The Early Years

The earliest inhabitants of Acton were the native people who lived here for thousands of years before colonists arrived from Europe. One of the earliest colonial settlements in this area was the village of Concord, which was incorporated in 1635. Acton was not founded for another 100 years. As more and more people settled and raise families in Concord, they began to run out of land.

The landowners of Concord had petitioned the General Court for more land as they outgrew what they had. Dividing future Acton land into 100-acre lots to be divided among Concord landowners. Divided into 56 lots, owners were "coupled" together. The family with the most rights (those who had lived in town for the longest time) got to choose the lot. The Coupling List shows landowner and lot number.

African-American Presence in Acton's Early Years

Wm Cutting was born in 1701. His origins are unknown, beyond what was recorded in Rev. Bentley’s diary. He was a mulatto and a slave. In his master’s will was bequeathed his freedom and some land in Acton. We don't know who the master was.
William was elected hog reeve in 1735. His wife was admitted into full communion in the Acton Church in 1738. The Cutting House and land are still farmed today. It is called Hennesey Farm on Prospect Street, near Ace Hardware. His gravestone cost 21 pence and was an impressive gravestone at the time. The family graves are in the Woodlawn Cemetary.