History of Pepperell, Massachusetts, USA

Pepperell, Massachusetts
Middlesex county. This is a very pleasant town, with a good soil and handsome orchards. It is watered by the Nashua river, which gives it a good water power. There are three paper mills in the town, and manufactures of palm-leaf hats, boots, shoes, &c. Annual amount about $80,000. Incorporated 1753. Population, 1837, 1,586. It lies 33 miles N.W. from Boston, and 17 N.N.W. from Concord.

Col. William Prescott, the brave defender of Charlestown heights, was a native of this town. He died in 1795, aged 70.

This town derived its name from Sir William Pepperell, who about the year 1727, was chosen one of his majesty's council, and was annually re-elected 32 years, till his death. Living in a country exposed to a ferocious enemy, he was well fitted for the situation in which he was placed, for it pleased God to give him a vigorous frame, and a mind of firm texture, and of great calmness in danger. He rose to the highest military honors which his country could...

This town was named after Sir William Pepperell, who commanded the expedition which New England sent in 1745 against Louisburg, in the Island of Cape Breton, then a French fortress of great strength.

Pepperell was originally a part of Dunstable.

Nisitissit River runs through the town into the Nashua, which forms the eastern boundary, both rivers affording valuable sites for mills.

The chief manufactures are paper, shoes, and palm-leaf hats.

Colonel Prescott, who commanded the Americans at the battle of Bunker Hill, was a citizen of this town.

Distance from Concord, 17 miles; from Boston, 33.

This town was incorporated in 1753. This town, with several others in the vicinity, some in Massachusetts and some in New Hampshire, were once included within the ancient limits of the town of Dunstable. The river Nashua forms the eastern boundary of the town, dividing it from Groton and the present town of Dunstable. The land bordering on the river is level, and the soil is good; the land at a distance from the river is uneven. On Nisitissit river there are several mills for various purposes, and the Nashua itself has several falls in its course along the border of the town, affording many valuable water privileges.

In the central part of the town there is a village, containing two Congregational churches, one of which is Unitarian, and an Insane Asylum, by Dr. Cutter. Population. 1,586. Distance. 17 miles from Concord, and 33 from Boston. In 1837, there were manufactured 100 pairs of boots and 30,000 pairs of shoes, valued at $25,000; males employed 30; females, 15. There were 3...

Pepperell, a post-township in Middlesex co., Massachusetts, on Nashua river, on the Worcester and Nashua railroad. Pop., 1764.

Pepperell, a post-village in the above township, on the railroad, 87 miles N. W. from Boston, contains 2 or 3 churches.

...In Pepperell, a house was blown down, containing nine persons, and, singular to record, not one of them was injured...

EAST PEPPEREL, Mass., June 20. - The north-bound passenger train No. 49, on the Worcester and Nashua Division of the Boston and Maine Railroad, due here at 7:51 last evening, and consisting of a baggage car and two passenger coaches, collided with an extra south-bound freight train of 17 cars, about 30 rods from this station last night. Engineer Whittemore, of the passenger train, who discovered the other train approaching when rounding a curve close upon it, had barely time to reverse his engine and apply the air brake before he, with his fireman, Edward Potter, jumped off. Whittemore escaped with slight bruises, while Potter was badly injured in the left hip. The few passengers on the train were violently shaken up. Mrs. Granville Parker, of Pepperel, was thrown over a seat and received a deep gash over her right eye. She was also rendered unconscious from bruises and internal injuries. Vincent Truder, of Ayer, was severely injured in the right hip. Mrs. Samuel Beverly, of Nashua,...

Pepperell is a busy and beautiful town in the northwesterly part of Middlesex County, having the Nashua River for its eastern line, except where it crosses an extensive eastern projection of the territory. The Worcester, Nashua and Portland Division of the Boston and Maine Railroad has its Pepperell station at Babbatasset village, on the Nashua, near the paper mills. The Nissitisset River, coming across the town from the northwest, and furnishing power at East Village, enters the Nashua a short distance northward of the station. The last-mentioned place and Pepperell (centre) are the posy-offices. The other villages are North, South and West Pepperell.

The town is bounded on the east by Dunstable and Groton, on the south also by the latter, on the west by Townsend, and on the north by Hollis in New Hampshire. The assessed area is 13,652 acres; of which 3,236 acres are forests — principally of pine and chestnut. In the northeast are the twin eminences, the Nissitissit Hills; on the...