In 1707, John Noble Sr., previously of Westfield, Massachusetts and his eight-year-old daughter, Sarah Noble, who has a public school named after her, were the first white settlers in 1707, but they were soon joined by others who had also bought land there.
On October 17, 1711, 12 families including about 70 people petitioned the General Assembly to create the town, together with the associated privilege of levying a tax to support a minister. With the legislature's approval, the town was organized the next year. Shortly thereafter Daniel Boardman was secured to preach and was ordained as the minister of the Congregational Church on November 21, 1716.