Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 9.

[p. 21] was written, I found this volume in the same condition as described by him, but not a leaf missing that was there when he wrote about it. No particular care had apparently been taken to preserve it; but realizing its value and the possibility of its loss or destruction in whole or in part, I took early opportunity to have it permanently preserved by being rebound by what is known as the ‘Emery process,’ retaining the old parchment covers and the leather thongs originally fastening the book together, thus placing it beyond destruction or wear by any examination or use. Nearly half a century had gone by with the volume in this most dilapidated condition and yet no harm had come to it, although probably examined hundreds of times during that period. This book contains the town records from the year 1674 to 1718; the next volume covers the succeeding years to 1735; the third, from this date to 1781; and the fourth, from 1781 to 1812. These books are all in good condition, and with the succeeding ones up to the present time are all completely indexed, and the first three volumes copied. I have been waiting for means to be provided to have the contents printed. There is also a card index containing a reference to each and every name and every place it appears in the books, which means thousands of references, as these volumes contain all the tax lists for over an hundred years. This work of copying and indexing has been in charge of one whom I consider the best qualified to do the same of any person that could be obtained. At this time it may be interesting to quote a statement made by one who was employed by a neighboring town to copy some of its old records. He says: ‘In justice to myself I could not copy such bad spelling. I have, therefore, corrected throughout the bad spelling of those old records, and have given the words in the current, modern, true orthography, as justified by the standard authorities. Whereas the language was incoherent, indefinite, and bungling; where bad grammar was used; where the style was deplorably ’