The Martha Jane (Weston) Averill Papers consist of extensive genealogical research conducted on multiple New England families. These families include both local families, such as the Curtis, Putnam, and Wilkins families, and her own familial connections, such as the Averill, Gould, and Weston families. The documents collected by Martha on these families include legal documents, bills, receipts, accounts, family trees, and correspondence. The collection is organized into two series.

Series I. Genealogy Work contains Martha’s own genealogical research from 1857 until 1900. Subseries A. Genealogical Notes: Alphabetical by Family contains Martha’s loose genealogical research notes listed alphabetically by family name. The folders within this subseries include small notebooks pertaining to research on individual families. Subseries B. Genealogical Notes: Notebooks contains Martha’s bound notebooks and collected papers from various Essex County families. The notebooks contain predominantly genealogical research notes on Essex County families; however, some notebooks also contain Martha’s personal touches, such as newspaper clippings, loose notes, and information pertaining to outside of Essex County, including towns in other towns (i.e. Walpole) and outside of Massachusetts (New Hampshire and Maine).

Subseries C. Collected Family Papers contains manuscripts from the families collected by Martha throughout her genealogical research. Documents from these families include bills, correspondence letters, indentures, receipts, summons (military and jury), and tax cards. This series includes Essex County family papers. These papers include original correspondence letters, indentures, and receipts.

Series II. Personal Papers contains various personal papers from Martha Jane (Weston) Averill from 1853 to 1908. The documents in this series include letters from both family members and those she inquired about genealogical information, a basic floor plan for Martha’s Middleton home, Martha’s personal diary, and a personal scrapbook. This book includes receipts, Weston family genealogical notes, and accounts of her husband Alfred Augustus Averill.