Orange — Organization

Extracted from "History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, Volume II," by Louis H. Everts, 1879.


      Oct. 15, 1783, the southeasterly part of the town of Warwick, and a tract of land called Ervingshire, lying on the north side of Miller's River, in the county of Hampshire, the northwesterly part of the town of Athol, and the south-westerly part of the town of Royalston, in the county of Worcester, were joined by act of the Legislature, and erected into a separate district by the name of Orange. The act was passed on the petition of the inhabitants of the tracts above referred to, who represented to the court the difficulties they labored under "in their present situation," and apprehended themselves, moreover, to be of sufficient numbers and ability to deserve the granting of their petition.
      The boundaries designated for the new district were as follows: Beginning on the west line of the town of Athol, at Miller's River; thence on the said line to the road that leads from Ruggles' farms to West Hill, so called; thence bounding on the said road, including the same, to the county road leading from Athol to Warwick; thence easterly on the said road to the south line of Sherebiah Baker's land; thence on the said south line, and to extend the same course, to Tully River; thence northerly on the east branch of the said Tully River to Royalston line; thence east on the said Royalston line to the southeast corner of lot No. 23; thence northerly on the east line of the same lot and lot 22, dividing lot No. 26; thence westerly on the south end of lot 20; thence northerly on the east line of lot No. 6; thence westerly on the north line of the same lot; thence northerly on the west side of lot No. 9; thence westerly on the south line of lot No. 11 to the west line of the said town of Royalston; thence northerly on the said town-line to the northeast corner of lot No. 45, in the second division in Warwick; then westerly on the north line of the same lot to the northwest corner thereof; thence southerly to the northeast corner of lot 41; thence westerly to the north-west corner of the same lot; thence southerly to the northeast corner of lot 34, to the northwest corner of the same; thence southeast to the northeast corner of lot 24; thence south to the northeast corner of lot 15; thence south, including lot 13, to Warwick south line; thence south, ten degrees west, across the land of John Erving, Esq., to Miller's River; thence easterly on Miller's River to the bounds first mentioned.
      The district was named in honor of William, prince of Orange, and its first public meeting was held Nov. 24, 1783, the warrant therefor being served by Nathan Goddard. Feb. 21, 1810, the district was incorporated as a town, and the first town-meeting was held April 2, 1810.



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