CHAPTER V. BOUNDARIES. SHAWSHIN was bounded on the southwest by Concord, southeast by Cambridge and Woburn, north by Andover and the Merrimack River, and west by Concord River. By the changes since made, these lines have been so completely modified, that the only fragment of the Shawshin bound which Billerica retains with the same neighbor; is the short portion of Concord River between the Tewksbury line on the east and the Pawtucket stake on the west, where the Chelmsford line leaves the river. The Burlington line is also a part of the early boundary, but Woburn, not Burlington, was then the neighbor of Billerica there. The first change was made when Shawshin became Billerica, in 1655; the part of the town lying west of Concord River being then added. The line of this enlargement began at Pawtucket stake, on the west side of the Concord River, nearly three miles from its mouth, and ran 43° west of south, the present Chelmsford line, four miles, to a point about one-half mile south of the Carlisle line. It then turned westward 36° for three hundred and thirty-two rods, and reached Major Willard's farm. It was then bounded by this farm, south 46° west one hundred and sixteen rods, south 41° west three hundred and eighty-four rods, to a point in the old line of Concord about three miles and one-quarter west of the river. Following the Concord line one mile, to the Blood's farms, its course was along Blood's line, northerly, easterly, and then southeast, to the river, which it reached between the Two Brothers and the present line of Carlisle. Or, if we assume Billerica's early claim, afterwards yielded to Concord, of the Blood's farms, this old line of Concord and Billerica ran a straight course south 53° east about seven miles, to a point forty rods east of the Shawshin, passing along the southern slope of the village of Bedford, hetween the Main Street and the depot. Leaving the Concord "old line," the boundary with Cambridge, afterwards "Cambridge Farms," and Lexington ran northeast to "the pine at Cambridge," which was also the southwest corner of Woburn. If any survey or description exists of this Cambridge line, I have not found it; and I can not say whether it was direct or angular. But the present bound between Bedford and Lexington, running southwest from the Burlington corner, would, if extended in a straight line, meet the Concord "old line" so nearly, if not exactly, at the point in question, that there can be little doubt that this was the old Cambridge and Billerica bound, and that this was a straight line about a mile in length. From "the pine at Cambridge," or southwest corner of Woburn, the Billerica line ran a nearly straight course one mile east of Shawshin River until it reached Andover, a distance of about eight miles. The course of the Shawshin is too winding to make such a line easy to determine, and a controversy naturally arose with Woburn in reference to it. But the skill of the early surveyors, Jonathan Danforth and John Sherman, stood the test, and the line first run by Danforth was finally accepted by both parties. It still remains as the west line of Burlington and the east line of Tewksbury; but Billerica has lost the short portion of it which Wilmington took from Woburn, that corner east of the Shawshin having been granted to Wilmington soon after its incorporation. Andover retained a section of meadow by agreement with the Billerica proprietors, east of the Shawshin, which would have belonged properly to this town; but, from the Shawshin to the Merrimack, the line was direct and about five miles long. Thence, the line of Billerica followed the Merrimack and the Concord Rivers, until it reached the Pawtucket stake again, a distance not far from three miles on each river. All these lines gave ancient Billerica a circumference of 35.5 miles. Every change, except the transfer to Wilmington, has reduced the extent of the boundary, which is now about twenty-five miles. The Andover boundary was apparently drawn perpendicular to a line connecting the two meeting-houses, and was to be six miles from the Andover meeting-house. This was a nearly equal division of the distance, and obviously so intended, between the two meeting-houses. For some compromise or consideration, which is not explained in the Records, Andover was allowed to hold the meadows on the east of Shawshin for nearly a mile beyond this line.. The thus: HISTORY OF BILLERICA. earliest reference in the Records to the Andover line appears "3: :7: 60. Jonathan Danforth, John Parker, and [no name given,] chosen a committee to prove the line between Andover and o' Towne on both sides the river of Shawshin." No record is given of the action of this committee, but the following letter appears eight months after, and explains itself: "a letter to Andever, 6:3: 1661. "Loueinge ffriends and Neibors: Conserninge the meaddows that were granted to yr Towne by the Generall Courte within our boundes, Nere Shawshin River, it is agreed that if yu will except of the Line that was Last staked at the olde pine that is fallen downe, acordinge to trees then marked, it will be an issew; other wayes, if you will not except it there, our towne's mind is that it shall be measured; y" are intreated to send y' answer speedily whether y" will will meashure the medow or except the Line; but the Towne doe not consente at presente to alter the Line of the upland." Andover probably accepted the line already run; as, if it had been again measured, the appointment of a committee for the purpose would hardly have failed of record. In March following a committee was appointed to run the line with Andover; and “23: 8: 1665, Ralph Hill, Henery Jeiffs, and Jonath: Danforth, are appointed to run the line between Andever and oure towne, on yeast side of Shawshin River, and to lay the bounds by measure from their meeting house." These adjustments, however, were not final, and almost twenty years after the question came up again. At a meeting of the Selectmen, 17, 2m, 1683. They do appoint and impower these psons, whose names are vnder written, to state & establish the bounds between Andover and our towne, on the east side of Shawshin River: Provided always, that they state it but six miles southward of Andover meeting house; (which, as we vnderstand, is according to ye Hond genul Court's grant to them in that place,) or that they state it from Woburn line, that is, from ye North west angle of Woburn land toward Andover, & so to square to Shawshin River, & not otherwise. The committee are ens. Joseph Tompson, Corp". John french, Jonathan Danforth Sen Jonathan Danforth Jun"." Three days later the committees of the two towns united in the following agreement: "Whereas the bounds between Andover and Billerica on ye east side Shawshin river was never yet fully agreed on by the saide townes; by an agreement of a committee chosen by each towne, with full power for that end abouesaid, they have mutually agreed that what meadows and vpland Andover hath laid out to perticular persons, on the east or southeast side of Shawshin river abovesaid, before the date hereof, (excepting a peice of meadow laid out to Steven Johnson of Andover,) shall belong to Andover, though it should fall without ye limmits the generall Court hath granted them; and what vpland Andover hath laid claime to, hitherto, that shall fall without their claime, vpon the measure of their six miles, shal belong to Billerica. "In witness that this is our mutuall agreement, we have herevnto set our hands, this twenty of Aprill 1683, and that six miles shall be the stated bounds between town & town, only as abouesaid excepted. "a greed upon for Billerica, "Jonathan Danforth Sen', Joseph Tompson, John french. "By Andover, "Dudley Bradstreet, John Osgood, Thomas Chandler." When this agreement came before the selectmen, we find the following curious and significant record. To appreciate it, we must remember that the three members of the committee were all selectmen, who, with Ralph Hill and Samuel Manning, composed the board. "The selectmen, comparing the committee's order by which they were to act with what they returned in writing vnder their hands, as abouesaid: And they find that ye said committee acted beyound the power committed to them; and therefore do wholly disallow of what they did, acording to what they returned in writing. "But, the said committee, declaring that their agreement was not fully written at that time, for want of paper sutable for such a purpose, and that their plaine and honest agreement was, that the stated boundes betwene the two townes shalbee acording to ye generall Court's grant, i. e. six mile from Andover meeting house, and that what land Andover towne had granted & recorded in their towne book before that day, to any of their inhabitants, (excepting only a parcell of meadow granted to Steven Johnson of Andover,) shall belong to the severall psons to whom Andover hath granted them, as if such lands had bin granted to ye sa psons by Billerica towne; and that this their agreement should be preferred to ye Hon'd Generall Court for their confirmation thereof. "The Selectmen doe alow and confirm such agreement as this, in case Andover do consent to it; or els they declare all which was done by y comittee to be anuld and of none effect." A committee was appointed, "4: 9: 61, to run the Line Nexte to Chelmsford," consisting of Ralph Hill, Sen., Henry Jefts, and Jacob Brown, and, in 1678, Jefts was again a member of a committee for the same purpose. But, beyond the occasional appointment of Committees, the Chelmsford line has no notice in the Records. Consisting of the river and of a straight line, no controversy ever arose concerning any part of it. The Concord line, however, west of the river, was complicated with Blood's farms, and the disagreement as to its location was serious, requiring the interposition of the General Court to decide the question. The germ of the controversy is revealed in the letter of Major Willard, given in a previous chapter;' but it was not developed until a generation later. The following petition brings its elements into view: "To the Honble General Court: &c. "CONCORD, Feb'. 7, 169. "The humble petition of the selectmen of Concord and Chelinsford, on behalf of sd towns, Sheweth: That whereas there is a considerable pcell of Land Lying between the towns of Concord and Chelmsford and the Blood's farms, part of which is challenged by Billerica, and another part by Robert Blood. Sen.; to a great part of which we do humbly conceive the said. Billericah & Blood have no legall or just title; And whereas the said land lyes at a great distance from the said Billericah, but joins upon the said Concord & Chelmsford; Your humble petitioners do therefore, with submission to this Hon'd Court's pleasure & wisdom, pray that a committee maybe appointed to examine the claims that are by them made to sd land, and the lines that they pretend unto; and that, in case their just right to the premises can not be demonstrated, that then this Honored Court will be pleased to bestow the sayd lands upon the aforesaid towns of Concord & Chelinsford, as an inlargement, and your petitiones shall ever pray," etc.. "JAMES HILDRETH. SIMON DAVIS. 998 In response to this petition, the Court appointed Capt. Thomas Brown, of Sudbury, Lieutenant Fiske, of Cambridge, and Mr. Joseph Sherman, of Watertown, "a committee to view the lines between Concord, Chelmsford, Billerica, Weymesett, and the Blood's farms, or any lands thereabouts in controversy between the towns adjacent, farms, or cuntry lands, near said Towns, and make report whether there be any Cuntry lands left there, according to their particular grants, and of their doings therein, at the next session of this Court." 1 See p. 62. • See Massachusetts Archives. Vol. CXIII, 24. |
