Jonathan Danforth
Jonathan Danforth
| Town Founder | |
| In Office | 1654 - 1655 |
| Select Board | |
| In Office | 1660 - 1661 |
| Succeeded by | George Farley |
| Select Board | |
| In Office | 1665 - 1669 |
| Preceded by | William French |
| Succeeded by | James Kidder |
| Town Clerk | |
| In Office | 1665 - 1686 |
| Preceded by | William Tay |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Manning |
| Select Board | |
| In Office | 1670 - 1686 |
| Preceded by | George Farley |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Walker |
| Representative to the General Court | |
| In Office | 1685 - 1685 |
Jonathan Danforth was Billerica's renowned early surveyor. For forty years he probably surveyed every land grant in town, and much of the surrounding region as well (Haverhill, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Townsend, and as far as Amherst and Litchfield, New Hampshire), leaving some 200 pages of his own careful survey descriptions on record. Beyond surveying, he served as town clerk, selectman, a Representative, and Captain of the militia company. He was the youngest son of Nicholas Danforth of Framlingham, Suffolk, England, born there February 29, 1627-8; his elder brother Thomas Danforth became Deputy Governor of Massachusetts.
Danforth's marriage to Elizabeth Poulter was the first recorded in Billerica, though it took place in Boston. Her mother's second husband was town clerk John Parker, which is why the two men called each other father-in-law and son-in-law. Danforth died September 7, 1712, aged 84. A memorial poem attributed to his nephew, Rev. John Danforth of Dorchester, reads in part: "He rode the circuit, chain'd great towns and farms, to good behavior; and by well marked stations, he fixed their bounds for many generations."
References
Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Property | Recorded |
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| December 15, 1714 | Deed | Samuel Danforth, Thomas Danforth, Mary Parker, Simeon and Elizabeth Hayward, Edward and Lydia Wright, Oliver and Anna Whiting, William and Sarah French | Oliver Whiting, Jr. | Details | Jonathan Danforth House | 17/100 (South) |
The children of Jonathan Danforth sell for 230 pounds "one messuage or tenement ... containing about sixty acres ... being the Homestead or house Lot which belonged to our Honored Father Danforth late of said Billerica deceased," bounded east by the Country Road, north by John Baldwin, west by Concord River (excepting a bridle highway by the river), south by Enoch Kidder and partly by the highway from the Country Road to Enoch Kidder's well, with all the buildings; also 4 acres of meadow on the Shawshin River below Alewife Brook. Signed Nov. 29, 1714; recorded Dec. 15, 1714. Billerica town book 1, pages 561-564.
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| July 14, 1724 | Quitclaim | Thomas, Jonathan, Samuel Jr., Jacob, Elizabeth, Sarah, Nicholas and John Danforth, and Thomas and Rebecca Parker | Oliver Whiting, Jr. | Details | Jonathan Danforth House | 24/47 (South) |
Grandchildren of Jonathan Danforth release for 29 pounds 10 shillings their interest in "the Homestead or House Lott which belonged to our Honoured Grandfather Danforth of said Billerica deceased," about 60 acres "according to the butts and bounds of the same in Billerica Town Book of Records," plus about 5 acres of meadow on the Shawshin River. Signed Nov. 22, 1715; acknowledged 1716 to 1724; recorded July 14, 1724. Billerica town book 2, pages 513-515.
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| March 20, 1749 | Warranty | Jonathan Danforth of Billerica, gentleman, and Elizabeth his wife | His son Benjamin Danforth of Billerica, labourer | Details | Benjamin Danforth House 165 High St |
48/198 (South) |
For 300 pounds bills of the old tenor, "one parcell of upland and swamp containing thirty four acres and sixty two poles be it more or less," bounded southward by the land that was John Sanders's, northward by the land that was Caleb Farley's about 115 poles, "west by the road to Mr. Winthrops Farm about ninety four poles," and east by land of James Sanders about 44 poles, all the corners stakes and stones; "Reserving for myself and my wife Elizabeth the use and Improvement of the south half part of the field now within Fence and the whole of the pasture so called that is now within Fence and a liberty to cut Timber I shall need for my use and what fire wood we both of us shall need during the term of both of our natural lives." No buildings are mentioned. Dated Jan. 30, 1748 (old style, i.e. 1748/9), acknowledged Feb. 21 before Benjamin Tompson, recorded at Cambridge March 20, 1748/9. Billerica town book 5, pages 213-215 (Southern Registry Book 48 Page 198).
Title passed to:
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| September 24, 1784 | Deed | Benjamin Lewis | Elijah Danforth | Details | Jonathan Danforth House Martin Lane House |
81/440 (South) |
Messuage and 24 acres "near the Center of the Town" for 266 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence, with the same bounds as the 1760 deed (Oliver Abbott, William Baldwin's heirs, John Parker, Capt. Enoch Kidder, town gate and highway), excepting the bridle way. Elijah Danforth, a blacksmith and a descendant of Jonathan Danforth, brought the old homestead back into the family. Signed Aug. 28, 1764 with Elizabeth Lewis; recorded Sept. 24, 1784. Billerica town book 7, pages 312-314.
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.