Luke Taft

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Luke Taft was born 3 June 1783 and died 7 April 1863 at Uxbridge, Massachusetts, at age 79.^[1]

Luke Taft was an 18th and 19th century figure from Uxbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He grew up in this town as the new United States saw the beginnings of early industrialization. He married Daniel Day's daughter, Mercy Day, and they had at least one son who was born in Uxbridge.

1 Career and establishment of a textile mill
2 The Waucantuck Mill Complex
3 See also
4 Notes

[edit] Career and establishment of a textile mill

Taft became one of the earliest "pioneers" in the manufacturing of woolens in the U.S.^[2] The Luke Taft Mill was one of the first mills in the historic mill town of Uxbridge.^[3] Luke Taft was the son-in-law of Daniel Day, who established the first woolen mill in the Blackstone Valley, circa 1810. Luke Taft built a dam on the West river, near the present day Waukatuck Mill, circa 1824.^[3] He then established his woolen mill at this site. The Luke Taft mill was the second woolen mill in Uxbridge.

Uxbridge is in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, the earliest industrialized region of the U.S. Luke Taft was a member of the famous Taft family which has its roots in Mendon and Uxbridge. The Waucantuck mill, in later years, became the first manufacturer of "wash and wear" fabric in the U.S. The historic mill town of Uxbridge was noted for leading with many advancements in the textile industry in America including power looms, and "satinets".

[edit] The Waucantuck Mill Complex

Today the "Waucantuck Mill Complex" is on the National Historic Register. It is listed on the Category of Registered Historic Places in Massachusetts. It is found under the external link for the List of Registered Historic Places in Massachusetts. The Original Luke Taft Mill was very close to the present site of the Waukatuck Mill complex. Both are very close to and virtually part of the Wheelocksville Historic District, where the Moses Taft Mill was built in 1852.

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