Tavern at the Corner
Tavern at the Corner
| Address | 24 Salem Rd |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.135 |
| Built | 1759 |
| Owners | Thomas Richardson II (1795 - None) |
The Tavern at the Corner stands at the northwest corner of Salem Road and Pollard Street, at "the Corner," where the old road north to the Fordway met the "Bridge Lane" to the Concord River bridge. Every deed from 1756 to 1953 bounds the same piece: south on the road to Chelmsford (now Salem Road), east on the country road (the Fordway Road, now Pollard Street), west on the Concord River and north on the Shed land.
The land was part of the homestead of the cooper Thomas Patten, who died in 1747. When his estate was divided in 1754, the farm south of the lane went to his eldest son William, and the 18 acres "on the north side of the Bridge Lane (so called)" to his second son Thomas. Thomas, by then a saddler in Boston, sold the 18 acres on April 5, 1756 to the Billerica joiner Isaac Foster for 68 pounds, "with all the fences & trees thereon"; no buildings are mentioned. The MACRIS inventory form names Isaac and Jacob Foster of Ipswich as the buyers, but the deed runs to Isaac alone, with Jacob Foster only a witness. Foster, a joiner who also owned "Surveying Instruments," built the large farmhouse soon after; it may have been enlarged later. In 1782 he deeded all his lands and buildings to his sons Joseph and Samuel, to take effect after his and his wife's deaths, and his will of 1783 left his widow Sarah "the improvement of the west Room in my Dwelling house."
On Feb. 23, 1789 Joseph Foster sold the 18 acres "together with all the Buildings thereon" to Joseph Hill for 110 pounds, his mother giving up her dower. Hill died that August, and his inventory lists "the Foster land ... 18 acres with the buildings thereon." By leave of the General Court his administrator, Isaac Stearns, sold it at auction in 1793 to the housewright Reuben Duren of Bedford: 18 acres "with a Dwelling House Barn & Joiners Shop." Whether by accident or by design, Duren took in the surveying parties laying out the proposed Middlesex Canal and billed the proprietors for their lodging and meals, the beginning of the house's long history as "the tavern." Duren was already turning to the Town Center, where he built the church and several fine houses, and on May 16, 1795 he sold the place, about 20 acres "with all the Buildings," to Thomas Richardson for 500 pounds, keeping for himself "the Crains and Trammils in the House and the Lathes Benches and Vices in the shope."
Richardson had just sold the mill privilege at North Billerica to the canal proprietors. As "Richardson's Tavern" the house prospered at a crossroads where the roads from Boston and from Salem to Amherst, N.H., met to cross the river, and the small business community that grew up at the Corner after 1800 was no doubt helped by it. Josiah Stevens, who married Richardson's daughter Abigail, later managed the tavern, and by 1835 Lyman Haynes had taken it over; his son Tilly Haynes went on to become a prominent Boston hotel keeper with the United States Hotel.
Thomas Richardson died in 1828, and Joseph Locke administered his estate. On March 7, 1829 the other heirs released to his daughters Lydia, wife of Artemas Rogers, and Elizabeth Richardson "a certain tract of land ... containing seventeen acres and thirty six poles with all the buildings thereon standing," adding that "said place has been known by the name of Richardsons tavern." In 1830 the two sisters sold a lot four rods by nine on the road to the First Baptist Church, "as a building spot for a Meeting house only," and in 1835 the Rogerses mortgaged their half. On April 19 and 20, 1836 Anthony Jones bought the two halves of the "Richardson Tavern" for $1,000 each.
Jones returned the house to use as a farmstead, and the family kept it for ninety years; the crossroads became known as "Jones's Corner." After his death about 1882 his widow Judith, his executrix, sold off outlying land but kept "the house where I live," and in 1889 she deeded the 20 acres with the buildings, the livestock and the furniture to her daughter Nellie M. Bemis, reserving a life estate. Nellie and Frederick C. Bemis mortgaged it in 1907 and passed their lands to Anthony J. Bemis in 1908, and that April he conveyed the twenty acres "situated at Jones's Corner, so called" to Albert H. Jones. In 1921 Albert, then living in the old house at the corner, sold the next house to the west and deeded the farm to his wife Ada, who sold it in 1926 to Albert B. Cameron of Lowell, taking back a $4,000 mortgage. Cameron defaulted in the Depression, and after an auction on the premises on May 26, 1934 Ada F. Jones conveyed the place under the power of sale to Rosaline B. Hayden.
Hayden sold the river end of the farm in 1945, and in April 1953 sold the rest, "with the buildings thereon," to Fidelity Realty Trust, which had the corner surveyed into house lots by Dana F. Perkins and Sons in May 1953. The old house kept Lots 6, 7 and 8, about 49,600 square feet, which have since passed through several private owners; the lot was divided again in 1978, leaving the house on about 25,000 square feet. It is in the local historic district established in 1990 and remains a private home.
References
- MACRIS BIL.135
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): Reuben Duren, Thomas Richardson and the tavern at the Corner
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| 1747 | Administration and Division | Estate of Thomas Patten of Billerica, cooper, intestate | William Patten, eldest son (the homestead); Thomas Patten, second son (18 acres); the widow Hannah (later Hannah Stickney) and the other children | Patten estate division: 18 acres north of the Bridge Lane to Thomas Patten | Probate #17031 |
Thomas Patten died in 1747; Jeremiah Abbot, then the widow Hannah, administered. The inventory of Oct. 28, 1747 begins with "the Home Stead About Twenty Seven acres & three quarters with the Buildings thereon standing bounded East & North by the high way west by Concord River & South by the land of Oliver Farmer," 1,100 pounds old tenor, with 18 acres near it by Ensign Sheds land, also running to the river. The accounts of 1749 pay for 132 squares of glass, window frames, boards and clapboards "all used about ye house." The real estate inventory of Feb. 4, 1754 describes "the Homestead Containing about forty one acres Bounded East and north on the Road that leads from Billerica to Chelmsford, west on Concord River, South on the Land of Oliver Farmer ... Together with all the buildings," and the committee settled it on William, the eldest son, the 18 acres north of "the Bridge Lane" going to the second son Thomas. Papers read, pages 2-17.
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| June 28, 1769 | Deed | Thomas Patten of Boston, sadler | Isaac Foster of Billerica, joiner | Thomas Patten sells the bare 18 acres to Isaac Foster; the house was built after this | 69/331 (South) |
For 68 pounds 2 shillings 4 pence, "a certain Tract of Land consisting both of upland and Meadow situate in Billerica ... lying on the East side of Concord River it being part of the Estate of Mr. Thomas Patten late of Billerica dec'd containing by estimation eighteen acres more or less bounded Southerly on the highway leading to Chelmsford about eighty poles unto Concord River," westerly on the river, northerly on the heirs of Lieut. John Shed and easterly on the country road, "with all the fences & trees thereon" (no buildings are mentioned). Warranty. Dated April 5, 1756 (witnesses Ephraim Copeland Jr. and Jacob Foster), acknowledged at Boston the same day; recorded June 28, 1769. Billerica town book 6, pages 368-370. The seller was the second son of Thomas Patten (d. 1747), to whom the 1754 division had set off these 18 acres north of the Bridge Lane.
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| June 2, 1784 | Deed | Isaac Foster of Billerica, yeoman | His sons Joseph Foster and Samuel Foster of Billerica, husbandmen, half each | Isaac Foster settles his lands on his sons Joseph and Samuel | 86/469 (South) |
In consideration of "a Bond conditioned for the payment of money and other services" given him by his sons, Isaac Foster conveys "all my real Estate of Lands and Buildings the contents of said Land and the bounds thereof being the same as is set forth in the Deeds I have of the same Lands," one undivided half to Joseph Foster and the other to Samuel Foster, provided that they "shall not come into possession ... until after their Father and mother Isaac and Sarah Fosters decease" and until the bond is fulfilled. No lots are described; the 18 acres at the Corner, which Isaac had bought of Thomas Patten in 1756 and on which the house now stood, passed under this deed. Dated Feb. 15, 1782 (witnesses Edward Pollard and Timothy Foster), acknowledged Feb. 10, 1783; recorded June 2, 1784. Billerica town book 7, pages 449-450.
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| 1783 | Will | Estate of Isaac Foster of Billerica, yeoman | His sons Joseph Foster and Samuel Foster, executors and residuary legatees; his widow Sarah | Isaac Foster, joiner and surveyor, dies 1783; his widow keeps a room in the house | Probate #8202 |
Isaac Foster's will of Feb. 1, 1783 (witnesses William Baldwin, Timothy Foster, Rispa Baldwin) gave his wife Sarah household goods, a cow and two sheep, "the improvement of the west Room in my Dwelling house as long as she shall Remain my widow" and a third of the income of his real estate, and left the rest to his sons Joseph and Samuel, noting "I have some time since given to them a Deed of all my Real Estate," they being bound to him by bond. Proved April 10, 1783, the sons executors. The inventory of April 23, 1783 (Joshua Abbot, Edward Farmer, Jacob Manning) lists no land, only apparel, live stock, "the Surveying Instruments," husbandry tools, an old chaise, "the Shop Joiners tools," and the sons' bond of 247 pounds 10 shillings. Middlesex probate case 8202.
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| September 9, 1789 | Administration | Estate of Joseph Hill Jr. of Billerica, yeoman, intestate | Lucy Hill, widow (dower), and his children | Joseph Hill dies; inventory lists "the Foster land ... 18 acres with the buildings" | Probate #11481 |
Joseph Hill Jr. of Billerica, yeoman, died intestate Aug. 6, 1789. At the desire of his widow Lucy (Fitch), Isaac Stearns Esq. of Billerica was appointed administrator on Sept. 9, 1789 (bond 10,000 pounds with Edward Stearns and Samuel Lane Jr. of Bedford). The inventory by Deacon Joshua Abbot of Billerica and Edward Stearns and Capt. Timothy Jones of Bedford, allowed Oct. 14, 1789, lists notes and securities, furniture, stock and crops, and real estate: the Needham land of about 27 1/2 acres east of the Concord road (bought 1784, Middlesex South book 88 page 101), a seventh of land in Lexington, 50 acres of wild land in Templeton, and "the Foster land lying in Billerica one lot containing 18 acres with the buildings thereon, the other 10 acres." The committee of Oct. 14, 1789 set off the widow's dower and severed his share of land held in common, including "the northerly part of the house," part of a barn, mill house and wood house and 93 acres on the road to Hill's Bridge. The Samuel Hill house is not among these lands: it belonged to the Kidders until 1791 and to Peter Hill (Lucy's second husband, 1793) from 1805, and Joseph's son Joseph bought it from Peter Hill in 1808. The 1973 MACRIS story that Joseph and Lucy "took over" the house in 1782 is not borne out by the deeds. Middlesex probate case 11481.
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| February 25, 1789 | Deed | Joseph Foster of Billerica, joiner; Sarah his wife and his mother Sarah Foster releasing dower | Joseph Hill of Billerica, yeoman | Joseph Foster sells the 18 acres "with all the Buildings" to Joseph Hill | 100/39 (South) |
For 110 pounds, "one certain tract of Land situate in Billerica ... lying on the East side of Concord River containing by Estimation Eighteen acres ... bounded Southerly on the high way leading to Chelmsford about eighty poles to Concord River bounded Westerly on said River bounded Northerly on the land of John Shed bounded Easterly on the County Road ... together with all the Buildings thereon standing & being," with ten acres of woodland "at a place called Gilsons Hill" bounded by John Shed, Henry Newman, Jesse Manning and William Frost. Joseph's wife Sarah and "my Mother Sarah Foster" signed (by mark) to give up their dower. Dated Feb. 23, 1789 (witnesses William Patten and Edward Farmer), acknowledged Feb. 24 before Edward Farmer; recorded Feb. 25, 1789. Billerica town book 8, pages 209-211. This is the first deed of the lot that names buildings on it, confirming the house built by the Fosters after 1756.
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| May 18, 1793 | Administrator's Deed | Isaac Stearns of Billerica, Esq., administrator of the estate of Joseph Hill, late of Billerica | Reuben Duren of Bedford, housewright | Joseph Hill's administrator sells the house, barn and joiner's shop to Reuben Duren at auction | 113/114 (South) |
By order of the General Court and leave of the Judge of Probate, for 156 pounds 10 shillings paid by Duren, "he being the highest bidder when sold at Auction," "a certain tract or parcel of Land situate in said Billerica eighteen Acres more or less with a Dwelling House Barn & Joiners Shop thereon bounded Southerly on the road from Billerica Meeting house to Chelmsford about eighty poles to Concord River Westerly on said River Northerly on Land of John Shed and Easterly on a Country road to the bounds first mentioned," with ten acres of woodland elsewhere in Billerica. Recorded at Cambridge May 18, 1793. Billerica town book 8, page 425 (Southern Registry Book 113 Page 114). How Joseph Hill acquired the Foster farm was not traced.
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| May 18, 1795 | Warranty | Reuben Duren of Billerica, housewright, and Mary Duren his wife | Thomas Richardson of Billerica, gentleman | Duren sells the place to Thomas Richardson; the Richardson Tavern | 116/511 (South) |
For 500 pounds, "a Certain tract or Parcel of Land lying in said Billerica Twenty acres more or less bounded Southerly on the County Road leading from Billerica to Chelmsford begining at a Town Road from the Foardway so called to Billerica Meeting House thence Westerly to Concord River by the Old Bridge so Called, thence down said River to Land of John Shed, thence Easterly said Land to sd Town Road thence Southerly by said Road to the first mentioned Road or Bounds with all the Buildings thereon, reserving for myself the Crains and Trammils in the House and the Lathes Benches and Vices in the shope." Dated and acknowledged May 16, recorded May 18, 1795, witnesses Isaac Stearns and Stephen Parker. Billerica town book 9, pages 160-161 (Southern Registry Book 116 Page 511).
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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 dies 1828; Joseph Locke administrator | 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' division) | Heirs of Thomas Richardson: John and Mary French, John and Ann Thompson, Josiah Stevens and Abigail Stevens, Sarah Kendall (widow), George W. H., Hannah H. F. and Judith E. Rogers | His daughters Lydia Rogers, wife of Artemas Rogers of Henniker, N.H., and Elizabeth Richardson of Boston | Richardson heirs set off "Richardsons tavern" to Lydia Rogers and Elizabeth Richardson | 296/237 (South) |
For $2,947.26 the other heirs release to Lydia Rogers and Elizabeth Richardson "a certain tract of land in said Billerica containing seventeen acres and thirty six poles with all the buildings thereon standing," beginning at the northeast corner on the west side of "the great road leading to Boston," running westerly by land of Josiah Crosby Esq. to Concord River, by the river "to the road near the great bridge," then northeasterly and southeasterly to the Boston road (excluding about a quarter acre owned by Noah Harrod and a small piece owned by the widow Frost), and northwesterly by the Boston road 57 rods to the start; "said place has been known by the name of Richardsons tavern." Dated March 7, 1829 (witnesses Joseph Locke and William Morton), acknowledged April 15, 1829; recorded April 17, 1830. Billerica town book 14, pages 281-282. The same day the heirs divided Richardson's Lewis place and White place among the others.
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| November 18, 1830 | Deed (conditional) | Artemas Rogers of Henniker, N.H., Esq., and Lydia Rogers his wife in her right; Elizabeth Richardson, spinster | The First Baptist Church | The tavern owners sell a 4 by 9 rod lot on the road to the Baptist Society for its meetinghouse | 301/174 (South) |
For $100, "a certain parcel of land situate in Billerica ... near Concord River," beginning at the southeast corner "at the wall by the highway by land occupied by the Widow Frost," running northerly by the Frost land and land of Rogers and Richardson four rods, westerly nine rods, southerly four rods to the highway wall and easterly by the wall nine rods, "upon condition that said Baptist Society shall use and occupy said land as a building spot for a Meeting house only, and other buildings connected with and for the accommodation of the same," and that it build and keep a fence between the lot and the adjoining land. Dated Jan. 2, 1830 (witnesses Jeremiah Russell and Page Eaton), acknowledged in New Hampshire Feb. 26, 1830; recorded Nov. 18, 1830. Billerica town book 14, pages 343-345. This is the Baptist meetinghouse lot excepted from the 1836 deeds to Anthony Jones.
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| August 21, 1835 | Mortgage | Artemas Rogers of Fitchburg, Esq., and Lydia Rogers his wife | David Boutelle of Fitchburg, Esq. | The Rogerses mortgage their half of the Richardson Tavern; discharged 1836 | 344/387 (South) |
For $1,500, "one undivided half of the land and buildings situate in Billerica ... known by the name of the Richardson Tavern and is all that part of the estate of Thomas Richardson late of said Billerica deceased that was conveyed to the said Lydia Rogers by the heirs," excepting the Baptist meetinghouse site, the whole measuring seventeen acres and thirty six poles; void if Rogers paid the Fitchburg Bank $1,500 with interest in six months on a note he had signed with Boutelle as surety. Dated Aug. 19, 1835 (witnesses Elizabeth A. Rogers and E. Torrey), acknowledged at Worcester the same day; recorded Aug. 21, 1835. Boutelle released the mortgage on April 19, 1836 (recorded April 20), the day the Rogerses sold their half to Anthony Jones. Billerica town book 15, pages 131-132.
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| August 13, 1836 | Warranty (undivided half) | Artemas Rogers of Fitchburg, Esq., and Lydia Rogers his wife | Anthony Jones of Billerica, yeoman | Half of the "Richardson Tavern" to Anthony Jones | 356/145 (South) |
For $1,000, "one undivided half of the land and buildings situate in Billerica ... known by the name of the Richardson Tavern and is all that part of the estate of Thomas Richardson late of said Billerica deceased that was conveyed to the said Lydia Rogers by the heirs of the said Thomas Richardson excepting what was sold by the said Artemas & Lydia to the Baptist Society as a site for a meeting house, the whole measuring seventeen acres and thirty six poles," excepting also a strip twenty feet wide along the east line of the widow Sarah Kendall's land. Dated and acknowledged April 19, 1836 at Worcester; recorded Aug. 13, 1836. Billerica town book 15, pages 294-295 (Southern Registry Book 356 Page 145). The other undivided half was sold to Jones for $1,000 by Elizabeth Richardson of Boston, spinster (town book 15/295, S. 356/146; first lines read, same description assumed).
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| August 13, 1836 | Warranty Deed (undivided half) | Elizabeth Richardson of Boston, spinster | Anthony Jones of Billerica, yeoman | Elizabeth Richardson sells the other half of the Richardson Tavern to Anthony Jones | 356/146 (South) |
For $1,000, "one undivided half of the land and buildings situate in Billerica ... known by the Richardson Tavern and is all that part of the estate of Thomas Richardson late of said Billerica deceased that was conveyed to the said Elizabeth Richardson by the heirs of the said Thomas Richardson excepting what has been sold to the Baptist Society as a site for a meeting house, the whole measureing seventeen acres and thirty six poles," excepting also a strip twenty feet wide along the east line of the widow Sarah Kendall's land from the highway northerly. Dated April 20, 1836 (witnesses H. Montgomery and John Thompson), acknowledged in Suffolk the same day; recorded Aug. 13, 1836. Billerica town book 15, pages 295-296. With the Rogers half bought the day before, Jones now owned the whole tavern farm.
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| May 17, 1883 | Deed | Judith Jones of Billerica, widow of Anthony Jones | Jason K. Hutchins of Billerica | Judith Jones sells farm land across the road, keeping the water rights for her house | 160/18 |
For $2,610, about twenty five acres beginning at land formerly of Philip Stewart deceased by "the road leading from Billerica Mills to Billerica Centre," running southerly by that road to "the Salem road," easterly by the Salem road about 31 rods, northerly by a fence along "the narrow gauge railroad location" about 100 rods and westerly by the Stewart land, "Reserving the use of the water and aqueduct to my house and buildings and the privilege of entering upon the land to repair the pipe." Dated May 3, 1883 (Dudley Foster witness and justice); recorded May 17, 1883. This was farm land east of the Fordway road, across from the old tavern, which Judith Jones kept as her home; the 1964 deed of the house lot still claims the benefit of this water reservation.
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| August 28, 1889 | Deed (life estate reserved) | Judith Jones of Billerica, widow of Anthony Jones | Her daughter Nellie Maria Bemis of Cleveland, Ohio | Judith Jones deeds the old tavern farm to her daughter Nellie Bemis, keeping a life estate | 209/64 |
For $1 and other valuable consideration, "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica," bounded south "by the Salem road so called," east by "the road leading to North Billerica," north by land of Simeon Burton and west by Concord River, "containing twenty acres more or less," "saving and excepting about three fourths of an acre sold by me to Warren Rollins" (in 1888, Book 195 Page 247), together with the livestock, farming tools, teams and carriages and "all household furniture in and about the house where I live," "Reserving to myself the use, income and improvement of said premises and personal property during my lifetime." Dated Aug. 26, 1889 (John Davis witness and justice); recorded Aug. 28, 1889. This is the old tavern farm bought by Anthony Jones in 1836, which his widow had kept after his death about 1882.
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| 1907 | Mortgage | Frederick C. Bemis and Nellie M. Bemis (in her own right), of Billerica | Central Savings Bank of Lowell | The Bemises mortgage the 20-acre "second lot" at Jones' Corner with the buildings | 404/101 |
Blanket mortgage for $7,000 on 24 lots in Billerica and Chelmsford. "The Fourth lot is situated in that part of said Billerica known as Billerica Centre, on the easterly side of the road leading to Bedford, with the buildings thereon," bounded by William B. Stearns, the Wamesit Power Company and land formerly of William P. P. Pollard, "being the same premises conveyed to Judith Jones by Dudley Foster by deed dated August 5, 1884." Lots 1-3 had come to Nellie from her mother Judith Jones. Signed April 10, 1907; partial releases in the margin and a discharge at Book 514 Page 257.
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| March 19, 1908 | Warranty Deed | Frederick C. Bemis and Nellie M. Bemis of Billerica | Anthony J. Bemis of Billerica | Frederick C. and Nellie M. Bemis convey all their lots, the Jones Corner farm among them, to Anthony J. Bemis | 416/135 |
For $1, "all the real estate belonging to us or either of us situated in said Billerica and in Chelmsford ... supposed to contain and comprise twenty-four lots or parcels of land," being the premises described in their 1907 mortgage to the Central Savings Bank of Lowell (Book 404 Page 101), except three lots near the railroad and the cemetery, and subject to that mortgage. Signed March 19, 1908.
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| April 15, 1908 | Partial Release of Mortgage | The Central Savings Bank of Lowell, by Clarence W. Whidden, president | Anthony J. Bemis of Billerica | The bank releases the Jones Corner farm from the Bemis mortgage | 416/494 |
Releases from the 1907 Bemis mortgage (Book 404 Page 101) the twenty acres "with the buildings thereon" at the corner of the Salem Road and "the road leading to North Billerica known as the Fordway Road," running north to Simeon Burton, west to Concord River and back along the Salem Road around the Warren Rollins lot: "Being the second parcel described in said mortgage." Dated April 13, 1908; recorded April 15, 1908, just ahead of the sale to Albert H. Jones.
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| April 15, 1908 | Warranty Deed | Anthony J. Bemis of Billerica | Albert H. Jones of Billerica | Anthony J. Bemis conveys the twenty acres at Jones's Corner with the buildings to Albert H. Jones | 416/496 |
For $1, "a certain tract or parcel of land with the buildings thereon containing about twenty acres," beginning at the southeast corner "at the intersection of the northerly side of the Salem Road with the westerly side of the road leading to North Billerica, known as the Fordway Road," running north on the Fordway Road to Simeon Burton, west to Concord River, south by the river to the Salem Road and east along it, around the Warren Rollins lot, to the start. "Being situated at Jones's Corner, so called, in said Billerica. Being the same premises conveyed to Nellie M. Bemis by her mother, said Judith Jones" in 1889, title by the Bemis deed of March 19, 1908, "Together with the right to use water and aqueduct" reserved by Judith Jones in 1883. Recorded April 15, 1908. The old tavern returned to a Jones of the family.
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| November 11, 1924 | Quitclaim Deed | Albert H. Jones of Billerica | His wife Ada F. Jones of Billerica | Albert H. Jones deeds the house and farm on the Salem Road to his wife Ada | 715/113 |
For consideration paid, "A certain tract or parcel of land with buildings thereon, situated on the northerly side of the Salem Road, so-called, in said Billerica, containing about twenty (20) acres," being the premises conveyed to him by Anthony J. Bemis in 1908 (Book 416 Page 496), "hereby expressly excepting ... so much thereof as was heretofore conveyed by me to Charles P. Collins by deed dated June 2, 1921" (Book 644 Page 542). Dated Aug. 3, 1921, acknowledged at Lowell the same day; recorded Nov. 11, 1924, with his deeds to her of the Gilson Hill lot and of lots on the Fordway Road.
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| November 11, 1926 | Quitclaim Deed | Ada F. Jones of Billerica, unmarried | Albert B. Cameron of Lowell | Ada F. Jones sells the Jones' Corner farm with the buildings to Albert B. Cameron | 743/532 |
For consideration paid, first, "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on the northerly side of the Salem Road and the westerly side of Fordway Road," running north on the Fordway Road to land of Simeon Burton, west to Concord River, south by the river to the Salem Road and east along it around the Warren Rollins lot, "Said premises being situated at Jones' Corner, so-called," excepting the house lot conveyed by Albert H. Jones to Charles P. Collins in 1921, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Albert H. Jones by deed dated August 3, 1921" (Book 715 Page 113); second and third, house lots on Dane Avenue and the Fordway Road on the 1896 Alden O. Dane plan (Plan Book 12 Plan 14). Dated and recorded Nov. 11, 1926. Cameron gave back a $4,000 mortgage to Ada F. Jones the same day (Book 743 Page 533), payable in four years. This ended ninety years of Jones family ownership of the tavern.
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| June 6, 1934 | Mortgagee's Foreclosure Deed | Ada F. Jones of Billerica, mortgagee of Albert B. Cameron | Rosaline B. Hayden of Billerica | Cameron defaults in the Depression; Ada F. Jones forecloses and sells to Rosaline B. Hayden | 845/492 |
Ada F. Jones, "holder of a mortgage from Albert B. Cameron to me dated November 11, 1926" (Book 743 Page 533), "by the power conferred by said mortgage and every other power for Forty-four Hundred ($4400) Dollars paid," conveys to Rosaline B. Hayden the mortgaged premises: first, "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on the northerly side of the Salem Road and the westerly side of the Fordway Road," to Simeon Burton's land and Concord River, "situated at Jones' Corner, so-called," excepting the Collins house lot; second and third, the Dane Avenue and Fordway Road lots. The affidavit recites the notice printed in The Billerica News on May 3, 10 and 17, 1934 and the auction on the premises on Saturday, May 26, 1934. Dated and recorded June 6, 1934. Hayden's mortgage back to Ada F. Jones (Book 845 Page 495) was discharged in 1937.
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| June 28, 1945 | Quitclaim Deed | Rosaline B. Hayden of Billerica, unmarried | Lillian Gustafson of Billerica | Rosaline Hayden sells the river end of the farm | 1025/141 |
A parcel "on Salem Road" beginning "on the northerly side of said Salem Road at the Concord River," running northerly along the river 372 feet, easterly 454 feet by other land of the grantor to a point seventeen feet west of a stone wall, southeasterly parallel with the wall 238 feet, and southwesterly 120 feet by land of James and Annie Leslie to the Salem Road; "a portion of the first parcel described in a mortgage from Rosaline B. Hayden to Ada F. Jones dated June 6, 1934," subject to the 1936 Lowell Electric Light Corporation easement. Dated June 26, 1945; recorded June 28, 1945. This took the river frontage, the old meadow and pasture of the tavern farm, away from the house.
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| April 24, 1953 | Quitclaim Deed | Rosaline B. Hayden of Billerica, unmarried | Ernest D. Corrigan of Weston, Trustee of Fidelity Realty Trust | Rosaline Hayden sells the Jones Corner land with the old house to Fidelity Realty Trust, which subdivides it | 1221/453 |
For consideration paid, "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on the northerly side of the Salem Road and the westerly side of Pollard Street, formerly Fordway Road," bounded as in 1926 and 1934 by Simeon Burton's land, Concord River and the Warren Rollins lot, "situated at Jones Corner, so-called, in Billerica," excepting the Collins house lot (1921), a lot she had sold on Jan. 3, 1953, and the riverside parcel sold to Lillian Gustafson in 1945, and subject to Lowell Electric Light Corporation grants of 1936 and 1951. Recorded April 24, 1953. The trust had the remaining land surveyed by Dana F. Perkins and Sons on May 28, 1953 (Plan Book 82 Plan 191) and sold the house on Lots 6, 7 and 8 in June and July 1953 (Book 1226 Page 282 and Book 1229 Page 346) and the other lots to private buyers. The house lot of 49,630 square feet has since changed hands among private owners (1956, 1964, 1968, 1969, 1973) and was divided in 1978 (Plan Book 126 Plan 48), the house keeping Lot A of 25,000 square feet.
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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.