History of Taunton, Massachusetts, USA

1638 - Taunton is settled

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1639 - Taunton is incorporated

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1774 - October 21 - First display of the word "Liberty" on a flag, raised by colonists in Taunton, Massachusetts and which was in defiance of British rule in Colonial America

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1839 - Taunton
Taunton, Massachusetts
One of the chief towns of Bristol county. This very beautiful town is situated at the junction of Canoe, Rumford and Taunton rivers, and possesses an excellent water power. There is some excellent land in this town, and its proprietors display much taste in its cultivation. The business of the place is, however, rather in manufactures than agriculture. There are 8 cotton mills and a print works in the town; also a paper mill, 3 nail factories, a forge, a furnace, and manufactures of boots, shoes, leather, hats, chairs, brick, vessels, straw bonnets, and britannia, stone and cabinet wares: total value of the manufactures, the year ending April 1, 1837, exclusive of cloth printing and iron castings, $1,425,552. The number of hands employed in these manufactures was 1,308. There is some navigation owned in this town, which is employed in the coastwise trade, and domestic fishery.

The manufacture of britannia ware at this place, is of recent origin in this... Read MORE...

1845 - TAUNTON. [Pop. 7,645. Inc. 1639.]
The Indian name of this ancient town was Cohannet. It included within its limits, Berkeley, Raynham, Dighton, Norton, Easton, and Mansfield, about one third of the whole county.

It was named by Miss Elizabeth Poole, who came from Taunton in England, and was the principal owner and founder of the settlement.

Taunton is situated on both sides of Taunton River, the Tetiquet of the Indians; and small vessels can go up the river as far as Taunton,

Canoe and Rumford Rivers, two branches of the Great Taunton, give excellent water power to the town.

Among the numerous manufactures are cotton cloth, nails and other articleb of iron, straw bonnets, bricks, &c.

Taunton River is celebrated for the great number of alewives that annually visit it, and for the numerous laws that have been passed by the legislature, to regulate the fishery among the several towns on its banks.

Distance from New Bedford, 24 miles; from Boston,... Read MORE...

1851 - Execution of Clough
Clough, the murderer, was executed in the jail yard at Taunton yesterday forenoon. The New Bedford Standard says: At 11 o'clock, the religious services having been completed, the prisoner was taken from his cell to the place of execution. He walked with a firm step and ascended the stairs to the scaffold with a quick and lively movement. As he turned his head after arriving at the platform, he recognized a prisoner looking out of the cell at an upper window in the jail, and smiled and bowed to him. It was his request that nothing should be said at the gallows, and the rope was immediately adjusted around his neck, the warrant for his execution read, when the Sheriff touched the fatal spring that unloosed the platform; it fell, and with it the body of the unfortunate man, and at six minutes after 11 o'clock all was over. He died almost without a struggle.
Boston Evening Transcript
Boston, Massachusetts
April 29, 1851

1853 - ANOTHER FRIGHTFUL RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
Saturday afternoon, as we learn from the Gazette, at half past two o'clock, as the New Bedford and Taunton train was about one mile and a half below Taunton, the axletree of the tender gave out, causing a succession of serious mishaps. The tender was immediately thrown down an embankment of thirty feet. The baggage car, directly behind, was precipitated below, on the right of the track, and also the succeeding car, in which were twenty-five passengers. All three were completely demolished. As if by a miracle, no lives were lost.- Fifteen persons were more or less injured.

The cars and tender were thrown some forty feet from the track, and in their fearful passage completely revolved three times. The rails of the track were torn up for several rods. No defect was discovered in the axletree.
The Farmers' Cabinet
Amherst, New Hampshire
May 12, 1853

1854 - Taunton
Taunton, a post-town and semi-capital of Bristol county, Massachusetts, is situated at the head of navigation on Taunton river, and on the New Bedford and Taunton rail road, 35 miles S. from Boston, and 30 miles E. N. E. from Providence. Lat. 41° 64' 11" N., Ion. 71° 5' 55" W. It is handsomely built, and contains a beautiful enclosure in the centre, called "Taunton Green." Besides the court house and jail, there are in the place 10 or 11 churches, a handsome town house, several fine hotels, and 3 banks. Three news papers are issued here. A beautiful cemetery, called the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, has been laid out a short distance from the green, upon the Mount Auburn plan. The manufactures of Taunton are extensive and various, consisting of paper, leather, nails, steam engines, and hardware of various kinds. One of the most extensive locomotive and steam- engine establishments is that of Messrs. Mason & Co. Upon the completion of the extensive additions now being made to their shops,... Read MORE...

1864 - Taunton is incorporated as a city

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1868 - 6,000 Employed
About six thousand inhabitants of Taunton, Mass., are employed in its thirty factories, and there are $6,000,000 of capital invested therein.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 13, 1868

1869 - Shovel Manufactory Burned
An extensive shovel manufactory at Taunton, Mass., was burned a few days ago, involving a loss of $100,000.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
August 21, 1869

Taunton Massachusetts, 1890
TAUNTON is a prosperous and in some respects a model manufacturing city, lying in the northeasterly section of Bristol County, of which it is the semi-capital. It is 33 miles south of Boston by the Old Colony Railroad, which traverses all parts of its territory, and by numerous branches, converging here, it is connected directly with Providence, Newport, New Bedford, and a large number of towns within this scope in all directions.

The denser portion of the city is situated on both sides of Taunton River, at the junction of Mill River, and about 17 miles above Mount Hope Bay, into which it flows. The width of the larger river at this point is 110 feet, with a draught of water at high tide of nine feet. The territory extends nearly with the points of the compass from the central mass in four unequal prongs. About it lie Easton, at the northern angle; Raynham, pressing in deeply on the northeast; Middleborough and Lakeville on the eastward prong, which spreads like an anchor; Berkley, ... Read MORE...

1895 - Taunton
Taunton, a manufacturing city, the capital of Bristol co., Mass., is situated at the head of navigation on Taunton River, 34 miles S. of Boston, 17 miles E.N.E. of Providence, and 15 miles N. by E. of Fall River. Lat. 41° 54'11" N.; Lon. 71° 5' 55" W. It is on the Old Colony division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad system. It is handsomely built, is lighted with gas and electricity, and has a central park called "Taunton Green," which name is often given to the central nucleus of the city itself, there being several villages, such as Weir, Walker, Oakland, Whittenton, and East Taunton, within the limits of the city. Many of the residences are beautiful, and are surrounded with highly-ornamental grounds. Taunton contains a court-house erected at a cost of $310,000, a city hall, 17 churches, a public library of 18,000 volumes, several elegant school buildings, a public high school, the Bristol Academy (incorporated in 1792), 3 national banks, 5 savings-institutions, a... Read MORE...

1906
Tannton, a city and one of the capitals of Bristol co., Mass., is situated at the head of navigation on the Taunton River, 35 miles S. of Boston, on the New York, New Haven and Hartford R. It is handsomely built, with several pleas- sure-grounds (Taunton Green, Woodward Springs Park), and contains a number of notable public buildings (city- hall, court-house, state insane asylum, public library, etc.). The extensive and varied industries are represented by foundries and machine-shops, locomotive-works, cotton- and woollen-mills, and manufactories of stoves and stove- linings, tacks, cotton-machinery, printing-presses, silver- plated ware, pearl buttons, oil-cloth, etc. It has also smelting- and refining-works. Taunton was settled in 1638. It was incorporated as a town in 1639 and as a city in 1865. Pop. in 1850, 10,431 ; in 1880, 21,213; in 1900, 31,036.
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

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Taunton:
1. Taunton Green:

Start your visit at the heart of Taunton, Taunton Green. This historic park is surrounded by beautiful old buildings and offers a lovely place for a leisurely stroll. It's also a central location for various events and festivals throughout the year.

2. Taunton River:

Enjoy a peaceful afternoon by the Taunton River. You can take a walk along the riverbank, have a picnic, or even go fishing if you have the necessary permits. It's a great spot for nature lovers.

3. Old Colony History Museum:

If you're interested in local history, this museum is a must-visit. It showcases the history of Taunton and the surrounding area, with exhibits that span from the Native American era to the present day.

4. Bristol County Superior Courthouse:

This stunning historic courthouse is an architectural gem. Even if you don't have any legal business here, it's worth admiring the grandeur of the building from the outside.

5. Taunton Public Library:

If you're a... Read MORE...