Vital Records
description: Legal - Deed Elijah Drury to Rufus Leonard Deed from Elijah Drury to Rufus Leonard. For consideration of thirty-five dollars. ". . .a certain tract of land lying in Worthington aforesaid and containing nine acres more or less, it being the same tract of piece of land which was set off to me to satisfy an execution in favor of Gould Parsons, against the said Rufus, and is bounded South on Jonah Brewsters land, West on a public highway -- North on Jonas Leonards land and East on Spicer [?] Leonards land, or however otherwise the same may be bounded, reference may be had to the sheriff."
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 20.3 x 34.3 cm (8 x 13.5 in)
type: Papers
coverage: December 1, 1821

Deeds
description: Legal - Deed Jonas Leonard to Rufus Leonard Deed from Jonas Leonard to Rufus Leonard. For the sun of $7,000 dollars ". . .A certain tract or piece of land lying in Worthington aforesaid. Bounded as follows. Viz. Beginning at the Southwest corner of lot number fifty six thence east about twenty six rods on Jonah Brewsters land to the highway thence North by the highway forty one rods to a {unreadable] of stones thence West about ninety six rods to the highway thence South on said highway forty six rods to the first mentioned bound."
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 20.3 x 33.7 cm (8 x 13.2 in)
type: Papers
coverage: July 30, 1811

Deeds
description: Legal - Deed Rufus Leonard to Olive E. Adams Deed from Rufus Leonard to Olive E. Adams. For the sum of $225. ". . .A tract of land situated in said Worthington and bounded and described as follows. To wit: on the North by land of Samuel M. Converse -- on the East by land of said Converse -- on the South by land of Jonathan Brewster Jr. -- and on the West by a highway leading from Samuel M. Converse to "Canada Street" so called in Chester, containing fifteen acres more or less."
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 20.3 x 30.5 cm (8 x 12 in)
type: Papers
coverage: April 6, 1861

Vital Re
description: Legal - Marriage Certificate Rufus H. Adams and Lora P. Ormsby Marriage Certificate for Rufus H. Adams and Lora P. Ormsby. Marriage at Worthington. Justice of the Peace was C. K. Brewster, Justice of the Peace.
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 14.6 x 17.8 cm (5.8 x 7 in)
type: Papers
coverage: December 24, 1882

Deeds
description: Legal - Warranty Deed Jonathan Brewster to Olive C. L. Adams Warranty Deed from Jonathan Brewster to Olive C. L. Adams. Registered at the Registry of Deeds on April 2, 1867. "I, Jonathan Brewster of Worthington, in consideration of six hundred dollars, paid by Mrs. Olive C. L. Adams of said Worthington. . .do hereby convey unto Olive C. Adams, her kins and assigns, a tract of land situated in said Worthington. Bounded and described as follows. To wit: On the North by land of Lonson Leonard -- on the East by the highway leading from said Leonards to Dan Pease -- on South by land of the grantor -- and on the West by the highway leading from Ira Jonsons to Horace Gleasons containing thirty four acres more or less with the buildings thereon." Includes release by Brewsters for homestead exemption. Deed one of four found in diary Ref. # 2006a-136.
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 27.9 x 43.2 cm (11 x 17 in)
type: Papers
coverage: March 25, 1867

Deeds
description: Legal - Mortgage Deed Rufus Leonard to Jonas Leonard Mortgage deed from Rufus Leonard to Jonas Leonard. Large piece missing from middle. For $700. Deed for approximately forty-one acres, with long description of promissory notes and payment schedule. Writing on front and back. Deed one of four found in diary Ref. # 2006a-136.
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 21 x 33.7 cm (8.2 x 13.2 in)
type: Papers
coverage: April 23, 1810

Deeds
description: Legal - Mortgage DeedRufus Leonard to Elisha H. Brewster Mortgage deed from Rufus Leonard to Elisha H. Brewster. "In consideration of the sum of one hundred and twenty dollars...Elisha H. Brewster a certain tract of land situated in said Worthington and bounded as follows: (vis.) North by Jonathan Brewster's land, East by Rufus Taylor's land, South by Benjamin Brewster's land, and West by highway -- containing about fifteen acres and being the same land this day conveyed to the grantor by the granter." Includes details of promissory notes.Deed one of four found in diary Ref. # 2006a-136.
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 21 x 33.7 cm (8.2 x 13.2 in)
type: Papers
coverage: December 13, 1833

Deeds
description: Legal - Deed Jonas Leonard to Rufus Leonard Deed from Jonas Leonard to Rufus Leonard, carpenter for $2,000. A certain tract of land lying in said Worthington being part of Lot Fifty Six in town bounded as follows: beginning at the North West corner of said lot then running Eastward on the South Line of Captn. Elisha Brewster's land to his South East corner - then Southward on the West line of land on which Amos Leonard now lives till it strikes the land which I bought of said Amos - thence Eastward on said Amos's south line sixty six rods (?) - thence Southward on the East line of land bought of said Amos till it strikes the North line of Ezra Leonard's land - thence Westward on said Ezra's North line till it strikes Jonah Brewster's land - thence Westward on said Jonah's North line to the country road - thence Northward on the East side of the road forty one rods - thence Westward on the North line of Rufus Leonard's land the whole length of said lot No. 56 - thence Northward on the West line of lot No. 56 to the first mentioned corner, all public roads excepted containing by estimation ninety acres by the same more or less. Also, one other tract of land in the town of Worthington. Bounded Southward on Chester North line, Eastward on the highway leaving from the town of Chester by the house of Wm. Moer in the town of Worthington. Northward partly on Jona. Brewster's land and partly on Jonah Brewster's land. Westward on said Jonah's land containing about twenty acres be the same more of less." Deed one of four found in diary Ref. # 2006a-136.
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 21 x 33.7 cm (8.2 x 13.2 in)
type: Papers
coverage: March 8, 1811

Diaries
description: Recollection - Diary, Travel Memorabilia Travel memorabilia including travel and guide books, postcards, etc. From collection found in Rufus H. Adams' house. See also 2006a-144. See also attached inventory.
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
type: Artifacts
coverage: various (see notes)

Diaries
description: Recollection - "Five Months Abroad," by Mrs. E. S. (Mary A.) Ormsby "Five Months Abroad" by Mrs. E. S. (Mary A.) Ormsby. From collection found in Rufus H. Adams' house. Maroon cloth with lettering surround by gold design, 113 pages. Self-published. From the Introduction: "At the request of many friends I have consented to write a sketch of my travels in Europe during 1889, and have hastily done so from notes in my diary. As the book is not for sale, but as a compliment to friends, an apology for its simple and imperfect condition may not be necessary..." See 2006a-145 for additional travel documents (photographic postcards, and travel books).
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 11.4 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm (4.5 x 6 x 0.5 in)
type: Book
coverage: May 1, 1890 (Introduction).

Diaries
description: Diary - "H. D. Ormsby's Book," Worthington Mass From collection found in Rufus H. Adams' house. Small notebook, paper bound with tape on spine. States on front cover in ordinary hand: "H. D. Ormsby's Book," Worthington Mass," no date. Pages are blank.
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 8.9 x 15.2 x 0.3 cm (3.5 x 6 x 0.1 in)
type: Artifacts
coverage: ca. 1900 (not dated)

Diaries
description: Diary - Small Writing Tablet, Ormsby Writer unknown. From collection found in Rufus H. Adams's house. Paper bound with tape on spine. States on front cover: "The Perfect Pencil Tablet for Students. Artists, and Others" with cartoon of artist in field being judged by a cow, copyrighted 1882, Acme Stationery & Paper Co. Contains sausage recipe and dates of death of Uncle Orrin Converse (August 12, 1888) and Aunt Rachell [sic] (August 22, 1889). Other pages blank.
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 7.6 x 15.2 x 0.6 cm (3 x 6 x 0.2 in)
type: Artifacts
coverage: after 1889 (not dated)

Education
description: School - Composition Book, Lora P. Adams, Ringville Lora P. Adams (nee Ormsby), Ringville Mass. Compositions Book. From collection found in Rufus H. Adams' house. Paper bound with tape on spine. States on front cover: "Property of Lora P. Adams, Ringville Mass" Contains several recipes: Coffee Cake, Butternut Cake, Ribbon Cake, Delicate Cake, Eva's Cake (without eggs), White Cake (without eggs), Applesauce Cake, Hattie's Sponge Cake, Viola's Boston Cake, Cocoa Cake, Cream Puff Cakes, Wedding Cake, Effies Dark Cake. [Identify for possible reception food]
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 17.1 x 21 x 0.6 cm (6.8 x 8.2 x 0.2 in)
type: Artifacts
coverage: ca. 1917 (not dated)

Diaries
description: Diary - Record Book, Ormsby Ormsby Record Book. (Possibly H. D. Ormsby?) Paper bound with tape on spine. Marblized paper cover, with leather spine and corners. "Ormsby" name written on front endpaper along with lots of numbers. Book in deteriorated shape with loose pages. Appears to be record of sales of large variety of items, mostly farm equipment, to various towns people. [Identify Bee Smith]
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 17.1 x 18.4 x 0.6 cm (6.8 x 7.2 x 0.2 in)
type: Artifacts
coverage: ca. 1901

Education
description: School - Composition Book, Lora P. Adams, Ringville Lora P. Adams (nee Ormsby), Ringville Mass. Compositions Book. From collection found in Rufus H. Adams' house. Paper bound with tape on spine. States on front cover: "Property of Lora P. Adams, Ringville Mass" Contains several poems and epithaphs from "Hill Graveyard" [Identify graveyard, Pat Kennedy, Ed Lewis]. Filled with newspaper articles from various dates to be identified separately. [Identify]
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 17.1 x 21.6 x 0.6 cm (6.8 x 8.5 x 0.2 in)
type: Artifacts
coverage: 1917

Diaries
description: Diary - Autograph Book, S. Florence Searle S. Florence Searle Autograph Book. From collection found in Rufus H. Adams' house. Maroon leather with word "Autographs" embossed in gold. Gold-tipped pages. Contains various autographs, possibly from Normal College (possibly Columbia?). Contents to be identified separately. [Identify] .
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 19.7 x 12.7 x 1.9 cm (7.8 x 5 x 0.8 in)
type: Artifacts
coverage: ca. 1875-1883

Diaries
description: Diary - Autograph Book, Lora P. Ormsby Lora P. Ormsby Autograph Book. Lora later became Lora Adams. From collection found in Rufus H. Adams' house. Blue cloth with embossed design with "Autographs" in gold. Gold-tipped pages. Contains various autographs and occasional newspaper clippings. Contents to be identified separately. [Identify]
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 12.7 x 20.3 x 1.3 cm (5 x 8 x 0.5 in)
type: Artifacts
coverage: February 27, 1879-April 1882

Diaries
description: Diary - Rufus H. Adams Rufus H. Adams' Diary of Events. A large-size ledger titled "The People's Comprehensive Diary -- Designed for the Use of Farmers and Others -- General Edition, Wm. Goodfellow, Ten-Year Book." At the time of acquisition contained four deeds - entered separately. Signature of Rufus H. Adams on first page. Includes daily entries detailing principle activities with accounts of purchases and expenses. See four deeds found in this diary: 2006a-148, 2006a-149, 2006a-150, 2006a-151.
rights: On loan to the Worthington Historical Society by Paul Strasburg
format: 21.6 x 35.6 x 1.9 cm (8.5 x 14 x 0.8 in)
type: text
coverage: January 1887-June 1891; January 1918-February 1919