| Town of Berkley
Established - April 18, 1735
In 1735 Taunton and Dighton were
divided and the new town of Berkley was established.
The town's name honored Bishop Berkley, Bishop of
Cloyne, Ireland, who loved his parishioners so much
that he refused advancement which would take him away
from them.
The First meetinghouse was built in 1736.
The area had rich farms but was also home to commercial
mariners who were active in the southern and West
Indian trades. There were few grocers and local traders
due to the area's proximity to Taunton, however, there
were taverns which accommodated passengers on the
three of four stages which ran daily between Taunton
and Fall River, a service which began in 1713.
Boatbuilding started in 1790 leading to a succesion
of yards building small of few craft. There was probly
only one major shipyard and it was active from 1820
to 1866. It seems like no other major industries developed
altho there were shoemakers, tanners, and a blacksmith
who made iron for ships. The railroad bypassed Berkley.
The town was once described as having no particular
interest in industry or growth, a sort of "recluse."
River fishing was pursued and the running of two seines,
four days a week, was allowed for a specified number
of weeks. Good singing was early cultivated by the
church society. In January of 1737 a chorister and
tuner of psalms was appointed. Others followed. Berkley
was well-represented in the Revolutionary War.
Dighton Rock was originally in Dighton on Assonet
Neck. This piece of land was ceded to Berkley in the
1700's. George Washington, after examining a copy
of the inscription in the museum of Harvard College,
expressed his opinion that it was the work of Indians
as he had seen similar writing in his early life which
was unquestionabley made by the natives.
Only Partially agreeing, Mr. N. Arnzen of Fall River
purchased the rock and gave it to the Antiquarian
Society at Copenhagen. His theory was that the writing
was composed of two parts- one by Indians, the other
by Norsemen. He found that the name THORFIN, in Latin
letters, was clear. In other references it is noted
that the rock was a gift to the town by the Royal
Scandinavian Society in the 1800's.
The Myricks area of Berkley was noted for many years
for its Bristol County Cattle Show and Fair which
ran from 1858 to 1876. Myricks was also noted as a
picnic and events site. The area of Myricks left Taunton
and became part of Berkley in 1879. Here the railroad
did reach.
www.berkely-ma.gov
Historic Sites
Dighton Rock State Park,
Bay View Road - 675-5759
Bobbitt Monument, Berkley St. - Commemorates
death of resident killed during war with Indians.
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