Holden, Massachusetts, USA
1848 - Holden

This town was taken wholly from the town of Worcester, being included in their original grants, and was the north-westerly part thereof. It was incorporated in 1740, by the name of Holden, in commemoration of the Hon. Samuel Holden, Esq., one of the directors of the Bank of England, who was a generous benefactor to the literary and religious interests of the country. This worthy man transmitted to New England for charitable purposes, in books and bills of exchange, to the amount of £4,847, New England currency. After his decease, his widow and daughters sent over in value, for the same noble and pious uses, the sum of £5,585. With part of this latter sum Holden Chapel, in the University of Cambridge, Mass., was erected, in the year 1745.

The first church was organized in 1742, and Rev. Joseph Davis was ordained their pastor. He was dismissed in 1772, and succeeded by Rev. Joseph Avery. Rev. Horatio Bardwell, the next pastor, was installed in 1823, and was succeeded by Rev. William B. Paine, in 1834.

This town is hilly and uneven, but not very broken. The soil is various, but generally of a loamy kind. Quinepoxet river passes through the town. In the south-east part of the town is Stone House Hill, whose steep and rocky sides were once famous for rattlesnakes. There is 1 Congregational meeting house, and 1 Baptist. Distance, 7 miles from Worcester, and 48 west of Boston. Population, 1,789. In 1837, there were 4 cotton mills, 5,800 spindles: 1,023,000 yards of cotton goods were manufactured; value, $84,000; males employed, 68; females, 66. There were 2 woollen mills, 1 sets of machinery; 92,000 yards of cloth were manufactured value $81,000. One cotton mill for the manufacture of warp, hatting, and wicking. Boots manufactured, 5,800 pairs; shoes, 10,000 pairs; value, $20,500.

Historical Collections Relating to the History... John Warner Barber, Worcester, Warren Lazell, 1848

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