USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > History of the town of Westford, in the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, 1659-1883 > Part 4
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In the year 1744, fifteen years after the incorporation, a description of several roads in this town which had been laid out by the old town, and which had been copied from Chelms- ford books, was put upon record by a vote of the town. (See Records, Vol. I, pp. 213-17). These transcripts are here given in an abbreviated form :
I. "Chelmsford March 14, 1721-'22. A Highway laid out from the town to Groten Road by Capt. Jonas Prescott's field which way begins by the corner of Lt. William Fletcher's pasture wall, . . . and so by many bounds till it comes to Westford line, near to Joseph Keyes' fence; from thence . to Jacob Butterfield's land, and then between the land of Jacob Butterfield and Thomas Read . . to Thomas Read's house; from thence by
the land of Thomas Read, Jonas Fletcher, Joseph Fletcher, Timothy Spalding, and John Comings, and from thence by marked trees until it comes to Groten road by Capt. Prescott's field. The sd way was laid out through a piece of Joshua Fletcher's land, which lieth on the most westerly side of Boughtall's brook."
This is the road up the Stony Brook Valley, a part of which must have been in use long before the date of this transcript.
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
2. "Chelmsford Feb. 11, 1722-'3. Two highways laid out, . . firstly a highway beginning at a white oak standing at the southeasterly corner of Thomas Read's orchard fence, leading northerly to a white oak at the east end of sd Read's stone wall to Samuel Fletcher's land and then turns by the dividing line between sd Fletcher's land and the land of Thomas Read, and so runs through sd Fletcher's land aboute seventy-three rods and a half, down to Stoney brook, . and runs over the
brook, . through Fletcher's land . . until it comes to a pine tree which is Samuel Fletcher's corner, and from thence straight to Jonathan Fletcher's land and so a bridele way through Samuel Fletcher's meadow and thence the most convenient way to the meadow of Thomas Read, Joseph Fletcher, and Jonas Fletcher ; and so through the meadow of Jonas Fletcher by the dividing line between his and Samuel Fletcher's meadow."
This road began near School-house Number Two and ran past William Taylor's, over the bridge by the railroad, turn- ing to the left and passing near Thomas Horan's, and extend- ing to some point near the north burying-ground, or perhaps to some point near the railroad station.
3. " 2dly. A Highway beginning at Joseph Keyes' field and as the path goes to Stoney brook and over sd brook and then leading toward Nathaniel Langlee's house within about four rods of the southerly side of his house, and from sd house to the road to Long-Sought-for." [Amended in 1740, Vol. I., p. 172.]
This road was laid out by the house of the late True- worthy Keyes and across the brook at Brookside Station, by the house now owned by the heirs of Hiram H. Decatur to the road across the sandy plain.
4. "A Highway Laid out in Chelmsford June 15, 1719, over the meadow of Ens. Joseph Keyes."
This was the meadow at Keyes Pond through which Humhaw Brook flows. The road has been discontinued.
5. "Chelmsford, May 13, 1719. A highway of three rods wide laid out, beginning at a white oak tree marked at
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INCORPORATION TO BEGINNING OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
the line between Littleton and Chelmsford, running as the path now is by marked trees until it comes to the highway which is laid to the meadow of Auther Crouch, Deceased."
This is the road beginning at the corner near Joseph Whitney's and running to Calvin Howard's. Arthur Crouch owned a meadow northwest of Dea. Howard's.
6. "Chelmsford Nov. 1, 1726. Joshua Fletcher, Samuel Chamberlin [and] Benjamin Adams, being a Committee appointed by the Selectmen to lay out High- ways in the west part of the Town, proceded and laid out a highway beginning at the west precinct meeting house where they took off a piece of Robert Cunnant's land at the southeasterly corner of his land and thence westerly to a great white oak tree in land that was laid out to Mr. Edward Emerson ; and on the southern side of the sd meeting house the sd way began at a stake and heap of stones and to be three rods wide, running through the land laid out to Mr. Emerson westerly, . thence through the land of Paul Fletcher and common land to the dwelling house of Thomas Blodget Jr. thence by said Blodget's house as near as the path now goes to Paul Fletcher's, by Boutall's meadow ; and Jonas Pres- cott Jr and Thomas Heald was by Paul Fletcher's consent and the committee's consent, allowed a bridle way to pass and repass through the land and meadow of Paul Fletcher to go over a narrow place of Boutall's meadow to and from
meeting, · provided the sd Prescott and Heald make a causeway over said meadow at their own cost; and also the liberty to pass and repass as above mentioned, through the land of Joshua Fletcher on the westerly side of sd meadow unto the sd causeway."
This road is now a part of Main Street, at the Centre. It passed by the Amos Heywood house, which stands on or near the site of Thomas Blodget, Jr's., house, and turned to the left about half-way down the Bixby Hill and so led through the woods to Boutwell's Meadow. (See p. 3 of this Ms.)
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
7. "Chelmsford, October 31, 1726. Town highways laid out by the Selectmen's order. . A town high- · way beginning at Groten road to the east of Samuel Cham- berlin Jun. his dwelling house against sd Chamberlin's field thence running northeasterly acrost sd Chamberlin's land unto the path that goes from Aaron Parker's house by the southwesterly corner of sd Chamberlin's stone wall, and to be a bridle way so far ; then the sd way runs by the sd Chamberlin's land or stone wall which is on the west, thence by a line of marked trees through Aaron Parker's land until it comes within about three rods of Joseph Hildreth and Ephraim Hildreth's fence, from thence bounded easterly by sd fence and westerly by marked trees unto the road that leads from town to Tadmuck, and acrost sd way through some land left for a highway and the land of Joseph Spalding and the land of Mr. Edward Emerson unto the west precinct meet- ing house."
This road began near W. F. Balch's and ran northeast to the corner where it made a sharp turn and led by John Wilson's to Minot's Corner, thence to a point nearly opposite George Drew's house, where it turned around Blake's Hill and by the Boynton Reed farm to the centre.
8. " On the day above sd [Oct. 31, 1726] laid out a town way, beginning against the way that leads to Littleton by Joseph Butterfield's, and running by the house of Nathaniel Boynton. Bounded northwesterly by the land of Joshua Fletcher to a rock and heap of stones near said Boynton's shop, thence between said Boynton's shop and dwelling house, and thence by marked trees unto the land of Benoni Perham deceased, and through one corner of sd Perham's land over a rocky gutter and so as the path now goes to the highway laid out from the Precinct meeting house to Boutals meadow by Thomas Blodget Jr's. The land was left for a highway in the Division of Commons."
This began at Ai Bicknell's and led by O. and E. C. Coolidge's to the meadow on the west.
9. "On the day above sd [Oct. 31, 1726] a town way laid out issuing out of the road at the easterly end of
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INCORPORATION TO BEGINNING OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Robert Cunnant's dwelling house, running northerly through a corner of Robert Cunnant's land, a slip of common land and Josiah Burge's land and the land of Timothy Spalding, and between the land of Deacon Comings and said Burge's unto Stoney Brook road at Josiah Burge's northwesterly corner of his field."
This is now the street leading from Charles L. Fletcher's to the railroad station.
10. "Chelmsford, May, 1722. Laid out a highway beginning at the house of Ens. Joseph Keyes to and over the meadow of William Langlee and to and over the meadow of John Steavens then turning by Keyes Pond, thence by the land of Josiah Burge and between [through ?] the land of John Comings upon a brow, thence by marked trees on the westerly side to a causeway."
This began at the house now occupied by George Keyes, and ran past the John Morrison house, Jacob Blodget's Corner, the North Burying-ground, through the woods, by Thomas Horan's to the bridge near the railroad, not long since known as the Willard Fletcher Bridge. A part of it had been previously laid out.
II. "On the day above sd, laid out a highway begin- ning at Groten road near the saw mill and over Stoney Brook below the saw mill through the land of John Comings and several others which were owners of sd saw mill, about 60 poles, thence by the land of John Comings, William Langlee, Ens. Keyes and Josiah Burge by marked trees, and thence by marked trees on the southerly side to the highway from the old sawmill to the above sd causeway .. "
The saw-mill here mentioned was at the railroad station, and the road passed back of George B. Dupee's house, over the brook, and probably led in the direction of Thomas Horan's and intersected the now travelled road near Mr. Horan's. It has been discontinued.
12. " Chelmsford Dec. 26, 1722. A highway laid out . beginning at the Pond Plain to the west of Aaron Parker's old house and runs to John Foster's field, and from thence
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
as the path now runs to Aaron Parker's land that he pur- chased of Isaac Barron."
This was doubtless a private way, not now in use.
13. " On the day above sd, a highway laid out issuing out of the road that goes to Peter Procter's and is to run on the northerly side of Aaron Parker's meadow-fence and before sd Parker's house, and thence to Groten road by the land of Samuel Chamberlin."
This began at the old road which once passed through the east part of None Such Meadow and run by George Hutchins' to W. F. Balch's.
14. " On the day above sd there was a highway laid out through Samuel Procter's land which was Sparkes, about twenty rods in length as the path now goes towards James Burn's field and from thence to sd Burn's wall, and so by marked trees by Burn's wall to John Read's land on Spark's hill."
This was a short road near Amos Leighton's, and is now a link connecting other roads.
15. "Chelmsford May 6, 1723. A highway was laid out from Jonathan Hartweil's westerly to Littleton highway."
Hartwell lived on the farm now owned by Asaph B. Cutter.
16. " Another highway laid out the day above sd from Groten road to the highway that goes from Stoney brook to Groten mill . Begins at a black oak on the north side of Groten road by a spruce swamp called the hop yard, which oak is the bounds of Joshua Fletcher's land, and so southeasterly by sd Fletcher's land to James Hildreth's land and so east by sd Hildreth's land to the highway that goes from Stoney brook to Groten."
This began at Miner's Corner and led toward the Nashua and Acton railroad, and turned into the main road on the plain, west of the railroad bridge.
17. " February 21, 1707. A highway laid out from Stony Brook to John Richardson's mill, beginning at the highway that leads from John Snow's to the meeting house."
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INCORPORATION TO BEGINNING OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
The mill of John Richardson was probably at the mouth of Stony Brook, and John Snow lived perhaps in the vicinity of Brookside.
18. "February 21, 1707. A highway laid out from Stony brook houses through the land of Joseph Butterfield and so over Frances hill by Joseph Keyes and Flaggy meadow plain .
. and by the east end of Henry Farwell's house into the country road."
This is an earlier transcript of the road leading over Frances Hill by Warren Hunt's. (See No. I.)
19. " Also we laid out a highway from Arthur Croutches house and by the houses of Little Tadmuck and by the house of Joseph Parkhist and as the way is drawn, until it comes to Stoney brook way."
The starting-point was the dwelling of Arthur Crouch, which, according to the land allotments, must have stood near the Centre School-house. The road led past the Com- mon and Town House, and down the hill by the house of widow Ira Leland, and probably turned to the left near C. F. Keyes', and leading northward, terminated at the brook near Eli Tower's. That portion of it which lies between C. F. Keyes' and Mr. Tower's has been given up.
20. "A highway laid out to Great Tadmuck for the inhabitants of Stoney and elsewhere in the town ; beginning at the old way and so through the land of Joshua Fletcher Jr .- beginning at a rock on the right hand and on the left a stake, and by the bounds of Samuel Foster on the left hand and so by marked trees till it comes to a little sponge [bog-hole?] and thence through to the meadows westward." (May 28, 1707.)
This began at the corner, near Robert J. Taylor's and ran past the West Burying Ground to the corner in the woods, on the old road leading by Rufus Patten's.
2I. " A highway laid out which began about forty rods beyond Ens. John Snow's house westerly and was laid through sd Snow's land by a line of marked trees and from sd Snow's land the highway was laid to the highway which leads to Groten." 6
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
22. " On the same day there was a highway laid from Ebenezer Wright's house west to his field bars."
Mr. Wright lived near Edwin E. Heywood's. Probably his house stood away from the public road, and this was a short road giving him egress to the travelled highway.
23. "November 7, 1718. Laid out a highway which began on Tadmuck road near Aaron Parker's house . from thence over the brook by marked trees blazed or marked three ways. The way runs by Peter Procter's and Thomas Kidder's to Ephraim Hildreths land."
This probably started near School-house Number Five, and ran southward over Nonesuch Brook to the Kidder place, now deserted.
24. " On the same day [Nov. 7, 1718], laid out a high- way which began on the east side of the Gutt on Groten road from thence along by Joseph Hildreth's to Arthur Croutche's."
The "Gutt" was a piece of low land east of Amos Leighton's. From this, the road was laid by Samuel N. Burbeck's to Minot's Corner, and from thence to the Centre, to a point near the School-house. From the Gutt, so called, to Minot's Corner it now forms a part of the main travelled road from Littleton to Lowell; and from the Centre to the Corner, a part of the road to Boston.
These were the highways established by the old town. After the incorporation others were speedily added to the list as the following records will show.
(a). " Westford September 22, 1730. "A way laid out to Dunstable line . beginning at a stake and heap of stones on the west side of Andrew Spalding's shop and 'near the east end of sd Spalding's barn, and so by marked trees to Dunstable line."
Andrew Spalding lived on the John Morrison place, and this road led by School-house Number Eight, and by Dennis Burke's and John F. Banister's to the town line.
(b). " Also, a way laid out the day above sd
from Edward Batteses over the meadow till it comes · . to the meadow near Long-Sought-for pond and
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INCORPORATION TO BEGINNING OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
so to a black oak tree near the pond, and from Ephraim Spalding's house by marks on the south or southwesterly side till it comes to the way that goes to Rumrill's."
Edward Bates lived north of Dennis Burke's, and this road led out to the pond, thence by John Dane's to the brick tavern.
(c). " Also, a way laid out from Jacob Wright's field by Jonas Fletcher's, and so over Stoney brook to Bouttle's [Boutwell's] hill to the mill road."
Jacob Wright lived on the Bradley V. Lyon place, and this road led by Jeptha Wright's through the village of Graniteville to the hill west of J. Warren Day's. These appear to be the first roads laid out by the Selectmen of Westford.
" Westford May 14, 1731. Town ways laid out by the Selectmen of sd town and allowed by the town March 6, 1731-'2."
I. "A way through the land of Joshua Fletcher, beginning at the Country road east of sd Fletcher's field thence easterly to a new field and so on the south side of sd field, as the path now goeth, to the way by Boynton's."
2. "A way beginning at the above sd way at a rock and heap of stones, from thence to a walnut tree near the draw bars that lets into sd Fletcher's pasture, from thence to a stake and heap . of stones by Joshua Fletcher's land and the sd Fletcher gave the land (which the above sd ways takes) to the town forever for sd use."
These roads have probably been changed or partly given up, but they are supposed to be in the vicinity of Jonathan T. Colburn's and George H. Hartford's. It may be that the road from the house of the late Daniel Flagg to Mr. Hartford's represents them in part.
3. " A town way laid out the day above sd, beginning at the Country road by a rock and heap of stones which is Joshua Fletcher's bounds, and so bounded on the south- easterly and easterly side by sd Fletcher's land to the town way by Boynton's which goes to the meeting house
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
in sd town; and bounded on the southeasterly and easterly side of sd way on the land of Left. William Fletcher, Gershom Procter, Deces. [deceased] William Barrett, Joseph Hildreth, and Nathaniel Boynton to the above sd way."
This has not been determined with certainty.
4. " A town way laid out beginning at the Country road that leads to Groton at a field called the ginril [general] field and bounded on the northerly side by sd field fence, eastwardly until it comes to a town way that runs cross sd field . thence to a pine tree standing on the brow of a hill, thence to a stake at Boutl's [Boutwell's] meadow, so called, thence to the southerly side of Timothy Fletcher's house to a town way that leads to the meeting house. Laid out pursuant to a vote passed March 5, 1732."
This runs from Miner's Corner near Hop Yard Swamp, to Rufus Patten's.
5. " Westford May 15, 1732. A town way laid out from the way that goeth upon the eastwardly side of Mr. Joseph Underwood's homestead to Joseph Hildreth's - beginning at a white oak which is Mr. Underwood's corner bounds, and so bounded on the northerly side of sd way by Mr. Underwood's land to the broock that runs out of Provi- dence medoo, and upon the easterly side of sd way by Mr. Hall's medow and on the westerdly side by Capt. Prescott's medow, and on the southerly side by Ebenezer Spalding's land to the way first mentioned."
This led from a point nearly opposite Mrs. Ira Leland's to Providence meadow and onward to a point near George Drew's. It has been entirely discontinued.
6. " A town way laid out . from the way that leads from Stoney broock to Groton : beginning on boutl's [Boutwell's ] hill . thence running between David Bigsby's house and barn, thence to a white oak being the most northerly corner of Wido Bloged's land."
This led from the hill west of J. Warren Day's, by the house of the late J. Waldo Cumings to the top of the hill.
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INCORPORATION TO BEGINNING OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
7. " Westford November 5, 1736. A highway laid out for Jonathan Procter and others to come to the meeting house : beginning a red oak by Jonathan Procter's land and so as the path goes through some of Benjamin Hildreth's land, and then through the east side of Cuckson's land to the highway that leads to the meeting house by Cowdrey's, and then turning through Capt. Jonas Prescott's land to the highway that leads to the meeting house by Ephraim Hildreth's."
Jonathan Procter lived near Pond Brook, and this road led through the land of Benjamin M. Fletcher to the house of Mrs. Eunice Hildreth, and thence to Josiah Vose's.
8. " Westford June 9, 1736. Laid out a private and particular for Mr. Hall, Capt. Prescott and Benjamin Robbins to go to Providence : beginning on the north side of the way that leads to Joseph Hildreth's, then running easterdly to a black oak tree . then to a stump on the ridge hill by the dug-way, then to a black birch by the fordway; then on the southeasterly side of Mr. Hall's meadow and Mr. Benjamin Robbin's meadow and on the westerly side of the way by Capt. Prescott's meadow, then to a white oak tree, from thence to the way that leads to . Joseph Hildreth's."
The meadows here mentioned lie east of Providence Meadow and between the land of George Drew and Julian Hildreth.
9. " Westford February 25, 1737-'8. A private and particular way for Timothy Adams and for others to go to Little Tadmuck."
This was on the east border of the town. It never became a public road.
IO. " In February, 1740, the Selectmen renewed the bounds in part of the road leading up the Stony brook valley : beginning near the old sawmill then to a stake by Oliver Spalding's wall near his dwelling house, thence to a black oak near the bounds of Oliver Spalding and Josiah Burge," thence by various bounds to land, " now improved by Thomas Comings, thence to a stake one rod
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
south from Mr. Thomas Coming's house ; thence to a pine stump at the foot of Boutwell's hill, thence running acrost Boutwell's, brook to a tree which is a bound for Jonas Prescott's land:"
This renewal concerns the old road from Westford station to Forge Village- a part of it which none of the transcripts very clearly define. It is plain that changes have taken place since the date of this renewal.
II. " Westford December 25, 1741. Upon the desire of Mr. Joseph Temple, laid out a private road for the said Temple to go to meeting : beginning near said Temple's. house and running westwardly and northwardly to a road that was formerly laid out for Jonathan Procter."
12 and 13. " Westford February 20, 1750. A high- way laid out-beginning about 20 rods southerly from Samuel Adams' house, thence through Daniel Blodget's land 60 rods and through said Adams' land 100 rods, thence through Samuel Perham's land about 80 rods to the land of Ephraim Chandler , at the northeast end of said Chandler's land. Then laid out a way beginning near sd Chandler's field fence
then southerly through Jonathan Keyes'
land . . . to the land of Samuel Perham and so through sd Perham's land about 40 rods to James Spalding's land and so to the way that leads to Thomas Smith's."
The first of these led from Allen R. Perham's to the north end of Chandler's farm, being the northern part of the road now leading from Mr. Perham's to Flushing Pond ; and the second led from Chandler's homestead along the margin of the pond to a point on the old stage road near T. J. Sherburn's.
* 14. " Westford, Nov. 8, 1751. "A highway laid out through the home place of Ephraim Chandler, leading toward Samuel Adams'; beginning at the south side of his field by Jonathan Keyes land . . from thence [by . various bounds] to a red oak marked for highway bounds by land of Nathaniel Barrett's, still leading toward Samuel Adams."
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INCORPORATION TO BEGINNING OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
This led northward from Flushing Pond and intersected No. 12, above, and made a continuous road from the pond to Allen R. Perham's.
15. " Westford, Aug. 27, 1752. Laid out a town way through a part of Henry Richardson's land turning out of an old highway and running easterly about twenty poles to a stake standing in or near Chelmsford line."
This was a short road running east from Westford Corner.
16. " Westford, February 14, 1736. A highway laid out from Stoney brook bridge by David Fletcher's, to the road by Mr. Hall's old field to Henry Richardson's. Sd way began about one rod north of said bridge at an old way, and thence northerly as the path now goes till it comes near Ruben Fletcher's barn, then turning eastward till it comes to a new cleared field, thence turning northerly till it comes into the road above mentioned."
This began at the railroad bridge north of William Taylor's, and ran to the road that leads to Moses Edwards' and the " corner."
17. " Westford, February 13, 1756. Laid out a town road that goes by Jacob Fletcher's to that road that leads to David Fletcher's : beginning at a heap of stones southerly of sd Jacob Fletcher's dwelling house, it being Mr. Bowen's northeasterly corner bounds, then westerly till it comes into the road by the sd David Fletcher's dwelling house. The road is not proposed for a cart-way but only for convenancy for man and horse."
William Bowen lived on the Warren Hunt place, and Jacob Fletcher north of him; and the road ran down the hill to Alvin G. Polley's. Long discontinued.
18. " Westford, February 28, 1757. A town way laid out in exchange for the old way through the land of Nathaniel Boynton against the lane leading down to the house of Ben- jamin Butterfield, deceased."
This was a change in the road near the house of the Coolidge Brothers.
1
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
19. "March 5, 1759. Voted to accept the transcript of a bridle way laid out from Jonas Prescott Jr.'s and so by Capt. Prescott's and Timothy Prescott's [land] and John Cowdrey's to Groton bounds."
This began near George W. Blodget's, in Forge Village, and running west of Kissacook hill, came out by the house once owned by Asa Wright, on the line of the Nashua and Acton Railroad, and onward to Groton line.
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