Water body
Hill's Millpond
Hill's Millpond
Hill's Millpond is the small mill pond on Mill Brook on the east side of Concord Road in South Billerica, where the brook running west from Nuttings Lake was dammed to drive the grist mill later known as Hill's Mills. It is a man-made pond, held back by the mill dam at the road, and lies less than half a mile below the lake; below the road the brook goes on west toward Dudley Road, where the Stearns family had a saw mill, and the Concord River. The deeds never call it Hill's Millpond. They speak of "the mill pond," "the pond" and "the dam," and the name on the modern map comes from the mill, which was called "Hills Mills" by 1833. Since 1966 the pond has been part of the former Honeywell campus at 300 Concord Road.
When the mill and its dam were first built is not recorded. The land was part of the Dudley Farm, in which Ralph Hill bought a share in 1657, and it stayed in the Hill family for more than a century and a half, but no deed, will or town record before 1795 names a mill on it. The first record is the will of Jonathan Hill (1718 to 1796), made in 1795, which allowed his sons Job and Josiah to "grind their own grain at the corn mill." When his son Jonathan Hill died without a will in 1815 the grist mill was appraised at $440, and the accounts of the guardian of his children record "the toll of the gristmill" in 1815, a payment from Job Hill "for the use of the Mill" in 1816, and money paid "for mending the Mill dam." In 1825 the guardian advertised the farm at auction, with its "two story dwelling house, Barn, Cider Mill, Grist Mill & other convenient out buildings."
The farm was sold in 1825 and came to William Whitford, who on April 17, 1826 cut the mill lot off and sold it to Levi Wilson, a housewright, for $400. That deed is the first to describe the pond. With the mill went "all the water privilege belonging to said mills, which consists of the water running from Nutting's pond, so called, and elsewhere, with the privilege of raising the upper dam six inches without being subject to any damage which may occur by flowing said Whitford's lands," the right to deepen and widen the water course to the mill, and "a creek from the upper dam on the south side of the mill pond to the lower dam." The mill stood at the lower dam by the road; the upper dam was on the brook above the pond, toward Nutting's Pond, so that water could be held back in both the brook and the lake. Wilson sold the mill, now called "Hills Mills," to John Nichols in 1833 with "the Grist mill apparatus. Also the circular saws and Lathes," and in 1835 Nichols released it to Jonathan Hill (1795 to 1870), a son of Job Hill.
Jonathan Hill made the mill a machine shop. Soon after 1830, in Henry A. Hazen's words, he began making "a useful machine for splitting leather, invented and patented by Samuel Parker," and the shop ran on the water of the pond for most of the next century. Walling's map of 1853 marks the building "Machine Shop" where the brook from Nuttings Pond crosses the Bedford road. That year Jonathan Hill sold the "Grist Mill or Machine shop ... called Hills Mills" to Charles H. Hill, machinist, for $3,000, with the same water rights. Hazen reported in 1883 that the leather-splitting machine of Samuel Parker was "exclusively manufactured at the Hill machine shop in South Billerica," and that the work done there in 1875 was worth $28,000. The farm deeds of the same years are bounded on the pond: in 1864 Francis O. Whitford sold Charles H. Hill fifty acres beginning at a stone "near the dam" and running "east by the pond to the mouth of the brook and by the brook past the upper dam to Nutting's Pond," and the north half of the Whitford farm, sold to Thomas Lyons in 1865, ran "by the edge of the pond to the brook," to the upper dam and to a stone by the lower dam.
In 1903 Charles H. Hill deeded the shop to the Hill and Proctor Company, the firm of Hill and his partner Amos W. Proctor. The deed bounds the lot "east about 80 feet to the dam, south along the dam about 180 feet to the further side of the waterway," with "all the water privileges ... in the waters of Nuttings Pond." The company lost the property at a sheriff's sale in 1904; Charles H. Hill bought it back in 1907 and gave it to his daughter Margaret E. Hill, who sold "the Hill's Machine Shop" to Arthur A. Knights in 1936, still "with all the water privileges of the water of Nutting's Pond." A strip of the farm along the pond had been taken by the county commissioners when they straightened Concord Road, and a deed of 1964 still bounds the farm land on "the brook and mill pond." In 1966 the pond and this part of Mill Brook were sold to Honeywell Inc. as part of Parcel F of its Concord Road campus, which passed to Bull HN Information Systems, to Wang Laboratories in 1995 and then to a series of real estate owners. The pond is still there on the campus land east of the road.
Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 30, 1830 | Deed | William Whitford of Billerica, yeoman, and Sarah Whitford his wife (dower) | Levi Wilson of Billerica, housewright | 1826 Whitford to Levi Wilson: grist mill with the Nutting's Pond water, right to raise the upper dam six inches, and "a creek from the upper dam on the south side of the mill pond to the lower dam" | 301/278 (South) |
For $400, "a certain Grist Mill situate in the Southerly part of said Billerica, formerly belonging to Jona. Hill late of said Billerica decd," bounded from the road leading from Billerica to Bedford at the north corner at a stone marked B, easterly to another stone B near the corner of a wall, southeasterly to the upper side of the dam, southerly to a stone on the south side of the waste water course, westerly by the water course and to a stone marked B in the wall at the road, and by the road to the first bound, "together with all the water privilege belonging to said mills, which consists of the water running from Nuttings pond, so called, and elsewhere, with the privilege of raising the upper dam six inches without being subject to any damage which may occur by flowing said Whitfords lands," with the right to draw the water off through Whitfords land, to deepen the water course from the pond to the mill, to make a creek from the upper dam on the south side of the mill pond to the lower dam, and to take stone and gravel from Whitfords land to keep the creek and dams in repair. Warranty. Whitford had bought the Hill farm, mill included, from John Simonds in 1825; this deed cut the mill lot out of the farm, and every later deed of the farm reserves these rights. Dated April 17, 1826, acknowledged the same day before Josiah Crosby; recorded Nov. 30, 1830. Billerica town book 14, pages 348-350.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| May 30, 1833 | Warranty Deed | Levi Wilson of Dracut, and Susannah Wilson his wife (dower) | John Nichols of Billerica | 1833 Levi Wilson to John Nichols: "Hills Mills" with the same dams and water privileges | 323/364 (South) |
For $451, "a certain Grist Mill situate in the southerly part of said Billerica called Hills Mills," bounded from the road leading from Billerica to Bedford at a stone marked B, easterly to another stone B near the corner of a wall, southeasterly to the upper side of the dam, southerly to a stone on the south side of the water course, westerly by the water course and to a stone B in the wall at the road, and by the road to the first bound, with "all the water privilege belonging to said Mills which consists of the water running from Nuttings Pond," the right to raise the upper dam six inches without liability for flowing William Whitfords land, the creek and dams, "including the Grist mill apparatus. Also the circular saws and Lathes and all other machinery of said Mills." Full warranty. Dated April 3, 1833, witnessed by Marshall Preston and Maria Preston; acknowledged May 16; recorded May 30, 1833. Billerica town book 15, pages 444-445.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1835 | Quitclaim | John Nichols of Billerica, yeoman, and Mary Nichols his wife | Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman | 1835 John Nichols to Jonathan Hill: Hills mills, bounded to the upper side of the dam | 345/138 (South) |
For $5, quitclaim of "a certain Grist mill situate in the southerly part of said Billerica called Hills mills," beginning at the road from Billerica to Bedford at a stone marked B, easterly to another stone B near the corner of a wall, southeasterly "to the upper side of the Dam," and westerly by the water course and stones marked B to the wall at the road, "together with all the water privileges belonging to said mills which consists of the water running from said Nuttings Pond & elsewhere of raising the upper Dam six inches without being subject to any damage which may occur by flowing the farm of William Whitford," of draining the water through Whitford's land, of deepening the water course from Nutting's Pond to the mill, of "making a creek from the upper dam on the south side of the mill pond to said lower Dam," and of taking stone and gravel from Whitford's land to keep the creek and dams in repair, "including the Grist mill apparatus & Turning Lathe." Nichols conveys his right in equity to redeem, the mill having been mortgaged by him to Levi Wilson on April 3, 1833. Dated Sept. 10, 1835 (per the later deeds). These rights ran over the barn farm: every deed of it from 1864 to 1932 reserves "the rights and privileges which Jona. Hill his heirs or assigns has in said premises" under this deed, which they give as Book 343 Page 139; the index and the town book margin give Book 345 Page 138. Billerica town book 15, pages 158-159.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| May 22, 1854 | Warranty | Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman, and Laura W. Hill | Charles Henry Hill of Billerica, machinist | 1853 Jonathan Hill to Charles H. Hill: the grist mill or machine shop called Hills Mills, with the Nuttings Pond water privileges | 677/561 (South) |
For $3,000, "a certain Grist Mill or Machine shop situate in the Southerly part of said Billerica called Hills Mills," beginning "at the road leading from Billerica to Bedford" at a stone marked B, easterly to another stone near the corner of the wall, south-easterly "to the upper side of the dam," westerly by the water course and back to the road, "together with all the water privileges belonging to said Mills which consists of the water running from Nuttings Pond so called and elsewhere of raising the dam meaning the upper dam six inches" without liability for flowing the farm of William Whitford, of deepening and widening the water course from Nutting's Pond to the mill, "of making a creek from the upper dam on the south side of the Mill Pond to said lower dam," and of taking stone and gravel from Whitford's land to keep the creek and dams in repair; also a piece of land "with a Blacksmiths shop upon the same," bounded east by the road and north "by the brook that runs from Hill's Mills so called"; and a two acre lot "on the easterly side of said road near said Mills with the buildings thereon," 250 feet on the road at the Whitford line. Dated Oct. 15, 1853, witnessed by L. I. Fletcher, acknowledged May 13 and recorded May 22, 1854. Next on the record Charles Henry Hill mortgaged the grist mill back to Jonathan Hill for $2,005.80 (Southern Registry Book 677 Page 563), a mortgage Jonathan Hill discharged on May 28, 1866 (Middlesex North Book 50 Page 241). Billerica town book 20 pages 361-363.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| December 13, 1864 | Warranty Deed | Francis O. Whitford of Billerica | Charles H. Hill of Billerica | 1864 F. O. Whitford to C. H. Hill: 50 acres from a stone near the dam, "east by the pond to the mouth of the brook and by the brook past the upper dam to Nutting's Pond" | 38/384 |
For $1,350, "a certain tract of land situate in Billerica, containing fifty acres, more or less": beginning at the northwest corner "on the road leading from Billerica to Bedford at land of said Hill near his Machine Shop", east by Hill's land to a stone marked B near the dam, east by the pond to the mouth of the brook and by the brook past the upper dam to Nutting's Pond, south by the pond to land of Dr. Josiah Bowers, south by Bowers about 75 rods to land of Jonathan Hill, west by the land of Jonathan Hill and C. H. Hill to the road. Signed in May 1864, acknowledged Dec. 5, 1864 before Dudley Foster; recorded Dec. 13, 1864 (pages 384-385, faint scan). This is the southern half of the William Whitford homestead farm, south of the mill pond and Mill Brook, which Francis O. Whitford had bought out from his family earlier in 1864; it became the site of the Charles Henry Hill House.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| January 6, 1865 | Deed | Josiah H. Bartlett | Thomas Lyons of Sudbury | 1865 Bartlett to Thomas Lyons: north half of the Whitford farm, "by the edge of the pond to the brook," to the upper dam and the lower dam | 38/485 |
For $2,600, "a part of the homestead of the late William Whitford": 50 acres "with the buildings thereon standing", beginning at the northwesterly corner on the county road at widow Susan Fitch, by the Crosby heirs to "a large stone near the pond," by the edge of the pond to the brook at S. W. Foster, to the upper dam, to a stone marked B by the lower dam, and by C. H. Hill's land to the road; reserving Jonathan Hill's rights under John Nichols's deed of Sept. 10, 1835 (town book 15, pages 158-159); and 3 acres at John Dane across the road. Dated Dec. 15, 1864, recorded Jan. 6, 1865. Subject to Bartlett's mortgage to Francis O. Whitford dated Oct. 13, 1864. Bartlett had bought the same tract from Francis O. Whitford on Oct. 13, 1864 for the same $2,600 (Book 38 Page 378), so he passed it straight on to Lyons. Thomas Lyons owned the farm until his death on Nov. 30, 1905; his heirs deeded it to his son William J. Lyons in 1908 (Book 420 Page 582), and it passed to William's wife Mary E. Lyons in 1915 (Book 544 Page 221).
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| March 30, 1903 | Warranty Deed | Charles H. Hill of Billerica, and Aphia C. Hill his wife (dower and homestead) | Hill and Proctor Company, a corporation having its place of business in Billerica | 1903 C. H. Hill to Hill and Proctor Company: lot bounded east by the dam, about 180 feet along the dam to the far side of the waterway | 352/542 |
For "One Dollar and other valuable consideration," "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situate in the southerly part of said Billerica on the road running from Billerica to Bedford and known as Hills Machine Shop": beginning on the easterly side of the road at land of Thomas Lyons, east about 80 feet to the dam, south along the dam about 180 feet "to the further side of the waterway to a stone wall," west along the wall about 85 feet to the road, and north along the road about 175 feet, "with all the water privileges as granted to me in the waters of Nuttings Pond so called as shown in deed to me of above premises by deed of Jonathan Hill dated October 15th 1853" (Southern District Book 677 Page 561). Full warranty. Dated March 16, 1903, acknowledged at Boston March 19 before Albert F. Hayden; recorded March 30, 1903. Charles H. Hill had owned and run the shop for fifty years; this deed put it into his company.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| July 27, 1936 | Quitclaim | Margaret E. Hill of Billerica, unmarried | Arthur A. Knights of Billerica | 1936 Margaret E. Hill to Arthur A. Knights: the Hill's Machine Shop, bounded east by the dam, with the Nutting's Pond water privileges | 885/350 |
For consideration paid ($1 stamp), grant "with QUITCLAIM COVENANTS" of "the land in Billerica with the buildings thereon situated in the southerly part of Billerica on the road from Billerica to Bedford known as the Hills Machine Shop," bounded north by Thomas Lyons about 80 feet, east by a dam about 180 feet to the stone wall at the further side of the waterway, south by the wall about 80 feet, west by the road 175 feet, "with all the water privileges of the water of Nuttings Pond, so-called, as shown in deed from Johnathan Hill to Charles H. Hill dated October 15, 1853"; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Charles H. Hill recorded in Middlesex North District Deeds, Book 412, Page 259." Dated May 26, 1936, acknowledged at Billerica before Forrest F. Collier; recorded July 27, 1936.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| October 27, 1964 | Quitclaim Deed | Frank Galvin and Barbara Galvin of Billerica | A member of the family (private) | 1964 deed of the farm east of the Bedford road, bounded on "the brook and mill pond" | 1670/572 |
Signed Aug. 31, 1964, for less than $100, two parcels: the 20 acres "with the buildings thereon" on the east side of the Bedford road (W. P. Hadley, heirs of Jonathan Hill, the Boston and Maine Railroad, the brook and mill pond, Charles H. Hill's machine shop lot), from Margaret E. Hill in 1936 (Book 882 Page 80), and 30 acres north of Chestnut Avenue; "Reserving, however, a life estate in the aforesaid premises to the grantors and their survivor." The family had the land surveyed into Lot A (3 acres with the house) and Lot B (10 acres) in 1969 (Plan Book 109 Plan 161) and kept the house until 2005, when family trustees sold it to a private owner. The Mansard house burned on Dec. 4, 2005; the 3-acre lot was divided in 2007 into Lot 1 (332 Concord Road) and Lot 2 (330 Concord Road) on Plan Book 224 Plan 29, and a new house was built at 332 about 2008. The assessor lists later private sales in 2005, 2007 and 2012.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| August 25, 1966 | Deed | William E. Davis and Naomi M. Davis | Honeywell Inc. | 1966 sale to Honeywell Inc.: Parcel F including Mill Brook and the pond | 1764/589 |
Parcel F, 11.23 acres "with the buildings thereon" on the easterly side of Concord Road, including Mill Brook and the pond (31 acres of water on the plan), by Stoker and Barbara Galvin, and Parcels D and E, 2 acres by Route 3, on a plan surveyed for Honeywell Inc., June 1964, Emmons and Fleming (Plan Book 104, Plan 44, two sheets; approved July 21, 1964, recorded Aug. 25, 1966). Parcel F took in the old farmhouse and the ground north of it where the barn had stood. The Davises had sold Parcel C, by Route 3 and the Bedford branch railroad, to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company in 1961 (Book 1514 Page 553). The company became Honeywell Information Systems and then Bull HN Information Systems, which sold the campus to Wang Laboratories in 1995 (Book 7379 Page 234).
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.
References
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883), p. 281: Jonathan Hill begins the leather-splitting machine business in South Billerica soon after 1830; sold to Charles H. Hill in 1853
- Hazen 1883, Genealogical Register: Charles Henry Hill, proprietor of the leather-splitting machine shop in the south part of the town
- Hazen 1883, Genealogical Register: Samuel Parker's leather-splitting machine, "exclusively manufactured at the Hill machine shop in South Billerica"