Scope and Contents Southborough appointed its first Selectmen shortly after the town was founded in 1727. The Select Board has several important responsibilities under Massachusetts Law, which include the power to prepare the town meeting warrant or agenda, the power to make appointments to town boards and offices, the power to employ professional administrative staff and town counsel, and the authority to grant licenses and permits. The Select Board also sets policy and strategic direction, coordinates the...

Scope and Contents A Chattel Mortgage is a loan used to purchase an item of movable personal property. Records include a description of goods and chattels, the terms of agreement between parties concerned, names of vendor and vendee, place, amount, list of goods or chattels, amount paid, conditions and agreement of mortgages, payments, and signatures of vendors. Some volumes include an index listing vendors and vendees alphabetically, along with the year and page number.Chattel Mortgage books were...

Scope and Contents Contains lists of Southborough residents who were eligible to vote or serve on a jury from 1771-1947. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Massachusetts Law required the Selectmen in each town to prepare lists of persons who were qualified and eligible for Jury duty. In 1784 the legislature directed that these persons should be “of good moral character and qualified as the constitution directs, to vote”. In 1808 it was further stipulated that men over the age of seventy should be excluded from...

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of three ledger books which provide a record of all tests and inspections conducted by the Sealer of Weights and Measures in the Town of Southborough from 1908-1940 and 1950-1965.