History of Petersham, Massachusetts, USA

Petersham, Massachusetts
Worcester county. Petersham is a very pleasant town, elevated on a swell of fertile land, and presenting a fine prospect of many of the neighboring towns. It was first settled about the year 1732, and was called by the Indians Nashawang. Swift river waters a part of the town, and affords a water power. There is a woolen mill in the town; and manufactures of palm-leaf hats, leather, boots, shoes, chairs, and cabinet ware: total annual value, about $60,000. It lies 62 miles W. by N. from Boston and 27 N.W. from Worcester. Population, 1837, 1,731. Incorporated, 1754.

This town was granted to certain persons as a reward for services in the Indian wars, and it was called by its Indian name Nichewaug, till its incorporation.

The land is elevated, and the inhabitants are principally farmers.

Swift River waters the town, and. affords sites for factories of iron and woollen articles.

Distance from Worcester, 29 miles ; from Boston, 62.

This was an original grant made by the general court, in 1732, to John Bennet, Jeremiah Purley, and others, as a compensation for services done by them in the Indian wars, under Capt. John White, of Lancaster. Some time after the grant, the proprietors purchased the soil of the Indians, for a satisfactory consideration, and took of them a deed. It had been a residence of the Indians, and was called by them Nich-e-waug, which name it bore until it was incorporated a town, in 1754.

The chief seat of the Indians appears to have been in the south part of the town, near Nichewaug Hill, whereon, as in some other parts of the town, they had planted fields of Indian corn, the traces of which were remaining when the English began a settlement there. The first settlers experienced, many hardships and difficulties. In the infancy of the settlement in 1744, a French war broke out, and the Indians, being always in the interest of the French, became hostile, and began to commit, depredations in...

Petersham, a post-township in Worcester co., Massachusetts, 67 miles W. by N. from Boston. Population, 1527.

Petersham is a beautiful town occupying high land in the northwest part of Worcester County, 75 miles west of Boston by the highways. The nearest railroad stations are those of the Fitchburg Railroad in Athol and of the Massachusetts Central Railroad in Barre. Phillipston bounds this town on the northeast; Barre, on the southeast; Dana, on the southwest; and New Salem and Athol, on the northwest.

The assessed area is 23,016 acres; of which 6,391 acres are forests of pine, hemlock, chestnut, oak and maple. The rocks are generally granite and felspar; and the soil is a clay loam. Petersham Centre occupies a high broad plateau, commanding extensive views. The east and west branches of Fever Brook and various branches of Swift River flow southwesterly through the town, furnishing valuable powers.

At South Petersham are a saw and a grist mill and a powder-keg mill, employing altogether about a dozen men. There are, beside, the usual manufactures of a farming town; the value of the...

Pe'tersham, a post-village in Petersham township, Worcester co., Mass., 9 miles S. by E. of Athol, and about 28 miles N.W. of Worcester. It has 3 churches, the Highland Institute, and a manufactory of powder-kegs. Pop. of the township, 1203.