Edward Dickinson House
The Edward Dickinson House is a large Stick Style dwelling at 1 Cummings Street, on the corner of Boston Road at the south end of the Billerica Common. Its lot of 12,009 square feet, with about 148 feet along Cummings Street (formerly part of the Concord Road), has been described in the same courses and distances in every deed since 1894.
The land was part of the half-acre corner homestead between the Boston and Concord roads that Francis Richardson bought from William Richardson in 1814. After Francis Richardson died in 1860, his other children quitclaimed the homestead "with all the buildings thereon" in May 1861 to his daughter Mary Louisa, the wife of Frederic Dickinson, a native of Amherst, for $2,500. Mary L. Dickinson had the corner surveyed by A. B. Ilsley in April 1894 and divided it. On 23 April 1894 she sold the corner lot for $1,000 to Katie A. Dickinson, the wife of her son Edward F. Dickinson. That deed names no buildings, and the Ilsley plan draws the "old barn" on the neighbouring lot but nothing on this one, so the house was most likely built for Edward and Katie Dickinson soon after 1894 rather than in 1870 as the 1973 survey form gives. A month later Mary L. Dickinson sold a small piece behind the Jackson Wright House to Georgianna Wright.
Edward Fowler Dickinson farmed in Billerica and was active in town meeting; in 1900 it was on his motion that the street the committee had named "Common street" became Cummings Street. Katie A. Dickinson died before 1927 and left the house to him by her will. In 1927 Edward F. Dickinson put the title in himself and his second wife, Cora M. Dickinson, through a straw conveyance; after Cora died in 1932 he did the same in 1934 with his third wife, Katherine D. Dickinson. He died on 11 October 1935 at the age of 80.
In October 1937 his widow sold the house to George H. and Josephine A. Boynton, and in 1939 a straw deed left it in Josephine A. Boynton's name alone. She sold it in 1970 to private owners, and it has changed hands several times since, always as the same lot shown on the 1894 plan. The 1973 survey form noted the house's large stone foundation, its two front entrances and its use for a time as a home and notary's office.
References
- MACRIS BIL.10
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883), Genealogical Register: RICHARDSON 28 (Francis Richardson, d. 1860; daughter Mary Louisa m. Frederic Dickinson) and DICKINSON (Frederic, b. Amherst 1819)
Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| 1814 | Deed | William Richardson of Billerica, gentleman | Francis Richardson of Billerica, yeoman | Francis Richardson buys the corner lot on the Common | 225/6 (South) |
For $2,000, "a certain tract or parcel of land in Billerica aforesaid containing half an acre", the corner lot on the Common just north of this house lot: from the southeast corner on the west side of the road leading to Boston, westerly by land of Joseph L. Low two rods 21 links, southeasterly by Low one rod five links, westerly three rods 14 links by Low to a willow tree, "as the fence now stands" seven rods to the road leading to Concord, northeasterly 12 rods ten links "bounding on the common" to the Boston road, and east on that road nine rods 16 links, "together with all the buildings". Acknowledged 1814, recorded 1818 (index). Capt. William Richardson's only recorded link to this spot. Francis joined the corner lot to the Low acre he bought in 1822, and both were mortgaged to Asa Richardson in 1824 ("the same estate conveyed to me by William Richardson ... Book 225 page 6"). Billerica town book 12, pages 69-70.
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| 1861 | Quitclaim Deed | Francis E. Richardson, Joseph Richardson, Eveline Richardson, Caroline R. Fellows (with Theophilus B. Fellows) of Billerica, and Martha Richardson (with John B. Richardson) of Lowell, heirs of Francis Richardson | Mary L. Dickinson, wife of Frederic Dickinson, of Billerica | Francis Richardson heirs quitclaim the corner homestead on the Common to Mary L. Dickinson | 28/520 |
Pages 520-522. For $2,500, the other heirs of Francis Richardson (died 1860) quitclaim to his daughter Mary L. Dickinson, to her sole and separate use, "a certain tract or parcel of land situate in said Billerica containing half an acre more or less" at the corner of the roads to Boston and Concord, from the west side of the road leading to Boston by land of Joseph and Joel Low to a willow tree, "as the fence now stands" seven rods to the road leading to Concord, then 12 rods 10 links "bounding on the common" back to the Boston road, "together with all the buildings thereon standing. Being the same estate that was conveyed by William Richardson to Francis Richardson" in 1814 (Book 225 Page 6). Dated 18 May 1861 (as recited in 1894).
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| April 23, 1894 | Warranty Deed | Mary L. Dickinson of Billerica, unmarried | Katie A. Dickinson, wife of Edward F. Dickinson, of Billerica | Mary L. Dickinson sells the corner lot to Katie A. Dickinson, wife of Edward F. | 253/328 |
For $1,000, "a certain tract or parcel of land situated in said Billerica containing twelve thousand and nine square feet", from a bound on the westerly side of "the road leading to Boston" 119.90 feet north of land of F. E. Richardson, west 98.80 feet, along other land of the grantor and "land of Jackson Wright" 80.40 feet, then 47, 43 and 57.70 feet "along a road" (the Concord road, now Cummings Street) and by a fence and wall back to the Boston road. "Being a portion of the premises conveyed to me by Francis E. Richardson et als. Being all the heirs at law of Francis Richardson deceased" (Book 28 Page 520). No buildings named; the lot is the 12,009 square foot parcel on the Ilsley plan of April 1894. Signed and recorded 23 April 1894.
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| June 7, 1927 | Quitclaim Deed | Edward F. Dickinson of Billerica (Cora M. Dickinson releasing dower) | Alice Gilman of Lowell (straw) | Edward F. Dickinson, heir under Katie A. Dickinson's will, straw deed | 750/289 |
"A certain lot of land with the buildings thereon" of 12,009 square feet, the same bounds, along land of "my mother, Mary L. Dickinson, now deceased", "being all the same premises described in a deed from said Mary L. Dickinson to Katie A. Dickinson, my then wife ... Said Katie A. Dickinson has deceased leaving a will ... in which the granted premises, together with other property, are given me under the residuary clause of her said will." Signed and recorded 7 June 1927.
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| June 7, 1927 | Quitclaim Deed | Alice Gilman of Lowell, unmarried (straw) | Edward F. Dickinson and Cora M. Dickinson, his wife, as tenants by the entirety | Straw reconveys to Edward F. and Cora M. Dickinson | 750/290 |
Reconveys the same lot "with the buildings thereon", 12,009 square feet, to Edward F. Dickinson and his wife Cora M. as tenants by the entirety, completing the straw transfer. Signed and recorded 7 June 1927.
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| May 24, 1934 | Quitclaim Deed | Edward F. Dickinson of Billerica (Katherine D. Dickinson releasing dower) | Marion E. Stevens of Woburn (straw) | Edward F. Dickinson straw deed (first) | 845/26 |
The lot "with the buildings thereon, situated in said Billerica at the junction of Boston Road and Cummings Street (formerly a part of Concord Road)", 12,009 square feet, "Being the same premises conveyed by Alice Gilman to me and Cora M. Dickinson, my then wife, since deceased, as tenants by the entirety" (Book 750 Page 290). Signed 19 May 1934, recorded 24 May 1934.
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| May 24, 1934 | Quitclaim Deed | Marion E. Stevens of Woburn, unmarried (straw) | Edward F. Dickinson and Katherine D. Dickinson, husband and wife | Straw reconveys to Edward F. and Katherine D. Dickinson | 845/27 |
Reconveys the same 12,009 square foot lot with the buildings to Edward F. and Katherine D. Dickinson. Signed 19 May 1934, recorded 24 May 1934.
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| June 4, 1934 | Quitclaim Deed | Edward F. Dickinson and Katherine D. Dickinson, husband and wife, of Billerica | Marion E. Stevens of Woburn (straw) | Edward F. and Katherine D. Dickinson straw deed (second) | 845/452 |
The same lot, "Being the same premises conveyed by the said Marion E. Stevens to us by deed dated May 19, 1934"; Edward releases curtesy and Katherine dower and homestead. Signed 2 June 1934, recorded 4 June 1934, a second round trip to create a tenancy by the entirety.
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| June 4, 1934 | Quitclaim Deed | Marion E. Stevens of Woburn, unmarried (straw) | Edward F. Dickinson and Katherine D. Dickinson, as tenants by the entirety | Straw reconveys to them as tenants by the entirety | 845/453 |
Reconveys the 12,009 square foot lot "with the buildings thereon" at the junction of Boston Road and Cummings Street to Edward F. and Katherine D. Dickinson as tenants by the entirety, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by said Edward F. Dickinson and Katherine D. Dickinson by their deed of even date". Signed 2 June 1934, recorded 4 June 1934.
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| October 23, 1937 | Quitclaim Deed | Katherine D. Dickinson of Billerica, widow of Edward F. Dickinson | George H. Boynton and Josephine A. Boynton, his wife, as tenants by the entirety | Widow Katherine D. Dickinson sells to the Boyntons | 906/350 |
With $6.50 in revenue stamps, "A certain lot of land with the buildings thereon, situated in said Billerica at the junction of Boston Road and Cummings Street (formerly a part of Concord Road), containing twelve thousand and nine (12,009) square feet", along land of Jackson Wright and land formerly of Mary L. Dickinson, "Being the same premises conveyed to me and said Edward F. Dickinson as tenants by the entirety" by Marion E. Stevens (Book 845 Page 453), and shown on the 1894 Ilsley plan (Plan Book 16 Plan 47). Signed 22 October 1937, recorded 23 October 1937.
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| November 21, 1939 | Quitclaim Deed | George H. Boynton and Josephine A. Boynton of Billerica | Claire F. Tuttle of Lowell (straw) | Boyntons straw deed | 938/145 |
The same lot on Plan Book 16 Plan 47, "Being the same premises to us conveyed by deed of Katherine D. Dickinson" (Book 906 Page 350), for less than $100. Signed 20 November 1939, recorded 21 November 1939.
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| November 21, 1939 | Quitclaim Deed | Claire F. Tuttle of Lowell, unmarried (straw) | Josephine A. Boynton of Billerica | Straw reconveys to Josephine A. Boynton | 938/146 |
Reconveys "A certain lot of land with the buildings thereon" at the junction of Boston Road and Cummings Street, 12,009 square feet, to Josephine A. Boynton alone, "Being the same premises to me conveyed by George H. Boynton and Josephine A. Boynton by deed of even date". Signed 20 November 1939, recorded 21 November 1939.
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| September 18, 1970 | Deed | Josephine A. Boynton | Private owners | Josephine A. Boynton sells to private owners; later private sales | 1934/447 |
Sells the 12,009 square foot lot "with the buildings thereon" at the junction of Boston Road and Cummings Street (plan 16-47), "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Claire F. Tuttle" (Book 938 Page 146); the registry index gives the consideration as $26,000. Signed 12 September 1970. Later transfers were between private owners: a family transfer in 1979, and sales in 2005, 2017 and 2022, each describing the same lot and plan.
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.