History of Royalston, Massachusetts, USA

Royalston, Massachusetts
Worcester county. Royalston is a pleasant town and is well watered by Miller's river, a beautiful mill stream. The surface of the town is uneven, but the soil is generally rich and productive. There are two woolen mills, and manufactures of boots, shoes, leather, chairs, cabinet ware, palm-leaf hats and mats, wooden ware, &c. First settled, 1762. Incorporated, 1765. It lies 70 miles W.N.W. from Boston and 38 N.W. from Worcester. Population, 1837, 1,629.

Royalston was named after Col. Isaac Royal, one of those to whom the town was originally granted.

Several streams unite in this town, forming Tully River, which falls into Miller's, in Athol.

The soil is good, and well diversified for tillage and grazing.

Here are several active saw-mills; and woollen goods, cabinet furniture, and palm-leaf hats are manufactured.

Distance from Worcester, 34 miles; from Boston, 70.

This town was granted by the general court, in 1752, to the Hon. Messrs. Hubbard, Erving, Royal, Otis, and others. The grant was known by the name of Royalshire, until its incorporation in 1765, when it was called Royalston, in compliment to the late Col. Isaac Royal. one of the original proprietors. Before the last French war, some who intended to settle at the place began to work upon their lands. but the breaking out of the war put a stop thereto. Towards the close of that war, some people began to work there again, and in 1762 several families moved into the place, the first of which came in June. its progress in improvement was very rapid, for in less than three years from that time it was incorporated with distinct town privileges. In 1766 a Congregational church was organized in the town, and in 1768 Rev. Joseph Lee was ordained their pastor. Mr. Lee continued an able and faithful pastor more than 50 years. His successor, Rev. Ebenezer Perkins, was ordained in 1819. Among the...

Royalston, a post-village in Worcester co., Massachusetts, on the Vermont and Massachusetts railroad, Co miles W. N. W. from Boston. Population of the township, 1546.

Boston, June 16. - A fearful accident occurred on the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad between Royalston and Athol today. A train going west broke through a bridge. MR. JOHNSON, pop corn man and two others were killed; JOHN MURPHY, seriously wounded; WM. ELLIOTT, baggage-master, seriously wounded; A. C. GARDNER, leg broken; A. W. HOLCOMB, mail agent, seriously wounded; MISS L. L. BULLOCK, of Royalston, injured in the head; WM. FOSTER, engineer, injured in the head; Master THOS. JONES, head slightly injured; P. S. YOUNG, slightly wounded; NELLIE WHITAKER, slightly wounded; ALICE MATHER, slightly wounded; MRS. SALLIE FISH, slightly wounded; JONES, fireman, seriously wounded; MRS. CHAS. BEAN, slightly wounded; ANGELINE LATTERS, slightly wounded; HATTIE KING and infant, face hurt. R. WATERMAN, while assisting at the wreck, had his leg hurt. Surgeons were on hand, and every attention was shown to the wounded. The engine and three cars were wrecked.

Boston, June 17. - Those killed...

Royalston forms the northwestern corner of Worcester County. The Fitchburg Railroad runs through the southeast corner, whose station of "Royalston" at South Royalston village is 77 miles from Boston in a northwest direction. Winchendon bounds it on the cast; Phillipston, Templeton, Athol and Orange on the south; the latter and Warwick on the west; and Richmond and Fitzwilliam, in N H., on the north. The assessed area is 25,669 acres; there being about 12,000 acres of forest.

The geological structure is calcareous gneiss, in which occur crystals of beryl, mica, felspar, ilmenite, and allanite, occasionally of large size. The soil is strong and moist. Two north and south ranges of hills, and their valleys, occupy the middle of the town. A wild and romantic spot, called the "Royal Glen," attracts many visitors. The most conspicuous elevation is Jacob's Hill, near the central village. The principal water-courses are Priest's Brook in the northeast, Lawrence Brook and the east branch of ...