History
During a visit of Mount Hope Bay in 1524, was the first time the lands and people of Shawomet were documented by whites. This exploration was done by Giovanni de Verrezano under King Francis I. In 1620, Edward Winslow, a seperatist who traveled on the Mayflower, traveled through the lands of Shawomet (present day Somerset) and wrote about his experience with the land and its people. Winslow kept a good relationship with the Native's up until 1675. As Massasoit (Pocasset Leader) began to die, his tribe forgot about the values he bestowed upon his people.
With built up hatred for whites and oppression, this started Kings Philip's War. The war wiped out the majority of Natives of the land, leaving the population mostly white immigrants. The war was a vital event in creating present day Somerset. Before 1677, the land of what is now known as Somerset, MA was occupied by the Pocassets. The Pocassets were a subdivision of the Wampanoag tribe living in Shawomet (present day Somerset), which means "Out Lot." In 1677, the colonials arrived in Somerset and Swansea. Thirteen years later, King Charles II approved the buying of the land from the Native Americans that lived there.
More than 100 years later, Somerset was officially incorporated in 1790. Today, Somerset is heavily white with major nationalities such as Portuguese, English and Irish. This is due to many immigrants coming from Portugal as well as Ireland, looking for better lives or escaping death (potato famine/war). These immigrants settled in Fall River, MA, a neighboring town to Somerset. Many moved or traveled to Somerset for work, and found jobs in pottery/stoneware, ironworks stove foundry, etc. The town has been home to major industries such as ship building, pottery, coal distribution, and many others. Today, Somerset's biggest industry is its power generation, and is also quite controversial.Currently, this small town (just 7.9 miles) is home to 18,165 people, with 97.4% of the population being white.
With built up hatred for whites and oppression, this started Kings Philip's War. The war wiped out the majority of Natives of the land, leaving the population mostly white immigrants. The war was a vital event in creating present day Somerset. Before 1677, the land of what is now known as Somerset, MA was occupied by the Pocassets. The Pocassets were a subdivision of the Wampanoag tribe living in Shawomet (present day Somerset), which means "Out Lot." In 1677, the colonials arrived in Somerset and Swansea. Thirteen years later, King Charles II approved the buying of the land from the Native Americans that lived there.
More than 100 years later, Somerset was officially incorporated in 1790. Today, Somerset is heavily white with major nationalities such as Portuguese, English and Irish. This is due to many immigrants coming from Portugal as well as Ireland, looking for better lives or escaping death (potato famine/war). These immigrants settled in Fall River, MA, a neighboring town to Somerset. Many moved or traveled to Somerset for work, and found jobs in pottery/stoneware, ironworks stove foundry, etc. The town has been home to major industries such as ship building, pottery, coal distribution, and many others. Today, Somerset's biggest industry is its power generation, and is also quite controversial.Currently, this small town (just 7.9 miles) is home to 18,165 people, with 97.4% of the population being white.