Broad Meadow
Broad Meadow
Broad Meadow is the wide low meadow on the west bank of the Concord River in North Billerica, below the falls and the dam at the Fordway, running north toward the Chelmsford line. The meadow mapped today lies north of Lowell Street by the river, near Holt Street and Boston Road, and much of it is still open flood plain. Colson Street began as the highway "to Broad meadow." Henry A. Hazen, describing the town in 1883, put it first among the features of the west side: "West of the Concord is Broad meadow, on the north; Gilson Hill, with its fine outline in the centre, and the beautiful Winning's Pond in the south."
It was one of the first meadows the settlers divided. Meadow hay was what the first farmers needed most, and the first distribution of meadow in 1658 began "at the Lower end of the medow on the other side Concord [river] Next toward Patuckett at Chelmsford corner, and so upward." Its thirteen lots ran up the river through Broad meadow, the last of them just south of the Great Bridge at the Fordway. On October 4, 1708 the town granted Christopher Osgood Jr. of Andover the neck of land west of the river "between said River and the pathway leading to broad meadow, with the stream at the falls," reserving ten poles "from the foot of the Hill going down into broad meadow," on condition that he build a grist mill at the falls, the beginning of the North Billerica mills. When the common land west of the river was divided the same year, the first range of lots began at Broad meadow and ran between the Chelmsford line and the rangeway.
The meadow itself stayed in small lots owned by farmers all over town, who carted the hay home. The deeds of the first range speak of "the Road to broad medow" and of "the Land of Isaac Stearns and the Proprietors of broad medow." William Chandler put several of the long range lots together into a farm of ninety-five acres, and when he sold it to Nicholas Sprake in 1724 it was bounded "Northerly by Broad meadow in a crooked line Westerly by Chelmsford line ... Easterly by the said High Way to Broad meadow." The Sprake heirs later describe the road "leading to broad meadow" by their barn yard and "the New Meadow and Broad Meadow" by the river, and in 1790 Margaret Sprake's thirds ran from the road "that goes from the fordway to Richardsons mills" to Broad Meadow, when her children sold them to Oliver Farmer Jr., who went on to buy more of the meadow below the dam. Among the owners of lots were Ensign Samuel Manning, who left five acres in Broad Meadow in 1711; his son William Manning, who in 1734 gave his own son two lots of about an acre and a quarter, one first laid out to Thomas Hubbard; Enoch Kidder, who gave two acres there to his son William in 1736; and Samuel Sheldon, whose homestead carried fifteen acres there in 1771. Thomas Rogers allowed his executors in 1784 to sell "my Meadow of about four acres called Broad meadow," appraised at 36 pounds; Josiah Rogers had twelve acres at his death in 1822, and Hermon Rogers sold five acres with his former homestead in North Billerica in 1864.
The Middlesex Canal ran along the north side of Lowell Street on the upland edge of the meadow, and the Talbot Mills later built filter beds there. The land was hard to use: it was low, it flooded in 1936 and 1955, and the Lowell Street tract described as "part of the broad meadow" was taken by the town for unpaid taxes in 1952, the taking being completed in 1954. About 1965 the town built its North Billerica fire station, the Billerica Fire Station at 21 Lowell Street, on the southeast corner of that 27.5-acre tract, on the site of an old canal lock basin, so that the people west of the river would have fire protection if the bridges were lost in a flood. The rest of the tract remains open meadow by the river.
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| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| 1711 | Will | Estate of Ens. Samuel Manning of Billerica (died Feb. 22, 1710/11) | His wife Abial Manning; his son William Manning co-executor | 1711 will of Samuel Manning: five acres of meadow in Broad Meadow | Probate #14598 |
Will dated Feb. 21, 1710/11 and proved May 7, 1711. Samuel Manning, town clerk, selectman and representative, left all his estate to his wife Abial for her use, adding that "as for al my other children they have had considerable out of my estate"; the only lands named are 8 1/2 acres of first-division land, 5 acres of meadow in Broad Meadow and 5 acres at Long Pond, with his son William among the executors. The Chelmsford road farm west of the Concord River, recorded to Samuel in the town book of records, is not in the will: it had already passed to his son Ens. William Manning. Papers read, pages 1-3.
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| July 14, 1726 | Deed | William Grimes of Billerica | William Chandler of Billerica | 1714 William Grimes to William Chandler: first range lot bounded "by the Road to broad medow" | 26/96 (South) |
For 8 pounds, "one parcel of Land situate in Billerica aforesaid lying on the west of Concord River in the First Range of Lotts containing nineteen Acres and seventy four Poles," bounded northwest by "Chelmsford Line" about 12 1/2 poles, northeast by Thomas Dutton about 258 poles, southeast "by the Road to broad medow" about 18 poles and southwest by James Kidder about 268 poles, "and there is allowance made in the Lott for the highway upon it." No buildings are named. Dated Dec. 8, 1714; acknowledged Aug. 9, 1716 before Oliver Whiting; recorded July 14, 1726. Billerica town book 3, pages 33-35 (Southern Registry Book 26 Page 96). One of the long, narrow town division lots between the road to Broad Meadow (Colson Street) and the Chelmsford line that William Chandler put together into the 95-acre farm.
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| July 14, 1726 | Deed | Samuel Fassett of Billerica | William Chandler of Billerica | 1714 Samuel Fassett to William Chandler: first range lot bounded by "the Proprietors of broad medow" | 26/97 (South) |
For 12 pounds, "one parcel of Land situate in Billerica ... containing forty acres and seventy four Pole ... lying on the west of Concord River in the first Range of Lotts," bounded west by Chelmsford line about 124 poles, southwest by Thomas Dutton about 165 poles, and east "by the Land of Isaac Stearns and the Proprietors of broad medow according to marked Trees"; "the northward Corner is a white oak Tree marked F," the westward a great rock, the eastward a white oak marked E.D.W., with allowance for the highway. No buildings are named. Dated Dec. 8, 1714; acknowledged Apr. 11, 1716 before Jonathan Tyng; recorded July 14, 1726. Billerica town book 3, pages 35-37 (Southern Registry Book 26 Page 97). The white oak "marked F" is the northwest corner of the farm Chandler sold to Nicholas Sprake in 1724.
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| June 15, 1726 | Deed | William Chandler of Billerica, with Susannah his wife releasing dower | Nicholas Sprake of Billerica | 1724 William Chandler to Nicholas Sprake: 95 acres bounded "Northerly by Broad meadow in a crooked line" | 25/453 (South) |
For 300 pounds, "One Messuage or house Lott Scituate Lying and being in Billerica aforesaid Containing Ninety five acres more or less with a Dwelling house and Barn thereon standing," bounded "Northerly by Broad meadow in a crooked line Westerly by Chelmsford line Southerly by the Land of James Kidder Easterly by the said High Way to Broad meadow," the northwest corner "a White oak tree marked F"; also meadow in Long Hill meadow "which was Granted to Wm Hamlet," swamp bought of the committee for straightening the fence, and lots in the easterly part of Chelmsford and Chelmsford Neck. Dated Aug. 4, 1724 (witnesses Joseph Wyman, Mary Highgate); acknowledged Aug. 5, 1724 before Oliver Whiting; recorded June 15, 1726. Billerica town book 3, pages 18-21 (Southern Registry Book 25 Page 453). The first record of a house and barn on the farm: Chandler had bought bare division lots in 1714, so he built them between 1714 and 1724. The "High Way to Broad meadow" is Colson Street.
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| February 14, 1793 | Deed of Gift | Ens. William Manning Sr. of Billerica (1677-1764) and Elizabeth Manning his wife | William Manning of Billerica, his son (1707/8-1776) | 1734 William Manning to his son: two lots of about an acre and a quarter each in Broad Meadow | 110/232 (South) |
Dated and acknowledged Feb. 4, 1733/4 before Oliver Whiting; recorded Feb. 14, 1793. For love and parental affection and "in full of his part and portion in my Estate", William Manning Sr. gives his son William "several parcels of upland medow and swamp situate lying and being in Billerica aforesaid on the West side of Concord River": one parcel of upland and swamp of thirty-four acres "on the south side of the County Road and on both sides Vine Brook according to the cuts and bounds of the same in Billerica Town Book of Records, as it was recorded to Ensn Samuel Manning of Billerica"; forty-nine acres and fifty-seven poles "in the first range of lots", bounded northwest by the Chelmsford line about 43 1/2 poles, northeast by Deacon Andrew Spaulding about 138 poles, southwest by Joseph Davis about 237 poles and southeast by the highway, with "allowance made for Ensn Mannings land that lies within the bounds of said lott"; and two lots of about an acre and a quarter each in Broad Meadow (one laid out to Thomas Hubbard, the other bought by "my Father Samuel Manning deceased" of the town committee), the father reserving half the improvement of the Broad Meadow land for life. Elizabeth Manning releases dower. No buildings are named. Billerica town book 8, pages 385-387.
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| December 7, 1737 | Deed of Gift | Enoch Kidder of Billerica, yeoman | His son William Kidder of Billerica, husbandman | 1736 Enoch Kidder to son William: two acres of meadow at Broad Meadow | 38/464 (South) |
Dated Sept. 30, 1736, acknowledged Oct. 12, 1736 before Oliver Whiting, recorded Dec. 7, 1737 (Billerica town book 4, pages 139-141). "For and in Consideration of the parental Love good will and affection which I have and do bear to my son William Kidder": sixty-five acres in Billerica "bounded Easterly by the highway that leads to the Wamassett and partly by the land of the heirs of John Rogers late of said Billerica deceased," northerly by the heirs of John Rogers, "westerly on Concord River," southerly by the heirs of John Rogers Jr., "together with the house and Barn thereon standing"; also 57 acres 26 poles and 42 acres in Tewksbury and two acres of meadow at Broad Meadow, "all which lands I do value to my said son at six hundred pounds being in his full portion." Witnesses Josiah Johnson and Thomas Kidder. The earliest record of the farm and its house.
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| 1768 | Will | Estate of Nicholas Sprake of Billerica, clothier | His sons Nicholas, Samuel and John Sprake and daughters | 1761 will of Nicholas Sprake: to son Nicholas the homestead by Broad Meadow | Probate #21112 |
Will dated Sept. 15, 1761, proved 1768 (he died March 31, 1768). To son Nicholas the homestead by Broad Meadow; "to my well beloved son Samuel Sprake ... one lot of land with the buildings thereon which I bought of Christopher Osgood as it may appear bounded by a deed I put upon record of the same", with part of a lot bought of Samuel Hill, the Mock meadow land bought of widow Rebecca Farmer and 2 acres of meadow bought of John Dunkin, "all which joins upon the house lot"; to son John 40 acres in Tewksbury with a grist mill. Sons Nicholas and Samuel executors.
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| October 2, 1784 | Quitclaim | John Sprake and Samuel Sprake of Billerica, husbandmen | Their brother Nicholas Sprake Jr. of Billerica, husbandman | 1769 Sprake brothers to Nicholas Jr.: a lot in Broad Meadow by Concord River, by the road leading to broad meadow | 85/549 (South) |
For 266 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence, a release of lots "which was part of our honoured Father Mr. Nicholas Sprake's Estate," the first beginning at the highway "by the ford way at the end of the stone wall by the Wyman lot so called," to the highway leading to Seth Levestone's, then east "to a stake and stones by the road leading to broad meadow standing about three feet southward of the bars which goes into the barn yard," "with one half of the west end of the dwelling house thereon both above and below and the one half of the east chamber and the East garret with conveniency of yard room about the house And also the one half of the barn and leanto adjoining"; also 15 acres west of the road to Levestone's, a lot in Broad Meadow by Concord River, and half of three acres in Mock Meadow from the brothers' division. Dated and acknowledged July 3, 1769 before William Stickney; recorded Oct. 2, 1784. Billerica town book 7, pages 417-419 (Southern Registry Book 85 Page 549).
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| November 4, 1771 | Common Recovery (barring entail) | Samuel Sheldon of Billerica, yeoman, tenant in tail (Solomon Pollard, demandant) | Samuel Sheldon and his heirs in fee simple | 1771 Samuel Sheldon recovery: homestead with 15 acres in Broad Meadow | 73/4 (South) |
Indenture of May 3, 1771 between Samuel Sheldon, yeoman, and Solomon Pollard, innholder, with the judgment of the Inferior Court (Pollard v. Sheldon, Samuel Hinds vouchee) of May 21 and the writ of seisin of June 1771; recorded Nov. 4, 1771 (Billerica town book 6, pages 488-495). Sheldon, "seized ... in fee Tail" under his father's will, lets Pollard recover "one Peice or Tract of Land containing about Sixty acres with the Buildings thereon called the Homestead bounded Northerly on the County Road partly and partly on land of James Crosby and Benjamin Baldwin, Northeasterly partly on Land of Capt. Enoch Kidder and partly on Land of William French," easterly by the Frenches and David and Oliver Abbot, and "Southerly and Westerly on said Oliver Abbots Land until it comes to the said County Road," with 15 acres in Broad Meadow and 2 acres in Content Meadow, to the use of Samuel Sheldon and his heirs forever. The recovery ended the entail of 1724 and let Sheldon's daughters inherit.
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| October 2, 1784 | Quitclaim | Samuel Sprake of Billerica, husbandman | His brother Nicholas Sprake Jr. of Billerica | 1773 Samuel Sprake to Nicholas: land to "the New Meadow and Broad Meadow" | 85/551 (South) |
For 10 pounds, the easterly end of the land "set off by a committee to John Sprake late of Billerica Decd," from the highway leading to Broad Meadow by Nicholas's land to the New Meadow and Broad Meadow, by Nicholas's own land to Concord River, by the river to Mr. Carlton's land and by the wall on the west side of the highway, "together with the buildings and priviledges that was by said Comtee set off for or did in any wise belong unto the aforesaid John Sprake deceased and to our Honoured Mother the widow Judith Sprake and to our sister Elizabeth." Dated June 26, 1773; acknowledged Nov. 4, 1774 before William Stickney; recorded Oct. 2, 1784. Billerica town book 7, pages 420-421 (Southern Registry Book 85 Page 551). With the 1769 release it put the whole of the father's homestead in Nicholas Jr.
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| 1776 | Will | Estate of Lt. William Manning of Billerica, gentleman (1707/8-1776) | His widow Elizabeth Manning; his children William Manning, Jonathan, Timothy and Solomon Manning and Elizabeth Carleton | 1776 estate of William Manning: eight acres in Broad Meadow; meadow there set off to the widow | Probate #14611 |
Will dated Feb. 25, 1772, proved September 1776: one third to the widow Elizabeth for life and the rest equally to his sons William, Jonathan, Timothy and Solomon and his daughter Elizabeth, wife of Solomon Carleton. The inventory taken Oct. 2, 1776 begins with "the Homestead containing about 200 acres with all the buildings thereon", valued at 400 pounds, with eight acres in Broad Meadow and a swamp in Tewksbury. On Nov. 19, 1776 the widow's thirds were set off: twenty-seven acres of the field southeast of the house to the road to Chelmsford, forty-three acres north of the highway, the west room, the chamber and garret over it and the northwest room of the kitchen, twelve feet of the barn, meadow in Broad Meadow and part of "a house that they use on Sabbath day noons"; accepted May 6, 1777. By a release of Jan. 30, 1777, filed in the case and accepted as a settlement May 7, 1777, Jonathan Manning, housewright, and Timothy Manning, husbandman, both of Chelmsford, Solomon Manning, and Solomon and Elizabeth Carleton of Billerica, "being Children of the Late Lt William Maning", for forty pounds each paid by "our Brother William Maning of Billerica aforesaid, yeoman" released to him all their shares in the two thirds of the estate, real and personal, he paying the debts and legacies. Papers read, pages 2-12.
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| 1778 | Administration | Estate of Samuel Sheldon of Billerica, yeoman, intestate | Simon Blanchard and David Abbot, administrators (his sons-in-law); his five daughters, heirs | 1778 estate of Samuel Sheldon: meadow in Broad Meadow | Probate #20263 |
Administration granted Jan. 27, 1778 to Simon Blanchard and David Abbot, yeomen, with Jonathan Pool of Reading and Isaac Lovejoy of Andover as sureties (all sons-in-law). The inventory of Feb. 4, 1778, sworn July 7, lists "The homestead containing about 83 acres with all the buildings" at 1266 pounds 13s 4d (inflated wartime currency), the Moffit place of 110 acres, the Dutton lot of 86 acres, 5 acres on Fox Hill, 18 acres of wood at Bedford, meadow in Content Meadow, Broad Meadow and Heath Swamp, and "A Pew in the Meeting house." The file has no division: the daughters divided the estate among themselves by deeds of 1778.
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| 1784 | Will | Estate of Thomas Rogers of Billerica, yeoman | Widow Martha Rogers for life; then Timothy Crosby, Abigail wife of Shemuel Griffin, and Cato | 1784 will of Thomas Rogers: "my Meadow of about four acres called Broad meadow" | Probate #19490 |
Will dated March 3, 1784: to "Martha my beloved wife the full use ... of all my Lands Buildings & Estate" for life; "my Negro boy Cato shall be a free man"; after the widow's death "my homestead farm laying in Billerica" and the rest of the estate to Timothy Crosby, Abigail wife of Shemuel Griffin, and Cato equally; the executors may sell "my Meadow of about four acres called Broad meadow" for debts. Proved June 2, 1784 (Shemuel Griffin executor). Inventory Sept. 8, 1784: "the Homestead and building thereon" 272 pounds 4s, a piece of land in Broad Meadow 36 pounds. The homestead was the land west of the corner lot Rogers had sold Isaac Kidder in January.
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| February 27, 1813 | Quitclaim | Samuel Sprake of Litchfield, N.H., and Anna his wife, Rebekkah Sprake and Susanna Sprake of Billerica | Oliver Farmer Jr. of Billerica, yeoman | 1790 Sprake heirs to Oliver Farmer Jr.: Margaret Sprake's thirds, from the fordway road to Broad Meadow | 203/372 (South) |
For 36 pounds, "all our right title and interest in and unto the lands and buildings that were set off to as thirds Margaret Sprake our honored mother late of said Billerica widow deceast," about 22 acres from the road "that goes from the fordway to Richardsons mills" to Broad Meadow, east on the road and Concord River, north and south on Oliver Farmer's land, west on Timothy Livingston, "with that part of the building that was set off to Margarett Sprake as her thirds," and 5 1/2 acres of woodland toward Chelmsford Neck, "meaning to convey the whole of the land and buildings that was set off to Margaret Sprake." Dated July 15, 1790 (Susannah acknowledged Mar. 27, 1806); recorded Feb. 27, 1813, with an agreement of the same parties and Benjamin Dows Jr., guardian of the Carleton children, by which Farmer bought the four outside shares of the widow's thirds at 12 pounds each (Book 203, Page 374). Billerica town book 11, pages 220-224 (Southern Registry Book 203 Page 372). This reunited the house, the barn and the farm in Oliver Farmer, who built the brick-ended house in 1803.
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| 1822 | Administration | Estate of Josiah Rogers of Billerica, yeoman (died about Feb. 4, 1822) | His widow Deidamia and fourteen heirs | 1822 estate of Josiah Rogers: 12 acres of Broad Meadow | Probate #19475 |
Josiah Rogers died intestate early in 1822; his son Josiah Rogers, gentleman, was appointed administrator March 5, 1822 (sureties Joseph Blanchard, Nathan Mears). The inventory of March 4, 1822 (appraisers Joseph Blanchard, John Rogers, Nathan Mears) lists "The Homestead farm containing about 50 acres" at $2,000, "The Beaverstone farm containing about 90 acres" at $1,080, "The Weston Place (so called) 20 acres," pasture called the Lot, the Doctors lot, lots in Tewksbury and Chelmsford, 12 acres of Broad Meadow and a pew and stable at the meetinghouse; real estate $7,617. The widow released her dower and the heirs sold the land rather than divide it; the accounts (1822-1830) record 13 days "surveying & setting out lands for sale at the request of the heirs."
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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 | 1823 Rogers guardian to Nathan Mears: the Blanchard lot in Broad Meadow | 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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| October 23, 1823 | Guardian's Deed | Jacob O. Rogers of Billerica, yeoman, guardian of Franklin, Catharine and Caleb S. Rogers, minors | Nathan Mears of Billerica | 1823 Rogers guardian to Nathan Mears: shares of the Broad Meadow lot | 250/362 (South) |
Same license, same vendue of Dec. 11, 1822 and same price: three undivided fourteenth parts of the same parcels (homestead, Leviston farm, river meadow, Weston place, Chelmsford lots, Broad Meadow, pew). Signed Jan. 23, 1823 (witnesses Joseph Parker, Joseph Locke), recorded Oct. 23, 1823. Billerica town book 13, pages 259-261.
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| January 9, 1824 | Quitclaim | Nathan Mears of Billerica, yeoman, with his wife Lucy | Jacob O. Rogers of Billerica, yeoman | 1823 Nathan Mears to Jacob O. Rogers: the Blanchard lot in Broad Meadow | 251/? (South) |
For $3,300, "the homestead farm of the late Josiah Rogers ... containing about thirty acres; the Leuston farm formerly owned by said Josiah deceased containing about eighty five acres; the Weston place so called partly in Billerica and partly in Tewksbury containing about twenty five acres," the river meadow and woodland and the Blanchard lot in Broad Meadow, "more particularly described in the deed from Josiah Rogers and others to me of even date," plus a quarter acre near the dwelling house "on which the said Josiah deceased erected a barn about two years ago," and the pew and stable; reserving to Mears a way through the homestead and to David and Zadock Rogers a way through the Leuston farm. Signed Jan. 23, 1823 (witnesses John Baldwin, Joseph Locke), recorded Jan. 9, 1824. Billerica town book 13, pages 244-246 (the index gives Middlesex South Book 251, page 489, shared with the preceding deed).
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| December 27, 1826 | Levy of Execution | Francis Richardson of Billerica, gentleman (debtor), by Thomas Sumner, deputy sheriff | John Parker of Billerica, Esquire (creditor); equity of redemption sold to Josiah Richardson of Roxbury | 1826 execution against Francis Richardson: his Broad Meadow set off to John Parker | 266/135 (South) |
On a Court of Common Pleas judgment of September 1826 for $844.47, appraisers Joseph Blanchard, Josiah B. Richardson and Henry Baldwin set off Richardson's Carlisle land, Broad Meadow, a life estate in part of the Phillip Bowers place, two pews and "a horse stable back of said Meeting house numbered seven in the south range of stables" to John Parker. The deputy sheriff then sold at auction at Abraham P. Hoit's tavern, Nov. 18, 1826, Richardson's right to redeem "the real estate ... situated in said Billerica southerly side of the Common so called with two dwelling houses, barn and out buildings thereon containing one acre and a half", bounded east by the great road to Boston, south by Col. John Parker, west by Josiah Crosby, Francis Kidder and the Concord road and north by the Common, then "mortgaged to Asa Richardson of Boston", to Josiah Richardson of Roxbury, trader, for $390, with a year to redeem. Recorded Dec. 27, 1826. Billerica town book 13, pages 375-383. The "two dwelling houses" are the house on this lot and the one on the corner.
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| June 23, 1855 | Quitclaim | Heirs of William Rogers: Jeremiah Rogers, Hannah Roundy, Rebecca F. Barton, Susan Rogers, Harriet Burbank, Louisa and Augustus Rogers, with spouses, and the widow Hannah Rogers | Calvin Rogers of Billerica, yeoman | 1839 heirs of William Rogers to Calvin Rogers: Broad Meadow with the farm | 715/72 (South) |
Billerica town book 20, pages 596-599. Grantors: Jeremiah Rogers of Andover (wife Abigail C.), Charles and Hannah Roundy of Salem, Jabez W. and Rebecca F. Barton of Boston, Oliver C. and Susan Rogers of Woburn, Samuel and Harriet Burbank of Lowell, Louisa Rogers, Augustus Rogers and the widow Hannah Rogers of Billerica. For $4,000, all the real estate of which "William Rogers late of said Billerica Yeoman, deceased, died, seized and possessed," his undivided half of: "The Homestead of said deceased situate in said Billerica, containing one hundred and seventy acres more or less, with all the buildings thereon standing, bounded Westerly by the mill pond ... and the road across the Plain to the road leading from Billerica to Tewksbury, Northeasterly by said Tewksbury Road and land of Joseph Johnson, called the 'Ruggles' Place' to the northeasterly corner near the house of John Rogers, Northerly by said road leading from said corner to the 'Canal Mills'" and land of Francis Faulkner to the mill pond; with wood lots in Chelmsford and Tewksbury, the seven-acre "Mount John" swamp, Broad Meadow and 80 acres in New Ipswich. Signed January 31, 1839, recorded June 23, 1855. The road from John Rogers's corner to the Canal Mills, now Mt. Pleasant Street, was the north line of the farm, and both school sites lay on it. William Rogers left no probate; his heirs settled the estate by this deed.
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| November 11, 1864 | Warranty Deed | Hermon Rogers of Amesbury; Hannah Rogers his wife releasing dower | Frank D. Rogers of Belvidere, Boone County, Illinois | 1864 Hermon Rogers to Frank D. Rogers: five acres in Broad Meadow | 38/250 |
For $2,500, "a certain tract of land situate in North Billerica ... containing about twenty acres more or less with the buildings thereon," beginning at the southwest corner "at the road leading from North Billerica to Tewksbury at land of Mrs. L. Talbot," north by Talbot and L. Rogers to Martin Conway, east by Conway "to the road leading from Billerica to Lowell," and back along both roads, "known as my former Homestead in Billerica"; also five acres in Broad Meadow, fifteen acres of woodland called the Cold Brook lot (by Dudley Foster, Micajah Rogers and the Boston and Lowell Railroad), and ten acres in East Billerica bought of Franklin B. Chapman in 1846 (Book 474, Page 381). Signed Nov. 1, 1864; recorded Nov. 11, 1864 (Book 38, pages 250-251).
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| May 1, 1866 | Deed | Frank D. Rogers of Belvidere, Illinois; Mary E. Rogers his wife releasing dower | George P. Elliott of Billerica | 1866 Frank D. Rogers to George P. Elliott: the five acres in Broad Meadow | 49/109 |
For two thousand ... hundred and fifty dollars (the scan is faint), "a certain tract of land located at North Billerica ... containing twenty acres more or less with the buildings thereon," with the same bounds as the 1864 deed (Tewksbury road, Talbot, Martin Conway, road from Billerica to Lowell), and the five acres in Broad Meadow; "being the same conveyed to me in deed of Hermon Rogers dated November 1st 1864 ... Book 38 Page 250." Dated April 1866 (April 25 per the 1887 deed), acknowledged April 30, 1866 before Dudley Foster; recorded May 1866 (Book 49, pages 109-111; exact recording day illegible, entered as May 1).
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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
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): the first division of meadow in 1658, beginning at Chelmsford corner and running up the river through Broad meadow
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): the 1708 division west of the Concord, the first range beginning at Broad meadow
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): the 1708 grant to Christopher Osgood, bounded by the pathway leading to broad meadow
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): "West of the Concord is Broad meadow, on the north"