VITAL RECORDS
OF THE
Town of Auburn,
(Formerly WARD),
MASSACHUSETTS,
To the end of the year 1850.

With the INSCRIPTIONS from the
OLD BURIAL GROUNDS.

Collected and arranged by

FRANKLIN P. RICE.

WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS:
PUBLISHED BY FRANKLIN P. RICE,
Trustee of the Fund.

1900.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY COPIES PRINTED AND NUMBERED.

No. 133.

In Memory of

IN WHOSE HONOR
THE TERRITORY OF AUBURN WAS FIRST NAMED,
AND OF

The First Minister of the Town.

"In this work of bringing original material into form for quick reference and practical use, the list of Births, Marriages and Deaths of a place should first be secured and printed, as personal records are the real and important foundation of local history."

—Extract from letter conferring Trusteeship of Systematic History Fund.

Preface.

The Records of Auburn have a close and important relation to those of Worcester, Leicester, Sutton and Oxford, towns prominent in the history of the early settlement of central Massachusetts. Especially are these Records supplementary to the Town Records of Worcester, which have been edited and printed in full by the Trustee of the Systematic History Fund, and they may be considered in reality a continuation of the work which was comprehended in a plan formed by him for the practical development of the original historical material of this section.

With the exception of brief sketches in narrative form, comprised in certain general works, nothing in the shape of a town history of Auburn has been printed. Its Records are in a fair state of preservation, but accessible only to those who are on the ground. This first publication presents the full personal record (which in every case is the true foundation of local history) so far as it can be gathered from the town books, and added to this are the inscriptions from the two older burial grounds in the town, all in systematized form for reference.

Speaking in a general way, all local records of the early period in New England are incomplete and imperfect, the degree varying to some extent in different places, but none have been found entirely free from omissions, discrepancies and other errors. The Records of Auburn afford about the average number of such instances. But this statement should not carry the implication that the value and practical usefulness of town and other records are seriously impaired by the small percentage of inaccuracies common in all human works, and of which a large proportion can be rectified by effort and patience. The substantial ground-work of the original entries in the Auburn town books is here supplied, and the addition of the burial ground inscriptions will aid in completing the record of deaths.

In the work of collecting and copying this material I have had the benefit of the services of Mr. George Maynard as a competent assistant. To Mr. Charles E. Prouty, the Town Clerk of Auburn, and to Mrs. Prouty, my acknowledgments are due for their courtesy, and for free access to the Records at all times.

F. P. R.

Worcester, March 31, 1900.

∵ Addition to Births, page 25.

CLARK:—The misplacing of the name of Mary-Lucinda, daughter of John, Jr. and Sarah Clark, born Nov. 16, 1836, was discovered too late for its insertion in regular order.

Historical Note.

The Town of Auburn was originally set off from Worcester, Sutton, Leicester and Oxford, and was incorporated on the 10th of April, 1778, with the name of Ward, in honor of General Artemas Ward, of Shrewsbury, a man of great prominence in this region, active as a patriot during the difficulties that caused the separation from the mother country, and receiving on the eve of hostilities the appointment of First Major General in the Revolutionary Army. He was at a later period Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and afterwards served in Congress. He died in 1800 at the age of seventy-three.

A precinct was organized at this place July 27th, 1773, called the South Parish of Worcester, and three years later the church was formed. In 1777 Rev. Isaac Bailey became the first pastor.

More or less opposition was manifested against the formation of the new township in the several places from which its territory was taken, and committees were chosen to contest the proposed action in the General Court. It is probable that the intention to separate from the older towns had been cherished for several years by those who, though nominally apart in corporate interests, were in their isolated situation united for common convenience and protection of material rights. This purpose after it was divulged could not long be resisted, but the event was postponed for several years by a quasi acknowledgment of independence. Twice in 1776 and 1777, as the Town Records of Worcester testify, were special war taxes abated to the inhabitants of the South Parish, perhaps with the hope of holding them to their allegiance; but in the fall of the last named year the matter was brought directly to a settlement, as appears by the following extract from the Worcester Records: