Photographs, letters, diaries, maps, administrative documents, scrapbooks. Papers and records relating to Westborough history collected by Charles H. Reed and later his daughter, Rachel Deering. Some of the items form the core of the book collection and the Genealogies of Westborough Families collection.
Official collection name: Historical Papers of Dr. Charles H. Reed (a.k.a., the Reed Collection)
Location: Shelving; Oversize shelving – 3; Map case; Roll Box.
Local identifier: LH.013
Creator: Charles H. Reed and Rachel Deering
Date: Undetermined
Extent: 5 linear feet (8 boxes + one oversize box + map case + Roll Box)
Subject: Local history–Westborough (Mass.); Westborough (Mass.)–Social life and customs
Finding aid: LH013 – Reed Collection Finding Aid
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Historical Papers of Dr. Charles H. Reed: Finding Aid
Last Revised: January 3, 2019
Collection Summary
Collection number: LH013
Collection title: Historical Papers of Dr. Charles H. Reed (a.k.a. The Reed Collection)
Dates: 1690-1973
Size: 5 linear feet (8 boxes + one oversize box + map case + Roll Box)
Creator/Collector: Dr. Charles H. Reed (1862-1946)
Acquisitions info: The collection was donated to the Library in 1985 by
Rachel Deering, the daughter of Dr. Reed
Language(s): English
Repository: The Westborough Public Library
Processed by: Vanessa D. Hale (with Dr. Anthony T. Vaver), 2018
Rights and Access
Access: Collection is open for research
Copyright: No known copyright restrictions. No known restrictions on use.
Publishing Permission: As a courtesy, please consult with the Westborough Public Library Local History Librarian.
Personal History
Dr. Charles H. Reed was a Westborough veterinarian and devotee of local history. The collection of his papers consists of correspondence, deeds, diaries, letters, maps, wills and other government documents pertaining to the early history of the Town of Westborough. He began gathering information on the Town’s history, land and people as a hobby, starting with the Town’s first 27 founding families. The collection grew to contain several hundred original documents, and a portion of journals and lists that were transcribed by Dr. Reed. All items contained in this collection describe the early culture, history and life of folks living and doing business in Westborough. It is clear genealogy was important to Dr. Reed as threads of this topic are represented throughout the collection.
After Dr. Reed died, his daughter Rachel Deering carried on the work. In 1985, she donated the collection to the Westborough Public Library for preservation and safe-keeping.
Scope and Content Note
Dr. Reed’s eclectic collection spans nearly 250 years and illustrates the lives of residents in Westborough and the region, as many letters and deeds contain facts about the surrounding communities of Marlborough, Northborough, Southborough and Shrewsbury.
Information recorded in the files range from historic land deeds to correspondence regarding the creation of neighborhoods and business districts. There is a great deal of “Order of Payments” which are akin to invoices and tell the story of who was responsible for what activity [i.e. Wheat Bounty Claims or the vendors used for the construction of the Town Hall].
Some of the most interesting items in the collection include:
- A 1690 “Order of Payment” in the Beeman family file; perhaps the earliest document in the library archives
- A map [perhaps drafted in 1709] laying out the parcel for the Church, notable because the Town was not incorporated until 1717
- A 1757 love letter written by Joseph Woods to his family in the Woods family file. Further research, and Woods genealogy charts, indicate Joseph was killed in action shortly after writing this letter during the Battle of Lake George in the French and Indian War
- A 1787 appointment of Nathan Fisher, Esq, as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Second Regiment, signed by Governor John Hancock
- In the Reed journals, there is a detailed description of town meetings, a list of the Irish in Westborough, information on the Paul Revere bell at the Baptist Church, extensive notes on various homes and a description of George Washington’s itinerary in 1775
There are some gaps in the records. For example, there are only three Annual Town Reports included for the mid-1800’s. (Although many others are on file in the Westborough Town Clerk’s office). Genealogy was most definitely a passion for Dr. Reed, but do note that Series 4: Genealogy may seem small. A great deal of genealogy data is contained within individual the family files in Series 3: Westborough Family Papers. In order not to disrupt the provenance of Dr. Reed’s order, information like this was not moved into Series 4.
The financial records of the Town included provide basic census and assessing data, but also reveal the relative socio-economic standing of residents. The valuation records and land deeds illustrate how and when the community evolved and prospered. Additionally, correspondence in many of the family files will indicate the strong connection there was between the residents and their parish.
During this part of the settlement of American communities, a town could not be incorporated unless a Minister had been appointed. Thus, nearly the entire cultural and social life of a community was directly related to the church.
Although the Westborough Public Library is very grateful to Dr. Reed for his perseverance and care of all of these documents, much credit also goes to his daughter, Ms. Deering, who ascertained ensured that all of these papers were left in the care and custody of the Westborough Public Library.
Series Summary
Series 1 Government Records: Annual Town Reports, correspondence (primarily to the Board of Selectmen), tax records, Town Meeting notes and materials, and early history and payroll records of the Fire Department.
Series 2 Schools: Publications, regulations and reports of the public school system, as well as some items pertaining to the Lyman School for Boys.
Series 3 Westborough Family Papers: Genealogy records, land deeds, correspondence, wills and other missives of thirty-two early families.
Series 4 Genealogy: Family charts, including records of Pilgrim and Puritan settlers.
Series 5 Churches: Assorted Booklets, manuals, programs and sermons.
Series 6 Military: Light Infantry rolls, military appointments, volume of Thank You letters to ladies in the Soldiers Sewing Society.
Series 7 Miscellaneous: Pamphlets containing historical anecdotes and advertisements from early local businesses and Town celebrations.
Series 8 Reed: Six journals with Dr. Reed’s transcriptions, including history of architecture, genealogy, lists of graves, and assorted research notes. Additionally, other items include transcriptions of first settlers, tax lists and information on Westborough veterans. This series also includes a bound volume of additional transcription notes, as well as a scrapbook from the Westborough Housing Authority.
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Government Records
Box 1
Folder
1.01 Town of Westborough By-Laws, 1874, 1892
1.02 Town Reports, 1866, 1875, 1876
1.03 Town Correspondence, 1774-1876, N.D.
1.04 Land Deeds, 1766-1845
1.05 School Taxes, 1857
1.06 Taxes/Bounty Claims, 1775-1860, N.D.
1.07 Bounty Tax (to support military), 1862
1.08 Town House Construction, Including Financials, 1839-1929, N.D.
1.09 Cemetery Committee Report, 1848-1869
1.10 Fire Department Correspondence, 1839-1894, N.D.
1.11 Fire Department Payroll Records, 1844-1875
1.12 Fire Department Payroll Records, 1877-1884, N.D.
1.13 Letter Conveying Site for Library, 1898
1.14 Programs for Westborough Celebrations, 1930, 1931
Oversize Box
Folder
OS.01 Town Meeting Rules, 1850
OS.02 Statement of Wheat, 1838
OS.03 Plan of Lots [Streets], 1918
OS.04 Report of Committee of Reservoir and Fire Apparatus, N.D., List of Subscribers to Fire Engine and Apparatus, 1838
OS.05 Log of Fires in Westborough, 1885-1907
OS.06 Consecration of Westborough Cemetery, 1846
OS.07 Tax Assessments, 1727, 1860
OS.08 An Act to Ascertain the Rateable Estate, 1831
Map Case
Drawer: Folder
3.01 Thanksgiving Day Proclamations, 1766, 1834 and 1841
Series 2: Schools
Box 1
Folder
1.15 Dedication of Westborough High School, 1926
1.16 High School Student (Student Magazine), 1885-1888
1.17 High School Graduation Program, 1878
1.18 Reports of the School Committee, 1841-1852
1.19 Reports of the School Committee, 1852-1869
1.20 Reports of the School Committee, 1870-1878
1.21 Reports of the School Committee, 1884-1887
1.22 High School Graduation Exercises, 1873, 1878, 1880-1889
1.23 High School Graduation Exercises, 1891-1898
1.24 High School Graduation Exercises, 1903-1913, 1931-1932
Box 2
Folder
2.01 School District Number Two, Rules, 1846
2.02 School Committee Rules & Regulations, 1916
2.03 School Correspondence & Financials, 1816-1856
2.04 Willow Park Seminary Catalogue, 1873-1874
2.05 Seminary for Young Ladies Catalogue, 1840-1841
2.06 Lyman School Dedication, 1860
Oversize
Folder
OS.09 Westborough High Graduation Program, 1877
OS.10 Taft High School Diploma, 1910
OS.11 Lyman School Enterprise, Vol XII, No. 2, 1899
Series 3: Westborough Family Papers
Box 2
Folder
2.07 Adams, 1765-1881
2.08 Abbott, 1830-1831
2.09 Belknap, 1777-1836
2.10 Beeman, 1690-1822
2.11 Bellows, 1827
2.12 Bent, 1830
2.13 Bernard (National Straw Works?), 1931-1935
2.14 Bowman, 1708-1829
2.15 Bullard, N.D.
2.16 Chamberlain, 1807-1843
2.17 Cobb, 1882
2.18 Fay, 1787-1844
2.19 Fessenden, 1771-1810
2.20 Fisher, 1784-1858
2.21 Gleason, 1868
2.22 Goodell, 1827
2.23 Harrington, 1824-1857
2.24 Hawes, 1761-1847
2.25 Maynard, 1789-1862
2.26 Morse, 1788
2.27 Parker, 1798
2.28 Parkman (Genealogies), N.D.
2.29 Parkman (Letters), 1741-1835
2.30 Parkman (Miscellaneous), 1730-1788
2.31 Peters, 1795-1854
2.32 Pierce, 1852
2.33 Reed, 1934
2.34 Rice, 1744-1910 (Descendants of Edmund Rice)
2.35 Robinson, 1787-1807
2.36 Ruggles, 1816-1817
2.37 Sibley (Genealogy), N.D.
2.38 Tufts, 1855
2.39 Warren, 1824-1882
2.40 Wesson, 1833
2.41 Whitney, 1793
2.42 Woods, 1720-1850
Oversize
Folder
OS.12 Adams
OS.13 Cobb
OS.14 Fay
OS.15 Morse
OS.16 Rice
OS.17 Tufts
OS.18 Warren
OS.19 Woods
Map Case
Drawer: Folder
3.02 Eager/Davis, 1908
Roll Box, LH.013
Eager/Davis, 1859
Series 4: Genealogy
Box 2
Folder
2.43 Genealogy Chart of Pilgrims & Puritans
2.44 Genealogy – Cradle Book (Birthday Calendar), 1905-1915
Oversize
Folder
OS.20 Genealogy Chart of Pilgrims & Puritans, N.D
OS.21 List of Passengers Bound for New England, 1656
OS.22 Ancestry of Alice Fay, N.D.
OS.23 Ancestors of Louise Forbes Perrington Warren, N.D.
Map Case
Drawer: Folder
3.03 Descendants of Edmund Rice Chart, N.D.
Series 5: Churches
Box 3
Folder
3.01 Congregational Church Pageant Program (200th Anniversary), 1924
3.02 50th Anniversary Booklet, Ladies Sewing Circle, 1886
3.03 Evangelical (Congregational) Church Manuals, 1842, 1875, 1890
3.04 Sermons Delivered by Amariah Frost, 1765 (December 8)
3.05 Copy of Constitution of Sister Society of Westborough, N.D.
3.06 Orders of Payment for a Meeting House and a Land Map for Meeting House, 1709(?), 1748, 1753
3.07 First Baptist Church Manual, 1875
3.08 New England Primer (Volume on Catechism), 1842
3.09 Worcester South Chronicle, 1670-1876
3.10 Descriptive Letter of New Meeting House, 1835
3.12 Letter from Evangelical Society Re: Reverend Cady, N.D.
3.13 Reflections on First Sabbath School, 1817
Oversize
Folder
OS.24 Covenant of the Congregational Church of Christ, N.D.
OS.25 Evangelical Church of Westborough Pew Assignments, 1870
Series 6: Military
Box 3
Folder
3.14 Westborough Light Infantry Bylaws, 1864
3.15 Appointment of William Child as Corporal, 1864
Thank you letters for supplies in the American Civil War to members of the Soldiers Sewing Society:
3.16 Letter to Mrs. Mary Aldrich, December 26, 1861
3.17 Letter to Mrs. Greene, May 14, 1864
3.18 Letter to Mrs. Greene, June 7, 1864
3.19 Letter to Mrs. Greene, July 24, 1864
3.20 Letter to Mrs. Greene, August 13, 1864
3.21 Letter to Mrs. Greene, September 18, 1864
3.22 Letter to Mrs. Greene, October 25, 1864
3.23 Letter to Mrs. Greene, April 11, 1865
3.24 Letter to Mrs. Greene, August 1, 1865
3.25 Letter to Miss Marshall, January 21, 1862
3.26 Letter to Miss Marshall, April 15, 1862
3.27 Letter to Miss Marshall, July 19, 1862
3.28 Letter to Miss Marshall, August 1, 1862
3.29 Letter to Miss Marshall, August 16, 1862
3.30 Letter to Miss Marshall, August 23, 1862
3.31 Letter to Miss Marshall, February 2, 1863
3.32 Letter to Miss Marshall, March 18, 1863
3.33 Letter to Miss Marshall, March 23, 1863
3.34 Letter to Miss Marshall, May 5, 1863
3.35 Letter to Miss Marshall, June 13, 1863
3.36 Letter to Miss Marshall, June 16, 1863
3.37 Letter to Mrs. Phillips, December 12, 1861
3.38 Envelopes to Greene and Marshall, 1862, 1864
Oversize
Folder
OS.26 Westborough Light Infantry Rolls, 1814-1822
OS.27 Appointment of Nathan Fisher, Esq, as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Second Regiment, signed by Governor John Hancock, 1787
Series 7: Miscellaneous
Box 3
Folder
3.39 Brigham Family Souvenir Book, 1896
3.40 Blue Book, with Parkman Journal References, 1891
3.41 Lake Chauncey Park Souvenir Book, N.D.
3.42 Westborough Souvenir Booklets, 1878, 1916, N.D.
3.43 Westborough Railway Company Stock Certificates, 1901
Box 5
Folder
5.02 Housing Authority Scrapbook, 1973
Oversize
Folder
OS.28 Auction Notices, 1854, 1871
OS.29 Corporation Certificates, 1888, 1891
Series 8: Reed Research Notes and Transcriptions
Box 3
Folder
3.44 Westborough High Alumni, 1872-1898
3.45 Census Lists, 1776, 1777
3.46 Tax List, 1756
3.47 First Settlers, 1717
3.48 War of 1812 Solider List
3.49 List of Colonial War Soldiers, 1702-1763
3.50 Boys and Girls Association, 10th Reunion, 1898
Box 4
Folder
4.01 Reed Transcription of Graves, 1718-1922
4.02 Reed Transcription of Graves in Midland Cemetery, 1812
4.03 Graves in Memorial Cemetery, 1922
4.04 First Settlers and Families, N.D.
4.05 Reed Research Notes, Genealogy of Various Families, N.D.
4.06 Historical (General), N.D.
Box 5
Folder
5.01 Reed transcription notes
Box 6
Notecards
Deeds, Boundaries, and Genealogies, A – F
Box 7
Notecards
Deeds, Boundaries, and Genealogies, F cont. – O
Box 8
Notecards
Deeds, Boundaries, and Genealogies, P – Y
Oversize
Folder
OS.30 List of Soldier’s Graves, 1775-1924