USA > Massachusetts > Gazetteer of the state of Massachusetts, pt 1 > Part 14
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numbering about 1,000 volumes. There is one Congregational church and the Methodists have one at Berkley and another at Myricksville.
This town, whose territory was formerly parts of Dighton and Taunton, was incorporated in 1735; being named in honor of George Berkeley, Bishop of Cloyne. Another portion of territory at the southwest of Berkeley was annexed from Dighton in 1799; and in 1810, 1842 and 1879 annexations were made from Taunton,-the last embracing about 2,000 acres at the southeast, including what is called Myrick's District, now the most enterprising part of the town.
Bishop Berkeley was pleased at the mark of esteem in the name of the town, and sent the people a church organ. The instrument arrived safely at New York, where it was held as security for freight; and after a time there was an added charge for storage ; and finally it was placed in Trinity church, in that city, where, at last accounts, it was still in use. Opposition to instrumental music in religious service was long afterwards manifested in this town. The first minister here was Rev. Samuel Tobey, who was settled in 1737, and died in 1781. He was followed by Rev. Thomas Andros, who had been a soldier and a captive in the Revolution. His suf- ferings are related in a book bearing the name "The Old Jersey Captive." Rev. William Mason Cornell, M.D., D.D., LL.D., was born here October 16, 1802.
Berkshire, a village in Lanesborough.
Berlin is one of those steady, quiet, farming towns whose people own the estates they occupy, and live independ- ently and without fear of molestation. It lies in the easterly see- tion of Worcester County, 40 miles northwest of Boston. On the north is Bolton, on the east Hudson and Marlborough; Northboro is on the south, and Boylston and Clinton on the west. Beside high- ways and water surfaces, its area is 7,627 acres, -of which 2,596 acres are woodland. The forest consists of oak, walnut, maple, pine and chestnut. Along the highways also are numerous, well-grown maples and elins.
A good iron bridge spans the Assabet River, which runs through the southeastern angle of the town. An affluent of this river is North Brook, which, with its tributaries, drains the central part of the town. Grant Pond, in the eastern part -about one mile in length by one half mile in width -is well stored with fish. The land is uneven, but without high hills; the largest being Barne's Hill in the southwest corner, and Wheeler Hill towards the north. The underlying rock is calcareous gneiss and Merrimack schist. There is a valuable quarry of building stone in the northerly part of the town. Iron ore is also found. There is much variety of soil, but loam has the largest area.
The town has 124 farms, 224 dwelling-houses, and 899 inhabitants. The aggregate farm product in 1885 was $120,881. One or more
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saw mills and a shoe factory constitute the manufactories ; wooden goods were also made to the value of $1,508. The valuation of the town in 1888 was $488,777 ; and its rate of taxation $8.50 on $1,000. The Boston and Maine Railroad (Mass. Central) has a station at Berlin (village) ; and the Old Colony road has one at the same place and at West Berlin. These are also the post-offices. Other villages are South Berlin, Berlin Centre and Carterville. At the centre is an elegant Memorial Hall.
The town, in 1885, had five school-houses, valued at $6,500. The principal library contains nearly 1,000 volumes, and there are three Sunday-school libraries containing about the same number addi- tional. There is a newspaper -the "Berlin Reporter" -issued weekly. The Congregationalists, Methodists, and Unitarians each have a church edifice here. The first society was organized in 1779. Rev. Reuben Puffer, D.D., was the first pastor, ordained in 1781, Berlin sent 122 men into the war for the Union, of whom 23 were lost.
In 1794 parts of Bolton and Marlborough were established as the district of Berlin; in 1791, part of Lancaster was annexed; in 1812 the district was incorporated as a town. Indian arrowheads, mortars and stone axes are occasionally exhumed here, especially about Washacum Pond.
Toward the east side of the town is Sawyer's Hill, a long ridge running north and south, on the west slope of which is the residence of Madame Rudersdorf, a musician and teacher of wide repute.
Among the eminent citizens of the past are Hon. William Bassett, Rev. William A. Haughton, Dr. E. Hartshorn, John B. Gough, and Hon, S. H. Howe.
Bernardston lies midway of the northern border of Franklin County, 96 miles northwest of Boston. It has Vernon and Guilford, in Vermont, on the north; on the east is Northfield; on the south, Gill and Greenfield; and on the west, Leyden. The town is quite near six miles long by four wide, containing 13,994 acres, beside water surfaces and highways. Of this, about 5,000 acres is forest, consisting chiefly of chestnut and oak. In the village portions there are many maples and elms along the streets. The town is finely watered by Fall River, which runs through the midst of it from north to south; Dry Brook on the east, and Mill Brook on its west, flow in the same direction. Couches and Shattuck brooks, coming in from the west and north- west, are the largest tributaries of the main stream.
The surface of the town is elevated and hilly, the principal settle- ments being in the beautiful valley of Fall River, which is flanked by mountains on east and west. Of these eminences, Bald Moun. tain, 630 feet above the Connecticut River, and West Mountain, are the most conspicuous. The principal rocks are clay slate, calcareous gneiss, lower and Devonian sandstones. Specimens of magnetic oxide of iron are found. Limestone has been profitably quarried; and there are springs containing sulphur and magnesia.
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Handsome crops of grain, hay, apples, potatoes, hops, and tobacco are produced. The number of farms is 139; and their aggregate product, in 1885, was $132,981. The largest item was the dairy product, while the value of cereals was large in proportion, at this period being $9,455. The largest item of manufacture is farm im- plements. The cutlery factory employs about fifteen persons. The aggregate value of manufactured goods, in 1885, was $47,890. The valuation of the town in 1888 was $400,210, with $13 on $1,000 as the rate of taxation. The population is 930. There are two vil- lages, Bernardston and North Bernardston. The Connecticut River Railroad passes through the southeastern section of the town, hav- ing a station at Bernardston village. The town has graded schools, with seven school-houses, valued at $6,500. There is also here a free academy named "Power's Institute," established in 1855. The public library now contains 5,000 volumes, and has a fund of $2,500 for additions. The Congregationalists, Methodists, Unitarians, Bap- tists and Universalists each have a church edifice. The town sent 76 men into the late war, of whom 15 were lost.
The territory was granted in 1735 to the heirs of the men engaged in the "Fall Fight," which occurred at Turner's Falls in May, 1676; and hence for many years it bore the name of Falltown; whence also is the name of its principal stream. Major John Burke, Samuel Connable, Lieut. Ebenezer Sheldon and Deacon Sheldon, built the first four houses here, in 1738. They were of hewn logs, with port-holes in the walls for defence against the Indians. Dur- ing the French and Indian War of 1755, the people suffered greatly from the incursions of the savages. Even the women bore arms for the defence of their homes and children.
The Rev. John Norton, ordained in 1741, was the first minister. The society is now Unitarian. The second Congregational was or- ganized in 1824, and the Baptist in 1808. The first money raised for schools was six English pounds, in December, 1770; and the first school-house was built in 1783. The town was incorporated March 6, 1762, under its present name, which was given in honor of Governor Francis Bernard. Samuel Clesson Allen (1772-1842) was a native of this town, and Henry Wyles Cushman, lieutenant-gover- nor of the Commonwealth 1851-2, was born here in 1805, and died here in 1863.
Bethlehem was incorporated as a district, June 24, 1789 ; and united with Loudon to form the town of Otis, on June 19, 1809.
Beverly is an old agricultural, nautical and manufacturing town, beautifully situated on rising ground on the southern shore of Essex County. It is bounded on the north by Wenham, east by Manchester, south by Salem Harbor, and west by Danvers. A bridge 1,500 feet long connects Beverly village on the southwestern point with Salem, across the inner harbor, called Beverly Harbor. It is 18 miles northeast of Boston by the Eastern
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BEVERLY.
Railroad, which has stations at Beverly and North Beverly ; and on the Gloucester branch road, following Beverly station, are Mont- serrat, Pride's Crossing and Beverly Farms. The post-offices are Beverly and Beverly Farms; and the villages are these and North Beverly, Centerville, Cove and Ryall's Side. The streams are East (or Bass) River, in the western part of the town, and Chubb's Creek, which partially separates it from Manchester, on the eastern side. The most elevated points are Bald Hill in the northeast, and Cherry and Brown hills in the northwest. Near the last is Wenham Lake, of 225 acres, lying across the line between Beverly and Wen- ham, and about equally in each. From this, by means of an aque- duct, Beverly village and Salem are supplied with water. About half-way between the lake and Beverly Farms is Beaver Pond, con- taining about 20 acres. Another feature of note is Beverly Rock, which may be considered the half-way mark between Beaver Pond and Beverly Farms. The scenery in most parts of the town is pic- turesque and charming, both for sylvan and sea views. The portion directly opposite Salem is the most populous, and has many well- shaded streets and handsome public and private buildings. The number of dwellings in the town in 1888 was 1741. North Beverly is a pleasant village between East River and Wenham Pond. Bev- erly Farms, romantically situated in the easterly section of the town, has a very beautiful street overlooking the islands of the bay. Elegant mansions extend along the shore on either hand, and press back upon the agricultural domain of the interior; and there is a general look of finish throughout the town. The area of Beverly, aside from highways and water surfaces, is 8,604 acres; and of this 1,235 acres are woodland. The geological structure is sienite; in which are found, here and there, specimens of polymignite, tin ore, green felspar and columbite. The farms number upwards of 160; and the product of the dairies, in 1885, was valued at $57,729; the poultry product at $12,291; vegetables, 857,947; the aggregate pro- duct being $206,111. Beverly Harbor admits vessels of considerable size, and both shipbuilding and fisheries are prosecuted with regu- larity. The catch of food fish alone by the fishermen of this port in 1885 was $35,436. The chief income of the people, however, is from the manufactures. Food preparations, in the year mentioned, yielded $72,998 ; metallic and wood work, 30,536; clothing, $67,393; build- ing, $302,638; leather, $225,000; boots and shoes, 83,567,743. The- latter manufacture employed 31 establishments; and the total num- ber of all kinds in the town was 123; the value of the aggregate product being $4,415,069. The valuation, in 1888, was $13,859,225; with a tax of $14 on $1,000. The Beverly National Bank, by the last report of the Comptroller, had assets to the value of $684,139, including the paid-in capital of $200,000; and the savings bank held deposits to the amount of $1,038,044. The public schools were accommodated by nine school buildings, valued at $100,000. A private kindergarten school is also sustained here. The New Eng- land Industrial School for Deaf-mutes, having buildings valued at $5,000, is located in this town. There are twelve libraries accessible
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to the public, having in the aggregate about 20,000 volumes. The town public library has some 12,000; a private circulating library 1,000 or more ; and the remainder are Sunday-school attachments. There are two valuable weekly papers published here, the " Citizen " and the "Times." There are ten churches - belonging to the first and second Baptist; the Dane Street Congregational, the Second Congregational (North Beverly) and the Washington Street Con- gregational ; the Methodist Episcopal; the Protestant Episcopal (Saint Peter's) ; the Roman Catholic (Star of the Sea) ; the First Parish (Unitarian) ; and the Universalist.
The territory of this town was originally a part of Salem, and bore the name of Bass River; which was incorporated in 1668 as Beverly, probably in reference to the town of that name in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. In 1753 another tract was annexed from Salem; and in 1857 part of Beverly was annexed to Danvers. In 1671 Roger Conant and thirty-four others petitioned to have the name changed, " because," he averred, " we being but a small place, it has caused us a constant nickname of 'beggarly.'" He desired to have the place called Budleigh, in honor of the town from which he came ; but his petition was not granted. The first meeting-house was erected in 1656; and on the 20th of September, 1767, Rev. John Hale was ordained the first minister. It was the duty of the sexton, in 1665 and later, to "ring the bell at nine o'clock every night a sufficient space of time," and to "keep and turn the glass," which was to guide the minister during his services ; it being under- stood that his sermon would occupy just one hour. Capt. Thomas Lothrop, commander of a company called " The Flower of Essex," most of whom, with their leader, fell at Bloody Brook in Deerfield, in 1675, was from this town. The number of enlistments in Bev- erly for the late war was 988; and about 100 of these lost their lives in the service of their country. There are now 80 residents of the town who are over 80 years of age; 35 who are past 85; and five who are over 90.
Distinguished men having Beverly for their birthplace are Col. Robert Hale (1703-1767), a brave soldier, physician and legis- lator; William Balch (1704-1792), an able divine and author; Israel Thorndike (1759-1832), an eminent merchant; Sidney Willard (1780-1856), author, and professor of Hebrew in Harvard Univer- sity ; William Bingham Tappan, an excellent poet, author of the familiar lyric, commencing, "There is an hour of peaceful rest; " Robert Rantoul (1805-1852), a distinguished lawyer and politician; Isaac Ray, M. D. (1807), an eminent physician; Andrew Preston Peabody, D.D. (1811), an able and elegant scholar, Plummer pro- fessor in Harvard University.
Billerica is an ancient and pleasant town in the northeast- erly part of Middlesex County. Its boundaries are Chelmsford on the northwest, Tewksbury on the northeast, Wilming- ton and Burlington on the east, Bedford on the south, and Carlisle on the southwest. It is twenty miles from Boston on the Boston
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BILLERICA.
and Lowell Railroad ; the main line of which passes through the northeast side of the town, having stations at East Billerica and North Billerica; while the Bedford Branch, passing through the length of the town, north and south, has stations at South Billerica and Billerica village, at the centre. The last, and North, East and South Billerica, are the post-offices. The other villages are West Billerica, Pattenville and Rutland.
The area of the town is 15,307 acres, aside from the highways and water-surfaces ; and of this, 6,375 acres are woodland. The land is elevated in the centre of the town, and commands extensive views of the surrounding country, with the summits of Wachusett and the New Ipswich Mountains in the distance. Gilson Hill in the north- west and Fox Hill in the northeast are noted elevations. Winning's Pond of ten acres in the southwesterly, and Nutting's Pond of ninety acres in the southerly, part are handsome sheets of water, from which many pickerel, bream and perch are taken. The Concord and the Shawsheen rivers enter the town from Bedford on the southwest, and, pursuing parallel courses, leave it, the one at its northern and the other at its northeastern angle. The Concord is here a deep and sluggish stream, with excellent hay and cranberry meadows on its borders. Fox Brook is a tributary of the Shawsheen. The timber growth is chiefly oak, ash, walnut, maple, gray birch, and white and yellow pine. The blue gentian (Gentiana Andrewsii), the cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), the lady's slipper (Cypripedium spectabile), and other beautiful specimens of the floral kingdom, decorate the meadows.
The geological structure of this town is, in the main, calcareous gneiss. On the summits of the ledges many marks of glacial action are observed. The soil is various ; in some parts light and sandy, in others strong and deep, repaying well the labors of the husbandman.
In 1885 there were 212 farms cultivated in the town. The dairy products were valued at 853,906; hay, etc., $55,337; fruits, berries and nuts, $21,036; vegetables, $28,745; and wood products $11,008. There were 1,384 neat cattle, and 21,219 fruit trees. The value of the aggregate product was $201,737. The number of manufactories operated in the same year was 18, the leading articles made being boots and shoes, woollen goods, dyestuffs, leather, wood and metal goods, including machines, and carriages and wagons, lumber, and furniture, - whose aggregate value was $964,547. The more notable establishments are the two extensive woollen factories and a logwood mill on the Concord River at North Billerica ; and in addition the town has two saw mills, one machine shop, one large chemical, one cabinet, and one soap factory. The valuation of the town in 1888 was $1,654,513; with a tax of $10 on $1,000. The schools are graded, and occupy ten buildings, whose value is placed at upwards of $21,000. Mitchell's School for Boys (a private institution) has a wide reputa- tion and is largely attended. The Howe School is a well-endowed academy, incorporated in 1852. There are seven libraries accessible to the public, containing nearly 10,000 volumes. The public library building, a memento of the public spirit of the Bennet family, is a
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handsome structure in the Gothic style, and contains upwards of 2,000 well-chosen volumes. There is also an. association library, and a church and several Sunday-school libraries. The town has the credit of a good weekly newspaper, the "Billerica Tribune."
The Unitarian church edifice at the centre is about a century old, and a fine example of Colonial architecture. The Congregationalists and Baptists also have pleasant, well-furnished churches. At North Billerica are the Roman Catholic church (Saint Andrew's), and the Baptist society, whose neat edifice was a gift from ex-Governor Tal- bot.
The territory now embraced in the town was granted to Cambridge in 1641, " provided they would make it a village to have ten families settled there within ten years." The first settlement was made, about the year 1653, by John Parker, John Kittredge, John Rogers, Jonathan Danforth, Rev. Samuel Whiting, Simon Crosby, Edward Farmer, Thomas Richardson, and others. The town was surveyed, and divided into what were denominated ten and five acre lots, by Jonathan Danforth. A ten-acre lot contained 113 acres of upland, and twelve of meadow; a five-acre lot, half that quantity. The place was called Shawsheen by the Indians, a name which is perpetu- ated by the pretty stream in the eastern part of the town. Billericay, in England, from which some of the settlers cane, furnished the new name, under which it was incorporated May 29, 1655. The first house of worship was covered with thatch, instead of shingles, and completed about 1660; and the Rev. Samuel Whiting, the first min- ister, was ordained over the church at its formation in 1663. He died in 1713, and was succeeded by the Rev. Samuel Ruggles. During Philip's War, in 1675-76, this town suffered no important injury ; but during the French and Indian War, in 1695, an attack was made upon the people, and several were slain. On the 5th of August of that year, the Indians entered the house of John Rogers, in the northerly part of the town, and discharged an arrow at him while asleep, which entered his neck, and severed the main artery. " Awakened by this sudden and unexpected attack, he started up, seized the arrow, which he forcibly withdrew, and expired with the instrument of death in his hand. A woman, being in the chamber, threw herself out of the window, and, though severely wounded, made her escape by concealing herself among some flags. A young woman was scalped, and left for dead, but survived the painful opera- tion and lived for many years. A son and daughter of Mr. Rogers were made prisoners. The family of John Levistone suffered most severely. His mother-in-law and five young children were killed, and his oldest daughter captured. Capt. Thomas Rogers and his oldest son were killed. Mary, the wife of Dr. Roger Toothaker, and Margaret, his youngest daughter, with four other persons, were slain. Though the Indians were immediately pursued by the inhabitants of the centre of the town, yet so effectually had they taken precau- tions in their flight, that all efforts to find them proved unavailing. It is said that they even tied up the mouths of their dogs with wam- pum, from an apprehension that their barking would discover the
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BILLINGSGATE - BLACKSTONE.
direction they had taken. The shock given to the inhabitants by this melancholy event was Jong had in painful remembrance."
The first patriot who fell at the battle of Bunker Hill was a young man by the name of Asa Pollard, belonging to Billerica. The man- ner of his death is thus related by Col. Prescott : " The first man who fell in the battle of Bunker Hill was killed by a cannon-ball, which struck his head. He was so near me that my clothes were besmeared with his blood and brains, which I wiped off, in some degree, with a handful of fresh earth. The sight was so shocking to many of the men, that they left their posts, and ran to view him. I ordered them back, but in vain. I then ordered him to be buried instantly. A subaltern officer expressed surprise that I should allow him to be buried without having prayers said. I replied, 'This is the first man that has been killed, and the only one that will be buried to-day. I put him out of sight, that the men may be kept in their places. God only knows who or how many of us will fall before it is over. To your post, my good fellow, and let each man do his duty.' He was struck by a cannon-ball thrown from the line-of-battle ship 'Somer- set.' "
On October 8, 1873, the town consecrated a fine granite monument in honor of its soldiers lost in the war of the Slaveholders' Rebellion.
There were living in Billerica, in 1885, 44 persons who were over 80 years of age, 16 who were over 85, and four who were over 90.
William Crosby, an eminent jurist, was born here June 3, 1770, and died March 31, 1852. The late Hon. Thomas Talbot, a governor of the Commonwealth, was a citizen of this town for thirty years. Here, too, at "Brightside," was the residence of the late Rev. Elias Nason. Hon. Onslow Stearns, a governor of New Hampshire ; Eliza- beth Palmer Peabody, the author and philanthropist ; and Miss Har- riet Rogers, the founder of the system of teaching deaf-mutes to read the lips in speech, were natives of this place.
Billingsgate, a village in Wellfleet.
Billingsgate Island, at entrance of Wellfleet Harbor. Billington Sea, a pond in Plymouth.
Birchdale, a village in Merrimack.
Blackinton, a village in North Adams; also one in Will- iamstown.
Blackstone is a young, enterprising and growing town in the extreme southeastern corner of Worcester County, 36 miles from Boston on the New York and New England Railroad. Blackstone village is the station on the main line of this road, while the Woonsocket Division has also a station at East Black-
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stone. The Providence and Worcester Railroad has stations at Blackstone village and Millville. The post-offices are the places men- tioned and Waterford; and the villages include these and Chestnut Hill. The town is square in form, having an assessed area of 9,330 acres ; and of this, 3,880 acres are woodland. It is bounded on the north by Mendon, east by Bellingham, south by Woonsocket and North Smithfield in Rhode Island, and west by Uxbridge. Mill River, coursing from north to south along the eastern line of the town, and the Blackstone traversing the southwest corner to the principal village, furnish power for propelling the machinery of ex- tensive manufactories. The place has a large cotton mill, a large wool- len mill, a worsted mill, one for mixed textiles, a large rubber factory. and several other establishments of smaller size ; and the value of their aggregate product in 1885 was $3,422,552. The town is handsomely varied in its surface. A lone hill at the centre is very conspicuous ; while Pickering and Candlewood hills in the northeast, and Chestnut Hill rising up from the village in the northwest, enhance the beauty of those sections. Hop Brook, in the northeast, contributes its waters to Mill River; Fox Brook meanders centrally through the town, reaching the Blackstone below the falls. A beautiful and romantic scene, extending from the "rolling dam" to the confluence of the streams, is presented to the lovers of the picturesque. The stream rushes madly along over a rough rocky bed; and, shooting from the fissures in the rocks, large trees - pine and cedar - overshadow the impetuous current, altogether forming a delightful wood and water view. On Hop Brook, an immense elm, which has breasted the storms of more than a hundred and fifty winters, still spreads its grateful shade for the people of the neighborhood. The soil of the town is generally light and sandy, but many of the farms are excellent. Altogether, their number is 117; and their aggregate product in 1885 was ยง115,381. The valuation of the town, in 1888, was 82,453,235; and the rate of taxation $18.10 on $1,000. The population, in 1885, was 5,436, with 897 dwelling-houses. The schools are both graded and mixed, with eight school buildings, valued at $31,900. The Blackstone Atheneum is an object of regard to the citizens; the Blackstone Library Association has done a good work for the literary culture of the inhabitants ; the Melville Agricultural Library, though small, has been of much service ; the Sunday schools also have their libraries ; so that the entire number is ten, containing in the aggregate about 10,000 volumes. The " Valley Chronicle" is a valuable weekly visitant, with its miscellany of news.
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