Known as the Pompositticut plantation when first settled about 1650, Stow became a town in 1683. Surrounding towns presently include Middlesex County towns of Boxborough, Acton, Harvard, and Hudson; and Worcester County towns of Bolton and Harvard.

Stow Copy of Births, Marriages, and Deaths 1692-1840. 280 pages.

Note that most of the earliest dates refer to the town of Cambridge, and that some data hides within the book's tight binding. Find, on page 195, clues to the ancestry of Stephen Stow and Susanna Stratton, who married about 1804-- unless she died earlier. Blank pages include 164-173.

Births 1680-1842, Abbot-Green, pp 1-49

FICHE 1

Births 1683-1858, Hale-Smith, pp 50-109

FICHE 2

Births 1682-1842, Soper-Worster, pp 110-163

FICHE 3

Marriages 1679-1843, Adams-Maynard, pp 174-225

FICHE 4

Marriages 1682-1843, Maynard-Wyman, pp 226-257

FICHE 5

Deaths 1684-1851, pp 258-280

FICHE 5

Stow [Vital Records 1712-1745]. About 40 pages.

Time and mold have taken a toll on this small book. Even when reading at high magnification, most of the deciphering requires a very good imagination.

Births 1712-1738, 1741-1745

FICHE 6

Marriage Intentions 1720-1730, 1743-1745; Deaths 1721-1746

FICHE 6

Stow Births, Marriages, Deaths and Intentions 1721-1824. Vol. 2.

For the most part, data is entered chronologically and writing is legible even when ink is light. Page numbers, however, especially between 12 and 50, seem to be entered in random order.

Vital Records 1692-1785, pp 1-55

FICHE 7

Vital Records 1754-1804, pp 56-107

FICHE 8

Vital Records 1767-1823, pp 110-153

FICHE 9

Stow Births, Marriages, Deaths & Intentions 1714-1823. Vol 4.

Note dates as early as 1692 and as late as 1888 in this record. Though at least half of this book is copied from another source, any data after 1823 or beyond page 161 may be an original record. Of special interest, on page 110, is the bann against the proposed marriage in 1796 of William Jewell, Jr, and Lois Priest--because she is still married to someone else. The book's tight binding hides some dates, with some page numbers skipped; e.g., page 31, and pages 174-179 blank.

Vital Records 1692-1778, pp 1-55

FICHE 10

Vital Records 1726-1819; pp 56-115

FICHE 11

Vital Records 1754-1828; pp 116-161

FICHE 12

Out-of-Town Marriages 1695-1798, pp 162-172

FICHE 12

Births 1787-1858; pp 172-173, 180-208

FICHE 13

Deaths 1799-1851, pp 209-222

FICHE 13

Marriage Intentions 1823-1864, pp 223-275

FICHE 14

Marriage Intentions 1864-1888, 1859; pp 276-303

FICHE 15

Marriages 1823-1844, 1849; pp 304-315

FICHE 15

Stow Births, Marriages, Deaths and Intentions 1823-1888. Vol 3.

Tight binding hides a few dates.

Vital Records 1796-1842, pp 2-57

FICHE 16

Vital Records 1808-1851, pp 58-63

FICHE 17

Marriage Intentions 1842-1883, pp 60-117

FICHE 17

Marriage Intentions 1883-1888, pp 118-123

FICHE 18

Stow Vital Records [1818-1833+]. Loose papers.

Deaths 1818-1833, 1839

FICHE 18

Stow Church Records 1701-1839. About 50 pages.

These records include membership and baptisms 1774-1828; funerals 1837-1839; marriages 1774-1812, 1838-1839; references to the Davidson family 1775-1821.

Church Records 1701, 1755, 1774-1839

FICHE 19

Stow Church Papers [ca 1775-1828].

Church Members & Miscellaneous Accounts ca 1775-1828

FICHE 20

Stow Minister's Journal 1786-1787.

Mostly, this journal documents the minister's sermons, interspersed with baptisms and a couple of deaths. A separate document, signed in 1780 by many church brethren, details dissension in the congregation at that time.

Minister's Journal 1786-1787

FICHE 20

Dissenting Members 1780

FICHE 20

Stow Pew Deeds 1827-1835, Bargains & Sales 1832-1834. Blank pages include 2-85.

Pew Deeds 1827-1830, 1835-1836; pp 1, 86-100

FICHE 21

Bargains & Sales 1832-1834; pp ca 119-134, 101-118

FICHE 22

Stow Evangelical Church 1839. About 40 pages.

Besides confession of faith, covenant, and church rules, these records include baptisms, admissions, excommunications, lists of members, and a few deaths.

Evangelical Church Records 1839-1859

FICHE 23

Stow First Parish Church 1833. About 200 pages

Parish Meetings 1833-1854

FICHE 24

Parish Meetings 1855-1870

FICHE 25

Parish Meetings 1870-1879

FICHE 26

Stow Records 1660-1736.

These records of the town reference its beginnings as a plantation, show the granting of house lots, chronicle meetings held by the inhabitants and proprietors, and register town accounts. If a particular page seems to dark for reading, look ahead or behind for a better copy.

Town Records 1669-1670, 1675, 1680-1687; pp ca 1-27

FICHE 27

Town Records 1687-1700; pp 27-45

FICHE 28

Town Records 1700-1716, 1723-1724; pp 45-62

FICHE 29

Town Records 1712-1727, 1733, 1741, 1744; pp 63-81

FICHE 30

Town Records 1723-1734, 1737, 1739-1743; pp 82-100

FICHE 31

Town Records 1731-1737, 1744; pp 101-118

FICHE 32

Town Records 1728, 1735-1743; pp 119-138

FICHE 33

Town Records 1743-1746, pp 138-144

FICHE 34

Land Descriptions 1686-1714, pp 145-161

FICHE 34

Land Descriptions 1687-1717, pp 162-ca 180

FICHE 35

Stow Records 1719-1779.

Some writing here is nearly impossible to read, but the copy below may help.

Proprietors Records 1719-1732, pp 1-30

FICHE 36

Proprietors Records 1719-1732, pp 31-65

FICHE 37

Proprietors Records 1722-1749, pp 66-101

FICHE 38

Proprietors Records 1722,1725,1733,1745-1767; pp 102-135

FICHE 39

Proprietors Records 1766-1773, 1776, 1779; pp 136-ca 146

FICHE 40

Stow Alphabet to Proprietor Records [1718-1827].

FICHE 40

Indexes the copy below--at least through page 455.

Stow Records 1718-1827.

This appears to be a copy of the original record above, with later additions.

Proprietors Records 1718-1731; pp 1-73

FICHE 41

Proprietors Records 1719-1728, pp 74-143

FICHE 42

Proprietors Records 1719-1729, pp 144-213

FICHE 43

Proprietors Records 1720-1733, pp 214-283

FICHE 44

Proprietors Records 1722-1746; pp 284-353

FICHE 45

Proprietors Records 1722-1723, 1733-1767; pp 354-419

FICHE 46

Proprietors Records 1767-1805, 1810, 1826; pp 420-463+

FICHE 47

Stow Town Records 1747-1790. 217 pages.

Beside minutes of town meetings, these pages register town accounts and tell of roads, boundaries and strays beasts. Among the issues of at least one town meeting was raising money for the Continental Army

Town Records 1795, 1745-1755; pp 1-28

FICHE 48

Town Records 1739-1770, pp 29-57

FICHE 49

Town Records 1763-1773, pp 58-87

FICHE 50

Town Records 1773-1779, pp 88-117

FICHE 51

Town Records 1779-1784, pp 118-145

FICHE 52

Town Records 1724,1749,1772,1774,1783-1789; pp 146-173

FICHE 53

Town Records 1786-1793, pp 173-202

FICHE 54

Town Records 1793-1795, pp 203-217

FICHE 55

Stow Town Records 1795-1820. About 360 pages.

Though this book records the usual minutes of town meetings, pew deeds, fence divisions, bounds, and so forth, it may be unusual in its new items. For instance, the accidental death of Jonas Stratton is reported on page 36; Israel Gates is asked to help support his "Daughter Whitney" and her children on page 50; seating assignments in the meetinghouse are given on pages 165-166; families are assigned to various school districts on pages 185-187; Abel Brown is given money to support his mother on page 318; and the burying place of Luke Brooks (third tomb to the right of the gate in the old burying ground) is described circa page 345.

Town Records 1788, 1790, 1795-1799; pp 1-57

FICHE 56

Town Records 1790, 1799-1803; pp 58-117

FICHE 57

Town Records 1787, 1793, 1803-1806; pp 118-177

FICHE 58

Town Records 1806-1809, pp 178-235

FICHE 59

Town Records 1809-1812, pp 236-195

FICHE 60

Town Records 1795, 1812-1817; pp 196-255

FICHE 61

Town Records 1816-1819, pp 256-315

FICHE 62

Town Records 1819-1820, 1796-1797; pp 316-325+

FICHE 63

Stow Town Records 1807-1837. About 270 pages.

Besides town meeting minutes of 1820-1833, dates range from 1803-1838 for records of fence divisions, pew deeds, road layouts, perambulations and bounds between towns, an appraisal of the meetinghouse, land acquisition for the school, lists of non-resident land owners (1829-1830), and the confession of a repentant axe thief in 1838.

Town Records 1803, 1807

FICHE 64

Town Meetings 1820-1824

FICHE 64

Town Meetings 1824-1827

FICHE 65

Town Meetings 1827-1830

FICHE 66

Town Meetings 1830-1833

FICHE 67

Town Meetings 1833

FICHE 68

Town Records 1823-1838

FICHE 68

Stow Town Records 1833-1844. About 460 pages.

Note that dates extend thirteen years beyond those listed on the binding. Besides minutes of town meetings, these pages record perambulations, roads, strays, fences, and non-resident land owners of 1850.

Town Meetings 1833-1836

FICHE 69

Town Meetings 1836-1839

FICHE 70

Town Meetings 1839-1843

FICHE 71

Town Meetings 1843-1845

FICHE 72

Town Meetings 1845-1849

FICHE 73

Town Meetings 1849-1851

FICHE 74

Town Meetings 1851-1852

FICHE 75

Town Records 1834-1857

FICHE 76

Stow Town Records 1853-1884. About 580 pages.

Besides minutes of town meetings, this book includes fence divisions, jury lists, perambulations, and non-resident land owners circa 1854, 1859 and 1869. Light ink and designs left by water leaks do not interfere greatly with readability.

Town Records 1853-1856

FICHE 77

Town Records 1856-1860

FICHE 78

Town Records 1860-1863

FICHE 79

Town Records 1863-1866

FICHE 80

Town Records 1866-1869

FICHE 81

Town Records 1869-1872

FICHE 82

Town Records 1872-1875

FICHE 83

Town Records 1875-1879

FICHE 84

Town Records 1879-1882

FICHE 85

Town Records 1882-1884

FICHE 86

Stow Town Records 1885-1911. About 450 pages.

Of special interest are street names in 1907--and designs left on pages by water leaks.

Town Meetings 1885-1888

FICHE 87

Town Meetings 1888-1892

FICHE 88

Town Meetings 1892-1896

FICHE 89

Town Meetings 1896-1900

FICHE 90

Town Meetings 1900-1904

FICHE 91

Town Meetings 1904-1907

FICHE 92

Town Meetings 1907-1910

FICHE 93

Town Meetings 1910-1911

FICHE 94

Stow Treasurer's Record 1782-1822. About 330 pages.

Besides town accounts, occasional notices of stray beasts, new residents, and town meetings appear.

Town Accounts 1775-1796, pp 1-55

FICHE 95

Town Accounts 1794-1801, pp 56-111

FICHE 96

Town Accounts 1801-1809, pp 112-ca 171

FICHE 97

Town Accounts 1806-1816, pp ca 172-231

FICHE 98

Town Accounts 1811-1820, pp ca 232-291

FICHE 99

Town Accounts 1818-1822, pp ca 292-324

FICHE 100

Stow Selectmen's Orders 1821-1853. About 240 pages.

Damage to a few pages obliterates some town receipts and expenses.

Town Accounts 1821-1833

FICHE 101

Town Accounts 1831-1842

FICHE 102

Town Accounts 1841-1852

FICHE 103

Town Accounts 1828-1829, 1846-1848, 1852-1854

FICHE 104

Stow Selectmen's Orders 1801-1814.

Orders of selectmen to pay town and school expenses--with the latter arranged by school district. Town expenses include payments for minutemen, ministers, and the poor.

Town Expenses 1800-1807, pp 1-57

FICHE 105

Town & School Expenses 1800-1813, pp 58-117

FICHE 106

School Expenses 1800-1814, pp 118-164

FICHE 107

Stow Selectmen's Records 1813-1828. About 230 pages.

Orders of selectmen to pay town and school expenses--with the latter arranged by school district.

Town Expenses 1813-1832

FICHE 108

Town & School Expenses 1813-1843

FICHE 109

School Expenses 1813-1829

FICHE 110

Stow Selectmen's Book of Records 1830-1861. About 100 pages.

Town Expenses 1829-1859

FICHE 111

Town Expenses 1859-1861

FICHE 113

Stow School Book 1843-1852. About 110 pages.

Besides the high school, this record includes districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

School Accounts 1843-1852

FICHE 112

School Accounts 1843-1852

FICHE 113

Town Expenses 1859-1861 (from book above)

FICHE 113

Stow Records of School District #2, 1835-1869. About 100 pages.

Designs from water leaks decorate this book, but leave most ink intact.

School District Meetings 1835-1860

FICHE 114

School District Meetings 1861-1869

FICHE 115

School Accounts 1848, 1856, 1858, 1863

FICHE 115

Stow School District #5 Student Register 1839/1840.

FICHE 115

Stow Miscellaneous Papers ca 1654-1827.

Loose papers, mostly pertaining to land and boundaries, include a copy of the act establishing the town of Harvard in 1732; references to Stow, Nashoba, and Groton; and lists of proprietors.

Land, Boundaries, & Proprietors 1654-1827

FICHE 116

Stow Muster Roll of 10 February 1779.

FICHE 116

Stow Indentures & Other Legal Documents ca 1755-1818.

FICHE 117

Records consist of indentures, many signed by Overseers of the Poor; as well as bonds and loans. Indentures usually state age of servant.

Stow Militia Orders 1816-1833.

FICHE 118

A militia list lies between the orders of 1816 and 1817. Besides officers and sergeants, it identifies musicians. Some pages, however, suffer from old age and excess moisture.

Stow Militia Lists 1840-1875. About 140 pages.

Those lists of 1864-1867 give age and occupation. Water spots and/or mildew, unfortunately, obliterate some ink.

Militia Lists 1840-1863

FICHE 119

Militia Lists 1863-1876

FICHE 120

Stow Rebellion Record 1861-1866.