Among the documents in need of attention are records cataloguing taxable land and livestock holdings of Essex families throughout the 19th century, an 1819 survey of local streets, Board of Health statistics compiled during the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918 and a roll call of residents preparing to vote on constructing Town Hall in 1882.

The oldest document is a property record from 1760, Bevan said.

Records show the school district budget in 1838 was $600.

Many of the documents predate the town being called Essex and record events in the old Chebacco Parish, when the town was still part of Ipswich.

The Civil War documents include lists of payments soldiers who received from the town and federal government for their service and record what regiment they served in.

A form signed in 1862 by resident William Allen authorized the enlistment of his 13-year old son Robert Wallace Allen into the Union Army for a nine-month tour of duty as a battlefield drummer.

Additional old town records are located in other parts of the building, Bevan said, and ultimately should be combined with everything in the vault into one archive.