165 High St

For 300 pounds bills of the old tenor, "one parcell of upland and swamp containing thirty four acres and sixty two poles be it more or less," bounded southward by the land that was John Sanders's, northward by the land that was Caleb Farley's about 115 poles, "west by the road to Mr. Winthrops Farm about ninety four poles," and east by land of James Sanders about 44 poles, all the corners stakes and stones; "Reserving for myself and my wife Elizabeth the use and Improvement of the south half part of the field now within Fence and the whole of the pasture so called that is now within Fence and a liberty to cut Timber I shall need for my use and what fire wood we both of us shall need during the term of both of our natural lives." No buildings are mentioned. Dated Jan. 30, 1748 (old style, i.e. 1748/9), acknowledged Feb. 21 before Benjamin Tompson, recorded at Cambridge March 20, 1748/9. Billerica town book 5, pages 213-215 (Southern Registry Book 48 Page 198).

• December 25, 1805 Warranty: Benjamin Danforth of Billerica, yeoman to Ami French of Billerica, husbandman (165/430)

For $500, "a certain farm or tract of land situate in said Billerica containing about thirty four acres, more or less, bounded as follows; viz. southerly by land of Oliver Richardson and land of Samuel Trull; westerly on the road leading to Winthrop's farm, formerly so called; northerly by land of said Samuel Trull; easterly on land formerly not laid out; according to the original grant of said tract of land to John Duncan, as recorded in the town book; with all the buildings and appurtenances to the same belonging." Dated and acknowledged March 26, 1805 before James Abbot; recorded at Cambridge Dec. 25, 1805. Billerica town book 10, pages 355-356 (Southern Registry Book 165 Page 430). The Historical Commission describes an accompanying agreement by which French, then 21, was to support Danforth and his family for life; that agreement is not part of the recorded deed. Later owners (Ami French d. 1836, his son Charles W. French d. 1876, and their successors) were not traced; there has been no recorded sale since before 1988.

• March 20, 1749 Warranty: Jonathan Danforth of Billerica, gentleman, and Elizabeth his wife to His son Benjamin Danforth of Billerica, labourer (48/198)