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Journey back in time to Westminster, Massachusetts, USA

Visit Westminster, Massachusetts, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and ancestry.

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Westminster, Massachusetts, USA - Wachusett, Westminster Side.

Westminster, Worcester, MA

Westminster was unsettled territory in the 18th Century. The land was designated to be given as payment to Soldiers who fought in the French and Indian War, but many were not interested in leaving the comforts of home to settle in the New England wilderness. Originally called "Narragansett Number Two" in deference to the many Indian tribes who lived in the region, as the population grew, it became a district in 1759 and assumed the name Westminster, a name rooted in traditions of the minister in old England. Westminster became became fully incorporated in 1770. testwhs.westminsterhistoricalsociety.org/


Westminster includes: Bragg Hill, North Common, Notown, Wachusett Village, Whitmanville, Bean Porridge Hill, and Academy Hill.
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There is MUCH more to discover about Westminster, Massachusetts, USA. Read on!

Westminster Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards


Westminster, Massachusetts, USA

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Wachusett, Westminster Side.

Westminster, Massachusetts, USA

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Westminster Narrows toward Park

Westminster, Massachusetts, USA

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Westminster, Massachusetts, USA

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Wachusett Lake and Park

Westminster, Massachusetts, USA

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Main Street (1910)

Discover Westminster: History, News, Travel, and Stories

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  • Westminster was first settled in 1737

    Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates
  • 1770 - Westminster is incorporated

    Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates
  • Westminster Cracker Company formed in 1828

    wikipedia.org
  • 1839 - Westminster
    Westminster, Massachusetts
    Worcester county. This town lies on the range of high lands which separate the waters of the Connecticut and Merrimack. From the village a prospect is presented of lake and mountain with all the varied scenery which renders a New England town peculiarly delightful.

    Several streams rising from large ponds in this town and its neighborhood, produce a considerable water power, which is improved for manufactures of various kinds. These waters are so elevated and constant that, with a small expense, they might be rendered exceedingly valuable. They deserve particular attention of those in search of mill sites in this part of the state.

    This town lies 50 miles W.N.W. from Boston, 20 N. by W. from Worcester, and 7 S.W. from Fitchburgh. Incorporated, 1759. Population, 1830, 1,640.

    The manufactures of Westminster consist of chairs, cabinet and wooden wares, hats, boots, shoes, straw bonnets, palm-leaf hats, card boards, saddlery, and leather: annual value... Read MORE...

  • 1845 - WESTMINSTER. [Pop. 1,645. Inc. 1770.]
    This town was granted to the soldiers who had served in Philip's War. Long afterwards, it was greatly exposed to the Indians from Canada, who never failed to molest the English colonies, whenever there was a war between France and England.

    Westminster is on the highlands between the Connecticut and the Merrimack. It once contained part of Gardner.

    Agriculture is the chief employment, but much cabinet furniture and many straw bonnets are manufactured.

    Distance from. Worcester, 26 miles; from Boston, 50.
    An Elementary Geography for Massachusetts Children by William Bentley Fowle and Asa Fitz, 1845
  • 1848 - Westminster
    This town, with others, was granted by the general court to the soldiers who did service in the Narragansett or King Philip’s war, or to their heirs. It was styled Narragansett No 2. until its incorporation in 1769, when it was named Westminster. The proprietors of this town were chiefly inhabitants of Cambridge, Charlestown, Watertown, Weston, Sudbury, Newton, Medford, Malden, and Reading.

    The first person who settled on the grant was Capt. Fairbanks Moor, who moved there with his family in March, 1737. In June following, Den. Joseph Holden moved his family into the place. These two families contained 15 persons. It being an exposed plantation, settlers moved in hut slowly. The proprietors erected a meeting. house in 1739. The Congregational church was formed, and Rev. Elisha Marsh ordained pastor, in 1742. He was dismissed in 1757, and the town had no minister from that time till 1765, when the Rev. Asaph Rice was settled. Previously Mr. Rice had been a missionary among the... Read MORE...

  • 1854 - Westminster
    Westminster, a post-village of Worcester Co., Massachusetts, on the Vermont and Massachusetts railroad, 48 miles W. by N. from Boston. It contains 3 or 4 churches and several stores. Population of the township 1914.
    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.
  • The Westminster Town Library was established in 1868

    wikipedia.org
  • Westminster Massachusetts, 1890
    Westminster is an elevated and pleasant farming and manufacturing town, situated upon the highlands in the midst of the northern part of Worcester County, 55; miles northwest of Boston by the Fitchburg Railroad, which crosses the northern section of the town, having a station for Wachusett Village, and one at the village called Westminster Depot. The post-offices are the latter, Westminster (centre) and South Westminster. North Wachusett is another village.

    Fitchburg lies on the east, and on the north of an eastern projection; Leominster, on the east; Princeton on the southeast; Hubbardston, on the southwest. and Gardner and Ashburnham both on the northwest and north. The assessed area is 22,484 acres; of which 4,059 acres are forest, consisting of birch, beech, maple, oak, chestnut, walnut, pine arid hemlock. The underlying rock is ferruginous gneiss, dolerite, and, in the east, Merrimack schist. Graphite is found in small quantities. The soil is various, but generally fertile.... Read MORE...

  • 1895 - Westminster
    Westminster, a post-village in Westminster township, Worcester co., Mass., 8 miles S.W. of Fitchburg, and 3 miles S. of the Vermont & Massachusetts Railroad. It has 3 churches, a hotel, a high school, and a national bank. The township has manufactures of chairs, combs, and paper. Pop. of the township, 1712.
    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
    Westminster, a post-village in Westminster township (town), Worcester co., Mass., 8 miles SW. of Fitchburg. Pop. of the town in 1900, 1327; of the village, about 950.
    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


  • December 2008 - Ice Storm in Westminster

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Discover Your Roots: Westminster Ancestry

Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Westminster, Massachusetts, USA

We currently have information about ancestors who were born or died in Westminster.

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male ancestorJoseph SPAULDING (1 May 1737, Chelmsford, Massachusetts, USA - 14 August 1796, Westminster, Massachusetts, USA)
female ancestorBridget CROSBY (March 1742, New Ipswich, New Hampshire, USA - 15 January 1831, Westminster, Massachusetts, USA)
female ancestorThankful PUFFER (1769, Westminster, Massachusetts, USA - 18 April 1857, Westfield, Massachusetts, USA (Wyben))
female ancestorBridget SPAULDING (23 June 1774, Westminster, Massachusetts, USA - 5 April 1861, Anson, Maine, USA (North Anson))
male ancestorBenjamin FESSENDEN (26 August 1774, Westminster, Massachusetts, USA - 6 May 1863, Brattleboro, Vermont, USA (West Brattleboro))
male ancestorChester LYON (7 August 1779, Westminster, Massachusetts, USA - 9 April 1855, Canterbury, Connecticut, USA)
male ancestorEphraim HEALD (22 October 1791, Westminster, Massachusetts, USA - 3 September 1865, Bingham, Maine, USA)
male ancestorAsa Cutting EVERETT (28 March 1800, Westminster, Massachusetts, USA - 22 July 1874, Ashby, Massachusetts, USA)
female ancestorNancy A. SAWYER (1807, Westminster, Massachusetts, USA - 27 June 1856, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA)

Ancestors Who Were Married in Westminster, Massachusetts, USA

We currently have information about ancestors who were married in Westminster.

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male ancestorEphraim HEALD (11 September 1770 - 4 April 1803) and female ancestorBridget SPAULDING (23 June 1774 - 5 April 1861) married 6 September 1791
male ancestorEphraim Withington TOWLE (7 June 1861 - 9 May 1921) and female ancestorCora Frances HOLDEN (28 July 1867 - 12 June 1943) married 30 August 1893
male ancestorCharles Wyatt FIELD (23 May 1896 - 15 August 1966) and female ancestorMary Lizzie MILLER (26 April 1890 - 31 December 1974) married 19 December 1923
photo of George Merrill BELAIR George Merrill BELAIR (1 March 1912 - 4 March 1990) and photo of Mary Francis TOWLE Mary Francis TOWLE (11 November 1922 - 4 January 1967) married 10 March 1946
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Updated: 8/31/2023 9:25:13 PM

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