INDEX
VITAL RECORDS OF ACTON, MIDDLESEX CO., MASSACHUSETTS
To the Year 1850
Published by the
New England Historic Genealogical Society
At the Robert Henry Eddy Memorial Rooms
at the charge of The Eddy Town-Record Fund
BOSTON, MASS.
1925
[transcribed by Dave Swerdfeger]
This publication is issued under the authority of a vote passed by the New England Historical Genealogical Society, November 6, 1901, as follows:
Voted:
That the sum of $20,000, from the bequest of the late Robert Henry Eddy, be set aside as a special fund to be called the Eddy Town-Record Fund, for the sole purpose of publishing the Vital Records of the towns of Massachusetts, and that the Council be authorized and instructed to make such arrangements as may be necessary for such publication. And the treasurer is hereby instructed to honor such drafts as shall be authorized by the Council for this Committee on Publications.
JAMES PARKER PARMENTER
HOSEA STARR BALLOU
G. ANDREWS MORIARTY, JR.
JOHN WALLACE SUTER
ALFRED JOHNSON
GEORGE RITCHIE MARVIN
HENRY EDWARDS SCOTT, Editor
THE TOWN OF ACTON, Middlesex County, was established July 3, 1735, from a part of Concord called The Village or New Grant, together with Willard's Farms. December 11, 1747, bounds between Acton and Concord were established. April 28, 1780, a part was included in the second district of Carlisle.
Population by Census:-
1765 (Prov.), 611;
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1776 (Prov.), 769;
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1790 (U.S.), 853;
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1800 (U.S.), 901;
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1810 (U.S.), 885;
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1820 (U.S.), 1047;
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1830 (U.S.), 1128;
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1840 (U.S.), 1121;
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1850 (U.S.), 1605;
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1855 (State), 1678;
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1860 (U.S.), 1726;
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1865 (state), 1660;
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1870 (U.S.), 1593;
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1875 (State), 1708;
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1880 (U.S.), 1797;
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1885 (State), 1785;
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1890 (U.S.), 1897;
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1895 (State), 1978;
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1900 (U.S.), 2120;
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1905 (State), 2089;
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1910 (U.S.), 2136;
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1915 (State), 2151;
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1920 (U.S.), 2162.
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EXPLANATIONS
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1. The fact that a birth, marriage, or death is recorded in Acton does not prove that it occurred there, unless it is so stated in the record. When places other than Acton and Massachusetts are named in the original records, they are given as they appear there; but when Acton is named, the initial letter only is used, except in unusual phrases.
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2. In all items from town records the original spelling is followed, and no attempt is made to correct errors appearing in the records.
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3. The various spellings of a name should be examined, as items about the same family or individual may be found under different spellings.
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4. A baptism is not printed, if it occurs within one year after the recorded date of birth of a child of the same name and parents or if it is clear that the child baptized is identical with the child of the birth record; but variations found in the baptismal record are added to the birth record.
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5. The birth of a married woman is recorded under her maiden name, if it is known. But if the maiden name cannot be determined, the entry appears under the husband's name, with a dash enclosed in brackets, i.e., [-----], to signify that the maiden name is unknown. If it is not known whether the surname is that of a. married or unmarried woman, ? m. is placed in brackets after the Christian name.
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6. Marriages and intentions of marriage are printed under the names of both parties. When both the marriage and intention of marriage are recorded, only the marriage record is printed; and where a marriage appears without the intention being recorded, it is designated with an asterisk.
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7. Additional information which does not appear in the original text of an item, i e., any explanation, query, inference, or difference shown in other entries of the record, is bracketed. Parentheses are used to show variations in the spelling of a name in the same entry, to indicate the maiden name of a wife, to enclose an imperfect portion of the original text, and to separate clauses in the original text.
ABBREVIATIONS -
A.—Acton
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a.—age
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abt.—about
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b.—born
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bp.—baptized
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bur.—buried
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C.R.1.—church record, First Congregational Church
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C.R.2.—church record, Evangelical Congregational Church
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chn.—children
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Co.—county
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d.—daughter; day; died
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Dea.—deacon
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dec'd—deceased
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dup.—duplicate entry
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Eld.—Elder
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enl.—enlisted
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Ens.—Ensign
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G.R.1.—gravestone record, Woodlawn Cemetery
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G.R.2.—gravestone record, North Acton Cemetery
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G.R.3.—gravestone record, Mount Hope Cemetery, West Acton
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h.—hours; husband
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inf.—infant
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int.—publishment of intention of marriage
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Jr.—junior
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Lt.—Lieutenant
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m.—marriage; married; month
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min.—minutes
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P.R.1.—private record, from the Aaron Jones family Bible in the possession (1914) of Silas Taylor Fletcher of Acton
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P.R.2.—private record, from the John Fletcher family Bible in the possession (1914) of Silas Taylor Fletcher of Acton
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P.R.3.—private record, from the Elbridge Robbins family Bible in the possession (1914) of Mrs. Sarah Frances Robbins Fletcher of Acton
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P.R.4.—private record, from the Hapgood family Bible in the possession (1914) of Mrs. Sarah Frances Robbins Fletcher of Acton
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P.R.5.—private record, from the Moses Taylor family Bible in the possession (1914) of Moses Taylor of Acton
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P.R.6.—private record, from the Silas Taylor family Bible in the possession (1914) of Moses Taylor of Acton
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P.R.7.—private record, from the Hammand family Bible in the possession (1914) of Moses Taylor of Acton
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P.R.8.—private record, from the White family Bible in the possession (1914) of John White of Acton
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P.R.9.—private record, from the Daniel Fletcher Barker family Bible in the possession (1914) of Frances Hosmer of South Acton
P.R.10.—private record, from the Simon Hapgood family Bible in the possession (1914) of Benjamin Hapgood of Acton
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P.R.11.—private record, from the, William Reed family Bible in the possession (1914) of George H. Reed of West Acton
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P.R.12.—private record, from the Solomon Smith family Bible in the possession (1914) of Edwin Smith of Manchester, N. H.
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q.v.—which see; whom see
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R.R.—Rebellion Record
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rec.—recorded
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s.—son
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Sr.—senior
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w.—week; wife
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wid.—widow
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widr.—widower
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y.—year
