History of Marlborough, 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."

In Marlborough on Wednesday last, as the workmen were raising the frame of a building designed for an Academy and Masonic Hall, an accident occurred of very painful consequences. When the whole frame except the roof had been raised, there were eleven persons standing on the roof. In this situation, the support of the beam gave way, and the beam broke and fell, precipitating the whole eleven into the cellar; in falling, the beam was broken and shattered into several pieces. Five of these persons escaped almost unhurt though they had fallen fifteen or twenty feet, from the plate to the cellar, landing among heaps of stones, broken timbers, and rubbish. The remaining six were all badly bruised, three of these had bones broken and were otherwise much hurt. No lives were lost at the time; but one of the unfotunate[sic] workmen was so badly bruised that his chance of recovery was thought to be very small; we have not since ascertained his fate. Some of the others have the prospect of a long ...

Marlborough [Marlboro], Massachusetts
Middlesex county. This is a large farming town, with a soil of great fertility and undulating surface.—The inhabitants are principally devoted to agricultural pursuits, and by their industry and skill, have acquired a great degree of independence. Among the productions of the town are fat cattle, pork, fruit, and all the varieties of the dairy, a large amount of which is annually sent to Boston market. A branch of Concord river, and a number of beautiful ponds, water the town.—The manufactures consist of boots, shoes, straw bonnets, leather, chairs and cabinet ware: annual amount, about $75,000. Marlborough, the Indian Okamakamesit, was first settled in 1654. It was taken from Sudbury in 1660; it suffered much during the Indian wars, and was for many years the residence of a number of Indians who had embraced the christian religion. The villages are very pleasant: the richness of the soil, and surrounding scenery; its excellent roads and...

Marlborough was probably first settled by the people of Sudbury, to which town it belonged before it was incorporated.

The Indian name was Okommakamesit, and the young settlement suffered so severely, that, during Philip's War, the inhabitants abandoned the town altogether.

Marlborough was originally a very large township, and included Northborough, Westborough, and Southborough, now in Worcester County. It depends chiefly on agriculture.

Distance from Concord, 14 miles; from Boston, 25.

A tract of land, six miles square, was granted to a number of petitioners, inhabitants of Sudbury, in 1656: which was incorporated by the name of Marlborough, in May, 1660. The Indian name of this place was Okommakamesit. The last distinguished leader of the tribe, who resided here, was Onomog. By the reason assigned in the petition for the land, it appears that the English settlement was begun about 1654. The infant town was severely checked in its growth by the invasion of the savages. In Mr. Packaed's account of the town (Mass. Hist. Coll., 4th vol.) is stated, that, on the Sabbath, when Mr. Brimsmead was in sermon, March 20, 1676, the worshipping assembly was suddenly dispersed by an outcry of ‘Indians at the door.’ The confusion of the first moment was instantly increased by a fire from the enemy; but the God whom they were worshipping shielded their lives and limbs, excepting the arm of one Moses Newton, who was carrying an elderly and infirm woman to a place of safety. In a few ...