EXPLANATIONS

The following records of births, marriages and deaths include all entries to be found in the books of record kept by the town clerks; in the church records; in the returns made to the Middlesex County Quarterly Court; in the cemetery inscriptions; and in private records found in family Bibles, etc.

These records are printed in a condensed form in which every essential particular has been preserved. All duplication of the town clerks' record has been eliminated, but differences in entry and other explanatory matter appear in brackets. Parentheses are used when they occur in the original record; also in indicate the maiden name of a married woman.

When places other than Groton and Massachusetts are named in the original records, they are given in the printed copy. Marriages and intentions of marriage are printed under the names of both parties. Double dating is used in the months of January, February and March, prior to 1752, whenver it appears in the original, and also, whenever from the sequences of entry in the original the date may be easily determined. In all records the original spelling of names is followed, and in the alphabetical arrangement the various forms should be examined, as items about the same family may be found under different spellings.

GROTON

The Plantation of Petapawag was incorporated as Groton on May 29, 1655. On June 14, 1715, the bounds between Groton and Nashoba were established. On June 29, 1732, a part was included in the new town of Harvard. On Jan. 5, 1753, a part was established as the district of Shirley. On Apr. 12, 1753, a part was established as the district of Pepperell. On Feb. 25, 1793, a part was annexed to Dunstable. On Feb. 6, 1798, a part was annexed to Shirley. On Feb. 3, 1803, a part of Pepperell was annexed. On June 18, 1803, a part was annexed to Dunstable. On Feb. 15, 1820, the bounds between Groton and Dunstable were established. On May 18, 1857, a part was annexed to Pepperell. On Feb. 14, 1871, a part was included in the new town of Ayer.

The population of Groton at different periods was as follows:

1654: 1, 423
1790: 1, 840
1800: 1, 802
1810: 1, 886
1820: 1, 897
1830: 1, 925
1840: 2, 139
1850: 2, 515
1870: 3, 584
1900: 2, 052
1910: 2, 155
1915: 2, 333
1920: 2, 185

ABBREVIATIONS

• a. - age.
• abt. - about.
• b. - born.
• bef. - before.
• bet. - between.
• bp. - baptized.
• bur. - buried.
• CR1 - church record, First Church, from Dr. Samuel A. Green's record, published in Groton Historical Series.
• CR2 - church record, First Parish Church.
• CR3 - church record, Congregational Church.
• CR4 - church record, Baptist Church.
• CR5 - Maternal Assocation record, Congregational Church.
• certif. - certificate.
• ch. - child.
• chn. - children.
• Co. - county CT.R. - court records, Middlesex Co. Quarerly Court.
• d. - daughter; day; died.
• Dea. - deacon.
• dec. - deceased.
• dup. - duplicate entry.
  
  This set of gravestone records applies to BIRTHS only
• GR1- gravestone record, Walnut Cemetery.
• GR2 - gravestone record, Shirley, Old Cemetery.
• GR3 - gravestone record, Ayer Cemetery.
• GR4 - gravestone record, New Cemetery, Groton.
  
  This set of gravestone records applies to MARRIAGES only
• GR1 - gravestone record, New Cemetery, Groton.
• GR2 - gravestone record, Old Cemetery, Groton.
• GR3 - gravestone record, Ayer Cemetery.
• GR4 - gravestone record, Shirley Cemetery.
• h. - husband, hour.
• inf. - infant.
• int. - intention of marriage.
• jr. - junior m. - male; married; month.
• NR1 - Boston Evening Post.
• NR2 - Boston Gazette and Country Journal.
• NR3 - Boston Independent Chronicle.
• NR4 - Boston Daily Advertiser.
• NR5 - Concord Gazette and Middlesex Yeoman.
• NR6 - Lowell Mercury and Massachusetts Gazette.
• NR7 - Columbian Centinel.
• NR8 - Lowell Weekly Journal and Courier.
• NR9 - Boston Daily Evening Transcript.
• NR10 - Columbian Phoenix and Boston Review.
• NR-11 - New England Palladium and Commercial Advertiser.
• NR12 - New England Chronicle.
• NR13 - Boston Post Boy and Advertiser.
• NR14 - Massachusetts Gazette and Boston Weekly News Letter.
• NR15 - Merrimac Journal.
• NR16 - Continental Journal and Weekly Advertiser.
• NR17 - Massachusetts Spy.
• NR18 - Evening Gazette of Boston.
• NR19 - Boston Independent Chronicle and Universal Advertiser.
• NR20 - Boston Daily Centinel and Gazette.
• NR21 - Boston Recorder.
• NR22 - Christian Register and Boston Observer.
• NR23 - New England Galaxy.
• NR24 - Boston Patriot.
• PR1 - Family record of George Boutwell.
• PR2 - Family record of Nathan R. Thayer.
• PR3 - Family record of Nancy Bigelow Thayer.
• PR4 - Family record of Henry Woods.
• PR5 - Bible record now in possession of Warner H. Souther.
• PR6 - Bible record now in possession of William B. Robinson.
• PR7 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Kate L. Gale.
• PR8 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Henrietta Chase.
• PR9 - Sampler now in possession of Mrs. C. Z. Southard.
• PR10 - Sampler now in possession of William B. Robinson.
• PR11 - Sampler now in possession of Miss Alice Dodge.
• PR12 - Sampler now in possession of Mrs. W. H. Bruce.
• PR13 - Bible record now in possession of George t. Steven.
• PR14 - Bible record now in possession of Joseph F. Peabody.
• PR15 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Mary W. Shattuck.
• PR16 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Fannie E. Gilson.
• PR17 - Bible record now in possession of Miss Jennie Longley.
• PR18 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Arthur Tuttle.
• PR19 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. S. W. Rork.
• PR20 - Bible record now in possession of Thomas R. Clough.
• PR21 - Bible record now in possession of Isaiah M. Mansur.
• PR22 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. S. P. Williams.
• PR23 - Bible record now in possession of Moses P. Pamer.
• PR24 - Bible record now in possession of James Woods.
• PR25 - Bible record now in possession of Phineas Harrington.
• PR26 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Ella Wooley.
• PR27 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Georgia Dodge.
• PR28 - Bible record now in possession of Allen A. Woods.
• PR29 - Bible record now in possession of Dr. A. G. Killbourn.
• PR30 - Bible record now in possession of Arthur Wood.
• PR31 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Elwin Kemp.
• PR32 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. James Belcher.
• PR33 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Ida Nutting.
• PR34 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Marcia Parkhurst.
• PR35 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. McDonough.
• PR36 - Bible record now in possession of E. Dexter Howe.
• PR37 - Bible record now in possession of William H. Bruce.
• PR38 - Bible record now in possession of Frank F. Woods.
• PR39 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. M. F. Warner.
• PR40 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Maria C. Sawyer.
• PR41 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Jessie Green.
• PR42 - Diary now in possession of Blanche M. Brown.
• PR43 - Bible record now in possession of William H. Souther.
• PR44 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Alice Sawyer.
• PR45 - Bible record now in possession of Joseph W. Shattuck.
• PR46 - Sampler now in possession of Mrs. Minnie Patch.
• PR47 - Sampler now in possession of Mrs. Emma Coburn.
• PR48 - Sampler now in possession of George L. Smith.
• PR49 - Sampler now in possession of Mrs. T. G. Smith.
• PR50 - Bible record now in possession of Groton Historical Society.
• PR51 - Bible record now in possession of S. P. McKean.
• PR52 - Bible record now in possession of Everett C. Williams.
• PR53 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. H. G. Harrington.
• PR54 - Bible record now in possession of James P. Fitch.
• PR55 - Bible record now in possession of Miss Belle Lancey.
• PR56 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Forest Knight.
• PR57 - Bible record now in possession of David Gibson.
• PR58 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Herbert Folkins.
• PR59 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Dickinson.
• PR60 - Sampler now in possession of Mrs. Bessie Sherwin.
• PR61 - Sampler now in possession of Mrs. W. A. Lawrence.
• PR62 - Sampler now in possession of George H. Cook.
• PR63 - Sampler now in possession of Mrs. W. A. Brown.
• PR64 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. A. L. Harrington.
• PR65 - Bible record now in possession of David E. Murphy.
• PR66 - Bible record now in possession of Charles Lawrence.
• PR67 - Bible record now in possession of Harry Barteaux.
• PR68 - Bible record now in possession of George Durant.
• PR69 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Charles Hill.
• PR70 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Frances Rowe.
• PR71 - Bible record now in possession of Charles H. Torrey.
• PR72 - Sampler now in possession of F. L. Blood.
• PR73 - Sampler now in possession of Miss Lucy A. Dodge.
• PR74 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Harry Nutting.
• PR75 - Bible record now in possession of Alexander Sanderson.
• PR76 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Mary R. Boynton.
• PR77 - Bible record now in possession of Miss Rebecca Torrey.
• PR78 - Bible record now in possession of Everett B. Gerrish.
• PR79 - Bible record now in possession of Lawrence Park.
• PR80 - Sampler now in possession of Lawrence Park.
• PR81 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. James B. Harrington.
• PR82 - Bible record now in possession of George S. Chase.
• PR83 - Bible record now in possession of Rev. Geo. M. Howe.
• PR84 - Bible record now in possession of George L. Boynton.
• PR85 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Harry Clapp.
• PR86 - Sampler now in possession of Mrs. Harry Clapp.
• PR87 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Ellen M. Needham.
• PR88 - Sampler now in possession of Mrs. Henry Whiting.
• PR89 - Bible record now in possession of Henry W. Whiting.
• PR90 - Bible record now in possession of Charles H. Gerrish.
• PR91 - Bible record now in possession of Miss Ellen Potter.
• PR92 - Sampler now in possession of Miss Ellen Potter.
• PR93 - Sampler now in possession of Mrs. James Frazer.
• PR94 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. James Frazer.
• PR95 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Ellen Barrows.
• PR96 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Dora Putnum.
• PR97 - Bible record now in possession of Miss Edna Keys.
• PR98 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Mosely Gilson.
• PR99 - Sampler now in possession of Mrs. Mosely Gilson.
• PR100 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Wheeler Ames.
• PR101 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. George Rogers.
• PR102 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. F. L. Blood.
• PR103 - Sampler now in possession of Mrs. F. L. Blood.
• PR104 - Sampler now in possession of Miss Flora Kemp.
• PR105 - Bible record now in possession of Miss Flora Kemp.
• PR106 - Sampler now in possession of Mrs. Fred Coburn.
• PR107 - Sampler now in possession of William V. Bixby.
• PR108 - Bible record now in possession of William V. Bixby.
• PR109 - Bible record now in possession of Charles H. Lewis.
• PR110 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. W. W. Ames.
• PR111 - Bible record now in possession of James F. Culver.
• PR112 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. T. G. Smith.
• PR113 - Bible record now in possession of Frank H. Lewis.
• PR114 - Sampler now in possession of Frank H. Lewis.
• PR115 - Bible record now in possession of Joseph B. Raddin.
• PR116 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Lizzie Floyd.
• PR117 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Martha Tarbell.
• PR118 - Diary now in possession of Wallace A. Brown.
• PR119 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. James A. Bailey.
• PR120 - Bible record now in possession of Miss Eva A. Clark.
• PR121 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Marshall Swallow.
• PR122 - Bible record now in possession of George E. Hodgman.
• PR123 - Bible record now in possession of Gardner H. Rockwood.
• PR124 - Bible record now in possession of John L. Gilson.
• PR125 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. James T. Wright.
• PR126 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. C. Z. Southard.
• PR127 - Bible record now in possession of George L. Smith.
• PR128 - Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Fannie Fobes.
• PR129 - Bible record now in possession of Moses B. Coburn.
• PR130 - Bible record now in possession of Helen M. Moore.
• PR131 - Records from the History of Harvard, published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR132 - Records published by the New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
• PR133 - Records of Tyngsborough marriages published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR134 - Records of Concord marriages published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR135 - Records of Lancaster marriages and deaths published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR136 - Records of Woburn marriages published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR137 - Records of Charlestown marriages published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR138 - Records of Andover marriages published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR139 - Records of Harvard marriages published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR140 - Records of Pepperell marriages published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PE141 - Records of Littleton marriages published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR142 - Records of Townsend marriages published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR143 - Records of Dunstable marriages published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR144 - Records of Bedford marriages published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR145 - Records from History of Westford published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR146 - Records from History of Hollis, N.H., published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR147 - Records of marriages from History of Townsend, published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• PR148 - Records from History of Woodstock, Vt., published by Dr. Samuel A. Green in Groton Historical Series.
• rec. - recorded.
• rem. - removed.
• ret. - returned.
• s. - son.
• sr. - senior.
• unm. - unmarried.
• w. - wife; week.
• wid. - widow.
• widr. - widower.
• y. - year.