History of Leyden, Massachusetts, USA

Leyden, Massachusetts
Franklin county. Leyden is watered by Green river and several small streams. It is 100 miles N.W. from Boston and 7 N. by W. from Greenfield. It is a mountainous township, more fit for grazing than tillage. The number of sheep in the town, in 1837, was 3,142; their fleeces weighed 9,326 pounds; value of the wool, $5,129. The town was incorporated in 1809. Population, 1837, 656.

There is a romantic spot in Leyden, called "The Glen," a curious place, worth looking at.

Leyden was taken from Bernardston.

It was named in honor of that town in Holland, where the Pilgrim Fathers resided during their exile from England, before they sailed for Plymouth.

Green River, a branch of the Deerfield, separates Leyden from Coleraine. The Glen, where a branch of Green River narrows and passes between high rocks, is very beautiful.

Some wool is raised here, but the inhabitants are chiefly fanners.

Distance from Greenfield, 7 miles; from Boston, 100.

This town was incorporated in 1809. It was formerly a part of Coleraine, and is now divided from that town by Green river, which, passing through Greenfleld, passes into Deerfield river. There is one church in the town, which is situated in the central part, and belongs to the Baptists, the only regular denomination in the town. Agricultural pursuits is the business of the inhabitants. In 1837, there were 1,140 Saxony, 1,733 merino, and 269 other kinds of sheep in this town; Saxony wool produced, 3,320 lbs.; merino, 5,199 lbs.; other kinds, 807 lbs.; average weight of fleece, 3 lbs.; value of wool, $5,129.30; capital invested, $7,855. Population, 656. Distance, 7 miles from Greenfield, and 100 from Boston. The “Glen,” a narrow rocky pass, through which a branch of the Green river passes, is much admired for its wild and pieturesque scenery.

William Dorrell, the founder of the sect of Dorrellites, it is believed is still living in the north west corner of this town. He is a native...

Leyden, a post-township of Franklin co., Massachusetts, bordering on Vermont, about 44 miles N. from Springfield. Pop., 716.

Leyden is a small, mountainous farming town situated midway of the northern side of Franklin County, having the State of Vermont on the north, Bernardston on the east, Greenfield on the south, and Colrain on the west. The distance from Boston is about 115 miles northwesterly. The assessed area is 9,500 acres, which includes 2,010 acres of woodland. The villages and post-offices are Leyden (centre) and West Leyden. The nearest railway stations are Bernardston and Greenfield, in the towns adjoining.

The chief elevations are Daniel's Peak in the northeast section and Ball Mountain in the southern part. At Beaver Meadow in the northeast part, is a small settlement about a saw and grist mill on Shattuck Brook. Budington Creek flows from the northern part through the midst of the town southward; and Green River marks, nearly, the boundary line with Colrain on the west. On the latter stream and its affluents are three or more saw mills. On a tributary stream of this river, in the southern ...

Leyden, a post-village of Franklin co., Mass., in Leyden township, 9 miles N. of Greenfield. It has a church. Pop. of the township, 524.