 57 Issue 1 > Link
1921 Vol 57 Issue 2 > Link
1921 Vol 57 Issue 3 > Link
1921 Vol 57 Issue 4 > Link
1921 Vol 57 > Link
1922 Vol 58 Contents > Link
1922 Vol 58 Index > Link
1922 Vol 58 Issue 1 > Link
1922 Vol 58 Issue 2 > Link
1922 Vol 58 Issue 3 > Link
1922 Vol 58 Issue 4 > Link
1922 Vol 58 > Link
1923 Vol 59 Contents > Link
1922 Vol 59 Index > Link
1923 Vol 59 Issue 1 > Link
1923 Vol 59 Issue 2 > Link
1923 Vol 59 Issue 3 > Link
1923 Vol 59 Issue 4 > Link
1924 Vol 60 Contents > Link
1924 Vol 60 Index > Link
1924 Vol 60 Issue 1 > Link
1924 Vol 60 Issue 2 > Link
1924 Vol 60 Issue 3 > Link
1924 Vol 60 Issue 4 > Link
1925 Vol 61 Contents > Link
1925 Vol 61 Index > Link
1925 Vol 61 Issue 1 > Link
1925 Vol 61 Issue 2 > Link
1925 Vol 61 Issue 3 > Link
1925 Vol 61 Issue 4 > Link
1926 Vol 62 Contents > Link
1926 Vol 62 Index > Link
1926 Vol 62 Issue 1 > Link
1926 Vol 62 Issue 2 > Link
1926 Vol 62 Issue 3 > Link
1926 Vol 62 Issue 4 > Link
1927 Vol 63 Contents > Link
1927 Vol 63 Index > Link
1927 Vol 63 Issue 1 > Link
1927 Vol 63 Issue 2 > Link
1927 Vol 63 Issue 3 > Link
1927 Vol 63 Issue 4 > Link
1928 Vol 64 Contents > Link
1928 Vol 64 Index > Link
1928 Vol 64 Issue 1 > Link
1928 Vol 64 Issue 2 > Link
1928 Vol 64 Issue 3 > Link
1928 Vol 64 Issue 4 > Link
1929 Vol 65 Contents > Link
1929 Vol 65 Index > Link
1929 Vol 65 Issue 1 > Link
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1929 Vol 65 Issue 3 > Link
1929 Vol 65 Issue 4 > Link
1930 Vol 66 Contents > Link
1930 Vol 66 Index > Link
1930 Vol 66 Issue 1 > Link
1930 Vol 66 Issue 2 > Link
1930 Vol 66 Issue 3 > Link
1930 Vol 66 Issue 4 > Link
1931 Vol 67 Contents > Link
1931 Vol 67 Index > Link
1931 Vol 67 Issue 1 > Link
1931 Vol 67 Issue 2 > Link
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1931 Vol 67 Issue 4 > Link
1932 Vol 68 Contents > Link
1932 Vol 68 Index > Link
1932 Vol 68 Issue 1 > Link
1932 Vol 68 Issue 2 > Link
1932 Vol 68 Issue 3 > Link
1932 Vol 68 Issue 4 > Link
1933 Vol 69 Contents > Link
1933 Vol 69 Index > Link
1933 Vol 69 Issue 1 > Link
1933 Vol 69 Issue 2 > Link
1933 Vol 69 Issue 3-4 > Link
1934 Vol 70 Contents > Link
1934 Vol 70 Index > Link
1934 Vol 70 Issue 1 > Link
1934 Vol 70 Issue 2 > Link
1934 Vol 70 Issue 3 > Link
1934 Vol 70 Issue 4 > Link
1935 Vol 71 Contents > Link
1935 Vol 71 Index > Link
1935 Vol 71 Issue 1 > Link
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1935 Vol 71 Issue 3 > Link
1935 Vol 71 Issue 4 > Link
1936 Vol 72 Contents > Link
1936 Vol 72 Index > Link
1936 Vol 72 Issue 1 > Link
1936 Vol 72 Issue 2 > Link
1936 Vol 72 Issue 3 > Link
1936 Vol 72 Issue 4 > Link
1937 Vol 73 Contents > Link
1937 Vol 73 Index > Link
1937 Vol 73 Issue 1 > Link
1937 Vol 73 Issue 2 > Link
1937 Vol 73 Issue 3 > Link
1937 Vol 73 Issue 4 > Link
1938 Vol 74 Contents > Link
1938 Vol 74 Index > Link
1938 Vol 74 Issue 1 > Link
1938 Vol 74 Issue 2 > Link
1938 Vol 74 Issue 3 > Link
1938 Vol 74 Issue 4 > Link
1939 Vol 75 Contents > Link
1939 Vol 75 Index > Link
1939 Vol 75 Issue 1 > Link
1939 Vol 75 Issue 2 > Link
1939 Vol 75 Issue 3 > Link
1939 Vol 75 Issue 4 > Link
1940 Vol 76 Contents > Link
1940 Vol 76 Index > Link
1940 Vol 76 Issue 1 > Link
1940 Vol 76 Issue 2 > Link
1940 Vol 76 Issue 3 > Link
1940 Vol 76 Issue 4 > Link
1941 Vol 77 Contents > Link
1941 Vol 77 Index > Link
1941 Vol 77 Issue 1 > Link
1941 Vol 77 Issue 2 > Link
1941 Vol 77 Issue 3 > Link
1941 Vol 77 Issue 4 > Link
1942 Vol 78 Contents > Link
1942 Vol 78 Index > Link
1942 Vol 78 Issue 1 > Link
1942 Vol 78 Issue 2 > Link
1942 Vol 78 Issue 3 > Link
1942 Vol 78 Issue 4 > Link
1943 Vol 79 Contents > Link
1943 Vol 79 Index > Link
1943 Vol 79 Issue 1 > Link
1943 Vol 79 Issue 2 > Link
1943 Vol 79 Issue 3 > Link
1943 Vol 79 Issue 4 > Link
1944 Vol 80 Contents > Link
1944 Vol 80 Index > Link
1944 Vol 80 Issue 1 > Link
1944 Vol 80 Issue 2 > Link
1944 Vol 80 Issue 3 > Link
1944 Vol 80 Issue 4 > Link