USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1910-1915 > Part 13
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To further substantiate the fact that the Liberal School comprised the lot now occupied by the Present Centre School, we find upon an examination of the early records and transfers of land adjoining the Common where reference is made to " The Meeting House Lot," "The Common," and "Land belonging to the Proprietors of the Liberal School." Records of transfers as early as the year 1797 are to be found containing such descrip- tions.
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LINCOLN COMMON LAND LAND COMPRISING COMMON
The original Common Lot was deeded by Edward Flint to Trustees for the then newly laid out precinct, by deed dated June 4th, 1746, a copy of this deed being found upon the Precinct Records, the quantity of land being about one acre. The following is a copy of deed :-
"To all people to whom this deed or gift shall come, know ye that I, Edward Flint, of Concord in the County of Middlesex, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, yeoman, for and in consideration of the great difficulty that the inhabitants of the Easterly part of Concord, and the Northerly part of Weston, and the Westerly part of Lexington, labored under with respect to their enjoying the publick worship and ordinances of God by reason of their remoteness from their respective places of publick worship, and considering that they have petitioned the General Court of said Province, to set them off to be a ministerial precinct, therefore to relieve them, and considering that a certain number of said petitioners have prepared a frame for a meeting house already to be set up and have given and devoted the same to the free and publick use of the Society that have already joined or shall hereafter join and continue to promote said affair, together with my own inclination to promote so necessary and good a work, I do by these presents grant, alien, convey and convert unto Messrs. Benjamin Brown, of said Weston, Judah Clark, of said Lexington, and Nathan Brown, of Concord abovesaid, all in the County abovesaid, yeomen, being chosen Trus- tees, or a committee for said Society and in their interests name and behlaf, to receive the title to a convenient and suitable piece or parcel of land to set a Meeting House upon for said Society, a certain piece or parcel of clear land situate, lying and being in Concord abovesaid,
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containing by estimation one acre more or less, and is bounded as follows :- Northerly by land of Mr. Ephrian Flint, beginning at a stake and heap of stones standing on the south side of the stone wall and thence running west- erly to another stake and stones, and running southerly to a third stake and stones, and thence running easterly to a fourth stake and stones, thence turning and running northeasterly to a fifth stake and stones, thence turning northwesterly to the stake and stones first mentioned; said land as above bounded and described, to have and to hold with all and singular the rights, privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in any wise ap- pertaining, to them, the said Benjamin Brown, Judah Clark and Nathan Brown, in their said capacity, and with them to the said Society and their heirs; to be by them enjoyed and improved for the publick use above- said forever.
In Witness Whereof I, the said Edward Flint and Love, my now married wife, have hereunto set our hands and seals this fourteenth day of October, A.D. 1745, and in the nineteenth year of His Majesty's reign.
Signed, sealed and delivered
in the presence of
Charles Pierce, Jr. Josiah Blanchard.
Middlesex, ss. Concord, June 4th, 1746. The within named Edward Flint personally appearing acknowledged the within written instrument to be his voulntary act and deed. Before me,
John Flint, Justice of the Peace."
This deed was not recorded in the Registry of Deeds.
The next addition to the Common appears to be by deed of gift by the proprietors of the schoolhouse in the Centre of the Town in 1763, the quantity of land being 25 rods.
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It next appears that the Town purchased of Mr. John Adams in 1792 a small lot of land then represented as Common land near the public Meeting House, paying for the same £ 4 and 10 shillings. The quantity of land is not given and no record of such deed appears upon the records of the Registry of Deeds.
It next appears upon the Town Records that there was an exchange of land by the Town and the Proprietors of the Liberal School with John Adams. It appears that the Town exchanged a piece of land on the east side of the Common for a piece of land belonging to Adams and the Liberal School on the west side of the Common. This was in the year 1795. The quantity of land is not stated and no deed of same appears upon the records of the Registry of Deeds.
The next purchase was by the Town from the proprie- tors of the Liberal School, being the land and buildings. This purchase was made in the year 1809. The quantity of land was not stated, nor was any deed upon the records.
The next purchase was by the Town of Jonas Adams of a small piece of land to enlarge and widen the highway and Common. The Town paid for this land the sum of $12. This was in the year 1810. The quantity of land was not stated, nor was any deed of same ever recorded.
There next appears upon the records of a Town Meet- ing held in 1809 the following :- "To see if the Town shall remove the schoolhouse in the middle of the Town and also move the wall nigh said house so as to lay the land common which belongs to the Town." Under this article it is voted that leave be given to move the schoolhouse mentioned in said article; that it might be moved westerly from whence it there stood to land of Jonas Adams. It does not appear in this vote what land was purchased or whether or not any land was purchased, nor does it appear on any record that Mr. Adams was paid for this land, and no deed of same can be found upon the records.
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The following was taken from the Town Treasurer's Reports :-
May, 1793
Paid Mr. John Adams, £4 10 shillings for a piece of land lying near the Meeting House of the said Town sold by said Adams for said sum.
January 20, 1810 Paid to sundry persons for notes given for the Liberal Schoolhouse, the latter signed by the Treasurer for the sum set against their respective names; here following seventeen names each receiving $18.
May 6, 1810
Paid Thomas Wheeler $4.66 in full for 65 pounds of beef and half barrel of cider found by direction of committee for removal of middle schoolhouse.
May 2, 1810
Paid Jonas Adams $12 in full for land purchased of him for the accommoda- tion of the Common and highway a little easterly of his barn.
May 2, 1810
Paid to sundry persons for notes given for the Liberal Schoolhouse, so-called, signed by Treasurer for the sum set against their respective names :-
Stephen Codman, Esq. $38.34
Dr. Frank Tarbell . 18.36
Deacon Thomas Wheeler 18.00
Samuel Hoar, Esq. 56.51
Nov. 8, 1810
Paid the Proprietors of the Liberal School so-called $31.75, in full for land of said house.
I
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LINCOLN FIRST PARISH LAND FIRST PARISH LAND
The land originally owned by the First Parish com- prised that land known as the Common and deeded by Edward Flint to the precinct in 1746, containing about one acre.
The land next acquired by the First Parish seems to have been by purchase from Elisah and Albert Hager, deed dated October 10, 1870 and recorded with Middle- sex Deeds Book 1150, page 574, the quantity of land not being mentioned, although the land was deeded by metes and bounds.
The next land acquired was by deed from George G. Tarbell dated May 31st, 1892, recorded with Middlesex Deeds, Book 2138, page 170, the quantity of land being 3144 square feet. This deed was by plan recorded at the end of Book 2138.
The First Parish at the time of the purchase from Mr. Tarbell gave by deed to Mr. Tarbell a small piece of land containing about 1,370 square feet and being presumably part of the land that they acquired by deed of Mr. . Hager.
It will be noted from this that the land upon which the Liberal Schoolhouse stood and now being the present Centre School lot was not at any time part of land deeded by Edward Flint to the precinct and therefore does not or never has come under comtrol of the First Parish.
128
ABSTRACT OF TITLE OF JAMES L. CHAPIN LAND IN LINCOLN, MASSACHUSETTS
ABSTRACT OF TITLE TO JAMES L. CHAPIN LAND IN LINCOLN
Francis Newhall to James L. Chapin April 3, 1858 Recorded Book 792, page 219
Warranty Deed Consideration $3,800.
Description :- A certain tract of land situated in said Lincoln containing 8 acres and 54 rods more or less and bounded as follows :- Beginning at the northeast corner near the Meeting house First Parish, and running westerly 47 rods on land of Elisah Hager, thence southerly on land of Calvin Smith to land of the heirs of Elijah Fiske, thence on land of said Heirs of Elijah Fiske as the fence now stands to the road running from Lincoln to Concord, thence by said road to land of Heirs of Amos Bemis and land of the Second Parish to the Common, thence by said Common and schoolhouse land to the corner first mentioned or however otherwise bounded or reputed to be bounded, it being the same land conveyed to me by
129
deed of Pliney Newhall, dated June 18th, 1836, recorded Mid- dlesex Registry of Deeds, Book 355, page 461.
No encumbrances. Duly acknowledged.
Mary Child to Pliney Newhall
Discharge of mortgage given by Pliney Newhall to Jonas Smith dated November 26th, 1835, re- corded Book 346, page 545.
April 3, 1858 Recorded Book 792, page 219.
Description :---
Same as in deed of Martha Cole to Pliney Newhall, dated October 10th, 1835, recorded Book 346, page 545.
Jonas Smith to Mary Child
Assignment of mortgage given by Pliney Newhall to Jonas Smith dated November 26th, 1835, re- corded Book 346, page 545.
November 27th, 1854 Recorded Book 792, page 218.
Description :-- Same as in deed of Martha Cole to Pliney Newhall, recorded as above.
Pliney Newhall to Jonas Smith
Mortgage Deed Consideration $500.
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Description :-
November 26th, 1835 Recorded Book 346, page 545
Same as in deed of Martha Cole to Pliney Newhall, recorded as above.
Pliney Newhall to Francis Newhall
June 18, 1836 Recorded Book 355, page 461.
Quitclaim deed. Consideration-$500.
Description :- Same as in deed of Francis New- hall to James L. Chapin, which is recorded Book 792, page 219, being the same land conveyed by Martha Cole in two deeds to said Pliney Newhall. No encumbrances. Duly acknowledged.
Martha Cole to Pliney Newhall
October 10, 1835 Recorded Book 346, page 545.
Warranty Deed Consideration-$487.
Description :- A certain tract of land situated in Lincoln near to the Meeting House of the said Town, contain- ing 6 acres and 109 rods by survey being bounded as follows :- Be- ginning at Road leading from Lincoln to Concord on the corner of land of Edmund Wheeler, Jr., and running north 42 degrees east ten rods; then north 43 degrees east four rods 21 links and bound- ed on land of said Wheeler, thence
131
north one-fourth degree east 27 rods and 21 links bounded on land of said Newhall, thence north 80} degrees west 35 rods and 19 links, on land of Mr. Eli- jah Hager, thence south by land of Mr. George Weston, thence on land of Rev. Eben Newhall as the fence now stands until it comes to the road, thence bounded on said road to the point first mentioned.
No encumbrances. Duly acknowledged.
(One deed from Martha Cole to Pliney Newhall missing. )
George Weston to Martha Cole.
Quitclaim Deed. Consideration $503.12}.
March 15, 1834 Recorded Book 333, . page 326
Description :- One piece of land situated in said Lincoln near the Meeting House, containing seven acres and 30 rods, bounded :- Beginning at the north by land belonging to Elijah Hager, on the east by land belonging to Pliney Newhall, on the south by land belonging to Horatio Wheeler, on the south by road leading from Lincoln to Concord, on the west by land of said Weston.
No encumbrances. Duly acknowledged.
132
Martha Cole, Execu- trix of will of Abra- han Cole to George Weston. Feb 22, 1834 Recorded Book 333, page 324.
Sale on order of Probate Court for payment of debts.
Description :--- Same as in deed of George Weston to Martha Cole recorded Book 333, page 325.
George Tarbell et als to Abraham Cole
May 10th, 1816. Book 217, page 97.
Description :-
A piece of land lying west of the Meeting House and east of said Cole's containing by measure eight acres, 137 rods and bounded west- erly on land of said Cole, south- erly on the County Road until it comes within 1} rods of the Chaise's House belonging to said farm to a stake and stones by wall, thence turning northeast and running to a stake and stones by a wall standing on the north side of the barn belonging to said farm and at the corner of the wall, thence bounded on the east wall until it comes to the Meeting House, thence bounded easterly on said barn and schoolhouse lot and northerly on land of the Rev. John Codman.
133
Assignment of mortgage held by said Tufts.
Thomas Tufts to Samuel Hoar, Gro- vesnor Tarbell and For description see Book 195, Abraham Cole. page 323, as also for record of mortgage on which this assign- ment was written.
March 3, 1814 Book 207, page 53.
Jonas Adams to Thomas Tufts
March 8, 1811 Recorded Book 195, page 323
Mortgage Deed. Consideration-$2,190.
Description :- Several parcels of land. First :- A parcel of land in middle of Town of Lincoln, containing 60 acres, be the same more or less and bounded as follows :- One piece of the same southerly on the Town Road, westerly on land of Abraham Cole, southerly on land late of John Codman, de- ceased, easterly on the Common, so-called, to the Road first men- tioned, including all the buildings thereon standing.
Duly acknowledged.
John Adams to Jonas Adams.
Warranty Deed. Consideration $400.
Jan. 3, 1797
Book 168, page 326.
Description :- Land in Lincoln nigh the Public Meeting House beginning at South-
134
east corner of the hog-pen at the end of the stone wall bounded southerly on the road as the wall now stands, to the corner of land of the Rev. Charles Stearns and bounded westerly on the land of the said Stearns as the wall now stands to the corner of land of Ephriam Weston, and bounded northerly on land of said Weston as the wall now satnds to the land belonging to the said Town, or to the Common, so-called, thence bounded easterly on said Com- mon land and on land belonging to the proprietors of the Liberal School in Lincoln, so-called, and on a Town road to the point first mentioned; containing 10 acres more or less.
No encumbrances. Duly acknowledged.
Edward Flint to John Adams, Jr.
Dec. 1, 1749 Book 52, page 543
Warranty Deed Consideration-Love and affec- tion.
Description :-
Seven acres more or less in Con- cord, bounded from a stake and heap of stones at the northeast corner of the Meeting House lot adjoining to Timothy Weston's land, south by said Weston's lot
135
and to the Meeting House to my dwelling house, and from the middle of said house running southerly to a stake and heap of stones on said Weston's land and thence northerly and easterly by said Weston's land to a stake and stones first mentioned.
Duly acknowledged.
Respectfully submitted, A. J. DOHERTY.
September 13, 1911.
136
TRUSTEE'S REPORT
The question of the class of books bought with the funds at the disposal of the Trustees for that purpose, and the character of the literature placed upon the shelves of the Library has, during the past year, occupied a more than ordinary amount of the attention of the Board. The problem is practical but difficult of solution. Both the money at command and space in the Library Build- ing are limited. When once purchased, books go upon the shelves and there remain. In the case of any and every Library the result is merely a question of time; and, in the case of the Lincoln Library, its amount of shelf room being necessarily limited, it is a question of comparatively short time. The shelves will soon be- come overcrowded.
With a view of forming some intelligent judgment of the use made of the money and of the character of the books added to the collection, the Trustees have accord- ingly, during the past year, caused a record to be kept, from which it seemed possible some useful conclusions might be derived.
During the year, it appears that some 155 volumes, of which the titles are specified, have been purchased, at a cost of approximately $250. Each of these volumes, it would appear, has on the average been borrowed,-that is taken from the Library-six times, the average cost of each borrowing being approximately, twenty (20 cents). Hardly any volume of those specified has not been bor- rowed at least once, though it would seem that fifteen volumes had but a single borrower each. Of the books
137
thus purchased and added to the Library, thirty-three (33) have been called for ten times or over; while, of the twelve (12) books most frequently called for, eight (8) were of fiction, and four (4) were of a miscellaneous character. The works of fiction, in the order of popu- larity, were as follows :---
Keeping up with Lizzie Issued 25 times
One Way Out
23
66
Molly-Make-Believe
66 21
Woman Haters 2
Clay-hanger
18
66
Robinetta
17
Old Home House
17
Denry the Audacious.
17
The following were the titles of the four works of miscellaneous character:
How to live on Twenty-four Hours a Day Issued 14 times Down to the Sea 13 "
Life of Harriet Beecher Stowe
11
Human Machine
13
The Trustees do not feel called upon to pass upon the character of the above books. They would all seem to be harmless, if not highly instructive or manifestly edifying. The titles indicate, however, to a certain extent, the nature of the book demand, as it to-day exists in Lon- coln. It would be matter of interest to compare the above list with similar lists, if such were kept, in neigh- boring towns, or in the Public Library in Boston; also to get the titles and character of twelve other recently published volumes in greatest demand in those places. This the Trustee have as yet had no opportunity to do. They propose, however, to continue the investigation, and see what conclusions, if any, can safely be derived from it.
138
Meanwhile, it seems not inappropriate to call attention to the fact that none of the books named are likely to prove of permanent value, or to be continuously called for. They are, without exception, in the nature of ephemeral literature-books of the season. A natural inference would be that of the books ordinarily purchased with the money at the disposal of the Library, not one in ten is likely to prove of lasting value, or indeed ever to be called for again six months, at furthest, after its acquisition. Its permanent continuance on the shelves is, accordingly, not desirable. It is so much dead matter.
The obvious conclusion is that it is highly desirable the shelves of the Lincoln, as of other libraries, should be purged of literature of the lighter or passing character at stated intervals. It perhaps would not be a wholly un- safe principle of guidance to lay down the rule that every year volumes of that or previous years amounting to nine-tenths the acquisitions, should be disposed of, and the shelves to that extent relieved.
Beginning with the current year, the Library of the Massachusetts Agricultural College has entered the field of Library Extension. Upon request it sends out small selected collections of books or "libraries," so called, upon agriculture and related subjects, which can be borrowed by any local Library asking for the same. These "libraries" relate to such topics as Harvesting and Marketing of Crops, Poultry, Farmers' Co-operative Societies, Seed Selection, Testing, Rural Social Better- ment Work, Vegetable Gardening, etc., of peculiar interest to communities engaged in farming or cultiva- tion under glass. The Trustees have taken advantage of this opportunity, and the Library has received from the Massachusetts Agricultural College a collection of books which are now open to borrowers.
139
The leading titles of these works are as follows :--
Agricultural Economics.
Plant Breeding. Bailey. Diseases of Cattle.
Rural Wealth and Welfare.
Rural Hygiene. Concrete Silos.
Cost of Food.
Home Nursing.
Economic Entomology.
Soil Fertility and Permanent Agriculture.
Fertilizers.
Alfalfa.
Picking, Storing, and Marketing of Fruit. Healthful Farm House.
Chemistry of Plant and Animal Life.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
CHARLES F. ADAMS, Chairman Trustees.
DR.
REPORT OF TREASURER OF LINCOLN LIBRARY FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEB. 1, 1912.
CR.
RECEIPTS
Balance in Treasury, Feb. 1, 1911
$102 56
1911.
1911.
March 30. Received from Town Treasurer
384 77
Library Bureau
16 25
April 3.
-
Codman Fund
10 00
18. New England Tel. & Tel. Co.
20 78
July
8.
Codman Fund
12 50
April 5. Marcy & Co., coal
77 33
Oct.
1.
=
=
Extra Appropriation
300 00
"
= Charles E. Lauriat, Books, etc.
261 65
May
4. Lydia J. Chapin, services at Library .
200 00
Jan.
15.
Codman Fund
11 25
June
21. McKenny, Waterbury Co., Electric lighting fix- tures, etc.
130 75
-
23.
Young Folks Educational League, set orations
16 25
July
17. Edison Illuminating Co., lighting Library.
2 20
Aug.
5.
Lincoln Water Works, service at Library .
10 00
7. Publishers weekly (periodical ) .
4 00
Sept. 5.
Edison Electric Illuminating Co.
6 10
Oct.
27. Edison Electric Illuminating Co.
10 35
Dec.
13. James A. W. Hunter, carrying books
26 00
1912
Jan.
15. Edison Electric Illuminating Co.
4 60
23. J. L. Chapin & Son, Merchandise.
8 32
Town of Lincoln (Treasurer ) teaming coal
19 45
: Town Treasurer (for janitor )
200 00
Fcb.
2. R. D. Donaldson, work at Library
24 18
Waltham Coal Co., coal
51 57
1910.
Received from fines an and sale of Books
$28 66
1911.
23 71
$52 37
1910. Spent for Expressage Subscription to Books, Papers, Paper, cards, etc. 23 16
1911. Spent for Expressage, Subscriptions to
Papers, etc. 25 00
48 16
$4 21
PAYMENTS.
March 11.
Harry J. Cooper, Electrical Contractor. $65 82
June 21.
Town Appropriation
400 00
-
.
10 00
10. Houghton, Mifflin Co., magazines, etc.
17 50
Dec.
12.
1912.
23.
George Russell Legacy
51 80
-
Geo. G. Tarbell
240 42
Abbie J. Stearns
94 55
Julia A. Bemis Fund 47 72
1 25
$1,665 57
1,411 25
Balance
$254 32
D. L. Hamilton, work at Library
10 32
Edison Electric Illuminating Co.
4 60
140
The Librarian has received the following amounts :-
3. Isaac N. MacRae, work and supplies. 9 52
$1,411 25
JOHN F. FARRAR, Treasurer of Lincoln Library.
31, David Farquhar, books, etc. 12 46
Elizabeth Chapin, services at Library
200 00
26. James T. Laird, Sharpening lawn mower .
141
STATISTICAL REPORT OF THE LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE YEAR ENDING Feb. 1, 1912
Number of volumes in Library, Feb. 1, 1911,
9,281
Increase by purchase,
155
Increase by gift
8
Increase by binding periodicals,
14
Total Increase , 178
Number of volumes rebound,
7
Number of volumes worn out and replaced by new copies, 6
Number of volumes in Library, Feb. 1, 1912, 9,459
Total delivery of books for year, 7,795
Largest delivery in one day (Nov. 22), 123
Smallest delivery in one day (Dec. 16), 29
Number of days Library was open, 103
142
LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Gifts of books, periodicals, etc., have been received during the year from the following persons :- Hon. C. F. Adams, Mrs. Julia Balbach, Mr. J. W. Bookwalter, Mr. J. E. Baker, Mr. Arthur Chapin, Mrs. Ellen Campbell, Mr. Hall, Mr. E. Pope, Miss Elsie Pierce, Mr. Robert P. Porter, Mr. W. H. Reed, Mrs. H. C. Richardson, Mrs. N. L. Husted, Mr. Daniel C. Stone, Mr. D. M. Tipton, Mrs. A. C. Wheelwright.
143
LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
ACCESSIONS TO THE LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR 1911
BIOGRAPHY
Addams, Jane. Twenty years at Hull House: With autobiog- raphical notes . 531.19
Benson, Arthur Christopher. Ruskin: A study in personality . 631.12
Cortissoz, Royal. John LaFarge: A menoir and a study 631.15
Poumies de la Siboutie, Pierre. Recollections of a Parisian under six sovereigns, two revolutions and a republic, 1789-
1863; translated from French by Lady Theodora Davidson Fraser, Mrs. Hugh. Diplomatist's wife in many lands. 2 vols. 631.13
531.20
Fields, Annie. Letters of Sarah Orne Jewett . 636.8
Gilder, Richard Watson. Grover Cleveland: A record of friend- ship 636.5
Hare, Christopher. Most illustrious ladies of the Italian Renais- sance . 631.16
Miles, Nelson A. Serving the Republic : Memoirs of the civil and military life of Nelson A. Miles, Lieutenant General of the U. S. army
636.7
O'Brien, Barry. John Bright; A monograph . 631.18
Records of a life long friendship, 1807-1882. Ralph Waldo Emerson and William Henry Furness. H. H. F. Editor . 533.21 Stanton, Theodore. Reminiscences of Rosa Bonheur 631.14
Storey, Moorfield, and Emerson, Edward Waldo. Ebenezer Rockwood Hoar : A memoir . 636.8
Stowe, Charles Edward and Beecher, Lyman. Harriet,
Beecher Stowe: Story of her life . 631.19
Villard, Oswald Garrison. John Brown, 1800-1859. A biography
fifty years after 631.11
Wagner, Richard. Life of Richard Wagner. 2 vols 631.17
Washington, Booker T. My larger education: Being chapters from my experience 636.7
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