wilderness land situated on the Housatonic river, near to an Indian town

One of the first Berkshire communities to be settled, Lanesborough was originally known as New Framingham, carved from part of Northern Berkshire Township #6. Lanesborough was first settled in 1753 and was officially incorporated in 1765. It was renamed Lanesborough, for the Countess of Lanesborough, a friend of Governor Francis Bernard, who incorporated the town. The town grew with small industry in the early 19th century, most of which settled along the Town Brook. Berkshire Pleasure Park was a strong attraction at the turn of the 19th to 20th century. It was one of the trolley parks along what is now Route 8 on the eastern side of town.

The settlement was commenced about 1754 or 5, by Capt. Samuel Martin, a Mr. Brewer, and a Mr. Steales. A party of Indians, in the second French war, drove off these families, and Capt. Martin was the only one who returned. A fort for the protection of the settlement, was erected near where the house of Dea. Wolcott Hubbell now stands. On the approach of the Indians, the settlers fled to Pittsfield. A scout was sent after them from Massachusetts Fort. In following tracks which were found, two Indian chiefs were discovered, stooping down and tying on their moccasins. Each of the scouts selected one, and both chiefs were killed on the spot. The scout safely escaped to the fort, though closely pursued by the Indians. A party immediately set out from the fort in search of the bodies of the slain chiefs, who found them buried in their war costume.

Among the earliest settlers, after those which have been mentioned, were Nathaniel Williams, Samuel Tyrrell, John, Ephraim, Elijah and Miles Powel, (four brothers,) Lieut. Andrew Squier, James Loomis, and Ambrose Hall. They all settled here as early as 1759. William Bradley, James Goodrich, Thaddeus Curtis, Ebenezer Squier, Benjamin and Joseph Farnum, settled here not far from that time.

The soil is generally of an excellent quality, consisting principally of a clay loam; and the chief attention of the inhabitants is turned towards grazing. Little grain is raised, beside what is needed for home consumption.

The south branch of the Hoosic rises in the southeast corner of the town. The west branch of the Housatonic enters the town from New Ashford, passes by the centre of the town, and runs through the large pond, called Lanesborough pond, into Pittsfield. This pond is partly in the latter town. It abounds with fish, such as pickerel, perch, and trout, and affords at its outlet some very valuable mill-sites. The principal settlements are on a street which extends several miles along the eastern side of this branch of the Housatonic. Here are the three houses of worship belonging to the different religious denominations. The neighbouring meadows are remarkably luxuriant and beautiful, while the hills beyond them strike the eye with great pleasure. The scenery from various points of elevations is picturesque and delightful.

Some valuable beds of iron ore have been found here, from which considerable quantities of iron were formerly manufactured; though but little attention has been paid to them for some years.

There are several extensive quarries of valuable marble; some of which, in the western part of the town, were opened at an early period; others, near New Ashford, were opened 15 or 20 years ago. The principal are on the estates of Dea. Elijah Phelps, Abiel Platt, Bethuel Baker, and the Hon. Judge Savage, of New York. A large portion of the marble in the capitol at Albany, was transported from these quarries. Great quantities are now sent on the Western Canal into the interior of New York.

The Congregational church, consisting of 5 males and 3 females, was organized March 28, 1764, by Rev. Messrs. Samuel Hopkins, of Great Barrington, and Stephen West, of Stockbridge.

Deacons.

Ebenezer Buck; died 1805, aged 90.

Azariah Rood; removed to Vermont.

Nehemiah Bull; chosen 1780; died Dec. 1815, aged 77

Ebenezer Squier; chosen 1783; died 1797, aged 67.

Andrew Squier; chosen 1798; died 1824, aged 93.

Gideon Wheeler; chosen 1809; died 1822, aged 77.

Wolcott Hubbell; do. 1818.

Elijiah Phelps; do. do.

Zenas S. Clark; do. 1829.

The Episcopal church in this town, called St. Luke's church, was initiated by the Rev. Samuel Andrews, of Wallingford, Con., Oct. 2, 1767, and the house of worship belonging to this denomination was erected in 1783. The rev. Gideon Bostwick, of Great Barrington, had the pastoral charge of the church, and preached to it occasionally from June 26, 1770, until his death, June 14, 1773.

The Rev. Daniel Burhans succeeded him immediately, and continued here until June, 1799, when he removed to Newtown, Con., where he still officiates.

The Baptist church was formed in 1818, with 12 members. About 34 have been since admitted. The number of members reported at the last meeting of the Baptist Association, was 35.

The Baptists have enjoyed the labours of Elder Augustus C. Beach, and of Elder Richmond Taggart.

Lawyer Calvin Hubbell, Jun.; native of this place; graduate of Williams College 1810; admitted to the bar in 1813.

from http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maberksh/towns/lanesborough/history_of_lanesboro.htm

Lanesborough, Massachusetts 1790 census
Sorted By Head of Household.

Allen, John

Allen, Nicholas

Alvord, Daniel

Alvord, Eleazer

Alvord, Joseph

Angel, James

Anthony, Rufus

Austin, Elisha

Austin, Oliver

Babbet, Christopher

Babbet, John

Bacon, Jacob

Bacon, Samuel

Bacon, Stephen

Bagg, Aaron

Bagg, Joseph

Baker, Berhuel

Baker, Frances

Baker, James

Baker, James Jr.

Baker, Nathan

Baker, Newei

Baker, Paul

Baker, Pitts

Baker, Samuel

Baker, Siles

Barns, John

Barns, Joseph

Barns, Joseph

Barton, Caleb

Baxter, Nathan

Bebee, Peter

Benedict, Joshua

Bennet, Anna

Bennet, Selah

Bliss, Levi

Bliss, Nathaniel

Bradley, Asahel

Bradley, Ephraim

Bradley, Urian

Bradley, William

Bristol, John

Broadway, Jeremiah

Brooks, Jonathan

Brown, Benjamin

Brown, Daniel

Brown, Joshua

Brundage, Nathan

Buck, Asahel

Buck, Ebenezer

Buck, Ebenezer Jr.

Buffet, David

Bugbee, Benjamin

Bugbee, John

Bull, Nehemiah

Burchard, John

Burchet, Joseph

Burghance, Henty

Burgis, Benjamin

Burgis, Jacob

Burgis, Joseph

Burlingham, Nathan

Burnhans, Daniel

Burton, Caleb

Burton, David

Caleb, James

Camel, Joseph

Carpenter, Rufus

Casey, Edward

Casey, John

Church, Caleb

Clark, Benjamin

Clark, Hesekiah

Clark, James

Clark, Jehabel

Clark, Levi

Codding, Robert

Collins, Daniel

Coman, Daniel

Connaly, Michael

Coshell, Thomas

Curtis, Peter B.

Curtis, Samuel

Davis, Sylvester

Delong, Lawrence

Denton, David

Dorwin, Amos

Dorwin, Asa

Dorwin, Dorothy

Dorwin, Ephraim

Dorwin, Ephraim

Dorwin, Thomas

Edson, Obadiah

Edson, Obadiah

Edson, Thomas

Estes, Richard G.

Farbanks, Benjamin

Farnum, Benjamin

Farnum, John

Farnum, Joseph

Fattaman, John

Fish, William

Fisher, John

Fratwell, James

Frisbie, Thaddeus

Fuller, Benjamin

Fuller, Zadock

Garlick, Abel

Garlick, Seth

Gilson, Alexander

Gitto, Frances

Goodrich, Ashbel

Goodrich, James

Goodrich, Thomas

Gott, Nathaniel

Graynolds, Gideon

Green, Jeremiah F.

Green, Pelog

Green, Wardwell

Gregory, Elnathan

Gregory, Thomas

Grinnel, Nathaniel

Groves, Thomas

Guilford, Paul

Hall, Ambrose

Hall, Calvin

Hall, Ezra

Hall, Gershom

Hall, Hannah

Hall, James

Hall, John

Hall, Lyman

Hammond, Elnathan

Hammond, John

Harrison, Samuel

Henman, Curtis

Henman, Gideon

Henman, Weight

Hicks, Amos

Hicks, Eliphalet

Hicock, Asher

Hill, Benager

Hillard, Henry

Hitchcock, Jesse

Hitchcock, Nathaniel

Hollis, Elijah

Hoppin, Samuel

Horton, Isaac

Horton, Squire

Howard, Silas

Hoyt, Ezra

Hoyt, Ezra Jr.

Hoyt, Uriah

Hubbel, Calvin

Hubbel, Hicock

Hubbel, Jedadiah

Hubbel, Wolcot

Hungerford, Levi

Hungerford, Simeon

Hungerford, Thomas

Ingolls, Samuel

Ingolls, Samuel J.

Ingolls, Stephen

Irish, David

Janes, John

Jarvis, Asakel

Jarvis, Joseph

Jefords, William

Jewett, David

John, Cud

Johnson, William

Kent, Noah

Kilton, Barnet

King, Amos

King, Medad

King, Stephen

Kink, Eldad

Kipp, William

Ladd, John

Ladd, William

Lamkins, Newcom

Lamphier, Phinehas

Lane, William

Lasdel, Joshua

Lincoln, Nathan

Lockwood, Jeremiah

Loomis, Ezra

Lyman, Moses

Lyon, Jabez

Lyon, John

Marble, David

Markham, Asa

Martin, Ebenezer

Martin, Jeremiah

Mason, Bernard

Mason, Brooks

Mason, Daniel

Mason, David

Mason, Hezekiah

Mason, Jesse

Mason, Milachi

Mason, Nathan K.

Mason, Robey

Mason, Rufus

McCloth, John

McCloth, Lawrence

McCloth, Solomon

Mead, Stephen

Mead, Stephen Jr.

Mendell, Ephraim

Monroe, Squirw

Morgan, Henry

Morton, Asa

Nash, Ephraim

Nason, Nathan

Newell, Ebenezer

Newton, Gershom

Newton, Philo

Nicholson, Ashbel

Nobel, Timothy

Northrop, Joseph

Northrop, Stephen

Norton, Charles

Olds, Mideon

Olney, Nedebiah

Orsborne, Joseph

Parker, Abijah

Peirce, James

Peirce, Nathan

Perkins, Joseph

Perkins, Moses

Pettibone, Amos

Pettibone, Janathan

Pettibone, Roger

Pettibone, Roger Jr.

Phelps, Elijah

Platt, Abiel

Platt, ezra

Platt, Ithiel

Platt, John

Potter, Pelog

Powell, Elijah

Powell, Elijah Jr.

Powell, Ephraim

Powell, John

Powell, John

Powell, Miles

Powell, Miles Jr.

Powell, Robert

Read, Thomas

Redaway, Joel

Redway, Comfort

Rice, Adonijah

Rice, Jehleel

Richmond, John

Robinson, Joseph

Robinson, Peter

Rockwell, Elijah

Rockwell, James

Rockwell, Josiah

Rust, Daniel

Seymour, John

Sheffield, Caleb

Sherlock, Ichabod

Sherman, Andrew

Sherman, George

Sherman, Job

Sherman, Joel

Sherman, Timothy

Short, Daniel

Simmons, Josiah

Slade, William

Smith, Isaac

Smith, Isaac Jr.

Smith, Jonathan

Smith, Nathan

Sprague, Peter

Squire, Andrew

Squire, Ebenezer

Stafford, David

Stephens, Samuel

Sterns, Ebenezer

Sterns, Isaac

Streeter, John

Talcott, Nehemiah

Talmadge, Joseph

Terrell, Benager

Terrell, Trueman

Terry, Hirum

Thornton, Samuel

Tingley, Elkany

Tollotson, Benjamin

Torney, Nathaniel B.

Tree, John

Turrell, John

Turrell, Samuel

Wade, Sylvenus

Warren, Daniel

Warren, Levi

Warren, Samuel

Warren, Seth

Weed, Benjamin

Weed, Elizabeth

Weed, Jonathan

Welch, David

Wells, Joseph

West, Thomas

Westcot, Dickens

Westcot, Nathan

Westcot, Stephen

Westcot, Stuckly Jr.

Westcot, Stukely

Wheeeler, Gideon

Wheeler, David

Wheeler, Jonathan

Wheeler, Justus

Wheeler, Preserved

Wheeler, Seth

Wheeler, Simeon

Whipple, Joseph

Whipple, Stephen

Whitmore, Benjamin

Whitney, Timothy

Whore, Samuel

Wilcox, Abner

Wilcox, Josiah

Wilcox, Oliver

Wilcox, Stephen

Williams, Nathaniel

Williams, Stoddard

Williams, William

Willis, Zachariah

Wilmarth, Benjamin

Wilson, Nathaniel

Wolcott, Moses

Wood, Daniel

Wood, Daniel

Wood, Edward

Wood, John

Wood, Justus

Wood, Nathan

Wood, Nathan Jr.

Wright, Eli

Youngs, John

Youngs, John S.