Ephraim Kidder Jr. House
Ephraim Kidder Jr. House
| Address | 1 Darby Av |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.133 |
| Built | 1801 |
| Owners |
Josiah Stevens
(1838 - 1840)
Harvey Crosby (1840 - 1849) |
The Ephraim Kidder Jr. House stands at the corner of Salem Road and Darby Avenue in North Billerica, on the east bank of the Concord River beside the bridge that the early deeds call "the Great Bridge" and, from the 1830s, "the corner bridge" or "the Concord Bridge." For more than two centuries its deeds have described the same small lot: from "a stake and stones near Dexter's hatter's shop" west to the river, north by the river to the highway, and back along the highway. A public landing at the river beside the bridge, reserved in an 1838 deed, still bounds it on the 1971 survey.
The land was part of a nine-acre piece between the county road, the river and "the Lane," sold together with the neighboring homestead "whereon Solomon Pollard formerly lived." Samuel Hill, a cordwainer, sold both to Edward Farmer and Jonathan Stickney in 1772; they sold to Joseph Fox in 1776, Fox to Jonathan Patten of Medford in 1777, and Patten to Asa Spaulding, a Billerica trader, in 1782. In 1792 Spaulding sold the nine acres, bounded "Easterly and Northerly on the above described Road till it comes to the Watering place or common land at said River near the said Bridge," to Henry Newman of Boston. Newman sold one acre at the corner opposite Richardson's tavern to Stephen Barrett and Ephraim Kidder Jr. in 1797, and in March 1800 the remaining eight acres to Kidder, Samuel Parker and Jonathan M. Dexter for $750.
The three partners divided the eight acres in May 1801, leaving a strip about three rods wide "common and free to the parties as a common pass way or road," the line of today's Darby Avenue. Kidder's first share ran "south on the common way 61 feet" from the highway and west to the river. By November 1801 he had built on it: his mortgage to Elizabeth Abbot that month covers "a piece of land whereon the said Kidder's dwelling house now stands," bounded by the highway, Dexter's land and the river. The building was a dwelling and a store under one roof, set on a stone "wharfing" at the water's edge.
Kidder, a trader who had earlier joined in the store lot opposite the meeting house, could not pay his debts. On January 26, 1805 the sheriff divided the house among three creditors by its windows: John Carleton Jr. took "the middle part of the dwelling house," from the third to the fifth window of the hall; Jephthah Manning took "the south end of the dwelling house and part of the store"; and William Thompson took "the northerly end." William Manning Jr. levied two more executions on the store and hall parts in 1805 and 1806. Joseph Hurd, a Charlestown merchant, bought up the Carleton, Manning and Thompson executions, and in August and September 1805 Kidder quitclaimed the lot "together with the house thereon standing" to him; Elizabeth Abbot released her mortgage at the same time. Kidder died in 1807.
In 1808 Hurd sold the house to Jacob Farrar, a cabinet maker, for $1,070. Farrar mortgaged it repeatedly (to Hurd, to Francis Richardson of Malden, to Joseph Parker and to Allethina Fisk) and in January 1815 sold it "with all the buildings thereon standing" to William Richardson, the Billerica tavern and stage keeper, who mortgaged it in 1819 to his brother Asa Richardson of Boston. William Richardson died insolvent in 1826, and Asa sold the house in 1831 to Joseph Graham, a stone cutter from Lowell. Through the 1830s it passed quickly among Lowell investors: Samuel H. Mann, Esq. (1833-1836), from whom it was long known as "the Mann Place"; John R. Adams (1836); Samuel A. Coburn (1837); and Benjamin F. Varnum of Dracut (1838).
In November 1838 Varnum sold it to Josiah Stevens, who had kept the tavern at the Corner, and Mann's widow released her dower to Stevens, "Inn Holder," in 1839. Stevens died here about January 1840. His administrator, Marshall Preston, sold the reversion of "the Mann Place and where the said deceased last dwelt" to the widow Abigail Stevens, who sold it to Josiah B. French of Lowell, and on June 1, 1840 French sold it to Harvey Crosby. Crosby also bought from George Holden the adjoining piece of the Stevens "Parker Place," running south along the river to the Patten Place, so that by 1847 he held "three acres more or less with the buildings thereon" at the Corner Bridge. Crosby never lived here; the 1853 map credits the building to him and calls it a "hotel." In 1849 he conveyed it with his other lands to John S. Edgerly and Henry Crosby, and in 1855 Henry Crosby released his half to Edgerly.
Edgerly sold the house to Thomas Kittredge by a deed that was never recorded, and in 1866 Kittredge sold it for $650 to Martha S. Preston, wife of Edward Preston. The Prestons, who kept a boat livery here, appear on the 1875 map; Edward died in 1901, and their widowed daughter Fannie Bignall lived in the house until at least 1916. In 1920 the County Commissioners took about 20,000 square feet of "the Martha S. Preston Estate" for the new approach to the Concord River bridge. Her administrator sold the house in 1924 to Frank Woollard, who sold it the same month to Abram C. Flint. After Flint's death it passed under his will and was sold in 1971; the buyers had it surveyed as Lot 1 on a plan of Darby Avenue and Salem Road, "now supposedly numbered One Salem Road." A 1987 mortgage was foreclosed in 1995, and the house has since belonged to private owners.
The deeds correct several points in the 1973 MACRIS account: the "Charlestown gentleman" of 1805 was Joseph Hurd, who acquired the house through the creditors' executions; Jacob Farrar bought from Hurd in 1808 and sold in 1815; Samuel H. Mann owned the house from 1833 to 1836, not 1839; and Josiah Stevens bought it from Benjamin F. Varnum in 1838.
References
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| June 12, 1773 | Deed | Samuel Hill of Billerica, cordwainer | Edward Farmer and Jonathan Stickney, both of Billerica, yeomen | Samuel Hill sells the Pollard homestead and the nine acres | 74/375 (South) |
For 213 pounds 6s 8d, "Two certain pieces of Land ... being that Land I bought of Joseph Fox": "one piece where the Building stands containing five acres and one hundred and forty poles," bounded south by Edward Farmer, west by Concord River, north by William Patten and east by the County Road, "Together with all the Buildings thereon standing," and the other piece "containing nine acres and one hundred poles," from the road by marked trees to the river, by the river to a stake by the road, about eight poles to a marked walnut and "so on Easterly by the Lane to the Road." Signed Nov. 16, 1772, recorded June 12, 1773; witnesses Ebenezer Bridge and Joseph Fox. Billerica town book 6, pages 540-541.
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| April 1, 1777 | Deed | Edward Farmer and Jonathan Stickney, both of Billerica, gentlemen (wives Sarah and Silence releasing dower) | Joseph Fox of Billerica, gentleman | Farmer and Stickney sell back to Joseph Fox | 77/422 (South) |
For 213 pounds 6s 8d, the same two pieces: "the Homestead whereon Solomon Pollard formerly lived containing five acres & one hundred & forty poles," south on Edward Farmer's land, west on Concord River, north on William Patten and east on the County Road, "together with all the Buildings thereon standing," and the nine acres and one hundred poles between the road, the river and "the Lane." Signed May 16, 1776, acknowledged March 28, recorded April 1, 1777. Billerica town book 5, pages 521-522. Fox sold to Jonathan Patten two years later at a profit.
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| October 14, 1777 | Deed | Joseph Fox of Billerica | Jonathan Patten of Medford, trader | the nine acres by the river and the lane, 1777 | 78/297 (South) |
For 300 pounds, two pieces of land in Billerica: "the Homestead where Capt. Solomon Pollard formerly lived containing five acres and one hundred forty poles," bounded south by Capt. Farmer, west by Concord River, north by William Patten and east by the County Road, "together with all the Buildings thereon standing"; and "the other piece afore mentioned containing nine acres & one hundred poles," from the road west by marked trees to Concord River about 62 poles, by the river to a stake and stones by the road, and east "by the Lane" back to the road. Signed March 29, recorded Oct. 14, 1777; witnesses Timothy Danforth and Solomon Pollard. Billerica town book 7, pages 146-147.
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| December 2, 1782 | Deed | Jonathan Patten of Medford, trader (wife Susanna releasing dower) | Asa Spaulding of Billerica, trader | the nine acres to Asa Spaulding | 83/306 (South) |
For 300 pounds, the same two pieces: the homestead "where Capt. Solomon Pollard formerly lived," five acres and 140 poles between the County Road and Concord River with William Patten north and Capt. Farmer south, "together with all the Buildings thereon standing," and "the other piece aforementioned containing nine acres and one hundred poles" between the road, the river and "the lane." Signed Oct. 3, recorded Dec. 2, 1782. Billerica town book 7, pages 372-373. The nine acres are the piece Spaulding sold to Henry Newman in 1792, from which the house lot was cut.
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| October 26, 1792 | Deed | Asa Spaulding of Billerica, gentleman (wife Anna releasing dower; dower of Julia, wife of his son Asa, reserved) | Henry Newman of Boston, merchant | the nine acres by the bridge, from which the house lot was cut | 108/382 (South) |
For 263 pounds, two "Lots or Tracts of Land and Buildings thereon standing ... both lying on the Westerly side of the Road leading to Chelmsford": the six-acre house lot or homestead between the road and Concord River (William Patten north, Edward Farmer south) "with all the Buildings thereon," and "one other peice nine acres bounded Easterly and Northerly on the above described Road till it comes to the Watering place or common land at said River near the said Bridge," then by the river and a line of marked oaks back to the road. Signed Jan. 10, 1792, recorded Oct. 26, 1792. Billerica town book 8, pages 330-332. The corner acre Newman sold in 1797 was cut from the nine-acre piece; MACRIS calls the seller Asa Spaulding Jr.
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| March 22, 1800 | Quitclaim | Nathan Goodale of Boston, Esquire | Henry Newman of Boston, gentleman | Goodale releases the eight acres to Newman | 136/3 (South) |
For $5, release of "a certain piece of Land in Billerica containing eight acres" on the westerly and southerly side of the road from Billerica to Chelmsford, from the Wyer sisters' and William Patten's land to Concord River, by the river to the road and around Stephen Barrett's acre, "being part of land conveyed to said Goodale by Mortgage deed dated the fifteenth July 1797." Signed March 20, recorded March 22, 1800. Billerica town book 11, pages 4-5. This cleared Newman's title the day before he sold the eight acres.
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| March 22, 1800 | Warranty Deed | Henry Newman of Dorchester, gentleman (wife Deborah releasing dower) | Ephraim Kidder Jr., Samuel Parker and Jonathan M. Dexter, all of Billerica, gentlemen | Newman sells the eight acres to Kidder, Parker and Dexter | 136/4 (South) |
For $750, "a certain piece of land lying in said Billerica on the road leading to Chelmsford," from the northeast corner of Martha and Rebecca Wyer's house lot west by the Wyers and William Patten to Concord River, north on the river to the highway, east on the highway to "land which I sold to Barrett & Kidder," around that acre and back by the highway, "said lot containing eight acres more or less it being all of a certain lot which I purchased of Asa Spaulding containing about nine acres exclusive of one acre at the northeast part of said lot formerly sold to Barrett & Kidder." Signed March 21, recorded March 22, 1800. Billerica town book 11, pages 5-6.
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| May 25, 1801 | Partition | Ephraim Kidder Jr. of Billerica, trader (wife Abigail releasing dower), Samuel Parker and Jonathan M. Dexter, tenants in common | The same, each in severalty | partition: Kidder takes the house lot at the bridge | 142/139 (South) |
Indenture of three parts dividing the land "on the east side of Concord River" between the road from Boston to Chelmsford, Stephen Barrett's acre, the river, William Patten and the Wyer sisters, with a strip 3 rods 16 links wide left "common and free to the parties as a common pass way or road." Kidder's first piece began at a stake on the highway and ran "south on the common way 61 feet," then west to the river, north on the river and east to the beginning: the house lot at the bridge. Parker took the pieces around his house and Dexter a small river lot and pieces toward Eri Rogers and Barrett. Signed May 15, recorded May 25, 1801. Billerica town book 10, pages 68-71.
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| November 25, 1801 | Mortgage | Ephraim Kidder Jr. of Billerica, trader | Elizabeth Abbot of Billerica, single woman | first record of the house: whereon Kidder's dwelling house now stands | 144/358 (South) |
For $1,100, mortgage of several parcels "with the buildings standing thereon" (land by Stephen Barrett, Benjamin Davis and the Middlesex Canal toward Sheldon's Folly, and land by Mill Meadow Brook), and "a piece of land whereon the said Kidder's dwelling house now stands bounded eastwardly by the highway Southwardly by land of Jona. M. Dexter and westwardly by Concord river and northwardly by said highway"; void on payment of $1,100 within one day with interest. Signed Nov. 23, recorded Nov. 25, 1801. Billerica town book 10, pages 119-121. The earliest record of the house, built in 1801.
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| December 22, 1804 | Levy of Execution | Ephraim Kidder Jr. of Billerica (debtor), by Zaccheus Shed, deputy sheriff | Josiah Marshall of Boston, trader (creditor) | execution on Kidder's other lot (went with the house to Hurd and Farrar) | 138/418 (South) |
On a judgment of October 1804 for $578.38, appraisers Jonathan M. Dexter, Jeremiah Patten and Jonathan P. Pollard on Dec. 8, 1804 set off Kidder's other lot, "containing about one acre and one half," from a wall at the road by Dexter's land, by Dexter and Capt. Samuel Parker's door yard, and about 24 rods on the road, at $230. Recorded Dec. 22, 1804. Billerica town book 10, pages 13-15. This is the acre and a half "nearly opposite Richardson's tavern" that went with the house lot to Hurd in 1805 and to Farrar in 1808.
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| February 7, 1805 | Levy of Execution | Ephraim Kidder Jr. of Billerica, trader (debtor), by Joseph Hosmer, sheriff | John Carleton Jr. of Billerica, bricklayer (creditor) | execution: middle part of the house | 138/436 (South) |
On a Common Pleas judgment of December 1804 for $202.51, the sheriff on Jan. 26, 1805, finding no personal estate, set off "the middle part of the dwelling house belonging to Ephraim Kidder Junior," from "the south side of the third window in the hall of said dwelling house from the north end" through the house "to the west side of the wharfing upon the backside of the same dwelling house," south on the wharfing to the fifth window, across to the fifth window on the front or east side, and north "as the house stands," appraised at $216.67 by Thomas Richardson, Oliver Crosby and Francis Pollard. Recorded Feb. 7, 1805. Billerica town book 10, pages 16-18.
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| February 8, 1805 | Levy of Execution | Ephraim Kidder Jr. of Billerica, trader (debtor), by Joseph Hosmer, sheriff | Jephthah Manning of Billerica, yeoman (creditor) | execution: south end of the house and part of the store | 138/439 (South) |
On a judgment of December 1804 for $297.36 (partly paid by trustees Capt. Samuel Parker, William Manning and Levi Sprague), the sheriff on Jan. 26, 1805 set off "the south end of the dwelling house and part of the store": from the fifth window of the hall on the front, along Carleton's part to the wharfing at the back, south on the west side of the house "to the eastwardly point of a large rock," diagonally to the window in the back of "the store adjoining said dwelling house," to the second window from the south end of the store and back along the front, appraised at $180.67. Recorded Feb. 8, 1805, and again (pages 23-25) after the sheriff's petition at the March 1805 term. Billerica town book 10, pages 18-20.
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| February 7, 1805 | Levy of Execution | Ephraim Kidder Jr. of Billerica, trader (debtor), by Joseph Hosmer, sheriff | William Thompson of Billerica, Esquire (creditor) | execution: north end of the house | 138/442 (South) |
On a judgment of December 1804 for $221.01, the sheriff on Jan. 26, 1805 set off "the northerly end of the dwelling house," from the northwest corner east "by the underpinning" to the northeast corner, south along the front to the third window from the north end of the hall, west through the house "and so on to the outer edge of the wharfing," and north by the wharfing, appraised at $235.35; seisin to John L. Tuttle, attorney. Recorded Feb. 7, 1805. Billerica town book 10, pages 21-23. With the Carleton and Manning levies, the whole house and store went to three creditors on one day.
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| December 30, 1805 | Levy of Execution | Ephraim Kidder Jr. of Billerica, gentleman (debtor), by Zaccheus Shed, deputy sheriff | William Manning Jr. of Billerica, yeoman (creditor) | execution: part of the store and hall | 138/516 (South) |
On a March 1805 judgment ($92.27 still due), appraisers James Abbot, Jeremiah Farmer and Jeremiah Patten (Kidder "neglects and refuses to choose") on Oct. 1, 1805 set off "the building hereafter described with the land under the same ... the east side of Concord river near Capt. Samuel Parker's dwelling house," subject to the January Manning and Carleton levies: from the west side "at low water mark of the river, and near the west end of a large stone," through "the store part of the building ... a little south of the front or east door," along the store part to "the hall part," and through the hall to low water mark, at $105.50. Recorded Dec. 30, 1805. Billerica town book 10, pages 35-37.
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| September 20, 1805 | Quitclaim | Ephraim Kidder Jr. of Billerica, gentleman (wife Abigail releasing dower) | Joseph Hurd of Charlestown, merchant | Kidder sells to Joseph Hurd of Charlestown | 163/175 (South) |
For $1,581.38, quitclaim of "a certain tract or parcel of land situated in said Billerica on the east side of Concord River near the Great Bridge so called," from a stake and stones "near Dexter's hatter's shop" west to the river, north to the highway and back, "together with the house thereon standing," and the acre and a half "nearly opposite Richardson's tavern," "together with the right of redemption in the afore described premises which have accrued in consequence of buying the execs of John Carlton, Jepthah Manning & William Thompson." Signed Aug. 10, recorded Sept. 20, 1805; witness Loammi Baldwin Jr. Billerica town book 10, pages 312-313. Hurd, the Charlestown merchant of the MACRIS account, had bought up the creditors' executions.
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| September 20, 1805 | Quitclaim | Ephraim Kidder Jr. of Billerica, gentleman (wife Abigail releasing dower) | Joseph Hurd of Charlestown, merchant | Kidder confirms to Hurd | 163/177 (South) |
For $500, quitclaim of a tract "on the east side of Concord River near Billerica or Great Bridge so called," from a stake at the southwest corner north on the river, east on the highway, south "on the common lands" and west to the beginning, "together with all the buildings thereon standing" and "all my right of equity of redemption." Signed and recorded Sept. 20, 1805. Billerica town book 10, pages 313-314. A second, confirming conveyance to Hurd.
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| September 20, 1805 | Release | Elizabeth Abbot of Billerica, single woman | Ephraim Kidder Jr. of Billerica, gentleman | Elizabeth Abbot releases her mortgage | 163/178 (South) |
For $250, release of all her right in the tract "on the east side of Concord River near Billerica or Great Bridge as it is commonly called," from the stake near Dexter's hatter's shop to the river and the highway, "with the house thereon standing," "by force of any mortgage from said Kidder or by any execution against said Kidder." Signed Aug. 10, recorded Sept. 20, 1805. Billerica town book 10, pages 314-315. This discharged her 1801 mortgage.
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| 1806 | Levy of Execution | Ephraim Kidder Jr. "late of said Billerica, trader" (debtor), by Zaccheus Shed, deputy sheriff | William Manning Jr. of Billerica, yeoman (creditor) | execution: hall part near the new bridge | 167/53 (South) |
On a March 1806 judgment for $125.62, appraisers James Abbot, Jonathan P. Pollard and Josiah B. Richardson on April 19, 1806 set off "a part of a certain tenament or building situated in Billerica by Concord river and near the east end of the new bridge together with the land under and adjoining the same," from the third to the fifth window of "the Hall part" back to "a wall or wharfing," subject to the Carleton levy of Jan. 26, 1805, at $137.81. Billerica town book 10, pages 295-297.
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| June 29, 1808 | Quitclaim | Joseph Hurd of Charlestown, Esquire (wife Hannah releasing dower) | Jacob Farrar of Billerica, cabinet maker | Hurd sells to Jacob Farrar, cabinet maker | 176/309 (South) |
For $1,070, the tract "on the east side of Concord river near the great bridge so called," from "a stake and stones near Dexter's Hatters shop" west to the river, north by the river to the highway and back by the highway, "together with the buildings thereon standing," and the acre and a half "nearly opposite Richardson's tavern ... near the bridge aforesaid" bounded by Jonathan M. Dexter and Samuel Parker. Signed May 31, acknowledged June 2, recorded June 29, 1808. Billerica town book 11, pages 73-75.
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| 1808 | Mortgage | Jacob Farrar of Billerica, cabinet maker | Joseph Hurd of Charlestown, Esquire | Farrar mortgage to Hurd | 180/6 (South) |
For $802.50, mortgage back of the same two tracts (the house lot near the great bridge "together with the buildings thereon standing" and the acre and a half opposite Richardson's tavern), void on payment of $802.50 in thirds over three years with yearly interest. Signed June 2, 1808. Billerica town book 11, pages 95-97.
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| September 13, 1810 | Mortgage | Jacob Farrar of Billerica, cabinet maker | Francis Richardson of Malden, silk dyer | Farrar mortgage to Francis Richardson | 189/314 (South) |
For $535, mortgage of the house lot "on the east side of Concord river near the great bridge ... together with the buildings thereon standing" and the acre and a half opposite Richardson's tavern, void on payment by Nov. 13, 1811. Signed and recorded Sept. 13, 1810. Billerica town book 11, pages 173-174.
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| May 15, 1812 | Deed | Jacob Farrar of Billerica, cabinet maker (wife Achsah releasing dower) | Joseph Parker of Billerica, gentleman | Farrar to Joseph Parker (security) | 199/191 (South) |
For $250, the house lot near the great bridge "together with the buildings thereon standing" and the acre and a half opposite Richardson's tavern, warranted free of incumbrances "excepting of a mortgage for $500 to Francis Richardson." Signed May 13, recorded May 15, 1812. Billerica town book 11, pages 183-185. Parker released the house lot back to Farrar in 1814, so this served as security.
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| April 25, 1814 | Mortgage | Jacob Farrar of Billerica, cabinet maker (wife Achsah releasing dower) | Allethina Fisk of Billerica, lady | Farrar mortgage to Allethina Fisk | 207/130 (South) |
For $425, mortgage of the tract "on the east side of Concord river near the great bridge so called," from the stake near Dexter's hatter's shop, "together with the buildings thereon standing," void on payment in one year with interest. Signed Feb. 8, recorded April 25, 1814. Billerica town book 11, pages 332-333.
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| June 1, 1814 | Quitclaim | Joseph Parker of Billerica, gentleman (wife Lydia releasing dower) | Jacob Farrar of Billerica, cabinet maker | Parker releases to Farrar | 209/72 (South) |
For $250, release of the house lot "on the east side of Concord river near the great bridge so called ... together with the buildings thereon standing." Signed May 16, recorded June 1, 1814. Billerica town book 11, pages 442-443. The same day Farrar gave Parker a $400 mortgage of the lot (pages 443-444), "it being understood ... that a mortgage given by the said Jacob Farrar to Allethina Fisk ... is to have effect before this mortgage."
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| June 1, 1814 | Mortgage | Jacob Farrar of Billerica, cabinet maker (wife Achsah releasing dower) | Allethine Fiske of Billerica | Farrar renews the Fisk mortgage | 209/73 (South) |
For $425, a renewed mortgage of the house lot near the great bridge "together with the buildings thereon standing," void on payment by March 1, 1815 with interest. Signed May 16, recorded June 1, 1814. Billerica town book 11, pages 444-445.
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| January 25, 1815 | Warranty Deed | Jacob Farrar of Billerica, cabinet maker (wife Achsah releasing dower) | William Richardson of Billerica, gentleman | Farrar sells to William Richardson | 210/186 (South) |
For $250, "a certain tract or parcel of land situate in said Billerica on the east side of Concord river near the great bridge so called," beginning at a stake and stones "near to the Hatters shop now or lately owned by Jona. M. Dexter," west to the river, north by the river to the highway, south by the highway to the beginning, "with all the buildings thereon standing," warranted free of incumbrances. Signed Jan. 16, recorded Jan. 25, 1815. Billerica town book 11, pages 378-379. Farrar's last Billerica deed; MACRIS has him "gone by 1815."
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| April 22, 1819 | Mortgage | William Richardson of Billerica, gentleman | Asa Richardson of Boston, merchant | William Richardson mortgage to Asa Richardson | 229/189 (South) |
For $4,000 payable in three years with yearly interest, mortgage of land on the east side of Concord River near the great bridge, bought of Jacob Farrar Jan. 16, 1815, and of another piece on the east side of the great road from Boston to Chelmsford opposite the meeting house (the later Fletcher Hotel lot). Signed and recorded April 22, 1819. Billerica town book 12, pages 147-148 (the registry gives the same page to the Dows deed on town book page 146). William Richardson died insolvent in June 1826, and his brother and chief creditor Asa held the house as mortgagee.
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| September 27, 1831 | Warranty Deed | Asa Richardson of Boston, merchant (wife Elizabeth releasing dower) | Joseph Graham of Belvidere (Lowell), stone cutter | Asa Richardson sells the house lot to Joseph Graham | 307/280 (South) |
For $325, "a certain tract or parcel of land situated in Billerica ... on the East side of Concord River, near the Great Bridge, so called, now most commonly called the corner Bridge," beginning "at a stake & stones near to the Hatter's shop formerly owned by Jonathan M. Dexter," west to the river, north by the river to the highway, south by the highway to the beginning, "with the buildings thereon standing." No title recital. Signed Sept. 24, recorded Sept. 27, 1831. Billerica town book 16, pages 17-18.
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| September 27, 1831 | Mortgage | Joseph Graham of Belvidere (Lowell), stone cutter (wife Eliza releasing dower) | Asa Richardson of Boston, merchant | Graham mortgage back to Asa Richardson | 307/281 (South) |
For $225, mortgage back of the tract "on the East side of Concord River near the Great Bridge, so called now most commonly called the corner Bridge," from the stake near the hatter's shop formerly of Jonathan M. Dexter, "with the buildings thereon standing," "being the same premises this day sold and conveyed to me by said Richardson by deed herewith delivered"; void on payment in two years at six percent. Signed Sept. 24, recorded Sept. 27, 1831. Billerica town book 16, pages 18-19.
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| December 26, 1832 | Deed | Joseph Graham of Tewksbury, yeoman | Jonathan Morse 2d of Lowell, gentleman | Graham to Jonathan Morse 2d (security) | 319/334 (South) |
For $500, the same tract "on the East side of Concord River near the great bridge so called," bounded from the stake near Jonathan M. Dexter's hatter's shop to the river and the highway, "with the buildings thereon," "being the same conveyed to me by Asa Richardson by deed dated September 24th 1831 ... Book 307 Page 280." Signed Jan. 17, 1832, acknowledged Dec. 10, recorded Dec. 26, 1832. Billerica town book 16, pages 156-157. Morse released it to Samuel H. Mann in 1833, so this was in effect security for a loan.
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| November 19, 1833 | Warranty Deed | Joseph Graham of Tewksbury, yeoman (wife Eliza Ann releasing dower) | Samuel H. Mann of Lowell, Esquire | Graham to Samuel H. Mann: the Mann Place | 327/398 (South) |
For $600, the tract "on the east side of Concord river near the Great bridge (so called) now most commonly called the corner bridge," from the stake and stones near "the Hatters shop formerly owned by Jonathan M. Dexter" west to the river, north by the river to the highway and back by the highway, "with the buildings thereon standing," "being the same premises conveyed to me by Asa Richardson by deed dated September twenty fourth 1831." Signed Oct. 12, recorded Nov. 19, 1833; witness Jonathan Morse 2d. Billerica town book 16, pages 296-298. From Mann the house became "the Mann Place."
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| November 19, 1833 | Quitclaim | Jonathan Morse 2d of Lowell, gentleman (wife Hannah M. releasing dower) | Samuel H. Mann of Lowell, Esquire | Morse releases to Mann | 327/399 (South) |
For $350, quitclaim of the same tract "near the great bridge so called now most commonly called the corner bridge," with the buildings, "being the same premises conveyed by Joseph Graham to me by deed dated Jany 17 1832." Signed Oct. 12, recorded Nov. 19, 1833. Billerica town book 16, pages 298-299.
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| September 27, 1836 | Warranty Deed | Samuel H. Mann of Lowell, Esquire | John R. Adams of Lowell, Esquire | Mann to John R. Adams | 354/543 (South) |
For $900, "a certain tract or parcel of land situate in Billerica ... on the east side of Concord River near the Great bridge so called," with the same bounds (the hatter's shop formerly of Jonathan M. Dexter, the river and the highway), "with the buildings thereon standing," "being the same premises conveyed to me by Jonathan Morse 2d by deed bearing date the twelfth day of October Eighteen hundred and thirty three." Signed Sept. 26, recorded Sept. 27, 1836. Billerica town book 15, pages 289-290.
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| May 12, 1837 | Quitclaim | John R. Adams of Lowell, Esquire | Samuel A. Coburn of Lowell, Esquire | Adams to Samuel A. Coburn | 363/6 (South) |
For $500, quitclaim of "a certain piece of land in Billerica with the buildings thereon standing, situated on the East side of Concord River near the great Bridge, it being the same land conveyed by Joseph Graham to Jonathan Morse 2d ... and the same that said Graham & Morse conveyed to S. H. Mann of Lowell & the said Mann to me." Signed and recorded May 12, 1837, acknowledged before Samuel H. Mann. Billerica town book 15, pages 384-385.
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| November 5, 1838 | Warranty Deed | Samuel A. Coburn of Lowell, Esquire (wife Rebecca L. releasing dower) | Benjamin F. Varnum of Dracut, Esquire | Coburn to Benjamin F. Varnum | 378/39 (South) |
For $650, the tract "on the east side of Concord river near the great Bridge (so called)," from the stake and stones near the hatter's shop formerly of Jonathan M. Dexter to the river and the highway, "with the buildings thereon standing ... reserving any right the public have to the landing if any at said river." Signed Oct. 4, recorded Nov. 5, 1838. Billerica town book 14, pages 493-494. The public landing beside the bridge is still a boundary in 1924 and 1971.
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| March 9, 1841 | Quitclaim | Benjamin F. Varnum of Dracut, Esquire (wife Caroline releasing dower) | Josiah Stevens of Billerica, gentleman | Varnum to Josiah Stevens | 400/298 (South) |
For $650, quitclaim of the tract "on the east side of Concord River near the great Bridge so called," from the stake and stones near the hatter's shop formerly owned by Jonathan M. Dexter west to the river, north to the highway and back, "with the buildings thereon standing." Signed Nov. 10, 1838, acknowledged April 6, 1839, recorded March 9, 1841 (after Stevens's death). Billerica town book 17, pages 44-45.
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| October 7, 1841 | Quitclaim | Isabella Mann of Wayland, widow of Samuel H. Mann | Josiah Stevens of Billerica, innholder | widow Mann releases to Josiah Stevens | 408/303 (South) |
For $214, release of her right in the tract "on the east side of Concord river near the Great bridge (so called) now most commonly called the corner bridge," with the same bounds, "with the buildings thereon standing," "being the same premises conveyed to my late husband Samuel H. Mann Esquire deceased by Joseph Graham by deed dated the 12th day of October A.D. 1833." Signed June 20, 1839, recorded Oct. 7, 1841. Billerica town book 17, pages 210-211. This cleared the widow's dower; Stevens lived here until his death about January 1840.
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| 1840 | Administration | Estate of Josiah Stevens of Billerica, intestate | Marshall Preston, administrator; Abigail Stevens, widow, and the children | Josiah Stevens estate: the Mann Place was where he last dwelt | Probate #42319 |
Josiah Stevens died intestate about January 1840; his widow Abigail and children John and Judith F. declined, and Marshall Preston was appointed administrator Feb. 11, 1840, and licensed in April 1840 to sell real estate to pay $7,338.16 of debts. Papers read, pages 2-5.
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| June 2, 1840 | Administrators Deed (equity of redemption) | Marshall Preston, administrator of Josiah Stevens | George Holden of Billerica, gentleman | the Parker Place (south part of the later house lot) sold from the Stevens estate | 394/25 (South) |
Sold at auction May 18, 1840, acknowledged May 26 and recorded June 2, 1840. For $5, "the right in equity to redeem" two mortgaged parcels of the Stevens estate: "The Parker Place so called and the Patten Place so called adjoining both containing thirty nine acres," beginning at the south-east corner of the Patten Place at the great Boston road and land of Benjamin Spaulding, west by Spaulding to the Concord River, north-east by the river to the deceaseds Mann Place, north by the Mann Place to the road from the Corner Bridge to Salem, and back by Forbush, Davis, the Wier Place and the Boston road, excepting the public highway through it; with the Farmer Place and Whites lot, 60 acres. Billerica town book 16, pages 377-379.
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| June 3, 1840 | Administrator's Deed | Marshall Preston of Billerica, administrator of Josiah Stevens late of Billerica, gentleman | Abigail Stevens of Billerica, widow | the Mann Place reversion sold to the widow | 394/56 (South) |
Under a Probate Court license of April 14, 1840 to raise $7,338.16, sold at public auction on May 18, 1840 to the widow, highest bidder, for $40: "the right in reversion of a certain tract of land with a dwelling house and wood shed thereon called the Mann Place and where the said deceased last dwelt, situate in said Billerica on the east side of Concord River, near the great Bridge so called," beginning at a stake and stones "near the building formerly owned by Jonathan M. Dexter called the hatter's shop," west to the river, north by the river to the highway, and south by the highway back; subject to Abigail's life estate as her dower. Acknowledged May 23, recorded June 3, 1840. Billerica town book 16, pages 388-389.
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| June 3, 1840 | Quitclaim | Abigail Stevens of Billerica, widow of Josiah Stevens | Josiah B. French of Lowell, gentleman | widow Stevens sells the Mann Place | 394/58 (South) |
For $500, quitclaim of "a certain tract of land with a dwelling house thereon called the Mann Place and where the late Josiah Stevens last dwelt," on the east side of Concord River near the great bridge, with the same bounds (the stake near Jonathan M. Dexter's hatter's shop, the river and the highway), "being the same estate conveyed to me by Marshall Preston administrator of the estate of my late husband Josiah Stevens by his deed bearing date May 18 1840." Signed May 27, recorded June 3, 1840. Billerica town book 16, pages 389-391.
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| June 3, 1840 | Warranty Deed | Josiah B. French of Lowell, gentleman (wife Mary Ann releasing dower) | Harvey Crosby of Billerica, yeoman | Harvey Crosby buys the Mann Place | 394/59 (South) |
For $500, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon called the Mann Place and where the late Josiah Stevens last dwelt," on the east side of Concord River "near the great bridge so called," beginning at a stake and stones near "the building formerly owned by Jonathan M. Dexter called the hatter's shop," west to the river, north by the river to the highway, south by the highway to the beginning; "being the same estate conveyed to me by Abigail Stevens by her deed bearing date May 27 A.D. 1840." Signed and acknowledged June 1, recorded June 3, 1840; witness George Holden. Billerica town book 16, pages 391-392.
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| June 3, 1840 | Warranty Deed | George Holden of Billerica, gentleman | Harvey Crosby of Billerica, yeoman | Harvey Crosby buys the adjoining Parker Place tract | 394/59 (South) |
For $1,450, "the Parker Place so called" in two tracts: the first beginning at the highway and "the Patten Place so called late the property of Josiah Stevens deceased," southwest by the Patten Place to Concord River, north by the river "to land of said deceased called his Mann Place," northeast by the Mann Place to the highway, and back by the highway, "with the buildings thereon standing"; the second, "with a small tenement thereon," across the highway at the fork of the highway and the Salem road, bounded by Rev. Jonathan E. Forbush, Timothy Davis, the Boston road and the Wier Place. Signed May 27, recorded June 3, 1840 (the town book gives the same registry page as the French deed). Billerica town book 16, pages 392-394. The first tract became the southern part of the house lot.
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| 1847 | Mortgage | Harvey Crosby of Billerica, yeoman | Blaney Abbot of Billerica, Esquire | Harvey Crosby mortgage of the three acres at the Corner Bridge | 508/132 (South) |
For $450, mortgage of "a certain tract of land situate in said Billerica near the Corner Bridge so called containing three acres more or less with the buildings thereon standing," from its southeast corner at "the road leading from the house of Dea. Wm. D. Mason to said Corner Bridge," north by the road to the bridge and Concord River, southeast up the river to Mason's land and east by Mason to the road; void on payment in one year with interest. Signed and acknowledged May 4, 1847 before Marshall Preston. Billerica town book 18, pages 333-334. The Mann Place and the adjoining Parker Place tract together; the mortgage was still on them in 1849 and 1855. Recorded 1847.
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| October 9, 1849 | Quitclaim | Harvey Crosby of Billerica, yeoman | John S. Edgerly of Somerville, trader, and Henry Crosby of Billerica, trader | Harvey Crosby conveys the Mann and Parker Places to Edgerly and Henry Crosby | 567/298 (South) |
Dated Oct. 8, 1849. For one dollar and other consideration, eight pieces "with all the buildings thereon standing," among them "a certain farm situated about one mile south of the Unitarian Meeting house ... known by the name of the Hill Farm containing thirty three acres" (bought of Joseph Bowers) and "a certain tract of land containing thirty acres more or less bounded by the lands now or late of Isaac Hurd, of Zadock Allen, of Walter Carr Jr., of Benjamin Bowers and by the County road and a certain piece of land containing eight acres ... bounded by land now or late of Benjamin Bowers and by the County Road, the last two named being the premises to me conveyed by Josiah Crosby Jr. administrator of Isaac Kendall ... and by Joseph Bradley Deputy Sheriff"; with the Valley Orchard, a sheep pasture, 16 acres from Bernard Tufts, 10 acres from Sereno Fiske and the northerly half of the Bowers Foster Place, "said eight pieces ... being parts of the Home Place so called," and lots in Chelmsford, on the Concord and Shawsheen rivers and on Gibson's Hill, and his quarter of the estate of Seth Crosby. Subject to mortgages to Betsey Crosby, to the heirs of Kendall Crosby ($5,300), to Blaney Abbott and to Rhodes G. Lockwood. In effect a transfer of all of Harvey Crosby's real estate to a trustee for his creditors and a family member; Harvey went on living on the farm. Billerica town book 20, pages 331-339.
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| February 27, 1855 | Quitclaim | Henry Crosby of Cambridge, trader (wife Mary G. releasing dower) | John S. Edgerly of Somerville, trader | Henry Crosby releases his half to Edgerly | 705/223 (South) |
For $5 and other consideration, quitclaim of all the parcels Harvey Crosby had conveyed to the two of them in 1849 (Book 567, Page 298), among them "a certain tract of land on the East side of Concord River, known as the 'Mann Place' near the great bridge and bounded by said River and by the highway, being the premises conveyed to Harvey Crosby by J. B. French," and "a certain tract of land adjoining the last named tract and bounded by the Patten Place so called, by Concord River, by the Mann Place so called, and by the Public Highway," bought of George Holden, both subject to a $450 mortgage to Blaney Abbot (Book 508, Page 132). Signed Feb. 27, 1855. Billerica town book 20, pages 528-531.
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| September 30, 1868 | Warranty Deed | Thomas Kittredge of Billerica, formerly of Lowell | Martha S. Preston of Lowell, wife of Edward Preston | Martha S. Preston buys the house | 64/165 |
For $650, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situate in said Billerica on the Easterly side of Concord River near the Concord Bridge, so called," beginning at its southeast corner at the public highway and land then occupied by Gremmon (?), "formerly the Patten Place so called," southwest by that land to the river, north by the river to the highway near the bridge, and back by the highway; "being a part of the same conveyed to me by John S. Edgerly by deed dated the 7th day of August 185_" (the Edgerly deed was not recorded), subject to a $125 mortgage to George Bacon which Martha assumed. Signed April 14, 1866, recorded Sept. 30, 1868. Middlesex North Book 64, Pages 165-166.
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| April 24, 1920 | Taking | Martha S. Preston Estate (and seven other owners) | County of Middlesex | county takes 20,000 sq ft for the new bridge approach | 623/99 |
The County Commissioners, "in the matter of the alteration of the Boston Road at Concord River bridge, in the town of Billerica," by their return of April 23, 1920 took land for highway purposes, from the "Martha S. Preston Estate" one parcel of "about 20,000 sq. ft.," with smaller parcels from the Ann Callahan estate, Burton O. Sanford, the heirs of Dudley Foster, Albert H. Jones, Clarence J. Emond, the heirs of Alfred Brown and Leonard Blood, as shown on the commissioners' plan. Recorded April 24, 1920. Middlesex North Book 623, Page 99. The new bridge approach took the south end of the lot.
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| November 29, 1924 | Warranty Deed | Frank Woollard of Billerica (wife Eliza releasing dower and homestead) | Abram C. Flint of Billerica | Woollard to Abram C. Flint | 716/301 |
For consideration paid ($1.50 in revenue stamps), "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon," beginning on the Concord River "at a rock and iron post at the southwesterly corner of the lot of land called the public landing," east about 60 feet to "the Old Boston Road," south about 630 feet "to the New Bridge Road," northwest to the river and north by the river to the beginning. Signed Nov. 29, 1924. Middlesex North Book 716, Pages 301-302. Flint held it until his death; under his will (Middlesex probate 432646) it passed to a private heir, who sold it in 1971 (Book 1966, Page 524: "now supposedly numbered One Salem Road, North Billerica") to two local businessmen, who had it surveyed as Lot 1 on Plan Book 112, Plan 156. After a 1987 mortgage it was foreclosed in 1995 (Book 7596, Page 102) and has since passed through private owners.
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| November 19, 1924 | Administrator's Deed | Lyman V. Rutledge of Boston, administrator with the will annexed of Martha S. Preston late of Billerica | Frank Woollard of Billerica | Preston estate sells to Frank Woollard | 716/302 |
Under a Probate Court license dated Nov. 17, 1924, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon on the Easterly side of Concord River near the Corner Bridge, so-called and being the same premises conveyed to Martha S. Preston by deed dated April 14, 1866 ... Book 64, Page 165," excepting 20,000 square feet "taken by the County of Middlesex for the alteration of the Boston Road at Concord River Bridge" by the County Commissioners in April 1920 (Book 623, Page 99). Signed and recorded Nov. 19, 1924. Middlesex North Book 716, Page 302.
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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.