History Lancaster, Massachusetts

town hall

lancaster first settled nashaway (after local nashaway indian tribe) in 1643. officially incorporated , renamed lancaster on nashua in 1653. until cut down in 1989 due safety concerns, lancaster boasted largest oak tree in state, called beaman oak, named after settler gamaliel beaman (1623–1677).

lancaster boasts being official mothertown of eastern central massachusetts. towns such harvard, bolton, leominster, clinton, berlin, sterling, , part of west boyslton formed territory of original boundaries of lancaster.

supporters of lancaster s founder, john prescott (1604–1681), wished name new settlement prescott, massachusetts general court considered such request common freeman presumptuous, given @ time, not governor had held honor of naming town after himself. instead, decided use lancaster, name of home town in england.

lancaster site of mary rowlandson (c. 1637–1711) attack in february 1676 (1675 old style calendar). during king philip s war, fought partially in lancaster, tribe of indians pillaged entire town of lancaster. last stop on trail of destruction mary rowlandson s house. coming defense of house rowlandson s brother-in-law, shot , killed attacking indians. indians set fire house, forcing rowlandson exit burning building. upon crossing doorstep, rowlandson saw scene full of carnage. majority of household slaughtered, exception of husband, joseph rowlandson sr., not on premises, son, called joseph, 2 daughters, mary , sarah, , herself. mary, son, , 2 daughters captured indians , forced join travels across new england. indians non-fatally shot mary rowlandson in side, youngest daughter, sarah, sustained injury during attack later bring death. after release captivity, rowlandson wrote book called narrative of captivity , restoration of mrs. mary rowlandson. book considered 1 of greatest examples of captivity narrative. in 2000, lancaster elementary school changed name mary rowlandson elementary school.