Discover Groton: History, News, Travel, and Stories

Add History/News/Story

• 1655 - Groton is settled and incorporated
  
  Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates
  
• 1704 - Groton attacked
  In August 1704, the Abernaki, with strong support from the French, attacked Groton, another village not far from Boston.
  History of Quebec for Dummies by Eric Bedard, published by John Wiley & Sons, Canada, Ltd.
  
• 1839 - Groton
  Groton, Massachusetts
  Middlesex county. This is a delightful town, with an extraordinary good soil; 32 miles N.W. from Boston, and 13 W. by S. from Lowell.
  Groton was settled soon after Concord. It was for some years a frontier settlement and much exposed to the Indians. In 1676, the town was attacked by 400 Indians, and all the buildings plundered and burnt, except four garrison houses.
  
  The town is finely watered by the Nashua and Squanacook rivers and a number of beautiful ponds. The buildings are in a style of great neatness and taste, and some of elegance. This town has a female seminary of high reputation, and a number of moral and religious institutions. The local beauties of Groton and its facilities for education are so great as to induce many wealthy families to make it their residence. The manufactures of Groton consist of paper, axle-trees, soap-stone pumps, mathematical instruments, clothing, palm-leaf hats, chairs, cabinet ware, leather, boots and shoes.... Read MORE...
  
  
• 1845 - GROTON. [Pop. 2,189. Settled 1655.]
  The name of Groton was given to part of the Indian district of Petapaway, in honor of a town in England from which Governor Winthrop's family came.
  
  This town, and several others in its vicinity, were included in a grant, eight miles square, made by the General Court to Dean Winthrop, a son of the governor.
  
  Groton suffered so much from the Indians in Philip's War, that the settlement was entirely abandoned for two years.
  
  The boundary line of Groton is very irregular, and little or none of it remains as it was originally drawn.
  
  This is a farming town, and some attention has been paid to the cultivation of hops.
  
  Distance from Concord, 17 miles; from Boston, 84.
  An Elementary Geography for Massachusetts Children by William Bentley Fowle and Asa Fitz, 1845
  
• 1848 - Groton
  GROTON was originally a grant by the general court, made May 23, 1655, of eight miles square, to Mr. Dean Winthrop and others, at a place called Petapaway, and included the greatest part of the towns of Pepperell and Shirley, and parts of Dunstable, Westford, Littleton, and Harvard. Mr. Dean Winthrop, being a son of John Winthrop, the first governor of Massachusetts colony, probably named the place Groton, from the town in England whence the family came. The grant, in the quaint language of the times, says, “the court judgeth it meet to grant the petitioners eight miles square in the place desired, to make a comfortable plantation,” and it is ordered to be laid out “with all convenient speed, that so no encouragement may be wanting to the petitioners for the speedy procuring of a godly minister among them.” Among the first settlers were William Martin, Richard Blood, Robert Blood, and John Lakin. The precise time of the first settlement is not known; but a committee of the general... Read MORE...
  
  
• 1854 - Groton
  Groton, a post-township of Middlesex co. Massachusetts, 30 miles N. W. from Boston Several railroads centre at Groton Junction in this township. Population, 2515.
  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.
  
•   1854 - The Destructive Gate - Its Effects at the East.
  ...At Groton Junction the side of a brick building, occupied by a blacksmith, was blown in...
  
  The New York Times
  New York, New York
  March 21, 1854
  
• 1859
  GROTON, a township in Middlesex co., in Massachusetts, 33 m. NW of Boston.
  A Gazetteer of the World: Or, Dictionary of Geographical Knowledge, Publisher A. Fullarton, 1859
  
•   1868 - 17 Pound Tumor
  Mr. Luther Shattuck, of Groton, Mass., had a tumor removed from his neck, on the 11th inst., 16 inches long, 11 inches wide, 7 inches thick, weighing 17 pounds. The operation was skillfully performed by Dr. Norman Smith, of that place.
  genealogybank.com
  The Farmers' Cabinet
  New Hampshire
  June 18, 1868
  
• Groton Massachusetts, 1890
  Groton is an ancient, handsome and nourishing town, situated in the northwesterly section of Middlesex County, about 32 miles northwest of Boston. It is bounded on the north by Pepperell and Dunstable, on the east by Tyngsborough and Westford, on the south by Ayer, on the west by Shirley and Pepperell, which are separated by a long western horn of Groton having Townsend at its western end. The assessed area is 19,770 acres; of which 6,368 are woodland.
  
  Through the town north and south, with a station at the centre, runs the Worcester, Nashua and Portland Division of the Boston and Maine Railroad; while the Peterboro' and Shirley Branch of the Fitchburg Railroad runs through the town northwestward, having a station, at West Groton; at East Groton is the Ayer and Lowell Branch of the Boston and Maine, and the Acton Branch of the Concord Railroad; while Ayer Junction furnishes connection with points south, east and west. Factory Village also is conveniently near the central... Read MORE...
  
  
• 1895 - Groton
  Groton, a post-village of Middlesex co., Mass., in Groton township, 31 miles by rail N.N.E. of Worcester. It contains 4 churches, a public library, the Lawrence Academy, which has an endowment of $80,000, a newspaper office, and manufactures of paper. Pop. of township, 2057.
  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
  
• 1916
  Groton, a post-village of Middlesex co., Mass., in Groton township (town), 31 miles NNE. of Worcester, on tho Boston and Maine R. It has paper-mills, etc., and is the seat of the Lawrence Academy and the Groton School. Pop. of the town in 1900, 2052 ; of the village, about 1600.
  Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 2023 - Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Groton:
  Groton Historical Society and Museum: Start your visit by exploring the history of Groton. The Groton Historical Society and Museum is a treasure trove of artifacts, documents, and exhibits that showcase the town's past. Learn about its colonial heritage and the role it played during the American Revolution.
  
  Gibbet Hill: For a scenic hike and beautiful vistas, head to Gibbet Hill. This conservation area offers several trails, including the Skyline Trail, which takes you to the highest point in Groton. The views from the top are breathtaking, especially during the fall foliage season.
  
  Groton Town Forest: If you're looking for more hiking options, the Groton Town Forest provides well-maintained trails that wind through wooded areas and around ponds. It's a great place for birdwatching and enjoying nature.
  
  Nashua River Rail Trail: For a leisurely walk or bike ride, check out the Nashua River Rail Trail. This 11-mile trail follows the former railbed of the Hollis Branch of the... Read MORE...