Historic Maps

The Historical Commission is fortunate to have access to these digitized versions of the oldest maps of Cape Cod and New England anywhere in the world and we are proud to offer them here.

These files are very large, requiring over a minute to download, even with a high-speed connection. For best results, save the files to your hard drive and view them with your operating system’s photo viewer. Dial-up connections may be too slow to effectively use these products.

These maps are available for research and education and are not for commercial purposes.
They are made available through the generosity of James Wilson, the Boston Public Library, and others.
 

Index of historic maps with links to their posts.

CAUTION: These are large files and thus may be slow to download or view.

Sandwich Maps

1794 Series Sandwich – Mass Archives
1858 Walling Map Sandwich Village w/ Business Directory
Sandwich Village w/ Business Directory (GREYSCALE)
1858 Walling Map Barnstable WEST (VERY LARGE FILE)
1858 Walling Map Barnstable EAST (VERY LARGE FILE)
1880 Barnstable Co. – Pocasset & North Sandwich
1880 Barnstable Co. – Town of Sandwich
1880 Barnstable Co. – Sandwich Center & Spring Hill
1880 Barnstable Co. – West Sandwich
1884 Poole Sandwich Bird’s Eye Map

Other Cape Cod Maps

1776 Cape Cod Canal – Mass Archives
1795 Barnstable Town – Mass Archives
1831 Barnstable Town – Mass Archives
1844 Barnstable County Road Map
1866 Cape Cod Bay Duxbury to N. Dennis
1877 Cape Cod Bay / EAST
1877 Cape Cod Bay / WEST
1735 Coastal Chart SOUTH
1776 New England
1795 Massachusetts SE Quad
1826 Cape Cod Canal Study Map
Plan used to develop Woodlot Lines and Titles on Proposed State Highway, May-Dec 1940

14 thoughts on “Historic Maps

  1. I am searching for any and all information of Edward McGowns/Gowns/ Megowns. Maggownds/ Magoon. He was born in 1761. He was a cod fisherman and a whaler according to his pension records. He first married Mary Covell in 1789, Plymouth and had at least 2 children with her, Lot (unmarried) and Nathaniel who married Hannah Perry at Nantucket.
    Edward next married Susanna Lovell in 1802 Sandwich. Their children were:
    Dorothy, Sally, Cynthia, Davis, Rebecca, Eldridge, Sophronia and William.
    Edward was a Revolutionary Patriot with the 5th Massachusetts and resided in the Monument area. I cannot find a gravestone for him and I read in a book (cannot recall the title) that he had a rock marker at the old Bourne cemetery when his son, Lot is buried.
    I do believe that he may have been the same Edward McGowns that was born in the almshouse in 1861 Boston and baptized at the Kings Chapel and indentured to Elijah Butler and his wife Thankfull of Edgartown
    Any information would be much appreciated.

  2. Where can I find out more about John Ellis and his tavern or liquor license? I am working on a project on ancestors and their tavern or inns. He appears to have had a license to sell liquor in 1659. I am not sure if it was John Ellis Sr or Jr.
    Any suggestions or information? Where it was located or a source?

      1. Thank you! I found it. It even is labled. A private home they have added onto the structure. But a great place!

  3. I have an ancster, JohnL. Cook and his wife Lydia Raymond Cook. They arelisted in the 1870 census as living in West Sandwich. They are buried in sagamore. Where is/was West Sandwich?

    1. (from Bill Daley)
      Sagamore was a section/village of Sandwich and also referred to as West Sandwich. In 1884, a large area of Sandwich was split off to create the town of Bourne. Sagamore village was one of the areas that split off and it is now part of Bourne.

  4. I am trying to find out if Michael Blackwll was a founder of Sandwich ? He appears to have been married there in 1648. But I am trying to locate when he may have arrived there.

    1. Bill Daley replies:
      Michael Blackwell was not one of the original settlers of Sandwich but, he was a very early arrival. According to Russ Lovell’s book, Sandwich, A Cape Cod Town:
      “Michael Blackwell was in Sandwich by 1643 and lived by the Scusset River near the present Sagamore Bridge. He was a herring catcher for many years. His two sons, each had large families and the name was common here throughout the history of the town.”
      Good luck in your quest

  5. When did Greenville officially become Forestdale? Any particular reason why? I know there is still a neighborhood in Forestdale known as Greenville. Thanks!

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