USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Dunstable > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 15
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tyngsborough > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 15
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hudson > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 15
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 15
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Litchfield > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 15
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashville > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 15
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hollis > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 15
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Merrimack > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
The Savings Bank deposites in 1845 were $44,000, by 364 depositers, three fourths of whom are females. No interest is allowed on any sum exceeding $500, and the privileges of the Bank are limited to individuals in the employ of the company. The rate of interest is 5 per cent .- On the first of June of every year interest is credited on all amounts and added to the princi- pal, and interest computed on the total sum from that date,- thus giving to those who permit their savings to remain in the hands of the company for any length of time, the advantage of com- pound interest. The following table, arranged October 13, 1845, shows the number of feinales employed in the N. M. Co.'s Mills and the pro-
m
205
NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
portion thereof who attend meeting, are members of the Sabbath School, and are professors of re- ligion :
Whole | No. who
no. girls
attend
Attend| Memb's Sab.
of
lempl'd. Imeeting | School. church's
No. 1 Mill,
214
194
116
67
No. 2 Mill,
216
206
131
82
No. 3 Mill,
192
167
8S
52
No. 4 Mill,
170
151
73
43
Cloth Room,
8
8
3
6
Total,
| 800
726
411 | 250
About 1828, the Indian Head Company became embarrassed, and soon after the works stopped. The whole property was then disposed of to a new company, which was incorporated in 1830 by the name of the Jackson Company. They took out the old machinery, and converted the establishment into a cotton manufactory. The
capital stock of this company is $480,000. They have two Mills, 150 and 155 feet in length, by 48 feet in width, and 4 stories high. These contain 11,588 spindles and 378 looms, and em- ploy 90 males and 350 females. The amount paid males per annum, is $30,000,- to females, $60,000. 'They use 5,000 bales of cotton a year, averaging 400 pounds each, from which they manufacture five and a half million yards of cloth of the following kinds : 46 and 37 inch sheetings, and 30 inch shirtings, all of No. 14 yarn. The value of wood per annum is $2,500; oil $3,700 ; starch $2,500; leather $1,000. The amount of deposites in the Savings Bank is $18,000, on which 5 per cent. compound interest is allowed. The depositing is confined to operatives, and no interest is allowed on any sum over $500. The number of depositers is 150. The agent of the
206
HISTORY OF
company is Edmund Parker, Esq .; George F. Beck, clerk.
In February, 1827, the first newspaper was established in town by Andrew E. Thayer, Esq., and called the "Nashua Constellation." After a short time it passed into the hands of Israel Hunt, Jr., Esq., and its name changed to " The Nashua Gazette." Its present editor is William Butterfield.
In 1830, the population of Dunstable had in- creased to 2,417 of which number about 1,500 resided within the village.
In the winter of 1831, a new paper called the " Nashua Herald" was started by Dr. Simeon J. Bard, but it did not prosper, and was soon given up. In September, 1832, the " New Hamp- shire Telegraph," a weekly paper, was establish- ed by Alfred Beard, and is now conducted by Albin Beard. " The Oasis " was established in January, 1843, by Murray & Sawtell, and is now published every Wednesday morning, by Murray & Kimball.
In the fall of 1832, the First Baptist Society was organized, and obtained its present pastor, Rev. Dura D. Pratt. It was formed as early as 1818, and a church organized in 1822; but they were few and feeble, and preaching was main- tained but a small portion of the time. A large and commodious meeting house was now erected, at a cost of nearly $8,000; and January 23, 1833, it was dedicated, and Rev. Mr. Pratt ordained. The church now comprises over 500 members. The Sabbath School consists of 350 members, and has a library of 300 volumes.
The First Methodist Episcopal Society was organized November 3, 1832. A meeting house was erected in 1833, and enlarged, and a parson- age attached in 1837. Their ministers have been
NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 207
as follows : - Rev. A. P. Brigham, 1834; Rev. Wm. D. Cass. 1835; Rev. Wm. H. Hatch, 1836 ; Rev. Jared Perkins, 1838 ; Rev. Samuel Kelley, 1840 ; Rev. J. W. Mowry, Rev. L. D. Barrows, Rev. J. Smith. Rev. Mr. Pike is the present pastor.
April 1, 1844, after the separation of Nashville, a new church was organized, under the name of the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Nashua, and during the same year the society purchased the meeting house formerly occupied by the Second Baptist Society, for $15,000, about half the original cost. Rev. E. A. Rice, of Lowell, Mass., supplied the pulpit for the first three months. From July 1, 1844, to July 1, 1845, the church was under the pastoral care of Rev. C. C. Burr. Rev. J. Boyce is the present pastor. This church contains 160 members. There are 268 scholars in the Sabbath School, and 360 vol- umes in the library.
From 1830 to 1837 the growth of the village was rapid and constant. The population of the village had nearly trebled in number. Trade and travel had increased proportionally. In the spring of 1835, the project was conceived of ex- tending the Lowell Railroad to Nashua. June 23, 1835, a charter for this purpose was granted, by the Legislature of New Hampshire ; and by that of Massachusetts, April 16, 1836. In 1836, the preparatory surveys were made and the loca- tion filed. Uriah A. Boyden, Esq., was engaged as engineer. In May, IS37, the work upon the road was commenced, and October 8, 1838, the NASHUA AND LOWELL RAILROAD was first opened for the transportation of passengers as far as the great elms near Judge Parker's house, where a temporary depot was erected. December 23, 1838, the bridge over the Nashua, and the depot
* 18
208
HISTORY OF
near Main street, were completed, and the cars for the first time came up to the present terminus. The length of the road is about fourteen and a half miles, exclusive of double tracks, and its total cost about $380,000, or about $25,000 per mile, including fixtures and apparatus.
June 27, 1835, the Concord Railroad Company was incorporated. This Railroad was commenc- ed in the spring of 1841, under the direction of William S. Whitwell, Esq., as engineer, and fin- ished to Concord, September 1, 1842. Its length is 34 miles, 3048 feet. The net profits have been 10 per cent. per annum from its commencement. The amount of capital is $800,000. The officers of the Road are :
ADDISON GILMORE, of Boston, President.
ISAAC SPALDING, of Nashua, Treasurer.
CHARLES H. PEASLEE, of Concord, Clerk.
June 19, 1835, the NASHUA BANK was incorpo- rated, with a capital of $100,000; and went into operation soon after.
In 1835, the steamboat Herald was also built, and placed upon the Merrimac in the summer of 1836. It was intended to ply between Nashua and Lowell, but the shortness of the distance,- the inconvenience of the landing places, and the necessity for the shifting of passengers and bag- gage, rendered the enterprise a failure.
In 1835, the First Universalist Society was organized, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Woodbury M. Fernald. He preached until 1837, when Rev. A. P. Cleverly became their preacher. In 1839, a large meeting house was erected, and in October of that year, Rev. Lewis C. Browne was ordained as their pastor. In consequence of ill health, Mr. Browne requested a dismission in Sep- tember, 1848, and Rev. Wm. H. Ryder, the pres- ent pastor, was installed December 25th. of the
209
NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
same year. 'The church was organized in 1841, and contains 104 members. There are two be- nevolent societies sustained by the ladies of the society. The Sabbath School embraces 20 teach- ers, and 175 scholars. The Sabbath School Li- brary numbers 600 volumes.
In April, 1836, the population had increased to 5065, of which number 2105 were males, and 2960 females.
During this year, a Second Baptist Society was formed under Rev. N. W. Smith, and a meeting house erected. In 1838, Rev. Samuel C. Pratt was ordained as its pastor. In 1839, the society was again united to the First Baptist Society.
January 1, 1837, the township laid aside its ancient name of DUNSTABLE, which it had worn from its infancy, through good and evil fortune a hundred and sixty years, under which it had witnessed two revolutions and formed a portion of a Colony, a Province, and a sovereign State, -under which it had passed through many wars, and grown up from obscurity and poverty ; and adopted in order to distinguish it from its neigh- bor " t'other Dunstable," its present name, that of the river from which its prosperity is chiefly derived - NASHUA.
The First Free-Will Baptist Church was or- ganized November, 1838, and was under the pas- toral care of Elder Silas Curtis, to September, 1839. He was succeeded by Elder Thomas M. Preble, who was dismissed September, 1841. In December of the same year, Elder Benjamin Phelon was chosen pastor. He was dismissed December, 1842, since which time the church has been without a settled pastor. Religious ser- vices have been regularly observed every sabbath. The number of church members is 40. The Sabbath School numbers 56 members, and has a
210
HISTORY OF
Library of 150 volumes. The present house of worship was erected in 1844, at an expense of $600. Rev. S. Stearns is the present minister.
In 1840, the First Christian Society was organ- ized under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Robin- son. They have no meeting house.
In November, 1845, the services of the Protes- tant Episcopal Church were, for the first time, regularly observed in Nashua. The court-room of the town house has been occupied for this purpose. Rev. Milton Ward is the officiating minister.
In 1845, a large machine shop, built of brick and slated, was erected by the Nashua Company on the site of the old one. The main building is 150 feet long, with an addition of 158 feet, used for a blacksmith's shop, furnace, &c. The main building is occupied by shuttle and bobbin makers, locksmiths, gunsmiths, manufacturers of axes, hoes, ploughs, and by artisans in other branches. The whole number of workmen employed in the building is two hundred and eighteen. A portion of this building is occupied by the extensive es- tablishment of Messrs. J. & E. Baldwin, for the manufacture of shuttles and bobbins, which gives employment to a number of workmen.
'The manufacturing business of the Nashua Lock Company is also done here. This estab- lishment, of which L. W. Noyes and David Bald- win are the proprietors, is employed in the manu- facture of mortise locks and latches for dwelling house doors, and rose wood and brass knobs for the handles of the same. They usually have in their employment about 40 men, and manufac- tured, during the last year, $35,000 worth of goods. These manufactures embraced 56,617 locks and latches, and 35,000 pairs of rose wood knobs.
211
NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
Another portion of this shop is occupied by Mr. John H. Gage for building turning engines, machines for planing iron, engines for cutting gears, scroll chucks, and all other tools requisite to fill a large machine shop for building cotton and other machinery, and for doing railroad work. Mr. Gage now employs sixty-four work- men, and does business to the amount of about $40,000 per annum.
The " Nashua Manufacturing and Mechanics Association " was chartered January 2, 1829, with liberty to have a capital to the extent of $30,000. This company was organized under the charter August, 1845. 'The present capital is $10,000, with 200 shares at $50 each. The contemplation is to erect a brick building 100 feet long, two stories high, with two wings, each 150 feet long and 40 feet wide, one story, with an attic. The work in this shop is to be conducted by means of a steam engine of fifty horse power, and is intended to embrace all kinds of mechanical work similar to the Nashua Company's shop .--- One wing of the building is now completed, and is occupied by Mr. Edwin Chase, for the manu- facture of doors, window blinds and sashes.
The officers of this association are : THOMAS CHASE, President, THOMAS CHASE, L. W. NOYES, BARTLETT HOYT, ¿ Directors. ISRAEL HUNT, jr., JOHN H. GAGE, JOHN A. BALDWIN, Treasurer. FRANCIS WINCH, Clerk.
In the summer of 1845, the Iron Foundry of S. & C. Williams was erected. They manufac- ture, from pig iron, 4000 pounds of castings per
212
HISTORY OF
day, and consume in the same time, 1300 pounds Lehigh coal and six feet of wood. Their ar- rangements are such that they can melt nine or ten tons of iron at a melting, or eighteen tons in twelve hours. They now employ thirty men, and have room for twenty more. The amount of their business is not far from $40,000 a year.
In 1845, Mr. Alanson Crane commenced a cotton manufacturing establishment on Salmon Brook at the Harbor. His mill is 30 by 40 feet on the ground, two stories high, with an attic. When in full operation this mill will contain 500 spindles, for making cotton yarn of various num- bers and qualities. The yarn, when manufac- tured, is worked up into braids and cords of va- rious descriptions ; also twine for weavers' har- nesses, knitting cotton, &c. The number of op- eratives employed is 20, 4 males and 16 females. About $30,000 worth of goods are manufactured annually. A dye house is connected with this establishment for dyeing braids, cords, yarn, &c. From a survey recently made it is estimated that there is sufficient water running in Salmon Brook to operate 1500 spindles, and Mr. Crane contem- plates erecting another mill with about 1000 spin- dles and looms for the manufacture of cotton shirtings, sheetings, and drillings.
At the annual meeting of the town of Nashua, March, 1842, it was voted to erect a Town House. Of this structure, now completed, an account will be given in the Appendix.
In 1842, the town of Nashua was divided, and a part of the territory, chiefly lying north of the Nashua river, received the name of Nashville .- The following act of incorporation, passed by the Legislature, June 23, 1842, defines the limits of the new town :
" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
213
NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
Representatives in General Court convened,- That all that part of the town of Nashua, in the County of Hillsborough, lying westerly and northerly of a line commencing upon the Nashua river at the east side of Hollis, and running thence down said river, to the bridge erected over said river by the Nashua and Lowell Railroad Company ; thence from the southwest corner of said bridge, eastwardly by said railroad to the Old Ferry road so called, thence by said last mentioned road to the Merrimack river, be and the same is severed from the town of Nashua, and made a body politic and corporate, by the name of Nashville."
The town was organized July 11, 1842.
What a contrast our villages now present to their condition but twenty-six years ago ! Then there was one small religious society, without a minister : now there are ten, most of them in a flourishing condition, and enjoying the services of settled clergymen. Then there was one meet- ing house : now there are seven others, built at an expense of more than $45,000. It is a singu- lar fact that for more than 100 years not a settled minister died in town. Then the receipts of the Post office were about $250 yearly and now they exceed $2,500. Then a single stage coach pass- ed three times a week through the village. Now there are six daily lines, five tri-weekly lines, and two weeklies, besides extras and the railroad .- Then two stores supplied the town and neighbor- hood. Now there are near a hundred, several of which are wholesale stores, with an aggregate trade of more than half a million dollars. Then a canal boat dragging its " slow length along," and occupying days in its passage, laid our goods at the mouth of the Nashua : now by the magical power of steam they are brought to our doors al-
214
HISTORY OF
most in as many hours. The little village of less than fifty souls has increased one hundred and fifty fold. By the wondrous alchemy of skill and enterprise, out of the waters of the Nashua and the sands of this pine barren, from some half do- zen dwellings, have been raised up within these twenty-six years these thronged, and beautiful villages of near seven thousand people.
We have now traced this History through a period of nearly two centuries. From its wilder- ness state, by toil and privations, by bloodshed and sufferings, by enterprise and capital combin- ed, has this place been brought to its present con- dition. Its prosperity must now depend upon its trade and manufactures, and for the increase of them every effort should be made. Its central position and its facilities of transportation are ad- vantages, which cannot be too highly appreciated.
The multiplication of shops and stores, and the amount of their trade, are evidences of what has been accomplished by enterprise, and offer strong encouragements for the future. Other manufac- tures besides cotton are creeping in, thus far with great success, and should be encouraged. The manufactures of shuttles and bobbins, locks, guns, ploughs, edge tools, machinery, iron, brass, and tin ware, carriages, saddlery, sashes, blinds, doors, hats, caps, boots and shoes, reeds, cigars, furni- ture, time-pieces, boxes, stoves, and of patent leather, and book-binding, employ a large amount of capital and furnish employment to a large number of persons.
When we consider the ease and cheapness of communication with Boston and the comparative lowness of the price of land, of materials, and of board among us, it is manifest that all kinds of manufactures may be greatly extended and mul- tiplied, and to much advantage. If all will but
215
NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
labor permanently for this end, thus, and thus only, will the means of support be afforded to ad- ditional thousands, a market for all the neighbor- hood furnished, and the foundation be laid, broad and deep, and immovable, for the permanent prosperity of Nashua and Nashville.
19
CHAPTER XV.
NOTICES OF TOWNS INCLUDED IN OLD DUN- STABLE.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF HUDSON.
WE have seen that this town was included in the original grant of Dunstable, and was set off into a separate township by the General Assem- bly of Massachusetts in 1732, by the name of Nottingham. After the establishment of the boun- dary line, by which it fell within the limits and jurisdiction of New Hampshire, it received a new act of incorporation, July 5, 1746, and its name was changed to Nottingham West, there being already a Nottingham in the eastern section of the state. A small addition was made to its ter- ritory, by annexing a part of Londonderry, March 6, 1778, and the township now contains 17,379 acres. July 1, 1830, its name was changed by the Legislature to Hudson.
Hudson was not settled until after 1710, al- though several tracts of land within its bounds were granted before 1660. The names of some of the early settlers were Blodgett, Colburn, Cross, (taken captive at Dunstable, in 1724,) Cummings, Greeley, Hill, Lovewell, Marsh, Merrill, Pollard, and Winn. The first settle- ments were made on the banks of the Merrimac where the Indians had cleared fields for cultiva- ting corn. The first settlers lived in garrisons,
217
NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
but there is no record that any depredations were ever committed by the Indians in this town .- Near the Indian cornfields have been found cin- ders, like those of a blacksmith's forge, which have led to the conjecture that they employed a smith to manufacture their implements of war and agriculture.
November 30, 1737, a Congregational church was formed, and on the same day Rev. Nathan- iel Merrill was ordained its pastor. His relation as pastor to the church continued until his death in 1796, although his civil contract with the town was dissolved in 1774. Rev. Jabez Pond Fisher succeeded Mr. Merrill, and was ordained Feb. 24, 1796, but was dismissed in 1801. July 3, 1774, Rev. John Strickland was ordained, but af- ter a few years was dismissed by the town. In 1805 a Baptist church was organized, over which Rev. Daniel Merrill officiated from 1814 to 1819. In 1816 the Congregational church changed their form of government and united with the Presby- terians. In 1842 a new house of worship was erected by this society ; Rev. William Page is the present pastor. In 1840, a society was formed and a meeting house erected by the Methodists ; Rev. Matthew Newhall is the officiating minister. In 1841 a meeting House was erected by the Baptist society, and Rev. Joseph Storer was set- tled as pastor.
Hudson contains no lawyer and but one phy- sician, Dr. Henry M. Hooke. There are ten dis- trict schools, for the support of which in 1845 $700 were expended. Of this sum $430 were raised by the town, $156 given by the inhabi- tants in boarding teachers, $84 were derived from interest of the surplus revenue, and $30 from the Literary Fund.
In April 1776, before the Declaration of Inde-
218
HISTORY OF
pendence, the following Test Oath was sent out to each town in the state : " We the subscribers do hereby solemnly engage and promise that we will to the utmost of our power, at the risque of our lives and fortunes, with ARMS oppose the Hos- tile Proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies." Every person was required to sign this Test, or be look- ed upon as an enemy to his country. These Test Oaths were returned to the Convention then in session, and a large portion of them still exist .- In Hudson 119 signed the pledge, and one only, Capt. Joseph Kelley, refused to sign. (1.)
In the old French war of 1756, two soldiers from Hudson, Amos Pollard and Asa Worcester, were in the army, in Canada. During the Revo- lutionary war a large number of soldiers from Hudson were in the army. Jacob Blodgett, Ste- phen Chase, Joshua Severance, Joseph Greeley, who was wounded, and Nehemiah Winn, were in Capt. Walker's Company at Bunker Hill. In 1777, Hudson contained 124 males from sixteen to fifty years of age, and was bound to furnish fifteen soldiers for every draft made for the army.
The following is a list of the Representatives to the General Court from Hudson, from 1775 to 1783, and since 1793 :
Capt. Abraham Paige, 1775, 1776.
Asa Davis, for Hudson and Litchfield, 1777, 1779.
(1778, 1780, see Litchfield.)
William Burns, 1781, 1782.
Asa Davis, 1793, 1794, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808.
Col. Joseph Greeley, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1811, 1815, 1816.
(1.) The Test Returns from Dunstable, Hollis, Merrimac, and Litchfield are not to be found.
NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 219
Robert Patterson, 1809, 1810.
Isaac Colburn, 1812.
Isaac Merrill, 1813, 1814, 1817.
Noah Robinson, 1818, 1820, 1821.
Thomas B. Mason, 1819, 1828, 1830, 1831, 1833, 1835, 1836.
Caleb S. Ford, 1822, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1826, 1827.
Reuben Greeley, 1829.
Joseph Greeley, 1837.
David Burns, 1838, 1839.
Jabez P. F. Cross, 1840, 1841, 1842.
William Hadley, 1843, 1844.
The proportionate amount which the town has paid of every thousand dollars of the State tax, has been as follows: 1789, $7.51; 1794, $6.30; 1804, $5.31 ; 1808, $5.04; 1812, $4.73; 1816, $4.22; 1820, $4.90; 1836, $4.78; 1840, $4.31; 1844, $4.33.
The population of the town at various periods has been as follows: 1775, 649; 1790, 1064; 1800, 1267 ; 1810, 1376 ; 1820, 1227; 1830, 1282; 1840, 1144.
In 1820, Hudson contained two meeting houses, 10 school districts, 10 school houses, 1 tavern, 3 stores, 4 saw mills, 4 grain mills, 2 clothing mills, and 1 carding machine.
The following is the return of the resources and products of Hudson in 1840, as certified by the Marshal who took the census of the town : 135 horses, 1241 neat cattle, 1403 sheep, 585 swine. There were raised 173 bushels of wheat, 377 bushels of barley, 6453 bushels of oats, 3419 bushels of rye, 1219 bushels of buckwheat, S341 bushels of corn, 18,090 bushels of potatoes, 2398 pounds of wool, 2698 tons of hay, and 10 pounds of maple sugar. The annual value of the pro- ducts of the dairy was $6,987. There are three
*19
220
HISTORY OF
stores with a capital of $2,600. There are also two grist mills and three saw mills.
The number of polls in Hudson in 1839 was 218; in 1840, 236.
The valuation of the town in 1839 was $386,- 277; in 1840, $380,614.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF LITCHFIELD.
THE greater part of the township of Litchfield was granted, as we have seen, as early as 1656, to William Brenton, and called "Brenton's Farm." Its Indian name was Naticook, and the intervale portions of the town, as well as of Mer- rimac, Hudson, and Nashua, were inhabited and cultivated by a branch of the Penacooks, called sometimes, the Naticooks. It was settled about 1720, but when and by whom is unknown. Of the early settlers some were from Billerica, and some from Chelmsford, and among them were the names of Underwood, Chase, Bixby, Tufts, and Parker. It was set off from Dunstable, and incorporated by Massachusetts as a township, extending on both sides of Merrimac river, July 5, 1734. The charter was afterwards confirmed by New Hampshire, June 5, 1749, the Merrimac being established as its western boundary. It contains 8,426 acres.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.