History of New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA

1640 - New Bedford is settled

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1787 - New Bedford is incorporated

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1839 - New Bedford
New Bedford, Massachusetts
This is a half shire town of Bristol county, and port of entry, pleasantly situated on the W. side of the Acushnet, a river, or more properly an estuary, connected with Buzzard's bay. The ground on which the town stands rises rapidly from the river, and affords an interesting view from the opposite side.

The upper part of the town is laid out into beautiful streets, which contain many costly and superb dwellings.

This harbor, though not easy of access, is capacious and well secured from winds. A wooden bridge, near the centre of the town, connects it with the village of Fairhaven. A ferry has also been established, on which it is proposed to run a steam boat.

New Bedford was incorporated in 1787, previous to which it constituted a part of the town of Dartmouth. In 1812 the eastern part was set off as a separate township by the name of Fairhaven.

The almost exclusive business of the place is the whale fishery, which commenced before the war of... Read MORE...

1845 - NEW BEDFORD. [Pop. 12,087. Inc. 1787.]
This town, called by the Indians Acushnet, was once a part of Dartmouth.

The first settlers are supposed to have belonged to the Society of Friends or Quakers, one of whom named it after the Duke of Bedford; the word New being afterwards added to distinguish it from Bedford in Middlesex County.

The town is situated on an arm of Buzzard's Bay, into which the small river Acushnet falls, by which it is separated from Fairhaven, and across which is a long bridge uniting the two towns.

The great business of New Bedford is the whale fishery, in which it has no rival but Nantucket.

A considerable portion of the town, then Dartmouth, was burned by the British, because it afforded shelter to American privateers, during the revolutionary war.

Distance from Taunton, 24 miles; from Boston, 52.
An Elementary Geography for Massachusetts Children by William Bentley Fowle and Asa Fitz, 1845
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1847 - New Bedford is incorporated as a city

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1850 - Better Get Married
Out of 258 deaths in New Bedford, Massachusetts, last year, 56 were married females, and 183 single.
The Sun
Baltimore, Maryland
January 16, 1850

1854 - New Bedford
New Bedford, a city, port of entry, and semi-capital of Bristol county, Massachusetts, is situated on a small estuary formed by Buzzard's Bay, 65 miles S. from Boston, lat. 41° 38' 7" N., Ion. 70" 55' 49" W. The city is regularly laid out, on an acclivity commanding a beautiful prospect. It is built largely of wood, though of late a more durable material has been much used. The streets are generally adorned with shade- trees, which, with the ornamental grounds that enclose many of the dwellings, constitute a very attractive feature. The upper portion of the city is remarkable for its neatness and elegance. Among the public edifices the town hall may be mentioned as one of the handsomest buildings devoted to civil purposes in Massachusetts. It is a magnificent granite structure, 100 feet in length, 60 feet wide, and 3 stories high, costing $60,000, including the ground. The custom house is a fine granite edifice, containing the post-office. There are in the city about 20 churches, of... Read MORE...

1857 - Unseasonable Weather
On the 22d of December, the weather was so unseasonable in the neighborhood of New Bedford, Massachusetts, that the farmers employed their teams in ploughing.
The Daily Milwaukee News
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
December 31, 1857

1861 - The African Slave-Trade.; ARREST OF TWO NEW-BEDFORD MEN ON A CHARGE OF FITTING OUT A SLAVER.
Standard of Aug. 9

The New-Bedford (Mass.) says:

"Deputy United States Marshal, S.H. BICKNELL, of Boston, arrived in this city last evening, having in his possession warrants for the arrest of Mr. ALBERT S. BIGELOW, a wholesale liquor-dealer on South Water-street, and Mr. ANDREW H. POTTER, of the firm of A.H. POTTER & CO., outfitters, also doing business on South Water-street, Mr. BICKNELL called upon City Marshal TERRY, and made him acquainted with his business, who at once promised him his cooperation.

At about eight o'clock this morning, Mr. BICKNELL waited upon Mr. BIGELOW at his place of business, and requested his presence in Boston to answer to a charge of fitting out the ship Brutus, at this port, as a slaver. Mr. BIGELOW announced his readiness to accede to the officer's demand, and they then proceeded to the Marshal's office. After a short tarry, Mr. BICKNELL, Mr. BIGELOW and Officer HOWLAND waited upon Mr. POTTER at his store, who, upon being notified of the charge ... Read MORE...

1862 - Whale Ship Burned by Confederates
September 18, 1862

The whale ship Elisha Dunbar of New Bedford, Massachusetts, was captured and burned by the Confederate privateer Alabama.
The Daily Herald
Chicago, Illinois
September 20, 1912

1863 - A Drafted Clergyman.; HE DETERMINES TO SHOULDER THE MUSKET.
Rev. W.J. POTTER, Unitarian clergyman, in New-Bedford, Mass., was among the drafted in that town, and on the Sunday succeeding the day when he was drawn, preached a sermon declaring his intention to go. The discourse was founded on Second Timothy, Iv., 6: "Make full of thy ministry." Mr. POTTEY defended the Conscription act at length, and in conclusion gave the following as the considerations, which had induced him to determine to go:

"First, the value of the moral element in an army, is to be considered, and alongside of this, the moral effect of men leaving positions of usefulness and comfort and honor to enter the army. If our cause is the inst and sacred cause that most of us believe it to be, then no man among us is too good, or stands in toe high a position, to give himself to it or for it, in whatever way the country may call for his services. And the better and more enlightened the men are who go to make up the army, the purer and higher becomes the cause, and the more it... Read MORE...

1866 - Stole Money from Letters
A lad seventeen years of age, employed as a clerk in the postoffice at New Bedford, Massachusetts, has been arrested for opening letters and purloining money from them. He confesses his guilt.
Harrisburg Telegraph
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
July 20, 1866

1866 - A New Sect.
We see by our Eastern exchanges that a new religious sect has sprung up in New Bedford, Massachusetts. One of its most admirable peculiarities is the rule that when brethren and sisters meet, they salute each other with a kiss. We predict that sect will rapidly increase in numbers.
White Cloud Kansas Chief
White Cloud, Kansas
November 29, 1866

1868 - Wealthiest in America
In proportion to population, New Bedford (Mass.) is the wealthiest city in America.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
September 3, 1868

1870 - Babies Abandoned
A pair of baby girls have been left at a house in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and it has been discovered that the father of them is seventeen years old and the mother fifteen, and that they belong to the upper ten.
The Indianapolis News
Indianapolis, Indiana
January 19, 1870

1870 - Our Frozen Possessions - A Sea Captain's Opinion About Mr. Seward's Purchase - The North-West Pasasge.
We make the following extracts from a letter recently written to the Titusville Herald by Capt. LEONARD HARTWELL, of New-Bedford, Mass.:

"Having spent the past four years on whaling voyages in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, I have no hesitation in stating that the Territory of Alaska was, in my opinion, a good bargain for the United States. The climate is not too severe for Americans and not so trying to the constitution as tropical countries. The soil is adapted to grazing, and the common vegetables are raised in abundance, making it a good recruiting ground for ships. The seal fisheries on the coast and islands are very extensive and valuable - St. Paul and St. George especially. San Francisco gets her fish, cod-fish, salmon, &c., there. I know that the very last season there were some twenty-eight vessels engaged in trading between San Francisco and Alaska, in furs, such as the Russian sable, fox, mink, otter, &c. The timber of the territory is something like the Oregon pine.... Read MORE...


Read more about William Henry SEWARD

1872 - 5 Drowned
New Bedford, Mass., January 22. - A sad accident occurred here yesterday. Five boys, two named Wilkinson, two named Smith and one named Sharplier were drowned. The sad affair casts a gloom over the whole community.
Sedalia Democrat
Sedalia, Missouri
January 23, 1872

1875 - Measles
The measles keep eight hundred children out of the public schools of New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Harrisburg Telegraph
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
May 31, 1875

1876 - July 31 - US Coast Guard officers' training school established (New Bedford MA)

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1876 - Fell from Ship Topmast
Robert H. Auld, a ship-rigger, fell from the topmast of a vessel at New Bedford, Massachusetts, on Saturday, and was instantly killed.
The Times
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 20, 1876

1888 - Two earthquake shocks occurred at New Bedford, Mass., on the 29th.

St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
November 3, 1888

New Bedford Massachusetts, 1890
NEW BEDF0RD, long noted for its whale fisheries and for the wealth and urbanity of its people, is a city of 5,598 dwelling-houses and 33,393 inhabitants, delightfully situated on the west bank of the Acushnet River, here broadening into New Bedford Harbor, on the north side of Buzzard's Bay. It lies in latitude 41° 38´ north, and in longitude 70° 55´ west. It is 228 miles northeast from New York, with which it has connection by steamboats; and is 55 miles south of Boston, and connected with that place and the western regions by the New Bedford and Taunton and the Fall River branches of the Old Colony Railroad; while the Fairhaven Branch, just across the river, makes the same connections, and a more direct one with the eastern towns and Cape Cod. A fine bridge 4,000 feet in length provides easy access to Fairhaven; and street cars run to this and other neighboring villages.

New Bedford is hounded on the north by Freetown, east by Acushnet and Fairhaven, and west by Dartmouth.... Read MORE...

1890 - Explosion of Dynamite at New Bedford.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass., Nov. 5 - Workmen engaged in the excavation of a sewer trench in Grape street to-day had a narrow escape from death. One man went to heat some water by an oil stove. The stove exploded and the flaming oil splattered into a box of dynamite cartridges. The cartridges exploded with terrible force, John Yavesham, the foreman of the gang at work had the entire side of his right arm torn open. Three cottage homes nearly suffered injury the glass in all being shattered and the furniture in these houses being thrown over to the floor. In one house the plastering was knocked from the walls and in all three houses a sorry spectacle was seen. Pictures on the walls in the pantries shaken from the shelves. The most singular part of the whole affair is that the shock did not discharge 60 pounds of dynamite which was near where the other cartridges exploded. The city will settle all damages.
Boston Journal
Boston, Massachusetts
November 6, 1890

1893 - Lizzie Borden acquitted in murder of parents in New Bedford Mass

historyorb.com
June 20, 1893

Read more about Lizzie Andrew BORDEN

1895 - New Bedford
New Bedford, a city and port of entry of Massachusetts, one of the capitals of Bristol co, is situated on the W. bank of the Acushnet River, near its mouth in New Bedford harbor, an arm of Buzzard's Bay, 55 miles S. of Boston. Lat. 41° 38' N.; Lon. 70° 56' W. Two bridges, both of which extend to Fairhaven, here cross the river, and a noted drive, called "French Avenue," 4 miles long, around Clark's Point, on which is located a United States fort of granite, affords a fine view of the bay and river, New Bedford is noted for the elegance of its private residences, while its public institutions embrace a city hall (a Doric granite structure), a custom-house, 44 churches, a free public library (the first one established in the United States), masonic, Odd Fellows', and Young Men's Christian Association halls, a fine new post-office building, a high-school building which cost $126,000, 2 hospitals, an orphan asylum, 5 national banks, 2 savings-banks (with combined deposits and surplus of... Read MORE...

1896 - An Eastern Cyclone - New Bedford, Massachusetts is Devastated by Wind.
THE LOSS IS OVER $100,000.
Buildings Blown Down and Many Persons Injured - Fire Adds to the Horrors of the Occasion

New Bedford, Mass., Sept. 19 - A cyclone from the west struck this town early this morning dealing out destruction on every hand and perhaps death in one instance... About 6.30 o'clock a huge bolt of lightning descended from a cloud of inky blackness upon the big cotton shed of the Bennett mills... The crowd near the mill fire ran for shelter and about twenty of them found it in a new building at the corner of Coggeshall and North Front streets. No sooner had they entered than a wind took up the building, raised the roof bodily and the whole structure fell with a crash...
Davenport Daily Republican
Davenport, Iowa
September 20, 1896

1906
New Bedford, a city and port of entry of Massachusetts, one of the capitals of Bristol co., is situated on the bank of the Acushnet River, near its mouth in New Bedford harbor, an arm of Buzzard's Bay, 56 miles S. of Boston, on the New York, New Haven and Hartford R.... New Bedford, which is connected by bridges with Fairhaven, is noted for the elegance of its private residences, while its public buildings present a large array of handsome structures. Its public library is one of the oldest institutions of the kind in the country. Its industrial establishments, of which there are upward of 700, are mainly represented by cotton and yarn-mills, some of which are among the largest in the world and which have given to the city the leading position in the United States as a producer of fine cotton goods. Other industries include the manufacture of cordage, shoes, lubricating oils, glass, paper, soap, pianos, paints, candles, silver-ware, machinery, etc. Down to the middle of the nineteenth ... Read MORE...

1928 - LOSS REACHES $371,000 AT NEW BEDFORD FIRE
General Alarm Sounded at Early Morning Blaze - Commercial House Razed

New Bedford, Jan. 29 - (AP) - A general alarm at 2:30 this morning called the apparatus to the Commercial house at the corner of Union and Second streets to a fire which started back of the Homebakery on he Second-street side under the hotel, swept through the hotel causing a total loss, and then swept down Union street and destroyed the wholesale produce building owned by William Karalekas & Co. and the building owned by the S. C. Lowe Supply company at the corner of Union and Johnnycake hill. The loss on the buildings and to tenants will reach $371,000.

Roger T. Fay owned the Commercial house and contents valued at $200,000. They were only partly insured. The loss on the Lowe building is $90,000 to building and contents, while Mr. Karalekas places his loss at $37,000 with only $2500 insurance. Under the Commercial house the tenants were: Universal press, loss $9000; Antone Costa, restaurant, loss $500;... Read MORE...

1938 - The Great New England Hurricane of 1938
CAT 3 - September 21, 1938
The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 was one of the most destructive and powerful storms ever to strike Southern New England. This system developed in the far eastern Atlantic, near the Cape Verde Islands on September 4. It made a twelve day journey across the Atlantic and up the Eastern Seaboard before crashing ashore on September 21 at Suffolk County, Long Island, then into Milford, Connecticut. The eye of the hurricane was observed in New Haven, Connecticut, 10 miles east of Milford. The center made landfall at the time of astronomical high tide, moving north at 60 mph. Unlike most storms, this hurricane did not weaken on its way toward Southern New England, due to its rapid forward speed and its track. This kept the center of the storm over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.

...Downtown Providence, Rhode Island was submerged under a storm tide of nearly 20 feet. Sections of Falmouth and New Bedford, Massachusetts were submerged under as much as 8 ... Read MORE...

1954 - Hurricane Carol - HURRICANE ROARS ACROSS LONG ISLAND. FIVE KILLED BY STORM IN NEW ENGLAND.
...At New Bedford, Mass., high tides flooded a power station cutting off all electric current to the city...

The Times Record Troy New York 1954-08-31

Carol formed near the central Bahama Islands on August 25, and moved slowly northward and north-northwestward. By August 30 it was a hurricane about 100-150 miles east of Charleston, South Carolina. It then accelerated north-northeastward, make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane over Long Island, New York and Connecticut on the 31st. The cyclone became extratropical later that day as it crossed the remainder of New England and southeastern Canada.

Sustained winds of 80 to 100 mph were reported over much of eastern Connecticut, all of Rhode Island, and eastern Massachusetts. A peak gust of 130 mph was reported at Block Island, Rhode Island, while gusts of 100 to 125 mph occurred over much of the rest of the affected area. Storm surge flooding occurred along the New England coast from Long Island northward, with water depths of 8 ... Read MORE...

1975 - August 2 - 107°F (42°C) at Chester/New Bedford, Massachusetts (state record)

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2023 - Here's a list of places to go and things to do in New Bedford:
New Bedford Whaling Museum: Start your visit by delving into the city's whaling history at this fantastic museum. It boasts an extensive collection of whaling artifacts, art, and exhibits that provide insight into the industry's heyday. Don't miss the awe-inspiring skeletons of whales, including a massive blue whale.

Whale Watching: New Bedford offers excellent opportunities for whale watching tours. Head out to sea and spot majestic marine creatures like humpback, fin, and minke whales. The sight of these magnificent creatures breaching the surface is a memorable experience.

Seamens' Bethel: A visit to the Seamen's Bethel, immortalized in Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick," is a must. This historic chapel is a peaceful spot to reflect on the city's maritime past and pay respects to those lost at sea.

Fort Taber Park: Explore the historic Fort Taber Park and Fort Rodman Military Museum. It's a beautiful park with well-preserved fortifications and scenic views of the coastline. The ... Read MORE...