The Suffolk Registry of Deeds dates from 1643, when the General Court divided the Massachusetts Bay Colony into four shires, or counties, but the size and jurisdiction of Suffolk County has changed over the centuries. Learn the history of the county from its origins to the present day, with a focus on how expansions and contractions have affected Dorchester, from the original land grant for the Town of Dorchester to its 1870 annexation to the City of Boston. Also learn how land recording has evolved over the centuries, useful information for anyone engaged in historical research.