Middlesex Canal
Middlesex Canal
| Built | 1803 |
The Middlesex Canal ran about twenty-seven miles from the Merrimack River at Middlesex Village in Chelmsford, now part of Lowell, to the Charles River at Charlestown, carrying the trade of the Merrimack valley and New Hampshire to Boston. Opened for its whole length in 1803 and closed about 1852, it was one of the first great engineering works of the young United States. Billerica held its summit level: the canal drew its water from the Concord River at the mill pond in North Billerica, which Hazen put at 109 feet above tide in Boston Harbor and twenty-five feet above the Merrimack, and from there it descended both north to Lowell and south to Boston. About six miles of the canal lay in Billerica, from the Chelmsford line to the Shawsheen River at the Wilmington line, and long stretches of its watered trench can still be seen.
The Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal were incorporated by an act signed by Governor John Hancock on June 22, 1793, with James Sullivan and Loammi Baldwin of Woburn among the leaders. After a faulty first survey, the English engineer William Weston and Baldwin surveyed the route in the summer of 1794, and the proprietors began buying the water and the land. On March 25, 1794 Thomas Richardson sold them the mills, dam and water rights at the North Billerica falls, the old privilege granted to Christopher Osgood in 1708, for 1,350 pounds, and that August the Billerica farmers along the route began selling strips five rods wide "wherever the Directors lay out the canal through our lands." The National Register nomination of 2009 dates the groundbreaking to September 10, 1794, on the western shore of the Billerica mill pond; Hazen, writing in 1883, put it in the spring of 1795. Baldwin let water into the first finished section, about two and a half miles beside the mill pond, on December 1, 1795. On November 7, 1797 the directors rode by boat over the first six miles, between the Concord and the Merrimack; by the end of 1798 the canal was finished from the Merrimack to south of the mill pond, and it was completed to the Charles on December 31, 1803. The proprietors rebuilt the mill dam as a wooden box dam filled with gravel in 1798 and replaced it with the masonry dam of 1828 that still stands (see Middlesex Canal Dam and Locks).
The canal was thirty feet wide at the water and three to three and a half feet deep, with a ten-foot towpath. From the Chelmsford line it ran near today's McLennon Way, crossed Boston Road at Sprague's Bridge and followed the east side of Lowell Street past Farmer's Bridge to the Red Lock near the North Billerica fire station, built in 1837 so that rafts from the Concord River could go north to Lowell and down the Merrimack to Newburyport. It passed through the yard of the present Talbot Mills, through a guard lock and under Lund's or Canal Bridge, and entered the mill pond, where boats were towed across on a floating towpath anchored to a peninsula on the south shore and a great stone on the north. It left the pond under Rogers Street, passed the Lincoln Lock (built in 1809 and rebuilt in 1818) and a deep cut blasted through ledge to the Tufts Bridge at High Street, and ran southeast along Content Brook past the later railroad shops, under the Davis Bridge and the Richardson Bridge at Gray Street, near the sluiceways of Richardson's mill, and the Allen Bridge at Andover Road, beside Allen's Tavern, where a basin served the packet boats. Below Brown's Bridge at Staples Street and the Kendall Bridge at Salem Road it passed the Patten Homestead and crossed the Shawsheen into Wilmington on the Shawsheen Aqueduct, the largest of its aqueducts.
North Billerica grew up around the canal and was long called the Canal Mills. By 1840 the canal company owned thirteen buildings there, including mills, shops and dwellings, and it sold house lots to its workmen beside the locks and towpath. It leased its fulling mill to Francis Faulkner in 1811 and sold it to him in 1825 (see Faulkner Mills); the Mears Tavern of about 1815 served the boatmen, and Nathan Mears probably tended the locks from a new lock tender's house built in 1825. The Canal Block of the 1830s, the last surviving building put up by the canal proprietors, burned in 1984. A packet boat carried passengers daily at four miles an hour, the fare from Lowell to Boston being fifty cents. The canal did little for the rest of the town: Hazen noted that all its carrying from Boston to Billerica "did not exceed" two hundred dollars a year, and he thought that by holding the water power at the falls the canal had kept Billerica from growing between 1800 and 1830. In 1839 Henry D. Thoreau and his brother John left the Concord River at Billerica by the canal on the trip described in "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers."
The Boston and Lowell Railroad, opened in 1835 and running near the canal through much of Billerica, took its business. Hazen says the canal paid dividends from 1819 to 1843; the last toll was collected in November 1851 and the last trip made in April 1852. On September 22, 1851 the proprietors sold the dam and mill privilege at North Billerica to Charles P. Talbot and Thomas Talbot for 20,000 dollars, and in 1852 they sold the line in sections, mostly to the owners of the land beside it; in January 1852 Theophilus Manning bought the canal through his farm by Salem Road, with "the bed of the old dock which lay at the westerly end of the acqueduct over Shawsheen River." The Supreme Judicial Court declared the charter forfeited in October 1859. In 1890 the town was asked to accept as a highway the private way from Sprague's Bridge to the new Chelmsford road, "being the tow-path of the old Middlesex Canal formerly," and for a century the old canal appeared in deeds and town reports chiefly as a boundary and a drainage ditch.
Interest in the canal revived in the twentieth century. The American Society of Civil Engineers placed a plaque at the Shawsheen Aqueduct on August 5, 1967, and in September 1972 the canal from Lowell to Woburn, "including all of those remaining in Billerica," was listed in the National Register of Historic Places; the whole route was listed again as the Middlesex Canal Historic and Archaeological District in 2009. The Billerica Historical Society owns the north bank between Rogers Street and the river and the aqueduct piers, which were restored in 1977 and 1978, and the Middlesex Canal Association owns stretches near Salem Road. The Billerica section of the state Middlesex Canal Commission cleaned out the canal along Lowell Street in 1997 and 1998 and opened the Middlesex Canal Museum and Visitor Center in the Faulkner Mills in 2001; in 2025 a new museum building was going up at 2 Old Elm Street, beside the mill pond. Watered sections still run along Lowell Street, from Rogers Street toward High Street, near Gray Street and from Dignan Road to George Brown Street.
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| August 20, 1792 | Deed | Thomas Richardson of Billerica, gentleman (wife Judith releasing dower) | Timothy Sprague of Billerica, clothier | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...ulling Mill" and free to deepen and clean the ditch. Dated Sept 10, 1791. The water right later recited in the canal's 1825 deed to Faulkner. | 108/212 (South) |
Billerica town book 8, pages 328-330. For 100 pounds, "forever certain and full Liberty to draw Water out of the mill Pond as the Ditch is cut sufficient for the Use of his fulling mill at all times forever hereafter whenever the Water runs over said Richardson's mill Dam", Richardson to shut his mill gates one by one down to his grist mill when it does not, and Sprague to shut his gate when the pond falls below the top of the dam; Richardson to keep up the dam, Sprague "to build no other mill upon said Stream but a Fulling Mill" and free to deepen and clean the ditch. Dated Sept 10, 1791. The water right later recited in the canal's 1825 deed to Faulkner.
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| April 21, 1794 | Deed | Thomas Richardson of Billerica, gentleman (Judith Richardson releasing dower) | Ebenezer Hall of Medford and Samuel Jaques of Wilmington, a committee for the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal | Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal are a party: Thomas Richardson of Billerica, gentleman (Judith Richardson releasing dower) / Ebenezer Hall of Medford and Samuel Jaques of Wilmington, a committee for the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal | 115/259 (South) |
For 1350 pounds, "about forty acres of Land" bounded easterly by Concord River, westerly by the highway and northerly and southerly by the road; the reversion of half the dower of the widow Hannah Carlton, conveyed to him by Solomon, Moses and Nathan Carlton; five sixths of a small piece at the northeast end of the mill dam, bounded easterly "by Timothy Sprague's Ditch that conveys Water to the Fulling mill"; "together with all the Buildings ... including the Mills Mill priviledges ... commonly known by the name of Richardson's Mills being the same which was formerly granted by the Town of Billerica to Christopher Osgood together with the Mill Dam and Stream", on the conditions of the town's vote of October 4, 1708, a passage for fish, and his 1791 agreement with Timothy Sprague. Dated March 25, 1794; recorded April 21, 1794. Billerica town book 9, pages 81-82. The Canal Mills land from which the proprietors sold their small house lots.
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| July 2, 1803 | Deed | Sarah Brown, widow, Samuel Brown, yeoman, Sarah Brown Jr. and Mary Brown, singlewomen, of Billerica (Elizabeth Brown releasing dower) | Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...and of Asa Patten", about three acres and twenty rods, or the same quantity wherever the Directors lay out the canal through "our lands", at six pounds an acre. Signed Aug. 18, 1794. The canal became the rear line of the l ... | 152/115 (South) |
For 18 pounds 15 shillings, a strip "of the length of One hund. rods and of the breadth of Five rods", "Northwesterly by the road leading from Jeremiah Allen's house to Pattens Mill, Southeasterly by land of Asa Patten", about three acres and twenty rods, or the same quantity wherever the Directors lay out the canal through "our lands", at six pounds an acre. Signed Aug. 18, 1794. The canal became the rear line of the later 10-acre house lot. Billerica town book 10, pages 181-182.
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| April 17, 1799 | Deed | Timothy Sprague of Billerica, clothier (wife Azubah releasing dower) | The Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...to Chelmsford by the Canal mills", by William Rogers, the mill pond and the "old ditch". The fulling mill the canal later leased to Francis Faulkner and sold to him in 1825 with "about twenty one acres". | 132/218 (South) |
Billerica town book 9, pages 439-441. For $2,200, "two lotts of land": about 24 acres "bounded easterly by land of Thomas Richardson Northerly by land of John Rogers westerly and southerly by Concord river and the road", except a small triangle near the bridge sold earlier to Richardson, "together with the barn fulling mill, mills, dye house, all the presses, dye kittels and potts, shears and all the clothiers fullers and dyers apparatus and machines (excepting Mr. Barrett's right in a pair of shears)", with all his rights in "the waters dams sleuceways water courses"; and about 4 acres "with a dwelling house thereon" on "the road leading from Andover to Chelmsford by the Canal mills", by William Rogers, the mill pond and the "old ditch". The fulling mill the canal later leased to Francis Faulkner and sold to him in 1825 with "about twenty one acres".
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| April 30, 1799 | Release | Thomas Richardson of Billerica, innholder | The Corporation of the Middlesex Canal | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...Billerica town book 9, pages 441-442. Reciting that he had "heretofore sold to the use of the Middlesex Canal Corporation an estate and mills on Osgood falls late the estate of John Carlton", for 1 dollars he releases a ... | 132/237 (South) |
Billerica town book 9, pages 441-442. Reciting that he had "heretofore sold to the use of the Middlesex Canal Corporation an estate and mills on Osgood falls late the estate of John Carlton", for $1 he releases a small triangle "lying on an island near which I had purchased of Timothy Sprague" and all his right in "the said Carlton estate joining to the same mills and falls", keeping a wood lot and meadow of the Carlton estate to the west. Dated April 20, 1799, four days after the Sprague deed; it tidied the canal's title at the falls on both sides.
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| November 11, 1801 | Warranty Deed | Asa Patten of Billerica, yeoman | The Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...ns farm north of his house about eighty two & a half rods in length & eight rods in breadth with the Middlesex Canal extending thro' the premises"; the second "a little south of the Saw Mill on Shawshine river," about half ... | 143/121 (South) |
For $247.45, "two certain pieces of land situate in northeasterly part of Billerica": the first "about four acres & twenty poles," bounded northwesterly on Samuel Brown's land, northerly or northeasterly by other land of Asa Patten marked out by stakes and stones, southeasterly by land of Reuben Kendall and southerly or southwesterly by other land of Asa Patten, "being a strip of land thro' said Pattens farm north of his house about eighty two & a half rods in length & eight rods in breadth with the Middlesex Canal extending thro' the premises"; the second "a little south of the Saw Mill on Shawshine river," about half an acre of meadow and upland, beginning "at a large fast rock now in the westerly stone pier which supports part of the Canal Aqueduct that goes over Shawshine river," by Reuben Kendall to a white oak and east to Jonathan Beard's land at the river. Dated Jan. 2, 1800, witnessed by Joshua Davis and Ichabod Richardson, acknowledged Jan. 3, 1800 before Timothy Walker, recorded Nov. 11, 1801. This is the earliest deed that places the house: the canal was dug across the Patten farm just north of it. The Proprietors sold the strip back to Theophilus Manning in 1852 (Book 23 Page 211). Billerica town book 10, pages 94-95.
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| November 25, 1801 | Mortgage | Ephraim Kidder Jr. of Billerica, trader | Elizabeth Abbot of Billerica, single woman | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...veral parcels "with the buildings standing thereon" (land by Stephen Barrett, Benjamin Davis and the Middlesex Canal toward Sheldon's Folly, and land by Mill Meadow Brook), and "a piece of land whereon the said Kidder's dw ... | 144/358 (South) |
For $1,100, mortgage of several parcels "with the buildings standing thereon" (land by Stephen Barrett, Benjamin Davis and the Middlesex Canal toward Sheldon's Folly, and land by Mill Meadow Brook), and "a piece of land whereon the said Kidder's dwelling house now stands bounded eastwardly by the highway Southwardly by land of Jona. M. Dexter and westwardly by Concord river and northwardly by said highway"; void on payment of $1,100 within one day with interest. Signed Nov. 23, recorded Nov. 25, 1801. Billerica town book 10, pages 119-121. The earliest record of the house, built in 1801.
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| August 24, 1803 | Deed | Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, by James Sullivan, president | Nathan Mears of Billerica, trader | Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal are a party: Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, by James Sullivan, president / Nathan Mears of Billerica, trader | 153/364 (South) |
For $30, "half an acre of land in said Billerica near the mills and on the south westerly side of the highway on the westerly side of Concord river," staked by the Proprietors' committee on December 3: from a stake 17 feet southwesterly of "the small elm tree," 8 rods northerly, extending back southwesterly 10 rods. The strip between the half acre and the highway was to remain "open and uncovered" for Mears's use as an open way, and Mears had leave "to remove his shop on the land sold him from where it now stands within a year." Signed December 6, 1802; recorded August 24, 1803. Billerica town book 10, pages 200-202 (MACRIS misdates it 1812).
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| March 31, 1808 | Warranty | William Manning of Billerica, yeoman (1747-1814), and Sarah Manning his wife | William Manning Jr. of Billerica, yeoman, his son | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...by the road to the canal mills, by Levi Sprake, Jeremiah Farmer and the Pattens, William Rogers, the Middlesex Canal and the Chelmsford line back to the great road, and by the woodland of William Manning Jr., Willard Marsh ... | 179/47 (South) |
Dated Apr. 7, 1807, acknowledged Apr. 8, 1807 before Joseph Locke and recorded Mar. 31, 1808; witnesses Jephthah and Lucretia Manning. For $1,600 William Manning sells his son William "the one half of my farme with halfe of all the buildings thereon standing all undivided laying in the north west part of Billerica and on both sides of the grate road leading from Boston to Amherst containing one hundred and thirty acres more or less of mowing plowland orcharding, pastering and woodland with a house barne and other outhouses and buildings thereon standing", bounded from the southeast corner at "the rang way road so called near to Major Dowses house", by that road to the great road, by the road to the canal mills, by Levi Sprake, Jeremiah Farmer and the Pattens, William Rogers, the Middlesex Canal and the Chelmsford line back to the great road, and by the woodland of William Manning Jr., Willard Marshall and Major Dowse, excepting two and a half acres of Jeremiah Farmer's woodland by the Chelmsford line and Black Brook. Sarah Manning releases dower. Billerica town book 10, pages 462-463.
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| August 20, 1817 | Deed | Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, by John L. Sullivan, agent | Nathan Mears of Billerica, trader | Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal are a party: Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, by John L. Sullivan, agent / Nathan Mears of Billerica, trader | 223/124 (South) |
For $62.50, "two several pieces or parcels of land adjoining each side the lot conveyed to him by said Proprietors" in December 1802 (the copy reads 1812): 2 rods wide on the west side, extending southward ten rods "from the line of the front of said Mears house," and 3 rods wide on the east side, also ten rods back; "the said two pieces of land widen said Mears lots together five rods," bounded by the Proprietors' land. The first deed to mention Mears's house. Signed and acknowledged August 9, 1815; recorded August 20, 1817. Billerica town book 12, pages 36-37.
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| 1815 | Deed | Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, by John L. Sullivan, agent | Jonathan Farmer of Billerica, blacksmith | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...For 87, dollars "a lot of land ... westerly by land of Nathan Mears, southerly by land of the proprietors of the Canal ... being the same lot on which he has erected a dwelling house of two stories": 80 feet on a line ... | 240/336 (South) |
For $87, "a lot of land ... westerly by land of Nathan Mears, southerly by land of the proprietors of the Canal ... being the same lot on which he has erected a dwelling house of two stories": 80 feet on a line continuing the front of Mears's lot, then by right-angled courses of 50, 115 and 130 feet, and 165 feet back to the start by Nathan Mears's land, "the land in front of the said lot eighty feet to lie in common between the said Proprietors and said Farmer to the road." Signed August 1, 1815, acknowledged at Boston August 9, 1815, the same week as Mears's own widening deed. Billerica town book 13, pages 161-162. Farmer had already built the house on canal company land.
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| November 14, 1817 | Administration | Estate of Asa Patten of Billerica, yeoman, intestate | Mary (Polly) Manning, wife of Theophilus Manning, his only surviving child | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...7): "the home farm first lot about seven acres with the buildings thereon" at 800, dollars a second lot "North of the Canall" at 928, dollars a third lot "South of the road" at 1,100, dollars half a pew on the low ... | Probate #16995 |
Theophilus Manning of Billerica, yeoman, petitioned that Asa Patten, late of Billerica, yeoman, "died intestate within three months last past, leaving no widow nor children excepting the wife of your memorialist." On Nov. 14, 1817 Judge James Prescott granted administration to Mary Manning, wife of Theophilus, with John Crosby and Hosley Patten, yeomen, as sureties. John Crosby, Joseph Kendall and John Richardson 2nd inventoried the estate (sworn Dec. 9, 1817): "the home farm first lot about seven acres with the buildings thereon" at $800, a second lot "North of the Canall" at $928, a third lot "South of the road" at $1,100, half a pew on the lower floor and half a pew in the gallery of the meeting house, half of a stable at the meeting house, out lands (the Cragge land, a barn field, the Allen field, the Frances Kidder land, the Jonson farm), the Cory meadow and Brown lot in Wilmington and 30 acres in Wilton, in all $4,059.99 of real estate. Middlesex probate case 16995.
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| September 23, 1820 | Deed | Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, by John L. Sullivan, agent | Nathan Mears of Billerica, yeoman | Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal are a party: Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, by John L. Sullivan, agent / Nathan Mears of Billerica, yeoman | 235/64 (South) |
For $813.18, "a certain tract of land ... containing by measure twenty seven acres and seventeen poles being a part of the Richardson farm," from the southeasterly corner at Concord River "north of the ford way," easterly by "the road leading to the Canal mills" to "land of the Proprietors laid out in small lots," then by the Proprietors' land and several short courses to the river "according to the annexed plat," and by the river to the beginning. Signed August 10, 1819; recorded September 23, 1820. Billerica town book 12, pages 172-173. This became the Mears homestead farm around the tavern lot.
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| March 20, 1826 | Quitclaim | Caleb Pearson of Londonderry, New Hampshire, husbandman (Elizabeth Pearson releasing dower) | John Mixer of Billerica, husbandman | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...lkner and George Tufts; recorded March 20, 1826. Billerica town book 12, pages 456-457. The buildings stood on Canal land; the large house is probably the three-story house Mixer gave back to the proprietors in 1826. | 265/206 (South) |
For $2,100, "several buildings standing and being in said Billerica ... near the Canal Mills so called which were built and erected by me the said Pearson and said John Mixer in company & undivided (viz) one large dwelling house standing near said Canal Mills. Also a Shingle and Clapboard Mill so called with all the Machinery thereunto belonging likewise one Boat house". Dated December 5, 1820, witnessed by Francis Faulkner and George Tufts; recorded March 20, 1826. Billerica town book 12, pages 456-457. The buildings stood on Canal land; the large house is probably the three-story house Mixer gave back to the proprietors in 1826.
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| April 26, 1823 | Release | Jonathan Farmer, blacksmith, and Lot Lincoln, cooper, both of Boston, and William Richardson of Billerica, trader | Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...moved to Boston; Lincoln and Richardson evidently held claims on the house, and all three gave it back to the canal company. | 248/85 (South) |
For $10, a release of the lot from the northeast corner of Nathan Mears's land, 80 feet east, then 50, 50, 115 and 130 feet by the proprietors' other land, and 165 feet north on Mears's land, "together with the dwelling house & other buildings thereon standing, meaning hereby to convey all our right, title and interest in and to that piece or parcel of land which said proprietors by John L. Sullivan their agent conveyed to said Jonathan Farmer by deed dated the first day of August one thousand eight hundred and fifteen and recorded Book 240 Page 337." Signed September 10, 1822; acknowledged October 21-22, 1822; recorded April 26, 1823. Billerica town book 13, pages 213-215. Farmer had moved to Boston; Lincoln and Richardson evidently held claims on the house, and all three gave it back to the canal company.
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| December 10, 1824 | Deed | Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, by James F. Baldwin, agent | Joel Dix of Billerica, yeoman | Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal are a party: Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, by James F. Baldwin, agent / Joel Dix of Billerica, yeoman | 257/209 (South) |
For $87, the same price Jonathan Farmer had paid, "a certain piece of land situate and lying in said Billerica near the Canal mills containing half an acre more or less": from the corner of Nathan Mears's land 80 feet east, 237 feet south by the proprietors' and Mears's land, 80 feet west and 237 feet north by Mears, "The land in front of said Lot eighty feet to lie in common between the said proprietors and said Dix to the road as set forth in said Proprietors deed to Jonathan Farmer dated August first eighteen hundred and fifteen." The company would not answer for encumbrances after August 1, 1815. Signed October 28, 1822; acknowledged April 12, 1823; recorded December 10, 1824. Billerica town book 12, pages 383-384.
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| October 23, 1823 | Guardian's Deed | John Baldwin of Billerica, Esq., guardian of Lucy Jane, Deidamia and Martha Rogers, minors | Nathan Mears of Billerica | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...as Rogers"; the Weston place, about 25 acres in Billerica and Tewksbury; Chelmsford wood lots by the Middlesex Canal; the Blanchard lot in Broad Meadow; pew no. 46 and stable. Signed Jan. 23, 1823, recorded Oct. 23, 1823. ... | 250/360 (South) |
Under license of the Supreme Judicial Court (October 1822), sold at public vendue Dec. 11, 1822 to Nathan Mears, highest bidder at $4,310, three undivided fourteenth parts of the homestead place "containing about thirty acres of land with the buildings thereon, bounded easterly by the road leading to the mouth of Concord river, northerly by the Leviston farm, westerly by land of Nathan Mears, southerly by a lane leading from said road to the dwelling house," except Mears's small house lot; the Leviston farm of about 85 acres; 25 acres of meadow and woodland on the Concord River "as the same lot was bounded and described in the division of land by Josiah Rogers and Thomas Rogers"; the Weston place, about 25 acres in Billerica and Tewksbury; Chelmsford wood lots by the Middlesex Canal; the Blanchard lot in Broad Meadow; pew no. 46 and stable. Signed Jan. 23, 1823, recorded Oct. 23, 1823. Billerica town book 13, pages 256-258.
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| May 5, 1825 | Deed | The Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, by Benjamin Guild, President | Francis Faulkner of Billerica, clothier | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...is 3/4 inch below the top of the dam, on pain of "one dollar for every half hour said gates remain open". The canal reserved its water, a way across, and the right to repurchase within a year. | 260/48 (South) |
Billerica town book 12, pages 407-412. For $2,500, "three certain lots or parcels of land ... on the Northerly side of Concord River and near the Canal Mills so called": 2 acres 27 rods by William Rogers on "the road leading from the Canal Mills by said Rogers house to Billerica meeting house"; "about twenty one acres" from "the creek or water course to the fulling mill" along "the little Bason so called" and down the river to John Rogers and Thomas Richardson; and the fulling mill lot, "with the privilege of keeping and maintaining the building of said Mill over said creek", the creek itself reserved. With "the privilege of using the water which passes through one half of the creek leading from the mill pond to the Fulling mill ... for the purpose of working said mill and Factory", but never when the pond is 3/4 inch below the top of the dam, on pain of "one dollar for every half hour said gates remain open". The canal reserved its water, a way across, and the right to repurchase within a year.
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| May 5, 1825 | Mortgage | Francis Faulkner of Billerica, Esq. (wife Ann releasing dower) | The President and Fellows of Harvard College | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...er, and the fulling mill lot, "the same premises which were conveyed to me by the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal by their deed dated this fourth day of May instant". Discharged by Harvard College (Samuel A. Eliot, Trea ... | 260/53 (South) |
Billerica town book 12, pages 413-415. For $3,000, payable in a year with semiannual interest, the three tracts "near the canal mills, so called and on the Northeast side of Concord river, with all the buildings thereon": the 2 acre 27 rod lot by William Rogers, the 21 acres on the creek and river, and the fulling mill lot, "the same premises which were conveyed to me by the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal by their deed dated this fourth day of May instant". Discharged by Harvard College (Samuel A. Eliot, Treasurer) May 15, 1845.
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| March 20, 1826 | Deed | Benjamin Guild of Boston, President of the Board of Directors of the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal | John Mixer of Billerica | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...826, for 600 dollars: a lot bounded easterly on land of Nathan Mears 10 rods, southerly on Mears 12 rods, westerly on Canal land 10 rods and northerly "on the road leading from O. Farmers house to the Canal Bridge at th ... | 265/208 (South) |
Under the proprietors' vote of March 13, 1826, for $600: a lot bounded easterly on land of Nathan Mears 10 rods, southerly on Mears 12 rods, westerly on Canal land 10 rods and northerly "on the road leading from O. Farmers house to the Canal Bridge at the Mills" 12 rods, three quarters of an acre (lots 1, 2 and 3 on Samuel Whiting's plan of May 1816); and "one other lot ... on the northerly side of the road leading from O. Farmers house to the Mills and directly on the opposite side of the road to the lot above conveyed", southerly on the road 12 rods, westerly on Canal land to "the towing path of said Canal", along the towing path 12 rods, easterly by Canal land about 7 1/2 rods to the road, "laid down as three lots marked number fourteen, fifteen and sixteen" on Whiting's plan of May 16, 1816. Dated March 15, 1826; recorded March 20, 1826. Billerica town book 12, pages 459-461. Lots 14-16 are the house lot.
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| March 20, 1826 | Deed | John Mixer of Billerica, boatman (Nancy Mixer releasing dower) | The Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...d leading from O. Farmers house to the Mills and opposite the house of Nathan Mears", easterly by the road and Canal land, northerly "by the Locks and towing path of the Middlesex Canal" and westerly by Canal land, "contai ... | 265/210 (South) |
For $1,000, "a certain dwelling house and all the land thereto belonging", bounded southerly on "the Main road leading from O. Farmers house to the Mills and opposite the house of Nathan Mears", easterly by the road and Canal land, northerly "by the Locks and towing path of the Middlesex Canal" and westerly by Canal land, "containing one quarter of an acre more or less with a three story dwelling house thereon standing and all out houses". Dated March 15, 1826, witnessed by Francis Faulkner and Nathan Mears; recorded March 20, 1826. Billerica town book 12, pages 461-462. Given back the same day the proprietors sold him lots 14-16.
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| March 20, 1826 | Quitclaim | George Tufts of Billerica | The Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal | Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal are a party: George Tufts of Billerica / The Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal | 265/211 (South) |
For one dollar, "all my right title claim and demand in and unto a certain lot of land situated in said Billerica and for which I had contracted to purchase of the said Proprietors and had thereon erected a house", and all claim "growing out of my intended purchase", "and all the buildings thereon". Dated March 15, 1826, witnessed by Caleb Eddy and Nathan Mears; recorded March 20, 1826. Billerica town book 12, pages 462-463. The Kohlrausch reminiscences say the Tufts house burned and "the present Mixer house" was built on its site; a subscription list of November 1826 asked help for Mixer in rebuilding his house destroyed by fire.
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| 1827 | Deed | John Mixer of Billerica, yeoman (Nancy Mixer releasing dower) | Isaiah Bussey of Billerica, clothier | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...nd on the road 4 rods to the first bound (forty square rods, the easterly end of the lot Mixer bought from the Canal in 1826). No buildings are named. Warranty. Dated July 6, 1827; witnesses Francis Faulkner and William E. ... | 277/14 (South) |
For $120, "a lot of land situated in Billerica aforesaid near the Canal Mills so call[ed]": beginning on the road leading from the Mills to Oliver Farmer's, running on land of Nathan Mears southwardly 10 rods, westerly on Mears 4 rods, northwardly on land of John Mixer 10 rods, and on the road 4 rods to the first bound (forty square rods, the easterly end of the lot Mixer bought from the Canal in 1826). No buildings are named. Warranty. Dated July 6, 1827; witnesses Francis Faulkner and William E. Faulkner; acknowledged July 9, 1827. Billerica town book 11, page 501.
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| 1831 | Guardians' Deed | Nathaniel Stearns and John Baldwin, guardians of Edwin, Charles, Lucy Ann, Nathan and Elbert Mears, minor children of Nathan Mears | Francis Faulkner of Billerica, Esquire | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...8 inches to draw water "to turn the water wheel for the works in said Little Factory" when water runs over the canal proprietors' dam; reserving a 4 ft way to the minors' sawmill, the floating of logs from "the Great Mill ... | 305/44 (South) |
Billerica town book 11, pages 529-532. Under a special Resolve of the General Court (January 1829), for $1,042, the minors' land "at the Canal Mills so called ... with the building thereon, called the Little Factory or Woolen Factory": about 20 square rods from the stone abutment of "the second bridge over Concord River North of the Grist Mills", by "a large rock in the falls", along "the Fulling Mill Creek, so called" to the road "leading to the Canal Mills ... from Tewksbury". With a gateway 16 by 18 inches to draw water "to turn the water wheel for the works in said Little Factory" when water runs over the canal proprietors' dam; reserving a 4 ft way to the minors' sawmill, the floating of logs from "the Great Mill pond", and water for "the Blacksmith Forge and Iron Works", conveyed the same day to James Rice. The wooden factory lot "nearly opposite" the brick mill in later deeds, today the canal side of Faulkner Street.
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| January 29, 1841 | Warranty | Jeremiah Allen of Billerica, gentleman | His son Henry Allen of Billerica, yeoman | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...l hill; a second tract of forty acres from the north side of "the road leading to Patten's Mill," crossing the canal, by Wills, Samuel Brown, John Richardson, William Bowers and Benjamin Beard, to the ditch and "the rail r ... | 399/346 (South) |
For $800, "all my lands in Billerica & Tewksbury with all the buildings thereon": a first tract of thirty acres "beginning at the gravel hill at the highway," west by Eber Page to a small brook, north by land occupied by Philip Wills "to the East part of the barn at the road," and by the road back to the gravel hill; a second tract of forty acres from the north side of "the road leading to Patten's Mill," crossing the canal, by Wills, Samuel Brown, John Richardson, William Bowers and Benjamin Beard, to the ditch and "the rail road"; the Jonas French lot of ten acres in Billerica and Tewksbury on the road from John Richardson's to Patten's Mill; a sixth of the Simes lot in Tewksbury; and half a pew in the meeting house. Dated May 18, 1832, witnesses Samuel Whiting and Sarah Sands; acknowledged Sept. 12, 1832 before John Baldwin; not recorded until Jan. 29, 1841, with the heirs' quitclaims. Billerica town book 17, pages 30-31; Tewksbury town book 11, page 324.
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| December 5, 1836 | Deed | Francis Faulkner of Billerica, Esquire (wife Ann releasing dower) | His son James R. Faulkner (James Robbins Faulkner) of Billerica, gentleman | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...eek", with a third of "the water privilege ... contained in the deed given by the Corporation of the Middlesex Canal to Francis Faulkner dated May 4 A.D. 1825"; a third of "a Wooden frame factory ... nearly opposite said B ... | 358/312 (South) |
Billerica town book 15, pages 308-310. For $3,000, "one undivided third part of a Woolen Brick Factory situated in the Northerly part of said Billerica with one undivided third part of a lot of land adjoining the same", from the road in front of the factory at the corner of James R. Faulkner's house lot to "a little bason so called in Concord River" and "said Factory Creek", with a third of "the water privilege ... contained in the deed given by the Corporation of the Middlesex Canal to Francis Faulkner dated May 4 A.D. 1825"; a third of "a Wooden frame factory ... nearly opposite said Brick Factory" (Stearns and Baldwin, guardians, 1831); a third of the "Forge building, forge, trip hammers and gearing and Coal house" near the bridge (Kneeland, guardian, 1836); and a third of two house lots. Acknowledged Oct 15, 1835, recorded Dec 5, 1836. The earliest deed naming the brick woolen mill.
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| March 2, 1836 | Warranty Deed | Josiah B. French of Lowell, gentleman; Mary Ann French releasing dower | Henry Jaques of Charlestown, gentleman | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...lot (8 acres), the Alexander Bowers lot (2 1/2 acres), the mill meadow lot near Davis Bridge on the Middlesex Canal (6 acres), the Fox Hill lot (10 acres) and part of the Kidder pasture (14 acres). "The above described pr ... | 351/31 (South) |
For $2,100, "several parcels of land ... supposed to contain eighty acres": thirty acres west of the road from Billerica meeting house "by the house of Thomas Holden" to Tewksbury, "with a barn on the same"; and forty acres east of that road, bounded north "on the Parsonage land and land of others" to the wall of Mr. Tyler, "formerly of Reuben French," south to the road to Andover south parish "by the house of Henry Allen," and west back to the Tewksbury road, "containing forty acres more or less with the buildings thereon"; with the Chamberlain lot (8 acres), the Alexander Bowers lot (2 1/2 acres), the mill meadow lot near Davis Bridge on the Middlesex Canal (6 acres), the Fox Hill lot (10 acres) and part of the Kidder pasture (14 acres). "The above described premises are the same formerly owned by Luther French being the same conveyed by him to me by his deed dated April 6, 1830." Dated Feb. 15, acknowledged Feb. 23, recorded March 2, 1836. Billerica town book 15, pages 237-240.
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| 1836 | Guardian's Deed | Abner Kneeland of Boston, guardian of James Jr., Dorcas I., Dolly L. and Hannah L. Rice, minor children of James Rice | Francis Faulkner of Billerica, Esquire | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...ry" through two gateways "to turn the water wheel that carries the forge hammer", whenever water runs over the canal proprietors' dam, subject to the rights of Nathaniel Stearns's saw mill and of Faulkner's own "Little Fac ... | 353/514 (South) |
Billerica town book 15, pages 258-261. Sold at public auction on the premises May 24, 1836, under a Suffolk probate license, for $2,275, "a certain tract of land ... at the Canal Mills so called, called & known by the name of the Blacksmith Forge & Iron works, with the buildings thereon", by "the first bridge over Concord River, north of the Grist mills" and the river, with water "from the basin between said Forge Shop and said Faulkner's Fulling mill & Factory" through two gateways "to turn the water wheel that carries the forge hammer", whenever water runs over the canal proprietors' dam, subject to the rights of Nathaniel Stearns's saw mill and of Faulkner's own "Little Factory". Also about an acre "late the Homestead of the said James Rice ... called the Fessenden place".
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| 1838 | Mortgage | John Mixer of Billerica, yeoman | John Baldwin of Billerica, Esquire, Treasurer of the town | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...and directly on the opposite side of the road to the lot above described", southerly on the road, westerly on Canal land to the towing path, 12 rods along the south side of the towing path and easterly by Canal land about ... | 377/294 (South) |
For $452.70, the half-acre lot south of the road (by land formerly of Isaiah Bussey, now Daniel Wilson's); "also my homestead situate in said town on the northerly side of said road and directly on the opposite side of the road to the lot above described", southerly on the road, westerly on Canal land to the towing path, 12 rods along the south side of the towing path and easterly by Canal land about 7 1/2 rods to the road; and 21 acres "conveyed to me by Levi Sprake by his deed December 25, 1820" (Book 241, Page 291) with a piece north of the "Sprake Bridge" over the canal. A loan from the town funds; discharged 1844 (MHC). Billerica town book 14, pages 444-445.
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| 1844 | Mortgage | John Mixer of Billerica, yeoman | Doctor Zadok Howe of Billerica | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...said Billerica on the northerly side of said road & directly opposite to the above described lot", westerly on Canal land, "northerly on the towing path of said Canal", easterly on Canal land and southerly on the road, thr ... | 450/391 (South) |
For $900, the half-acre lot south of the road "leading from the Oliver Farmer house so called to the Canal Mills", bounded by Daniel Wilson; "also my homestead situated in said Billerica on the northerly side of said road & directly opposite to the above described lot", westerly on Canal land, "northerly on the towing path of said Canal", easterly on Canal land and southerly on the road, three quarters of an acre; the 21 acres by Oliver Farmer's and Joshua Radding's land; and a lot with a dwelling house north of the canal bridge "called the Sprake Bridge". Dated April 1, 1844. Billerica town book 20, pages 50-51. Assumed by the Talbots in 1852.
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| August 19, 1846 | Executors' Deed | James R. Faulkner and Charles Faulkner, executors of the will of Francis Faulkner | Luther W. Faulkner of Billerica, manufacturer | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...tle basin so called in Concord River" and "said Factory Creek", with its share of the water rights of the 1825 canal deed and of "all the fixtures, machinery & tools"; the wooden factory "nearly opposite" (1831); "the Blac ... | 492/99 (South) |
Billerica town book 18, pages 201-205. For $1,000, under the power of sale in the will, Francis Faulkner's "two undivided third parts of all the real estate, buildings, fixtures & machinery late the property of the copartnership of Francis Faulkner & son": the lot "with a Brick Factory thereon standing" by "a little basin so called in Concord River" and "said Factory Creek", with its share of the water rights of the 1825 canal deed and of "all the fixtures, machinery & tools"; the wooden factory "nearly opposite" (1831); "the Blacksmiths forge and Iron works" (1836); and two house lots, one near "the cove so called" (Jacob Butters, 1833, Book 336 Page 401). Dated July 1, 1846. The next day Luther passed half of it to Charles Faulkner.
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| August 19, 1846 | Deed | Luther W. Faulkner of Billerica, manufacturer (wife Martha M. releasing dower) | Charles Faulkner of Boston, merchant | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...& son", conveyed to him by the executors the day before: the brick factory and its water rights under the 1825 canal deed, the wooden factory, the forge and iron works, and two house lots. Dated July 2, 1846. | 492/103 (South) |
Billerica town book 18, pages 205-209. For $1,000, "one undivided third part of the several parcels of real estate ... with the buildings, fixtures & machinery thereon, the same being one of the two undivided third parts of all the real estate, buildings, fixtures & machinery late the property of the copartnership of Francis Faulkner & son", conveyed to him by the executors the day before: the brick factory and its water rights under the 1825 canal deed, the wooden factory, the forge and iron works, and two house lots. Dated July 2, 1846.
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| December 31, 1849 | Sheriff's Deed | Joseph Butterfield, deputy sheriff, on an execution for Daniel Wilson against John Mixer | Joel Dix Jr. of Charlestown, trader | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...ing about one half acre", bounded south on a road, westerly on Israel Colson and northerly and easterly on the Canal proprietors, and the 23-acre lot on both sides of the road from Lowell to Billerica Centre "with a small ... | 574/396 (South) |
On a judgment of the Court of Common Pleas at Lowell for Daniel Wilson of Billerica, yeoman, the sheriff took Mixer's right in equity to redeem "A certain lot of land with a dwelling house and two barns thereon, situated near the 'mills' and on which the said Mixer now lives and occupies, containing about one half acre", bounded south on a road, westerly on Israel Colson and northerly and easterly on the Canal proprietors, and the 23-acre lot on both sides of the road from Lowell to Billerica Centre "with a small dwelling house thereon", subject to the Howe mortgage (Book 450, Page 391); sold at John A. Dix's tavern near Billerica Mills on December 22, 1849 for $321 to Joel Dix Jr., "he being the highest bidder". Recorded December 31, 1849. Billerica town book 19, pages 34-35. Mixer stayed on; Dix was his wife Nancy's nephew (MHC).
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| March 27, 1860 | Quitclaim | The Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal (Ebenezer Chadwick, president) | Theophilus Manning of Billerica, yeoman | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...1800, from "the road that leads to Salem over Logging Bridge, so called," along the northeasterly side of the canal by Kendall's land, to land bought of Jonathan Beard, to "a large fast rock in the westerly stone pier whi ... | 23/206 |
For $250, "certain pieces or parcels of land lying in the Towns of Billerica and Wilmington": first, the land the Proprietors bought of Reuben Kendall by deed of Jan. 2, 1800, from "the road that leads to Salem over Logging Bridge, so called," along the northeasterly side of the canal by Kendall's land, to land bought of Jonathan Beard, to "a large fast rock in the westerly stone pier which supports part of the canal aqueduct over Shawshine river," and back by "the land which the said Proprietors bought of Asa Patten on the southeast" along the Kendall and Patten line; second, the half acre "a little south of the Saw mill on Shawshine river" bought of Asa Patten by deed of Jan. 2, 1800 (Book 143 Page 121); third, the "Mill lot" in Wilmington and Billerica bought of Jonathan Beard, from the southeasterly stone abutment of the aqueduct, with "the full seven eighth parts of a mill privilege ... formerly known as Beards mills." Manning was within six months after the canal's discontinuance to "take down and remove the bridge now over the Canal commonly called or known as Kendalls bridge" and grade the road, subject to all canal easements until the canal was lawfully discontinued. Dated Jan. 1, 1852, acknowledged at Boston Jan. 6, 1852, approved by the directors William R. Lawrence and William Sturgis; recorded March 27, 1860. Book 23 Pages 206-209.
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| March 27, 1860 | Quitclaim | The Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal (Ebenezer Chadwick, president) | Theophilus Manning of Billerica | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...erly of Reuben Kendall," the first piece in Kendall's deed to the Proprietors of Aug. 14, 1794, subject to the canal easements until the canal was legally discontinued. Dated Jan. 6, 1852, acknowledged at Boston Jan. 11, 1 ... | 23/210 |
For $5, a piece of land "forty one & half rods" long and five rods wide, "bounded westerly by land formerly owned by Asa Patten, southerly by the road, northerly and southerly by land formerly of Reuben Kendall," the first piece in Kendall's deed to the Proprietors of Aug. 14, 1794, subject to the canal easements until the canal was legally discontinued. Dated Jan. 6, 1852, acknowledged at Boston Jan. 11, 1852, recorded March 27, 1860. The strip along the road east of the Patten farm. Book 23 Page 210.
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| March 27, 1860 | Quitclaim | The Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal (Ebenezer Chadwick, president) | Theophilus Manning of Billerica, yeoman | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...s) North of his house about eighty two & one half rods in length and eight rods in breadth, with the Middlesex Canal extending through the premises, it being the same lot of land the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal purc ... | 23/211 |
For $62, a piece of land bounded "Northwesterly on land formerly of Samuel Brown, Northerly or northeasterly by land formerly of Asa Patten, marked out by stakes and stones, southeasterly by land formerly of Reuben Kendall, Southerly or southwesterly by other land of the said Asa Patten by stakes and stones," "being a strip of land through the said Mannings farm (formerly Pattens) North of his house about eighty two & one half rods in length and eight rods in breadth, with the Middlesex Canal extending through the premises, it being the same lot of land the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal purchased of Asa Patten & described in the deed as the first piece & containing about four acres and twenty poles," by deed of Jan. 2, 1800 (Book 143 Page 121), subject to the canal easements until the canal was lawfully discontinued. Dated January 1852, recorded March 27, 1860. With this deed the canal bed and towpaths in front of the house came back to the farm; they are the strip "formerly the property of the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal" in the 1942 deed. Book 23 Pages 211-212.
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| September 16, 1852 | Deed | John Mixer of Billerica (Nancy Mixer releasing dower) | Charles P. Talbot of Lowell and Thomas Talbot of Billerica, copartners as C. P. Talbot and Co. | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...me on which I now reside", bounded northerly and easterly by land formerly of the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, southerly on the road from Billerica to Lowell and westerly on land of Israel Colson, about half an acre ... | 637/151 (South) |
For $2,000, "a tract of land having a dwelling house and two Barns thereon situate in that part of Billerica aforesaid called 'Billerica Mills' being the same on which I now reside", bounded northerly and easterly by land formerly of the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, southerly on the road from Billerica to Lowell and westerly on land of Israel Colson, about half an acre, subject to the $900 mortgage to Zadock Howe, which the Talbots assume as part of the price. Dated September 13, 1852; recorded September 16, 1852. Billerica town book 19, pages 334-335.
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| September 16, 1852 | Release | Joel Dix Jr. of Charlestown, trader | Charles P. Talbot and Thomas Talbot, copartners | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...acre", south on the road from Billerica Mills to Lowell, westerly on Israel Colson, northerly and easterly on Canal land: the equity he had bought at the 1849 sheriff's sale. September 1852. Billerica town book 19, pages ... | 637/152 (South) |
For one dollar and other consideration, quitclaim of "a certain lot of land with a dwelling house and two barns thereon standing, situated in Billerica aforesaid near the Mills and on which one John Mixer now resides, containing about one half of an acre", south on the road from Billerica Mills to Lowell, westerly on Israel Colson, northerly and easterly on Canal land: the equity he had bought at the 1849 sheriff's sale. September 1852. Billerica town book 19, pages 335-336.
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| February 11, 1853 | Warranty | Isaac Holden and Louisa Holden (dower) | Lewis W. Lawrence | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...). Two tracts: "the Pettingill lot," about 20 acres in the northeast part of town on the road to the Middlesex Canal, and "another tract of land in said Billerica having buildings standing thereon the same being known as t ... | 644/588 (South) |
Dated and acknowledged Feb. 8, 1853 before Ithamar W. Beard, recorded Feb. 11, 1853 (Billerica town book 19, pages 411-413). Two tracts: "the Pettingill lot," about 20 acres in the northeast part of town on the road to the Middlesex Canal, and "another tract of land in said Billerica having buildings standing thereon the same being known as the 'Alice Bridge place' containing about three acres," with the same bounds, "being the premises conveyed to me by Daniel Holden by his deed dated November 2d A.D. 1850," Book 623 Page 315. This is the "Lawrence" of the 1853 map.
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| February 14, 1854 | Quitclaim Deed | The heirs at law of Francis Faulkner (James R., Dwight F., Charles, George, Winthrop and Luther W. Faulkner, Calvin and Ann F. Rogers, and the Keene heirs) | Lois R. Faulkner, Lydia H. Faulkner and William E. Faulkner of Billerica, a third each | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...Mill", with the buildings, "the same piece ... first described in the deed of the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal to Francis Faulkner dated May 4th A.D. 1825". James R. and Charles Faulkner reserved "the right to use on ... | 668/420 (South) |
Billerica town book 21, pages 186-189. For $3,000, the 2 acre 27 rod lot by William Rogers "on the road leading from the canal mills by said Rogers house to Billerica Meeting house", reaching to a stake "twenty six feet easterly of a line drawn in the direction of the easterly end of the Fullings Mill", with the buildings, "the same piece ... first described in the deed of the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal to Francis Faulkner dated May 4th A.D. 1825". James R. and Charles Faulkner reserved "the right to use one corner of said premises for the purpose of keeping a store and counting room thereon as the buildings at present used for those purposes now stand". Dated Jan 2, 1854.
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| February 14, 1854 | Quitclaim Deed | The other heirs at law of Francis Faulkner (Dwight F., George, Winthrop, Luther W., Lois R., Lydia H. and William E. Faulkner, Calvin and Ann F. Rogers, and the Keene heirs) | James R. Faulkner of Billerica, manufacturer (two thirds), and Charles Faulkner of Boston, merchant (one third) | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...now lives, consisting of plain land and containing about fifteen acres": the rest of the 21 acres of the 1825 canal purchase, behind the mill. Dated Jan 2, 1854. With it James R. and Charles Faulkner held the whole mill p ... | 668/424 (South) |
Billerica town book 21, pages 191-193. For $600, land "at the canal mills so called" bounded by land of James R. and Charles Faulkner and of William E. Faulkner, by Herman Rogers, by Concord River on two sides, and by "land of said James R. Faulkner where he now lives, consisting of plain land and containing about fifteen acres": the rest of the 21 acres of the 1825 canal purchase, behind the mill. Dated Jan 2, 1854. With it James R. and Charles Faulkner held the whole mill property, two thirds and one third, the shares of the later 1857 and 1880 deeds.
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| May 9, 1857 | Quitclaim Deed | James R. Faulkner of Billerica, manufacturer, and Charles Faulkner of Boston, merchant (wives Catharine and Annie S. releasing dower) | Charles P. Talbot of Lowell and Thomas Talbot of Billerica, merchants | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...ogether with all the Water rights and privileges ... set forth in the Deed of the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal to the said Francis Faulkner bearing date on the fourth day of May A.D. 1825 ... book 260, page 248"; the ... | 9/359 |
For $20,000, the lot "with a brick Factory and buildings thereon standing" in front of the road at the corner of James R. Faulkner's house lot, down to "a little Basin, so called, in Concord River" and "the south side of said Factory Creek", "together with all the Water rights and privileges ... set forth in the Deed of the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal to the said Francis Faulkner bearing date on the fourth day of May A.D. 1825 ... book 260, page 248"; the wooden factory lot "nearly opposite the brick factory" (Stearns and Baldwin, guardians, to Francis Faulkner, 1831, Book 305 Page 44); and "the Blacksmiths Forge and Iron works" near the bridge (Abner Kneeland, guardian, 1836, Book 353 Page 514), each with its water rights. Signed April 1, 1857, recorded with the Talbots' reconveyance (Book 9 Page 378), which returned the land with a fixed share of the water.
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| August 12, 1859 | Deed | Calvin Rogers and Ann Rogers | James R. Faulkner, manufacturer, and Charles Faulkner of Boston, merchant | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...Mill Street, running to the Concord River, down the river to a willow tree "on what was formerly the Middlesex Canal," and by the canal back to Mill Street, 1 acre 130 square rods; with his right of way over the railroad. ... | 20/390 |
For $3,500, "all that tract of land with the buildings now standing thereon" in the northerly part of Billerica, beginning at the northwesterly corner "at the junction of two roads leading from North Billerica so called, one to Billerica Centre and sometimes called Mill Street, and the other to Tewksbury and sometimes called North Street," southerly by Mill Street past "a barn or building on said premises" and by a curve to the Boston and Lowell Railroad, northwesterly by the railroad to North Street and by North Street back to the start, 6 acres 95 square rods; also a tract opposite on the westerly side of Mill Street, running to the Concord River, down the river to a willow tree "on what was formerly the Middlesex Canal," and by the canal back to Mill Street, 1 acre 130 square rods; with his right of way over the railroad. Both tracts are on a plan of the land of Calvin Rogers and Gov. Talbot by Samuel Sage Jr., 1858. Signed July 1, 1859; Ann, a daughter of Francis Faulkner, released dower. The MHC form puts the Faulkner takeover "between 1853 and 1875." The steps from the Faulkners to the Faulkner Manufacturing Co. have not been traced.
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| September 25, 1860 | Administration | Estate of Ebenezer Cowdrey of Billerica, yeoman (died Sept. 2, 1860) | His widow Betsey Cowdrey; Joel Adams of Chelmsford, administrator | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...situate in the Northerly part of Billerica" at 1,600, dollars with the Shed lot, the Kittredge wood lot near the old canal and shares of two other wood lots (3,115 dollars in all); the personal estate of 10,980 dollars was ... | Probate #29869 |
Ebenezer Cowdrey died intestate Sept. 2, 1860 without children; the petition notes that, having been born out of wedlock and his mother being dead, he "left no heirs at law & his Widow is entitled to the whole of his Estate." Joel Adams was appointed administrator at Groton Sept. 25, 1860. The appraisers Dudley Foster, Anthony Jones and Joseph Manning valued "The Homestead containing about one and a half acres, with the Buildings thereon, situate in the Northerly part of Billerica" at $1,600, with the Shed lot, the Kittredge wood lot near the old canal and shares of two other wood lots ($3,115 in all); the personal estate of $10,980 was mostly notes and bank shares, with shoemaker's tools and hay "in the South End of the Barn."
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| September 4, 1861 | Warranty Deed | Betsey Cowdrey of Billerica, widow | Samuel P. Hardy of Hudson, New Hampshire, carpenter | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...enezer Cowdrey, deceased"; ten acres of meadow on Concord River; and 25 acres of woodland by the old Middlesex Canal and Cold Brook. "Being the same premises conveyed to Ebenezer Cowdrey by George G. Davis by deed dated No ... | 28/576 |
For $2,500, three parcels "in the Northerly part of said Billerica": "a certain parcel of land with a dwelling house, barn, and other buildings thereon, containing one acre and one third," bounded north and east by the old road, south by land now or late of Aaron Maynard and Wm. D. Mason, west by John Dix and Barnard Cann, "this being the homestead of the late Ebenezer Cowdrey, deceased"; ten acres of meadow on Concord River; and 25 acres of woodland by the old Middlesex Canal and Cold Brook. "Being the same premises conveyed to Ebenezer Cowdrey by George G. Davis by deed dated Nov. 14th 1848 ... book 546, page 471, and by Hezekiah Kittredge ... book 14, page 512." Signed Sept. 3, 1861.
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| March 23, 1865 | Warranty Deed | Samuel P. Hardy of Billerica, carpenter | Betsey Cowdrey of Billerica, widow | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...late Ebenezer Cowdrey deceased"), the ten acres of river meadow and the 25 acres of woodland by the Middlesex Canal and Cold Brook; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by said Betsey Cowdrey's deed dated Sept. 3d 1861 ... | 41/306 |
For $2,500, the same three parcels back to the widow: the dwelling house, barn and other buildings on one and one third acres by the old road ("this being the homestead of the late Ebenezer Cowdrey deceased"), the ten acres of river meadow and the 25 acres of woodland by the Middlesex Canal and Cold Brook; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by said Betsey Cowdrey's deed dated Sept. 3d 1861 ... Book 28, Page 576." The same day (March 22, 1865) she released his support bond and discharged his mortgage (Book 41, Pages 305-306).
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| December 2, 1880 | Executor's Deed | Charles Faulkner of Boston, executor of and trustee under the will of James R. Faulkner | The Faulkner Manufacturing Company | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...2 "with the building thereon ... on the east end of the dam south of the County road", bounded 10 ft from the canal wall; and two thirds of five more lots, including land "on what was formerly the Middlesex Canal" (Sage p ... | 143/23 |
For $50,000, "two undivided third parts of all that lot of land with the buildings thereon": lot 1 of 29.55 acres from "the stone pier of the bridge across Concord River" across "the little basin, so-called", along the river about 1,540 ft to Jones and Foster, by the Boston and Lowell Rail Road and the schoolhouse lot back to the road to Billerica Centre, with the water rights, flowage, the 1857 Talbot rights (Book 9 Page 378) and "all the machinery, tools and fixtures in the buildings"; lot 2 "with the building thereon ... on the east end of the dam south of the County road", bounded 10 ft from the canal wall; and two thirds of five more lots, including land "on what was formerly the Middlesex Canal" (Sage plan 1838, Book 18 Page 374; Calvin Rogers to James R. and Charles Faulkner, 1859, Book 20 Page 390) and an acre by the old William Rogers house on "the road ... to the Canal Mills".
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| November 8, 1884 | Warranty Deed | Israel A. Colson of Billerica, unmarried | George F. Colson of Billerica | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...oad, by land formerly of T. F. Farmer, the heirs of Betsy Richardson and Bernard Kearney "to the old Middlesex Canal," west by the canal to the Chelmsford line, by Ready, the late John Barrett and Patrick Meehan back to th ... | 170/272 |
For "Two Thousand Dollars and other valuable consideration," "my Homestead Farm situated in that part of Billerica called North Billerica," beginning "at the dwelling house on said premises and road leading to Billerica Centre," running by the road and the old back road to the Lowell road, by land formerly of T. F. Farmer, the heirs of Betsy Richardson and Bernard Kearney "to the old Middlesex Canal," west by the canal to the Chelmsford line, by Ready, the late John Barrett and Patrick Meehan back to the Lowell road, across it by Mixer and Kearney "to Concord River," then south on the river to C. P. Talbot and Co. and the road, "with all the buildings thereon. Reserving all the public roads." Also the stock, hay, grain, wagons, carts, farming tools and household furniture. Dated Jan. 23, 1884 (Dudley Foster, witness and justice); recorded Nov. 8, 1884. Middlesex North Book 170, pages 272-273.
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| September 20, 1887 | Warranty Deed | Samuel H. King of Billerica (Lucetta J. King releasing dower and homestead) | Herbert B. Kitchen (Ketchen) of Lowell | Names the Middlesex Canal: ..., northeast by the school house land and the grantor's land about twenty rods "to a bound at the old Middlesex Canal so called", southeast by the canal about sixty rods, southwest by the grantor's land about twenty-four ro ... | 190/157 |
For $1,000, "a certain tract of land with a dwelling house and barn thereon containing ten acres more or less situated in the easterly part of said Billerica", beginning on the Wilmington road at the school house land, northeast by the school house land and the grantor's land about twenty rods "to a bound at the old Middlesex Canal so called", southeast by the canal about sixty rods, southwest by the grantor's land about twenty-four rods to the Wilmington road, northwest on the road about sixty rods. Signed March 13, 1886 before Dudley Foster; no title recital. King kept the rest of the Fletcher farm.
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| June 2, 1898 | Mortgage | Herbert B. Kitchen | Lowell Co-operative Bank | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...y part of said Billerica", the same bounds on the Wilmington road, the school house land and the old Middlesex Canal; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Samuel H. King by his deed dated Mar. 13, 1886 ... Book 190 P ... | 298/23 |
Mortgage for $600 on three shares of the 27th series, "a certain tract of land with a dwelling house and barn thereon containing ten acres more or less situated in the easterly part of said Billerica", the same bounds on the Wilmington road, the school house land and the old Middlesex Canal; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Samuel H. King by his deed dated Mar. 13, 1886 ... Book 190 Page 157"; buildings to be insured for $600. Discharged 1910 (Book 458 Page 200). It replaced an 1887 mortgage to the same bank (Book 192 Page 191).
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| September 21, 1935 | Deed | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica, by its Selectmen | Commonwealth of Massachusetts | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...e Cove Road; lying westerly of Boston Road to Sprague's Bridge so-called; lying southerly of the old Middlesex Canal site, and lying southeasterly of the Chelmsford-Billerica town line as shown on Manning's Plan A, Billeri ... | 872/444 |
Signed August 12, 1935 and recorded September 21, 1935, pages 444 to 446, approved as to form by the Assistant Attorney General. Under Article 58 of the annual town meeting of 1935, the Selectmen Maurice A. Buck, A. Warren Stearns, George S. Gracie, Arthur R. Hallenborg and Frank A. Kelley quitclaim to the Commonwealth, "for consideration paid" and under General Laws Chapter 132, Section 33, "all the land known as Town Forest Reserve conveyed to the Town of Billerica by various deeds, lying northeasterly of the Middlesex Turnpike so-called from the Treble Cove Road to the Chelmsford-Billerica town line; lying northwesterly of Treble Cove Road; lying westerly of Boston Road to Sprague's Bridge so-called; lying southerly of the old Middlesex Canal site, and lying southeasterly of the Chelmsford-Billerica town line as shown on Manning's Plan A, Billerica Town Forest System", excepting Lot A, 2.60 acres on the southeasterly side of the Rangeway Road beside the land of Egbert and Alice I. Hans. The Town Clerk, Roland G. Wright, certifies the warrant article and the vote. This deed put the town forest lots on Gilson Hill and along the Rangeway Road into the state forest.
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| February 18, 1938 | Quitclaim | Emma B. Ketchen of Somerville, unmarried | Chester B. Ketchen of Lowell | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...about ten acres, beginning at the schoolhouse land, by "land formerly of Samuel H. King" to "the old Middlesex Canal so-called", sixty rods by the canal, twenty-four rods by King back to the road. "For my title see Probate ... | 909/498 |
For a nominal sum, "one undivided half interest in and to a certain tract or parcel of land with the buildings thereon, situated on Wilmington Road", about ten acres, beginning at the schoolhouse land, by "land formerly of Samuel H. King" to "the old Middlesex Canal so-called", sixty rods by the canal, twenty-four rods by King back to the road. "For my title see Probate of estate of Herbert Ketchen, Middlesex Probate 165551." Signed Jan. 8, 1938.
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| February 18, 1938 | Quitclaim | Chester B. Ketchen of Lowell | His wife Gertrude E. Ketchen | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...cres "with the buildings thereon, situated on Wilmington Road" between the schoolhouse land, the old Middlesex Canal and King's land. "For my title see Probate of estate of Herbert Ketchen, Middlesex Probate 165551, and al ... | 909/499 |
Consideration under $100, the same ten acres "with the buildings thereon, situated on Wilmington Road" between the schoolhouse land, the old Middlesex Canal and King's land. "For my title see Probate of estate of Herbert Ketchen, Middlesex Probate 165551, and also deed from Emma B. Ketchen to me to be recorded herewith." Signed Feb. 17, 1938.
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| October 30, 1942 | Deed | Mary A. Hopkinson of Billerica, widow | Doris H. Dignon of Billerica, her daughter | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...e to my son, Raymond Hopkinson," and also the strip "formerly the property of the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal," with the bed and towpaths of the canal and "the bed of the old dock which lay at the westerly end of th ... | 985/430 |
Mary A. Hopkinson, widow, gave her daughter Doris H. Dignon ("no money consideration is given for this deed") the same tract "with the buildings thereon" on Salem Road that she had from Erastus A. Bartlett and others in 1914 (Book 519 Page 413), "excepting a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon conveyed this day by me to my son, Raymond Hopkinson," and also the strip "formerly the property of the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal," with the bed and towpaths of the canal and "the bed of the old dock which lay at the westerly end of the acqueduct over Shawsheen River," which the Proprietors had sold to Theophilus Manning in January 1852 (Book 23 Pages 206 and 209), less the land east of a line twenty feet west of the westerly abutment of the aqueduct and a lot sold to Caroline A. Pheeney in 1941. In 1965 the house lot was drawn as Lot 2, 55,240 square feet, on a plan by K. J. Miller Co. (Plan Book 102 Plan 57). The Dignons still owned it in 1973. After the deaths of Doris H. Dignon and Frank T. Dignon, the executor of Frank's will sold "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon now supposed to be numbered 308 Salem Road," Lot 2, bounded northerly by the Middlesex Canal, to a private owner in July 1988 for $185,000 (Book 4602 Page 255), who uncovered the early nineteenth century murals the next year.
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| June 10, 1953 | Administrator's Deed | Estate of Gertrude Emma Ketchen, by its administrator with the will annexed | A family member (private) | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...ildings thereon situated in said Billerica on Wilmington Road" from the schoolhouse land to "the Old Middlesex Canal", sixty rods by the canal and back to the road, "Containing 10 acres more or less". Signed May 22, 1953. ... | 1225/426 |
Under a license of the Middlesex Probate Court dated May 18, 1953 (no. 313972), for $3,250, "A certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica on Wilmington Road" from the schoolhouse land to "the Old Middlesex Canal", sixty rods by the canal and back to the road, "Containing 10 acres more or less". Signed May 22, 1953. In January 1965 the ten acres were divided into Lots A, B and C (Plan Book 101, Plan 56B), and on Oct. 1, 1965 Lot B, one acre "with the buildings thereon" on the northeasterly side of "Salem Road, formerly Wilmington Road", was sold to private owners (Book 1719 Page 254). The house has since passed through several private owners (1979, 1990, 1996, 2006, 2016, 2020).
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| June 26, 1978 | Mortgage | North Billerica Company | Union National Bank of Lowell | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...ner Manufacturing Company"; Parcel V, the 4.47 acres between Faulkner and Rogers Streets and the old Middlesex Canal (from Grace A. Morrill, 1919); Parcel VI on Mount Pleasant Street; and registered land on Indian Road. Di ... | 2310/282 |
For $1,000,000, "the following parcels of land, with the buildings thereon, situated in North Billerica": Parcels I-IV, the mill plant held under the 1915 Farnsworth deed (Book 533 Page 159), with "all water rights and privileges" of the 1857 Talbot deed, the private way to Carleton Street, "all the machinery, tools and equipment" and "the trade-marks and trade names of the Faulkner Manufacturing Company"; Parcel V, the 4.47 acres between Faulkner and Rogers Streets and the old Middlesex Canal (from Grace A. Morrill, 1919); Parcel VI on Mount Pleasant Street; and registered land on Indian Road. Discharged 1991 (Book 5493 Page 27). The last large mortgage of the woolen company, which kept the mill running into the 1980s.
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| July 29, 1988 | Executor's Deed | Executor under the will of Frank T. Dignon | A private owner | Names the Middlesex Canal: ...Road in two courses of 164.99 and 211.33 feet, westerly by Lot 3, 274.19 feet, northerly "by land of Middlesex Canal Association, Inc., shown on said plan as Middlesex Canal," 224.18 feet, and easterly by Lot 1, 266.82 fee ... | 4602/255 |
For $185,000, "The land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon now supposed to be numbered 308 Salem Road, situated on the northerly side of Salem Road and being shown as Lot 2 on a Plan of Land in Billerica, Mass., June 30, 1965, K. J. Miller Co., C.E." (Plan Book 102, Plan 57), bounded southerly by Salem Road in two courses of 164.99 and 211.33 feet, westerly by Lot 3, 274.19 feet, northerly "by land of Middlesex Canal Association, Inc., shown on said plan as Middlesex Canal," 224.18 feet, and easterly by Lot 1, 266.82 feet; 55,240 square feet. "For title of said Frank T. Dignon, see deed from Mary A. Hopkinson to Doris H. Dignon ... Book 985, Page 430 and estate of Doris H. Dignon," Middlesex Probate. Dated July 25, recorded July 29, 1988. The buyer, who uncovered the painted walls in 1989, and later owners are private. Book 4602 Page 255.
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted; Probate # is a Middlesex probate case, Ctf a Land Court certificate of title.
References
- National Register: Middlesex Canal Historic and Archaeological District (2009), Billerica segments and history
- National Register: Middlesex Canal (1972 nomination, Lowell to Woburn)
- Hazen, History of Billerica: the Middlesex Canal (incorporation, groundbreaking at Billerica Mills, levels, closing)
- Hazen: packet boat, carrying from Boston to Billerica, the turnpike
- Hazen: the canal company's purchase of the North Billerica mills (1794) and sale to the Talbots (1851)
- Hazen: the canal held the water power and checked the town's growth after 1800
- Billerica town report 1890: article to accept the old canal towpath from Sprague's Bridge as a highway
- Billerica town report 1970: historical sites, Middlesex Canal locations and owners
- Billerica town report 1973: the canal listed in the National Register in September 1972
- Billerica town report 2001: Middlesex Canal Commission opens the Museum Visitor Center in the Faulkner Mills
- UMass Lowell Library: Thoreau's 1839 passage through the canal locks at Middlesex Village