History of Watertown, Massachusetts, USA

The cannons were captured from the British at Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point. They were transported from Lake Champlain to Dorchester Heights, Massachusetts and used by George Washington's army on March 17, 1776 (Evacuation Day) to free Boston from British control during the American Revolutionary War.

General Henry Knox Trail - Historic Marker reads:
"Through this place passed General Henry Knox in the winter of 1775-1776 to deliver to General George Washington at Cambridge the train of artillery from Fort Ticonderoga used to force the British army to evacuate Boston."

Thought by many to be in Cambridge, it has the vast majority of its graves and all its buildings in Watertown.

Watertown, Massachusetts
Middlesex county. Charles river gives this town a valuable water power, which is well improved. The river is navigable to the centre of the town for vessels of 6 or 7 feet draught of water.

The surface of the town is diversified by hills and valleys, which is rendered very beautiful by a high state of cultivation, and by the numerous villas, neat farm houses, cottages, and delightful gardens which meet the eye in every direction. A part of the beautiful sheet of water, called "Fresh Pond," and a part of the celebrated Mount Auburn Cemetery lie in this town.

On the north bank of the river, a short distance below the principal village, the United States Arsenal, containing a large amount of munitions of war, occupies a site of 40 acres of ground. At the commencement of the revolutionary war, this place was the chosen seat of the continental congress. That body of patriots was in session at Watertown on the day of the battle of "Bunker Hill."

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The Indian name was Pigsguesset. When the first settlers of Charlestown scattered in search of water, some removed to Boston, and others to Water-town, and hence the name is probably derived.

This ancient town originally included Waltham, Weston, and part of Lincoln. The Territory is small, but the manufactures are considerable, and the land well cultivated.

Watertown is chiefly situated on the north bank of the Charles, which is navigable for small vessels only to the U. S. Arsenal, about a mile below the village.

During the siege of Boston, the Provincial Congress, of which Warren, Hancock, and Samuel Adams were members, held two sessions in Watertown; and one object of the expedition to Lexington and Concord, was probably to surprise and capture some of these patriots.

Distance from Concord, 10 miles ; from Boston, 7.

This is an ancient town, it being settled the same year as Boston, in 1630. The first Englishmen who are known to have visited the place were Mr. Wareham and some of his people, who afterwards settled Dorchester; for an account of which the reader is referred to the history of that town in this work. The place in Watertown where they remained a few days is stated yet to bear the name of Dorchester Fields. Shortly after their removal, a permanent establishment was effected by another company. A party of the adventurous emigrants who came in Winthrop's fleet, with Sir Richard Saltonstall and Rev. George Phillips at their head, selected a place on the banks of Charles river for their plantation. On the 7th of Sept., 1630, (O. S.) the court of assistants, at Charlestown, "ordered that Trimountain be called Boston, Mattapan, Dorchester, and the town on Charles river, Watertown."

The name of Watertown is said to have originated from the circumstance of its being a "well watered place,"...

Watertown, a post-township in Middlesex co., Massachusetts, intersected by the Fitchburg railroad, 8 miles W. by N. from Boston. Charles river, which washes its southern border, affords water-power, and is navigable for vessels of six feet draught. It contains various manufactories, a United States arsenal, and Mr. Cushing's beautiful garden, comprising 60 acres. The arsenal is situated on the N. bank of the river, near the village, and covers 40 acres of ground. The village is very pleasant, and connected with the Fitchburg railroad at West Cambridge by the Watertown Branch railroad. Population in 1840, 1810; in 1850, 2837.