The Town of Douglas, originally named New Sherborn, was first settled in the early 1700s through grants provided by Sherborn, Massachusetts. There are discrepancies regarding the dates and the original acreage provided by Sherborn. The first known settler of Douglas was Ephraim Hill. The original settlers came to Douglas for agricultural abundance. In 1746, New Sherborn was renamed and incorporated as Douglas, Massachusetts after Dr. William Douglas, who promised the town a financial reward to name the town after him. There is no proof that Dr. Douglas ever kept his promise of financial reward.
From the incorporation of the town until the turn of the 20th century, Douglas was like most small agricultural towns. There were saw-mills, grist-mills, blacksmiths, shoe-shops, dry goods shops, and even a few textile mills. However, the one industry Douglas was known for at that time was the Douglas Axe Company, which was run by the Hunt Brothers. The Douglas Axe earned a world-wide reputation by winning awards and medals at the World's Fair in London and at the Paris and Vienna Expositions during the late 1890s. Beginning in the 1880s, William E. Hayward of Uxbridge, MA brought the woolen goods industry to Douglas.
Experience Millard (1704-1784) – died in Douglas, probably in the home of daughter, Bethiah Smith.
Jonathan King (abt 1738-bef 1810) and Bethiah Garnsey (1754-1842)
First Congregational Church and Town Common at Church St and Common St
Dudley Tavern 1770, 8 Main St. – From the era Bethiah’s family lived here.
https://mysfpl.org/historical-archive/historical-archive/town-history-2016-04
History of the town of Douglas, (Massachusetts,) from the earlies ...