101 



of a mile above, or west of " Upton's Mills," and so on the same ra- 

 dius easterly across Ipswich Eiver to Wenham. 



March 13, 163S-9, the bounds between Lynn and Salem were to run 

 from the sea to Humphrey's pond, and thence to six great Pine trees 

 marked, called by the six men that laid out the bounds, "six men's 

 bounds," and thence on the same line "so far as our bounds shall 

 reach into the country." Two of the six men were Roger Conant 

 and John Woodbury "the old planters." At this time all beyond 

 seems to have been an almost boundless wilderness. In later records 

 this was called " seven men's bounds." The bounds above named 

 ■were located about forty rods south of the road from Lynnfield to 

 Salem, and about a mile south of this place. In 1697 this road was 

 called " Boston Path," and again in 1738 " old Path." 



The highway across the river near the mills was laid out in 1738 

 from Eeading line near the widow Phelps' through land of Nathaniel 

 Phelps and Capt. Thomas Flint, and Samuel Flint "to the river be- 

 tween two brooks," then across the river to the land of John Buxton 

 and Benjamin Eussell and so to the former way. 



The perambulation line between Reading and Salem from 1673 to 

 1715 began at " a small white oak on the south side of Ipswich River, 

 near to John Phelps' house, which is the bound between X>yDn and 

 Salem." In 1715 it began at the white oak by the river above "Up- 

 ton's Mills." 



The first settlers, soon after their arrival, received grants of land, 

 and cleared the same for farming purposes ; the eligible sites on the 

 several streams were improved for the erection of the saw, corn, or 

 the fulling mill, these being essential for the convenience of the peo- 

 ple. 



In 1709, and probably some years before, there was a mill in this 

 place called "Upton's Mill," and was owned by John Upton and John 

 Buxton. In 1724 John Buxton conveyed to Ezekiel Upton a I'ight to 

 erect a fulling mill near the same place. It was owned in whole or 

 part afterwards by John Flint and others. 



On an old plan of lands in this vicinity, in the handwriting of Hon. 

 Benjarnin Lynde, jr., about 1750, this mill is designated as "Buxton's 

 Mill." In the deed of conveyance of this property from John Flint to 

 Francis Peabody of Salem, Feb. 25, 1832, it is mentioned " long known 

 as Flint's Mills." Mr. Peabody immediately commenced the erection 

 of buildings and the putting in of machinery for the manufacture of 

 book and printing paper of the very best quality. In December, 1843, 

 he sold the property to Zenas Crane, Luther Crane and Benjamin F. 

 Martin, who continued the making of paper of various kinds. About 

 ten years since, Mr. Stephen O. Crane took charge of the works and 

 has continued the manufacture of paper, principally green curtain 

 paper and the colored paper for handbills and posters. 



