Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 3.

‘[p. 58] of Middlesex, referring to a County road that is needful to be laid out from Menotomy road, so across Menotomy fields, over the Ware, through Medford, to the place called Mr. Convers Mills in Woburn, the Court appointed a committee to enquire into the convenience of the Highway and whether it is needful. . . .’

July 8, 1709, the committee report ‘that having visited the road leading from Menotomy to Convers Mill in the township of Woburn, both in the Ancient road where Wheeler his mill formerly stood, and also the road leading through Adams his gate, leading by Mr. Jonathan Dunster over Mistick River, at a place commonly called the Wears. And we do judge it most convenient for the publick and least prejudicial to any private person, that said ancient road leading by said mill, cannot reasonably be made passable, but that the road leading from Adams his gate, is the most advantagious for the publick and least prejudicial to any particular person. And that the said road should be continued as it is now improved, allowing three rods in width from said gate to the northermost line in Simms his farm. . . .’

The Court thereupon issues an order for a jury to lay out the said highway, and on Oct. 25, 1709, the jury submitted their report: ‘Beginning at Adams his gate in said Menotomy, allowing three rods in breadth to the Wares, in the same place where the road now lyeth and hath been for a long time improved, . . . and from said Wares to Ebenezer Brooks his gate, by his gate as the way now lyeth, three rod, which is between said Brooks and Jno. Francis, bounded in said Francis his land, by stakes which we set up in some old postholes, about six feet within said Francis fence as it now stands, and to extend into said Brooks his land, to the full extent of three rod, and from said Brooks his gate to Symms his farm three rod. . . . Reserving to Samuel Brooks his barn, one end of which stands in the Highway: while the said barn stands, and no longer.’