Great Swamp
Great Swamp
The Great Swamp is a large swamp in the north part of Tewksbury, about a mile north-northwest of Tewksbury Center and south of Prospect Hill, in the part of old Billerica that was set off as Tewksbury in 1734. Hazen's map of the ancient town letters it between Prospect Hill and the ponds, and it is still named on the federal maps.
It was a landmark of the frontier. In August 1693 Sergeant-Major Thomas Hinchman ordered Lieutenant John Lane to impress eight troopers, four of them to be "daily Imployed as a scout about yo' town, especially towards the great swamp." After the attack on Billerica in August 1695, Colonel Lynde of Charlestown brought some three hundred men to the town. On the night of August 23 a hundred of them camped "at Prospect Hill, that lies between Chelmsford and the river, on the northern side of the great swamp"; the next morning they looked out over "the said swamp and the country far about," and at eleven o'clock they "went to the great swamp, dismounted half our men," and sent the men on foot through it "in a rank, each man at a distance as much as convenient," while Major William Johnson rode around the west side and Lynde the east. The men on foot came through "with much difficulty" and reported a new track, but judged there were not above two Indians.
The country around it was the great meadow ground of the north part of town. The third division of meadow in 1658 went to "the great meadow country south-east of Prospect Hill," and when the commons were allotted after 1700 nearly as much land as lay west of the Concord was "towards Andover, in the Great Swamp and vicinity, by Strongwater Brook, and between and around the ponds." In the second division of 1708 a rangeway was run parallel with the Andover line, "dividing two rows of lots which were laid between Andover and the Great Swamp," with another range east of the swamp. The deeds of the next years are full of these lots: Samuel Manning sold forty-four acres "by the Great Swamp" and thirty-five "in the second range east of it" in 1710, Ebenezer Farley sold Joshua Abbott thirty-eight and a half acres by the Great Swamp and thirty-seven east of it in 1714, and Henry Jefts Jr. sold forty-six acres in the second range east of the Great Swamp in 1718.
The swamp itself was granted to the same proprietors about 1710, and part of it again in February 1713-14. Hazen wrote that it "was not divided, but sold in bulk not many years after," but the deeds show it held in lots by Billerica farmers for most of the century: John Baldwin divided four acres and 144 poles "in the Great Swamp" between his sons in 1732, William French left two lots "at the great swamp in Tewksbury" to his son in 1745, Thomas Kidder sold "two Great Swamp lots in Tewksbury," the Sheldon and Dutton lots, with his farm in 1777, when they went on to Solomon Pollard, and in 1778 Thomas Richardson sold his brother Oliver two thirds of "a great swamp lot in Tewksbury laid out to Caleb Farley." The swamp, used for wood and rough meadow, was never settled, and it remains a large wetland on the modern maps of Tewksbury.
Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| July 7, 1710 | Deed | Samuel Manning of Billerica and Abiel Manning his wife | Benjamin Heywood of Billerica | 1710 Samuel Manning to Benjamin Heywood: 44 acres by the Great Swamp and 35 in the second range east of it | 15/288 (South) |
For 97 pounds, "one Messuage or Tenement situate in Billerica abovesaid, on ye North side of the Township Containing about Thirty and Two acres be it more or less, bounded Eastward by the Country Road, Southward by the Land of John Wilson Junr, Westward by Concord River, Northward by the Land of Danll Rogers, with all the buildings ffences Trees thereon standing or lying," with 44 acres by the Great Swamp, 35 acres in the second range east of it and a five-acre town right. Dated April 17, acknowledged May 8, recorded July 7, 1710. John Wilson Jr. then owned the old Patterson homestead to the south. Billerica town book 1, pages 472-474.
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| 1714 | Deed | Ebenezer Farley and Elizabeth Farley | Joshua Abbott | 1714 Ebenezer Farley to Joshua Abbott: 38 1/2 acres by the Great Swamp, 37 acres east of the swamp, meadow near Prospect Hill | 30/516 (South) |
For 150 pounds, "One Messuage or Tenement" bounded west by the County Road, north by the road leading to Andover, east by Deacon Sheldon and south by Joshua Abbott's own land, "with all the Buildings, Fences and Trees," plus 18 acres on the highway from William Patten's to Joseph Davis's, 38 1/2 acres by the Great Swamp, 37 acres in the second range east of the swamp and meadow near Prospect Hill. Ebenezer was Caleb Farley Sr.'s son. Acknowledged 1714, recorded 1730. Abbott had already bought William Patten's old 7 acres, bounded north by Ebenezer Farley, from Kendal Patten in 1710 (same book, page 236). Billerica town book 3, pages 237-239.
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| May 17, 1718 | Deed | Henry Jefts Jr. of Billerica, and Elizabeth Jefts (dower) | Nathaniel Rogers Jr. of Billerica | 1718 Henry Jefts Jr. to Nathaniel Rogers Jr.: 46 acres in the second range east of the Great Swamp | 20/25 (South) |
Dated and acknowledged May 16, 1718, recorded May 17, 1718. For 246 pounds, several parcels, the first "one Messuage or House Lott Containing about Thirty acres ... bounded northward by the Land of Edward Farmer, Eastward by the Country Road, Southward by the Land of Daniel Rogers, Westward by Concord River," with 46 acres in the second range east of the Great Swamp, 47 acres 44 poles of Center Squadron land, meadow at Mill Swamp on Fox Brook and other lots, "with all ye buildings ffences & Trees thereon." Witnesses Benjamin Tompson and John Whiting. No earlier deed is recited: Henry Jefts Jr. held the homestead under the 1718 settlement of his father Johns estate. Billerica town book 2, pages 191-194.
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| 1732 | Deed | John Baldwin of Billerica, yeoman (1665-1736), and Sarah his wife | William Baldwin of Billerica, husbandman, his son | 1732 John Baldwin to son William: half of four acres 144 poles in the Great Swamp | 38/74 (South) |
Dated March 30, 1732 (5 Geo. II), acknowledged Jan. 8, 1734/5 before Oliver Whiting, recorded 1737. For 362 pounds 10 shillings, "the one half of my now dwelling House and the one half of my Barn and one half of several peices or Tracts of Land," first a piece "containing by estimation Two acres ... on the easterly side of the County Road where my now dwelling House now standeth," bounded westerly on the road, northerly on Thomas Kidder, easterly on land formerly Jonathan Danforth's and south on Danforth's land; also half of 40 acres of plow land and meadow opposite, bounded easterly on the County Road, northerly on Joshua Abbot, westerly on Concord River and southerly on Oliver Whiting; half of nine acres by Thomas Dutton and Thomas Kidder; half of 30 acres 32 poles west of Concord River at the Chelmsford line; four acres 144 poles in the Great Swamp; and a quarter of four acres of Andover Meadow on the Shawshin. Billerica town book 4, pages 99-101 (Southern Registry Book 38 Page 74). The other half went the same day to John Baldwin tertius.
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| June 10, 1737 | Deed | John Baldwin of Billerica, yeoman, and Sarah his wife | John Baldwin tertius of Billerica, husbandman, his son (1707/8-1738) | 1732 John Baldwin to son John: the other half of the Great Swamp lot | 38/78 (South) |
Dated March 30, 1732, acknowledged Jan. 8, 1734/5, recorded June 10, 1737. For 362 pounds 10 shillings, the other "one half of my now Dwelling House and the one half of my Barn" and of the same lots, first "a peice of Land containing by estimation two Acres ... on the Easterly side of the County Road where my dwelling House now standeth," bounded westerly upon the Town Road, northerly upon Thomas Kidder, easterly upon land "that was formerly Jonathan Danforths" and south upon Danforth's land; half of the 40 acres opposite to Concord River; half of nine acres by Dutton, Danforth and Kidder with a 20-foot road "from Thomas Kidders old House"; half of 30 acres 32 poles west of Concord River; the Great Swamp lot; and a quarter of four acres of Andover Meadow by John Kittredge. Witnesses John Shed Jr. and William Stickney. Billerica town book 4, pages 102-105 (Southern Registry Book 38 Page 78).
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| July 10, 1765 | Gift | William French of Billerica (died by August 1746) | His son William French of Billerica | 1745 William French to his son: two lots at the great swamp in Tewksbury | 63/96 (South) |
"For the Love and affection I have and do bear unto my son William French" and in full of his portion, on condition that the son pay 80 pounds old tenor to his sisters Elizabeth Kidder and Mehetable White within two years of the father's death, several parcels in Billerica and Tewksbury, among them three and a half acres of pasture northwest of the son's dwelling house and "another Parcel of Land lying on the northerly side of Content Brook it containing about twenty acres be it more or less it is the one half of my woodland there and bounded as may appear by my Deed of the same which I had of John Marshall"; also five acres on Fox's Hill laid out to the heirs of "my hond Father John French," Shawshin meadow and two lots at the great swamp in Tewksbury. Dated Jan. 24, 1744/5; proved by the witnesses William French Jr. and Jacob French at the Sessions in Concord in August 1746, the grantor being then dead; recorded July 10, 1765. Billerica town book 6, pages 73-75 (Southern Registry Book 63 Page 96). The twenty acres of woodland north of Content Brook are the land on which the saw mill and house stood by 1766.
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| July 22, 1777 | Deed | John Wood of Woburn, gentleman, and Dorcas Wood (dower) | Solomon Pollard of Billerica, gentleman | 1777 John Wood to Solomon Pollard: the farm with the Tewksbury Great Swamp lots | 78/189 (South) |
Dated May 7, 1777, acknowledged May 12, 1777 before William Stickney, recorded July 22, 1777 (Billerica town book 5, pages 560-562; witnesses William Stickney and Jonathan Kidder). For 539 pounds 6 shillings 8 pence, "one plot of land or my homestead farm lying in Billerica aforesaid containing sixty acres," with the same bounds as Thomas Kidder's deed to Wood (the great rock by Pollard's land, the stake and stones "by the North end of the House," the County road and the common, Stickney, Oliver Farmer, Josiah Brown, the Davis heirs and Ebenezer French), "together with all the Buildings thereon standing," the Tewksbury Great Swamp lots, and "a pew in Billerica Meeting House being on the west side of the front Door lately owned by Thomas Kidder Esq." Wood had bought the farm three weeks earlier and recorded this resale first.
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| September 9, 1777 | Deed | Thomas Kidder of Billerica, Esq., and Susanna Kidder (by her mark, dower) | John Wood of Woburn, gentleman | 1777 Thomas Kidder to John Wood: two Great Swamp lots in Tewksbury, the Sheldon and Dutton lots | 78/237 (South) |
Dated Apr. 15, 1777, acknowledged May 20, 1777 before William Stickney, recorded Sept. 9, 1777 (Billerica town book 5, pages 564-566; witnesses Jabez Brown and Jonathan Kidder). For 553 pounds, "one certain Plot of Land or my Homestead Farm lying in Billerica aforesaid containing sixty acres": from a great rock by Solomon Pollard's land north to a highway, east by the way "to a stake & stones by the North side of the House," north to the stone wall at Deacon Abbot's northeast corner, west to "the County Road," bounded west by the road and "the Common" to Justice Stickney's land, then around Stickney's garden, orchard and pasture, north about 15 poles to Oliver Farmer, east and north by Oliver Farmer and Josiah Brown to the northeast corner of the farm, then by Deacon Joshua Davis (deceased) and Ebenezer French and part by Solomon Pollard to the rock, "together with all the Buildings thereon standing," the Davis heirs keeping a way from their pasture "to the Brook to use as a watering place"; with two Great Swamp lots in Tewksbury (the Sheldon and Dutton lots).
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| March 22, 1786 | Warranty | Thomas Richardson of Billerica, yeoman, and Judith Richardson his wife | Oliver Richardson of Billerica, husbandman, his brother | 1778 Thomas Richardson to Oliver Richardson: two thirds of a great swamp lot in Tewksbury laid out to Caleb Farley | 93/377 (South) |
For 266 pounds, "the several pieces of Land hereafter mentioned. The first is my homestead farm lying in said Billerica containing forty six acres," beginning "at the road to Tewksbury at the Southeast corner of said Land at Jonathan Richardson's meadow," by land bought of Jonathan French and of James Lewis, west on William Needham and the heirs of Benjamin Needham to the corner at the road "near Sheldons folly (so called)," on the road across the brook to Samuel Brown's land, "then on said road to the corner where we began near Content Bridge with one quarter part of the saw mill thereon standing with all the appurtenances thereto belonging with all the other buildings thereon standing"; also nine and a quarter acres "near my Dwelling House" bought of Josiah Richardson, bounded westerly on the road to Tewksbury, by Nehemiah Kittredge, John French and Samuel Baldwin; six acres by William Needham's lot and Jonathan Richardson's meadow; two thirds of a great swamp lot in Tewksbury laid out to Caleb Farley; and four acres in Mill Meadow by William Kidder, John French and the Long Pond brook. Dated Feb. 4, 1778, acknowledged March 11, 1778; recorded March 22, 1786. Billerica town book 8, pages 53-55 (Southern Registry Book 93 Page 377). The same day in 1786 was recorded Samuel Brown's deed to Oliver of Jan. 2, 1779, five acres of upland near the upper end of "Richardson's content meadow" (town book 8/52, S. 93/376).
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.
References
- USGS Geographic Names Information System: Great Swamp (612316)
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): map of the ancient town, Great Swamp and Prospect Hill in Tewksbury
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): the third division of meadow in 1658, "the great meadow country south-east of Prospect Hill"
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): order of August 23, 1693 for a scout "especially towards the great swamp"
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): Colonel Lynde's report of August 1695, the search of the great swamp from Prospect Hill
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): the commons "towards Andover, in the Great Swamp and vicinity"
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): the second division of 1708, lots between Andover and the Great Swamp
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): the proprietors' grant of the great swamp, "not divided, but sold in bulk"
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): part of the great swamp granted to the proprietors, February 1713-14