xt7gb56d599h https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7gb56d599h/data/mets.xml New Hampshire Historical Records Survey Division of Professional and Service Projects, Work Projects Administration New Hampshire New Hampshire Historical Records Survey Division of Professional and Service Projects, Work Projects Administration 1939 [2], 76 l.: ill. 27 cm. UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Program libraries. Call Number: FW 4.14:N 42h/no.8/v.2 books  English Manchester, N.H.: the Survey  This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. New Hampshire Works Progress Administration Publications Auburn (N.H.: Town) -- Archival resources Public records--New Hampshire--Auburn (Town) Auburn (N.H.: Town) -- History -- Sources Archives--New Hampshire -- Catalogs New Hampshire -- History -- Sources -- Catalogs. Inventory of the Town Archives of New Hampshire. No. 8, Rockingham County, vol. 2, Auburn, 1939 text Inventory of the Town Archives of New Hampshire. No. 8, Rockingham County, vol. 2, Auburn, 1939 1939 1939 2020 true xt7gb56d599h section xt7gb56d599h OF

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LIBRARIES

 

 INVENTORY OF THE TOWN ARGHIVES

OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

Prepared by
The New Hampshire Historical Records Survey Project

Division of Professional and Service Projects
work Projects Administration

No. 8

ROCKIIGHAM COUNT!

Vol. 2

AUBURN

*¢$*Ikl

Manchester, New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Historical Records Survey Project
December 1939

 

  

Tina Eateries; Records Survey Program

Luther Hg Evans. Director
Sargent B. Child. Regional Supervisor
Richard G. Wood“ State Supervisor

Division of Professional and Service Projects

Florence Kerr. Assistant Commis sioner
Robert ‘1’, Phillips. Acting Chief Regional Supervisor
Mary H0 Head,“ State Director

WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION

F. C. Harrihgton. Commissioner
John J. Ma'Dofnough. Regional Director
William}. Fancy. State Administrator

 F O R E W O R D

The Inventory of the Town Archives of New Hampshire is one of a
number of bibliographies of historical materials prepared throughout
the United States by workers on the Historical Records Survey Program
of the WOrk Projects Administration. The publication herewith pre-
sented, an inventory of the archives of the Town of Auburn, is number 2
of the Rockingham County series of towns.

The Historical Records Survey Program was undertaken in the winter
of 1935-36 for the purpose of providing useful employment to needy un-
employed historians, lawyers. teachers. and research and clerical
workers. In carrying out this objective, the project was organized to
compile inventories of historical materials, particularly the unpub-
lished government documents and records which are basic in the admin-
istration of local government. and which provide invaluable data for
students of political, economic, and social history. The archival guide
herewith presented is intended to meet the requirements of day-to-day
administration by the officials of the town, and also the needs of
lawyers, business men and other citizens who require facts from the
public records for the proper conduct of their affairs. The volume is
so designed that it can be used by the historian in his research in un-
printed sources in the same way he uses the library card catalog for
printed sources.

The inventories produced by the Historical Records Survey Program
attempt to do more than give merely a list of records--they attempt
further to sketch in the historical background of the town or other
unit of government. and to describe precisely and in detail the organi—
zation and functions of the government agencies whose records they list.
The county, town, and other local inventories for the entire country
will, when completed, constitute an encyclopedia of local government as
well as a bibliography of local archives.

The successful conclusion of the work of the Historical Records
Survey Program, even in a single town. Would not be possible without
the support of public officials. historical and legal specialists, and
many other groups in the community. Their cooperation is gratefully
acknowledged.

The Survey Program was organized and has been directed by Luther
H. Evans. and operates as a nation-wide series of locally sponsored
projects in the Division of Professional and Service Prejects. of
which Mrs. Florence Kerr, Assistant Commissioner, is in charge.

F. C. HARRINGTON
Commissioner

 

 P R E F A C E

The Historical Records Survey was initiated in January 1936 as a
nation-wide undertaking of the werk Projects Administration, but did
not begin operations in New Hampshire until April 7. Prior to August
31, 1939, the Survey was a federally sponsored project. After that
date it became a local project sponsored by the University of New
Hampshire.

The purpose of the Survey is to make accessible to lawyers,
historians, and students of government the records of state, county,
municipal and town offices. This is the second published volume of a
series of inventories by the New Hampshire Historical Records Survey
Project concerning the town archives of New Hampshire. Three volumes
on county archives have already appeared. A volume on church records
has also been issued. The inventory of the archives of the towns of
Rockingham County is number 8 of the New Hampshire series. The Auburn
inventory is volume 2 of the Rockingham County series.

The Historical Records Survey made the first listing of the Auburn
town records in the winter of 1937; the recheck was made in the winter
of 1939. The list of records was brought up to date in May 1939. The
Survey wishes to express its appreciation for the cooperation given by
Auburn town officials. The Survey has indeed benefited by the singular
patience and courtesies shown toward our workers where so much of the
work has been carried on in the homes of the town officials.

Requests for information concerning publications should be addressed
to the state supervisor. Hoyt Administration Building. Lincoln and
Silver streets, Manchester, New Hampshire.

(Mew (i Uhrrri
Richard GJ Wbod '
state Supervisor
Manchester. New Hampshire New Hampshire
December 1939 Historical Records Survey Project

 

 l.

2.

3.

I.

II-

III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page
A. Town of Auburn and its Records System
Historical Sketch 3
Original Chester Grant 1722 7
Chester Grant Minus Derryfield lZSlmwaMmmmwwmmmmwwHB
Chester Grant Minus Derryfield 1251 and
Candia 1763 9
Chester Grant Minus Derryfield 1751, Candie 1763.
and Raymond 1764 10
Chester Grant Minus Derryfield 1751. Candia 1763I
Raymond 1764. and Hooksett 1832 ................................................................... ll
Present Day Auburn as set off from Chester in
1845, showing its relation to Present Day
Chester and to the towns included in the
Original Chester Grant ' 12
Governmental Organization and Records System .............................................. 13
Chart of Auburn Town Offices in ISASWW. m
Chart of Present Auburn Town Officers ........................................................ 18
Chart of Municipal Court, Long Meadow Cemetery
Association, and Firemen's Association ...................................... 19

Chart of Present School Officers in Auburnmm m
Housing, Care. and Accessibility of the Recordsmwmwwwmwm
Recommendations
Abbreviations. Symbols. and Explanatory Notesvmwwwmmwwmm

 

 

B. Town Offices and their Records

Town Clerk (Deputy)mmmwmeWn . 24
Minutes. Vital Statistics. Mortgages,
Conditional Sales. Bills of Sale, Writs.
Tax Inventories and Sales. Partnerships
and Incorporations. Highways. Perambula-
tions. Juries. Licenses, Permits. School
Districts. Military. Miscellaneous.

Selectmen 38
Minutes. Printed Reports. Receipts. Pay-
ments. Vouchers. Bills. Taxation. Miscel—

 

 

 

 

 

 

laneous.
Budget Committee 45
Assessors ....... 46
Tax Collector Q6
Treasurer ...... 47
Auditors 49
Trustees of Trust Funds 49
Cemetery Trustees (Cemetery Committee) ..................................................................... 50
Long Meadow Cemetery Associationmlwwwwwwwmmwmwwmmwwmwwmm50

Moderator 51

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents Page
XII. Supervisors of the Check List mmnmm, memwmmwm51
XIII. Ballot Inspectors (Inspectors of Elections) .Wwwmw51
XIV. School Board (Superintending School Committee)mn 51
XV. Supervisory Union ............................................................................................................................. 54
XVI. Library Trustees 55
XVII. Overseer of the Poor ......... 56
XVIII. Health Officer (Agent for VaccinationL “WWMWWSB
XIX. Highway Agent (Road Agent; Highway Surveyors) .,Wwwm58
XX. Tree warden.mu 58
XXI. Police and Constables mwummmmm 59
XXII. Municipal Court ‘‘‘‘‘ , 59
XXIII. Dog Officer (Dog Constable) 60
XXIV. Town Agent (Legal Agent). ........ WNW” .. ..... 6O
XXV. Liquor Agent .. wmwnpéo
XXVI. Auburn Volunteer Fireman's Association wwwmmm“ W.6l
XXVII. Forest Fire warden (Deputy) wwwwuél
XXVIII. Sealer of weights and Measures m, 62
XXIX. Meat Inspector ...................................................... ”“62

 

XXX. Surveyors of Wbod and Lumber (Surveyors of Lumber)“ n.62
XXXI. Corders of wood (Surveyors of Wood) WWWWWWWWWWMWWMWWH62

 

 

 

 

 

XXXII, Cullers of Hoops and Staves ........ 63
XXXIII. Pound Keeper .............................................. WWW .W. www63
XXXIV. Hogreeves (Field Drivers) .W ............ 63
XXXV. Fish wardens .............................................................................................................................................. 6h
XXXVI. Fence Viewers ,,,,,,,,,,,, 64
Appendix .................................................................................... 65
Bibliography ....................................................................................................................................................... 66

Subject Index to Inventory . _m ..... 67

 

 (First entry. p. 24)

A. TOWN OF AUBURN AND ITS RECORDS SYSTEM

1. HISTORICAL SKETCH

The history of the town of Auburn for over one hundred years may be
found in that of Chester. The general region was granted as Cheshire in 1720
and regranted as Chester in 1722.1 From this territory later came several
towns of which Auburn was one. The section of Chester which eventually
became Auburn was first known as Long Meadows and later as the West Parish.2
As early as 1753 some of the inhabitants of this region expressed a desire for
a separate parish; and twenty years later an independent "Presbyterian Parish"
was set off.3 In 1845 Auburn was incorporated as a separate town by the
Legislature.4

Assigned to call the first town meeting in the newly incorporated town
were John Clark, David Currier, and Stephen Palmer, or any two of them.5 At
this meeting, which occurred July 28, 1845, Stephen Dearborn was chosen modera-
tor, and Samuel Anderson town clerk. On motion of Jesse Patten the meeting
was adjourned until the first Tuesday of the succeeding November.6

Some of the voters apparently questioned the validity of this meeting,
since forty of the inhabitants addressed a petition, dated July 31, to John
Lane, a Justice of the peace, stating that no annual meeting had ever been
held in the town, and requesting that he issue a warrant for such a meeting
wherein a moderator and all town of icers should be chosen.7 Accordingly, a
meeting was summoned for August 18. Instead of electing a full slate of
officers, however, this meeting chose a moderator, and then dissolved.9 On
the very day of this dissolved meeting, there was presented another petition
for a meeting, similar in content to that previous one and signed by twenty-
one inhubitants.1O As a result, apparently, of this latter petition a meet-
ing was held September 3. At this meeting 1 moderator, three selectmen, and
a treasurer were chosen. After its business had been transacted, this meet-
ing—-1ike the original meeting of July 28--voted to adjourn until the first
Tuesday of the succeeding November.ll At the November meeting, three
selectmen, a town treasurer, two constables, six surveyors of lumber, and
one sealer of weights and measures were chosen. The selectmen were in—
structed to renumber the school districts. A committee consisting of
Stephen Dearborn, Jesse Patten, and B. P. Chase was chosen to represent
Auburn in adjusting the pecuniary affairs between that town and Chester.12
This committee was to meet with one from Chester to settle the controversy
that had arisen concerning the disposal of the public property, formerly

 

New Hampshire state Papers, 24:5661569.

B. Chase, History of Old Chester, (Auburn, 1869), 36.
New Hampshire state Papers, 9:107—120.

New Hampshire Laws of 1845, ch. 253.

Ibid., ch. 253, sec. 7.

Records-—Town of Auburn, V01. 1,,pp. 4-5 (1845), entry 1.
Ibid., vol. 1, p. 5 (1845).

Ibid., vol. 1, p. 6 (1845).

. Ibid., vol. 1, p. 7 (1845).

10. lg.

11. Records--Town of Auburn, vol. 1, p. 8 (1845), entry 1.
12. Ibid., vol. 1, p. 5 (1845).

 

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\OOJNONKn-J—‘LUMI—J

 

 -4-
Historical Sketch (First entry. p.24)

owned by the town of Chester and becoming jointly owned at the time Auburn
was incorporated as a town. The committees met. but could not agree in all.
respects; and the final adjustment was made by a committee consisting of
Samuel D. Bell of Manchester. and Nathaniel Parker and William Choate of
Derry. This latter committee had been set up tentatively by the act of
incorporation to determine the division of the property in the event that
the towns could not agree.1

The spinning wheel came with the first settlers to the Chester region.
The cultivation of flex from which linen was made became the earliest town
industry among the men; while the women spun the threads and wove the cloth.
the surplus of which was sold in Boston.2 James Horner. a carpenter and
millwright. is said to have built the first sawmill in the section which
later became Auburn.3 One of the other pioneers, John Calef, erected a
fulling mill about 1741. The mill was the only one of its kind from Chester
to Canada and settlers came long distances to have their homespun cloth
"fulled" or "dressed". When the introduction of cotton cloth ruined the
business, the mill was turned into a shop to make out nails. Cut by water
power but headed by hand. nails were made from about 1769 to about 1816.
Later the mill privileges were purchased by brothers named Underhill who
made edge tools and developed there the most extensive business of its
kind in the state. After 1865 the property was used for a gristmill and
a sawmill with a circular saw.4 At the present time. however, dilapidated
dams are the only evidence of most of the busy mills of other days. The
invoice records of Auburn contain significant figures in connection with
the town‘s industrial history. One year after the incorporation of the
town, the valuation of mills was $737.00; in 1876 this figure had risen to
$4.735; the 1936 figure for this item was only $1500.5 This same story is
repeated in the history of many New Hampshire towns.

In regard to population. census figures show a decline from a peak of
886 in 18606 to a low of 637 in 1910.7 The 1930 census represented an
increase of about a hundred persons over the number in 1910.

The first minister--the Reverend John Wilson-~in the section of
Chester which later became Auburn came as early as 1734.9 The earliest
church was Presbyterian. and the first Presbyterian meeting house was
built in 1739.10 In 1842 eight dissatisfied members of this first religious

 

1. [Chester Town Minute Books]. vol. 4. pp. 41-43, 58; Records-—Town of
Auburn. vol. 1. pp. 14. 17-19 (1845, 1846), entry 1; New Hampshire
Laws of 1845, ch. 253.

2. Anon.. "Auburn by the Lake" in Granite State Magazine. (Manchester. 1906),
1:235.

3. Ibid.. 1:242. ' . ' . -

4- J. C. Chase. History of Chester, (Derry. 1926), 453.

5. Town Inventory, Auburn. N. H.. l846--, entry 14.

6. Joseph C. G. Kennedy, Population of the United states in 1860.
(washington. 1864). 308.

g. Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, (washington. 1931). 1:705.

. Id.

9. New Hampshire Manual for the General Court 1917. 22. See also {Chester
Town Minute Books]. vol. 1. p. 222 (1740).

10. B. Chase. op. cit.. 36.

I

 

 -5-
Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 24)

group associated themselves as the Second Congregational Society in Chester.
That same year the Presbyterian group ceased to be active, and deeded its
church property to the Congregationalists. Later, sixteen people from the
Presbyterian Church entered into a covenant and dedicated in 1843 a new
Congregational meeting house. The Reverend Samuel Ordway was the first
pastor. This religious group established the First Congregational Church in
Auburn.1 This church exists today and is popularly known as the Long Meadow
Congregational Church.

The first Methodist sermon is said to have been preached in 1809 in
the house of John Clark. Later meetings were held in the schoolhouse until
1836 when a meeting house was erected, It is reported that the same John
Clark took the contract to furnish the site and build the house for two
thousand dollars. and that the cost above this amount he paid in addition
to his sgbscription of four hundred dollars. The meeting house was dedicated
in 1837. The minister of this church was the Reverend George Pickering.

Long before the separation of Auburn from Chester, the foundation of
the existing school system had been laid. At a Chester town meeting in
1721 it was voted that, since no provision had been made for a schoolmaster,
the next forfeited proprietor's lot should be appropriated for a Sohcol.h
In 1737 thirty pounds were raised to hire a schoolmaster who was to serve
the different sections of the town, from time to time, as directed by the
selectmen.5 At the meeting of 1740 it was voted that a school be maintained
throughout the year "partly by School Masters & partly by School Dames as
the Selectmen shall judge best for the town." By a vote of 1744 it was
decided to build schoolhouses in the several sections of the town.7 In 1806
it was voted to divide the town into school districts.8

Immediately after its separation from Chester, Auburn voted to number
its districts anew.9 A superintending committee for the town was appointed
by the selectmen in 1847.10 The town minute books for 1877 include an
interesting set of rules drawn up for the regulation of town schools, in-
cluding specifications for physical conditions of schoolrooms, tardiness,
religious exercises for opening school, and the frequency of English composi-
tions.ll A sizable list of names of recognized educators is connected with
elementary education in Auburn. Among these names is that of Francis
Wayland Parker who early in his career taught several terms in Auburn; and
who has been called by many the greatest school reformer since Horace Mann.12

 

l. D. H. Hurd, History of Rockingham and Strafford Counties.
(Phila.. 1882). 126.

2. J. Chase, op. cit., 475.

3. Hurd, op. cit., 126.

4. [Chester Town Minute Books], vol. 1, p. 17 (1721).

5. Ibid., vol. 1. p. 211 (1737).

6. Ibid.. vol. 1, p. 222 (1740).

7. Ibid., vol. 1. p. 230 (1744).

8. Ibid., vol. 3. pp- 254-257 (1806).

9. Records—~Town of Auburn, vol. 1, p. 5 (1845), entry 1.

10. Ibid., vol. 1, p. 44 (1847).

11. Ibid., vol. 2. p. 44 (1877).

12. J. Chase, op. cit., 481.

 

 

 

 - 6 _
Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 24)

The providing of secondary schools has not seemed expedient in Auburn
because of the town's nearness to Manchester.

Auburn was the fortunate recipient of a library and museum, the gift
of Sebastian S. Griffin, a public spirited citizen of the town. In 1885
Mr. Griffin erected a building to be used for his own library and museum
collection.1 In 1892 he gave to the town "all his interest in the libra—
ry r * * the rent of the front room free" and his services as a libra—
rian without pay for one year if his health would permit.2 The following
year he donated the museum. the building in which the museum and the library
were contained, and a parcel of land.3 The town responded to the gift of
the library in 1892 by electing a board of library trustees and appro-
priating the money necessary to secure from the state the gift of books to
the value of one hundred dollars. The trustees elected were WGlls C.
Underhill, mallard H. Griffin, and Daniel H. webster.4 The library and
museum are still housed in the building presented by Mr. Griffin. The
library owns 3,756 volumes and records a yearly circulation of 4,041.5 In
1909 the town voted authorization to its town clerk and selectmen to turn
over to the library and museum all old books and papers that were of
historical value and were not needed in the transaction of town business.

Six miles from Manchester, the town is located in the western part
of Rockingham County. It is bounded on the north by Candia; on the east
by Chester; on the south by Derry and Londonderry; and on the west by
Manchester and Hocksett. The soil of the town is broken but fertile and
favors agricultural production on a small scale. Nature has provided for
Auburn a beautiful setting. Surrounded on three sides by hills, the town
contains a part of beautiful Lake Massabesic. the Indians""Eyes 0f the Sky."6

 

C. A. Hazlett, History of Rockingham County. (Chicago, 1915), 223.
Records-~Town of Auburn, vol. 2. p. 389 (1892), entry 1.

Ibid.. vol. 2, p. 413 (1893).

Ibid., vol. 2. p. 393 (1892).

New Hampshire Public Library Commission Report 1936-1938. 12.
Records--Town of Auburn, vol. 3. p. 45 (1909).

.

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ORIGINAL CHESTER GRANT

   
 
   
 

 

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 -13—
(First entry, p. 24)

2. GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION AND RECORDS SYSTEM

In 1845 the westerly section of the town of Chester was incorporated
as “uburn. The act of incorporation defined the boundaries of the new
town. Regarding the division of property, the act stated: "All real
and personal property, including all debts, claims and demands of every
kind now owned by and due to the town of Chester, all school and other
funds owned by said town, and the proportion of the literary fund which
may until a new apportionment of the State taxes, be payable to said
towns, shall be divided between said towns in proportion of one dollar
to Auburn and one dollar and seventy-eight cents to Chester * * *."
The act also set up a committee to make the division of property if
either town should request its services. After the deduction of the
state and county taxes and the amounts spent for schools and roads within
the Auburn limits, all taxes assessed upon residents of Auburn since the
previous March and upon non-residents within any Auburn school district
were to be paid to Auburn.1

Existing liabilities were to be cleared by the towns in the same
proportion in which the property was divided. All paupers then supported
by Chester were to be supported by the two towns in the same proportion
as the property was divided, until one of the towns should demand a
division of paupers. If the towns could not agree upon the terms of
the division, the same committee set up to divide the property was to
make the division.2 Although Auburn elected a committee to adjust
financial matters with Chester, a full agreement could not be reached.
An appeal was made, therefore. to the committee named in the act of
incorporation; and the various points of difference were adjusted.3

In 1845, the first year of the town's incorporation, Auburn held
four town meetings and chose a moderator, town clerk, three selectmen,

a town treasurer, two constables, six surveyors of lumber, and a sealer
of weights and measures.“ (For a review of the four meetings, see
historical Sketch, p. 3). The offices of moderator, town clerk, select-
men, and treasurer have survived as such to the present time. The office
of surveyor of lumber is now known as surveyor of wood and lumber.

Auburn no longer chooses a constable or sealer of weights and measures.

The officers added since the first year of the incorporation, and
surviving to the present time, consist of the tax collector” auditors,
superintending school committee (school board), cemetery trustees,
library trustees, supervisors of the check-list, ballot inspectors
(inspectors of elections), overseer of the poor, health officer, high~
way surveyors (road agent, highway agent), police, forest fire warden,
budget committee, and meat inspector. Officers instituted subsequent
to the first year, but later dropped, consist of the dog officer (dog
constable), liquor agent, corders of wood (surveyors of wood), cullers
of hoops and staves, poundkeeper, hogreeves, fish warden, and fence
viewers. A legal agent has served the town on the several occasions

 

1. New Hampshire Laws of 1845, ch. 253.

2. Id.

3. Records-—Town of Auburn, vol. 1, pp. 5, 14, 17-19 (1845, 1846),
entry 1; [Chester Town Minute Books], vol. 4, pp. 41-43, 58.

h. Reoords——Town of Auburn, vol. 1, pp. 4-8.(18u5), entry 1.

 

 _14_
Governmental Organization and (First entry, p. 24)
Records System

such an officer was needed. Assessors were elected separately from the
selectmen for one year. The operation of the municipal court is held in
abeyance until the appointment of a new incumbent to replace the retired
justice.

The voters of Auburn, at the annual town meeting, elect a town clerk,
treasurer, tax collecton highway agent, an overseer of the poor, and three

auditors to serve for one year. At the same annual meeting the voters
elect, to serve three years, one selectman, one library trustee, one
trustee of trust funds, and one cemetery trustee. At the November biennial
elections, three supervisors of the check-list and a moderator are chosen.
The moderator appoints annually two members of the budget committee for a
term of three years. The selectmen appoint a police officer for an
indefinite term; they appoint biennially four ballot inspectors. They also
appoint a surveyor of wood and lumber for a one year term. Upon the
recommendation of the selectmen, the State Forester appoints a forest fire
warden and a deputy warden. The State Board of Health, on the recommenda-
tion of the selectmen, appoints the health officer.

Annually, the Auburn school district elects one member of the school
board, a moderator, a clerk, and a treasurer. Each member of the school
board serves three years; the other officers, one year. The Auburn
school board, in consultation with the other school boards of Supervisory
Union No. 10, nominates the superintendent of that Union.

The Long Meadow Cemetery Association elects annually a president,
vice—president, clerk, treasurer, and five trustees. The Auburn Volunteer
Firemen's Association, a private organization, is the substitute in Auburn
for the office of firewards, sometimes appearing in New Hampshire towns.
The Association elects annually a chief, assistant chief, treasurer, and
secretary.

The chief recording officer of the town is the town clerk. Like the
clerks of other New Hampshire towns, the Auburn town clerk keeps that set
of records generally referred to as town minute books. In Auburn these
volumes contain, complete from the incorporation of the town in 1845 to
the present time, the minutes of the town meetings, the warrants for
those meetings, and the appointments of town officers. Such is the
principal purpose of the town minute books. In most towns a variety of
other records~-many of them fragmentary--are also included, particularly
for the earlier years. This holds true in the case of Auburn, though not
to such a great extent as in the case of older towns.~ In Auburn extraneous
records found in the minute books include road petitions, pole location
petitions, juror drawings, and school district divisions.

It is the duty of New Hampshire town clerks to keep a complete record
of vital statistics. Auburn meets this requirement fully in that the
clerk of this town has kept a complete record of marriages, births, and
deaths since the incorporation of the town. From 1854 there isle continuous
record of marriage intentions.

The town clerk keeps a set of invoice records duplicating those of
the selectmen. The law of 1891 requiring that this official keep dog
licenses is complied with. 'The Auburn clerk, in common with many other
town clerks, keeps records of the dissolved school districts, consisting
of warrants for and minutes of school district meetings.

 

 -15..
Governmental Organization and (First entry, p.24)
Records System

Most town clerks retain military records of the middle eighteen—
hundreds. Such records kept by the Auburn clerk consist of an enrollment
book containing data in regard to persons liable for military duty,
1870-1885; and records of the second company of infantry, seventeenth
regiment, third brigade, first division of the New Hampshire Militia.

Records relating to private business consist of records of attachments,
conditional sales, and partnerships. The Auburn clerk also keeps a record
of land sold for taxes. other important records include a record of fires,
of personal mortgages, and of juror drawings, the latter partially dup-
licated in the minute books. A record of pool, billiard, and bowling
licenses is kept from 1897 to 1918 at which time such establishments were
discontinued in this town. Motor vehicle records a1: kept. A box of
miscellaneous papers covers a wide range of subjects, some of them repre-
sented in other records, such as the minute books.

The administrative agency of the town-~the selectmen—-issues the
printed annual town reports, which contain the reports of the various
town officers in addition to such items as the town warrant, budget,
inventory, appropriations, school warrant, and vital statistics. The
duties of the selectmen as assessors are represented by invoice records
and blotter books. The select