History of Berkley, Massachusetts, USA

1638 - Berkley is settled

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1735 - Berkeley is incorporated

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1839 - Berkley
Berkley, Massachusetts
Bristol county. Berkley lies 37 miles S. from Boston, 18 E. from Providence, and 5 S. from Taunton. Population in 1837, 878. Taken from Dighton in 1735, from which it is separated from Taunton river. Some coasting vessels belong to this place, and some ship building is carried on. Assonet village, on Taunton river, is the principal place of business. The soil is light and sandy.
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 - BERKELEY [Pop. 886. Inc. 1735.]
This town was probably named in honor of George Berkeley, an Irish bishop, of great learning and philaathropy, who had visited this country a few years before for the purpose of benefiting the Indians.

Berkeley was once a part of Dighton and of Taunton, and contains the curious Dighton Rock, on which are many rude hieroglyphics, supposed to have been made by a people who existed before the Indian tribes that the Pilgrim Fathers found here. The meaning of the characters is as much a mystery as their origin.

The rock is on the bank of Taunton River, and is almost covered at high tide. Some have supposed that it was related to certain skeletons found at Fall River, a few miles below Berkeley.

Distance from Taunton, 5 miles; from Boston, 37.

An Elementary Geography for Massachusetts Children by William Bentley Fowle and Asa Fitz, 1845

1854 - Berkley
Berkley, a post-township of Bristol county, Massachusetts, 85 miles S. of Boston, on the E. side of Taunton river. Population, 908.
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.

1871 - Industrious Females
Although the town of Berkeley, Mass., contains only 800 inhabitants, its female inhabitants have earned $6,000 during the past year at straw sewing.

St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
January 14, 1871

Berkley Massachusetts, 1890
Berkley is a small agricultural town situated in the easterly part of Bristol County, about 40 miles south of Boston, and bounded on the north and northeast by Taunton, on the south and southeast by Freetown (from which it is in part separated by Assonet Bay), and on the west by Dighton and Taunton,— from the last of which it is divided by Taunton River, here a navigable, broad and beautiful stream. It is watered in the east by Cotley and Quaker brooks, and in the west by several affluents of Taunton River. The villages and post-offices are Berkley (centre) and Myricksville; and the railway stations are the latter, in the southeast part of the town, on the New Bedford and Taunton line, and Berkley, on the Fall River Branch of the Old Colony Railroad. The termination of the town southerly is a long point of land called Assonet Neck. A little south of it lies Conspiracy Island, probably so named from its connection with King Philip's conspiracy against the English, which resulted in the ... Read MORE...

1895 - Berkley
Berkley, a post-township of Bristol co, Mass., about 4 miles S. of Taunton, is bounded on the W. by the Taunton River. It has 2 churches. The noted Dighton Rock is in this township, Pop, in 1890, 894.
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

1899 - Berkley
BERKLEY. - This was the eleventh town formed in Bristol county, its territory formerly lying in the older towns of Dighton and Taunton, from which it was taken and incorporated on April 18, 1735. Since that date there have been several minor territorial changes. On February 26, 1799, a small part of Dighton was annexed, and on February 6, 1810, certain lands in Berkley belonging to Taunton were annexed; other Taunton lands were annexed on March 3, 1842. By act of April 1, 1879, Myricksville, or Myrick's Station, in Berkley, and a strip of land about a mile in width and two miles long, which were formerly within Taunton limits, were annexed to Berkley as a result of several urgent petitions. When the amount that this land should pay on the town debt of Taunton was fixed at $800, it was at once raised by private subscription, and the act was accepted by the town on the 12th of April, 1879.

Berkley forms a part of the Twelfth Congressional District, and with Dighton and the First and... Read MORE...

1916
Berkley, a post-township (town) of Bristol co., Mass., about 4 miles S. of Taunton, is bounded on the W. by the Taunton River. The noted Dighton Rock is in this town. Pop. in 1900, 949.
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 see and things to do in and around Berkley:
Dighton Rock State Park:

Check out the mysterious Dighton Rock, covered in petroglyphs that have puzzled historians for centuries.

Enjoy a scenic walk along the Taunton River.

Berkley Bridge:

Take a stroll or drive over the Berkley Bridge for beautiful views of the Taunton River.

Berkley Common Historic District:

Explore the historic district, featuring charming colonial-era houses and buildings.

Berkley Public Library:

If you're a book lover, spend some quiet time at the Berkley Public Library.

Local Farms:

Visit local farms like The Community Harvest Project or Keith's Farm for fresh produce and a taste of rural life.

Hiking and Outdoor Activities:

Explore the natural beauty of Berkley by hiking in local conservation areas or enjoying outdoor activities in the surrounding parks.

Swansea Mall:

For shopping and entertainment, head to the nearby Swansea Mall, where you can find a variety of shops and a cinema.

Local Eateries:

Grab a bite... Read MORE...