| Date | Action | Notes | Source |
| Abt 1793 | Says Geo Bird purchased water privilege in Charles River Village, Needham, MA | Source may be incorrect according to land deeds | John Bidwell, American Paper Mills: 1690-1832. Hanover, NH: Dartmouth College Press, 2013 |
| 1795 | The gristmill lasted into the 1770s or later, but in 1795 the mill became a paper mill belonging to George Bird. | Appears to have bought an old gristmill. Had it retooled to make paper (Gloria Gries) | Gries, Gloria. “Needham History: The Village Falls Park” The Needham Times, WickedLocal.com. 14 Sept 2020 |
| 25 May 1796 | Advertisement to Sell one-undivided quarter part of a mill owned by Ellis, Bird & others. Plus water privileges | Massachusetts Mercury. 24 May 1796. Boston. Vol. VII, issue 42, pg 3. | |
| 5 Nov 1796 | Jonathan Ellis & Josiah Newell sold one undivided half interest in 2 acres of land in Needham to George Fisher & George Bird | Norfolk County Deed bk 6/pg 367 | |
| Soon after his marriage. (18 Sept 1798) | Moved to Milton to be the superintendent of the mill built by Daniel Henchman | Francis William Bird: a Biographical Sketch | |
| 4 Jul 1799 | Deed: bought the right to alter the creek in Dover by creating a mill, with Jonathan Ellis, Josiah Newell and George Fisher From Lemuel Richards | Records/stories say this occurred in 1795 | Norfolk County Deed bk 12/ pg 35. Actually deed was registered 4 Jul 1799 |
| 28 Mar 1799 | Deed: Sold his ¼ interest in paper mill to Jonathan Ellis | Ellis bought the other shares from Newell in 1805 and Fisher in 1806 | Norfolk County Deed bk 11/ pg 29. |
| 8 Mar 1800 | Jonathan Ellis, Josiah Newell & George Fisher mortgaged the milldam, water privileges, slitting mill, nail mill, paper mill, barn, houses and trip hammer shop to James Otis of Boston. pd off 1801 | George Bird not listed at an owner selling this land, because he sold his share a year before | Norfolk County Deed bk 11/ pg 401 |
| 15 Aug 1800 | Announcement that the Co-partnership of Fuller & Bird was dissolved | Advertisement in the Columbian Centinel, Boston, Vol XXXIV, issue 9, pg 4. 1 Oct 1800 | |
| 1799 to 1803 | Operated a paper mill in Milton with Amasa Fuller | History of Milton | |
| 21 Apr 1803 | Purchased a mill & water privileges in Dedham with Jonathan Newell from the estate of Richard Jordan and Calvin Whiting/ Rueben Newell. | The Poor & Mann mill. Got a contract with US government to make bake note paper | American Paper Mills; 1690- 1832 History of Milton Norfolk County Deed bk 19/ pg 433-435. |
| 1803 to 1804/5 | Ran the McLean Mill in Milton | History of Milton | |
| 24 Jul 1804 | Advertisement to Let Paper mill at the upper bridge in Milton…see Geo Bird. Ad placed by John Lemist. | Not clear if he is the owner or the agent. Ad ran thru Aug 1804 is several Boston papers | New England Palladium. Boston, Vol 27, issue 4, pg 7. 24 Jul 1804 |
| Around 1807 | Moved to Dedham | Francis William Bird: a Biographical Sketch | |
| 16 Aug 1809 | Dedham Mill owned by Bird burned. Value $3500 | The story ran in several Massachusetts papers | “Fire!!” Norfolk Repository, Dedham. Vol I, issue 33, page 3. 17 Aug 1809 |
| 17 Feb 1812 | Bought 3 acres of land with water privileges in Walpole/South Dedham | Deed does not describe buildings “there on.” Just seems to be land | Norfolk County Deed bk 41/ pg 138. |
| 1817 | Built paper mill in Walpole | ||
| 27 Feb 1818 | Advertisement to let a paper mill in Dedham for a year from Apr 1818 to April 1819. Included house and all supplies to run mill/make paper. | Ad ran from Feb. to April in several local papers | “Paper Mill to Let” Dedham Gazette, Vol 5, issue 29 27 Feb 1818 |
| May 1819 | Advertised for 2 journeyman paper makers and 2 apprentices for Dedham facility | Dedham Gazette. Ad ran from May thru June | |
| 1823 | Owned the Norfolk Manufacturing Co., with Frederick Taft in Dedham | Mother Brook: Facts for Kids | |
| 16 Apr 1824 AND 10 Jun 1824 | An Act of Incorporation of the Norfolk Manufacturing Co. to Geo Bird, Fred Taft & John Lemist. The company had been “Frederick A Taft & Co. Ad to dissolve old company and establish new one | “Norfolk Manufact’ng Co.” The Village Register, Dedham. Vol. V, issue 26, page 3. 16 Apr 1824. AND “Dissolution.” The Village Register, Dedham, Vol V, issue 33, page 3, June 10, 1824 | |
| 1824 | After a year of co-partnership, he sold the Dedham buildings & water rights & some of the land to Taft and Lemish | It appears he is all in with the paper Mill in South Dedham/East Walpole. | Guild, Calvin. “ The Stone Mill, and the water privilege bought by Thomas Barrows in 1862.” The Dedham Historical Register, Vol. IV, No. 2, April 1893. From a paper read to the society in 1865. |
Go to George Bird Exhibit main page –>
George Bird: The Industrialist and His Legacy
“George Bird was a man of uncommon strength of character, like his wife deeply religious, fearless of public opinion whatever public opinion crossed his idea of duty, which he was … Continue reading George Bird: The Industrialist and His Legacy
George Bird: Local Legacies
The Bird family has contributed immensely to the life of the Norwood and Walpole communities. Their company has employed people for over 225 years. Providing good jobs for their employees, … Continue reading George Bird: Local Legacies
Early Life in Maine
George’s story starts where his life began, in Cushing Maine. He was born August 25, 1770 the son of Andrew Bird and Jane Hathorn. His father, Andrew was born in … Continue reading Early Life in Maine
George Bird: Husband and Father
George Bird had to have been a young man who was very intelligent, a fast learner, a hard worker and someone who was driven to succeed. In a few short … Continue reading George Bird: Husband and Father
George Bird: Starting a Life in Massachusetts
There are a couple of published contradictory notations regarding George, and there are facts that we will never know. When did he come to Massachusetts? Where did he go? How … Continue reading George Bird: Starting a Life in Massachusetts
George Bird: Son, Francis William
Francis William “Frank” Bird was around ten years old when his family moved to Walpole. He would have attended local schools before going to prep school at the Wrentham Academy … Continue reading George Bird: Son, Francis William
George Bird: The Next Generation
Frank was born in Dedham, but grew up in East Walpole. It was his home, and a place that he never left. His business was here and so was his … Continue reading George Bird: The Next Generation
Life after George Bird’s Death
After George Bird’s death his paper company continued to grow. First under the leadership of his son Francis William Bird and then under the leadership of his Grandson, Charles Sumner … Continue reading Life after George Bird’s Death
Settling into Business in East Walpole:
“The Neponset River rises in Foxborough and enters Walpole at the extreme south corner, and takes a northerly course to the centre, then changes to an easterly course, and enters … Continue reading Settling into Business in East Walpole: