The Nemasket River

The Nemasket River

The Nemasket River has been very important in the history of Middleborough. The importance of the Nemasket River can be traced throughout the development of Middleborough. Early settlers and Indian's were provided food and water from the river. The early industries were furnished water power for their grist mills, saw mills, furnaces and forges. The later cotton mills and shovel works were also powered by the river. The course of the Nemasket river begins at Lake Assawompsett which is the largest natural body of fresh water in Massachusetts. The mouth and first few miles were discovered in the western portion of Middleborough in 1853 when the town of Lakeville was incorporated and that section of the river became part of that town. The rest of the river flows through Middleborough until it reached the Taunton River. This area was called Nemasket until 1669 when the town was settled as Middleberry, later changed to Middleborough. The river was also called the canal river and the land, lowland, and swamps through which it flowed were called the Canal Swamps.

Excavations by Dr. Maurice Robbins of Attleboro at the area near the mouth of the Nemasket River have revealed an Archaic Village in Middleborough that dates back to at least 2300 BC. This date has been substantiated by radiocarbon dating. Also a rock located to the East of the mouth of the Nemasket River, revealed only when the waters of Lake Assawompsett are low showed a mysterious sign of presence of Mediterranean people. On the rock is a picture of a Phoenician ship. It was carved by some awe-filled Indian, who saw the ship anchored in the lake and was moved to record his sighting for all to see.

Acknowledgement

Courtesy of Dorothy Thayer.