The Silas Moody Papers consist of three volumes: one a personal account book and the other two reflecting his work as town treasurer and tax collector.

The account book, 1809-1830, lists accounts he kept as a businessman as well as accounts to the town of Newbury for his work in an official capacity, such as providing a meeting place for committees to meet and horse and toll charges if he traveled to another town on town business. The business accounts include numerous sales of rum, brandy, sugar, and molasses as well as other foodstuffs and general store items. Many accounts list the inspection and storage of kegs of butter; he also issued certificated to ships. It is probable that he held a town position as some kind of surveyor or inspector. There are also a few estates given over to him for administration.

The town treasurer's book, 1819-1830, includes expenses dispensed by him as town treasurer from May 1819 to March 1826 and by Charles H. Kimball as town treasurer from July 1826 to March 1830. Most of these consist of payments authorized by the selectmen or overseers. Revenues are also listed, consisting primarily of cash collected from taxes, highway surveyors, weighing of hay at the hay scales, etc.

The tax collector's book, 1831-1834, lists households in Newbury and gives the number of polls, the poll tax, real estate tax, personal estate tax, and highway tax of each household. In addition, there are entries for non-residents from numerous other Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine towns that list only real estate tax and highway tax as well as entries for the Second Parish of Newbury and Byfield Parish. The tax collector's book contains entries primarily from 1831 and 1832, but there are some from 1833 and 1834 as well.