Structure · Built 1829
Gustus Homestead
Gustus Homestead
| Address | 237 Andover Rd |
| Built | 1829 |
The Gustus Homestead at 237 Andover Road is a low, old-style farmhouse with an ell, standing about 25 feet from the road on the southeast side of Andover Road just southwest of the fork where the old road to Pattenville leaves it. The assessor dates it "about 1780", but that is an estimate; the deeds first record buildings on this lot in 1829, and the house is named in a probate inventory in 1850. In 1893 the place was sold as "a part of the Gustus Homestead," and that is the name used here.
The land was part of the farm of Benjamin Lewis, a Billerica yeoman, whose will of 1771 left his widow the use of "such parts of my dwelling house as she shall chuse" and gave "all my lands & buildings" in Billerica and Tewksbury to his son James Lewis. The will was proved in November 1778. On March 25, 1794, James Lewis and James Lewis Jr. sold about 115 acres on the highway from Billerica to Salem, upland on Fox Hill and a three-acre piece between the Salem and Andover roads, "together with the Dwelling House, Barn and other Buildings thereon standing" and a share of the mill at Supply, to Thomas Richardson for 520 pounds. The elder James Lewis moved to Groton about 1796. The 1794 deed covers the whole farm, which lay on both sides of the road, so it does not show on which side the Lewis dwelling stood.
Richardson, the tavern keeper at the Corner, held "the Lewis place" until he died in 1828. In March 1829 his heirs divided it. Sarah Kendall took 44 acres on the Fox Hill side "with the buildings thereon" (the later Frost place), and the Rogers family of Boston took "a part of the Lewis place ... containing about sixty nine acres with the buildings thereon standing" on the south side of "the road from Billerica meeting house to Salem". That is the first record of buildings on this lot. The Hales map of 1831 draws a single house on this stretch of the road, on the Fox Hill side. The Rogers heirs sold the 69 acres in 1835 to Henry Allen, the innholder of Allen's Tavern, and on February 19, 1850 Allen sold sixty acres "with all the buildings thereon standing" to J. Frederick Gustus, a Boston painter, for $3000.
Gustus died the same year. His inventory lists the "House, Barn & sixty acres of Land situated in Billerica", and his will left two thirds to his widow Mary H. Gustus and one third to their daughter Clarissa, who released her share to her mother in 1859. The Walling maps of 1853 and 1856 mark the house "M. Gustus", with G. Frost across the road and M. Johnson behind. Mary H. Gustus later married a Crosby and appears as "Mrs. Crosby" on the 1875 county atlas, with a small cluster of buildings on the road. She died about 1891, and her heir Clara E. Sexton sold the house and four acres "with the buildings thereon", "a part of the Gustus Homestead", to Joseph S. Holt on July 1, 1893. In 1895 she sold the 37-acre field on the east to Bessie F. Spaulding; that field was later the Farwell farm and, from 1968, the Governors Park subdivision.
Joseph S. Holt, a manufacturer, served the town as election clerk and on the Bowers Fund committee. Holt died on February 9, 1909, and his widow Jennie S. Holt and daughter Gertrude B. Huntley of Los Angeles sold the four acres with the buildings to William J. Rounds of Cambridge on April 13, 1915. The Rounds family kept it for nearly forty years, through the will of William J. Rounds and the estate of E. Edith Rounds, who died at Billerica in 1951. Her heirs conveyed the homestead to Allen P. and Mary J. Rounds that July. In May 1954 the Rounds had James B. Monahan survey the land into four lots: three house lots on the road (now 233, 235 and 241 Andover Road) and Lot 1, 3.1 acres around the old buildings, which they sold in August 1954 to Bernard W. and Mable L. Hart of Somerville.
The Harts lived here until their deaths in March 1987, and the house stayed in their family until 2013, when it was sold to a private owner. A 1999 plan, recorded in 2000, cut a rear lot off toward Governor Carver Road and shows the "Exist. House #237" with a garage, two sheds and a trailer on the remaining 1.9 acres. The assessor describes the house as old style with clapboards, six rooms, a very low first-floor ceiling in the main house and a narrow, steep stair to an unheated second story, which fits an early farmhouse. The records prove the house was standing by 1850 and that buildings stood on this lot by 1829. They do not settle whether it is the Lewis family's dwelling of 1771 and 1794.
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Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| 1778 | Will | Estate of Benjamin Lewis of Billerica, yeoman | His son James Lewis, executor and devisee | Benjamin Lewis will (1771/1778): lands and buildings to his son James | Probate #14065 |
Will dated Jan. 31, 1771 (witnesses William Stickney, Hannah Stickney, William Stickney Jr.). His wife Elizabeth was to have her household furniture, a cow, sheep, firewood and provisions, a horse to ride, "the use and improvement of such parts of my Dwelling house as she shall chuse, and the use of the well"; sons Benjamin, Jonathan, John, Reuben and Samuel had already had their portions; and he gave "unto my son James Lewis all my lands & buildings lying in the town of Billerica aforesaid and lying in the town of Tewksbury". The inventory of Nov. 27, 1777 (Deacon Joshua Abbot, Isaac Marshall, Oliver Crosby) lists only personal estate, 317 pounds 13s 2d. Proved Nov. 10, 1778.
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| March 31, 1794 | Warranty Deed | James Lewis and James Lewis Jr. of Billerica, gentlemen (wives Rebecca and Lucy releasing dower) | Thomas Richardson of Billerica, gentleman | James Lewis and son sell the Lewis place, with the dwelling house and barn, to Thomas Richardson | 115/278 (South) |
For 520 pounds, "the following tracts or parcels of land lying in Billerica containing about one hundred and fifteen acres": from the NE corner of Jonas French's land "by the high way leading from Billerica to Salem", by the highway to Ezra Rogers, by Rogers, Thomas Craigg, Reuben Kendall, Isaac Marshall Jr. and David Abbot back to French, reserving a bridle way; upland on Fox Hill between the highway over Fox Hill, the range way, Oliver Abbot and "the highway leading from Billerica to Andover"; and about three acres "between the highway leading to Salem and the highway leading to Andover"; "together with the Dwelling House, Barn and other Buildings thereon standing", with a fourth of the stream at Supply and a third of the mill on it. Dated March 25, 1794, ack. before Jonathan Brown JP. Billerica town book 9, pages 97-99.
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| 1828 | Administration | Estate of Thomas Richardson of Billerica, gentleman, died intestate 1828 | Joseph Locke of Billerica, administrator; the heirs | Thomas Richardson, owner of the Lewis place, dies 1828 | Probate #19177 |
Thomas Richardson "has died within sixty days last past," his administrator wrote in October 1828. His son T. Richardson Jr. declined on Sept. 20, 1828 and joined the heirs in asking that Joseph Locke of Billerica be appointed, which the court at Chelmsford did on Oct. 7, 1828, on a $5,000 bond with Josiah Stevens of Billerica (Richardson's son-in-law, who had kept the tavern) and John French of Boston, merchant; Artemas and Lydia Rogers witnessed the bond. The file holds only the appointment papers and the notice to creditors; no inventory or division survives in it, and the heirs settled the real estate among themselves by deed (the tavern going to his daughters Lydia Rogers and Elizabeth Richardson). Middlesex probate case 19177.
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| April 17, 1830 | Quitclaim | Heirs of Thomas Richardson: Josiah and Abigail Stevens, John and Mary French, John and Ann Thompson, Artemas and Lydia Rogers, Elizabeth Richardson, Sarah Kendall | George W. H. Rogers, merchant, Hannah R. F. Rogers and Judith E. Rogers, all of Boston | Richardson heirs to the Rogers family: 69 acres south of the road with the buildings (first record of buildings here) | 296/236 (South) |
For $1473.63, "a tract of land situate in Billerica ... being a part of the Lewis place so called and lately belonging to Thomas Richardson decd containing about sixty nine acres with the buildings thereon standing": from the NE corner by "the road that leads from Billerica meeting house to Salem" at land occupied by Phillip Mills, SW by the road 95.9 rods, SE to a corner of land of the heirs of Joseph Foster, E 33.5 rods, NW 49.8 rods, E 47.8 rods to a white oak, and 132 rods to the beginning. Dated March 7, 1829, ack. before Joseph Locke JP. Billerica town book 14, pages 279-280.
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| 1835 | Mortgage | Henry Allen of Billerica, innholder | Joseph Chamberlain of New York, George W. H. Rogers and Judith E. Rogers of Boston | Allen purchase mortgage | 339/65 (South) |
Purchase mortgage for $1400 on the same "part of the Lewis place so called" of about sixty nine acres on the southerly side of the road from Billerica Meeting house to Salem, from the corner at land occupied by Phillips Mills. Discharged (Billerica town book 21, page 225). Billerica town book 15, pages 61-62.
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| March 3, 1836 | Deed | Joseph Chamberlain of New York, merchant, Hannah R. F. Chamberlain, George W. H. Rogers and Judith E. Rogers of Boston | Henry Allen of Billerica, innholder | Sold to Henry Allen, innholder | 351/72 (South) |
For $1500, "a certain piece or parcel of land situate on the southerly side of the road leading from Billerica Meeting House to Salem and being a part of the Lewis place so called and containing about sixty nine acres", the same bounds (Phillip Mills, the road 95.9 rods, heirs of Joseph Foster, the white oak), "see a diagram annexed." Warranty, no title recital. Dated Feb. 23, 1835 (ack. New York and Boston). Billerica town book 15, pages 241-242.
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| 1850 | Will | Estate of J. Frederick Gustus of Billerica, gentleman | His widow Mary H. Gustus (two thirds) and daughter Clarissa Antoinette Gustus (one third) | Gustus will and inventory: House, Barn and sixty acres; two thirds to his widow | Probate #33263 |
Will dated July 9, 1850 (witnesses Aurelius D. Parker, Lyman Mason, C. G. Thomas), naming James Munroe of Boston, provision dealer, executor and giving all his estate "to my beloved wife Mary H. Gustus and my daughter Clarissa Antoinette Gustus," two thirds and one third, the survivor to take the others share. Proved Nov. 19, 1850. The inventory lists a house in Garden Court Street, Boston, $4000, and "House, Barn & sixty acres of Land situated in Billerica, twenty five hundred dollars, subject to Mortgage for twelve hundred dollars."
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| February 21, 1850 | Deed | Henry Allen of Billerica, yeoman, and Eliza E. Allen (dower) | J. Frederick Gustus of Boston, painter | Allen to J. Frederick Gustus, sixty acres with all the buildings | 576/392 (South) |
For $3000, a tract beginning at the NE corner "by the road leading from Billerica Meeting house to Salem at land now or formerly occupied by Phillips Mills", SW by the road 94 rods, S 30 E 110.20 rods "on land by me this day conveyed to Henry Sperry", then by fences to a white oak and 131 18/25 rods to the beginning, "containing by estimation sixty acres with all the buildings thereon standing and being part of the same premises conveyed to me by Joseph Chamberlain and others by their deed dated Feb 23d 1835" (S.351/72). Dated Feb. 19, 1850, ack. Feb. 20 before John Baldwin Jr. JP. Billerica town book 19, pages 50-51.
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| 1851 | Guardianship | Clarissa A. B. Gustus, minor, daughter of J. Frederick Gustus | Her mother Mary H. Gustus of Billerica, widow, guardian | Mary H. Gustus guardian of her daughter Clarissa | Probate #33262 |
Mary H. Gustus of Billerica, widow, petitioned that her daughter Clarissa A. B. Gustus, "a minor, above the age of 14 years," had chosen her as guardian (April 8, 1851). Appointed at Woburn April 22, 1851, bond $5000 with Henry Sperry of Billerica, broker, and Davis Locke of West Cambridge as sureties.
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| December 18, 1851 | Executor's Deed | James Munroe of Boston, provision dealer, executor of J. Frederick Gustus, and Mary H. Gustus of Billerica, widow, for herself and as guardian of Clarissa A. Gustus | Lewis Johnson, ship carpenter, of Boston | 1851 two acres of the back land, reached by a passage way west of the house, cut off for Lewis Johnson | 619/561 (South) |
Recites that on May 6, 1850 J. Frederick Gustus gave "Lewis Johnson of said Boston Ship Carpenter" a bond to convey a tract of land, that Gustus died before conveying, and that on Johnson's bill in equity the Supreme Judicial Court (Suffolk) decreed on October 18, 1851 that the executor and widow convey it without warranty. For $150, "the balance due on said bond": beginning where "a passage way on the westerly side of the house lately occupied by said Gustus" meets "the Turnpike leading from Billerica Meeting House to Salem", south 13 rods 4 1/2 feet along the passage way to "a division fence recently built" between this land and the Gustus heirs, east by the fence 13 rods 12 1/2 feet to a stone wall, south by the wall 22 rods 14 1/2 feet, west 14 rods 4 feet and north by the passage way, "making two acres of land", with a right in the six-foot passage way "always to be kept open leading in a straight line from said premises to said Turnpike". No buildings named. Dated November 17, 1851; Billerica town book 19, pages 169-172.
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| January 15, 1855 | Warranty Deed | Henry Sperry of Billerica (Mehitable P. Sperry releasing dower) | Mary H. Gustus of Billerica, widow | 1855 the Johnson two acres, with the buildings, come back to the Gustus farm | 698/257 (South) |
For $400, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon", the same two acres and six-foot passage way "on the westerly side of the house of the said Mary H. Gustus" by the road from Billerica to Andover, "being the same premises conveyed to me by Lewis Johnson by deed dated Jan. 5, 1855." Dated January 8, 1855, acknowledged at Boston January 10; Billerica town book 20, pages 480-482. The Johnson house and lot thus went back into the Gustus farm.
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| June 7, 1859 | Quitclaim | Patrick W. Tully of Billerica and Clarissa A. Tully, his wife | Mary H. Gustus of Billerica | Daughter releases her third of the homestead to Mary H. Gustus | 19/490 |
For $1200, all their right in "a certain tract of land, with the buildings thereon situate on the southerly side of the road from Billerica to Andover", beginning at the road at the corner of Lewis Johnsons land and running by Johnson, by stakes and stones and a ditch back to the road. Clarissa, the daughter and one-third devisee of J. Frederick Gustus, released her share of the homestead to her mother. Dated May 6, 1859, ack. May 13 before Dudley Foster JP. On the next page Mary H. Gustus, as assignee, discharged the Gustus purchase mortgage (S.576/393) and, as executrix of John Munroe, a second mortgage (S.616/544).
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| July 3, 1893 | Deed | Clara E. Sexton of Billerica (William H. Sexton releasing curtesy) | Joseph S. Holt of Billerica | Heir of Mary H. Crosby sells four acres, part of the Gustus Homestead, with the buildings to Joseph S. Holt | 245/236 |
For $1000, "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica on the Easterly side of the highway leading from East Billerica to Billerica Centre", about 25 rods on the highway and bounded otherwise by land of the grantor, "containing four acres more or less, Being a part of the Gustus Homestead and being a part of the estate which came to me as an heir at law of Mary H. Crosby late of said Billerica." Dated July 1, 1893. Holt gave back a $600 mortgage the same day (N.245/237).
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| May 8, 1895 | Deed | Clara E. Sexton of Billerica (William H. Sexton releasing curtesy) | Bessie F. Spaulding of Billerica | Heir sells the 37-acre field east of the homestead to Bessie F. Spaulding | 263/473 |
For $1, a parcel beginning at a stone bound at land of one Holt at the NW corner "on the southerly side of the road leading from Billerica Meeting house to Salem", E along the road 41 rods 12 1/2 feet to a wall at land of one Gatter, S by Gatter, Foster and Manning 147 rods 9 1/2 feet to an oak, W 48 rods to land of the grantor, N by the grantor and Holt 124 rods 7 1/2 feet, about thirty seven acres. "Being a part of the premises described in a deed from Henry Allen to Frederick Gustus dated February 19th 1850 ... and being a part of certain of the real estate which the grantor took as heir at law of Mary H. Crosby widow of the said Gustus." Mortgage back $400 (N.263/474).
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| May 3, 1915 | Warranty Deed | Jennie S. Holt of Billerica, widow, and Gertrude B. Huntley of Los Angeles, heirs of Joseph S. Holt | William J. Rounds of Cambridge | Holt heirs to William J. Rounds | 536/498 |
For one dollar (stamps $1.50), "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica on the easterly side of the highway leading from East Billerica to Billerica Centre": 25 rods 6 feet on the highway and otherwise bounded by land of Clara E. Sexton, "four (4) acres, more or less. Being the same premises conveyed to Joseph S. Holt, late of said Billerica, deceased intestate, by Clara E. Sexton, by deed dated July 1, 1893" (N.245/236), "who was the husband and father respectively of the grantors", and which came to them as his heirs at law. Holt died Feb. 9, 1909. Dated April 13, 1915; the grantee assumed the 1915 taxes.
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| December 31, 1951 | Quitclaim | Fanny Edwards of New York, Lillian L. Larner of Montclair, N.J., Mary G. Sias of Orlando, Fla., and Richard T. Rounds of Hyannis, heirs of William J. and E. Edith Rounds | Allen P. Rounds and Mary J. Rounds of Billerica | Rounds heirs to Allen P. and Mary J. Rounds | 1174/314 |
Consideration under $100. The same four acres "with the buildings thereon" on the easterly side of the highway from East Billerica to Billerica Centre (25 rods 6 feet on the highway, Clara E. Sexton on the other sides). "Being the same premises conveyed by Jennie S. Holt and Gertrude B. Huntley to William J. Rounds by deed dated April 13, 1915" (N.536/498); "For our title see will of William J. Rounds, Middlesex County probate case No. 122556, and see also estate of E. Edith Rounds who died at Billerica on April 30, 1951, Middlesex County probate case No. 302632." Dated July 9, 1951. Pages 314-315.
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| December 31, 1954 | Quitclaim | Allen P. Rounds and Mary J. Rounds of Billerica | Bernard W. Hart and Mable L. Hart of Somerville | Lot 1 (3.1 acres) with the buildings to Bernard W. and Mable L. Hart; later private transfers | 1265/311 |
"The land in said Billerica on the south easterly side of Andover Street, with the buildings thereon, and being Lot No. 1 on a plan entitled Plan of Land in Billerica, Surveyed For Allen P. Rounds, dated May 1954, James B. Monahan" (Plan Book 84, Plan 123): 118.50 feet on Andover Street, behind Lots 2, 3 and 4, and bounded by land formerly of Sexton, Flint and Farwell, "3.1 acres of land, more or less". "Being a part of the premises conveyed to us by Fanny Edwards et als" (N.1174/314). Dated Aug. 13, 1954. Mable L. Hart died March 7, 1987 and Bernard W. Hart on March 29, 1987; the house passed under his will to the family, was confirmed within the family in 1997 (N.8791/152), was reduced to 1.912 acres by Plan 202-112 (2000), and was sold to a private owner in 2013 for $222,000 (N.27328/186).
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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.