The morning call., 1891-09-28
JOHN WINTHROP'S FARM.
A Family Possession of 227 Yea,
Brought to an End.

A Family Possession OF 227 Years
Brought to an End.
OF the thousands who daily pass the
bronze figure of the eminent John Winthrop,
first Governor of Massachusetts, Bay Colony
and founder of Boston, there are but few,
il any, who know that the father of the Bay
State and of great city ever had any ambi-
ton to appropriate land to his own use,
says the Boston Herald.
But, like others who were prominent in
founding a new country, he received grants
of the common land, among them farm of
1900 acres, and his deputy, Thomas Dudley,
had a grant at the same court.
These two men went out through the will
derness to Concord Riv er in 1888, and about
tour miles down the river from the present
village of Concord they located or selected
their farms. They found a convenient place
where two great powders stood on the eastern
bank: these they designated as the dividing
line between their farms.
As the Governor died about eleven years
aflerward, it is probable that ne never paid
many visits to his island farm. Fifteen
years after his death it was sold by his old
est son, Fitz John Winthrop, the Governor
of Connecticut, to Job Lane of Maiden.
still in existence, and is held as a souvenir
by one of his descendants. 1t is written on
vellum, and is well preserved and leSible.
The price paid for the farm was $3.50.
The purchase price was paid by building
a house for the Governor Of Connecticut by
Job Lane. who was famous builder He
settled on his farm, and remained the only
civilized inhabitant for miles around until
1852, when his Oldest son John took a wife.
Then the father gave up the place to him
and returned to his Maiden home.
AT the death of Job, in 1897, his farm was
md found tn contain
the Governor having an eye that reached
beyond the grant of the colony to the eX-
tent of 140 acres. This whole was divided
between the heirs Of Job according to the
laws of that day, the eldest SOP having
double portion. Thus 80 acres and the
buildings remaining in the name of Lane.
John, the second Lane owner, was noted
warrior, q Colonel in the French and Indian
wars, and was commissioned by Richard
Earle of Belmont October 4, 1882 and Ma
jor in I'LL. His house was garrisoned, and
was the scene of some interesting events.
His daughter Mary. the ancestor Of William
II. Whitmore OF Boston, was often on
guard, and at enc time killed lurking red
man by shooting from port-hole.
At the death of John, in IVA, the second
of the Lane family owners, there was a d.
vision, but there was enough for all. James,
son of John, rem aimed on the farm, where
lie spent his life, and left it to his son
james, and he, after long possession, died
in 1885, having divided the farm between
three sons, Solomon. james aud David. The
latter built a new house on his acres, where
he passed his days in enviabe prosperity,
and at his death David Jr., born in 1896,
came in possession. He was followed by
his son job B., who was born in 1928 He
was monarch of all he surveyed during his
life, which terminated in May. 1899. He
left a son, who did not continue this family
possession. The widow of job B. caused
the farm to be sold under the hammer,
something new on that estate, as the sue
cessive possessions have been through in
heritance. No deed has been called for on
this farm since it came into the Lane family,
and the estate las never been conveyed by
a deed of sale since the one from John Win
throp in 1864.
The sale Of last Tuesday terminated this
remarkable family possession.