North Attleborough is an industrial town in Bristol County on the Rhode
Island border. In pre-Colonial times, it was the site of the Bay Path, a
major Indian trail to Narragansett Bay, the Seekonk River and Boston. John
Woocock and family established a small settlement in North Attleborough in
1669, which subsisted on agriculture, fishing and hunting but also clearly
liked a little conviviality because by 1670, Woocock had received a license
to open an ordinary, or tavern. The settlement was attacked during the
King Philip war, with two killed and one home burned, but the garrison
house which Woocock had built survived the attack. Recovery was swift
after the war and the community grew very quickly; by 1776 there were 2200
people living there.
In about 1780 a French settler set up a forge for working brass and the
industrial era arrived in North Attleborough. Englishmen brought with them
British machinery from Birmingham in 1794 and designed American
improvements in button making which they patented. During the 18th and
early 19th centuries, small grist and sawmills were built along the Tenmile
River, and subsequently established nail factories were eventually eclipsed
by cotton spinning mills. The development of cotton spinning was spurred
by the embargo on imports resulting from the War of 1812. Textiles and
jewelry manufacturing were the staple industries of the town by 1832 but
buttons were king. By 1834 it was said that North Attleborough produced
more buttons than anywhere in the United States.
Through the 19th century there was tremendous growth and innovation in the
jewelry industry and the number of firms in the town increased sharply. By
1855 there were 24 shops making almost $1 million in jewelry in both
Attleboroughs. The Civil War spurred their growth with profitable U.S.
Army orders for badges and medals.
North Attleborough retains an outstanding collection of mid- to late-19th
century houses including several Italianate villas.
Island border. In pre-Colonial times, it was the site of the Bay Path, a
major Indian trail to Narragansett Bay, the Seekonk River and Boston. John
Woocock and family established a small settlement in North Attleborough in
1669, which subsisted on agriculture, fishing and hunting but also clearly
liked a little conviviality because by 1670, Woocock had received a license
to open an ordinary, or tavern. The settlement was attacked during the
King Philip war, with two killed and one home burned, but the garrison
house which Woocock had built survived the attack. Recovery was swift
after the war and the community grew very quickly; by 1776 there were 2200
people living there.
In about 1780 a French settler set up a forge for working brass and the
industrial era arrived in North Attleborough. Englishmen brought with them
British machinery from Birmingham in 1794 and designed American
improvements in button making which they patented. During the 18th and
early 19th centuries, small grist and sawmills were built along the Tenmile
River, and subsequently established nail factories were eventually eclipsed
by cotton spinning mills. The development of cotton spinning was spurred
by the embargo on imports resulting from the War of 1812. Textiles and
jewelry manufacturing were the staple industries of the town by 1832 but
buttons were king. By 1834 it was said that North Attleborough produced
more buttons than anywhere in the United States.
Through the 19th century there was tremendous growth and innovation in the
jewelry industry and the number of firms in the town increased sharply. By
1855 there were 24 shops making almost $1 million in jewelry in both
Attleboroughs. The Civil War spurred their growth with profitable U.S.
Army orders for badges and medals.
North Attleborough retains an outstanding collection of mid- to late-19th
century houses including several Italianate villas.
