History of Bedford, Massachusetts, USA

Bedford, Massachusetts
This is a pleasant town in Middlesex county, and the source of Shawsheen river. This town was formerly parts of Concord and Billerica, and was incorporated in 1729. Population, 1837, 858. It lies 13 miles N.W. from Boston and 5 N.E. from Concord. Bedford is bounded N. by Concord river. It has some manufactures; principally of boots and shoes.

This town belonged in part to Concord.

The Shawshine has one of its sources in Bedford, and the Concord bounds it on the west.

Agriculture is the chief employment, but shoes are extensively manufactured here.

Distance from Concord, 5 miles ; from Boston, 15.

BEDFORD originally belonged in part to the town of Concord. It was incorporated as a town in 1729. It is not very well situated for an agricultural town. About half of it is meadow land, unimproved, and partly incapable of improvement. It contains, however, several good farms, and nearly all the varieties of soil. The Shawshiiie is the only considerable stream of water. On this stream is a mill which was built before Philip’s war, in 1676, and was then owned by Michael Bacon, who was allowed to have two garrison soldiers stationed there for his safety. Agriculture is the employment of a large portion of the people. The manufacture of shoes for the Boston market was begun here in 1805, by John Hosmer and Jonathan Bacon. in this business about 60 men and 80 women are employed. About 90,000 pairs of shoes, estimated to be worth $50,000, are made annually. There are 2 churches, 1 Orthodox and 1 Unitarian, and about 30 dwelling houses, in the central part of the town. This place is 5 miles ...

Bedford, a post-township of Middlesex county, Massachusetts, 15 miles N. W. from Boston, bordering on Concord river. Population, 976.