John Capron
Encyclopedia
John Willard Capron was an American military officer in the infantry, state legislator, and textile manufacturer.
and died in 1836 at Uxbridge. John Capron, Sr. had at least two sons. They were, John Willard Capron, of this article, and his sibling, Effingham Capron. John Willard Capron grew up in Uxbridge and graduated from Uxbridge Academy
. Uxbridge Academy graduated a number of prominent men in the early 19th century. John Capron, Sr. their father started a very historic textile mill in 1820. John's father was a "clothier" who had migrated here from Grovsvenordale, CT, circa 1790.
mills in the historic mill town
of Uxbridge. The Carpon Mill was started by John, John W. and Effingham's father, circa 1820. The three Capron men later entered into a partnership for the business. The mill became known as the Capron Mill. John Capron, Sr., John W. Capron's father, sited the mill on the Mumford River
, in the town center, also known as Uxbridge center. The mill used water power from the river, a renewable source of power. John Capron had purchased the Colonel Seth Read
estate, and water mill on the Mumford River when he first came to Uxbridge around 1790. Colonel John Capron, John Sr.'s son, was a prominent citizen in this community. The community is known for some of the earliest beginnings of America's Industrial Revolution
. It is part of the historic Blackstone River Valley and National Heritage Corridor of the National Park Service. The mill was the first mill to use power looms for the woolen
industry. The first power loom
s for woolens were introduced at the Capron Mills. These were made in a machine shop at Cumberland, Rhode Island. These were reportedly the first power looms ever made for woolens. The first manufacture of "satinet
" was at this mill. Uxbridge became famous for its Cashmere wool
. The town of Uxbridge was a business incubator
for the cashmere wool
industry, satinets, and power looms in the textile industry
of America. Effingham Capron, John Capron Sr. and Colonel John W. Capron were pioneers in textile manufacturing in America. John Willard Capron also served multiple roles in the community. He was Postmaster, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen
, Notary, and served in the state legislature.
period, up through World War II, and including "the first U.S. Air Force uniform" which became known as the "Uxbridge Blue" During John Capron's tenure, the mills of Uxbridge including Capron Mills ran 24/7 during the American Civil War producing military uniforms. This mill later became the Bernat Mill
known for yarns in the later 20th Century, and was the third largest yarn factory in the U.S. On 21 July 2007, this historic mill, begun by Colonel Capron's family, was nearly totally destroyed, in the 10 alarm Bernat Mill Fire at Uxbridge. The oldest part of the historic mill, the original Capron Mill, made of wood, was virtually completely saved from the fire, by the efforts of 66 fire departments and a two state response. The fire burned 400000 square feet (37,161.2 m²) of the more modern brick and steel complex at Mendon and Depot Streets. Mill owners plan to rebuild.
Early life, family
John Willard Capron was the son of a Revolutionary War soldier, John Capron, Sr. John Capron, Sr. was born on July 3, 1756 at Cumberland, Rhode IslandCumberland, Rhode Island
Cumberland is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States, incorporated in 1746. The population was 33,506 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and died in 1836 at Uxbridge. John Capron, Sr. had at least two sons. They were, John Willard Capron, of this article, and his sibling, Effingham Capron. John Willard Capron grew up in Uxbridge and graduated from Uxbridge Academy
Uxbridge Academy
The Uxbridge Academy was part of what now is known as the "Uxbridge Common District" in downtown Uxbridge, Massachusetts. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other historic buildings including some on the national historic register in this district include the Uxbridge Free...
. Uxbridge Academy graduated a number of prominent men in the early 19th century. John Capron, Sr. their father started a very historic textile mill in 1820. John's father was a "clothier" who had migrated here from Grovsvenordale, CT, circa 1790.
Family Heritages
It is certainly possible that the Capron name had some Italian heritage as well, from the family name of Caproni, though this is not really known. The family in New England descended from Banfield Capron who immigrated from England to Attleboro, MA in the 17th century. Another branch of the Banfield Capron family, Erastus Capron, participated in the Mexican War. He was a hero of that war, settled in FL and participated in the Seminole Indian wars, and Fort Capron at Indian River county, was named for him. There is also a town of Capron Illinois, and a book on the Capron family, see the end footnote to this paragraph. John C Capron and John Willard Capron are descendents of Banfield Capron, the first American Capron immigrant.Family business
John Willard Capron helped his father John, Sr. and his brother Effingham, to establish one of the earliest textileTextile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
mills in the historic mill town
Mill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
of Uxbridge. The Carpon Mill was started by John, John W. and Effingham's father, circa 1820. The three Capron men later entered into a partnership for the business. The mill became known as the Capron Mill. John Capron, Sr., John W. Capron's father, sited the mill on the Mumford River
Mumford River
The Mumford River is an river in south-central Massachusetts. It is a tributary of the Blackstone River.The river rises from its headwaters in Sutton and Douglas at Manchaug Pond and flows east in a meandering path through a series of ponds , and joins the Blackstone River in Uxbridge.The river...
, in the town center, also known as Uxbridge center. The mill used water power from the river, a renewable source of power. John Capron had purchased the Colonel Seth Read
Seth Read
Seth Read was born in Uxbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts, and died at Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania, as "Seth Reed", at age 51.-Early life:...
estate, and water mill on the Mumford River when he first came to Uxbridge around 1790. Colonel John Capron, John Sr.'s son, was a prominent citizen in this community. The community is known for some of the earliest beginnings of America's Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
. It is part of the historic Blackstone River Valley and National Heritage Corridor of the National Park Service. The mill was the first mill to use power looms for the woolen
Woolen
Woolen or woollen is a type of yarn made from carded wool. Woolen yarn is soft, light, stretchy, and full of air. It is thus a good insulator, and makes a good knitting yarn...
industry. The first power loom
Power loom
A power loom is a mechanized loom powered by a line shaft. The first power loom was designed in 1784 by Edmund Cartwright and first built in 1785. It was refined over the next 47 years until a design by Kenworthy and Bullough, made the operation completely automatic. This was known as the...
s for woolens were introduced at the Capron Mills. These were made in a machine shop at Cumberland, Rhode Island. These were reportedly the first power looms ever made for woolens. The first manufacture of "satinet
Satinet
Satinet is a finely woven fabric with a finish resembling satin but made partly or wholly from cotton or synthetic fiber. The process was developed in Mesopotamia, 5000BC. The fibers may be natural as with cotton, woolens or cashmere wool, or synthetic. The process of manufacturing satinets in the...
" was at this mill. Uxbridge became famous for its Cashmere wool
Cashmere wool
Cashmere wool, usually simply known as cashmere, is a fiber obtained from Cashmere and other types of goats. The word cashmere derives from an old spelling of Kashmir. Cashmere is fine in texture, and strong, light, and soft. Garments made from it provide excellent...
. The town of Uxbridge was a business incubator
Business incubator
Business incubators are programs designed to accelerate the successful development of entrepreneurial companies through an array of business support resources and services, developed and orchestrated by incubator management and offered both in the incubator and through its network of contacts...
for the cashmere wool
Cashmere wool
Cashmere wool, usually simply known as cashmere, is a fiber obtained from Cashmere and other types of goats. The word cashmere derives from an old spelling of Kashmir. Cashmere is fine in texture, and strong, light, and soft. Garments made from it provide excellent...
industry, satinets, and power looms in the textile industry
Textile industry
The textile industry is primarily concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry....
of America. Effingham Capron, John Capron Sr. and Colonel John W. Capron were pioneers in textile manufacturing in America. John Willard Capron also served multiple roles in the community. He was Postmaster, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen
Board of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
, Notary, and served in the state legislature.
Capron Mill in U.S. history
The Capron Mill, started by John Capron, the father, was made famous for military uniforms which were made here from at least the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
period, up through World War II, and including "the first U.S. Air Force uniform" which became known as the "Uxbridge Blue" During John Capron's tenure, the mills of Uxbridge including Capron Mills ran 24/7 during the American Civil War producing military uniforms. This mill later became the Bernat Mill
Bernat Mill
The Bernat Mill, also known as Capron Mill, and later "Bachman Uxbridge Worsted Company", was a yarn mill in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, USA, that was destroyed by fire on July 21, 2007....
known for yarns in the later 20th Century, and was the third largest yarn factory in the U.S. On 21 July 2007, this historic mill, begun by Colonel Capron's family, was nearly totally destroyed, in the 10 alarm Bernat Mill Fire at Uxbridge. The oldest part of the historic mill, the original Capron Mill, made of wood, was virtually completely saved from the fire, by the efforts of 66 fire departments and a two state response. The fire burned 400000 square feet (37,161.2 m²) of the more modern brick and steel complex at Mendon and Depot Streets. Mill owners plan to rebuild.
Death and afterward, Capron Park
Colonel John W. Capron died December 25, 1878, at the age of 81, at Uxbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts. A historic park, "Capron Park", alongside the Mumford River, in Uxbridge center, today commemorates John Capron, the father, Colonel John Capron, his son, and Effingham Capron, and the Historic Mill, known as the Capron Mill which was a pacesetter in the textile industry of the United States. This family is descended from Banfield Capron of Attleboro, MA. There is an entire book on the Capron family in America. The Capron Park will be dedicated sometime in the next year with recognition by the Massachusetts legislature.See also
- List of Registered Historic Places in Uxbridge, Massachusetts
- Blackstone River Valley National Heritage CorridorBlackstone River Valley National Heritage CorridorThe John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor is a National Heritage Corridor dedicated to the history of the early American Industrial Revolution, including mill towns stretching across 24 cities and towns near the river's course in Worcester County, Massachusetts and...
