NOTICE: Due to COVID-19, the Healey Library building is currently closed and access to the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters records is temporarily suspended during this closure. Click here for updates and additional information, or contact library.archives@umb.edu.
To check the database for a specific person, enter known information into the appropriate field below, then click on the “Search” button. A few tips: entering fewer fields is more likely to yield results than filling in lots of fields! Try just the surname, or just the surname and given name. Try variant spellings. The “%” character is a wildcard; for instance Don%h%e will find both Donahue and Donohoe. You can sort by clicking on column headings.
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In my great grandfathers obit it says that he was vice chief ranger of John Henry Newman Court, M C O F (1938) his name was Joseph M O’Keefe, is there any information on him? Site does not show his name coming up.
Thank you, Diane
Hi Diane,
Please send your question to library.archives@umb.edu and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Thanks!
Jessica Holden, Special Projects Archivist/Librarian
Charles V. Kerans is my grand uncle – His middle name was Patrick, so the initial should be P. Thank you
Thanks, Cate – we have made the change.
I am interested in finding ot any family information contained in death calim 1637. Patrick Lyman was my great grandfather.
Hi John – send your request to library.archives@umb.edu and we’ll be happy to assist you!
possibly my great great grandfather
Hi Annie! If you are looking for your great great grandfather’s Foresters record, please contact us at library.archives@umb.edu and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Hi. I can’t seem to find the list that contains the names of the people to see if my ancestors are on it. I only see the form to request the copies but not the actual list.
Hi Carolyn – if you use the form to search for your ancestors, a list will come back showing the name, Foresters Court# and Death Claim Number for each person found with that name. Or, you can just press “Search” without filling in any of the boxes and a list of all the records will be shown (but it’s a long list: 35,686 records!) Hope this helps. If not, please e-mail library.archives@umb.edu for further assistance.
I am seeking information on my great aunt Catherine Ahern Mahoney. She was a member of St Genevieve Court No 135 Brighton. She died on Jan 1, 1938. I searched the files and did not get her name.
Hi James, I searched our Foresters records, and unfortunately we do not hold a mortuary record for Catherine Ahern Mahoney of St. Genevieve Court. There are two Catherine A. Mahoneys, but they died in different years, and there is a Catherine Ahern who died in 1938, but she belonged to a different court. Please email us at library.archives@umb.edu with any questions or for further assistance. Thank you!
Hello James – we have located a record for a Katherine Mahoney, who was born in 1873 and died in 1938 and was a member of St. Genevieve Court, Brighton, Death Claim #22689. If you think this is your great-aunt, feel free to write to library.archives@umb.edu to request a copy of her record. Further info about requesting records is here: http://blogs.umb.edu/archives/collections/foresters/
best,
Joanne Riley
I don’t see any records from the Mystic Court in Medford. Looking for my Gr. Grandfather Thomas J Fallon Death notice and Obit state MCOF Mystic Court and that representatives attended his funeral. Jan. 12 is the death date. And Funeral was Jan 15 of 1919 I believe. Found the funeral notice in the 15 Jan paper The Boston Globe. Please let me know if there is any records from this court.
Thank you Kim H.
Hello Kim – our records show a Thomas J. Fallon, born in Ireland in 1859, died Jan 12, 1919 but in the “John Henry Newman Court” in Everett, Death Claim # 7679. Feel free to write to library.archives@umb.edu to request a copy of his record. More info here about requesting records: http://blogs.umb.edu/archives/collections/foresters/
best,
Joanne Riley
Hi, I’m searching records for John S. Smith, died January 31, 1916. His obituary says “charter member of M.C.O.F.” I was unsuccessful in pulling up any records in your archive. Can you help me?
Hello Christina – searching for John Smith brings up a record for John S. Smith, born 1833, died Jan 31, 1916, of the Fitzptrick MCOF Court in Boston, Death Claim # 5794. Feel free to write to library.archives@umb.edu to request a copy of his record. More info here about requesting records: http://blogs.umb.edu/archives/collections/foresters/
best,
Joanne