History of Sudbury, Massachusetts, USA

1638 - Sudbury is settled

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1639 - Sudbury is incorporated

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1839 - Sudbury
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Middlesex county. This ancient town is situated on the west side of a river of the same name, 19 miles W. by N. from Boston and 8 S.W. from Concord. Population, 1837, 1,388. It is watered by a small stream, a branch of Sudbury river. There is a paper mill in the town, a plough factory, and manufactures of boots and shoes: annual value about $20,000.

Sudbury was first settled in 1635. In 1676, about 70 men, on their march for the relief of Marlborough, fell into an ambuscade with the Indians: twenty six of the English were left dead on the field; the residue were captured, and many of them afterwards tortured and slain. West of Sudbury causeway, is a monument erected to their memory, by president Wadsworth, of Harvard College, a son of the Captain of the Band.
The New England Gazetteer containing descriptions of all the states, counties and towns in New England: also descriptions of the principal mountains, rivers lakes, capes, bays, harbors, islands and fashionable resorts within that territory. By John Hayward, author of the Columbian Traveller, Religious Creeds, &c. &c. Boston: John Hayward. Boyd & White, Concord, N.H. 1839

1845 - SUDBURY. [Pop. 1,422. lnc. 1639.]
Sudbury once included Marlborough and Wayland, which is separated from it by Sudbury River, a source of the Concord.

This town was once a frontier settlement, and suffered greatly in Philip's War. It contains a modest monument to the memory of Capt. Wadsworth, and about fifty gallant soldiers, who left Boston to relieve Marlborough, but were drawn into an ambush and all killed while pursuing the enemy to Sudbury.

Its manufactures are chiefly of boots, shoes, and paper.

Distance from Concord, 8 miles ; from Boston, 19.
An Elementary Geography for Massachusetts Children by William Bentley Fowle and Asa Fitz, 1845
Get it HERE!

1848 - Sudbury
SUDBURY was first settled in 1638, and incorporated in 1639. The original number of sharers and settlers was 54. Mr. Edmund Brown, the first settled minister, was ordained Aug., 1640; died June 22, 1677. Mr. Sherman began to preach in Sudbury in 1677; in 1705, he was deposed from his pastoral office. Mr. Israel Loring was ordained pastor in 1706. Upon the division of the town, by the general court, the inhabitants of the west side of the river invited him to come over and settle with them, in 1722. In 1765, the number of houses on the west side of the river was 151; the number of families, 187; the number of inhabitants, 1,047; the number of church members, 203; of whom 76 were males and 127 females.

Sudbury is divided on the east from Wayland by Sudbury river, on which large tracts of low land are annually overflowed. There are 3 churches, 2 Congregational and 1 Methodist. There are about 30 houses in the central village. Distance, 7 miles south west of Concord, 24 north east from ... Read MORE...

1854 - Sudbury
Sudbury, a post- township in Middlesex co., Massachusetts, 23 miles W. by N. from Boston. Population, 1578.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

1868 - 4-Year Old Saves Brother
A little four-year old girl, in Sudbury, Mass., saved the life of her brother, who had fallen into a cistern of water, by holding his head above the water until assistance arrived.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
November 14, 1868

1890 Sudbury Massachusetts
Sudbury is an ancient town of varied scenery and much historical interest, in the southwesterly section of Middlesex County, 26 miles by highway from Boston, and containing 1,165 inhabitants, and three postal centres— Sudbury (centre), North Sudbury and South Sudbury, — which are also stations on the Lowell and Framingham Branch of the Old Colony Railroad. The Massachusetts Central Railroad also has stations at East Sudbury and South Sudbury (Mill Village). It has Maynard and Concord on the north, Wayland (from which it is divided by Sudbury River) on the east, Framingham on the south, and Marlborough and Hudson on the west.

The assessed area is 14,815 acres; and the forests embrace 4,976, and consist of pine, oak, chestnut and maple. The rock is calcareous gneiss and sienite. Nobscot Hill, in this town and Framingham, is a bold and prominent elevation, from whose summit Bunker Hill Monument and the State House are discernible. Goodnow's Hill was so called from an Indian, Cato... Read MORE...

1895 - Sudbury
Sudbury, süd'ber-e, a post-village in Sudbury town ship, Middlesex co., Mass, on the Boston, Clinton & Fitch burg Railroad, 20 miles S. by W. of Lowell, and about 20 miles W. of Boston. It has 3 churches and a high school. The township is bounded E. by the Sudbury River, and contains South Sudbury. Pop. of the township, 1177.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1906
Sudbury, a post-village in Sudbury township (town), Middlesex co., Mass., on the New York, New Haven and Hartford R., 20 miles S. by W. of Lowell. The town is bounded E. by the Sudbury River. Pop. of the town in 1900, 1150.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

1922 - RUTH TO TEST PROWESS IN YANKEES’ NEW PARK
NEW YORK. December 23. - Babe Ruth is coming from his farm in Sudbury, Mass. in a week or two to visit the Yankees' new stadium and bat a few drives over the fences Just to prove that zoning rules for home runs would mean nothing to him.

In a letter to Col. T. L. Huston, who is soon to retire as part owner of the Yankees, made public today, the Bambino says: "I don’t care where the fences are. I can hit 'em anywhere. Put the marks anywhere you like."

Babe added that he was working hard every day, was down to 210 pounds, and still dropping.
Washington D.C. Evening Star
Washington, D.C.
December 23, 1922

Here's a mix of places to go and things to do in Sudbury:
Sudbury Grist Mill:

Start your journey with a visit to the Sudbury Grist Mill. It's one of the oldest continuously operating mills in the United States, dating back to 1683. Take a guided tour to learn about its rich history and see the inner workings of the mill.

Assabet River Rail Trail:

If you enjoy outdoor activities, the Assabet River Rail Trail is a great spot for biking, jogging, or a leisurely walk. It's a scenic trail that winds through Sudbury and neighboring towns, offering a peaceful escape into nature.

Wayside Inn:

Explore the Wayside Inn, one of the oldest operating inns in the country. It dates back to 1716 and has a rich history. You can take a guided tour to learn about the famous Longfellow's Wayside Inn Poets' Room and the property's role in American history.

Sudbury Historical Society:

Dive deeper into Sudbury's history at the Sudbury Historical Society. They often have exhibits and events showcasing the town's past. It's a great place to get a ... Read MORE...