BILLERICA BRIDGE. 1 25 



notice to the town of Billerica that they would no longer help 

 keep the bridge in repair, whereupon it was voted by the 

 Selectmen of Billerica that they would take up some of the 

 planks and thus stop all travel, which was undoubtedly done. 

 How long the bridge remained impassable, or how long the 

 difficulty continued, there is no record ; but probably the 

 trouble was not settled until the General Court, twenty 

 months later, interposed its power and decided the matter. 

 At its session beginning on October 9, 1667, it is recorded: 



In Answer to a motion made by the Deputjes of Billirica & 

 chelmsford in refferenc to the bridge ouer Billirica Riuer — It is 

 Ordered by this Court thatt according to the Agreement of the 

 Comittee of the Generall Court & Comitte of that Countje respect- 

 ing bridges bearing date Aprill 17. 1660 the sajd bridge shall be 

 repayred & vpholden by the Tounes of Billirica chelmsford & 

 Groaten. & all such ffarmes as are there granted when they shall be 

 Improoued in proportion to their Country rates. & shall be freed from 

 the majntenanc of all other bridges excepting only in their oune Tounes. 



[General Court Records, IV. Part 2, 591.] 



In carrying out this order, which had reference only to the 

 repairing of the bridge, the County Court at Charlestown, on 

 December 1 7, 1667, appointed a commission of four men, — of 

 whom Captain James Parker, of Groton, was one, — who were 

 authorized to make a contract " with some able and honest 

 artificer" for building it anew; and accordingly to that end 

 they made an agreement with Job Lane, of Billerica. The 

 written contract containing all the specifications in detail is 

 still preserved ; and it stipulated that the Groton payments, 

 if Lane so chose, should be delivered near the bridge, while 

 it was building, and after that in Billerica. The work was to 

 be done before September 29, 1668. 



In the year 1676, — according to Mr. Hazen's History 

 (P- 99). — the complaints about the bridge were repeated, and 

 there was again united action of the towns in repairing it ; but 

 probably at this time Groton was relieved of all assessments, 

 as the town was then deserted. During the next twenty years 

 no further complaint is recorded ; but at the end of this period 



