Pond Meadow
Pond Meadow
Pond Meadow is a wet meadow in South Billerica west of Nuttings Lake, between Concord Road, the Middlesex Turnpike and Route 3, behind the houses of Hattie Lane and Federal Street in the neighborhood of Turnpike Acres. It lay within the old Dudley farm, the large grant south of the Township whose south-east line, Hazen wrote, crossed Nutting's Pond near its west end, and it seems to take its name from that pond.
It is one of the oldest meadow names in the deeds. In 1657 Isaac Learned of Chelmsford sold Ralph Hill his right in the farm "lately purchased of the Worshipful Thomas Dudley," including two parcels in Pond Meadow, about ten acres, by William Baker, Henry Jefts and Lieutenant French. In 1665 James Parker of Groton sold John Stearns his Dudley farm lots with meadow in Crooked Meadow, Long Meadow, River Meadow and Pond Meadow. The meadow was divided among the Hill, Stearns and Jefts families who held the farm: in 1706 Cornet Nathaniel Hill of Chelmsford gave his son Ralph sixty acres bounded "East by the Pond medow" and "West by ye Road leading to Concord," and in 1717 Jonathan Hill Sr. gave his son Samuel five acres "in Pond Meadow" by Henry Jefts, and the Hill homestead still had its Pond meadow at the division of 1762.
The Jaquith family farm on the road to Bedford kept its share for well over a century. Abraham Jaquith gave his son Joseph Jaquith half the homestead in 1776 with "seven acres in Pond meadow" by Lieutenant Jacob Richardson, Deacon Hill and the Needhams, and the same seven acres went to the next Joseph in 1794. Five acres of Pond meadow went with the farm when Merrick Jaquith sold it to Franklin Jaquith in 1830 and passed to Franklin's sons in 1877, described then as once set off to Susanna Jaquith for her dower; as late as 1909 Joseph Jaquith conveyed to his brother "his interest in Pond Meadow." A 1915 release of the Judkins farm still listed a field called Pond Meadow, with the Kidder Pasture and the Ten Acre Lot, on the east side of the Bedford and Billerica road.
Route 3 was built along the west side of the meadow in the 1950s, beside the old right of way of the Boston and Maine railroad, the former Billerica and Bedford Branch. The land then belonged to the Pond Meadow Realty Trust, and the town reports of 1968 and 1969 carry Planning Board articles to rezone part of it, between Concord Road, Route 3 and the old railroad, from a neighborhood residence district to an industrial district. In 1970 an article asked to rezone the whole 72 acres shown on a composite plan of the trust's land of October 1969 (Plan Book 109, Plan 120), in 1971 a petition asked to make the same land, bounded by Concord Road, the Middlesex Turnpike, Stearns Lane and the former railroad track, a garden apartment district, and in 1972 the industrial rezoning was offered again. House lots of Turnpike Acres (1967) and Catherine's Estate (1984) were laid out around it, and the wet center of the meadow remains undeveloped.
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| May 27, 1657 | Deed | Isaac Learned of Chelmsford, planter, and Mary Learned | Ralph Hill of Billerica | 1657 Isaac Learned to Ralph Hill: two parcels in Pond Meadow, about ten acres, on the Dudley farm | 2/16 (South) |
For 52 pounds sterling secured by bill, "one messuage or tenement ... containing all that my right, title and interest in the farm lately purchased of the Worshipful Thomas Dudley Esq. deceased, the whole being by estimation about one hundred eighty and seven acres," in several parcels: the parcel "whereon the buildings are erected," bounded southwest by Concord River, north by George Farley's lot, east by Lieutenant French and south by William Baker; two parcels in Pond Meadow (about ten acres) by William Baker, Henry Jefts and Lieut. French; two small meadows called the Round Meadows, with two springs or slips, near Mr. John Winthrop's farm; a small parcel in Long Meadow bounded north by William Baker; about an acre in the River Meadow between Henry Jefts and William Baker; and upland between the great pond near Cambridge bounds and Robert Parker. Signed the seventh day of the second month (April 7), 1657, witnessed by William Simmes and Jacob Greene; acknowledged the same day before Daniel Gookin, magistrate; entered and recorded 27 3mo. 1657 by Thomas Danforth, Recorder. This is Ralph Hill Sr.'s homestead on the Dudley Farm, the tract later divided among his sons. The house lot here, with the buildings, went to his son Jonathan; the "two half lots lying towards Concord" given to Nathaniel in 1663 were part of his Dudley Farm rights, but the will does not say whether they came from this purchase. Billerica town book 1, pages 7-9.
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| 1665 | Deed | James Parker of Groton and Elizabeth Parker | John Stearns of Billerica | 1665 James Parker to John Stearns: Dudley farm lots with meadow in Pond Meadow | 4/134 (South) |
Dated Nov. 24, 1665 (recorded 1670). For a valuable sum, James Parker of Groton sells John Sternes of Billerica sundry parcels, "a part of the farme purchased of Thomas Dudly Esqr decd": about fifty acres bounded north by the township line; about fifty acres "on the west end of the farme" bounded southeast by George Farley, south by land bought of Ralph Hill Jr., north by Elder Champney and northwest "the river"; about fifty acres bounded southwest by Mr. Winthrops farm, northwest by the river and east by Crooked Meadow; with meadow lots in Crooked Meadow, Long Meadow, River Meadow and Pond Meadow. These river lots at the south-west corner of the Dudley Farm are the ground of the Stearns homestead. Billerica town book 1, pages 54-56.
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| December 6, 1718 | Gift | Cornet Nathaniel Hill of Chelmsford | Ralph Hill of Billerica, his son | 1706 Nathaniel Hill to son Ralph Hill: sixty acres bounded "East by the Pond medow", west by the road to Concord | 20/195 (South) |
For "love and affection," several parcels in Billerica: "Sixty acres of Upland be it more or less, bounded North by the Land of Joseph Hill, and East by the Pond medow and the Land of Nathll Hill, and South by ye Land of Zechariah Shed, and West by the Road leading to Concord with all the buildings fences & Trees standing thereon"; two acres in Long Meadow, half of John Stearns's lot; two acres in the River Meadow bounded west by Concord River; three acres of swamp at the east end of Cornet Hill's lot; and a five-acre town right. Signed Feb. 13, 1705/6, witnessed by Moses Barron, Jonathan Richardson and Samuel Hill Sr.; acknowledged at Chelmsford the same day before Jonathan Tyng. The same day Ralph's brother Joseph Hill sold him eight acres by John Parker (next deed on the page). The north bound on Joseph Hill's land is the same as the north bound on "the heirs of Joseph Hill" in 1825. Nathaniel had the land from his father Ralph Hill Sr., who died in 1663. Billerica town book 2, pages 223-225.
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| February 13, 1718 | Deed of Gift | Jonathan Hill Sr. of Billerica, yeoman | Samuel Hill, his son | 1717 Jonathan Hill Sr. to son Samuel: five acres in Pond Meadow by Henry Jefts | 18/592 (South) |
Dated Mar. 27, 1717, signed with his mark, witness Oliver Whiting; acknowledged Mar. 28, 1717 before Oliver Whiting; recorded Feb. 13, 1717/18 (Billerica town book 2, pages 110-112). "For & in Consideration of ye Good will & affection which I have & bear to my Son Saml Hill ... & Shewing a fatherly Care," several parcels of upland and meadow: twenty acres on the west side of the Concord River; "Twenty acres of upland & medow more or Less bounded Southwardly with Land of Jonathn Hill Junr ye Line to Run Southwest to ye River & then Southwest by ye River & Northwardly with Land of Ebenezer ffarley & Northeast to ye Country Road" (the homestead between the Concord road and the river); fifty acres bounded by John Whitmore, Josiah and Jonathan Bacon and Nathaniel Hudson; twenty acres on the east side of the country road; two acres of meadow by Ebenezer Farley; twenty acres by John Saunders and Nathaniel Patten; fourteen acres in the Great Swamp; a twelve-acre lot to be divided with Capt. John Stearns; and five acres in Pond Meadow by Henry Jefts, "with all that is Standing Growing or Lying upon ye same." The first recorded conveyance of the Samuel Hill homestead; the other half of Jonathan Hill's farm went to Jonathan Hill Jr.
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| March 8, 1762 | Will and Division | Samuel Hill of Billerica, yeoman | Sarah Hill, widow (life estate); daughters Sarah Baldwin, Joanna French, Elizabeth French, Susanna Patten and Mary Dutton; granddaughter Abiel Kidder, wife of Samuel Kidder | 1762 estate of Samuel Hill: the homestead with Pond meadow | Probate #11514 |
Will dated June 13, 1750 ("Samuel Hill Jr." of Billerica, yeoman): to "my beloved Wife, Sarah Hill, the Use & Improvement of the Whole of my Estate, Real and Personal, during the Term of Her Natural Life," and after her death the whole real estate equally to his daughters Sarah Baldwin (wife of John Baldwin), Joanna French (wife of William French), Elizabeth French (wife of Ebenezer French), Susanna Patten (wife of Joseph Patten) and Mary Dutton (wife of Thomas Dutton) "and unto my Grand Daughter Abiel Kidder (the Wife of Samuel Kidder)," son-in-law William French executor. A codicil of Jan. 4, 1758 made Ebenezer French trustee for Mary Dutton's seven children. Proved March 8, 1762 before Judge Samuel Danforth. The committee (Benjamin Johnson, William Stickney, Ralph Hill, William French Jr. and Joshua Davis) inventoried the real estate at 624 pounds, first "one piece of Land Scituate in Billerica called the homsted containing Thirty one acres and Eighty pearch with a mansion House and a Barn thereon," bounded north-easterly by land in the possession of Abraham Jaquith, north-westerly by Concord River, south-westerly by Peter Hill, and south-easterly by Peter Hill and "the Country Road" and land of Samuel Kidder (312 pounds), with Pond meadow, half of lot 51 at Fox Hill, land west of the river, land in Tewksbury and 51 acres in Bedford. In the division of May 3, 1762 the homestead was split among three heirs: Sarah Baldwin 11 acres on the south-west side, Elizabeth French 11 acres 44 perches on the north-east side, and "To Abiel Kidder the wife of Samuel Kidder Nine acres and forty two poles of Land with the mansion house and Barn thereon, being all the residue of the first mentioned piece of Land called the homsted," bounded north-westerly by the Concord River, south-westerly by Sarah Baldwin, north-easterly by Elizabeth French and elsewhere by Samuel Kidder's land and the road, each a sixth of the estate at 104 pounds. The division was accepted and ordered recorded March 28, 1763. Middlesex probate case 11514.
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| December 16, 1785 | Deed | Abraham Jaquith of Billerica, yeoman | His son Joseph Jaquith of Billerica, yeoman | 1776 Abraham Jaquith to son Joseph: seven acres in Pond meadow | 92/56 (South) |
Billerica town book 7, pages 551-552. The same grant re-executed Oct. 2, 1776, "in the first year of American Independance": for the same price, "one full half part of my Homestead with one half of the Buildings," about fifty acres, "being the land of my late Father Farley," with the same bounds, and seven acres in Pond meadow by Lt. Jacob Richardson, Deacon Hill and the Needhams. Witnessed by Joshua Abbot and Jonathan Gray, acknowledged before Edward Farmer, recorded Dec. 16, 1785.
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| March 1, 1799 | Deed | Joseph Jaquith of Billerica, yeoman | His son Joseph Jaquith Jr. of Billerica | 1794 Joseph Jaquith to Joseph Jr.: seven acres of Pond meadow | 131/279 (South) |
Billerica town book 9, pages 403-404. For 250 pounds, "one moiety or half part both in quantity & quality of my lands and buildings lying in said Billerica called my homestead containing about fifty acres," from the road from Billerica to Bedford "near the burying place" by land of Jesse French, westerly by the road to Lt. John Kidder, northerly by Kidder and Concord river to Lt. Jacob Richardson, easterly by him and Lt. John Parker, and back by Jesse French; with seven acres of Pond meadow; each owner of the house to share the cellar, chamber and garret stairs, the well and the door yard. Dated May 8, 1794, recorded Mar. 1, 1799.
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| June 30, 1830 | Quitclaim | Merrick Jaquith of Bedford, yeoman (wife Pamelia releasing dower) | His brother Franklin Jaquith of Billerica, innholder | 1830 Merrick Jaquith to Franklin Jaquith: five acres of Pond meadow | 298/378 (South) |
Billerica town book 14, pages 324-326. For $2,500, the twenty-acre farm with the buildings east of the Bedford road, crossed by the Middlesex Turnpike, and "one other parcel of land called the homestead," from the swamp by the road from Concord to Billerica "opposite the Graveyard," along the road and across the turnpike to Dorcas Bridge and Joseph Hill, by Abigail Jaquith's land, "Easterly of said Abagail's wood Lot to the brook, thence Northerly in said brook to Concord River, thence Easterly on said river to land of Asa Richardson," by the old field and the Whiting pasture to Col. John Parker and back to the road, "reserving the right which said Abagail Jaquith has in the buildings"; with five acres of Pond meadow and half pew 23. Dated June 28, recorded June 30, 1830.
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| December 11, 1877 | Warranty Deed | Lucy Jaquith, widow of the late Franklin Jaquith (the other heirs releasing) | Franklin Jaquith Jr. and Joseph Jaquith of Billerica, tenants in common | 1877 Lucy Jaquith to Franklin Jr. and Joseph Jaquith: five acres in Pond meadow once set off for dower | 127/11 |
Dated Apr. 1, recorded Dec. 11, 1877. For $1,375, three parcels "the property of the late Franklin Jaquith of Billerica, who died in 1876": the farm north of the Bedford road from the Great Pasture lot to Thomas McElligott's land, by the thicket lot and the old field "to the corner of the side hill lot, thence northerly to the corner of the old field near the glue house," by F. Dickinson and the Whiting pasture and back; five acres in Pond meadow once set off to Susanna Jaquith for dower; and eight acres west of the river "bequeathed by Abigail Jaquith to Franklin Jaquith."
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| October 30, 1909 | Quitclaim | Joseph Jaquith of Billerica | His brother Franklin Jaquith of Billerica | 1909 Joseph Jaquith to Franklin Jaquith: his interest in Pond Meadow | 441/130 |
Dated and recorded Oct. 30, 1909. The western part of the brothers' land: from a stone bound on the north line of Concord road 224.6 feet east of the easterly line of the Old Middlesex turnpike, northerly by courses to the centre of the right of way and N 25 W 568.3 feet to the Concord river, westerly by the river to Thomas McElligott and back to the road, "Being part of the premises described in deed of said Franklin Jaquith to me of even date," subject to the right of way in "my deed to Herbert A. Lamprell of even date"; with 14,568 square feet on the south side of the river at Edward F. Dickinson's corner and his interest in Pond Meadow.
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| June 1, 1915 | Quitclaim | Francelia Judkins of Goshen, Ind., widow of Putnam R. Judkins | Richard H. Judkins of Carlsbad, N.M. | 1915 Judkins release: a field called Pond Meadow on the east side of the Bedford and Billerica road | 537/162 |
For $1 and other considerations, releases "the following parcels of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica": the Needham lot (27.93 acres) and the Kidder Pasture, Pond Meadow, Ten Acre Lot, East Pasture, Orchard, East Field and Pass Way (about 40 acres) on the east side of the Bedford and Billerica road; "the Rocky Pasture, Big Field, Muddy Pasture, Further Field, and Aunt Foster lot, so called, and an unnamed lot containing 2.78 acres situated on the westerly side of said Bedford and Billerica road, containing in all fifty two and 12/100 acres"; the Wood Lot (31 acres) and the "Peter Hill Lot" northwest of Concord River; Jug Island; all on "A plan of land in Billerica belonging to the Judkins Estate and to E. J. Hill, January 1883, Osgood & Snell" (copied 1908 for Edward F. Judkins of Chicago, Plan Book 32 Plan 55); and three lots on the Triple Cove and Western roads (Plan Book 32 Plan 52). She conveys her dower and other rights "as widow of Putnam R. Judkins, late of said Goshen, deceased," excepting the rights granted by Elizabeth H. Judkins to the Boston and Lowell Railroad in 1884-1885. Recorded June 1, 1915. The house stood on the unnamed 2.78-acre lot.
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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
- Town of Billerica annual report 1968, Article 99: rezoning land of Pond Meadow Realty Trust on Concord Road and the Middlesex Turnpike to industrial
- Town of Billerica annual report 1970 (in the 1969-1972 volume): article on the 72 acres of the Pond Meadow Realty Trust, Plan Book 109, Plan 120
- Town of Billerica annual report 1971 (in the 1969-1972 volume), Article 108: Pond Meadow Realty Trust land to a garden apartment district
- Town of Billerica annual report 1972 (in the 1969-1972 volume), Article 94: Pond Meadow Realty Trust land to industrial
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): bounds of the Dudley farm, its south-east line crossing Nutting's Pond near its west end