Abbott Lawrence: From Groton Farm Boy to Textile Titan

Learn the story of Abbott Lawrence and his brothers, Groton natives who rose to be Boston merchant princes and led the first industrial revolution in American history. Based on his thesis, community historian Joshua Vollmar will cover how Lawrence rose from a modest background to the heights of power, with the city of Lawrence, MA, named for him, and the family’s enduring legacy.

Joshua Vollmar

Historian

Joshua Vollmar is a lifelong resident of Groton and has been researching, writing, and speaking about local history since 2016. Joshua has worked at the Groton History Center, leads tours of the Old Manse in Concord, contributes to the Groton Memories Project, and runs classes and tours on local history through the Prescott Community Center and other venues. Working as a historical consultant, he documents the history of houses in the area. A member of the Groton Historical Commission, he writes articles on local history for the Groton Herald.

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