History of Leverett, Massachusetts, USA

Leverett, Massachusetts
Franklin county. A good grazing town, on high ground, 85 miles W.N.W. from Boston and 10 S.E. from Greenfield. This town is watered by Roaring brook, a rapid stream, on which is a cascade, and some wild scenery, worthy of the traveler's notice. Incorporated, 1774. Population, 1837, 902.

Leverett was once the eastern part of Sunderland.

This town was named in honor of John Leverett, a popular Governor of the State from 1673 to 1678 ; and of his grandson, an excellent President of Harvard College from 1707 to 1724.

A few scythes and palm-leaf hats are manufactured, but the chief business is agriculture.

Distance from Greenfield, 10 miles; from Boston, 85.

This town was incorporated in 1774. Rev. Henry Williams was installed pastor here in 1784. He died in 1811, and was succeeded by Rev. Joel Wright, in 1812, who continued pastor till 1820; Rev. Joseph Sawyer, the next minister, was settled in 1822. The next was Rev. Jonas Colburn. who was settled in 1824; and was succeeded, in 1832, by Rev. Freegrace Reynolds.

This is principally an agricultural town. In 1837, there were two scythe factories, which manufactured 2,400 scythes, valued at $1,600. Palm-leaf hats manufactured, 30,400; the value of which was $4,590. There are two Congregational churches, one in the north, the other in the south part of the town; there are two postoffices. Population, 902. Distance, 3 miles E. from Sunderland, 10 from Greenfield, and 85 from Boston.

Leverett, a post-township of Franklin Co., Massachusetts, about 28 miles N. by E. from Springfield. Population, 948.

Leverett is a mountainous town in the southeastern part of Franklin County, 106 miles west of Boston. The township has the form of a rhombus. Montague lies on the north, Wendell on the northeast angle, Shutesbury on the east, the latter and Amherst on the south, and Sunderland on the west.

The assessed area is 12,999 acres, which includes 7,032 acres of woodland. There is also a considerable area of waste land. The wild cat and wild turkey were found here until a recent period. There are several tracts of level or undulating land in the north of the town, but in other parts such surfaces have only a narrow space along the streams. Yet there are no very high elevations. Among its minerals are found galena, heavy spar, blende and copper pyrites.

Sawmill River, rising in the next town east, flows through the northern part of Leverett, receiving affluents, and pursuing a tortuous course to the Connecticut. It furnishes power for several saw and grist mills. Cranberry River and Plain ...

Lev'erett, a post-village of Franklin co., Mass., in Leverett township, on the New London Northern Railroad, 25 miles N. of Palmer. It has 2 churches. Pop. of the township, 831. The township has manufactures of satinets, fruit-boxes, and water-pails.