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Athol is a Worcester County town surrounded by Royalston and Orange on the north, New Salem and Petersham to the south, and Phillipston to the west. The area of Athol, first named Payquage or Pequoiag , became a town in 1762.

Proprietors of Pequoiag 1734-1762, Town of Athol. Book 1. 179 pages.
Though minutes of the proprietors’ meetings extend only through 1762, most land grants are dated 1768. Note that the index references only those grants found on pages 8-30, and that the book has many blank pages. For a typescript of this book, see fiche 20.

Partial Index to Land Grantees 1738-1773

FICHE 1

Proprietors 1734, pp 1-2

FICHE 1

Land Grants 1738, 1758, 1762, 1768-1773; pp 8-30

FICHE 1

Land Grants 1768, 1788; pp 32-42

FICHE 2

Proprietors Meetings 1749-1761, pp 124-170

FICHE 2

Proprietors Meetings 1761-1762, pp 171-179

FICHE 3

Proprietors of Pequoiag 1762-1824, Town of Athol. Book 2. 291 pages.
Though mostly a record of land grants 1761-1768, some land and proprietors records as late as 1824 are found. Note that the index does not reference any grantees listed beyond page 242. For a typescript of this book, see fiches 20-21. To learn where 1762 land parcels fit on a map of Athol, see fiche 8.

Partial Grantee Index 1761-1765, pp abt 1-16; D-W, K-M, B-G

FICHE 3

Proprietors Meetings 1762-1763, pp 59-69

FICHE 3

Land Grants 1761-1763, pp 70-83

FICHE 3

Land Grants 1761-1763, pp 84-142

FICHE 4

Land Grants 1761-1764; pp 143-188, 197-202

FICHE 5

Proprietors Records 1763-1765, pp 189-196

FICHE 5

Land Grants 1763-1765; pp 203-226, 229-242

FICHE 6

Proprietors Meetings 1765, 1768; pp 227-228, 243-262

FICHE 6

Land & Proprietors Records 1763-1824; pp 263-291

FICHE 7

Athol 1762 Index to Proprietors Records with Map. Typed. 45 pages.
Compiled 1908 by Herbert L. Hapgood. This book is not indexed by surname; rather, it is arranged in sections according to lot sizes and/or locations. Within each section, it names land owners, references them to pages in Book 2 above, and provides their lot numbers, as shown on a map at the front of the book, "Plan of Athol 1762." Note that many land owners are listed in more than one section.

Land Parcel Map 1762, p <1

FICHE 8

Lots by Size & Location 1761-1764, 1768-1769; pp 1-27

FICHE 8

Lots by Size & Location 1761-1764, 1768-1769; pp 28-45

FICHE 9

Athol Copy of [Town] Records [1762-1793]. Transcript. 600 pages.
Besides town meeting minutes, this book includes such items as treasurer’s records, reports of stray animals, records of roads and highways, and lists of religious non-conformists (e.g., some Baptists of 1777 on page 144). Blank or missing pages include those before 20 and those after 588, with page numbers in parenthesis probably those of the original records.

Town Records 1762-1815, pp 21-73 (7-23+,<1-30)

FICHE 10

Town Records 1768-1781, pp 74-133 (14-62)

FICHE 11

Town Records 1771-1777, pp 134-193 (63-94)

FICHE 12

Town Records 1774-1777, pp 194-253 (94-127)

FICHE 13

Town Records 1763-1773, 1777-1778, pp 254-313 (128-168)

FICHE 14

Town Records 1778-1781, pp 314-373 (168-191)

FICHE 15

Town Records 1781-1783, pp 374-433 (191->209)

FICHE 16

Town Records 1783-1786, pp 434-493

FICHE 17

Town Records 1786-1790, pp 494-553 (<48-54)

FICHE 18

Town Records 1790-1793, pp 554-588 (55-84)

FICHE 19

Athol Copy of Records: Proprietors of Pequoiag [1734-1824], Vital Records [1737-1844], ]Proprietor &] Town Meetings, etc [1734-1863]. About 700 pages. This is a typescript of books 1 and 2 above (fiches 1-7) and volumes 1 (part of), 2 and 3 below (fiches 39 & 42-61)–as shown by references in parentheses on each fiche title. The proprietor and town records include minutes of town meetings, fence agreements, oaths of office, pew sales, perambulations, road descriptions, receipts, warnings out, reports of stray animals, business licenses, and other items; e.g., 1840-1852 militia lists. Notable items include a 1793 bounty of $3 for killing wild cats (Vol 1:10) and an 1827 reward of $500 for detection of the person who burned down the meetinghouse (Vol 3:4).

Proprietors Records 1734-1762 (Book 1:1-179; 2:59-84)

FICHE 20

Proprietors Records 1761-1765 (Book 2:84-216)

FICHE 21

Proprietors Records 1763-1772, 1820-1824 (Book 2:216-291)

FICHE 22

Family Births & Deaths 1737-1793 (Vol 1:1-37)

FICHE 22

Town Records 1829-1830, 1793-1804 (Vol 2-1:2-122)

FICHE 23

Town Records 1804-1818, (Vol 2-1:122-253)

FICHE 24

Town Records 1818-1827 (Vol 2-1: 253-350)

FICHE 25

Family Births & Deaths 1737-1846 (Vol 2-2:17-33)

FICHE 25

Family Births & Deaths 1737-1846 (Vol 2-2:33-88, 110-139)

FICHE 26

Town Records 1793-1840 (Vol 2-2:90-138)

FICHE 26

Marriages 1791-1807 (Vol 2-2:139-145)

FICHE 26

Marriages 1807-1842 (Vol 2-2:145-167)

FICHE 27

Family Births & Deaths 1816-1843 (Vol 2-2:168-169)

FICHE 27

Marriage Intentions 1793-1836 (Vol 2-2:170-201)

FICHE 27

Town Records 1795-1838 (Vol 2-2:202-213)

FICHE 27

Town Records 1827-1828 (Vol 3:1-21)

FICHE 27

Town Records 1828-1838 (Vol 3:22-133)

FICHE 28

Town Records 1838-1845 (Vol 3:133-244)

FICHE 29

Town Records 1845-1851 (Vol 3:244-371)

FICHE 30

Town Records 1834-1864 (Vol 3:371-460)

FICHE 31

Marriage Intentions 1836-1851 (Vol 3:461-493)

FICHE 32

Town Records 1828-1863 (Vol 3:494-547)

FICHE 32

Athol Meetings, Etc. 1762-1792; Births, Marriages, Deaths, Intentions 1737-1792. Vol 1. 233 pages. Town records in this volume include reports of stray animals, oaths of office, road descriptions, settlements (audits) of treasurer’s records, pew sales, and town meeting minutes. Note that most pages have two different numbers; the original numbers, found at the top of each page, are the numbers referenced in the index and are listed first in double entries below. For a typescript of the births and deaths in this volume, see fiche 22.

Table of Contents, pp 1-6/4

FICHE 33

Town Records 1762-1815, pp 7/4-29/28

FICHE 33

Town Records 1765-1774, pp 30/29-87/57

FICHE 34

Town Records 1774-1778, pp 88/58-144/86

FICHE 35

Town Records 1762-1773, 1777-1780; pp 145/87-184/114

FICHE 36

Town Records 1780-1784, pp 185/115-[232]/143

FICHE 37

Town Records 1784-1789, pp 144-171

FICHE 38

Index to Births & Deaths 1737-1793, pp 172-176

FICHE 39

Births & Deaths 1737-1793, pp 1/177-40/197

FICHE 39

Town Records 1789-1793, pp 47/201-84/219

FICHE 40

Marriage Intentions 1762-1793, pp 85/221-99/228

FICHE 41

Marriages 1751-1792, pp 102/229-110/233

FICHE 41

Athol Town Meetings, Etc 1793-1827. Vol 2, Part 1. 350 pages.
Of special interest, on page 28, are the qualifications for voters; i.e., male inhabitants "of twenty-one years of Age and upwards, having a freehold Estate within the Commonwealth of the annual income of three pounds or any Estate to the Value of sixty pounds." Note, also, between pages 186 and 187, a misplaced 1854 survey of the town common. For a typescript of this volume, see fiches 23-25.

Fence Agreements 1829-1831, pp 1-6

FICHE 42

Town Meetings 1793-1798, pp 7-55

FICHE 42

Town Meetings 1798-1803, pp 56-115

FICHE 43

Town Meetings 1803-1810, pp 116-175

FICHE 44

Town Meetings 1810-1817, pp 176-231

FICHE 45

Town Meetings 1817-1821, pp 232-291

FICHE 46

Town Meetings 1821-1827, pp 292-350

FICHE 47

Athol Births, Marriages [1791-1843], Deaths, Intentions [1793-1836], Miscellaneous 1737-1844. Vol 2, Part 2. 213 pages. Town records in this book include such items as road descriptions, receipts, pew sales, warnings out, perambulations, and fence agreements. Note Bible records of about 1783-1906 for the George Richardson family on pages between 111-112. For a typescript of this volume, see fiches 25-27.

Index to Births & Deaths 1737-1844, pp 1-15

FICHE 48

Births & Deaths 1737-1843, pp 17-53

FICHE 48

Births & Deaths 1770-1844, pp 54-89

FICHE 49

Town Records 1792-1826, pp 90-104

FICHE 49

Receipts 1793-1825, pp 105-109

FICHE 49

Births 1788-1844; pp 110-111, 115-129, 138-139

FICHE 50

Town Records 1794-1840; pp 112-115, 130-137

FICHE 50

Marriages 1791-1837, pp 140-159

FICHE 50

Marriages 1837-1843, pp 160-167

FICHE 51

Births & Deaths 1816-1844, pp 168-169

FICHE 51

Marriage Intentions 1793-1836, pp 170-201

FICHE 51

Town Records 1795-1839; pp 166, 202-213

FICHE 51

Athol Town Records [1827-1870]. Vol 3. 547 pages.
Besides marriage intentions of 1836-1851, militia lists of 1840-1852, and town meeting minutes of 1827-1852, this volume contains committee reports, juror lists, pew deeds, reports of stray beasts, school records, perambulations, liquor licenses, oaths of office, and agreements related to fences, rights of way, and use of water and timber. For an index to some of the marriage intentions, those of 1850-1851 (pages 462-465 of fiche 59), see fiches 118-120; for a typescript of this volume, see fiches 27-32.

Town Meetings 1827-1830, pp 1-52

FICHE 52

Town Meetings 1830-1836, pp 53-112

FICHE 53

Town Meetings 1836-1840, Militia List 1840; pp 113-172

FICHE 54

Town Meetings & Militia Lists 1840-1844, pp 173-232

FICHE 55

Town Meetings & Militia Lists 1844-1847, pp 233-291

FICHE 56

Town Meetings & Militia Lists 1847-1850, pp 292-351

FICHE 57

Town Meetings & Militia Lists 1850-1852, pp 352-411

FICHE 58

Town Meetings 1852, pp 412-415

FICHE 59

Town Records 1834-1865; pp 416-461

FICHE 59

Marriage Intentions 1850-1851, 1836-1840; pp 462-471

FICHE 59

Marriage Intentions 1840-1850, pp 472-493

FICHE 60

Town Records 1828-1863, pp 494-531

FICHE 60

Town Records 1846-1870; pp 532-547

FICHE 61

Oaths of Office 1864-1871 (from below)

FICHE 61

Athol Town Records [1853-1871]. Vol 4. 530+ pages.
Included with town meeting minutes are militia lists of 1853-1865, dog licenses of 1858 (page 526), reports of various town committees, and many lists of juror and non-residents. Items of special interest include the 1868 death of a prominent citizen, Calvin Kelton (page 401); and the 1865 militia lists (pages 293-308) that identify 654 men of Athol and Royalston by age, occupation, birthplace, and marital status.

Town Meetings & Militia Lists 1853-1855, pp 1-53

FICHE 62

Town Meetings & Militia Lists 1855-1857, pp 54-113

FICHE 63

Town Meetings & Militia Lists 1857-1860, pp 114-173

FICHE 64

Militia Lists & Town Meetings 1860-1862, pp 174-233

FICHE 65

Town Meetings & Militia Lists 1862-1865, pp 234-293

FICHE 66

Militia List 1865 & Town Meetings 1865-1867, pp 294-352

FICHE 67

Town Meetings & Militia 1867-1869, pp 353-411

FICHE 68

Town Meetings & Militia 1869-1870, pp 412-471

FICHE 69

Town Meetings 1870-1871, pp 472-494

FICHE 70

Town, Church & Corporate Records 1858-1870, pp 498-530

FICHE 70

Oaths of Office 1864-1871, 2 pp> 530

FICHE 61

Athol Records of Selectmen [1844-1888]. Book J. 104 pages.
These pages tell of pauper care, tax abatements, payments for goods, agreements, applications, and appointments of town officers. Interesting tidbits include such items as this 1887 note found on page 96: "Notified town of Barre of death of Julia, daughter of Hiram Goodnow, whose marriage with Frazier Carey was not legal as he had another wife living also & baby that needs help."

Selectmen Records 1844-1875, pp 1-53

FICHE 71

Selectmen Records 1869-1888, pp 54-104

FICHE 72

Athol Grand Army of the Republic...Personal War Sketches [1860-1865]. 394 pages.  Presented to Hubbard V. Smith Post No. 140...[in] 1895. Besides names of Civil War veterans, these records often provide birth date, birthplace, and dates of service. Burial records on pages 379-383, give death date and/or burial place of about 100 veterans who died after 1883. Among the many blank pages are 1-2, 5-14, 223-314, 316-352, 354, 360-378, 380, and 384-394.

Index; Veterans of 1860-1865 War, pp <1-47

FICHE 73

Veterans of 1860-1865 War, pp 48-107

FICHE 74

Veterans of 1860-1865 War, pp 108-167

FICHE 75

Veterans of 1860-1865 War; pp 168-223, 315

FICHE 76

Death Resolutions 1889 & 1898, pp 352-359

FICHE 83

Veteran Burials 1883-1928, pp 379-383

FICHE 83

Athol in Suppressing the Great Rebellion [1861-1865]. 408 pages.
Among the many lists of persons in this book are those exempted from military service , those who provided substitutes, and those who paid compensation. Soldiers and sailors are identified, along with their regiments, battalions, etc; sometimes with age, birthplace, occupation, and a short biography. Blank pages include 114-129, 133-196, and 321-408.

Index 1861-1865, pp 1-23

FICHE 77

Civil War Narrative 1861-1865, pp 25-53

FICHE 77

Civil War Narrative 1861-1865, pp 54-113

FICHE 78

Civil War Narrative 1861-1865; pp 130-132, 197-247

FICHE 79

Civil War Narrative 1861-1865; pp 248-320

FICHE 80

Naturalization Applications 1885-1900 (from below)

FICHE 80

Athol [Payments to Military Dependents 1862-1864]. About 100 pages.
This is a record of payments made to military dependents, usually identifying wife and children, or mother, by name and age.

Town Payments to Military Dependents 1862-1864

FICHE 81

Town Payments to Military Dependents 1862-1864

FICHE 82

Athol Roll of Deceased Soldiers [1861-1911]. About 15 pages.
This record, prepared by for Parker Post 123 G.A.R., identifies soldiers by name, company, regiment, date of death, place of burial and, sometimes, rank, age, or cause of death.

Deaths of Civil War Soldiers 1861-1911

FICHE 83

Death Resolutions 1889 & 1898, pp 352-359 (from above)

FICHE 83

Veteran Burials 1883-1928, pp 379-383 (from above)

FICHE 83

Athol General Register of Voters [1884-1904]. [Precinct] 1. 92 pages.
Most entries include address, age, place of birth, and occupation; many include a signature. The numerous blank pages include 77-79 and 81-87.

Male Voters 1884-1904, pp 1-26, A-G

FICHE 84

Male Voters 1884-1904, pp 27-56, G-R

FICHE 85

Male Voters 1884-1904; pp 57-80, R-Y

FICHE 86

Female Voters 1895-1900; pp 88-92

FICHE 86

Athol General Register of Voters [1884-1905]. [Precinct] 2. 119 pages.
Most entries include address, age, place of birth, and occupation; many include a signature. The numerous blank pages include 29, 32, 39-40, 46, 47; 59-60, 62, 65, 70 and 85.

Male Voters 1884-1905, pp 1-28, A-D

FICHE 87

Male Voters 1884-1905, pp 29-58, E-S

FICHE 88

Male Voters 1884-1905, pp 61-91; I-O, Y, P

FICHE 89

Male Voters 1884-1905, pp 92-119, P-W

FICHE 90

Athol [Naturalization Applications 1885-1900]. 6 pages.

Naturalization Applications 1885-1900

FICHE 80

Athol Births 1843-1851, Marriages & Deaths 1843-1849 + [Out-of-Town] Marriage Supplement 1746-1799. Book 3. About 62 pages. For an index to births of 1850-1851, and a few of 1848-1849, see fiches 93-97. Other data in this book is not indexed.

Out-of-Town Marriages 1746-1799, pp 1-7

FICHE 91

Births 1843-1849, pp 2-20

FICHE 91

Births 1849-1851, pp 21-31

FICHE 92

Marriages 1843-1849, pp 35-41

FICHE 92

Deaths 1843-1848, pp 35-50

FICHE 92

Deaths 1848-1849, pp 51-55

FICHE 97

Athol Index to Births 1843 [sic]-1933.
This book indexes 1850-1851 births, and a few of 1848-1849, in Book 3 above (none before page 23) and those of 1850-1909 in volumes 4 and 5 below; as well as those in later volumes.

Birth Index 1850-1933, A-D

FICHE 93

Birth Index 1850-1933, D-H

FICHE 94

Birth Index 1850-1933, I-O

FICHE 95

Birth Index 1850-1933, O-U

FICHE 96

Birth Index 1850-1933, V-Z

FICHE 97

Births 1892, 1873-1887; pp 117-125 (from below)

FICHE 97

Deaths 1848-1849, pp 51-55 (from above)

FICHE 97

Athol [Births 1852-1892]. Vol 4. 125 pages.
Watch for late registrations throughout the book.

Births 1852-1869, pp 1-29

FICHE 98

Births 1869-1879, pp 30-59

FICHE 99

Births 1880-1887, pp 60-89

FICHE 100

Births 1887-1891, pp 90-116

FICHE 101

Births 1892, 1873-1887; pp 117-125

FICHE 97

Athol Births 1893-1909. Book 5. 218 pages.
Note that pages 54-107 are blank, and that births after 1905 (pages 186-216) are not included in this publication.

Births 1893-1897, pp 1-30

FICHE 102

Births 1897-1900, pp 31-53, 108-121

FICHE 103

Births 1900-1903, pp 122-164

FICHE 104

Births 1903-1905, 1894-1907; pp 165-185, 217-218

FICHE 105

Athol Index to Marriages 1843 [sic]-1933.
This book does not index marriages before 1850; it indexes those in volumes 4 and 5 below; as well as those in later volumes.

Marriage Index 1850-1933, A-C

FICHE 106

Marriage Index 1850-1933, D-H

FICHE 107

Marriage Index 1850-1933, H-M

FICHE 108

Marriage Index 1850-1933, M-S

FICHE 109

Marriage Index 1850-1933, S-Z

FICHE 110

Athol [Marriages 1850-1892]. Vol 4. 144 pages.

Marriages 1850-1863, pp 1-29

FICHE 111

Marriages 1863-1873, pp 30-59

FICHE 112

Marriages 1873-1880, pp 60-89

FICHE 113

Marriages 1880-1888, pp 90-119

FICHE 114

Marriages 1888-1892, pp 120-144

FICHE 115

Athol Marriages 1893-1918. Book 5. 185 pages.
Note that pages numbered as 34-67 (if any), and marriages after page 99 are not included in this publication.

Marriages 1893-1898, pp 1-27

FICHE 116

Marriages 1898-1904, pp 28-33, 68-99

FICHE 117