Northeast corner of Washburn Street & Acushnet Avenue in the 19th century. (Spinner Publications)

New Bedford Streets; A Piece of Americana: Washburn Street

image_pdfimage_print

Northeast corner of Washburn Street & Acushnet Avenue in the 19th century. (Spinner Publications)

Welcome to next installment in the New Bedford Streets; A Piece of Americana series. Previously we covered William Street, Kempton Street, Middle Street, Centre Street, Ashley Boulevard, Elm Street, Coggeshall Street, Mechanics Lane and others. If you would like to read those or perhaps revisit them, they can be found by using the search bar to the right. You can also select the “Streets” category.

As usual, I’d like to re-iterate the importance of reader feedback, correction, and contributions. In the process of exploring these streets, I try to confirm or validate statements and dates by finding multiple sources. Unfortunately, if all those sources are making their statement based on an older, incorrect source, and there isn’t any dissenting information available, there’s no way to know otherwise. So by all means, please join in.

Washington and North First Street circa 1895. (Spinner Publications)

In addition, when trying to validate some statements, often there is very little to no information available. I haven’t decided which is worse – finding one source, or finding multiple sources, but not knowing if they were all founded on an inaccuracy. So help from local historians, those who remember, oral histories and anecdotes handed down through the generations, people with private collections, and even know-it-alls will help!

By all means, let us make this an open discussion to keep the “wiki” accurate.


How many times have you taken the Washburn Street exit? If you do any driving locally – that’s well, everyone – chances are you’ve taken the exit and driven on Washburn Street hundreds – nay, thousands – of times. This little strip of road spans the Acushnet River to Acushnet Avenue abutting Route 18. It’s a strip of road that folks rarely stop on and if it weren’t for Kyler’s Seafood, I wonder who would ever stop on it!

Frederic Augusts Washburn – was Washburn Street named in tribute to this prominent citizen?(Spinner Publications)

So how did this heavily trafficked thoroughfare earn its name? How did this street that many of us are on daily become Washburn Street? Let’s dig a little.

The Washburn name is a very old one that can be traced back to 13th century England, where it was Washborne or Washburne which is a fuller’s stream or stream where washing was done.

The family was a distinguished one whose vanguard was church warden John Washburn (1597-1669) who arrived in 1631 at Duxbury or Duxborrow as it was known then. After establishing himself as a town surveyor, grand juror and possibly as Secretary of Massachusetts Bay Colony, he returned to England to prepare his family’s passage to the New World. He returned in 1634, purchased a palisaded homestead called “The Eagles Nest” and his family, wife Margery (Moore), and sons John and Philip followed shortly thereafter aboard the historic Elizabeth and Anne in April of 1635.

John’s brother William started a line of Washburn’s in Long Island New York. All Washburns can be traced to these two forks. John and William were born of a rather well-to-do family. Their father John was a husbandman who had substantial land holdings. This status and the finances paved the way for John to serve his high social positions and to become one of 54 original proprietors of Bridgewater by purchasing land from the Massasoit Indians.

The prominence and privilege that the monies and position gave the Washburn family allowed them to have many children and spread over much of early New England, particularly Middleboro, Lakeville, Bridgewater, Providence, Connecticut and of course, eventually greater New Bedford. Future Washburns would serve in several Indian wars, the “French” war, the Revolutionary War, become generals, lawyers, Justice of the Courts, and Congressmen. There is historical mention of Bazeliel and Thomas Washburn who were on the payroll of the Company of His Majesty’s Service in the 1760s.

The first Washburn to come to New Bedford was Lieutenant Amos Washburn of Middleboro, now Lakeville. He served in that militia’s 7th Regiment, which came to Fairhaven and New Bedford to fend off the British when they landed here in 1778. A duty which earned him promotion to Captain. Amos was the great-great grandson of the original John Washburn from England. Historical records name five of his children, but it seems he had a few more. One of these children, James Washburn graduated from Harvard, class of ’89…1789 that is!

James went on to practice law in Middleboro, and was even appointed as postmaster by President John Quincy Adams in 1804. He was offered a Court Officer position in New Bedford, relocated here and thus starts the local Washburn legacy. In addition to his service as a Court Officer, James was part of a committee formed in 1814 to deal with the influx of privateers in New Bedford harbor that threatened the safety of the citizens. Alas, I couldn’t find much more in the historical record about James’ descendants.

Another descendant of the original John Washburn was Bridgewater’s Marsena Washburn who arrived in New Bedford in 1820. A housewright (and shop owner) and mechanic by trade, he married Lucy Gifford in 1823 and had five children. Their only son Frederic was a true “born and raised” New Bedford citizen. He started as a messenger for Merchant’s Bank on 50 North Water Street before rising in the ranks and becoming a cashier, then 2nd Clerk.

Washburn Hall at Tabor Academy in 1925 named in tribute to Frederic Washburn. (Spinner Publications)

After two decades of service there he became the assistant treasurer of the New Bedford Institution for Savings, which capacity he served in for 37 years. Frederic was very community and social minded and was quite busy in local endeavors. He was a member of the board of trustees for the Fourth Street Episcopal and Trinitarian churches, served as deacon and senior deacon, and was a superintendent of their bible schools. He also helped get the YMCA off the ground as its treasurer and president. Frederic also served as treasurer at Tabor Academy and the Washburn Hall or Dormitory built in 1905 was dedicated in his honor.

Based on his social status, community service, membership in various churches and lodges, and association with the YMCA and Tabor Academy it is my opinion that Washburn street was named after Frederic Washburn. Which Washburn do you think it was named after?

Other notable Washburns in New Bedford include:

  • Charles Washburn – Shipwright; carpenter that specialized in the construction of ships.
  • Leander Washburn – Block Maker; person who creates blocks for printing presses.
  • Lettice R. Washburn – Water Department Board 1914.Reuben Washburn, paper maker, soap maker, Pound Keeper for the Police Department and Hoseman for Acushnet Village’s Engine No. 21852.
  • William Washburn – Sailmaker
  • William H. Washburn – Director of King Manufacturing Company, office at 147 North Water Street and two story factory at 213, 215, 218. Window and door frames, artistic novelties rakes, mouldings, shutters, etc. Established in 1875 by Perry and Washburn. Employed 21 men.

About Joe Silvia

When Joe isn't writing, he's coaching people to punch each other in the face. He enjoys ancient cultures, dead and living languages, cooking, benching 999#s, and saving the elderly, babies and puppies from burning buildings. While he enjoys long walks on the beach, he will not be your alarm clock, because he's no ding-a-ling.

Check Also

Fort Taber Flag in New Bedford To Honor Father John B. DeValles WWI Veteran Awarded for Heroism

During the month of January, the 52nd Lights for Peace flag to fly at the …

8 comments

  1. Just for information sake, my father, Arthur Joseph Millette, or may have been listed as Joseph Arthur Millette, 8/11/1899 lived on Washburn St. as a child. when he married his first wife, he lived at 32 Washburn St… more than that I don’t know.. maybe it’s in your findings

  2. This was the neighborhood my mother grew up in. Unfortunately my grandparents home was taken my eminent domain when they put 195 in. The house is actually still Standing in an area near the Acushnet/Fairhaven line just off of Main Street.

  3. Been curious since i was a kid. No one I’ve spoken with seems to know the answers. The origins of the names:
    Coffin Avenue
    Tarkiln Hill Road.

  4. I like those ideas Craig. I’ve has Tarkiln Road on my hitlist for some time. I will research it and it will be the next one in the series. Off the top of my head, Coffin is a surname. I’ll do that one soon too.

  5. As a joung man I remember a race track on the land were 195 is today . Thank you for looking back.

  6. Paul Giandomenico

    Cool thanks for this article. John Washburn is my 10th great grandfather.

  7. Does anyone know the actual address of this beautiful piece of history?

Leave a Reply to Paul Giandomenico Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Translate »