The town of Upton was formed from parts of four contiguous towns in southern Worcester County, MA by charter from the governor on June 14, 1735. My earliest identified ancestor, Alexander Clayton, appears in Upton Vital records on 26 December, 1741 when his intentions to marry Miss Smith of Ranthumisic, Wrentham were published. Also in Upton vital records is the announcement of the birth of a child, Mary Clayton, b. August 26, 1744 to Alexander and Susanna Smith Clayton. I do not know whether Ruth and Susanna are one and the same. Some 23 years later, my ancestor, Jonathan "Claton" published his intention to marry "Susannah Wartkins" on 26 February 1767. According to the DAR Patriot Index, Jonathan was born ~1745, which suggests that he, too was a child of Alexander and Susanna. Subsequent entries in the Upton v.r list the birth of children to Jonathan and Susanna in 1767, 1769, and1771. In June 20, 1753, The governor of New Hamshire colony chartered a new town to be named Townshend west of the Connecticut River. Alexander Clayton was listed among the 69 partitioners. At the FINAL listing of proprietors on October 7, 1782, Alexander had been replaced by Jonathan who moved to Townshend between 1771 and 1776. It was there that Jonathan served in the army. Between 1776 and 1782, five more children were born to Jonathan and Susanna. ------------------------------- These are the bare bones of my knowledge of my Worcester County forebears. Other fragments are too poorly documented to include in my planned genealogy. Any suggestions from Massachusetts searchers would be appreciated. RobC Rob Clayton rhclayton@earthlink.ne