21 Concord Rd

For 26 pounds, "one Messuage or Tenement situate in Billerica abovesaid Containing about nine acres be it more or less, bounded on the East by the High way, on the North by the Land of Samuel Ruggles & Enoch Kidder, on the West by the Land of Nathaniel Rogers, and on the South by the Land of Saml. ffassett with all the buildings, with all the Fences and Trees thereon standing (Excepting Nathaniel Rogers his orchard which is Contained within the bounds abovesaid)." Dated Dec. 8, 1712 (11 Anne), signed by the mark of John Rogers Jr., witnessed by Samuel Fassett, Thomas Ball and Jacob Danforth; acknowledged Jan. 16, 1712/13 before Jonathan Tyng; recorded at Charlestown July 31, 1713. Ruggles, the town's second minister, already owned the land to the north; with this purchase his homestead ran along the road south from the meeting house to the Fassett (later Danforth) line, the sixteen acres "Bounded Easterly on the Country Road ... westerly on Land of Capt. Enoch Kidder" of his 1749 inventory. Billerica town book 1, pages 518-519.

• 1749 Will and Inventory: Rev. Samuel Ruggles of Billerica, clerk to His sons Joseph Ruggles and William Ruggles; his daughters (Probate #19569) (the nine acres bought in 1712 are part of the sixteen-acre homestead)

Will dated June 29, 1748: to "my Beloved Son Joseph Ruggles the one half of my house viz. that half which stands towards the south," half the barn and yard and about seven or eight acres "lying between my Orchard and Mr. Jacob Danforth's land," with his silver tankard, Joseph to pay the debts and be sole executor; to his son William Ruggles "the other half of my house & barn and the other part of my Homestead Land," reserving to his daughters Lucy and Sarah the right to live in the north chamber while single; bequests to his daughters Elizabeth Rogers (wife of Rev. Daniel Rogers of Littleton), Martha (wife of John Whiting of Littleton), Dorothy (wife of Rev. Mr. Morrill of Wilmington), Lucy and Sarah Ruggles, and the sale of his "Negrowoman (Phillis)" with the money divided among three daughters. Witnesses Joshua Abbott, Jacob Danforth and John Chandler. The inventory of April 1749 lists his library at 228 pounds and, last, "the Real Estate to about Sixteen acres of Land Consisting of pasturing mowing & orcharding Bounded Easterly on the Country Road Northerly on a high way westerly on Land of Capt. Enoch Kidder Southerly on land of Lt. Jacob Danforth together with a Large Mansion House and other the Buildings thereon standing," at 2,300 pounds old tenor. Middlesex probate case 19569.

• July 31, 1713 Deed: John Rogers Jr. of Billerica to The Rev. Samuel Ruggles of Billerica (16/343) (the nine acres bought in 1712 are part of the sixteen-acre homestead)

• 1754 Deed: William Ruggles of Billerica, clothier to His brother Joseph Ruggles of Billerica (53/455) (William's half of the house under his father's will)
• July 14, 1756 Deed: Joseph Ruggles of Billerica, clothier, and Sarah his wife to The Rev. Daniel Rogers of Littleton, clerk (54/451) (Joseph's half under the will)
• December 16, 1915 Warranty: Fanny M. Blanchard of Billerica, unmarried to Martha A. Greeley, wife of Michael C. Greeley, of Boston (547/565) (through the Reeds' 1907 deed (N. 412/119), the end of the Ruggles, Rogers, Parker and Baldwin chain)

For 266 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence, "a Tract of Land lying in Billerica aforesaid near the Meeting House containing twelve acres be it more or less consisting of Orcharding Plowland Mowing and Pasturage with the Buildings thereon Viz. a Dwelling House which was my Father Ruggles's in which I now dwell also a Barn and a Shop," beginning at a stake and stones at the southeast corner of Mr. John Chandler's land, southerly by the Common and highway to the southeast corner, westerly by land of David and Timothy Danforth to the wall at a corner of Capt. Enoch Kidder's lot, then northerly, easterly and northerly by Kidder's land, and easterly by Mr. Chandler's land to the beginning; Sarah released dower. Dated Nov. 13, 1755, witnessed by Saml. Whiting and Oliver Abbot, acknowledged the same day before Thos. Kidder, recorded at Cambridge July 14, 1756. Rogers, minister of Littleton, was married to Joseph's sister Elizabeth. How the house then came to John Parker the tanner is not recorded: no deed from Rogers is in the Billerica books, and the inventory of Rogers's estate in 1782 lists land only in Littleton and Cambridge. Billerica town book 5, pages 393-395.

• 1749 Will and Inventory: Rev. Samuel Ruggles of Billerica, clerk to His sons Joseph Ruggles and William Ruggles; his daughters (Probate #19569) (Joseph's half under the will)
• 1754 Deed: William Ruggles of Billerica, clothier to His brother Joseph Ruggles of Billerica (53/455) (the other half bought of William)

• 1762 Administration: Estate of the Rev. John Chandler of Billerica (died 1762), Elizabeth Chandler administratrix to His widow Elizabeth and daughters (Probate #4250) (the 1755 deed already bounds on Chandler's land)

Will dated March 27, 1801, with a codicil of Feb. 28, 1803. To his son John the tan-house and tan-yard and a strip from the Common westward to the wall of the orchard, among other land; to his son Stephen "my dwelling-house, and the land adjoining" on the south side of the Common, on condition he support his sister Abigail, and "I also bequeath to my said son, Stephen, the whole of my farm on the west side of Concord road, commonly called the Ruggles farm, except that small parcel of it which I have given to my son, John. This bequest is to be understood as including the barn, and all other appurtenances belonging to said farm." Legacies to sons Daniel and Samuel and daughters Sarah Bowers, Anne Prichard and Elizabeth Breed. Witnesses Henry Cumings, Jacob Richardson and John Richardson Jr. Proved at Woburn Sept. 20, 1803 before Judge Oliver Prescott. This is the first record of the house in Parker hands. Middlesex probate case 16643.

• April 21, 1748 Deed: Nathaniel Davidson of Billerica, trader to John Parker of Billerica, tanner (47/184) (John Parker held the tanyard from 1748 until his death)

• December 11, 1837 Warranty Deed: Stephen Parker of Billerica, gentleman, and Sibel his wife to His brother John Parker of Billerica, Esq. (368/529) (Stephen's land under his father's will)
• June 22, 1833 Deed: Col. John Parker of Billerica (Susanna Parker releasing dower) to The Trustees of Billerica Academy (323/274) (probably the strip from the Common westward willed to Col. John Parker in 1803)
• 1832 Will: John Parker of Billerica (d. 1832) to His wife Susan Parker and daughter Ann Parker; other children and grandchildren (Probate #16646) (John jr. held the house by 1819)

• July 14, 1756 Deed: Joseph Ruggles of Billerica, clothier, and Sarah his wife to The Rev. Daniel Rogers of Littleton, clerk (54/451) (Parker held the Ruggles farm by 1801; the deed from Rogers is not recorded)

For $1,200, "the following described piece of land containing five acres & the same more or less," beginning "at an Elm tree near the said John Parker's dwelling house," westerly by John Parker's land about twenty rods to a stone wall running south, southerly by the wall seven or eight rods, westerly again by John Parker's land about twenty rods, southerly by Stephen Parker's land about eighteen rods to land of the Revd. Nathl. Whitman, easterly by Whitman "by the wall as it now stands to the road leading south from the meeting house" about forty rods, and by the road to the beginning, "the said piece of land being now enclosed with a stone wall all round with all the buildings thereon standing." Dated Oct. 13, 1819, witnessed by M. Preston and Elizabeth Parker, acknowledged Oct. 30, 1819 before Blaney Abbot, recorded Dec. 11, 1837. By 1819 John Parker Jr. was living in the Ruggles house; this completed the twelve-acre house lot of his will. On the same page is Stephen's 1829 release to John of half the "City Farm." Billerica town book 15, pages 487-488.

• 1803 Will: John Parker of Billerica, gentleman (tanner) to His sons Stephen Parker and John Parker (executors) and his other children (Probate #16643) (Stephen's land under his father's will)

• 1832 Will: John Parker of Billerica (d. 1832) to His wife Susan Parker and daughter Ann Parker; other children and grandchildren (Probate #16646) (the five acres completing the house lot)

Will dated Dec. 20, 1831: to his wife Susan Parker "two undivided third parts of my House Lot in Billerica, consisting of about twelve acres of land, with a Dwelling House, Barn & outbuildings thereon: bounded easterly on the road, southerly on land of the Rev. N. Whitman, westerly on land of Gardner Parker, and northerly on land late of Stephen Parker & Samuel Foster to said road," with a wood lot and the Oliver Abbot lot for life; to his daughter Ann Parker "one undivided third part of my House Lot containing about twelve acres of land, with Dwelling House, Barn & out buildings"; to his son David half the tanyard; to his daughter Maria, wife of Marshall Preston, the Minister Lot; to his grandsons Francis James Parker, Charles Henry Parker and Frederic Augustus Parker and granddaughter Henrietta Parker, other land and money; son-in-law Marshall Preston executor. Witnesses Phineas How, Tilly Merrick and Nathan Brooks. Proved at Lowell June 5, 1832. Middlesex probate case 16646.

• 1803 Will: John Parker of Billerica, gentleman (tanner) to His sons Stephen Parker and John Parker (executors) and his other children (Probate #16643) (John jr. held the house by 1819)
• December 11, 1837 Warranty Deed: Stephen Parker of Billerica, gentleman, and Sibel his wife to His brother John Parker of Billerica, Esq. (368/529) (the five acres completing the house lot)

• May 23, 1840 Guardian's Deed: Jacob Coggin of Tewksbury, clerk, guardian of Charles Henry Parker, minor child of Frederic Parker late of Salem to David Parker of Billerica, gentleman (392/474) (the grandson's half under his grandfather's will)
• 1841 Will: Susan Parker of Billerica, widow of John Parker to Her son George Parker; her daughter Maria Preston (Probate #38954) (Susan's two thirds under her husband's will)
• February 15, 1842 Warranty Deed: Marshall Preston and Maria Preston, his wife, in her right, of Billerica to Lyman Haynes of Billerica, yeoman (410/494) (Maria Preston held the Minister Lot under her father's will)
• February 15, 1842 Warranty Deed: Marshall Preston and Maria Preston, his wife, in her right, of Billerica to Dudley Foster of Billerica, Esquire (410/495) (Maria Preston held the Minister Lot under her father's will)
• June 19, 1844 Warranty Deed: Ann Parker of Billerica, singlewoman to Deacons Amos Spaulding and Edward Spaulding, for the First Baptist Church in Billerica (445/112) (her one third under John Parker's will)

For $2,000, "two undivided third parts of a certain tract or parcel of land situate in said Billerica late the homestead of Col. John Parker deceased & containing twelve acres more or less," from the northeast corner at the Billerica Academy and the Common, southerly by the Common and the Concord road to George Bacon, westerly by Bacon to Gardner Parker, northerly by Gardner Parker to the widow Sybil Parker's dower, then by the dower, Capt. Samuel Foster and the heirs of Wm. Bowers to the horse stables, and by the stables and the Academy land back to the Common. Dated Sept. 9, 1842, witnessed by Lovice M. Preston and John Baldwin, recorded Oct. 11, 1842. With her own third under her father's will, Ann Parker now owned the whole house lot. Billerica town book 17, pages 388-389.

• April 14, 1842 Deed: George Parker of Clinton, Oneida County, N.Y., merchant, and Catharine Ann his wife to Marshall Preston of Billerica, Esq., and Maria Preston his wife, as joint tenants (414/358)

• June 19, 1844 Warranty Deed: Ann Parker of Billerica, singlewoman to Deacons Amos Spaulding and Edward Spaulding, for the First Baptist Church in Billerica (445/112) (Ann Parker held the homestead under her father's will and the 1842 deed)
• May 10, 1844 Warranty Deed: Ann Parker of Billerica, singlewoman to George Bacon of Billerica, yeoman (442/274) (Ann Parker's title to the homestead)
• March 18, 1845 Warranty Deed: Ann Parker of Billerica, singlewoman to John Baldwin of Billerica, Esq. (458/79) (part of Ann Parker's lot)
• 1861 Will: Ann Parker of Billerica, singlewoman (d. March 22, 1861) to Her nephew Charles Henry Parker of Billerica (Probate #38803) (Ann Parker's whole house lot)

Will dated Feb. 21, 1859: $1,000 to her brother David Parker, and "to my Nephew Charles Henry Parker of said Billerica, all the rest, residue and remainder of all the Real, Personal and mixed estate of which I shall die seized or possessed"; William Rogers of Tewksbury executor. Witnesses Amos Spalding, John T. Farmer and Francis Richardson. Charles H. Parker petitioned April 9, 1861, naming as heirs her brother David Parker of Billerica, sister Maria Preston of Lexington, brother George Parker of Clinton, N.Y., nephew James Parker of Texas and himself; the executor declined, and on May 14, 1861 the will was allowed at Cambridge and administration with the will annexed granted to Charles H. Parker. So the house of Ann's father John Parker passed to his grandson, the shoemaker who lived next door. Middlesex probate case 38803.

• October 11, 1842 Warranty Deed: Marshall Preston of Billerica, Esq., and Maria Preston his wife in her right as joint tenant to Ann Parker of Billerica, singlewoman (421/4) (Ann Parker's whole house lot)

• March 20, 1868 Quitclaim: Charles H. Parker of Billerica, Esq., and Mary B. Parker his wife to John Baldwin of Billerica (60/495) (Charles H. Parker as Ann Parker's residuary devisee)

For $3,248.57, "a piece or parcel of land lying in the centre of Billerica," near the town house, "containing six and a half acres ... with all the buildings thereon standing," bounded east by the Billerica Common, south by land of the Baptist Society, Benjamin Gilbert and School District No. One, west by Gardner Parker, and north by Gardner Parker, the grantee and the Town of Billerica; free of encumbrances except Parker's mortgage to Baldwin of April 10, 1864 for $2,051.51. Dated March 12, 1868, acknowledged March 13, 1868 before Dudley Foster, recorded March 20, 1868. Mary B. Parker was Baldwin's daughter. Every later deed of the house lot to 1907 is "the same premises conveyed by Charles H. Parker to John Baldwin." Book 60 Pages 495-496.

• 1861 Will: Ann Parker of Billerica, singlewoman (d. March 22, 1861) to Her nephew Charles Henry Parker of Billerica (Probate #38803) (Charles H. Parker as Ann Parker's residuary devisee)

• September 23, 1873 Warranty Deed: John Baldwin of Billerica, Esquire to Dr. George A. Munroe of Billerica, physician (96/430) (the acre cut from Baldwin's six and a half acres)
• September 28, 1876 Quitclaim (partition): Sarah Baldwin, John Baldwin, Lucy A. Baldwin, Francis Baldwin, Rachel A. Baldwin and Elizabeth C. Baldwin, heirs of John Baldwin to Mary C. Morey, Clara B. Reed, Frederick A. Parker, Charles W. Parker and Lucy B. Parker, "heirs of the late Mary B. Parker deceased" (120/235) (the same premises, in partition of John Baldwin's estate)
• October 17, 1894 Release: The heirs of John Baldwin (d. 1875): John A., Annie E., Lucy A., Henry, Rachel A. and Elizabeth C. Baldwin, Samuel and Annie G. Tucker, Fred H. and Catherine G. Parker, Frederic A. Morey and Mary C. Morey, Nathan H. and Clara B. Reed, and other Parkers to The Town of Billerica (259/24) ("Charles H. Parker to John Baldwin dated March 12, 1868")

For $1,200, "one acre of land (so called) be the same more or less, with the buildings thereon, enclosed by a stone wall": from the northeast corner at the grantor's own land "on the highway of the road leading to Concord," southerly along the highway about eight rods to land belonging to the Baptist Society, westerly about twenty rods by the Society and land of Albert R. Richardson to a stone wall on the grantor's land, northerly by that wall about eight rods and easterly by another wall about twenty rods to the start. Dated September 10, 1873, witnessed by Charles H. Parker and John Baldwin Jr. These bounds describe the lot in every deed down to the town's taking in 1970. Munroe gave Baldwin a mortgage back of $1,200 on the same day (Book 96, Page 431).

• March 20, 1868 Quitclaim: Charles H. Parker of Billerica, Esq., and Mary B. Parker his wife to John Baldwin of Billerica (60/495) (the acre cut from Baldwin's six and a half acres)

• September 16, 1885 Warranty Deed: George A. Monroe of Providence, R.I., physician (Martha Jane Monroe releasing) to John Baldwin of Chicago, Illinois (176/504) (Munroe's title)

For $1,100, "one acre of land, so called, ... with the building thereon, enclosed by a stone wall," the same bounds (heirs of Mary B. Parker, the road to Concord, the Baptist Society, Albert R. Richardson). Dated September 14, 1885, witnessed by Frederic A. Morey and Elizabeth C. Baldwin. Frances E. Flanders and her husband Charles W. Flanders gave Baldwin a mortgage of $900 the same day (Book 176, Page 531), assigned to George H. Hall and discharged on June 20, 1890.

• September 16, 1885 Warranty Deed: George A. Monroe of Providence, R.I., physician (Martha Jane Monroe releasing) to John Baldwin of Chicago, Illinois (176/504) (Baldwin's title)

• May 25, 1917 Guardian's Deed: Frances G. Jacobs of Framingham, guardian of Charles W. Flanders Sr. of Billerica to Mabel A. Luke of Billerica (572/570) (the husband's third after the death of Frances E. Flanders)
• May 25, 1917 Warranty Deed: Charles W. Flanders Jr. of Billerica and Frances G. Jacobs of Framingham (George E. Jacobs releasing) to Mabel A. Luke of Billerica (572/571) (the heirs of Frances E. Flanders)

For $1 and other valuable considerations, "all our right, title and interest in and to one acre of land ... with the buildings thereon, enclosed by a stone wall," the same bounds, "hereby conveying two undivided third parts of the said premises as heirs at law of the said Frances E. Flanders." Dated May 19, 1917. With the guardian's deed of the same day this gave Mabel A. Luke the whole lot after the death of Frances E. Flanders.

• September 21, 1885 Warranty Deed: John Baldwin of Chicago, Illinois (Lucy A. Baldwin releasing) to Frances E. Flanders of Billerica (176/530) (the heirs of Frances E. Flanders)

For consideration paid ($6.00 in revenue stamps), "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, consisting of one acre of land, more or less, enclosed by a stone wall," the same bounds; "Being the premises to me conveyed by two deeds," the guardian's deed and the Flanders heirs' deed of May 19, 1917 (Book 572, Pages 570 and 571). Dated July 3, 1925. Knox mortgaged the house to the Lowell Co-operative Bank for $5,000 and to Mabel W. Luke for $500 (Book 725, Pages 118 and 119).

• May 25, 1917 Guardian's Deed: Frances G. Jacobs of Framingham, guardian of Charles W. Flanders Sr. of Billerica to Mabel A. Luke of Billerica (572/570) (Mabel A. Luke's title)

• June 26, 1930 Quitclaim Deed: Charles W. Knox of Billerica (Susie E. Knox releasing) to William D. Cochrane of Billerica (791/387) (Knox's title)

• May 25, 1917 Warranty Deed: Charles W. Flanders Jr. of Billerica and Frances G. Jacobs of Framingham (George E. Jacobs releasing) to Mabel A. Luke of Billerica (572/571) (the other deed in Mabel A. Luke's title)

The same "one acre of land, more or less, enclosed by a stone wall," with the buildings, "Being the same premises to myself and Susie E. Knox conveyed by William D. Cochrane ... Book 791, Page 387, said Susie E. Knox having died in Billerica on May 7, 1935"; also two lots at Adams Shore, Quincy. Dated February 11, 1936. Mildred F. Sargent later married Knox and survived him (the 1968 executor's deed names her Mildred F. S. Knox).

• June 26, 1930 Quitclaim Deed: William D. Cochrane of Billerica, unmarried to Charles W. Knox and Susie E. Knox, husband and wife, as tenants by the entirety (791/388) (Knox survived his wife Susie (d. 1935))

• November 7, 1968 Executor's Deed: Paul Perkins, Executor under the will of Mildred F. S. Knox, late of Billerica to John Paul Knox and Irene B. Knox, of 21 Concord Road, Billerica (1865/701) (Mildred F. S. Knox survived as joint tenant)

By license of the Middlesex Probate Court of October 24, 1968, for $22,200, "A certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica on the westerly side of Concord Road and now numbered 21," the same bounds (heirs of Mary B. Parker, the highway to Concord, the Baptist Society, Albert R. Richardson, stone walls). "For title see deed of Charles W. Knox to Charles W. Knox and Mildred F. Sargent ... Book 879, Page 38" (the deed is at Page 58). In November 1969 the Knoxes sold the house to a private owner for $19,000 (Book 1906, Page 166), who held it until the town took it in 1970.

• February 12, 1936 Quitclaim Deed: Charles W. Knox of Billerica, unmarried to Charles W. Knox and Mildred F. Sargent of Billerica, as joint tenants (879/58) (Mildred F. S. Knox survived as joint tenant)

• July 31, 1970 Order of Taking: The owner of 21 Concord Road (a private owner, since 1969) to Town of Billerica (Board of Selectmen) (1929/277) (through the 1969 private sale (Book 1906, Page 166))

Order of taking of July 6, 1970 under the vote of the Annual Town Meeting of March 7, 1970: the selectmen "take in fee on behalf of the Town of Billerica, by the power of eminent domain for purposes of library building construction a parcel of land together with the buildings thereon," shown on the "Plan of land in Billerica, Mass., taken for Library Site by Billerica Board of Selectmen dated July, 1970" (Plan Book 111, Plan 19, Lot 3, 43,164 square feet), "on the westerly side of Concord Road and now numbered 21," with the same bounds as the deeds since 1873; award $31,000. Signed by the selectmen including Paul F. Newnan and Michael E. McLaughlin. The owner gave a confirmatory quitclaim deed to the town the same day (Book 1929, Page 280), reciting the 1969 purchase (Book 1906, Page 166).

• November 7, 1968 Executor's Deed: Paul Perkins, Executor under the will of Mildred F. S. Knox, late of Billerica to John Paul Knox and Irene B. Knox, of 21 Concord Road, Billerica (1865/701) (through the 1969 private sale (Book 1906, Page 166))

Quitclaim of "A certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica on the westerly side of Concord Road and now numbered 21," the same bounds, "given in confirmation of a previous taking by eminent domain," releasing the town from all claims for damages under the order of taking of July 6, 1970.

• July 31, 1970 Order of Taking: The owner of 21 Concord Road (a private owner, since 1969) to Town of Billerica (Board of Selectmen) (1929/277) (confirmatory deed of the taking)