with that line and about eighty rods distant, dividing two rows of lots which were laid laid between Andover and the Great Swamp. East of this double row of lots apparently was another, extending from Andover line southerly to the Shawshin meadows; a third was between the latter and Strongwater Brook, and a fourth in the same vicinity. A fifth range was beyond the Shawshin, and a sixth between the ponds; and lots near Content Brook completed the circuit. Eighty-one proprietors shared, as did Colonel Foxcroft and Daniel Stone, of Cambridge. The following list gives names, the "acre-rights" belonging to each, and the number of acres received, omitting fractions: The same proprietors received grant of the "great swamp" two years later; it was not divided, but sold in bulk not many years after. The lands west of Concord River were divided in 1708. Here a rangeway ran parallel with the Chelmsford line, about half-a-mile distant, following also its westerly deflection. The familiar "rangeway road" follows nearly this old line, along which, right and left, ranges of lots were laid out. The first range, beginning at Broad meadow, was between Chelmsford line and the rangeway; the second range, southeast of the rangeway; the third, running from "treble cove" to the river and Winning's Pond, southeast of the first and second; the fourth, along the south line of Chelmsford, and designated as "west of the 1" and 2nd ranges"; the fifth, over against this, is called "the south range of the last two ranges.” The following list gives in order the grantee and the number of acres in each lot:: Richardson, Stephen Hill, Daniel Whiting, Oliver Toothaker, Dr. Roger A lot for the Ministry" was laid out, 1708, November 13, consisting of forty-eight acres, "south of the road to longhill meadow"; and, when this division was completed, the town sold five hundred acres remaining in the remote southwest to Captain William Reed, of Cambridge. In February, 1713-14, a part of the "great swamp" was granted to the proprietors; and, in 1718, a list of proprietors and rights is given (Grants, vol. ii, p. 313) for " draught of the lots on the land in the scenter of the town"; but no record is made of the lots, which must have been small. The same is true of "a second Diuition of scirts of land," in 1719, and of "an account of the small tract of land laid out in the centre of the town of Billerica, May 6, 1719," though the eighty-one proprietors are all named as above in each case. In February, 1722-3, "the quadron south of Okes" received grant of sixty-one acres between mill-meadow and the long pond, "to make up their first Divition," which is described above; and, in 1731, a section remaining of Fox Hill was disposed of. Description of the lots in this distribution may be found in the Records. 66 In all the early years no distinction is made between "town" and "proprietors" in the Records, but, as the non-proprietors multiplied, meetings of the proprietors are held and record is made separately, but still in the town books. In 1740, April 4, such a meeting voted "to make sale of all the slips of land that may be found in Billerica (or that was formerly Billerica), that belonged to the propriety." A year later the treasurer was granted fourteen shillings which were in the treasury, for his services in dividing and paying out to each proprietor his proportion that came by the late sale of slips of propriety land." The sum was £48, or "two shillings to each acre right." A few other records not important are found; and the last one occurs, 1755, February 3, when report was made that there were £60 in bank, and the treasurer, Josiah Bowers, was instructed "to pay out to each proprietor two shillings and two pence, Old Tenor, upon an acre Right." So ended almost exactly a century from its beginning the town's care for, and distribution of, its common lands. The questions involved in this charge had been many and delicate, and the wisdom of the fathers in dealing with them should be recognized. They were not lavish or parsimonious in the use of their land fund, but employed it in a proper and generous "encouragement" of such as bore the burden of laying the foundations, while they guarded it from any unjust appropriation by individuals. The record proves them true and honest men. The two "Land-Grant” volumes of Records give minute details of the location and bounds of all these grants, grouped under the names of persons receiving them; and the alphabetical indexes make it easy to trace what every man had. Many highways and byways are also described, a large part of which have been long disused and forgotten; and the account given in chap. vi contains most which can be gathered of present interest on this subject. Those who have occasion can trace many details, and the material is here for an early map of the town, locating ranges, roads, and a large proportion of individual lots with substantial exactness. It is to be hoped that some son of the old town, with tact as surveyor and antiquarian, will yet find congenial employment in retracing the work of Jonathan Danforth and his son Samuel and constructing such a historic map of Ancient Billerica. CHAPTER XII. DISMEMBERMENT. As the population increased in the more remote parts of the town, questions of division arose. Convenience of public worship was the controlling principle in shaping the early towns, and the same principle demanded new adjustments. But the demand was one which would naturally be unwelcome, and met with debate and opposition. After seventy-five years the process began, and did not ccase until the old town was shorn of more than half of her ancient territory. The earliest movement towards this end was made, 1725, December 4, in "a petition of Jonathau Bowers, Samuel Hunt, and divers others, Dwellers on the Land called Wamesick Purchase and Winthrop's farm, weh lands ly adjacent to Billerica, between Pautucket and Chelmsford Line, praying, for reasons therein assigned, to be erected into a separate and distinct Town." This petition was referred to the next session of the General Court, but there is no record of action upon it. It was probably abandoned, in consequence of the successful opposition of Chelmsford, which sought and secured the annexation of that larger part of the Wamesit Purchase, which was on the west side of Concord River, the whole Purchase being nearly coextensive with the present bounds of Lowell south of the Merrimack. The petition of Chelmsford for this annexation was granted, 1726, June 13.' The friends of the earlier project did not, however, abandon their efforts, and were so far successful that the General Court, 1729, April 9,3 considered favorably a bill to establish Wameset Parish, with these bounds: "the line to begin at Concord River, between 1 Massachusetts Records. Vol. XIII, p. 55. * Massachusetts Records. Vol. XIII, p. 155. 3 Massachusetts Records. Vol. XIV, p. 242. |
