William E. Faulkner
William Emerson Faulkner (1805-1861) was a son of Francis Faulkner, who founded the woolen mill at the Canal Mills, now North Billerica, in 1811. He was born on April 7, 1805, a brother of James R. Faulkner and Luther W. Faulkner, and worked in the family business as a clothier, dressing and finishing cloth. Deeds call him a clothier in 1833 and 1842 and a manufacturer in 1835 and 1851.
In March 1831 he bought for $350 a twenty-acre lot north of the mill village, formerly part of the farm of Thomas Rogers, from Elizabeth Richardson of Boston. Two years later the Boston and Lowell Railroad was laid out across it, and in February 1833 he sold the corporation a strip two rods each side of its centre line, about two acres, for $100. He sold the railroad a small piece beside the track in 1842 and a lot of 50 by 75 feet at the Billerica Mills depot in 1851. In 1847 he sold Charles P. Talbot and Thomas Talbot, then dyestuff manufacturers, eighty square rods near the depot building and the lane to the Faulkner factory. In 1835 he and his brother James shared a new house near the Canal Mills, and he lent money on mortgages of houses in the village, among them Isaiah Bussey's.
After his father's death in 1843 he joined the other heirs in the deeds that settled the estate, first on their mother and then back on the family, and in 1854 he and his sisters Lois R. and Lydia H. Faulkner took a third each of a two-acre lot with buildings beside the mill. With James R. Faulkner he owned a half-acre lot with a dwelling house on the road from the mills to the Centre, and he owned six acres running back from that road to the railroad. The William E. Faulkner House on Mason Avenue stands on that back land.
William E. Faulkner died unmarried and without a will on September 1, 1861, described in the probate papers as a trader. His brother James R. Faulkner was appointed administrator, with Calvin Rogers and Luther W. Faulkner as sureties. In December 1861 the other heirs released his land to James R. Faulkner for $1,800, and in 1880 it became part of the first lot of the Faulkner Manufacturing Company.
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Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Property | Recorded |
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| March 25, 1831 | Deed | Elizabeth Richardson of Boston, singlewoman | William E. Faulkner (William Emerson Faulkner) of Billerica | Details | William E. Faulkner House 3 Mason Av Mill Worker Housing (Station Street) Depot Warehouse Faulkner Manufacturing Company Worker Housing at 10-12 Letchworth Av Faulkner Manufacturing Company Worker Housing at 6-8 Letchworth Av Union Hall Hiram C. Brown Postmaster's House |
303/157 (South) |
Billerica town book 11, pages 543-544. Dated March 24, 1831. For $350, "a certain lot of land formerly owned by Thomas Rogers containing twenty acres be it more or less", bounded by the road leading to John Rogers's, by land of Rogers, west by land of Francis Faulkner, Esquire, "as the fence now stands", by land of John and Henry Baldwin and the heirs of Nathan Mears, and south by "the road which leads from the Canal Mills to Billerica Meeting house". The land her father had deeded her in 1822; William E. Faulkner's farm behind the road east of his father's mill land.
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| February 16, 1833 | Deed | William E. Faulkner (William Emerson Faulkner) of Billerica, clothier | The Boston and Lowell Railroad Corporation | Details | William E. Faulkner House Depot Warehouse North Billerica Railroad Depot |
320/394 (South) |
Billerica town book 16, pages 184-185. Dated February 14, 1833. For $100, a strip "near the Canal Mills so called" from the north side of the road leading from the mills to Tewksbury at John Rogers's line, running north by Rogers and back "on and by said Faulkner's other land ... keeping always just two rods from said centre line": 74 rods 23.5 links along the centre line of the railroad, "containing two acres & sixty five rods" (plan by S. Livingston, January 8, 1833). The Boston and Lowell Railroad cut through William E. Faulkner's 1831 purchase; the house lot lies on the west side of the line.
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| 1837 | Deed | Isaiah Bussey of Billerica, yeoman (his wife, signing as Nancy Bussey, releasing dower) | Daniel Wilson of Billerica, yeoman | Details | Isaiah Bussey House Talbot Textile Mills Worker Housing at 60-62 Wilson St Talbot Textile Mill Worker Housing at 52-54 Wilson St Small House |
368/315 (South) |
For $1,500, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon standing, situate in said Billerica near the Canal Mills so called, containing thirty seven square rods": from the westerly corner at the road from the Canal Mills to Oliver Farmer's and land of John Mixer, south by Mixer 10 rods to Wilson's land, east by Wilson about 47 feet to a board fence, north by Wilson and others to land of "the Widow Anna Wood", still north to a point near "the said Anna's building formerly a Shoemaker's Shop, where the lot is four rods wide", north by Anna's land to the road and west by the road 4 rods; also 7 acres 15 rods "formerly a part of the Nathan Mears homestead" between the road, the schoolhouse, the passage way and Concord River. Dated September 25, 1837; witnesses William E. Faulkner and Marshall Preston. Billerica town book 15, pages 480-481. The first record of a house on the lot.
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| May 7, 1842 | Deed | William E. Faulkner (William Emerson Faulkner) of Billerica, clothier | The Boston and Lowell Railroad Corporation | Details | William E. Faulkner House Depot Warehouse North Billerica Railroad Depot |
415/265 (South) |
Billerica town book 17, page 289. For $30, a piece 9 by 24 feet beside the railroad near the Canal Mills, beginning 175 feet north of the highway "on the line of land formerly sold by me to said Corporation", bounded on three sides "by land or passage ways belonging to me the said Faulkner". A small addition to the 1833 railroad strip.
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| June 21, 1843 | Quitclaim Deed | The children of Francis Faulkner (James R., William E., Luther W., George, Dwight F., Charles and Winthrop Faulkner, and Ann wife of Calvin Rogers) and the widow and children of Francis Faulkner Jr. of Keene, N.H. | Ann Faulkner of Billerica, widow of Francis Faulkner | Details | Faulkner Mills Faulkner Housing |
430/57 (South) |
Billerica town book 17, pages 495-497. For $1, a release to the widow of "all the real and personal property of every description, which were of Francis Faulkner late of said Billerica Decd. and ... to which we ... may be entitled under the will of said Francis Faulkner and also ... as the heirs and next of kin", the sons' wives releasing dower. Dated May 24, 1843, eight days after the will was proved; it put all of Francis Faulkner's estate, including his share of the mill, in his widow's hands.
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| August 19, 1846 | Quitclaim Deed | Ann Faulkner of Billerica, widow of Francis Faulkner | The heirs of Francis Faulkner (James R., William E., Luther W., George, Dwight F., Charles and Winthrop Faulkner, Calvin Rogers, and Eliza, Charles S. and Elizabeth Faulkner of Keene) | Details | Faulkner Mills Faulkner Housing |
492/98 (South) |
Billerica town book 20, pages 213-214. For $1, the widow releases back to the family "all my right title & interest in & to all the real & personal property of every description which was conveyed to me by deed dated the twenty fourth day of May ... 1843" (Book 430 Page 57). Dated June 30, 1846; it returned Francis Faulkner's estate, including his share of the mill, to his heirs in common, ahead of the 1846-1854 buyouts by Charles and James R. Faulkner.
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| April 14, 1847 | Deed | William E. Faulkner of Billerica, gentleman | Charles P. Talbot of Lowell and Thomas Talbot of Billerica, dye stuff manufacturers | Details | William E. Faulkner House Mill Worker Housing (Station Street) Union Hall North Billerica Railroad Depot |
506/80 (South) |
Billerica town book 18, pages 318-319. Dated April 13, 1847. For $100, "a certain piece or parcel of land situate in said Billerica near the Billerica Mills Depot so called containing eighty square rods", beginning "near the Depot Building and the lane running from said Depot to the Faulkner Factory", bounded by land of the Boston and Lowell Rail Road Company and on two sides "by my land", with a right of passage; the Talbots to keep up "the partition fences between said premises and my other lands". A small lot cut from the corner of William E. Faulkner's farm by the North Billerica depot; the rest of his land behind the mill stayed his until his death in 1861.
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| June 4, 1851 | Deed | William E. Faulkner of Billerica, manufacturer | The Boston and Lowell Railroad Corporation | Details | William E. Faulkner House Depot Warehouse North Billerica Railroad Depot Hiram C. Brown Postmaster's House |
609/417 (South) |
Billerica town book 19, pages 98-99. Dated June 4, 1851. For $140, "a certain tract of land situated at Billerica Mills so called", 50 by 75 feet at a corner "on a road to the village", bounded by land of the grantor on two sides, the railroad to build and keep "good and substantial fences upon the two division lines ... between said above granted premises and other land belonging to said Grantor". A depot-side lot cut from William E. Faulkner's land.
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| February 14, 1854 | Quitclaim Deed | The heirs at law of Francis Faulkner (James R., Dwight F., Charles, George, Winthrop and Luther W. Faulkner, Calvin and Ann F. Rogers, and the Keene heirs) | Lois R. Faulkner, Lydia H. Faulkner and William E. Faulkner of Billerica, a third each | Details | Faulkner Mills William E. Faulkner House |
668/420 (South) |
Billerica town book 21, pages 186-189. For $3,000, the 2 acre 27 rod lot by William Rogers "on the road leading from the canal mills by said Rogers house to Billerica Meeting house", reaching to a stake "twenty six feet easterly of a line drawn in the direction of the easterly end of the Fullings Mill", with the buildings, "the same piece ... first described in the deed of the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal to Francis Faulkner dated May 4th A.D. 1825". James R. and Charles Faulkner reserved "the right to use one corner of said premises for the purpose of keeping a store and counting room thereon as the buildings at present used for those purposes now stand". Dated Jan 2, 1854.
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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) | Details | Faulkner Mills Faulkner Kindergarten William E. Faulkner House James R. Faulkner House Faulkner Manufacturing Company Worker Housing at 10-12 Letchworth Av Faulkner Manufacturing Company Worker Housing at 6-8 Letchworth Av |
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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| 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 | Details | James R. Faulkner House William E. Faulkner House Faulkner Barn |
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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| October 8, 1861 | Administration | Estate of William E. Faulkner of Billerica, trader (died September 1, 1861, intestate) | His brother James R. Faulkner, administrator | Details | William E. Faulkner House Mill Worker Housing (Station Street) Faulkner Manufacturing Company Worker Housing at 10-12 Letchworth Av Faulkner Manufacturing Company Worker Housing at 6-8 Letchworth Av Union Hall Hiram C. Brown Postmaster's House |
Probate #31573 |
Petition of October 1, 1861 by James R. Faulkner, eldest brother: William E. Faulkner of Billerica, trader, "died on the first day of September" 1861 intestate, leaving no widow; next of kin his brothers James R., Dwight F., Charles, Winthrop, George and Luther W. Faulkner and his sisters Lois R., Lydia H. and Ann F. (wife of Calvin Rogers). Decree of October 8, 1861 appointing James R. Faulkner administrator, bond $20,000 with Calvin Rogers and Luther W. Faulkner as sureties; notice in the Boston Daily Advertiser. No inventory is in the file; his land passed to the heirs, who released it to James R. Faulkner (Book 30 Page 386).
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| March 25, 1862 | Quitclaim Deed | The heirs at law of William E. Faulkner (Dwight F., Lois R., Lydia H., Charles, George, Winthrop and Luther W. Faulkner, Calvin and Ann F. Rogers, and the Keene and Sioux City heirs) | James R. Faulkner of Billerica, "the only other heir at law" | Details | William E. Faulkner House 3 Mason Av Mill Worker Housing (Station Street) Faulkner Manufacturing Company Worker Housing at 10-12 Letchworth Av Faulkner Manufacturing Company Worker Housing at 6-8 Letchworth Av Union Hall Hiram C. Brown Postmaster's House |
30/386 |
Dated December 24, 1861. For $1,800, the land of "William E. Faulkner, late of said Billerica, deceased, intestate": (1) about half an acre "with the dwelling house thereon" on "the road leading from North Billerica Mills to the centre of the town", 343 ft deep between land of James Faulkner and "other land formerly of said William E. when living" (W. E.'s interest "was one undivided half part only"); (2) "six acres, more or less" running back from the road along J. R. Faulkner and Company's land to the Jones, Haynes and Foster line, east 423 ft on that line, south 791 ft on the Boston and Lowell Railroad and by C. P. Talbot and Company to "the road leading to the depot"; (3) about two acres at the corner of the depot road and the road to Tewksbury. Piece (2) is the back land where the house now at 3 Mason Avenue stands.
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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 | Details | James R. Faulkner House Faulkner Barn |
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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| October 13, 1921 | Deed | The Boston and Maine Railroad (J. H. Hustis, president) | Thomas F. O'Hare of Billerica | Details | Depot Warehouse | 651/307 |
Dated October 3, 1921. For $1 and other valuable considerations ($1800 by the directors' vote), "a certain piece or parcel of land, with the buildings thereon", beginning on the south line of Faulkner Street at the west line of Ruggles Street, 75 feet by Ruggles Street to land of John J. McSweeney, 50 feet to land of Thomas F. O'Hare, 75 feet by O'Hare to Faulkner Street and 50 feet by Faulkner Street, 3,750 square feet, as on the plan by E. D. Chapman, July 1921 (Plan Book 39, Plan 14). Subject to the condition in W. E. Faulkner's deed to the Boston and Lowell Railroad of June 4, 1851 (Middlesex South Book 609, Page 417); the grantee assumes the risk of fire from locomotives.
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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.