BOXFORD STREET.

The street running from Washington Street to Boxford town line. January 2, 1813, a petition was presented to the Court, "that the road from Topsfield Meeting House to Boxford south parish meeting house is very narrow and in some parts circuitous." The proposed change was, "to leave the present road near Deacon John Gould's bridge and passing over land of Nathaniel Gould and Elijah Gould to the present road near Simon Gould's orchard." This change was allowed by the Court, April 13, 1813. The old road, which can be traced, even now, without much difficulty, left, what is now Washington Street, at the foot of the hill beyond the house of George W. Burnham, turning into the field at the right, and passing by the "Smith Cellars," and so along to the "Andrews Cellars," coming out on the present Boxford road near the house of Whipple Ingalls. The present road was laid out as follows: "Beginning at a large stone near the southeasterly corner of the range of stables placed westerly of the meeting house in Topsfield, from thence running North to a tree near Thomas Emmerson's barn thence north ... to a stake in land of Thomas Emerson below Elijah Averill's barn, thence south to a pair of bars in land of Elijah Averill, thence north in said Averill's land, thence same course, apple tree in land of Rev. Mr. Huntington, northerly from John Gould's barn, thence south, to a stake in

to an

front of Rev. Mr. Huntington's house, thence north, to a stake by a stump in Elijah Gould's land, thence north, to an apple tree marked in Simon Gould's land, thence north, to a stake east of Joseph Smith's gate," and so along to the Boxford meeting house. This road was laid out "three rods in width," except in front of "John Gould's barn," where it was "two and one-half rods."

Under WASHINGTON STREET will be found a lay out, which was used as the old way to Boxford. That a way existed very early is shown by the following deed under date of June 8, 1663, when "Zacheus Gould yeoman conveyed to Zacheus Curtice husbandman a parcel of land al

so a highway for s Curtice to pass from sd land to Topsfield towne on the E side of the house of Robt. Andrews."

CENTRAL STREET.

The street which extends from Main Street to High Street. The part which runs from Main to Summer Street, has been known, at different times as, "Mechanc's Court," "Mechanic's Lane," "Mechanic's Avenue," and "Mutton Lane." The lower part of the street which extends from Maple Street to High Street was laid out October 26, 1699, when a road was laid from "Thomas Pirkinses in to ye way below Enz. Towne." This lay out included Perkins, Central and Maple Streets. This must have been an old travelled way, for in the lay out we find that after leaving the house of "Thomas Perkinsis," they followed, "ye old beaten path all ye way with trees marked on both sides till we come ouer fosters bridg."

That part of the road from Main Street to what is now Summer Street, was laid out by the selectmen, October 29, 1846, as follows;-"Beginning at the centre of the westerly post at Charles C. Brackett's front yard from thence running South to a stake, by the fence by land of Hannah said road to be and extend two rods in width." This lay out was accepted at a meeting held Nov. 27, 1846.

and Anna Perkins

August 26, 1872 the remainder of the road was laid out as follows:-"Commencing again at a stake in the centre of the new road, leading from 'Mechanic's Court' in said Town of Topsfield, said stake being 25 feet easterly from a 'Stone Monument' at the junction of a new town way, with the aforesaid new road, and at land of Peabody; thence from said centre stake south through land of E. P. Peabody, E. Perkins, J. P. Towne, crossing the old 'Newburyport Turnpike,' and land of E. Perkins, to a stake in the old highway, leading to the Wenham road, said stake being near the

division line, between land of Mrs. L. and D. G. Perkins, thence to a stake near the present wall of D. G. Perkins at the junction of the present old road with the high way leading to Wenham. The easterly and westerly lines of the aforesaid highway, to be 25 feet distant at right angles, and parallel to the above described centre line." This lay out was by the County Commissioners. At a meeting held September 27, 1872 it was voted to finish what is now Park and Summer Streets before January 1, 1873. At this same meeting it was also voted to extend "Mechanic's Avenue" to the new street. The County Commissioners accepted Mechanic's Court on July 1, 1874.

COPPER MINE ROAD.

That street which runs from Rowley Bridge Street to the Middleton town line and sometimes called Middleton Road. It derives its name from the "Copper Mine" located a short distance from the junction of the two streets. This street is mentioned in the records as early as March 2, 1668 when the following is recorded:-"The Towne hath exceppected William Nicklas and John Nicklas and William Hobes from hie Way worke in ye Towne apon considration thay Liue remoate and apon Condition thay mak there one hie wayes to Topsfeid Bridge nere to Joseph Towns his house." The next mention of the street is as follows:—“At a Llawfull Towne meeting 15th Noumber 1669. Jacob Townes & Joseph Townes are chosen to Lay out a highway ffrom ye Bridge ouer ye Riuer by William Townes of one pole wide to William Nicklas ffarme Which he Liue apon and also to William Hobes Land." Under this date we find that, "Jacob and Joseph Townes being Chosen to Lay out a highway from the Bridge ouer ye riuer by William Townes of one pole Wide to William Nicklas farme which he Liues apone and also to William Hobes haue acordingly don it."

Under date of March 4, 1689-90, we find that, "Corpll John Curtious and Joseph Towne iunr are Chosen to lay out a way from the Towne Bridge ouer the reuer through the woods to the farmes at blind hole namely the Nickallsis and thare neighbors." There is no record of this lay until January 14, 169. The entry is as follows:-"John Curtious senr and Joseph Towne iunr we haue layde out away from Isaac Burtons to ye Bridg as foloweth: begining at ye said Burtons and so as ye way now goeth to John Robison his land: and then turning to ye right by a read oake marked on ye right and a white oake marked on ye left: and so along as ye way now goeth ouer ye old ford and so along as ye beten path now goeth by Joseph Towns house and so along ye beten path all trees marked on both sides of ye way to ye Common; and so along ye beaten path to ye bridg: we layd it out two rods wide." Under date of March 5, 1708 we find that "The town agreed to free all ye Inhabitants on ye Southwest Side of Nicholls Brook from highway work on ye North East Side of said Brook for this year provided they Maintain the Bridge over sa Nichollses Brook; and the rest of the highwayes and Bridges on that side of ye sd Nichollses Brook." Another lay out is recorded May 3, "1707 or 8," when the highway was laid out "from the Bridg over ye River by Edward Putnams [now Middleton] to John Nickoles and from thence to Thomas Robinsons accordingly we have lay'd out ye said way from Thomas Robinsons as the cartway now goes to John Nickolsis house; and from John Nicholsis House as ye way now goes along by John Burton's House and so along as the cartway now goes half the way to be upon the Land of Mr Cheeversis and halfe sd way upon ye Land of Thomas Robinsons till it comes so far as the way goes upon their Lane: and so along as the way now goes to Phillip Knights House; and so on as the cartway now goes till it comes to ye River by or beyond Edward Putnams House." Under date of June 27, 1722, we find that a part of the street was altered the record being that "the Subscribers being Desired by the Neighbors of Mr John Nickols to Lay out & turn ye highway as it goes up Mr John Nicholses hill; and both Parties With the Selectmen have agreed as followeth Begining at a White oak tree about four Rods

:

from the Bridge: So from ye white oak tree, two rods Souwess and So from ye East Side of the old Road two Rods Souwest, so as the Road Runs to a Rock by ye road Souwest, So Running on a Strait Line on that corse to a Rock about one pole from a Great flat Rock on ye South Side of ye way and from that Rock two pole east."

CROSS STREET.

The street extending from Hill Street to Rowley Bridge Street. This street was formerly known as the "Morgan Road" or the "Donation Road." The "Donation farm" was occupied as early as 1690, but the records do not show a lay out of the street until March 2, 1730-1, when "the town accepted of the Return of the Selectmen's Laying out a way for George Bixby from said Bixbies own Land over Israel Townes Land to the Road that Leads from Mr Jacob Townes [Hill Street] to the Town Bridge (so called) Provided that ye said Bixby shall Pay the cost that shall arise thereby." Under date of December 25, 1730, the lay out is recorded as follows: "We Laid out a Perticular, or highway for Mr George Bixby-Begining at the South Easterly corner of the Said Bixbies own Land where his now Dwelling house is so Running Straight on in the same Range of Lotts across Israel Townes Land and coming into the highway (that Leadeth from Mr Jacob Towns to ye River Bridge) by a tree Standing in ye said Israel Towns Wall and we Laid it out Two Rods wide upon the Southerly side of the Middle Range of Lotts, So called by the proprietors or Lot Layers." July 15, 1817, the entire street was laid out, the record reading as follows: "Beginning at a stake by the County road South of Rowley Bridge, so called, and by land of Benjamin Pike, thence South on the dividing line. of said Benjamin Pike's land and land of Daniel Bixby thence North to the Northeasterly corner

east

East

the County road leading to the dwelling house of Daniel