History of Prescott, Massachusetts, USA*

1822 - Prescott is incorporated

1839 - Prescott
Prescott, Massachusetts
Hampshire county. The surface of this town is rough and hilly. The principal manufacture consists of palm-leaf hats, of which about 50,000 are annually made. The soil is better for grazing than tillage. Prescott lies 76 miles W. from Boston and 16 N.E. from Northampton. Taken from Pelham in 1822. Population, 1837, 788.
The New England Gazetteer containing descriptions of all the states, counties and towns in New England: also descriptions of the principal mountains, rivers lakes, capes, bays, harbors, islands and fashionable resorts within that territory. By John Hayward, author of the Columbian Traveller, Religious Creeds, &c. &c. Boston: John Hayward. Boyd & White, Concord, N.H. 1839

1845 - PRESCOTT. [Pop. 780. Inc. 1822.]
Prescott was taken from Pelham and New Salem. It was named in honor of Col. Prescott, of Peperell, who was the actual commander at the battle of Bunker Hill.

Its soil is rough and hilly, but well watered by two sources of Swift river.

A large number of palm-leaf hats are made here, but the inhabitants are generally farmers.

Distance from Northampton, 16 miles; from Boston, 76.
An Elementary Geography for Massachusetts Children by William Bentley Fowle and Asa Fitz, 1845

1854 - Prescott
Prescott, a post-township in Hampshire co., Massachusetts, 74 miles W. from Boston. Population, 737.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

Prescott Massachusetts, 1890
Prescott forms the northeast angle of Hampshire County, and is about 100 miles west of Boston. The Athol and Enfield Branch of the Boston and Albany Railroad passes through the southeast corner, and has stations in the adjoining towns east and south. Its territory is in the form of an inverted L. New Salem bounds it on the north, Dana and Greenwich on the east, the latter and Enfield on the south, and Pelham and Shutesbury on the west. Its assessed area is 11,007 acres; and there are about 2,300 acres of forest, consisting chiefly of chestnut and pine.

Prescott is a pleasant farming town of 448 inhabitants, 142 legal voters, 109 taxed dwelling-houses, and 111 farms. The products of the last are of the usual variety, and were valued in 1885 at $63,9992, The soil of this town is strong, yellow loam, but hard to till. There are some domestic manufactures of hats. There are several saw-mills, making lumber, boxes, whip-stocks, etc. The valuation in 1888 was $177,330, with a tax-rate of ... Read MORE...

1895 - Prescott
Prescott, a post-township of Hampshire co, Massachusetts, about 28 miles N.N.E. of Springfield. Pop. 494.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1906
Prescott, a post-township (town) of Hampshire co., Mass., about 28 miles NNE. of Springfield. Pop. in 1900, 380.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

1938 - Prescott is no longer a town. It is flooded and becomes part of the Quabbin Reservoir.

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates