First Settler / Roads and Boundaries
First Settler
The first dwelling in what would become Foxborough was erected in 1669. It was located west of nearby Wading River on a farm laid out for Captain William Hudson who
was a Boston tavern keeper. Hudson never lived here, but leased the property, first to Richard George and
then to John Daniell. Hudson sold his farm in 1676 to Thomas Platt who in turn leased it to Thomas Brintnall of Chelsea. In 1689, a grandson of Thomas, Samuel Brintnall Jr., became the first white child born in the
future Foxborough. The old Hudson Farm was leased to Jacob Shepard of Mystic (Medford) who bought the tract outright in 1704. Former tenant Thomas Brintnall purchased land nearby in 1691 to erect a home in what he believed to be the Taunton North Purchase (a portion of which is now Mansfield). A later survey revealed he
was still on this side of the line, the first settler to actually build and occupy his own home in what would
become Foxborough. Following his death, his son moved the home across the line where Thomas, our unintentional first settler, thought the had built in the first place. This settlement was in the area that was set off to Wrentham in 1753 and became part of the
new town of Foxborough when it was incorporated in 1778.Roads and Boundaries
The road to Bristol closely followed an old Indian trail coming southwest from Dedham to Bristol (now Rhode Island)along the general lines of the present Mechanic, South and Cedar streets. At various times it was called the Road to Secunke, road to Bristol, Old country road, and the Old Post road. In 1645, John Winthrop, Jr. returned this way on foot from New London, resting near this very spot. In 1728, William Burnett, the newly appointed Governor of Massachusetts passed here with his colorful entourage. The boundary between the Massachusetts-Bay and the New-Plymouth Colonies was laid out in 1664. The section from the Angle tree in Plainville to Accord Pond in Hingham lies to the southwest. Roughly parallel to this part of Cedar street. On July 13 1670 Chief Squamaug of the Ponkapoags and Metacom (King Philip)of the Wampanoags met in the house owned by Captain William Hudson to discuss the limits of their own jurisdictions. All parties agreed upon a line that follows the present boundary between Norfolk and Bristol countries and the towns of Foxborough and Mansfield
Marker is at the intersection of South St. and Cedar St., in the median on South St..
Courtesy hmdb.org
