397 Concord Rd

For 150 pounds, "the one half both in quantity & quality of a certain tract of land lying in said Billerica seventy acres more or less," beginning at the county road from Billerica to Bedford by Benjamin Hutchinson and bounded by Hutchinson, Jonathan Hill, Edward and Elijah Stearns, Isaac Stearns, Job Hill and Josiah Hill, "with one half of all the Buildings thereon he to have the Easterly end of my Dwelling house to the middle of the Chimney right up & down with the seller under it, reserving the bed room during my life & of Hannah my wife," and half a nine acre wood lot in Bedford, "except a mortgage on a part thereof." Signed July 16, 1795, witnessed by Nathaniel and Isaac Stearns. The first record of the house: a double house on the 70 acre homestead, which Samuel now divides with his son. Billerica town book 9, pages 185-186.

• February 8, 1799 Deed: Issachar Stearns of Billerica, yeoman (Dolley Stearns, his wife, releasing) to Joseph Danforth of Billerica, yeoman (131/228) (Issachars half)

• 1801 Will: Samuel Stearns of Billerica, yeoman to His widow Hannah Stearns (life use); his children Nathaniel, Jonathan, Joseph and Elijah Stearns, Elizabeth Jefts, Hannah Spaulding, Allice Stearns, Josiah and Issachar Stearns (Probate #21330) (father to son, half the homestead)

For $500, the same "one half both in quantity and quality" of the seventy acre tract on the county road from Billerica to Bedford, "with one half of all the buildings thereon, said Danforth to have the Easterly end of the dwelling house to the middle of the chimney perpendicular with the cellar under the same, reserving the bed room during the life of Saml Stearns & Hannah his wife," and half the Bedford wood lot, warranted "except a mortgage on a part." Signed Dec. 3, 1798. Issachar, who in his fathers words "has had much more than all the rest," was left one dollar in the 1801 will. Billerica town book 9, pages 397-398.

• August 14, 1795 Deed: Samuel Stearns of Billerica, yeoman (Hannah Stearns, his wife, releasing dower) to His son Issachar Stearns of Billerica, yeoman (118/259) (Issachars half)

• February 11, 1806 Deed: Joseph Danforth of Billerica, yeoman (Dorcas Danforth, his wife, releasing) to Sampson Spaulding of Bedford, yeoman (168/25) (Danforths east end, divided from the estate 1801)

Will dated May 1, 1801, witnessed by Sampson Spaulding, Benjamin Hubbard and Isaac Stearns: his farming utensils "and so much of my lands, as will pay my just debts" to be sold; to his wife Hannah Stearns his household furniture "including my Cyder Barrils," his best cow and three sheep, and "the improvement of all my Real Estate," reserving "a liberty for my Daughters, Hannah & Molley, to live either in the lower westerly Room with their mother, or in the chamber over it, as long as they remain unmarried"; if she remarried, half the real estate to go at once to the children in equal shares, Josiah to have half a share and Issachar, who "has had much more than all the rest," one dollar. Elijah Stearns of Bedford, yeoman, executor. Proved at Concord Sept. 15, 1801. The executor's account shows lots sold at vendue to Benjamin Hutchinson, Job Hill, Abner Stearns and Daniel Davis, and mourning bought for the ten children. Middlesex probate case 21330.

• June 25, 1811 Quitclaim: Hannah Spaulding of Billerica, widow, daughter of Samuel Stearns to Sampson Spaulding of Billerica, yeoman (196/70) (daughters share of her fathers house)

For $600, "about six acres of Land more or less with a dwelling-house thereon" in two pieces: three acres "with the house thereon," bounded east on the road from Billerica to Bedford, north by Josiah Hill, west by Benjamin Hutchinson and south by land of the wife of Joseph Spaulding and the wife of Jonathan How, "reserving liberty for the aforesaid women their heirs and assigns to use and improve the oven in said house and cellar, chamber, and garret stairs occasionally and to go to and from the well and use the dooryard," with the southwest corner of the cellar, the southwest garret and the kitchen chamber "to the middle of the chimney" and four seventeenths of the southwest chamber excepted; and about two acres bounded by Hutchinson, with a way for Hutchinson "where the path is now trod"; "part of the estate formerly belonging to Samuel Stearns deceased." Signed June 14, 1803, witnessed by Benjamin Hutchinson, Oliver Crosby and Lucy Nevens; recorded Feb. 11, 1806. Danforth had divided the farm with Samuel Stearnss estate in 1801 (probate 21330). Billerica town book 10, pages 360-361.

• February 8, 1799 Deed: Issachar Stearns of Billerica, yeoman (Dolley Stearns, his wife, releasing) to Joseph Danforth of Billerica, yeoman (131/228) (Danforths east end, divided from the estate 1801)

• 1801 Will: Samuel Stearns of Billerica, yeoman to His widow Hannah Stearns (life use); his children Nathaniel, Jonathan, Joseph and Elijah Stearns, Elizabeth Jefts, Hannah Spaulding, Allice Stearns, Josiah and Issachar Stearns (Probate #21330) (division with Samuel Stearnss estate)

For $60, all her right in "one undivided half of all the real estate that Jonathan Howe and Molly Howe deeded to Joseph Danforth by their deed ... tenth day of September A.D. 1803." Signed May 3, 1811, witnessed by Alexander Winning and John Walker. Billerica town book 11, page 153.

• February 11, 1806 Deed: Joseph Danforth of Billerica, yeoman (Dorcas Danforth, his wife, releasing) to Sampson Spaulding of Bedford, yeoman (168/25) (release of a share in the Danforth land)

For $75, "all my right, title, and interest, in and unto the house which Samuel Stearns my late father died seized and possessed off in Billerica," and two pieces of plowland and orcharding of about an acre each near the house, bounded by Sampson Spauldings land and Benjamin Hutchinson, "meaning hereby to convey all the right, title, and interest I have in and unto the real estate which my late father died seized and possessed off in Billerica." Signed April 27, 1811, witnessed by Elijah Stearns and Josiah Hill. With this release the west end of the house, Samuel Stearnss half, joined the east end Spaulding had bought in 1803. Billerica town book 11, pages 154-155.

• 1801 Will: Samuel Stearns of Billerica, yeoman to His widow Hannah Stearns (life use); his children Nathaniel, Jonathan, Joseph and Elijah Stearns, Elizabeth Jefts, Hannah Spaulding, Allice Stearns, Josiah and Issachar Stearns (Probate #21330) (daughters share of her fathers house)

For $2,488, the Hutchinson heirs farm adjoining: about 57 acres partly in Bedford and Billerica beginning at the wall on the east side of the county road and the north side of the lane "leading to the dwelling house lately of Benjamin Hutchinson deceased," eleven acres on the west side of the county road by Josiah Hill, half of ten acres, half of three pieces of river meadow, and "one undivided moiety or half of the easterly end of the dwelling house which said Benjamin Hutchinson died seized." Signed April 5, 1815. The land on the east side of the road became the 51 acre part of the "Sampson Spaulding farm" of 1849-1877. Billerica town book 11, pages 356-358.

• February 11, 1806 Deed: Joseph Danforth of Billerica, yeoman (Dorcas Danforth, his wife, releasing) to Sampson Spaulding of Bedford, yeoman (168/25) (adjoining Hutchinson farm added)

To secure $1,200 (with a $2,000 bond), all his right in the three acres "with a dwelling house thereon" and the two acres "conveyed to me by Joseph Danforth" in 1803 (Book 168 Page 25); ten acres in the south part of Billerica from Timothy Jaquith (Book 206 Page 307); "the house formerly owned by Samuel Stearns deceased" and two parcels from Hannah Spaulding (1811); the parcels "with the buildings" from Hezekiah Hubbard and others (1815); and the Dorcas Hill parcel, excepting what he had released to Josiah Hill of Bedford in 1815. Signed Dec. 8, 1827. The mortgage passed to John F. Skinner in 1842, to Caroline H. Skinner in 1846 and back to John Skinner in 1849. Billerica town book 14, pages 59-61.

• February 11, 1806 Deed: Joseph Danforth of Billerica, yeoman (Dorcas Danforth, his wife, releasing) to Sampson Spaulding of Bedford, yeoman (168/25) (mortgage of the Spaulding farm)
• June 25, 1811 Quitclaim: Hannah Spaulding of Billerica, widow, daughter of Samuel Stearns to Sampson Spaulding of Billerica, yeoman (196/70)

Will dated Feb. 9, 1835, witnessed by Simeon Stearns, Joel Fitch and Sewall Stearns: five dollars each to his eldest daughter Hannah and to Benjamin A., Martha R., Sarah J. and Andrew J. Spalding, the last at 21, and "all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal ... to my beloved wife Susannah Spalding, to have and to hold the same, to her, her heirs and assigns forever," she to be sole executrix. Proved at Concord April 14, 1835. Susannah died before 1849, when the children released the farm to the mortgagee.

• October 4, 1849 Quitclaim: Benjamin A. Spaulding of Ottumwa, Iowa, clergyman (Ann N. Spaulding, his wife, releasing) to John Skinner of Lexington, merchant (573/150) (heir of Sampson and Susannah Spaulding)
• October 4, 1849 Quitclaim: Andrew J. Spaulding of West Lebanon, N.H., housewright, and Martha R. Spaulding of Billerica, singlewoman to John Skinner of Lexington, merchant (573/151) (heirs of Sampson and Susannah Spaulding)

• February 11, 1806 Deed: Joseph Danforth of Billerica, yeoman (Dorcas Danforth, his wife, releasing) to Sampson Spaulding of Bedford, yeoman (168/25) (Sampson Spauldings estate)

For $300, assigns the Spaulding mortgage of Dec. 8, 1827 (Book 279 Page 329), which John Skinner had assigned to him Oct. 5, 1842 (Book 420 Page 5), with the bond. Signed March 20, 1846. Billerica town book 21, pages 216-217.

• 1827 Mortgage: Sampson Spaulding of Billerica, yeoman to John Skinner of Charlestown, merchant (279/329) (assignment)

For $10, all his right in the three acres "with the buildings thereon" and two acres "heretofore conveyed to my late father Sampson Spaulding by Joseph Danforth by deed dated June 14th 1803," the Jaquith ten acres, "the house & land formerly owned by Samuel Stearns decd ... conveyed to my late father by Hannah Spaulding" (1811), the Hubbard parcels "with the buildings thereon" (1815), the Dorcas Hill parcel and thirteen acres in Carlisle, together with the personal property "of which my mother Susannah Spaulding lately died possessed." Signed Aug. 10, 1849, acknowledged in Wapello County, Iowa. Billerica town book 19, pages 15-17.

• 1835 Will: Sampson Spalding of Billerica, yeoman to His widow Susannah Spalding (residue); children Hannah, Benjamin A., Martha R., Sarah J. and Andrew J. Spalding (Probate #21001) (heir of Sampson and Susannah Spaulding)

• April 2, 1852 Warranty: John Skinner of Lexington, merchant to Royal T. Bryant of Bedford, yeoman (629/27)

• 1827 Mortgage: Sampson Spaulding of Billerica, yeoman to John Skinner of Charlestown, merchant (279/329) (release to the mortgagee)

For $20, the same parcels, "one of which contains about three acres with a dwelling house thereon & the other about two acres being the same parcels of land heretofore conveyed to our late father Sampson Spaulding by Joseph Danforth," with the Stearns house and the other lots. Signed Aug. 10, 1849. With his brothers deed this completed Skinners title; the 1852 deed recites both. Billerica town book 19, pages 17-18.

• 1835 Will: Sampson Spalding of Billerica, yeoman to His widow Susannah Spalding (residue); children Hannah, Benjamin A., Martha R., Sarah J. and Andrew J. Spalding (Probate #21001) (heirs of Sampson and Susannah Spaulding)

• April 2, 1852 Warranty: John Skinner of Lexington, merchant to Royal T. Bryant of Bedford, yeoman (629/27)

For $300, assigns the 1827 Spaulding mortgage and bond back to John Skinner. Signed Aug. 10, 1849, the day the Spaulding heirs released the farm to Skinner. Billerica town book 21, page 224.

• October 10, 1848 Assignment of Mortgage: John F. Skinner to Caroline H. Skinner of Charlestown, single woman (531/143) (assignment)

For $3,000, "the farm known as the Sampson Spaulding farm, containing seventy acres more or less lying partly in Billerica and partly in Bedford on the Road leading from Lowell to Bedford": sixteen acres beginning on the west side of the road at land of Elbridge Stearns, westerly about twenty rods on Stearns, northerly by a stone wall on Stearns to Lyman Haynes, easterly by Haynes to the road and by the road to the first bound, "with the Buildings thereon standing"; about three acres "lying West of the dwelling house," running to the road from Chelmsford to Bedford and to Hutchinson Rogers; and about fifty-one acres on the east side of the road by James Kemp, the back road from Billerica to Bedford, the Billerica-Bedford boundary stone, Lyman Haynes, John P. Reed and Elbridge Stearns, "being a part of the conveyance of Benja. A. Spaulding, Andrew J. Spaulding and another to John Skinner dated the tenth day of August 1849" (Southern Registry Book 573 Pages 150-151). Dated March 30, acknowledged March 31, recorded April 2, 1852; Bryant mortgaged the farm back to Skinner for $2,000 the same day. Billerica town book 19, pages 262-265 (Southern Registry Book 629 Page 27). Identification with this house is inferred from the 1853 map.

• October 4, 1849 Quitclaim: Benjamin A. Spaulding of Ottumwa, Iowa, clergyman (Ann N. Spaulding, his wife, releasing) to John Skinner of Lexington, merchant (573/150)
• October 4, 1849 Quitclaim: Andrew J. Spaulding of West Lebanon, N.H., housewright, and Martha R. Spaulding of Billerica, singlewoman to John Skinner of Lexington, merchant (573/151)

• September 19, 1865 Quitclaim: Royal T. Bryant of Lexington, yeoman to Josiah B. Gleason of Bedford, yeoman (44/325)

• 1801 Will: Samuel Stearns of Billerica, yeoman to His widow Hannah Stearns (life use); his children Nathaniel, Jonathan, Joseph and Elijah Stearns, Elizabeth Jefts, Hannah Spaulding, Allice Stearns, Josiah and Issachar Stearns (Probate #21330) (probably the same homestead; 1801-1849 Stearns-Spaulding links not found)

To secure $2,000, "the farm known as the Sampson Spaulding farm containing about seventy acres more or less lying partly in Billerica and partly in Bedford ... on the road leading from Lowell to Bedford": sixteen acres on the west side of the road at Elbridge Stearns to Lyman Haynes "with the buildings thereon" and 51 acres on the east side by James Kemp, the back road, the town boundary stone, Haynes and John P. Reed. Discharged in the margin (Book 307 Page 400).

• April 2, 1852 Warranty: John Skinner of Lexington, merchant to Royal T. Bryant of Bedford, yeoman (629/27) (mortgage)

For $2,500, "the Farm known as the Sampson Spaulding Farm containing seventy acres more or less lying partly in Bedford and partly in Billerica on the road leading from Lowell to Bedford": sixteen acres on the west side of the road from Elbridge Stearns to Jonas P. Heywood "with the buildings thereon," three acres "lying west of the House" running to the road from Chelmsford to Bedford, and 51 acres on the east side by Thomas Crawford, the back road, the boundary stone between the towns and land occupied by one Wingate, "Being a part of the conveyance of Benj. A. Spaulding, Andrew J. Spaulding and one other to John Skinner dated the 10th day of August 1849," with six and a half acres on the road from Lexington to Bedford. Signed Sept. 15, 1865.

• April 2, 1852 Warranty: John Skinner of Lexington, merchant to Royal T. Bryant of Bedford, yeoman (629/27)

• April 4, 1866 Quitclaim: Josiah B. Gleason of Bedford, yeoman to Sarah H. Bryant of Lexington (47/542)

For $2,000, "a certain farm known as the Sampson Spaulding farm situated partly in Billerica and partly in Bedford with the buildings thereon standing containing seventy six acres": sixteen acres on the west side of the road from Lowell to Bedford at Elbridge W. Stearns and Jonas P. Hayward, "the buildings standing on this lot"; about four acres "lying West of the buildings" to the road from Chelmsford to Bedford; and about 55 acres on the east side by Thomas Crawford, the back road, the boundary stone and land formerly of John P. Reed, with another parcel. Recorded April 4, 1866. The farm returns to the Bryant family.

• September 19, 1865 Quitclaim: Royal T. Bryant of Lexington, yeoman to Josiah B. Gleason of Bedford, yeoman (44/325)

Purchase-money mortgage of the 75 acre homestead farm "with the buildings thereon," the same two tracts, to secure $5,000 payable $500 a year with interest at six percent, the buildings to be insured for at least $1,800, "Being the same premises this day conveyed to me by said Merriam." Signed Feb. 27, 1872.

• March 25, 1872 Warranty Deed: John A. Merriam of Billerica (Nancy B. Merriam, his wife, releasing) to William G. Taylor of West Roxbury (85/245) (purchase-money mortgage)

For $6,000, "my homestead farm, situated in Billerica & partly in Bedford, on the road leading from Billerica to Bedford, containing seventy-five acres more or less, with the buildings thereon": the west tract from Henry Desmarais to land formerly of Jonas P. Heywood, and the east tract from Thomas G. Crawford to the back road, the boundary stone, Heywoods former land and Wm. H. Dufer. Signed Feb. 27, 1872; also recorded at Cambridge (Book 1226 Page 441). The Bryant-to-Merriam deed of 1866-1872 was not found in the Middlesex North indexes. Taylor mortgaged the farm back for $5,000 the same day (Book 85 Page 241).

• February 6, 1874 Warranty Deed: William G. Taylor of Billerica (Elizabeth L. Taylor, his wife, releasing) to John A. Merriam of Bedford (99/334)

• April 4, 1866 Quitclaim: Josiah B. Gleason of Bedford, yeoman to Sarah H. Bryant of Lexington (47/542) (Bryant to Merriam deed not found in Middlesex North)

For $6,000, "my Homestead farm situated in Billerica and partly in Bedford," the same 75 acres "with the buildings thereon," "Being the same premises conveyed to me by said Merriam. Deed dated Feb. 27, 1872," subject to the $5,000 mortgage to Merriam, which was part of the consideration. Signed Dec. 24, 1873. Merriam is the "J. A. Merriam" of the 1875 atlas.

• March 25, 1872 Warranty Deed: John A. Merriam of Billerica (Nancy B. Merriam, his wife, releasing) to William G. Taylor of West Roxbury (85/245)

• April 3, 1876 Warranty Deed: John A. Merriam of Billerica to Abel S. Farwell of Fitchburg (116/477)

For $5,100, "a certain farm situated partly in said Billerica and partly in Bedford on the road leading from Lowell to Bedford containing seventy acres more or less, with the buildings thereon," with the bounds of 1872. Recorded April 3, 1876. Farwell gave back a $4,100 mortgage, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by John A. Merriam by deed of even date herewith" (Book 118 Page 30).

• February 6, 1874 Warranty Deed: William G. Taylor of Billerica (Elizabeth L. Taylor, his wife, releasing) to John A. Merriam of Bedford (99/334)

• April 14, 1877 Warranty Deed: Abel S. Farwell of Fitchburg (Emma A. Farwell, his wife, releasing) to Thomas Wilson of Lowell and William Wilson of Boston (122/590)

Purchase-money mortgage of $4,100, payable $500 a year, on "a farm situated partly in the town of Billerica and partly in the town of Bedford ... on the road leading from Lowell to Bedford, containing seventy acres more or less, with the buildings thereon standing," with the bounds of 1872, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by John A. Merriam by deed of even date herewith." Recorded May 23, 1876; discharged in the margin. The Wilsons assumed $3,600 of it in 1877.

• April 3, 1876 Warranty Deed: John A. Merriam of Billerica to Abel S. Farwell of Fitchburg (116/477) (purchase-money mortgage)

For $5,000, "a certain farm situated partly in Billerica and partly in Bedford ... on the road leading from Lowell to Bedford, containing seventy five acres more or less with the buildings thereon," with the same bounds, subject to "a mortgage of Thirty six Hundred Dollars payable to John A. Merriam," which the grantees assumed. Signed April 11, 1877.

• April 3, 1876 Warranty Deed: John A. Merriam of Billerica to Abel S. Farwell of Fitchburg (116/477)

• September 6, 1887 Deed: Harriet A. Edwards of Boston, widow to Mary A. Pardee, wife of J. N. Pardee of Laconia, N.H. (191/190) (through Harriet A. Edwards (Middlesex South))

• May 23, 1876 Mortgage: Abel S. Farwell of Fitchburg to John A. Merriam of Billerica (118/30) (mortgage assumed)

For one dollar, "a certain farm situated partly in Billerica and partly in Bedford ... on the road leading from Lowell to Bedford, containing seventy five acres more or less with the buildings thereon," with the bounds of the Farwell-Wilson deed, to Mrs. Pardee "as her sole and separate property." Recorded Sept. 6, 1887, after a release of dower by Harriet A. Wilson, wife of William Wilson of Billerica, to Mrs. Edwards in the farm "described in the deed of Abel S. Farwell to Thomas and William Wilson" (Book 191 Page 189). Mrs. Edwardss own deed from the Wilsons is recorded at Cambridge (Middlesex South Book 1811 Page 397, per the 1899 deed).

• April 14, 1877 Warranty Deed: Abel S. Farwell of Fitchburg (Emma A. Farwell, his wife, releasing) to Thomas Wilson of Lowell and William Wilson of Boston (122/590) (through Harriet A. Edwards (Middlesex South))

• November 21, 1899 Deed: Joseph N. Pardee and Mary A. Pardee of Billerica to Guy P. Walton of Everett (314/331)

For one dollar and other consideration, "a certain farm situate partly in Billerica and partly in Bedford ... on the road leading from Lowell to Bedford containing sixty-two acres of land more or less with the buildings thereon": the west tract at Richard A. Griffin and land formerly of Jonas P. Hayward, and the east tract from Dr. Charles E. Hosmer "across the tracks of the Boston and Maine Railroad," by William H. Holland, Mark Copeland, L. T. McKenney and Griffin, subject to a $2,800 mortgage, "Being the same premises conveyed to us by deed of Harriet A. Edwards dated May 26, 1887," and reserving 7,500 square feet for the tracks of the Lexington and Boston Street Railway. The Pardees had sold small pieces to Charles E. Hosmer in 1892 and 1899 (Books 236 Page 394, 312 Page 563).

• September 6, 1887 Deed: Harriet A. Edwards of Boston, widow to Mary A. Pardee, wife of J. N. Pardee of Laconia, N.H. (191/190)