Foresters Records Search

NOTICE: All fees for copies of MCOF records are currently being waived. Please email library.archives@umb.edu to request copies of MCOF records. Click here for updates and additional information.

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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27 Comments

  1. 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

  6. 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.

  7. 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!

  8. 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.

  9. 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?

  10. I’m searching a record for Patrick “Jim” Foy(e) who died in 1948. Since it is now 2020 his record should be available. His obituary says that he was a Forester, probably affiliated with the Canton MA court (as were 2 of his brothers-in-law). Per his naturalization certificate he immigrated in 1891 and was born about 1859. I took a quick look at your database but could not find him. Anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Marilyn Magee Zwiener

  11. Hi, I am searching my family history and discovered that one of my ancestors, Felix Lynch, who lived in Lawrence between 1910-1918 was a Forester according to is obituary. Sadly Felix was killed on 22.03.1918 in WW1 in France. Iwould really appreciate any details you may have of Felix, please.

  12. Hello — I tried searching for my great-grandmother, Elizabeth (Murphy) Grace, who died on 25 August 1911; she was a chief ranger of the St Marie Court in Springfield, but the search comes up “no records found” — what do you suggest I do at this point?

    Thanks,

    Peter

  13. Hi,
    I just learned today that my great grandfather was a Forester. If you have any information at all, I would be very interested in hearing it. His name was Kieran Duffy, he was born in Ireland, he died in Springfield, MA on 1/26/1958. He was a policeman in Boston.
    Thank you so much!
    Nadine

  14. Joanne, I’m searching for the records for William J. Gould. His obituary indicated that he died on February 26, 1933 and that he was a member of Williams Court. He was born in Ireland around 1852 or 1853. I entered the information and received a “no results” reply.

    • Hi David – there is a William J. Gould in the collection, a member of Williams Court, born in Ireland in 1856, died in 1933. If this is your man, you can write to library.archives@umb.edu with his name and the Death Claim ID# 17801 and the staff will be able to get you a copy of the record. See https://blogs.umb.edu/archives/collections/foresters/ for more information about requesting a record.

      best,
      Joanne

      Surname: Gould
      First: William
      Middle: J.
      Birth Year: 1856
      Initiation date: June-16-1901
      Death Date: February-26-1933
      Court Number: 19
      Court Name Williams
      Court Location East Boston
      Birth Place: Ireland
      Presumed County of Birth Cork
      No. of Death Claim 17801

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