History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

0\VELL, ill Middlesex County,
State of Massachusetts, was
taken from the noi-theasterly
part of Chehnsford. It is sit-
uated twenty-five miles north
by west from Boston, in latitude
1;J° ;iS' 46" north, longitude
71° 19' 2" west from Greenwich.
It is bounded on the north and
east by Dracut, on the east and
south by Tewksbury, and on
the south and west by Chelmsford. Its original
bounds, as defined in the charter, were as follows :
" Beginning at Merrimack Eiver, at a stone post,
about two hundred rods above the mouth of Paw-
tucket Canal, so called, thence running southerly
in a straight course, until it strikes the Middlesex
Canal, at a point ten rods above the canal bridge,
near the dwelling-house of Henry Coburn ; thence
southerly on said canal twenty rods ; thence a due
east course to a stone post at Concord River."
Its area is 7,735 acres, or about twelve square
miles. Since its incorporation as a town, in 1826,
it has received two additions from Tewksbury on
the east, two from Dracut on the north and east,
and one from Chelmsford on the west. These addi-
tions will be appropriately noticed.
The territory now belonging to the city of Lowell
was originally granted to Cambridge, June 2, 1641,
erect a village there within five years, and so as it
shall not extend to prejudice Charlestowne village,
or the village of Cochitawit" (Andover), etc. This
grant was confirmed absolutely March 7, 1643-44,
and included the present town of Billerica, portions
of Bedford and Carlisle, and a part of Tewksbury
and Chelmsford, or of both. " AH the land between
Concord and Merrimack rivers " includes Lowell.
LOWELL. 53
LOWELL.
ALFRED OILMAN.
tiiat there were two villages of Indians inhabiting
the territory on which Lowell stands. The Wamesits
occupied the land on both sides of Concord
River, and the Pawtuckets, the region in the vi-
cinity of Pawtucket Falls. They belonged to one
tribe. Allen, in his History of Chelmsford, says,
" It was customary to call those of the same nation
or tribe by the different names of the villages at
which they resided. Inattention to this circum-
stance has introduced great uncertainty and confusion
in those transactions of the town which
related to the Indians in Waniesit and Pawtucket.
They belonged to the same tribe, and, living so near
together, constituted but one village. They are
sometimes called Pawtuckets ; more commonly,
Wamesits."^
Lowell can claim no share in the patriotic efforts
that achieved our independence. The history of
these belongs to Chelmsford, Dracut, and Tewks-
bury. The names of Ford, Walker, Spalding,
Parker, Varnum, and Clark are still held in vener-
ation, and will continue to be until patriotism
ceases to be a virtue.
Two important enterprises, both connected with
the present territory of Lowell, were inaugurated
in the years 1792 and 1793. Dudley A. Tyng,
William Coombs, and others were incorporated as
The Proprietors of the Locks and Canals on Mer-
rimack River August 8, 1792, and James Sulli-
and again June 14, 1642. This grant was condivan, Esq., and others were 'incorporated June 22,
tional. " All the land lying upon Shawshin Ryver, 1793, as The Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal.
and between that and Concord Ryver, and hehoeen The Locks and Canal Comj)any was formed to
that and Merrimack Ryver, not formerly granted by improve the navigation of Merrimack River. The
this Court, are granted to Cambridge, so as they great obstacle in the way, at this period, was Paw-
tucket Falls. They were so precipitous, the current
so violent, and the rocks in the channel so abun-
dant, that it was impossible, unless in time of a
freshet, to run lumber over them with any pros-
pect of success. The water in Concord River,
which enters the Merrimack below Pawtucket Falls,
is thirty-two feet lower than the water at the head
' For the early history of Lowell, see articles Camhridge, Bil-
In order to prevent confusion, it is well to state lerica, and Chelmsford, Vul. I. — Ed.