according to s. a. beach's "apples of new york", the baldwin originated soon after 1740 as a chance seedling on the farm of mr. john ball of wilmington, massachusetts, and for about 40 years thereafter its cultivation was confined to that immediate neighborhood. the farm eventually came into the possession of a mr. butters, who gave the name "woodpecker" to the apple because the tree was frequented by woodpeckers. the apple was long known locally as the "woodpecker" or "pecker". it was also called the "butters". deacon samuel thompson, a surveyor of woburn, massachusetts, brought it to the attention of col. loammi baldwin of the same town. baldwin grew the apple and spread it across eastern massachusetts. from col. baldwin's interest in the variety it came to be called the baldwin.