Structure · Built 1859
James R. Faulkner House
James R. Faulkner House
| Address | 1 Faulkner St |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.79 |
| Built | 1859 |
| Other Lot Structures | William E. Faulkner House (1826 - 1859) |
The James R. Faulkner House at 1 Faulkner Street in North Billerica was built in 1859 for James Faulkner, son of the woolen manufacturer James R. Faulkner, on a lot beside the family's mill at the Canal Mills. MACRIS records it as the "Faulkner, James House." On February 8, 1859 James Faulkner signed a contract with George W. Pearson of Lowell, builder, "to erect on a foundation which the said Faulkner shall cause to be laid ... a dwelling house and shed," to plans by John W. Phillips, for $2,774. That October his father and his uncle Charles Faulkner deeded him the acre on which it stood, "with the buildings thereon."
James Faulkner died in 1865. His will, proved at Cambridge in December, left his wife Frances "the use of the house where I now reside and the land connected therewith constituting my homestead estate ... so long as she remains my widow," and after that to his children. In 1878 the widow and her son James N. Faulkner mortgaged "the late homestead of said James Faulkner" to Dudley Foster, trustee under the will. In June 1883 the children sold the homestead, the youngest through her guardian, to the Faulkner Manufacturing Company. For the next 35 years it was a company house. The 1887 engraving and the 1889 map show it as the home of W. A. Evans.
In December 1918 the company sold the old homestead, about 49,000 square feet with its buildings, to Charles H. Williams, who was developing the Garden Suburb around Mason and Letchworth Avenues. Williams divided it. In 1920 he sold the corner of Mason and Letchworth Avenues to Arthur H. and Rose M. Hubert, and the barn behind the house, on Mason Avenue, to Thomas R. Williams. In 1924 he sold the house itself, with 171 feet on Faulkner Street, to Daniel V. McSweeney, keeping a six-foot passageway on the west side "forever kept open."
A 1938 plan drawn for the McSweeney family (Plan Book 68, Plan 2) divided the property into Lot A, the house (19,150 square feet), and Lot B at the corner. In 1946 Daniel V. McSweeney sold Lot A to Andrew and Eliza S. Buckus, and in 1953 they sold it to private owners. The house has been privately owned since then.
References
- MACRIS BIL.79
- Billerica assessor, 1 Faulkner St (parcel 10-32-0): 0.44 acre, Lot A of Plan 68-2, sales from 1987
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| February 14, 1854 | Quitclaim Deed | The other heirs at law of Francis Faulkner (Dwight F., George, Winthrop, Luther W., Lois R., Lydia H. and William E. Faulkner, Calvin and Ann F. Rogers, and the Keene heirs) | James R. Faulkner of Billerica, manufacturer (two thirds), and Charles Faulkner of Boston, merchant (one third) | 1854 the Faulkner heirs release the land behind the mill to James R. and Charles Faulkner, out of which the house lot was cut | 668/424 (South) |
Billerica town book 21, pages 191-193. For $600, land "at the canal mills so called" bounded by land of James R. and Charles Faulkner and of William E. Faulkner, by Herman Rogers, by Concord River on two sides, and by "land of said James R. Faulkner where he now lives, consisting of plain land and containing about fifteen acres": the rest of the 21 acres of the 1825 canal purchase, behind the mill. Dated Jan 2, 1854. With it James R. and Charles Faulkner held the whole mill property, two thirds and one third, the shares of the later 1857 and 1880 deeds.
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| March 22, 1859 | Building Agreement | James Faulkner of Billerica | George W. Pearson of Lowell, builder | 1859 contract to build James Faulkner's new house on the lot | 18/363 |
"Memorandum of Agreement made this eighth day of February 1859": Pearson agrees "to erect on a foundation which the said Faulkner shall cause to be laid in the Town of Billerica a dwelling house and shed according to plans and specifications drawn and written by John W. Phillips", furnishing all materials and labor for $2,774, paid $700 when the house is "up and boarded", $700 when the outside is finished, $700 when plastered and $674 when finished, the house and shed "to be finished about the first day of September 1859". This is the house now called the James R. Faulkner House (1 Faulkner Street); its building is why the older house on the lot was moved back.
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| November 9, 1859 | Quitclaim Deed | James R. Faulkner of Billerica and Charles Faulkner of Boston (wives Catherine and Anne S. releasing dower) | James Faulkner of Billerica | 1859: J. R. and Charles Faulkner deed the one-acre lot to James Faulkner | 21/569 |
Dated October 7, 1859. For $500, "a certain tract of land situate in North Billerica, containing one acre, more or less, with the buildings thereon standing": from the northwest corner at land of J. R. and Charles Faulkner, east by their land 151 ft "to land of J. R. & Wm. E. Faulkner", south on that land 347 ft to the road, west on the road 160 ft and north 280 ft. The lot of the James R. Faulkner House (lot 5, "Estate of J. Faulkner", on the 1880 Faulkner Manufacturing Company plan); the older house that stood here is believed to be the one moved back onto the mill land, now 3 Mason Avenue.
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| 1865 | Will | Estate of James Faulkner of Billerica, son of James R. Faulkner | Henry Faulkner of Roxbury, executor; widow Frances R. Faulkner; their children | 1865 will of James Faulkner gives his widow the house for her widowhood, then to the children | Probate #31569 |
Middlesex probate case 31569 (80 pages). Will dated Dec. 12, 1864 (witnesses Daniel S. Richardson, Gardner Parker, George F. Richardson), proved at Cambridge Dec. 26, 1865: $10,000 in trust for his wife for life; "I give to my wife Frances A. Faulkner the use of the house where I now reside and the land connected therewith constituting my homestead estate and the use of the furniture in said house so long as she remains my widow", then to his children equally; Henry Faulkner of Roxbury executor and guardian of the children.
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| January 29, 1878 | Mortgage | Frances R. Faulkner of Billerica, widow, and James N. Faulkner of Billerica | Dudley Foster of Billerica, trustee under the will of James Faulkner | 1878 the widow and a son mortgage "the late homestead of said James Faulkner" to his trustee | 127/425 |
For $1,000 at 6 percent for two years, "a certain lot of land with the buildings thereon situated in that part of said Billerica called North Billerica, Being the late homestead of said James Faulkner, deceased": 141 feet by J. R. and Charles Faulkner, 347 feet by J. R. and William E. Faulkner to the road, 180 feet on the road and 280 feet back, "Being the same premises conveyed to the said James Faulkner, deceased by Charles Faulkner and James R. Faulkner deed dated Oct. 7, 1859" (21/569). The widow was seized "during her widowhood" and James N. of a third of the remainder. Buildings to be insured for $1,000. Discharged June 12, 1883.
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| December 2, 1880 | Executor's Deed | Charles Faulkner of Boston, executor of and trustee under the will of James R. Faulkner | The Faulkner Manufacturing Company | 1880 the Faulkner Manufacturing Company buys the mill; the plan shows lot 5, "estate of James Faulkner", next to it | 143/23 |
For $50,000, "two undivided third parts of all that lot of land with the buildings thereon": lot 1 of 29.55 acres from "the stone pier of the bridge across Concord River" across "the little basin, so-called", along the river about 1,540 ft to Jones and Foster, by the Boston and Lowell Rail Road and the schoolhouse lot back to the road to Billerica Centre, with the water rights, flowage, the 1857 Talbot rights (Book 9 Page 378) and "all the machinery, tools and fixtures in the buildings"; lot 2 "with the building thereon ... on the east end of the dam south of the County road", bounded 10 ft from the canal wall; and two thirds of five more lots, including land "on what was formerly the Middlesex Canal" (Sage plan 1838, Book 18 Page 374; Calvin Rogers to James R. and Charles Faulkner, 1859, Book 20 Page 390) and an acre by the old William Rogers house on "the road ... to the Canal Mills".
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| June 11, 1883 | Guardian's Deed | Dudley Foster of Billerica, guardian of Carrie T. Faulkner, a minor child of James Faulkner | The Faulkner Manufacturing Company | 1883 the guardian of the youngest child sells her third of the homestead to the Faulkner Manufacturing Company | 160/478 |
Licensed by the Probate Court May 22, 1883, private sale for $1,333.33 of "an undivided third part of a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon, situated in said Billerica, containing one acre more or less" (141, 347, 160 and 280 feet), "Being the same premises conveyed to James Faulkner by James R. Faulkner and Charles Faulkner by deed dated October 7th 1859" (21/569). Dated June 5, 1883, acknowledged before Frederic A. Morey JP.
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| June 11, 1883 | Deed | James N. Faulkner of Kingston, Mass., and Herbert Faulkner of Billerica, sons of James Faulkner | The Faulkner Manufacturing Company | 1883 the sons sell their two thirds; the house becomes company property | 160/479 |
For $1 and other valuable considerations, "two undivided third part[s] of a certain parcel of land, with the buildings thereon situated in that part of said Billerica called North Billerica", from land of James R. and Charles Faulkner 141 feet east, 347 feet south "to the road leading from North Billerica to Billerica Centre", 160 feet on the road and 280 feet north, "containing one acre more or less, and being all our right, title and interest in the premises which were conveyed to our father, James Faulkner" (21/569); "For our title see the will of said James Faulkner". Recorded with the guardian's deed, June 1883. With these deeds the mill company owned the whole homestead.
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| December 27, 1918 | Quitclaim | The Faulkner Manufacturing Company, by George M. Preston, President and Treasurer | Charles H. Williams of Billerica | 1918 the mill company sells the old James Faulkner homestead to Charles H. Williams, developer of the Garden Suburb | 596/338 |
$4 in stamps. "The land in that part of Billerica ... known as North Billerica with the buildings thereon", shown on the 1914 "Plan of the Manufacturing Plant of Faulkner Manufacturing Company" (Plan 31/91): from a stone bound on the northerly line of Faulkner Street, north about 268.27 feet along land of James F. Preston et als, Trustees (the J. R. Faulkner homestead), east about 175.05 feet, south about 309.65 feet and along Faulkner Street about 177.6 feet, with the rights of way of the 1914 deeds. Dated Dec. 27, 1918, with the directors' vote "To accept the offer of Charles H. Williams". The old James Faulkner homestead, which Williams divided into three lots.
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| April 21, 1920 | Warranty Deed | Charles H. Williams of Billerica (Louisa A. Williams releasing dower and homestead) | Arthur H. Hubert and Rose M. Hubert, husband and wife, of Billerica | 1920 Williams sells the northeast corner of the homestead at Mason and Letchworth Aves | 623/479 |
$5.50 in stamps. "The land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on the westerly side of Letchworth Avenue and on the southerly side of Mason Avenue": 80 feet on Letchworth Avenue, 63 feet, 27 feet 7 inches and 68 feet by other land of the grantor, and 78 feet on Mason Avenue, "a part of the same premises conveyed to me by the Faulkner Manufacturing Company" (596/338). Dated April 21, 1920. The northeast corner of the old homestead, between the barn lot and Letchworth Avenue.
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| September 30, 1920 | Quitclaim | Charles H. Williams of Billerica (Louisa A. Williams releasing dower and homestead) | Thomas R. Williams of Livermore Falls, Androscoggin County, Maine | 1920 the barn behind the house is sold separately | 634/520 |
"A certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in ... North Billerica": from a stone bound on Mason Avenue 78 feet west of Letchworth Avenue, south 68 feet along Arthur H. Hubert, southwest 13.79 feet and west 68 feet along other land of the grantor, north 80 feet to Mason Avenue and east 85 feet on it, 6,328 square feet, "a part of the same premises conveyed to me by the Faulkner Manufacturing Company" (596/338), shown on Smith and Brooks's plan of Sept. 24, 1920 (Plan 37/86), which draws the barn on this lot and the house to the south. Dated Sept. 28, 1920.
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| September 8, 1924 | Quitclaim | Charles H. Williams of Billerica (Louisa A. Williams releasing dower and homestead) | Daniel V. McSweeney of Billerica | 1924 Williams sells the house and its lot to Daniel V. McSweeney | 710/379 |
$3 in stamps. "That parcel of land, with the buildings thereon situated ... on the northerly side of Faulkner Street and the westerly side of Letchworth Avenue": 206 feet on Letchworth Avenue to Arthur H. Hubert, 62.92 and 23.58 feet by Hubert, 13.79 and 72.17 feet by Thomas R. Williams, 160.42 feet parallel to and six feet inside the grantor's west line, and 171 feet on Faulkner Street, "a portion of the premises to me conveyed by the Faulkner Manufacturing Company" (596/338); the six-foot strip on the west "is to be forever kept open" as a passageway; subject to a $4,500 mortgage to the Merrimack River Savings Bank. Dated Aug. 8, 1924. McSweeney mortgaged it back to Williams for $1,000.
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| March 5, 1946 | Quitclaim | Daniel V. McSweeney of Billerica (Katherine D. McSweeney releasing dower and homestead) | Andrew Buckus and Eliza S. Buckus, husband and wife, of Billerica | 1946 McSweeney sells Lot A, the house, to Andrew and Eliza Buckus | 1038/306 |
$4.95 in stamps. "The land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on the northeasterly side of Faulkner Street and the westerly side of Letchworth Avenue", Lot A, 19,150 square feet, on the "Plan of Land in Billerica, Mass. belonging to John J. McSweeney", Brooks, Jordan and Graves, June 18, 1938 (Plan 68/2, recorded with this deed), "a part of the premises conveyed to me by Charles H. Williams by deed dated August 8, 1924" (710/379), with the 1918 restrictions and the six-foot passageway. Dated March 4, 1946. The corner, Lot B, went to John J. McSweeney's heirs (1070/521, 1947).
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| August 7, 1953 | Quitclaim | Andrew Buckus and Eliza S. Buckus of Chelmsford | A private couple of Tewksbury | 1953 sold to private owners; private sales since | 1231/129 |
"The land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on the northeasterly side of Faulkner Street and the westerly side of Letchworth Avenue", Lot A on Plan 68/2, 19,150 square feet, "Being the same premises conveyed to us by Daniel V. McSweeney" (1038/306), with the six-foot passageway. Later private sales: 1959 (1441/580), 1971 (1959/397), family transfers 1979 and 1987, and sales in 1996, 1998, 2001 ($339,300) and 2012 ($349,000).
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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.