195 High St

For 190 pounds, "a certain tract or parcel of land ... containing by estimation seventy one acres" (the 63 acres from his father plus the 8 acres from Thomas Rogers), beginning "at the Northeasterly angle by the road or highway leading from Billerica to Tewksbury at the wall on the South side of Ebenezer French's Orchard," west along the wall past "the lower garden" to the Concord River, up the river to Timothy Sprague, by Sprague and Thomas Richardson to a road, and by the roads back to the first bounds, "with all the buildings thereon standing"; also ten acres on the other side of the road by Samuel Trull. The widow Sarah Kidder released her dower "in consequence of my sons giving me a lease of one third part of his land & buildings in Townshend." Signed Dec. 15, 1789; recorded Feb. 23, 1798. Billerica town book 9, pages 339-341.

• November 4, 1786 Deed: William Kidder of Billerica, gentleman to His son Isaac Kidder of Billerica, yeoman (81/643) (the 63 acres from William Kidder)
• January 5, 1790 Deed: Thomas Rogers of Billerica, yeoman; Martha Rogers his wife releasing dower to Isaac Kidder of Billerica, yeoman (101/379) (the 8 acres from Thomas Rogers)

• February 10, 1846 Deed: John Rogers to Hermon Rogers (474/380) (John Rogers gives Hermon half of all his real estate)
• February 10, 1846 Deed: John Rogers of Billerica, yeoman to His son Hermon Rogers of Billerica, yeoman (474/379) (John Rogers's farm bought of Isaac Kidder)

"In consideration of a bond for the support of myself and wife and for the payment of one thousand dollars to my son Cyrus Rogers by my son Hermon Rogers ... and for the love I bear him," John Rogers conveys "one undivided half of all my real estate wheresoever the same may be situated," "I having conveyed to the said Hermon the other half by a deed of this date but he the said Hermon is not to come into the actual possession or improvement thereof until my decease and then not untill he has paid to the said Cyrus the sum of one thousand dollars." With the companion deed (Book 474, Page 380) this put the whole of the 1789 Kidder farm, house included, in Hermon's hands. Signed May 12, 1827 before Joseph Locke; recorded Feb. 10, 1846. Billerica town book 20, pages 53-54.

• February 23, 1798 Deed: Isaac Kidder of Billerica, yeoman; Sarah his wife and Sarah Kidder, widow, releasing dower to John Rogers of Billerica, yeoman (128/13) (John Rogers's farm bought of Isaac Kidder)

• November 11, 1864 Warranty Deed: Hermon Rogers of Amesbury; Hannah Rogers his wife releasing dower to Frank D. Rogers of Belvidere, Boone County, Illinois (38/250) (Hermon's homestead, from his father)

• February 10, 1846 Deed: John Rogers to Hermon Rogers (474/380) (companion deed of the same day for the other half)

John Rogers of Billerica, yeoman, "in consideration of love and affection and also of past services rendered by my son Hermon Rogers," conveys "one undivided half of all my real estate wherever the same is situated and however bounded or described." Signed May 12, 1827 before Joseph Locke; not recorded until Feb. 10, 1846, with Franklin B. Chapman's deed to Hermon of ten acres by Morey and Stevens, the heirs of William Bowers and C. W. French (Book 474 Page 381). Hazen: Hermon Rogers (1792-1878) "lived in the east part of North Billerica, at the corner of the Lowell road." The descent of the Rogers land from John Rogers Jr., killed here in 1695, to this John Rogers has not been traced. Billerica town book 18, pages 71-72.

• February 23, 1798 Deed: Isaac Kidder of Billerica, yeoman; Sarah his wife and Sarah Kidder, widow, releasing dower to John Rogers of Billerica, yeoman (128/13) (John Rogers gives Hermon half of all his real estate)

• October 10, 1859 Deed: Hermon Rogers and Hannah Rogers to Anthony Jones (21/331) (Hermon Rogers farm)
• November 11, 1864 Warranty Deed: Hermon Rogers of Amesbury; Hannah Rogers his wife releasing dower to Frank D. Rogers of Belvidere, Boone County, Illinois (38/250) (Hermon's homestead, from his father)

For $4,700, a lot "on the west side of the old road which leads from Billerica by said Rogers dwelling house to Lowell," from the corner of "the Collins farm" (now Mrs. Pinnock's) westerly across the Boston and Lowell Railroad location, by Mrs. McGlone to the Concord River, up the river to J. R. Faulkner, by the Faulkners and "land taken from John Rogers and myself" for the railroad to the road from North Billerica Mills to Tewksbury, around a lot of the Talbots, and easterly "to the first wall west of said Rogers present dwelling house" and the Sprague lot; subject to the railroad location and flowage rights sold to Oliver M. Whipple. Also a second lot on the easterly side of the Lowell and Billerica road, from the corner of Mary Pasho's land "near her dwelling," by C. W. French and Ebenezer French to the Collins farm. Signed Oct. 8, 1859. Jones mortgaged it back to Hermon (Book 21 Page 334), discharged Feb. 29, 1860 (Book 23 Page 68).

• February 10, 1846 Deed: John Rogers to Hermon Rogers (474/380) (Hermon Rogers farm)

• March 8, 1860 Quitclaim: Anthony Jones and Judith Jones to Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster (23/68) (two thirds of the Hermon Rogers farm)
• March 8, 1860 Warranty Deed: Anthony Jones of Billerica; Judith Jones his wife releasing dower and homestead to Martin Conway of Billerica, yeoman (23/70) (part of the Hermon Rogers farm Jones bought in 1859)
• March 9, 1883 Warranty Deed: Judith Jones of Billerica, widow to Thomas Talbot of Billerica (158/368) (Jones family land (no recital): part of the Hermon Rogers farm)

• February 10, 1846 Deed: John Rogers of Billerica, yeoman to His son Hermon Rogers of Billerica, yeoman (474/379) (the farm land west of the house, sold separately)

For $3,100, "one undivided two thirds of my Hermon Rogers farm," with the same bounds as Hermon Rogers's 1859 deed on the west side of the old road "by said Rogers dwelling house to Lowell," and two thirds of the lot on the east side of the road beginning "at the corner of land I this day conveyed to Martin Conway." Signed Feb. 29, 1860. The same day Jones sold Conway, for $350, four acres "on the east side of the old road leading from Billerica to Lowell," beginning at the southwest corner by Mary Pasho, now Mary Burbank, "near her dwelling," and running to C. W. French (Book 23 Page 70).

• October 10, 1859 Deed: Hermon Rogers and Hannah Rogers to Anthony Jones (21/331) (two thirds of the Hermon Rogers farm)

• December 4, 1869 Warranty Deed: Caroline Haynes, widow, and the children of Lyman Haynes (Tilly, Theodore L., Cyrus H., Charles R., William H. and John Haynes, and Carrie H. Jenkins), all of Springfield to Anthony Jones and Dudley Foster, both of Billerica (71/90) (Haynes third back to Jones and Foster)

For $350, "a certain lot of Land situate in said Billerica on the East side of the old road leading from Billerica to Lowell, containing four acres, more or less": from the southwest corner on the road "at a wall at the corner of land of Mary Pasho, now Mary Burbank near her dwelling", east by Burbank on the wall to Charles W. French, north by French on a wall to "a corner of the wall at my own land", west on a wall by the grantor's land to "the Lowell and Billerica road", and south on the road to the start. No buildings and no title recital (Jones had the land from Hermon Rogers in 1859). Signed Feb. 29, 1860 before Dudley Foster, J.P.; recorded March 8, 1860 (Book 23, pages 70-71). Every later deed of the lot to 1953 goes back to this one.

• October 10, 1859 Deed: Hermon Rogers and Hannah Rogers to Anthony Jones (21/331) (part of the Hermon Rogers farm Jones bought in 1859)

• November 17, 1904 Warranty Deed: Martin Conway of Billerica; Margaret Conway his wife (by mark) releasing dower and homestead to Elvira R. Gould of Billerica (372/101) (strip cut from the 1860 lot)

• March 8, 1860 Quitclaim: Anthony Jones and Judith Jones to Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster (23/68) (same day: Jones sells two thirds of the rest of the farm, bounded at Conway)

For $150 payable in three years, a mortgage of the four acres Conway had just bought from Jones, "on the easterly side of the old road leading from Billerica to Lowell", beginning on the road at the southwest corner "at a wall at the corner of land of Mary Pashio now Mary Burbank near her dwelling", east by Burbank's land on the wall to Charles W. French, north by French, west by Jones's land to the road. Signed February 29, recorded March 8, 1860; discharged on the margin, January 1861. It shows the Pashio house standing in 1860, just south of the Conway lot.

• 1859 Administration: Estate of John F. Pashio of Billerica (died intestate, 1858-1859) to His widow Mary E. Pashio, administratrix, and minor children Gardner S. and Levi F. Pashio (Probate #39045) (abutter deed naming the Pashio widow and her dwelling)
• March 8, 1860 Warranty Deed: Anthony Jones of Billerica; Judith Jones his wife releasing dower and homestead to Martin Conway of Billerica, yeoman (23/70) (purchase-money mortgage of the same day)

For one dollar and other considerations, "a certain lot of land situated on the easterly side of High Street in that part of said Billerica known as North Billerica": from the northwest corner of the grantee's land, 15 ft northwest on the street to a stone bound at other land of the grantor, then southeast in a straight line on that land 490.7 ft to a stake in the wall at Thomas Spaulding and the grantee, and west on the wall 486.6 ft to the start, "about thirty-five hundred and twenty-four square feet", shown on a plan "surveyed for Mrs. Joseph D. Gould" by H. W. Sheldon, Sept. 20, 1904; the grantee to keep the partition wall or fence wholly on her side. Signed Oct. 12, 1904 (witness Thos. J. Callaghan to Margaret's mark) before Joseph F. Talbot, J.P.; recorded Nov. 17, 1904 (pages 101-102). A thin strip off the south side of the Conway lot, added to the Gould (Pashio) house lot; Mrs. Gould quitclaimed it the same day to George H. and William P. Gould (page 102).

• March 8, 1860 Warranty Deed: Anthony Jones of Billerica; Judith Jones his wife releasing dower and homestead to Martin Conway of Billerica, yeoman (23/70) (strip cut from the 1860 lot)

Middlesex probate 317626. The docket, recorded in 1988 with the Knowles affidavit (Book 4503, Page 297), shows the will of Hannah A. Callaghan of Lowell proved without testimony in September 1953, Frederick T. Callaghan of Lowell appointed executor under a $7,600 bond, the inventory filed, and a license to sell real estate granted Sept. 11, 1953. Hannah A. Callaghan had witnessed Margaret Conway's mark in 1920; how the lot came to her from the Conways was not recorded in the registry.

• September 14, 1953 Executor's Deed: Frederick T. Callaghan of Lowell, executor under the will of Hannah A. Callaghan to George J. Knowles and Rose A. Knowles, husband and wife, of Billerica (1234/312) (executor's sale under the license of Sept. 11, 1953)

• April 3, 1920 Quitclaim: Margaret Conway of Billerica, "being a widow and unmarried" (by mark) to Mary Sass of Lowell (622/351) (the lot passed from the Conway heirs to Hannah A. Callaghan without a recorded deed)

By power from the Probate Court, for $5,000, "A certain lot of land situated in Billerica on the East side of the Old Road leading from Billerica to Lowell containing four (4) acres more or less", by the 1860 bounds (Mary Pasho now Mary Burbank "near her dwelling", Charles W. French, Anthony Jones now or formerly, the Lowell and Billerica road): "Being all and the same premises described in a deed from Anthony Jones to Martin Conway, dated February 29, 1860 and recorded in Middlesex North District Registry of Deeds Book 23 Page 70." No buildings named. Signed and recorded Sept. 14, 1953 (pages 312-313); margin: "See Bill of Complaint No 5300 On File" and the 1988 papers (Book 4503, Pages 292, 293, 296).

• 1953 Will: Estate of Hannah A. Callaghan (also Hanna A. Callahan) of Lowell to Frederick T. Callaghan of Lowell, executor (Probate #317626) (executor's sale under the license of Sept. 11, 1953)

• April 20, 1954 Quitclaim: George J. Knowles and Rose A. Knowles, husband and wife, of Billerica to Their son and his wife (private owners) (1253/101) (part of the 1953 purchase)
• May 12, 1988 Deed: The son of George J. and Rose A. Knowles and his wife (private owners) to Private owners (4503/300) (a portion of the 1953 purchase)

• March 8, 1860 Warranty Deed: Anthony Jones of Billerica; Judith Jones his wife releasing dower and homestead to Martin Conway of Billerica, yeoman (23/70) (the deed recites the 1860 Jones to Conway deed as its title)

Affidavit of May 1988 that "on September 14, 1953 my parents, George J. Knowles and Rose A. Knowles, purchased the above referred property on High Street" from Frederick T. Callaghan, executor under the will of Hannah A. Callaghan, under a license to sell dated Sept. 11, 1953 (the deed had given Sept. 14), with the certified probate docket (No. 317626) attached and an attorney's certification; recorded with the death records of George J. Knowles, who died at 195 High Street in May 1959 (Book 4503, Page 292), and of his widow Rose Anna Knowles, born in Canada in 1899, who died at 195 High Street on Aug. 26, 1984 (Book 4503, Page 293). Recorded May 12, 1988 to clear the title before the sale of Lot A.

• September 14, 1953 Executor's Deed: Frederick T. Callaghan of Lowell, executor under the will of Hannah A. Callaghan to George J. Knowles and Rose A. Knowles, husband and wife, of Billerica (1234/312) (confirms the 1953 executor's sale)

For $157,500, "parcel of land with the buildings thereon, shown as Lot A" on a Plan of Land in Billerica for the grantors, Dec. 8, 1987, Robert M. Gill & Associates (Plan Book 163, Plan 59): 493.55 ft on the north along a wall, 129.32 ft on the east by Regal Construction Co., 292.59 and 200 ft on the south by Lot B, and 146.55 ft on High Street, 55,620 sq ft; "Being a portion of the premises conveyed ... to George G. [J.] Knowles and Rose A. Knowles ... September 14, 1953 ... Book 1234, Page 312." Recorded May 12, 1988. Lot A holds the old two-story house near the road. Later private sales: 1993 ($130,000, Book 6864 Page 134), 2012 ($435,000, Book 26540 Page 9), a nominal transfer and a $400,000 sale in 2014 (Book 28492 Page 166; Book 28692 Page 244), and 2016 ($427,500, Book 29808 Page 8, the current deed).

• September 14, 1953 Executor's Deed: Frederick T. Callaghan of Lowell, executor under the will of Hannah A. Callaghan to George J. Knowles and Rose A. Knowles, husband and wife, of Billerica (1234/312) (a portion of the 1953 purchase)

• May 12, 1988 Affidavit: The son of George J. and Rose A. Knowles, owner of Lot A (private) to (Record of title, G.L. c. 183 s. 5B) (4503/296) (recorded the same day)