Founded in 1727, the town was named after the Earl of Uxbridge, in Uxbridge, England. The Taft family, of England, settled in Mendon (originally called "Mendham"), in 1680, in a section that later became Uxbridge. The Tafts were founders of the town of Uxbridge and Robert Taft, II was on the first Board of Selectmen (town council). Early settlers included the Aldriches, the Wheelocks, the Farnums, the Reeds, the Willards, the Caprons and the Thayers.
Uxbridge claims Lydia Chapin Taft, as America's first legal woman voter. Lydia Chapin married Josiah Taft in 1731. Josiah became a prominent citizen in early Uxbridge as wealthy farmer, local official, and Massachusetts legislator. He served several terms as a member of the Board of Selectmen, as town clerk, as town moderator,[6] and in the Massachusetts General Court. HR, 1753.[6] In the fall of 1756, Josiah and Lydia's 18-year-old son, Caleb, became ill, while studying at Harvard, and died on September 19. Josiah went to Cambridge to bury Caleb. Josiah himself became ill after returning home, and died on September 30, at age 47. This was immediately prior to an important vote on the town's support for the war effort in the French and Indian Wars. Josiah's untimely death opened the door for Lydia's step into America's history of women's suffrage. Given the important nature of the vote, the landowner and taxpayer status of Josiah's estate, and the fact that Bazaleel, Caleb's younger brother, was still a minor, the townspeople voted to allow "the widow Josiah Taft", to vote in this important meeting.[8][9] Lydia then received Josiah's proxy to vote in this important town meeting. Lydia Taft, voted in an official New England Open Town Meeting, at Uxbridge, Massachusetts, on October 30, 1756, becoming the first recorded legal woman voter in America. This is recorded in the records of the Uxbridge Town Meeting. The early town records show at least two other occasions when Lydia voted in official Uxbridge Town meetings, both in 1758 and again in 1765.
Congregational Church (508) 278-3071 - 8 Court St, Uxbridge, Massachusetts 01569
Uxbridge Common - Main, Court, and Douglas Sts.
Simon Wheelock House - 36 No. Main St
Solomon’s Temple Lodge
Prospect Hill Cemetery - Mendon St and Depot St. Cemetery
John and Mary Tyler Farnum House – built circa 1710 - 44 Mendon St.
John and Mary (Tyler) Farnum may have moved to the Chockalog section of Uxbridge, then part of Mendon because of the "witchcraft controversies" that involved Mary's family in Andover. [2] John Farnum Jr. was a "coronet", a now obsolete military position similar to an ensign. He was elected a constable in Mendon in 1703.[2] He had his house built about 1710 in a part of Mendon that is now Uxbridge. On June 27, 1727 a petition was granted to form the town of Uxbridge. The first town meeting was held in the Coronet John Farnum House.
Aaron Taft House - 215 Hazel St.
Ancestor of Pres. William Howard Taft (who was also descended from Jonathan Fairbanks and Grace Smith)
George Taft House - 153 Richardson Street in Uxbridge, Massachusetts.
The two story timber-frame house was built in c. 1810. Ezra Taft Benson, Sr, a famous Mormon Pioneer, lived in the house from 1817-1835. In the middle of the 19th century it was the home of George Washington Taft, a farmer and local state representative.
Samuel Taft Tavern - 87 Sutton Street - The main block of the 1 1⁄2 story timber frame house was built in 1774.
Julia Hills’sister, Nancy Hills, married George Washington Taft, the son of Samuel Taft who served in the American Revolutionary War and hosted George Washington at his tavern in 1789 on his inaugural tour of New England. The President was pleased that Samuel had named a son after him, and wrote,
"Hartford, Nov. 8, 1789. "Sir.'97 Being informed that you have given my name to one of your sons, and called another after Mrs. Washington's family" (Dandridge), "and being moreover very much pleased with the modest and innocent looks of your two daughters, Patty and Polly, I do for these reasons send each of these girls a piece of chintz; and to Patty, who bears the name of Mrs. Washington, and who waited more upon us than Polly did, I send five guineas, with which she may buy herself any little ornament she may want, or she may dispose of them in any other manner more agreeable to herself. As I do not give these things with a view to have it talked of, or even to its being known, the less there is said about the matter the better you will please me; but, I may be sure the chintz and money have got safe to hand, let Patty, who I dare say is equal to it, write me a line informing me thereof, directed 'to the President of the United States, at New York.' I wish you and your family well, and am your humble servant." "George Washington."
Old Mill Complex
Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park (508) 278-7604 287 Oak St., Uxbridge, MA
Blackstone Gorge - (508) 278-7604 - County St, Blackstone, MA 01504
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation - 198 Purgatory Rd, Sutton, MA 01590
Whitsinville Historic District.