On September 6, 1631, the Massachusetts General Court granted a 600-acre tract of land along the Mystic River to John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Named “Ten Hills Farm” for the ten distinct knolls that rolled across its landscape, this estate was much more than a private retreat for a colonial leader. It served as a vital agricultural laboratory, a political headquarters, and the cradle of New England’s maritime industry, shaping the economic trajectory of early America.


The geography of Ten Hills Farm was highly strategic. Spanning areas that today comprise parts of Somerville, Medford, and Charlestown, the land offered rich soil, expansive pastures, and direct access to the Mystic River.

Winthrop utilized the farm to experiment with livestock breeding and crop cultivation. This production was vital for supporting the rapidly growing influx of Puritan settlers. The estate quickly became a self-sustaining community, complete with:

• Large-scale orchards
• Specialized grain storehouses
• Multi-purpose barns
• Dedicated quarters for tenant farmers and laborers

The most enduring legacy of Ten Hills Farm is its role in launching the American shipbuilding industry. Winthrop recognized that the physical isolation of the colonies required robust maritime infrastructure.

On July 4, 1631, just months before the land grant was officially finalized, Winthrop oversaw the launch of the Blessing of the Bay from the shores of his estate. Built from local New England white oak, this 30-ton sloop was the first ocean-going vessel constructed by English colonists in Massachusetts. The ship opened up critical trade routes with nearby Native American tribes, the Dutch in New Amsterdam, and Virginia, laying the foundation for New England’s merchant fleet.

As Governor Winthrop’s primary country residence, Ten Hills Farm hosted early political gatherings and diplomatic meetings. It was a place where colonial policy was debated away from the crowded streets of Boston.

Long after Winthrop’s death in 1649, the land retained its strategic value. During the American Revolutionary War, the farm found itself on the front lines of the Siege of Boston. In 1774, British forces marched across the property during the “Powder Alarm” to seize colonial gunpowder. Later, Continental Army officers utilized the hills for military encampments, using the elevated terrain to spy on British movements.

As the centuries progressed, the massive estate was gradually subdivided. The industrial revolution transformed the waterfront pastures into https://summervilleschool.org/ brickyards, train depots, and urban housing. Today, the name survives as the Ten Hills neighborhood in Somerville. While the rolling hills have mostly been leveled by modern development, the legacy of the 1631 land grant endures as a monument to early American ingenuity, commerce, and political ambition.