Excerpt from Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, From 1640 to 1873, Vol. 1: Births; Alphabetically and Chronologically Arranged

The original records of births, deaths, and marriages in Woburn, prior to the year 1843, are contained in two volumes. The first volume embraces the period from 1641 to 17 68, and is, in fact, a copy of the original book of entry. According to the Rev. Samuel Sewall, the records of births, deaths. And marriages were first entered in an old blank volume, the leaves of which gradually became loose and badly worn. When Major James Converse was chosen town clerk, in 1688, he copied these records into a book of his own, and used it in place of the original volume The use of this latter book, however, was resumed by Mr. Samuel Carter, who suc ceeded Major Converse in the clerk's office in 1690. In December, 1691, Major Converse was again elected clerk, and held the office continuously until 1701. He transferred Mr. Carter's entries to his own book and again made use of it in place of the old volume, although the former book still remained his own private property.

At a town meeting, held March 5, 1705, the fact that the town records proper were in a loose and perishable condition was brought to the atten tion of the citizens by James Fowle, town clerk, and the town thereupon offered to purchase Major Converse's transcript for twelve shillings. This offer was accepted, and his book was thereafter used as the clerk's reg ister; in it were recorded the births, deaths, and marriages down to and through a portion of the year 17 68.

The second volume of births, deaths, and marriages extends from 1768 down to 1844, and is an original. When Mr. Nathan Wyman was chosen town clerk, in March, 1844, he procured separate record books for the births, deaths. And marriages, respectively, and began to keep a more systematic and detailed record than had been done previously. He re copied the entries made by his predecessor from and after Jan. 1, 184 and commenced an index.

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