Structure · Built 1872
Eleanor Bennett House
Eleanor Bennett House
| Address | 382 Boston Rd |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.397 |
| Built | 1872 |
The Eleanor Bennett House at 382 Boston Road is a one-and-one-half-story Italianate house with a cross-gable roof and a bracketed hood over its side-hall entrance, built about 1872 on the east side of Boston Road, directly opposite the present Billerica Town Hall. A garage of the early twentieth century stands south of the house. It lies within the Billerica Center local historic district (1990).
The land was once part of the homestead "a few rods north of the meeting house" that the guardian of the young Andrew Pollard sold at auction to John Crosby in 1819, and that Crosby sold the same year to Ichabod Everett of Boston for $4,000. Everett farmed it until his death in 1851. He died intestate, "leaving no widow nor children," and in 1852 his heirs sold the farm in two deeds (one for Issachar Everett's quarter, one for the other heirs' three quarters) to Abel Spalding Jr. of Billerica.
On September 28, 1872, Abel Spaulding, yeoman, sold for $358 a lot "in the centre of said Billerica and being part of the homestead of said Spaulding and formerly of the Everett Estate" to Eleanor Bennett, "widow of the late Joshua Bennett," in her own right. The lot ran five rods along the east side of the great road and back about nineteen rods to a wall, "ninety five and a half square rods" in all, bounded on the north by land formerly of William Blanchard. No buildings were mentioned, and the house appears to have been built for her soon afterward. Eleanor (Richardson) Bennett (1794-1891) lived on her large estate across the road; the Beers atlas of 1875 shows Timothy Rogers, a laborer, as the occupant of the new house.
Eleanor Bennett died in 1891. Her will, proved June 2, 1891, gave her executors, Henry W. Hart and Joshua B. Holden of Boston, a power of sale, and on June 27, 1891 they conveyed the lot "for one dollar and other valuable considerations" to Timothy Rogers, "being the same premises conveyed to said Eleanor Bennett by Abel Spalding." The transfer was a sale by the executors, not a devise as sometimes stated. Timothy Rogers (1835-1906) and his wife Mary E. (Rowe) Rogers raised ten children here. After his death the house passed to his widow, and after hers to their children as her heirs at law (Middlesex probate docket 132537). On September 29, 1923 the heirs (Catherine, Nellie L., Frank E., Elizabeth, Frances A. and Alice Rogers, Mary Hayes and her husband Michael E. Hayes, and Bridget Lyons and her husband T. Frank Lyons) quitclaimed the Billerica house and a Cambridgeport lot to their sister Annie G. Rogers. Their sister Mary and her husband had built the house next door at 380 Boston Road about 1919.
On June 16, 1939 Annie G. Rogers deeded "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on the easterly side of Boston Road" to herself and her sisters Catherine, Nellie L., Elizabeth C. and Frances A. Rogers as joint tenants. Catherine died in 1946, Nellie in 1949, Elizabeth in 1960 and Annie in 1962. Frances A. Rogers, the last of them, deeded the house for one dollar on July 1, 1971 to the Mother Aloysius Foundation, Inc., a religious corporation then of Brookline. The family had owned it for eighty years. The Foundation held it for more than forty years and sold it in 2014 for $205,000 to private owners. In 2022 the Town of Billerica took roadway and construction easements along the frontage for the Boston Road (Route 3A) reconstruction.
References
- MACRIS BIL.397
- Billerica assessor, 382 Boston Rd, parcel 51-101-0: area, current deed and sales history
- Find a Grave: Eleanor Richardson Bennett (1794-1891)
- Find a Grave: Timothy Rogers (1835-1906)
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| March 23, 1819 | Guardian's Deed | Judith Pollard, widow, guardian of Andrew Pollard, minor and sole heir of Francis Pollard | John Crosby | 1819 Pollard homestead sold to John Crosby (earlier farm) | 229/76 (South) |
Judith Pollard of Billerica, widow, guardian of Andrew Pollard, "a minor, and sole heir of Francis Pollard late of said Billerica gentleman deceased intestate," licensed by the Supreme Judicial Court, sold at public vendue on July 6, 1818 to John Crosby of Billerica, the highest bidder, for $3,800, the whole of the minor's real estate and her own dower: "the homestead situate a few rods north of the meeting house in said Billerica containing fifty six acres be it more or less with all the buildings thereon," beginning at the south-west corner "at the east side of the great road near the widow Foster's house," running east about forty rods by Foster, Francis Kidder, John Baldwin and Theophilus Manning, north by Josiah Bowers and Luther French, east by French, north by Thomas Holden, around by Holden, Joseph Locke, Zaccheus Shed, Henry Bridge and Thomas Sumner, and back along the road about seventy-six poles; with twelve acres of woodland on the north side of Fox Hill. Deed dated Feb. 2, 1819, witnessed by Samuel Whiting and Ichabod Everett. Billerica town book 12, pages 119-121.
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| March 23, 1819 | Quitclaim | John Crosby and Abigail Crosby | Ichabod Everett of Boston | 1819 Crosby to Ichabod Everett (earlier farm) | 229/78 (South) |
The same day, John Crosby of Billerica, yeoman, for $4,000 quitclaimed to Ichabod Everett of Boston "the homestead situate a few rods north of the meeting house in said Billerica containing fifty six acres be it more or less with all the buildings thereon," with the same bounds as the guardian's deed, reserving a right of way for Joseph Locke from the gate near Henry Bridge's house and the right of the widow Alice Bridge "to pasture one cow on the above described premises during her natural life," with the twelve acre Fox Hill wood lot. Dated Feb. 2, 1819. Billerica town book 12, pages 122-123.
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| 1851 | Administration | Estate of Ichabod Everett of Billerica, yeoman (intestate) | Dudley Foster, administrator; the heirs at law | 1851 Ichabod Everett estate | Probate #31419 |
Ichabod Everett died in 1851 intestate, "leaving no widow nor children." His heirs Hepsibah Fales, Issachar, Ira, William and Oliver B. Everett, Charles Draper and Isaac and Sally Fisher asked for Dudley Foster as administrator; he was appointed Oct. 14, 1851. The appraisers Amos Spalding, Benjamin L. Judkins and Lyman Haynes returned real estate of $11,920 and personal estate of $5,010.41 (allowed Dec. 2, 1851). Only the personal estate was licensed for sale; the heirs sold the farm by their own deeds in 1852. Papers read, pages 2-11.
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| November 18, 1852 | Warranty | Issachar Everett of Wrentham, gentleman, by Silas P. Fisher his attorney, and Dolly Everett | Abel Spalding Jr. of Billerica, yeoman | 1852 Issachar Everett's quarter to Abel Spalding Jr. | 641/137 (South) |
Dated Nov. 18, 1852. For $1,125, "An undivided fourth part of the homestead farm belonging to the late Ichabod Everett situated in the centre of said Billerica containing sixty two acres be it more or less with all the buildings thereon," beginning at the southwest corner "at the east side of the road near Marshall Preston's house," east about forty rods by Preston, O. M. Blodgett, John Baldwin and A. F. Page, north by Ichabod G. Kimball and Sarah Baker, around by Amasa Holden, the heirs of Joel Richardson, Sarah Kendall, John F. Baldwin and William Blanchard to the road, then south by the road to the Howe School trustees' lot, around it, and south by the road to the beginning, reserving a passway for Joel Richardson's heirs from the barn near Isaac Holden's house. Witness Dudley Foster; recorded the same day. With the other heirs' three quarters (Book 641 Page 574) this gave Spalding the whole farm. Billerica town book 19, pages 374-376.
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| 1852 | Heirs' Deed | Hepsabah Fales, Ira Everett, Oliver B. Everett, Sally E. Fisher, Charles and Nancy E. Draper, Isaac and Sybil Fisher, Betsey Ripley and William Everett, heirs of Ichabod Everett | Abel Spalding Jr. | 1852 Everett heirs' three quarters to Abel Spalding Jr. | 641/574 (South) |
The heirs at law of Ichabod Everett, "late of Billerica ... deceased intestate," acting through Silas Fales and William Everett as attorneys, for $3,750 conveyed to Abel Spalding Jr. of Billerica, yeoman, their undivided three quarters of "a certain farm known as said deceased homestead ... situate in the centre of said Billerica," beginning "at the southwest corner at the east side of the great road near the house of Marshall Preston," running east about forty rods by Preston, O. M. Blodgett, John Baldwin and A. F. Page, north by Ichabod G. Kimball and Luther French, around by Amasa Holden, the heirs of Joel Richardson, Jacob Kendall, John F. Baldwin and William Blanchard to the great road, "then runs south by said road to land of Trustees of the Howe School," around the school lot and south along the road to the beginning, "containing about sixty two acres with the buildings thereon," being the farm "which has been called or known as the Everett homestead." Billerica town book 19, pages 379-381. Spalding had married Everett's adopted daughter, Julia Ann Currier, in 1849.
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| October 1, 1872 | Warranty Deed | Abel Spalding of Billerica, yeoman (wife Leonora C. Spaulding releasing dower and homestead) | Eleanor Bennett, widow of the late Joshua Bennett of Billerica, in her own right | 1872 Spaulding to Eleanor Bennett, the house lot | 89/163 |
Signed Sept. 28, 1872, witnessed and acknowledged before Dudley Foster JP; recorded Oct. 1, 1872. For $358, a "piece of land situate in the centre of said Billerica and being part of the homestead of said Spaulding and formerly of the Everett Estate": beginning at the northwest corner on the east side of the great road at land formerly of Wm. Blanchard, southerly by the road 5 rods to Spaulding, easterly by Spaulding 18 rods 19 links to a wall, northerly by the wall 5 rods to land late of Wm. Blanchard, and westerly by Blanchard 19 rods 11 links to the beginning, "The whole measuring ninety five and a half square rods." No buildings are mentioned; the house was built for Mrs. Bennett about 1872.
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| July 1, 1891 | Executor's Deed | Henry W. Hart and Joshua B. Holden of Boston, executors of the will of Eleanor Bennett late of Billerica | Timothy Rogers of Billerica | 1891 Bennett executors to Timothy Rogers | 224/253 |
Signed June 27, 1891, acknowledged in Suffolk County; recorded July 1, 1891. The will of Eleanor Bennett was proved and allowed by the Middlesex Probate Court June 2, 1891; "by virtue and in execution of the power to us given in or by said will," for $1 and other valuable considerations, the executors conveyed the lot "in the centre of said Billerica being formerly part of the homestead of Abel Spalding and formerly of the Everett Estate," with the same bounds, 95 1/2 square rods. "Being the same premises conveyed to said Eleanor Bennett by Abel Spalding by deed dated Sept. 28, 1872, recorded with Middlesex No. Dist. Book 89, Page 163." An executors' sale under a power in the will, not a devise.
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| June 16, 1939 | Quitclaim | Catherine Rogers, Michael E. and Mary Hayes, T. Frank and Bridget Lyons, Nellie L., Frank E., Elizabeth, Fannie A. and Alice Rogers, heirs at law of Mary Rogers | Annie G. Rogers of Billerica | 1923 heirs of Mary Rogers to Annie G. Rogers | 929/189 |
Signed and acknowledged Sept. 29, 1923; first recorded in Middlesex South Nov. 9, 1923 (Book 4677, Page 446), recorded at Middlesex North June 16, 1939. The heirs of Mary Rogers, widow of Timothy Rogers, quitclaimed "All and the same estate as conveyed by deed of Henry W. Hart and Joshua B. Holden to Timothy Rogers by deed dated June 27, 1891 ... book 224, Page 253," and also a lot with a building in Cambridgeport that Timothy Rogers bought in 1870, "conveying all our right title and interest as heirs-at-law of Mary Rogers ... Docket Number 132537" (Middlesex probate). Husbands released curtesy. "No consideration passed."
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| June 16, 1939 | Quitclaim | Annie G. Rogers of Billerica, unmarried | Catherine Rogers, Nellie L. Rogers, Elizabeth C. Rogers, Frances A. Rogers and Annie G. Rogers, joint tenants | 1939 Annie G. Rogers to the Rogers sisters | 929/190 |
Signed, acknowledged and recorded June 16, 1939. For less than $100, "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on the easterly side of Boston Road," the same as Book 224, Page 253, being part of the premises conveyed to her by Catherine Rogers et al. by deed of Sept. 29, 1923 recorded simultaneously (Book 929, Page 189).
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| July 28, 1971 | Quitclaim | Frances A. Rogers of Billerica, unmarried, surviving joint tenant | Mother Aloysius Foundation, Inc., religious society of Brookline | 1971 Frances A. Rogers to Mother Aloysius Foundation | 1970/223 |
Dated July 1, 1971; recorded July 28, 1971 (the assessor lists it under 1963 in error). "In full consideration of one (1) dollar," "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on the easterly side of Boston Road," the same as Book 224, Page 253, and part of the premises conveyed to the five Rogers sisters as joint tenants by Book 929, Page 190; recites the deaths of Catherine Rogers (Jan. 4, 1946), Nellie L. Rogers (Nov. 6, 1949), Elizabeth Rogers (July 4, 1960) and Annie G. Rogers (May 8, 1962). Ended eighty years of Rogers family ownership.
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| July 1, 2014 | Quitclaim | The Mother Aloysius Foundation, Inc., Massachusetts religious corporation (c/o Carmelite Monastery, Concord NH) | Private owners | 2014 Foundation to private owners (current deed) | 28290/14 |
Signed June 30, 2014; recorded July 1, 2014. For $205,000, "The land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on the easterly side of Boston Road," the same as Book 224, Page 253, and the premises conveyed to the Foundation by Frances A. Rogers, Book 1970, Page 223. This is the current deed (assessor parcel 51-101-0, 0.686 acre). A 2016 tax taking by the Town against the private owner was later redeemed.
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| February 18, 2022 | Taking (easements) | Owners of land abutting Boston Road (Route 3A) | Town of Billerica, by its Select Board | 2022 Route 3A easement taking | 36829/239 |
Order of Taking voted Feb. 14, 2022 by the Select Board under G.L. c. 79 and Article 29 of the Oct. 5, 2021 Fall Town Meeting: temporary construction easements (four years) and permanent roadway easements in lands "lying within or abutting Boston Road (Route 3A)" as shown on "Plan of Road Showing Location of Easements, Boston Road (Route 3A) Reconstruction," dated Dec. 15, 2021, prepared for BETA Group, Inc. by Lighthouse Land Surveying, LLC. The registry property index lists it under 336 Boston Road. Recorded Feb. 18, 2022 (24 pages). Middlesex North Book 36829, page 239.
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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.