Sterling Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850

All Vital Records in an original Volume of the Town from its incorporation in 1781, to September 27, 1794, were burned in a disastrous fire in the store of Moses Smith, Town Clerk. A new Volume was started, and from time-to-time re-entries were made from existing Church Records; from files of Justices of the Peace; and by Heads of Families who reported names and birth dates of all their children, including some of their deaths. Since these re-entries follow no regular chronological order, it has always been difficult to locate certain items at a moment’s notice.

The following compilation of births, marriages, and deaths includes all entries found in Volumes 1 and 2 of existing Town Records. Entries have been prepared in condensed alphabetical form in which all essential particulars have been preserved. Marriages are listed under the names of both parties; duplicate entries have been eliminated; original spellings of names have been followed. It is suggested that all alphabetical arrangements of surnames be examined. With a few exceptions, the vital records range from 1781, to 1848. No notice of Intentions of Marriage is indicated in this book, since many of the actual marriages did not take place in Sterling or were not recorded in the Town books by interim ministers.

• Sterling Massachusetts birth records to 1850
• Sterling Massachusetts marriage records to 1850
• Sterling Massachusetts death records to 1850

Sterling Massachusetts

This area was first settled in 1720 by Gamaliel Beaman and others from Lancaster, who came soon after. On December 19, 1744, it was established as the West Parish of Lancaster, known as CHOCKSETT, derived from a longer Indian name, “Woonksechauxit”. On April 25, 1781, this precinct was Incorporated as the Town of Sterling, Massachusetts.

Sterling is abutted on the North by Leominster, East by Lancaster, South by Boylston, and West Boylston, and on the West by Holden, and Princeton. Its land area of 30.52 square miles was derived from three original Grants to Lancaster:

“The Mile”, purchased from Sholan, Sachem of the “Nashuoggs”, in 1643, was annexed to Chocksett, by Lancaster, when it became the West Parish.

“The New or Additional Grant”, purchased from a nephew of Sholan in 1701, confirmed by the General Court in 1713, included a large part of Leominster and Sterling, part of Boylston, and a small tract set off to West Boylston.

“The Leg”, so-called from its unusual shape, was set-off to Lancaster by Shrewsbury, in 1768, and shortly thereafter to Sterling. In 1808, as boundary lines were adjusted, about one-third of this area was set-off to West Boylston, causing a noticeable drop in population since some 31 families were affected by this transfer of land.

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