William G. Alley
William G. Alley
| Born | Boston |
William G. Alley was a blacksmith and carriage smith who worked at Billerica Centre from 1845 to 1856. He was born in Boston about 1819, the son of Richard and Jerusha Alley, and was a blacksmith living in South Reading when he married Mary H. Bacon, the eighteen-year-old daughter of George and Mary Bacon, at Billerica on November 28, 1844. Their daughter Mary Bates Alley was born in Billerica on November 22, 1847. The 1850 census lists him as a blacksmith aged 30, with his wife, their daughter and Miriam Shed, aged 56, in the household.
In April 1845 Alley bought from another blacksmith, Daniel Wilson Jr., a strip four rods wide on the Salem road (now Andover Road) east of the common, with Wilson's shop on it, and took over Wilson's mortgage to Lyman Haynes. He sold the strip in February 1849 for $650 to the trader Rufus Clement, whose house lot it adjoined (see Albert Marshall House). The same month he paid John H. Parker $600 for a bare lot of two acres on the east side of the Boston road south of the Centre, 6 rods on the road and 46 rods deep, and built there the smithy marked "B. Shop" on the 1853 map, Alley's Blacksmith Shop. He borrowed $300 on it from Polly Manning, a mortgage that was not discharged until 1900.
He also bought houses near his shop. In April 1850 he paid the trader George P. Elliott $2,100 for a lot on the Boston road at Tufts Lane "with two dwelling houses and a barn thereon", the [[George P. Elliott House #1|4db4cb80faff496ca2718c77ec8fcca3]] and the [[George P. Elliott House #2|4488b96ad17c4449ad87eb2f2379efce]], and the 1853 map shows both under his name. In April 1853, as a carriage smith, he bought from the widow and daughters of Fitch Tufts about two acres near the common with a dwelling house, the Fitch Tufts House, giving Martha Tufts a $1,000 mortgage.
In August 1855 Alley sold the Tufts house and the shop lot together for $2,750 to Mark Lund of Clinton, a blacksmith, who kept the shop for the next 26 years. That September he cut off the corner of the Elliott lot with the second house and sold it to John A. Morrill of South Reading for $800, taking back a $400 mortgage, and in July 1856 the two men traded places: Alley deeded Morrill his two-acre homestead to the north for $2,500, and Morrill deeded the corner house back to him. His wife, Mary H. Alley, released her dower in each sale. By September 1856 he had moved to Springfield, where he signed the deed selling the corner house to Andrew W. Hammond of Haverhill for $800.
References
- Vital Records of Billerica to 1850, marriages: William G. Alley, 25, blacksmith, of S. Reading, b. Boston, s. Richard and Jerusha, and Mary H. Bacon, 18, Nov. 28, 1844
- Vital Records of Billerica to 1850, births: Mary Bates Alley, d. William G., blacksmith, and Mary H., Nov. 22, 1847
Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Property | Recorded |
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| June 13, 1846 | Deed | Daniel Wilson Jun. of Billerica, blacksmith (Jane W. Wilson releasing dower) | William G. Alley of Billerica, blacksmith | Buys the shop strip on the Salem road from Daniel Wilson Jr., 1845 | Albert Marshall House New England Telephone & Telegraph Company |
486/343 (South) |
For $394.50, a tract beginning "at the Salem road so called and land of Albert Marshall", south by Marshall's land "by a stone wall about fifteen rods to land of Fitch Tufts", west by Tufts four rods, north "on a parallel line with the first mentioned line keeping four rods therefrom" about fifteen rods to the road, and east four rods by the road, "with the buildings thereon" (a blacksmith's lot). Subject to "a mortgage ... given by said Wilson to Lyman Haynes ... dated the first day of April A.D. 1844", which Alley was to pay. Dated April 1, 1845, before Marshall Preston, justice of the peace. Billerica town book 18, pages 170-171.
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| August 31, 1846 | Mortgage | John J. Gorham of Billerica, gentleman (Eliza A. Gorham, his wife, releasing dower) | Henry Bowers of Billerica, house carpenter | Witness to John J. Gorham's mortgage to Henry Bowers, 1846 | Captain John J. Gorham House | 491/237 (South) |
To secure $1,500 in two years with interest, fourteen acres on the west side of the road from Lowell to Boston (the house acre and the Prentiss thirteen acres together): from the southeast corner at the road and Benjamin K. Heald, west by Heald 26 rods 12 feet to the Rev. Jacob Norton, north by Norton 6 rods to a wall, west by Norton to William or Fanny Bowers, northeast by them to land late of Samuel Whiting Esq., east by Whiting, Blaney Abbot and Henry Crosby to the road, south by the road. Dated Aug. 29, 1846, witnessed by Marshall Preston and Wm. G. Alley (Billerica town book 18, pages 193 to 194). Discharged in the margin by Henry Bowers at Cambridge, May 12, 1849.
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| February 24, 1849 | Deed | William G. Alley of Billerica, blacksmith (Mary H. Alley releasing dower) | Rufus Clement of Billerica, trader | Sells the Salem road strip to Rufus Clement, 1849 | Albert Marshall House New England Telephone & Telegraph Company |
557/117 (South) |
For $650, a strip beginning at its northeast corner "at the Salem road so called and land of Rufus Clement", south by Clement's land "by a stone wall about fifteen rods to land of Fitch Tufts", west on Tufts four rods, north on a parallel line about fifteen rods to the Salem road and east four rods by the road, "with the buildings thereon". Witnesses Dudley Foster, justice of the peace, and Miriam Shed. Dated Feb. 21, 1849. Billerica town book 20, pages 273-274.
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| February 24, 1849 | Warranty Deed | John H. Parker of Lowell | William G. Alley of Billerica | Buys the two-acre shop lot from John H. Parker, 1849 | Alley's Blacksmith Shop | 557/118 (South) |
For $600, the same two acres: from a stake and stones at land of David Parker, south by the road to Boston 6 rods to Blaney Abbot, east by Abbot "by a stone wall" 46 rods 10 links to a wall at David Parker's land, north by David Parker 7 rods, and west by David Parker about 48 rods to the start. No buildings named. Dated Feb. 17, 1849, acknowledged before Marshall Preston; witnesses Marshall Preston and Charles E. Parker. Billerica town book 20, pages 275-276.
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| February 24, 1849 | Mortgage | William G. Alley of Billerica, gentleman | Polly Manning of Billerica, singlewoman | Mortgages the shop lot to Polly Manning, 1849 | Alley's Blacksmith Shop | 557/119 (South) |
Mortgage for $300, payable in one year with interest, of the same two acres bought of John H. Parker the same month. It stayed on the record for half a century: William Manning of Chelmsford, administrator of Polly Manning, discharged it in September 1900 on payment by Lucy M. Sawyer, "the present owner" (recorded with Book 322, Page 147). Billerica town book 20, pages 276-277.
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| April 24, 1850 | Warranty Deed | George P. Elliott of Lowell, trader (wife Ann D. Elliot releasing dower) | William G. Alley of Billerica, blacksmith | Buys the two Elliott houses from George P. Elliott, 1850 | George P. Elliott House #1 George P. Elliott House #2 |
584/409 (South) |
For $2,100, "a certain tract of land with two dwelling houses and a barn thereon situate in that part of said Billerica called 'Billerica Village'", bounded northerly by land of one Judkins, westerly by the Boston road, southerly by a lane or passage way, and easterly by land of one Crosby, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Henry Bowers ... Book 382 page 104 and by Jacob Norton ... Book 443 Page 5", on condition that Alley assume a $600 mortgage given by Elliot to Henry Bowers on part of the premises. Signed April 15, 1850 before D. S. Richardson (witness Susan D. Rogers); Billerica town book 21, pages 51-53. By 1850 there were two houses on the lot; the 1853 map labels both "W. G. Alley".
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| 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 | Buys the Fitch Tufts house from the Tufts heirs, 1853 | Fitch Tufts House Greenwood Building |
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.
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| May 12, 1853 | Mortgage | William G. Alley of Billerica, carriage smith | Martha Tufts of Billerica, single woman | Mortgages the Tufts house to Martha Tufts, 1853 | Fitch Tufts House Greenwood Building |
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.
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| September 7, 1855 | Mortgage | John A. Morrill of South Reading (Rosetta Morrill releasing dower) | William G. Alley of Billerica | Takes back a $400 mortgage from John A. Morrill, 1855 | George P. Elliott House #2 | 2/186 |
Dated and acknowledged Sept. 6, 1855 before John Baldwin Jr. JP. To secure $400 in two years, "a certain piece of land situate in said Billerica on the road leading from Lowell to Boston containing about three fourths of an acre of land with a dwelling house thereon": from the northwest corner at the road "and at land owned by the said Wm. G. Alley", east by Alley 5 rods 21 links, south by Alley 10 rods 11 links "to the road leading to Bernard Tufts", west by the Tufts road 6 rods 17 links to the Lowell and Boston road, and north by that road 13 rods 13 links. This is Morrill's purchase-money mortgage for the corner house, which Alley sold him by deed of the same day (Book 2 Page 245); Alley discharged it on the margin July 30, 1856.
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| October 4, 1855 | Warranty Deed | William G. Alley of Billerica, blacksmith (Mary H. Alley releasing dower) | John A. Morrill of South Reading | Sells the corner house to John A. Morrill, 1855 | George P. Elliott House #2 | 2/245 |
Dated and acknowledged Sept. 6, 1855 before John Baldwin Jr. JP. For $800, "a certain piece of land situate in said Billerica on the road leading from Lowell to Boston, containing about three fourths of an acre of land, with a dwelling house thereon": from the northwest corner at the road "and at land owned by myself", east "on my own land" 5 rods 21 links to a stake and stones, south still on his own land 10 rods 11 links "to the road leading to Bernard Tufts", west by the Tufts road 6 rods 17 links to the Lowell and Boston road, and north by that road 13 rods 13 links. No title recital: it is the south corner of the two-house lot Alley bought from George P. Elliot in 1850 (Book 584 Page 409), with the 1844 triangle at the corner. The first deed of this house as a separate lot.
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| November 3, 1855 | Warranty Deed | William G. Alley of Billerica, yeoman (Mary H. Alley releasing dower) | Mark Lund of Clinton, Worcester County, blacksmith | Sells the Tufts house and the shop lot to Mark Lund, 1855 | Alley's Blacksmith Shop Fitch Tufts House Greenwood Building |
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.
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| July 26, 1856 | Warranty Deed | William G. Alley of Billerica (wife Mary H. Alley releasing dower and homestead) | John A. Morrill of Nashua, New Hampshire | Sells his two-acre homestead to John A. Morrill, 1856 | George P. Elliott House #1 George P. Elliott House #2 |
4/574 |
For $2,500, "my Homestead Place situate in said Billerica containing two acres", beginning at the northwest corner at land of George H. Blanchard and the great Road to Boston, northerly on Blanchard to land of Wm. P. P. Pollard, easterly on Pollard to "Tufts Lane" so called, southerly on the lane to land of said Morrill, westerly on Morrill 10 rods 11 links, southerly on Morrill 5 rods 21 1/2 links to the road to Boston, and westerly on the road 9 rods 18 1/2 links: the description repeated in every deed of the lot to 1961. Signed July 21, 1856 before Dudley Foster (witness John D. Bacon). The deed is bounded south and east by "land of said Morrill": Morrill already owned the corner at Tufts Lane, which from here on is a separate lot (later Edward M. Sprowl's, today 524 Boston Road).
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| July 30, 1856 | Warranty Deed | John A. Morrill of Nashua, N.H. (Rosetta Morrill releasing dower) | William G. Alley of Billerica | Takes the corner house back from John A. Morrill, 1856 | George P. Elliott House #2 | 4/584 |
Dated and acknowledged in New Hampshire July 21, 1856, the same day Alley deeded Morrill his two-acre homestead to the north (Book 4 Page 574). For $800, "a certain piece of land situate in said Billerica on the road leading from Lowell to Boston containing about three fourths of an acre with the dwelling house thereon", bounded northwest and east "on said Alley's land" 5 rods 21 links and 10 rods 11 links, south on "the road leading to Bernard Tufts" 6 rods 17 links, and west on the Lowell and Boston road 13 rods 13 links; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by said Alley by deed dated Sept 7th 1855." The two men exchanged places: Alley took back the corner and Morrill took the homestead.
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| September 11, 1856 | Warranty Deed | William G. Alley of Springfield (Mary H. Alley releasing dower) | Andrew W. Hammond of Haverhill | Of Springfield, sells the corner house to Andrew W. Hammond, 1856 | George P. Elliott House #2 | 7/109 |
Dated and acknowledged Sept. 5, 1856 in Hampden County before A. A. Leonard JP. For $800, "a certain piece of land situate in Billerica ... on the road from Lowell to Boston containing about three fourths of an acre with the dwelling house thereon", from the northwest corner at the road and land of John A. Morrill, east and south on Morrill's land 5 rods 21 links and 10 rods 11 links to "the road leading to Bernard Tufts", west by that road 6 rods 17 links, and north by the Boston and Lowell road 13 rods 13 links; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by John A. Morrill by deed dated July 21st 1856." Alley, the blacksmith, had moved to Springfield.
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.