In the settlement of the line between Cambridge and Charlestown, no indication is given how far the bounds of either extended into the country beyond the line drawn from “the Governor's great lot,” or the Ten Hills Farm, to the “nearest part” of Watertown. But the Court, March 3, 1635-6, agreed that “Newe Towne bounds shall run eight myles into the country, from their meeteing house.” 1 This grant secured to Cambridge, on its northern border, the territory now embraced in Arlington and the principal part of Lexington; and, as the measurements of that day were very elastic, perhaps the whole of Lexington was included. But even this did not satisfy the craving for land. Accordingly a conditional grant of Shawshine was made, June 2, 1641, and renewed June 14, 1642: “All the land lying upon Saweshin Ryver, and between that and Concord Ryver, and between that and Merrimack Ryver, not formerly granted by this Court, are granted to Cambridge, so as they erect a village there within five years, and so as it shall not extend to prejudice Charlestowne village, or the village of Cochitawit,” etc.2 This grant was confirmed absolutely, March 7, 1643-4,3 and included the present town of Billerica, parts of Bedford and Carlisle, and a part of Tewksbury, or of Chelmsford, or of both. The terms of the grant—all the land lying between Concord and Merrimac rivers—would seem to include Lowell; yet an Indian village then occupied that territory, and such villages were generally protected.
The township had now attained its full size. In shape somewhat like an hour-glass, about thirty-five miles in length, and wide at each extremity, it was not much more than one mile in width in the central part, where the original settlement was made, and where most of the inhabitants then resided. Such was its shape when Johnson described it in 1651. “This Town is compact closely within itselfe, till of late yeares some few stragling houses have been built: the Liberties of this Town have been inlarged of late in length, reaching from the most Northerly part of Charles River to the most Southerly part of Merrimack River.” 4 This description, however, does not comprehend the
