Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 253, § 14

The person who is entitled to receive said annual compensation or gross damages shall have a lien therefor, from the time of the commencement of the original action, on the mill and mill dam with their appurtenances and on the land under and adjoining the same and used therewith; but such lien shall not extend to any amount due more than three years before the commencement of an action therefor.