By the Hon. John S. Keyes, from "History of Middlesex Country, Massachusetts," Vol. II, compiled under the supervision of D. Hamilton Hurd, 1880. Material in brackets is our translation of locations in modern terms.

In 1635 a small company of twelve or fifteen families broke their way among the Indian trails into the forest, away from the sea-shore. Starting from the Newtown (now Watertown), at the head of tide-water in the Charles River, they made their toilsome way along either the route still known as the "Trapelo" road, or that called the "Virginia," over hills and across swamps to the "Musketaquid." Their object was the wide, grassy meadows of that stream, free from the forest growth, and the level plains on its banks where the Indians had raised their corn.

These meadows and plains Simon Willard had known, if not seen, in his trading of furs with the natives. He was the leader of the small company, made up of Peter Bulkeley (painting at right), the minister, John Jones, the teaching elder, William Buttrick, James Hosmer, Robert Fletcher, John Ball, George Hayward, Richard Rice, William Hartwell, John Heald, William Judson, Luke Potter, John Scotchford, Merriams and Wheelers, and their families -- sturdy Englishmen from Kent, Surrey, Yorkshire and Bedfordshire, who had come to this country in the "great emigration" of that time. They had secured from the General Court an act of incorporation, dated September 2, 1635, granting them "six myles of land square, " and the name of "Concord."

For shelter the first winter they made rude hovels of earth and brushwood on the southerly slope of the mile-long ridge east of the Common [Monument Square]. The next year they built their first frame house for the minister and elder [possibly at the site of the phone booths and veterans' memorial just off Monument Square - photo below right], on the little knoll at the northwest end of the ridge nearest the river, and their first meeting-house on the summit of the ridge [site now of the Old Burying Ground]. In this dwelling-house they made their bargain with the Indians for the land, three miles north, south, east and west, and obtained a deed signed by Squaw Sachem, Tahattawan, Nimrod, and others. For this they paid in wampum, beads, blankets, hoes, knives and cloth, to the satisfaction of the native owners, and were "made welcome."

This land was laid out, and the corners of the tract marked by stone bounds, with surprising exactness, considering the difficulties of the task. It included a part of the present Carlisle on the north of Bedford on the east, and Lincoln on the north, and agrees with the line of Sudbury and Acton on the other sides. These lines took in Fairhaven Bay, White, Bateman's Flint's, Walden and Beaver Ponds, and Nashawtuck, Annursnack and Punkatasset Hills.

The first road was laid out along the foot of the ridge [Lexington Road], and the earliest homes were built in the place of the hovels of the first winter. New-comers to the growing settlement soon extended the hamlet across the brook [Mill Steam] that flowed near the first road. A dam [The Milldam] across this brook at the side of the Common gave the power to the first mill erected as soon as practicable. The farms taken up by the settlers, as their choice or fancy inclined, were very early extended out in a northwesterly direction across the river. "Canows" were for a time used for access to and from these, but a bridge was soon needed.

The first, built over the south branch to the foot of Nashawtuck Hill, was carried away up stream by a freshet coming from the Assabet or North River as it was then called. The second bridge [The Old North Bridge] was built over the great river below the junction of the two branches at the spot destined to become historical. The South bridge took the place of the one first mentioned at a point higher up the stream. These, with the roads leading over them, were the public works of the first generation, and they were great undertakings for the time and the men.

In such a community as this, after food and shelter were found, religious concerns were most prominent. A Puritan church was organized for Concord by a council that met at Cambridge July 6, 1636. Rev. Peter Bulkeley was ordained pastor, and Rev. John Jones, elder. The latter, after a few years service, left Concord with a part of the settlers and moved to Connecticut. The former remained, and spent his life and fortune in the service of the small company he had joined for the settlement of this town.

Peter Bulkeley, B.D., was of noble birth, scholarly attainments and ample resources, probably the foremost of the earlier ministers of New England. He was born in Wodell, in Bedfordshire County...in 1583. Persecuted by Archbishop Laud, he left his parish and emigrated to this country. He was an eloquent preacher, a useful pastor and a great help to the infant settlement.

Illustrations: Portrait of Peter Bulkeley, used by permission of The First Parish of Concord. Photo of Jethro's Tree: ©Rich Stevenson. All others Art Today