Chelmsford’s Fabric

Welcome to the Chelmsford Historical Society’s Blog site. This blog is maintained by members of the Chelmsford Historical Society. Each post is a short story about the people, places or things that are a part of Chelmsford’s history. Collectively, these stories or threads make up the fabric of Chelmsford’s history.

Gold Mining on Robin’s Hill

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On November 2, 1730, John Swallow recorded a deed (Middlesex North Book 2 Page 375) that detailed his sale of mining rights to Henry Blaisdell a physician in Chelmsford. The price was 45 English pounds for mining rights on 6 acres of land on the south side of Robin’s Hill to Blaisdell. The deed states “…assigns forever the free liberty of digging and carrying of all gold, silver, copper and tin or lead ore”.

The next deed in the book, states that Henry Blaisdell then sold 75 percent of mineral rights to a Joseph East of Boston for 500 pounds on November 18, 1730.

The deed after the previous deed states that Joseph East then sold 12.5 percent of his mineral rights to Adam Winthrop for 300 pounds on November 20, 1730. 

At the end of the day,

Swallow received 45 pounds and still owned the land.

Henry Blaisdell got 500 pounds.

Joseph East received 300 pounds.

Adam Winthrop received nothing.

No gold was ever reported as being found but someone sure made a lot of money.


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