Phillipston’s history began as the spoils of war, in this case the conflict with the Narragansett Indians in 1675. General Josiah Winslow, governor of Plymouth Colony promised, “If you play the man, take the fort and drive the enemy out of the Narragansett country…You shall have a gratuity of land, besides your wages”. In 1733, the land grant, Narragansett No.6, was granted to 60 men and became Templeton. Residents of the area between Templeton and Pequiog (Athol) were dissatisfied with their inconvenient Church affiliations and decided to start a church of their own and soon after that a separate town.

This new town originally named Gerry after Elbridge Gerry, one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence. In 1814, the townspeople petitioned the state to change the name of the town of Phillipston, honoring the then governor, William Phillips.

The Chamber gratefully acknowledges Royalston-resident and author Allen Young, who has allowed the Chamber to use copyrighted material throughout this website from his remarkable regional guidebook North of Quabbin, published in 1983. Pick up his 2003 update, North of Quabbin Revisited, which includes new maps and photos, for a fascinating, in-depth guide to this nine-town region.