20 Milford St.
The Christopher Slocumb House circa 1849.
In 1824 Ralph
Mann owned this land, and he sold the land for #20 to Christopher Slocum. There were no houses there and no Milford
Street yet. It was part of the 25.5 acres Mann sold Slocumb between Highland and Main.
When was the
house built? Christopher Slocumb started paying taxes on it in 1849, and it was described by Noah Coombs as his
west abbuter "Slocoms house lot" in 1850.
2/20/1824 Norfolk County deed: 214:207
Ralph Mann heirs
to Christopher Slocumb, 25.5 acres on the Hartford & Dedham Turnpike, this acreage extended from Main Street, through
Milford Street, up to Highland Street. In 1824 there was woodland and farmland where Milford Street would be.
2/12/1853 Norfolk County deed: 215:183
Christopher Slocumb
to James and Owen Grimley
½ acre on the road to Milford with dwelling house, shop, woodhouse, and ½ well rights, with lot
of Daniel Lavin to the west and lot of Noah Coombs to the east, 5.3 rods deep by 13.5 rods wide.
The brothers Grimley – Owen, James, and John divided the lot in 1857, selling
the west side to John, and in 1863, Owen sold part of his eastern half to James. An 1876 map of Medway shows Owen Gormley
at 20 Milford, with his brothers John and James owning the next two lots adjacent to the west. According to the 1870
census, Owen Gormley had a household of 10,that included 4 boarders. James had a household of 16 that included 9 boarders. John
Gormley had a household of 9 that included 1 boarder. All the men worked in a boot factory.
