Structure · Built 1890 · Demolished 1965
Greenwood Building
Greenwood Building
| Address | 462 Boston Rd |
| Built | 1890 |
| Demolished | 1965 |
| Owners |
Oliver P. Greenwood
(None - 1963)
Laurence J. Greenwood (None - 1963) |
| Other Lot Structures | Fitch Tufts House (1850 - 1965) |
The Greenwood Building was a rental building that stood at 462 Boston Road in Billerica Centre from the 1890s until 1965. It occupied part of a two-acre lot on the east side of the road, just south of the old house now called the Fitch Tufts House, and was put up by Moses P. Greenwood within a few years of his buying the land in 1889.
The land was part of the thirty acres "near the Meeting house" that Joshua Abbot sold to Oliver Abbot in 1757. Through Oliver Abbot's daughter Dorcas and her husband Jonathan Bowers it passed to George Bruce in 1810, and Bruce's heirs sold about thirteen acres "with all the buildings thereon" to Fitch Tufts, a Boston distiller, in 1827. After Tufts died, his widow and daughters sold the south two acres, "with a dwelling house thereon standing", to the carriage smith William G. Alley in 1853. The lot had 147 feet on the road and ran back 534 to 558 feet. Alley sold it in 1855 to Mark Lund, a blacksmith of Clinton, whose name is on the lot on the 1875 and 1889 maps.
On June 26, 1889, Lund, then of Greenville, New Hampshire, sold the two acres "with all the buildings thereon standing" to Moses P. Greenwood of Billerica for $2,100. Moses Parker Greenwood (1814-1905), a deacon of the First Congregational Church, had come to Billerica from Needham and in 1850 had bought the old Stearns homestead on Dudley Road. At that time the only building on the lot was the house, and no second building appears on the 1889 map. The 1900 census suggests that the new building was standing and rented out, and it is shown on the 1918 county plan. The Greenwoods kept it as rental property. Moses P. Greenwood's son George P. Greenwood bought the store lot to the south in 1899.
The Greenwoods never sold or mortgaged the two acres. The grantor indexes from 1881 to 1915 show Moses P. Greenwood only as a lender discharging other people's mortgages. After his death in 1905 the land passed by inheritance through the estates of his daughters Harriet L. Greenwood, Caroline Elizabeth Greenwood and Flora Louise Bradford, and later of Alice H. and Leroy Harding Greenwood. On June 13, 1963 his grandsons Oliver P. and Laurence J. Greenwood conveyed this land and George P. Greenwood's store lot, 2.96 acres "with the buildings thereon", to the Middlesex County National Bank.
The bank cleared the land in 1965. It built a branch on the southern part and in August of that year sold the northern part, shown on Plan 102-84B. A post office was built there in 1966, and it stands at 460 Boston Road today.
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 11, 1762 | Deed | Joshua Abbot, cordwainer, and Dorcas Abbot | Oliver Abbot, retailer | 1757: Oliver Abbot buys the homestead near the meeting house | 59/357 (South) |
For 270 pounds, about 30 acres "near the Meeting house," from a stone at the southwest corner easterly by David Abbot, northeasterly by marked trees and the grantor's land, north by Samuel Sheldon "to the highway called East Street," then westerly by East Street "to the highway called Long Street," then southward by Long Street "and the Commons" to the first bound, "with all the Buildings thereon." Signed April 26, 1757. East Street was the street granted to Golden More. Hazen's 1776 tax list places Oliver Abbot at "Paul Hill's place, east of Common." Billerica town book 8, pages 19-21.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1796 | Administration | Estate of Oliver Abbot of Billerica, trader | Simon Winship of Lexington, miller, administrator; heirs Abigail Abbot (widow), Joanna Winship, Dorcas Bowers, Abigail Abbot Jr. and Elizabeth Abbot | 1796: Oliver Abbot estate; the widow's dower lands | Probate #49 |
Oliver Abbot died intestate early in 1796, months after selling the corner half acre. His heirs asked on April 28, 1796 that Simon Winship of Lexington administer. The inventory of May 27, 1796 values "A Dwelling House" at $700 and "The homsted called 26 acres Bounded Westerly on the meeting house common and the County Road leading to Boston, Southerly on Mr David Abbots land and Easterly on Benj. Abbots & Josiah Bowerses Land And Northerly on the Road leading to Andover", divided by the fences into three lots, "The north lot taking in the Buildings" being nine acres. The hotel corner was the northwest corner of this homestead; the rest of the north lot passed to the heirs, among them Dorcas Bowers, later an abutter on the east and south.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| June 19, 1798 | Quitclaim | Ephraim Kidder Jr. of Billerica, gentleman, and his wife Abigail (Abbot) Kidder | Jonathan Bowers [Jr.] of Billerica, gentleman | 1798: Kidders release their dower-land share to Jonathan Bowers | 130/55 (South) |
For $392, a release of "all our right and title which we have and claim in right of said Abigail as wife of said Ephraim in and to the thirds of the widow Abigail Abbot in the real estate of Oliver Abbot her late husband ... as set out to said Abigail widow in the appraisal of the same bearing date June the twentieth ... 1796." The widow's thirds included the mowing on the country road by the town pound that became the Locke house lot. Signed and acknowledged June 15, 1798 before Edward Farmer, recorded June 19, 1798. Billerica town book 9, pages 371-372.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| October 12, 1803 | Quitclaim | Simon Winship of Lexington, gentleman, and his wife Joanna (Abbot) Winship | Jonathan Bowers [Jr.] of Billerica, gentleman | Winships release their dower-land share to Jonathan Bowers | 152/503 (South) |
For $392, a release of their right "in right of said Joanna as wife of said Simon in and to the thirds of the widow Abigail Abbot in the real estate of Oliver Abbot her late husband ... as set out to said widow in the appraisal of the same bearing date June the twentieth ... 1796." Dated June 15, 1798, acknowledged and recorded at Cambridge October 12, 1803. With this, Jonathan and Dorcas Bowers held the whole reversion of the widow's thirds, including the town-pound mowing. Billerica town book 10, pages 224-225.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| June 24, 1801 | Quitclaim | Elizabeth Abbot of Billerica, single woman | Jonathan Bowers [Jr.] of Billerica, gentleman | 1801: Elizabeth Abbot releases her share to Jonathan Bowers | 140/409 (South) |
For $354, Oliver Abbot's youngest daughter releases "all my right, title and interest in and to the thirds of the Widow Abigail Abbott in the real estate whereof Oliver Abbot her late husband ... died seized or possessed as set out to the said Abigail as her thirds in the apprisal of the same bearing date June the twentieth ... 1796." Signed June 20, 1801 before William Crosby and Edward Farmer, recorded June 24, 1801. Billerica town book 10, page 63.
Title from:
|
|||||
| June 5, 1804 | Will | Estate of Jonathan Bowers Jr. of Billerica, gentleman | His widow Dorcas Bowers (use of half the real estate while a widow); his son Alexander Bowers (residue) | 1804: will of Jonathan Bowers Jr. | Probate #2293 |
Will dated July 8, 1799, made when he was "bound to sea": to "my beloved wife Dorcas Bowers, the improvement of the one half of all my Real Estate" while she remained his widow, and a third of the personal estate; to "my son Alexander Bowers & to his heirs & assigns forever all the residue". Executors Isaac Stearns Esq. and Alexander Bowers; witnesses Isaac Wilkins, Elizabeth Abbot, Nancy Simonds. Proved at Concord June 5, 1804. Jonathan Bowers, Billerica's first postmaster (appointed Oct. 7, 1797), had married Oliver Abbot's daughter Dorcas, who took her father's homestead in 1797; mother and son joined in selling it to George Bruce in 1810.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| April 7, 1810 | Deed | Alexander Bowers of Charlestown and Dorcas Bowers of Boston, widow | George Bruce of Boston, merchant | 1810: Bowers to George Bruce, the messuage near the meeting house | 187/213 (South) |
For $2,000, "a certain messuage and parcel of land situate in Billerica ... near the meeting house," beginning at the southwest corner by the highway from Chelmsford to Boston at the wall by the grantors' other land, northerly on the highway 29 6/10 rods to land of the town, then by courses of 32 2/10, 25 8/10 and 26 rods back; also the third wall pew in the meeting house. Signed April 6, 1810. Dorcas was Oliver Abbot's daughter (m. 1783 Jonathan Bowers); Oliver's estate passed through her (see the 1798-1803 Abbot estate releases to J. Bowers, S 130/55, 133/30, 152/503). Billerica town book 10, pages 515-517.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| 1812 | Deed | John Parker of Billerica, Esquire | George Bruce of Billerica, gentleman | 1812: John Parker to Bruce, a strip on the south line | 194/357 (South) |
For $50, a small parcel "beginning at the highway leading from Billerica to Boston by the land of said Bruce", running east and north by Bruce's land in four short courses, then west "bounding southerly by said Parkers land to the highway ... as the stone wall recently erected now stands". A strip that squared the south line of the Bruce place against the Bowers lot. Billerica town book 11, pages 147-148.
Related:
|
|||||
| 1826 | Will | Estate of George Bruce of Billerica, yeoman | His sisters Hannah Upton and Abigail Bruce, niece Martha B. Wait, and brothers Stephen, William and Charles Bruce | 1826: will of George Bruce | Probate #3264 |
Will dated August 1824, presented Sept. 8, 1826 by the executors William and Charles Bruce. To his sisters Hannah Upton and Abigail Bruce and niece Martha B. Wait jointly for life, a parcel "with a dwelling house and all the other buildings standing thereon", its southwest corner by the highway "at the wall dividing it from a lot of land I purchased of Col. John Parker"; the residue to the sisters, niece and brothers equally.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| October 8, 1827 | Deed | William Bruce, Charles Bruce, Hannah Upton, Abigail Bruce and Martha B. Wait | Fitch Tufts of Boston, distiller | 1827: Bruce heirs to Fitch Tufts, 13 acres with the buildings | 277/218 (South) |
For $3,400, "a tract of land situate in Billerica aforesaid near the meeting house containing about thirteen acres ... with all the buildings thereon," bounded westerly by the highway from the meeting house to Boston, southerly by Col. John Parker, easterly by land formerly of Nahum Baldwin, northerly by the heirs of Capt. Josiah Bowers, Asa Richardson and John and Henry Baldwin; also the third wall pew. Signed June 6, 1827 by the heirs of George Bruce. Billerica town book 11, pages 508-509.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| June 14, 1830 | Mortgage | Fitch Tufts of Billerica, yeoman (Mary Tufts releasing dower) | Ephraim Tufts of West Cambridge, yeoman | 1830: Fitch Tufts mortgage to Ephraim Tufts | 298/176 (South) |
Mortgage for $1,600 in two years of about thirteen acres near the meeting house "with all the buildings thereon", west by the highway from the meeting house to Boston, south by Col. John Parker, east by land formerly of Nahum Baldwin, north by the heirs of Capt. Josiah Bowers, Asa Richardson and John and Henry Baldwin, "Being the same estate which William Bruce and others conveyed to said Fitch ... Book 277 Page 218". Dated June 4, 1830; discharged March 23, 1832. Billerica town book 14, pages 312-313.
Title from:
|
|||||
| June 14, 1853 | Administration | Estate of Fitch Tufts of Billerica, intestate | His daughter Martha Tufts of Billerica, singlewoman, administratrix | 1853: administration of Fitch Tufts | Probate #43363 |
Martha Tufts petitioned that Fitch Tufts, "who last dwelt in Billerica", had "within nine months last died intestate", leaving a widow and two children, Martha and Mary Tufts, who asked for her appointment. She was appointed administratrix at Cambridge on June 14, 1853.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| May 12, 1853 | Warranty Deed | Mary Tufts, widow (releasing dower), Mary Tufts Jr. and Martha Tufts, heirs of Fitch Tufts | William G. Alley of Billerica, carriage smith | 1853: Tufts heirs to William G. Alley, two acres with the house | 655/171 (South) |
About two acres "near the common in the Centre village ... with a dwelling house thereon standing", from the southwest corner on the main road at land of David Parker, east by Parker as the wall stands 534 feet, north by a stone wall 158 feet, west "partly by a stone wall which divides said land from other land of said heirs" 558 feet to the road, and south by the road 147 feet. Dated April 5, 1853. Billerica town book 19, pages 413-415.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| May 12, 1853 | Mortgage | William G. Alley of Billerica, carriage smith | Martha Tufts of Billerica, single woman | 1853: Alley mortgage to Martha Tufts | 655/172 (South) |
Mortgage for $1,000 of the same two acres with the dwelling house, given back on the day of the purchase (bounded west by "other land of said Martha & others"). It is the $1,000 mortgage excepted when Alley sold to Mark Lund in 1855. Billerica town book 19, pages 415-416.
Related:
|
|||||
| November 3, 1855 | Warranty Deed | William G. Alley of Billerica, yeoman (Mary H. Alley releasing dower) | Mark Lund of Clinton, Worcester County, blacksmith | 1855: Alley to Mark Lund, blacksmith | 2/322 |
For $2,750, two tracts: about two acres near the centre "with a dwelling house thereon standing" on the main road, between land of David Parker and Jefferson Cutter (534 and 558 feet deep, 147 feet on the road); and "about two acres" on the east side of the road leading to Boston, from a stake and stones at land of John T. Jordan, south by the road 6 rods to the late Blaney Abbot, east by Abbot "as the wall stands" 46 rods 10 links, north by Jordan 7 rods and west by Jordan about 48 rods, "with the buildings thereon standing". Subject to mortgages of $1,000 on the first tract and $300 on the second. Dated Aug. 27, 1855, acknowledged before Dudley Foster; witnesses Dudley Foster and George Proctor.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| July 16, 1889 | Warranty Deed | Mark Lund of Greenville, N.H. (Adeliza A. R. Lund releasing dower and homestead) | Moses P. Greenwood of Billerica | 1889: Lund to Moses P. Greenwood | 207/322 |
For $2,100, about two acres near the centre "with all the buildings thereon standing", from the southwest corner on Main Street at land formerly of David Parker "now of one Cann", east by Cann as the wall stands 534 feet, north by the wall and land formerly of Jefferson Cutter "now of Paul Hill" 158 feet, west by Hill 558 feet to Main Street, south by the street 147 feet. Dated June 26, 1889.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| June 13, 1963 | Quitclaim Deed | Oliver P. (Oliver Parker) Greenwood and Laurence J. (Laurence Jennison) Greenwood of Billerica | Middlesex County National Bank of Everett | 1963: Greenwoods to Middlesex County National Bank | 1604/164 |
For consideration paid, "A certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon" on the easterly side of Boston Road, 2.96 acres, on a June 1963 plan by Emmons and Flemming, 237.83 feet on Boston Road, "the same premises described in two deeds, one from Mark Lund to Moses P. Greenwood dated June 26, 1889 ... Book 207, Page 322, and the other from Joseph Norris et ux to George P. Greenwood dated August 14, 1899 ... Book 311, Page 47", with title through the estates of George P. Greenwood (probate 134588; his widow Alice H. Greenwood held a life estate until her death on June 21, 1945) and of Moses P. Greenwood and his family (probate 67897, 153282, 180033, 180532, 264012, 324738). The bank built its branch on the store lot in 1965 and sold the north part that year; the bank, through later mergers, is still the owner of record.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| August 23, 1965 | Quitclaim Deed | Middlesex County National Bank of Everett | A private buyer of Belmont | 1965: the bank, after clearing the Greenwood buildings, sells the north part (Plan 102-84B) | 1712/432 |
For consideration paid, the land on the easterly side of Boston Road from the northwest corner at land supposed of Amelia Stone, east by Stone 213 feet in three courses, south by other land of the bank 109.41 feet, west by the bank 212.91 feet to Boston Road and north by the road, on an August 1965 plan by Emmons, Fleming and Bienvenu recorded herewith (Plan 102-84B, 25,015 square feet). Title Book 1604, Page 164.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted; Probate # is a Middlesex probate case, Ctf a Land Court certificate of title.