Mahoney House
Mahoney House
| Also Known As | Talbot Textile Mills Worker Housing |
| Address | 24-26 Wilson St |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.111 |
| Built | 1872 |
| Tenants | |
| John S. Welsh (1912 - 1956) | |
| Other Lot Structures | Talbot Textile Mills Worker Housing at 24-26 Wilson St (Built 1890) |
The Mahoney House is the two-family house built by Eliza (Elizabeth Lyons) Mahoney on the river side of Wilson Street in North Billerica, today 24-26 Wilson Street. Her land had been part of the old homestead of Joel Dix, which ran along the Concord River south of Elm Street. Anthony Jones, Dudley Foster and Lyman Haynes bought out the Dix heirs between 1864 and 1869, and Jones and Foster became the sole owners in 1869.
On April 3, 1872, Jones and Foster sold Mrs. Mahoney a lot four rods wide on Wilson Street, running back to the river beside land of L. B. Gannon, for $400. The deed says the premises were "conveyed for the purpose of erecting a dwelling house." She was a widow by 1875, when she bought a five-foot strip on the north side. In 1881 she bought another 8 1/4 feet from Elizabeth Auty, who owned the land beyond. MACRIS records nine Mahoney children born between 1853 and 1870, and the house appears on the 1875 and 1889 maps as "Mrs. E. Mahoney."
In 1882 Mrs. Auty sold the town of Billerica the next two rods north of the Mahoney lot for $210, and the town built its North Billerica engine house there. The town paid "Mrs. Mahoney, use of engine land, $4.00" in 1885. In 1891 the town bought a Silsby steam fire engine, and The Talbot Mills altered one of its buildings "to receive steamer." The selectmen then sold the old engine house at auction, and on September 28, 1891 the town deeded the lot "with the buildings thereon" to Lawrence B. Gannon for $1,530. The 1892 town report lists the same sum "for engine house sold." That two-rod lot is today's 20-22 Wilson Street.
By 1905 Gannon owned the land on both sides of the Mahoney lot. On August 7, 1905 Eliza Mahoney sold her land and its two buildings (24-26 and 28 Wilson Street) to The Talbot Mills, on a plan by H. W. Sheldon. Gannon gave the mill a quitclaim deed "for the purpose of establishing the bounds and boundary lines between said Mahoney land and lands of my own adjoining the same on the north and south." The mill rented both houses to its workers. On its 1936 Plan A of the village (Plan Book 60, Plan 25) the Mahoney land is Lots 6 and 7. Both lots were sold in October 1939.
After Gannon's death his daughters divided his land on a plan of December 1918. In 1919 Elizabeth A. and Henrietta F. Gannon released the former engine house lot to their sister Catherine A. Kearney, "the same premises conveyed to our father Laurence B. Gannon ... by deed of the Inhabitants of Billerica." In 1944 the heirs of Catherine A. and Bernard W. Kearney sold it, and the selectmen recorded a vote ratifying the 1891 town deed. The lot passed through private hands to Cote Sheet Metal Co., Inc. of Lowell in January 1959. That August the company sold it to a private couple, with a plan showing 33 feet on Wilson Street, 10,300 square feet, "known as and numbered 22 Wilson Street." It has been privately owned since.
Earlier accounts put the Mahoney House at 20-22 Wilson Street and date it to about 1860. The deeds show that the Mahoney house was built in 1872 or soon after, at 24-26 Wilson Street, the house MACRIS also identifies as the "Mahoney home." The building at 20-22 Wilson Street stands on the town's engine house lot of 1882 to 1891.
References
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1859 | Guardianship and Administration | Joel Dix of Billerica, "an insane person"; his estate after his death in December 1860 | Horace N. Wilson of Billerica, guardian; Edwin A. Alger of Lowell, administrator | 1859 estate of Joel Dix, whose homestead ran along the river side of Wilson St to Wilson and Gannon | Probate #30707 |
On his daughter Mary Dix's petition Joel Dix was found "an insane person" and Horace N. Wilson was appointed his guardian at Groton May 24, 1859. The inventory of June 7, 1859 lists about four acres "known as the Homestead" with buildings ($3,200), the "Tavern Stand," 4 acres ($3,667), and meadow and wood lots. The guardian's license of February 7, 1860 to sell for maintenance covered only meadow and wood lots. After Dix's death the administrator was licensed April 1, 1862 to sell real estate, including the two thirds of the tavern stand.
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| May 4, 1864 | Executor's Deed | Dudley Foster of Billerica, executor of the will of Mary Dix, daughter of Joel Dix | Anthony Jones of Billerica | 1864 Anthony Jones buys a share of the Dix homestead | 37/584 |
Licensed by the Probate Court at Lowell April 5, 1864 and sold at public auction April 30, 1864, for $200: "all the right title and interest that Mary Dix late of said Billerica, deceased, had at her decease as heir at law in and to ... the homestead of Joel Dix late of Billerica, deceased, situate in North Billerica, containing about three acres more or less," from the road at land of Lyman Haynes and others (the tavern lot), south about fifteen rods, west to a passage way, south on it, east to Concord River, north along the river at low water mark to C. P. Talbot & Co., and by Talbot's land back to the road. Recorded May 4, 1864 (index date). Joel Dix's homestead had descended to his heirs in shares; this was the first share Anthony Jones acquired.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 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 | Anthony Jones and Dudley Foster, both of Billerica | 1869 Haynes heirs to Anthony Jones and Dudley Foster: the Dix homestead land from which the Mahoney lot was cut | 71/90 |
For $3,300, "an undivided third part of a certain parcel of land situate in that part of said Billerica called North Billerica containing four acres more or less with a new store & dwelling house & barn, two red houses, Mears Tavern house & hall, Dix House and barn and other buildings thereon," from the road from North Billerica to Lowell at land of Wilson, by Wilson and C. P. Talbot & Co. to the passage way, by land formerly of Wilson & Gannon to Concord River, and by Talbot land and "the common land" back to the road, reserving the passage way. Also a third of the Rogers farm and of 52 acres bought of Calvin Rogers in 1858 (Book 17, Page 435). Signed November 22, 1869; recorded December 4, 1869. Lyman Haynes had died in 1869; this put his third of the tavern in Jones and Foster.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| July 15, 1872 | Warranty Deed | Anthony Jones and Dudley Foster, both of Billerica (Judith Jones and Louisa P. Foster releasing dower and homestead) | Eliza Mahoney of Billerica | 1872 Jones and Foster sell Eliza Mahoney a four-rod lot on the river side of Wilson St "for the purpose of erecting a dwelling house" | 87/581 |
For $400, "a certain tract of land situated in North Billerica, so called": from the southwest corner on Wilson Street at land of L. B. Gannon, north by Wilson Street four rods to a stake in the wall, east by "our own land" parallel with Gannon's land and four rods from it to Concord River, south by the river four rods to Gannon, and west by Gannon to the beginning. "The grantee to make all the fence whenever required by the grantors. These premises are conveyed for the purpose of erecting a dwelling house." Dated April 3, 1872, acknowledged the same day before Chas. A. Ranlett JP.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| May 9, 1879 | Warranty Deed | Anthony Jones and Dudley Foster of Billerica (Judith Jones and Louisa P. Foster releasing dower and homestead) | Eliza Mahoney of Billerica, widow | 1875 a five-foot strip added on the north side of the Mahoney lot | 133/448 |
For $30, a five-foot strip "in that part of Billerica called North Billerica": from a bound on Wilson Street at other land of the grantors "and just five feet northerly from said grantee's land", east about twenty rods parallel with her land to the river, south five feet on the river, and west by her land about twenty rods to the street. Dated Aug. 27, 1875, acknowledged Aug. 31, 1875 before A. D. Stanton JP; recorded May 9, 1879. Eliza Mahoney was a widow by 1875.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| May 21, 1883 | Warranty Deed | Elizabeth Auty of Billerica, widow (her mark) | Eliza Mahoney of Billerica | 1881 Elizabeth Auty sells Mrs. Mahoney another 8 1/4 feet on the north | 160/103 |
For $50, "A certain tract of land situate in North Billerica": from the southwest corner at land of Mahoney on Wilson Street, east by Mahoney's land to Concord River, north by the river eight and one quarter feet to other land of the grantor, west parallel with the first line and 8 1/4 feet from it to Wilson Street, and south 8 1/4 feet on the street. Dated Nov. 16, 1881, witnesses Dudley Foster and Anthony Jones; acknowledged Nov. 21, 1881 before Dudley Foster JP. Mrs. Auty owned the land north of the Mahoney lot.
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| September 18, 1882 | Deed | Elizabeth Auty of Billerica, widow | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | 1882 Mrs. Auty sells the town a two-rod way to the river beside the Mahoney lot | 155/247 |
For $210, "a certain tract of land situate on Wilson st. North Billerica": beginning at land of Eliza Mahoney on Wilson Street, east by Mahoney to a bound at Concord River, north by the river two rods to her other land, west by her land two rods from the first line to Wilson Street, and south on the street two rods. Dated Aug. 17, 1882, acknowledged before Dudley Foster JP. A two-rod way to the river beside the Mahoney lot, used by the town for its fire engine ("Mrs. Mahoney, use of engine land, $4.00", town report 1885).
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| October 3, 1891 | Warranty Deed | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica, by Dudley Foster, Treasurer, authorized by the Selectmen | Lawrence B. Gannon of Billerica | 1891 the town sells its old North Billerica engine house lot beside the Mahoney land to L. B. Gannon | 227/281 |
For $1,530, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon, situated on Wilson street, North Billerica": from land of Eliza Mahoney on Wilson Street east by Mahoney to Concord River, north on the river two rods to land of Elizabeth Auty, west by Auty "just two rods distant" from the first line to the street, and south on Wilson Street two rods, "Being the same premises conveyed to the Inhabitants of Billerica by Elizabeth Auty" (155/247). Dated Sept. 28, 1891, acknowledged Sept. 29 before Frederick A. Morey JP. The building was the old North Billerica engine house, sold at auction when the town bought a steamer ("for engine house sold, $1,530.00", town report 1892).
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| August 16, 1905 | Quitclaim | Lawrence B. Gannon of Billerica (Kate Gannon releasing dower and homestead) | The Talbot Mills | 1905 L. B. Gannon, owner of the land on both sides, quitclaims to fix the Mahoney lot lines | 379/439 |
For $1 and other valuable considerations, "all the right title and interest" in the Mahoney tract "with the buildings thereon situated on the easterly line of Wilson Street", 351.70 feet by the grantor's land, the river, 320.40 feet by his other land and 80.45 feet on the street, "Being the same premises shown on a 'Plan of land and buildings bought by the Talbot Mills from Mrs Eliza Mahoney' surveyed by H. W. Sheldon". "This conveyance is made for the purpose of establishing the bounds and boundary lines between said Mahoney land and lands of my own adjoining the same on the north and south." Dated Aug. 4, 1905.
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| August 16, 1905 | Warranty Deed | Eliza Mahoney of Billerica, widow (her mark) | The Talbot Mills | 1905 Eliza Mahoney sells her house lot and two buildings to The Talbot Mills | 379/440 |
For $1 and other valuable considerations, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situated on the easterly side of Wilson Street": from the northwest corner of L. B. Gannon's land east 351.70 feet to Concord River, north on the river, west 320.40 feet by Gannon's other land and south 80.45 feet on the street, as on H. W. Sheldon's plan of the land "bought by the Talbot Mills from Mrs Eliza Mahoney". Title: Jones and Foster April 3, 1872 (87/581) and Aug. 27, 1875 (133/448); Elizabeth Auty Nov. 16, 1881 (160/103). Dated Aug. 7, 1905; witness Jeremiah S. Mahoney.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| May 9, 1919 | Quitclaim | Elizabeth A. (Lizzie A.) Gannon and Henrietta F. Gannon of Billerica, both unmarried, daughters of Lawrence B. Gannon | Their sister Catherine A. Kearney of Billerica | 1919 the Gannon sisters release the former engine house lot to Catherine A. Kearney | 604/37 |
$2 in stamps. "The land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon, situated on Wilson Street", the two-rod lot from land of Eliza Mahoney "now or formerly" to land of Elizabeth Auty, "Being the same premises conveyed to our father Laurence B. Gannon, late of said Billerica, by deed of the Inhabitants of Billerica, dated September 28, 1891" (227/281). Dated April 26, 1919, acknowledged at Lowell before John J. Hogan JP. Part of the division of the Gannon estate among his children, recorded with deeds of the other Gannon lots on F. W. Huntington and Co.'s plan of December 1918.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| August 15, 1944 | Vote | Board of Selectmen of the Town of Billerica | (confirmation of the 1891 deed to Lawrence B. Gannon) | 1944 selectmen ratify the 1891 sale of the engine house lot | 1011/360 |
Vote of Aug. 7, 1944, unanimous, "That the act of the Selectmen of the Town of Billerica in conveying the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on Wilson Street" (the two-rod lot beside the Mahoney land) "to Lawrence Gannon by deed dated September 28, 1891, be and the same hereby is ratified and confirmed", with the seal and delivery of that deed. Attested by George S. Gracie, Secretary. Recorded to clear the title for the 1944 sale.
Related:
|
|||||
| August 15, 1944 | Quitclaim | Marietta K. Begley of Lowell, Evelyn E. Hayes of Billerica and Katherine F. Kearney of Lowell, heirs at law of Catherine A. and Bernard W. Kearney (husbands releasing curtesy) | Alicia J. Welsh of Billerica | 1944 the Kearney heirs sell the former engine house lot | 1011/361 |
$2.75 in stamps. "The land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on Wilson Street": from land of Eliza Mahoney "now or formerly" east to Concord River, north two rods on the river to land of Elizabeth Auty, west two rods from the first line to Wilson Street and south two rods on the street. "Being the same premises conveyed by Elizabeth A. Gannon et al to Catherine A. Kearney by deed dated April 26, 1919" (604/37); "Our title is derived as heirs-at-law of Catherine A. Kearney and Bernard W. Kearney, late of Billerica." Dated Aug. 15, 1944.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| November 29, 1957 | Quitclaim | The 1944 buyer, of Billerica, unmarried | A private owner of Lowell | 1957 the former engine house lot passes to a private owner of Lowell, for less than $100 | 1389/413 |
"The land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on Wilson Street", the same two-rod lot from land of Eliza Mahoney "now or formerly" to land of Elizabeth Auty "now or formerly", "Being the same premises to me conveyed by Marietta K. Begley et al by deed dated August 15, 1944" (1011/361). The grantor was the 1944 buyer. "The consideration for this deed is less than $100.00." Dated and acknowledged at Lowell Nov. 29, 1957.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| January 6, 1959 | Quitclaim | A private owner of Lowell, unmarried (the 1957 grantee) | Cote Sheet Metal Co., Inc., a corporation with its usual place of business in Lowell | 1959 Cote Sheet Metal Co. buys the former engine house lot | 1426/291 |
"The land in Billerica ... with the buildings thereon, situated on Wilson Street", the two-rod lot from land of Eliza Mahoney "now or formerly" north to land of Elizabeth Auty "now or formerly", "Being the same premises to me conveyed by" the 1957 deed (1389/413). Recorded Jan. 6, 1959 9:13 am, just after the discharge of the 1950 Lowell Co-operative Bank mortgage, and followed by Cote's mortgage to the Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| August 18, 1959 | Quitclaim | Cote Sheet Metal Co., Inc., of Lowell (by vote of its directors) | A private couple of Quincy | 1959 Cote Sheet Metal Co. sells 20-22 Wilson St to a private couple; private owners since | 1448/545 |
"A certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica", shown on a "Plan of Land in Billerica Surveyed for Cote Sheet Metal Co., Inc." dated July 8, 1959: west by Wilson Street 33 feet, south by land of Coppola about 319 feet, east by Concord River 33 feet and north by land of Hall about 315 feet, 10,300 square feet, "known as and numbered 22 Wilson Street". The corporate vote authorized the sale of "the land at 20-22 Wilson Street, North Billerica". Recorded Aug. 18, 1959 with the buyers' mortgage to the Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank. Later private sales: 1992, 1996 ($90,000) and 1998 ($129,000).
Title from:
|
|||||
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.