Wouldn’t you be curious to know why this place is called Bird’s Hill? It is a lovely name. Bird’s Hill carries a history that stretches back centuries. This area was once part of a larger landholding. The land belonged to the Woodcock family.
Let me tell you about John Bird. Bird’s Hill got its name from John Bird. He was a soldier in the Revolution. In the mid-1700s, the Woodcock family sold 215 acres to Benjamin Bird. Benjamin Bird was John’s father.
Benjamin Bird was quite the character. He was a prominent citizen in Dorchester. He was a Constable, Selectman, and Assessor. He also served as a Deputy to the General Court. Bird was deeply involved in a religious controversy. This was known as the Whitefield excitement. He supported George Whitefield. Whitefield was a controversial evangelist. Because of this support, Benjamin was excommunicated from the church.
Benjamin never moved to Bird’s Hill. He willed the land to his children when he died. In 1755, John Bird married Mary Lyon. He then built a new house. This house was for his bride. It stood on the western side of Bird’s Hill.
The John Bird House still stands today. It serves as a tangible link to the past. You can almost imagine John and Mary. They are starting their life together on this very land.
The Woodcock family also had a colorful history. Jeremiah Woodcock owned the land before Bird. His ancestor, John Woodcock, may have sailed to New England in 1633. Another John Woodcock ran an inn. It became a garrison house. This was a safe haven during King Philip’s War.
Interestingly, the USGS classifies Birds Pond as a summit. It classifies Bird’s Hill as a populated place. But historic maps label the feature Bird’s Hill. It only became Birds Pond on a 2015 USGS map.
In 1972, the Birds Hill Tank was built. It’s a water storage tank. It can hold 2.5 million gallons of water. This tank ensures that the community has a reliable water supply. Bird’s Hill is more than just a name. It’s a place with layers of history. It holds stories of families, religious controversy, and colonial life. It is a place where the past still resonates today.