41 Andover Rd

Billerica town book 8, pages 89-90. Dated Dec. 4, 1786, acknowledged the same day before Edward Farmer. For 99 pounds 10 shillings, "a Tract of Land in Billerica containing thirty nine Acres and 16 Pole", beginning at "the Road leading to Salem" and bounded by Josiah Bowers Jr., Oliver Abbot, Solomon Manning, Jonas French, Samuel Kidder, Benjamin Baldwin and Solomon Pollard, "including all within the Fence as it now stands", with a right of way across it reserved to Manning. No buildings and no title recital: Pool held it through his wife Mary, a daughter of Samuel Sheldon, whose homestead had the same abutters. This became the "Nahum Baldwin pasture" of later deeds, from which the Bennink lot was cut in 1877.

• 1778 Administration: Estate of Samuel Sheldon of Billerica, yeoman, intestate to Simon Blanchard and David Abbot, administrators (his sons-in-law); his five daughters, heirs (Probate #20263) (Pool held through his wife Mary, a Sheldon heir (inferred from the abutters))

• June 15, 1808 Administration and Dower: Estate of Nahum Baldwin of Billerica, yeoman, intestate to His widow Martha (dower) and his children Mary Bird, Martha (wife of Thomas Shed), Rizpah, Nahum and Polly (Probate #854) (the forty acres bought of Jonathan Pool)

• March 31, 1786 Warranty: Sarah Center, widow, and John Shelden Center, yeoman, and Phebe his wife, all of Billerica to Josiah Bowers Jr. of Billerica, gentleman (93/390) (the Center homestead abuts Jonathan Pool)

Widow Martha declined and James Abbot Esq. was appointed administrator June 15, 1808. The inventory of June 23, 1808 lists "The buildings, together with about 1 3/4 acres of land" on the west side of the Salem road, $300, and "About 40 acres of land the opposite side of the road from the buildings", $700. On Dec. 8, 1809 commissioners set off the widow's dower: the house lot "about one fourth part of a Mile Northeast of the Meeting-house" and about three acres on the southwest side of the forty acres "about thirty rods east of the road". The rest descended to the children in common.

• February 22, 1787 Deed: Jonathan Pool of Reading, gentleman (Mary Pool releasing dower) to Nahum Baldwin of Billerica, cordwainer (95/62) (the forty acres bought of Jonathan Pool)

• January 10, 1825 Quitclaim: Joseph Bowers of Billerica, yeoman to Andrew Bowers of Salisbury, N.H., guardian of Josiah Bowers of Billerica (258/19) (a fourth of the Nahum Baldwin estate)
• January 16, 1824 Deed: Thomas Shed of Billerica, cabinet maker, and Martha Shed his wife in her right to George Bruce of Billerica, yeoman (252/7) (Martha Shed's share as heir)
• October 30, 1826 Deed: Rizpah Baldwin of Billerica, singlewoman to George Bruce of Billerica, yeoman (269/52) (Rizpah Baldwin's share as heir)
• May 15, 1832 Deed: Mary Bird of Billerica, widow to John Baldwin and Henry Baldwin, both of Billerica, traders (313/459) (Mary Bird's share as heir)

Billerica town book 15, pages 303-304. Dated Nov. 4, 1836. For $4,000, John Baldwin releases "one undivided half of a certain lot of land situate in said Billerica on the easterly side of the common containing three fourths of an acre more or less with all the buildings thereon": by the great road six rods twenty links, easterly "by land of Fitch Tufts" 18 rods 10 links to a stone wall, northerly six rods 20 links "to land of Lyman Haynes" (the tavern stand), westerly by Haynes 17 rods 16 links; also half of the 39-acre Nahum Baldwin Pasture. The preceding instrument (town book 15, pages 301-302) is Henry's reciprocal release to John of other lands the brothers held together. From 1836 Henry Baldwin owned the lot alone.

• January 29, 1819 Deed: George Bruce of Billerica, merchant to John Baldwin and Henry Baldwin, both of Billerica, gentlemen (225/500) (John Baldwin releases his half of the 1818 purchase)
• November 22, 1827 Deed: William Bruce of Bangor, Maine, merchant, Charles Bruce, merchant, Hannah Upton, widow, Abigail Bruce and Martha B. Wait, heirs of George Bruce to John Baldwin Esq. and Henry Baldwin, gentleman, both of Billerica (277/446) (the Baldwins' half from the Bruce heirs)
• May 15, 1832 Deed: Mary Bird of Billerica, widow to John Baldwin and Henry Baldwin, both of Billerica, traders (313/459) (the Bird quarter)
• November 11, 1835 Warranty Deed: Jonathan Gates of Lowell, yeoman to John Baldwin and Henry Baldwin, both of Billerica, traders (347/256) (the Gates quarter)

• June 30, 1846 Will: Estate of Henry Baldwin of Billerica, trader to His widow Anne Baldwin for life, then his sons Henry A., Samuel W. and George F. Baldwin (Probate #26760) (Henry Baldwin's homestead, held alone since 1836)

Will dated May 18, 1846, proved June 30, 1846: "I give bequeath & devise to my wife Anne Baldwin my house, store, out buildings & land under & adjoining them, also all my farm, being about forty acres ... during her natural life, & at her decease, to my three children, to be equally divided between them." Executors Augustus Whiting of Charlestown and Henry A. Baldwin, who might sell "the Old Town house (so called)" and the Lowell lots. The inventory (appraisers Dudley Foster, Lyman Haynes, Gardner Parker) lists "The Homestead of said deceased situate in said Billerica" at $3,360 and the "Town house lot and building" at $550. George F., a minor, chose his mother as guardian (probate 26757).

• November 29, 1836 Quitclaim: John Baldwin of Billerica, Esquire (Clarissa Baldwin releasing dower) to Henry Baldwin of Billerica, gentleman (357/403) (Henry Baldwin's homestead, held alone since 1836)
• 1845 Warranty Deed: The Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica and the Inhabitants of School District No. 1 in Billerica to Henry Baldwin of Billerica, trader (480/52) (Henry Baldwin's will lets his executors sell "the Old Town house (so called)")

• May 17, 1853 Will: Estate of Henry A. Baldwin of Billerica to His mother Anne Baldwin (residue); his brother Samuel W. Baldwin ($50) (Probate #26761) (Henry A. Baldwin's third under his father's 1846 will)
• February 25, 1867 Warranty Deed: Anne Baldwin of Billerica, widow to George W. Gragg of Billerica (54/436) (Anne Baldwin, his widow, sells the Town House in 1867)
• April 23, 1877 Warranty Deed: Samuel W. Baldwin of Billerica, unmarried to Gerrit H. Bennink of Somerville (123/233) (Samuel W. Baldwin, a son and devisee)
• May 20, 1881 Mortgage: Jasper F. Bruce of Billerica, trader (Cordelia Bruce releasing dower and homestead) to Moses P. Greenwood of Billerica (145/358) (Samuel W. Baldwin, a son named in the 1846 will, left the place to Bruce in 1881)

Dated April 23, 1877, acknowledged the same day before Dudley Foster. For $706.25, "a certain parcel of land situate in said Billerica containing three acres and eighty-five rods", beginning at the Salem road and bounded by other land of Baldwin (36 rods 5 links along the lane on the south, then 10 rods 20 links and 28 1/2 rods) and by land of Temple and Lewis Johnson, "as per plan of Samuel Page dated this day" (Plan Book 3, Plan 69). No buildings are mentioned: Bennink bought bare pasture and built the house after this sale. Baldwin, a son of Henry Baldwin, held under his father's 1846 will.

• June 30, 1846 Will: Estate of Henry Baldwin of Billerica, trader to His widow Anne Baldwin for life, then his sons Henry A., Samuel W. and George F. Baldwin (Probate #26760) (Samuel W. Baldwin, a son and devisee)

• April 24, 1877 Warranty Deed: Gerrit H. Bennink of Somerville (Lucilla A. Bennink releasing dower and homestead) to Lewis Johnson of Billerica (123/245) (a strip of the Baldwin purchase)
• June 1, 1922 Quitclaim: Edith F. Holt of North Reading, unmarried, residuary devisee of Lucilla A. Bennink to George H. Flint of Billerica (661/480) (the Bennink estate)

• May 17, 1853 Will: Estate of Henry A. Baldwin of Billerica to His mother Anne Baldwin (residue); his brother Samuel W. Baldwin ($50) (Probate #26761) (Henry A. Baldwin's share to his mother)

Dated April 23, 1877. For $50, a strip at the rear of Johnson's lot, two rods wide and 11 rods 7 links long, south by Bennink's own land, "See plan of Samuel Page dated April 23rd 1877 for reference". One half of an exchange of strips between the neighbors.

• April 23, 1877 Warranty Deed: Samuel W. Baldwin of Billerica, unmarried to Gerrit H. Bennink of Somerville (123/233) (a strip of the Baldwin purchase)

• April 1, 1902 Warranty Deed: Susan M. Johnson of Lexington, widow to Mary E. Slack of Billerica (341/113) (Lewis Johnson's will, 1895)

Dated April 23, 1877, before Dudley Foster. For $50, a parcel on the Salem road at the northwest corner of the lot, 73 feet on the road, two rods 20 links deep to Bennink's land, "See plan of Samuel Page dated April 23rd 1877 for reference". The other half of the exchange, which gave Bennink the frontage where the house stands.

• April 3, 1868 Warranty Deed: Sarah M. Woods of Billerica, wife of Orestes L. Woods, in her own right to Lewis Johnson of Billerica (61/6) (the front strip out of the Johnson lot)

• June 1, 1922 Quitclaim: Edith F. Holt of North Reading, unmarried, residuary devisee of Lucilla A. Bennink to George H. Flint of Billerica (661/480) (the Bennink estate)

Dated May 31, 1922. For one dollar and other consideration, "an undivided one-half interest in the real estate in said Billerica belonging to Lucilla A. Bennink of said Billerica at the time of her death, consisting of about three and one-half acres of land with the buildings thereon. My title is that of one of the residuary devisees under the will of said Lucilla A. Bennink who died April 6, 1922", proved May 3, 1922. Clarentine T. Flint, also named in the residuary clause, had died January 7, 1922, so Holt and George H. Flint took the residue together. Lucilla had held the place as Gerrit H. Bennink's widow since his death on March 22, 1912.

• April 23, 1877 Warranty Deed: Samuel W. Baldwin of Billerica, unmarried to Gerrit H. Bennink of Somerville (123/233) (the Bennink estate)
• April 24, 1877 Warranty Deed: Lewis Johnson of Billerica (Susan M. Johnson releasing dower and homestead) to Gerrit H. Bennink of Somerville (123/246) (the Bennink estate)

• November 24, 1922 Quitclaim: George H. Flint of Billerica to George H. Flint and his wife Ethel Flint, joint tenants (672/252) (same premises)

Dated Nov. 14, 1922. For one dollar and other consideration, "all the real estate in said Billerica belonging to Lucilla A. Bennink of said Billerica at the time of her death, consisting of about three and one half acres of land with the buildings thereon. For my title see statement in deed of Edith F. Holt to me" (Book 661, Page 480). A conveyance to himself and his wife to create a joint tenancy.

• June 1, 1922 Quitclaim: Edith F. Holt of North Reading, unmarried, residuary devisee of Lucilla A. Bennink to George H. Flint of Billerica (661/480) (same premises)

• July 8, 1936 Quitclaim Deed: Ethel B. Flint of Boston, unmarried to Bernard H. Houghton and Doris J. Houghton of Medford, husband and wife, tenants by the entirety (881/590) (same premises, survivor)

Dated July 2, 1936. "The land and buildings located in that part of Billerica called Billerica Centre situated on the southeasterly side of Andover Street": 590 feet along a lane on land formerly of Samuel W. Baldwin, 178.20 feet by Dwight H. Dimock, 470 and 106.26 feet by Frank L. and Alice M. Morrill, and 33, 186.12 and 79.2 feet by the former Lewis Johnson land (then Lydia C. Baker) back to Andover Street, "Containing three and one-half acres", with the right to use the lane; "Being the same premises to me conveyed" in Book 672, Page 252, with reference to the 1877 plan in Plan Book 3, Plan 69. Subject to a Billerica Trust Company mortgage with $3,380 unpaid.

• November 24, 1922 Quitclaim: George H. Flint of Billerica to George H. Flint and his wife Ethel Flint, joint tenants (672/252) (same premises, survivor)

• October 16, 1998 Executrix's Deed: The executrix of the estate of Doris J. Houghton (Middlesex Probate 97P3116EP) to The trustee of Selma Realty Trust (9630/134) (same premises, Houghton estate)

For $215,000, "the land and buildings located in that part of Billerica called Billerica Centre situated on the southeasterly side of Andover Street", the same three and one-half acres and bounds as 1936, with the right in the lane; "For my title see Estate of Doris J. Houghton" and Book 881, Page 590. The trust then laid out the rear land as the Kiely Estates subdivision on Stonewall Lane (Plan Book 202, Plan 75) and in January 2000 sold the house on Lot A, 0.97 acre, to private owners for $299,900 (Book 10622, Page 220). Later private sales: 2014 ($405,000) and a 2023 transfer to family trusts.

• July 8, 1936 Quitclaim Deed: Ethel B. Flint of Boston, unmarried to Bernard H. Houghton and Doris J. Houghton of Medford, husband and wife, tenants by the entirety (881/590) (same premises, Houghton estate)