Westford History

Pilgrams land on Plymouth Rock

Sep 6, 1620

In 1620 the pilgrims landed at plymouth rock where they established a colony to live in.

Settlement of Cape Ann/Salem

Jan 1, 1625

One of the first attempts by the Mass Bay Colony to settle in North America, they sent 3 ships and about 100 men to North America.

Establishment of MBC and Boston

Jan 1, 1630

At the end of 16th century England prospered under queen Elizabeth. England attempted to colonize North America. Boston company and Mass Bay company sent 11 ships and more than 1000 people to America

Settlement of Concord

Jan 1, 1635

Colonists settled in the area we now know as Concord.

Settlement of Woburn

Jan 1, 1640

Settlers decide to farm and live in Woburn

Incorporation of Woburn

Jan 1, 1642

2 years after its settlement, Woburn is officially incorporated by the MGC as a town in Massachusetts

Settlement of Groton

Jan 1, 1655

Settlers establish a place to live and work in Groton.

Establishment of the plantation of Chelmsford

Jan 1, 1655

Settlement of Chelmsford pplantation grant in 1653. Original settlers were from Wobrun and Concord. Early expansion of Chelmsford population northward and westward (Frances Hill, Stony Brook Valley, Parkerville, & Snake Meadow).

Incorporation of the town on Chelmsford

May 8, 1655

By the winter of 1654 there were enough white settlers and a minister in that the Mass General Court incorporated Chelmsford into a town in the spring of 1655

First Known Land Allotments in Westford Established

Jan 1, 1659

as early as 1659, the people in Chelmsford began to set aside Land allotments in present day Westford. Land was used in most cases for sources of reliable water and/or hay for their cattle.

Indians Sign Treaty with Chlemsford and Mass General Court giving up thier claim to use land of Westford as their hunting grounds

Jan 1, 1660

First known permanent settler of Westford , Solomon Keyes, builds a house on Frances Hill

Dec 5, 1664

First mill in Westford [then West Chelmsford] is erected on Saw- mill Meadow Brook[links Nab lake to Stony Brook]

Dec 5, 1669

King Phillip's War begins

Dec 5, 1675

Groton Abandoned after Indian Attack

Mar 1, 1676

Indians attack Groton and burn most of the town - most survivors go to Concord, and the town is abandoned for the next 2 years.

End of Indian Wars' in Massachusetts

Aug 5, 1676

Metcom is killed and the war ended shortly there-after.

King Philip's War Ends

Jan 1, 1678

After a year of suffering on both sides, a peace treaty is signed at Casco bay in April 1678. At the end 12 towns were destroyed and many more were damaged.

First mill in Forge Village is erected [the part of the town of Groton]

Dec 5, 1680

Members of the West part of Chelmsford petition the Mass. General Court to become a distinct parish

Dec 5, 1713

Incorporation of the town of Littleton

Jan 1, 1714

Littleton was incorporated as its own town in 1714 - several families in the southwest corner of Westford were "allowed" byt the town to attend Sunday church services in Littleton because it was closer.

MGC gives permission to form the "West Precinct of Chelmsford"

May 1, 1724

After pleading their case of "inconvenience" to the Mass General Court, in May the MGC pass an Act that they be "granted leave to be erected into a separate religious society by the name of the West Precinct of Chelmsford."

Surveying of the site for Westford's first meeting house (near present site of First Parish Church)

Dec 5, 1724

Chelmsford officially recognizes the West Precinct

Jan 1, 1725

The town of Westford finally recognizes the claim of its Western Citizens (after the MGC's dcree in 1724) and pays them 100 pounds to defray the cost of building their new church.

The Incorporation of Westford

Sep 23, 1729

Massachusetts General Court grants the town's petition to change their status from "precinct" to "town"

Establishment of the First Parish Church in Westford

Dec 5, 1729