History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

Thomas, and Eev. George T. Raymond. The
present minister is Kev. E. W. Pride, a graduate
of Brown University in 1865, and of Newton
Theological Institution in 1868. The number of
members is about one hundred and tliirty. Since
the building of the Baptist meeting-house in 18-13
OWNSEND is situated in the
northwestern angle of the
county, on tlie state line; it is
bounded on the north by Mason
and Brookline.A'ew llampsliire,
on the east by Pepperell, Groton,
and Shirley, on tlie south by
Lunenburg, and on the west
by Ashby. It contains 19,271
acres. In its outlines it is per-
haps more quadrangular than any otiier town in
tiie county.
The borders of the town, except at its southeast
corner, are occupied by prominent hills, upon some
of wliich are standpoints commanding views of
scenic beauty. K large portion of the land on these
hills is well adapted to the cultivation of the cereals,
and produces much fruit, •— jmrticularly apples and
peaches. The central part of the town is generally
quite level, and contains large areas of land consisting
of a liglit, sandy soil. Interspersed among
these plains and near the river are many fertile
tracts, whicli afford excellent crops. Through this
central basin flows tiie Sejuanicook River, which is
produced by the confluence of several large brooks
in Ash Swamp, situated in tlie northwest part of
the town. These brooks drain parts of Mason,
Greenville, and New Ipswich, New Hampshire, and
parts of the towns of Ashby, Ashburnham, Fitch-
burg, and Lunenburg.
The Squanicook River runs through the town in
a southeasterly direction to near the Groton line,
when it takes a more southern course, and in a very
crooked channel it journeys on out of Townsend
TOWNSEXD. 581
it has been enlarged and greatly improved. A
conmiodious vestry has been added at the rear.
When this cimrch was formed a Sabbatli scliool
was also organized, and has been successfully con-
ducted ever since.
T W X S E N D.
ITHAJIAR B. SAWTELI.E.
its tributaries have furnished many mill privileges
which have been and are still utilized in various
branches of industry. The town has three postal
centres, known as Townsend Harbor, Townsend,
and West Townsend, each situated about two miles
from the other and clustering on both banks of tlie
Squanicook. The Peterborough and Siiirley Rail-
road, a branch of the Fitchburg Railroad (com-
pleted in 1849), passes through the town, toucJiing
the three villages daily with regular passenger
trains. The central village is situated nine miles
from Fitchburg, twenty miles from Lowell, and
forty miles from Boston. Townsend was named
by the provincial governor in honor of Cliarles
Townshend, the English statesman, who was very
popular in the colonies at the time it received its
charter. It appears from the town records that
for more than flfty years from the time of its in-
corporation the correct orthography of its name-
sake was generally preserved. Near the beginning
of the present century the " h " was dropped from
the name in tiie records, contrary, perhaps, to good
taste. The population of the town (census of 1875)
is 2,196.
The earliest historical trace of any claim of
ownership in the soil of Townsend has been found
among the grants of " the great and general court
to the prominent military men, wlio two hundred
years ago participated in King Philip's War in
New England.
The Reronh (fthe Colony cfllie MassacJmseUs
Bail in New England, Vol. V., page 10-1, contain
the following grant —
:
" Layd out to the Wor^pff" William Hnuthorn
at the northeast corner of Shirlev. This river and Esq. six hundred and forty acres of land, more or
"