The Indian history of this region is brief, but what there is of it is interesting to us on account of King Philip’s connection with it.  At the outbreak of the Narragansett War, in 1675, the Wachusetts, in spite of their solemn compact with the colonists, joined King Philip, and, after his defeat, “the lands about the Wachusetts” became one of his headquarters, and he was frequently in that region.  For many years their wigwams were scattered about the base of the mountain and along the border of the lake, and tradition informs us that on a large flat rock near the lake their council-fires were often lighted.

Until 1751, but three families had settled in the Wachusett tract.  In May of that year Robert Keyes, a noted hunter, settled there with his family, upon the eastern slope of the mountain, near where the present carriage-road to the summit begins.  On April 14, 1755, a child of his named Lucy, about five years old, strayed away, presumably to follow her sisters who had gone to the lake, about a mile distant.  She was never heard of again, though the woods were diligently searched for weeks.  Whitney speaks of this incident, and concludes that “she was taken by the Indians and carried into their country, and soon forgot her relations, lost her native language, and became as one of the aborigines.”  In 1765 Keyes petitioned the General Court to grant him “ye easterly half of said Wachusett hill” in consideration of the loss of “100 pounds lawful money” incurred by him in seeking for his lost child.  This petition was endorsed “negatived” in the handwriting of the secretary.  With this one exception the early settlers of Princeton seem to have suffered very little at the hands of the Indians.

Princeton, in common with its neighbors, underwent much religious controversy during the first half-century of its existence.  The first meeting-house, “50 foots long and 40 foots wide,” was erected in 1762 “on the highest part of the land, near three pine trees, being near a large flat rock.”  This edifice was taken down in 1796, and replaced by a more “elegant” building, which in turn was removed in 1838.  The three pine trees are now no more, but the flat rock remains, and on account of the fine sunset view obtained from it has been named “Sunset Rock.”

The first minister in Princeton was the Reverend Timothy Fuller, settled in 1767.  In 1768 the General Court granted him Wachusett Mountain to compensate him for his settlement over “a heavily burdened people in a wilderness country.”  It was certainly at that time neither a profitable nor useful gift, and it was a pity to have this grand old pile pass into private hands.  Mr. Fuller continued as pastor until 1776.  His successors were the Reverend Thomas Crafts, the Reverend Joseph Russell, and the Reverend James Murdock, D.D.  At the time when Dr. Murdock left, in 1815, Unitarian sentiments had developed extensively, and “the town and a minority of the church” called the Reverend Samuel Clarke, who had been a pupil of Dr. Channing.  The call was accepted and, as a result, a portion of the church seceded and built a small house of worship; but in 1836 the church and society reunited and have remained so ever since.