Published by the Topsfield Historical Society
Topsfield, Mass., 1904         

Newcomb & Gauss
Printers
Salem, Massachusetts
                      
EXPLANATIONS.
 The following records of births, marriages and deaths include all entries to be found in the books of record kept by the town clerks; the church records now in the custody of the town clerk; cemetery inscriptions; Bible records and other private records particularly those now in the possession of Mrs. Martha J. Averill of Middleton. These records are printed in a condensed form in which every essential particular has been retained. All duplication of the town clerk's record has been eliminated, but differences in entry and other explanatory matter appear in brackets. 
  Parentheses are used only when they occur in the original record, usually enclosing the maiden name of a wife.  When places other than Middleton and Massachusetts are named in the original records they are given in the printed copy. Marriages and intentions of marriage are printed under the names of both parties. Double-dating is used in the months of January, February, and March, prior to 1752, whenever it appears in the original and also whenever from the sequence of entry in the original the date may be easily determined. In all records the original spelling of names is followed and in the alphabetical arrangement the various forms should be examined, as items about the same family may be found under different spellings.
                    
Compiler, George Francis Dow

MIDDLETON.
 The town, incorporated June 20, 1728, was made up of territory previously within the limits of Andover, Boxford, Salem, and Topsfield. It has long been supposed that its central location between these towns suggested the name that was adopted at the time of its incorporation.

  The population of Middleton at different periods was as
follows:
 1765, 581. 1800, 598. 1840, 657.
 1776, 650. 1810, 541. 1850, 832.
 1790, 682, 1820, 596. 1900. 839.
            1830, 607.

ABBREVIATIONS
a.-age.
abt.-about.
b.-born.
bef.-before.
bp.-baptized.
C. R.-church record.
ch.-child.
chn.-children.
Co.-county.
CT. R.-court record, Essex Co., coroner's return.
d.-daughter ; day ; died.
D. C.-copy of town records made by Moses Dorman.
Dea.-deacon.
G. R. 1.-gravestone record, Oakdale Cemetery.
G. R. 2.-gravestone record, Timothy Fuller Cemetery.
G. R. 3.-gravestone record, Merriam Cemetery.
G. R. 4.-gravestone record, Symonds Cemetery.
G. R. 5.-gravestone record, Fuller Cemetery, North District.
G. R. 6.-gravestone re:cord, Cemetery near East School House.
G. R. 7.-gravestone record, Elliot Cemetery.
G. R. 8.-gravestone record, Fuller Cemetery on the Benjamin Richardson farm.
G. R. 9.-gravestone record, Richardson Cemetery.
G. R. 10.-gravestone record, Smith Cemetery, Centre District.
G. R. 11.-gravestone record, Flint Cemetery, near paper mills.
G. R. 12.-gravestone record, Howe Cemetery, North District.
h.-husband.
inf.-infant.
int.-intention of marriage.
5
jr.-junior.
m.-male; married; month.
P. R. 1.-Bible records and private records now in the possession of Mrs. Martha J. Averill.
P. R. 2.-Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Eunice Fletcher.
P. B. 3.-Bible record now in possession of Mrs. Harriet P. Averill.
P. R. 4.-record of coffins made by Col. Benjamin Peabody, and now  in the possession of Clinton Stiles.
s.-son.
S. R.-Salem town records.
sr.-senior.
unm.-unmarried.
w.-wife.
wid.-widow.
widr.-widower.
y.-year.