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:
"The Town of Worcester Having been served with a Coppy of the Petition of William Phips & Charles Richardson praying 'the present members of the Precinct lately Erected out of Worcester, Leicester, Oxford & Sutton may be incorporated into a Town, according to a plan Exhibited with said petition &c. and the Honble General assemblys Resolve thereon, of the 24th day of Octr. last, Requireing the said Towns to shew Cause, if any they have, on the third Wednesday of the next Session of the Sd Court why the prayer of Sd petition should not be granted.'