Sorry, thanks to degennaro, I realized I didn't get forwarded an original email that had the wrong MAWORCES address. This is what I intended: Ancestry has listed for several years a "Guide to the Manuscript Collections in the Worcester Historical Society" which in the Table of Contents Part ll, reports on page 21: "There are on deposit about 500 pieces of manuscripts relating to the genealogy of members of the following families, most of whom, were Worcester residents: Aldrich, Allen . . . . . . Baird, etc. .......Series of papers on estates of early Worcester settlers and their descendants with genealogical notes". The Worcester Historical Society's Robyn Christensen responded she remembers these some 20 years ago but they no longer have these papers, and she doesn't know what happened to them. I have corresponded with the MA State Library, MA State Archives, Worcester County Public Library, Worcester Antiquarian Society, and NEGHS. No one claims any knowledge of these collections. Please, does anyone have any knowledge or suggestions? I'm convinced there must be boxes of these archives someplace. I am looking for the origins of Thomas and Elisabeth Baird who bought property in Leicester in 1735. He was listed as a Worcester resident (together with James Hart) and John Kathan of Roxbury on the deed from Richard Southgate, one of the 50 original owners of the Leicester land. This portion became Ward/Auburn later. There were four generations of Thomas Bairds who owned the property in Leceister/Auburn. Thomas Baird # I 's son Daniel was a selectman in Worcester and his daughter Betsey married a Wesson. It is, of course, possible that the genealogy in the manuscripts began with Daniel. Many thanks for any help Joan Lowry Carmel, CA **************Nothing says I love you like flowers! Find a florist near you now. (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=florist&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000001)