Samuel Parker House
Samuel Parker House
| Also Known As | Silas Cragin House |
| Address | 16 Salem Rd |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.134 |
| Built | 1804 |
| Owners |
Noah Harrod
(1816 - 1834)
Anthony Jones (1872 - 1882) |
The Samuel Parker House at 16 Salem Road stands on the north side of the old road from the Concord River bridge to Salem, just west of the Tavern at the Corner. It has long been called the home of Samuel Parker, the tanner whose leather-splitting machine was later made under his patent by Jonathan Hill and his successors in South Billerica, and also the Silas Cragin House. The deeds tell a somewhat different story: the Parker brothers bought an empty lot here, built the house in 1804, and sold it within three years. Through most of the 19th century the house was known as "the Noah Harrod place".
The land was part of the eighteen acres north of "the Bridge Lane" that were set off to Thomas Patten in his father's estate in 1754 and passed through Isaac Foster, Joseph Hill and Reuben Duren to Thomas Richardson, who kept the tavern at the corner from 1795. On Dec. 8, 1803, Richardson sold John Parker and Samuel Parker for $100 a quarter acre "on the north side of the road leading from my dwelling house to the bridge over Concord river", beginning at a stake "about one rod and eight tenths west of the house built by Silas Cragin", six rods on the road and six and two thirds rods deep. The brothers and their heirs were never to keep "any retail store or stores, tavern or taverns on the premises", and had to keep open "a sluice way or drain in front". No buildings were mentioned. The MACRIS form read this deed as the sale of the Cragin house itself, which gave rise to the name Silas Cragin House and the date of 1801, but the deed places the Parkers' lot beside that house, not under it.
By March 1, 1805, when Samuel Parker sold his half to his brother for $250, the lot came "with the buildings thereon", so the house was built in 1804. Samuel Parker, who was then buying land and shops at the Corner, had his own house farther west. John Parker sold the house in 1806 for $500 to Stephen Richardson, a carpenter, who sold it in 1815 to Sears Cook. Cook died the next year, and his will does not mention it. Instead William Richardson, a witness to Cook's deed, sold it in June 1816 for $750 "with all the buildings thereon" to Noah Harrod, a cabinet maker, apparently under a deed from Cook that was never recorded.
Harrod lived and worked here for about fifteen years. He sold the house to Reuben T. Robinson, a Boston painter, in 1826 and bought it back in 1829, when it was described as "the same on which the said Harrod now dwells", and he mortgaged it the same year to William G. Shed, a trader. Harrod then moved to Boston, and in 1833 a deputy sheriff sold his equity of redemption in "a dwelling house and work shop adjoining said house" at the Corner to settle a debt owed to Josiah B. Richardson. In November 1834 Harrod quitclaimed the house for $525 to Sarah Kendall, a widow and a daughter of Thomas Richardson of the tavern. She lived here for more than thirty years ("S. Kendall" on the 1853 map) and died in June 1867. Her will, which left everything in trust to her brother Thomas Richardson of Boston for her daughter Sarah Ann, was contested by the daughter's guardian, and the special administrator's inventory valued the "Home Stead lot in Billerica" at $750. After the daughter's death the trustee conveyed the estate in 1872 to his son Thomas F. Richardson of Cohasset, including the homestead "sometimes called the 'Noah Harrod place'".
Later in 1872 Thomas F. Richardson sold the house, now on a third of an acre, for $700 to Anthony Jones, who farmed the old tavern land on every side of it, so the lot went back into the farm it had been cut from in 1803. It stayed with the Jones family through Anthony's widow Judith, her daughter Nellie M. Bemis and Albert H. Jones. In June 1921 Albert H. Jones sold "the dwelling house situated next westerly of the dwelling house now occupied by the grantor" to Charles P. and Alice B. Collins of Lowell, on a lot 118 feet on the road and 142 feet deep between stone walls. That is still the house lot. The Collinses sold it in 1936 to Doris A. MacKenzie, and she sold it in 1938 to John Harvey of Lowell, whose land is marked on the 1953 plan dividing the rest of the Jones farm. Harvey sold the house in 1953. It changed hands again in 1953, 1958 and 1967, and the owners since 1967 transferred it to a family trust in 2022.
The house keeps its early lines, with its chimneys set at the ends of the house and a small barn attached. It is in the Billerica local historic district created in 1990.
References
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 | 1754 division of Thomas Patten's estate: the 18 acres north of the Bridge Lane, from which this lot was cut, to his son Thomas | 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 | 1756 Thomas Patten sells the 18 acres to Isaac Foster | 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 | 1782 Isaac Foster settles the 18 acres 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 | 1783 will of Isaac Foster | 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 | 1789 estate of Joseph Hill: "the Foster land ... 18 acres" | 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 | 1789 Joseph Foster sells the 18 acres with 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 | 1793 administrator's sale of the Foster land to Reuben Duren | 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 | 1795 Reuben Duren sells the tavern farm to Thomas Richardson, who cut this lot from it in 1803 | 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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| May 13, 1804 | Quitclaim | Thomas Richardson of Billerica, gentleman (wife Judith releasing dower) | John Parker and Samuel Parker, both of Billerica, gentlemen | 1803 Thomas Richardson of the tavern sells the vacant quarter acre to John and Samuel Parker, with a no-tavern, no-store restriction | 156/213 (South) |
For $100, "a certain piece or tract of land situate in Billerica on the north side of the road leading from my dwelling house to the bridge over Concord river", beginning at a stake and stones by the road "about one rod and eight tenths west of the house built by Silas Cragin", north 6 2/3 rods, east 6 rods, south 6 2/3 rods to the road and west by the road 6 rods, "containing one fourth part of an acre". The Parkers and their heirs "shall not forever keep or cause or allow to be kept any retail store or stores, tavern or taverns on the premises" and must keep open "a sluice way or drain in front of the premises". No buildings are named: the brothers bought a vacant quarter acre beside the Cragin house, not the Cragin house itself. Signed and acknowledged Dec. 8, 1803 (witnesses James Abbot and Silas Cragin), recorded May 13, 1804. Billerica town book 10, pages 244-245.
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| March 1, 1805 | Quitclaim | Samuel Parker of Billerica, gentleman (wife Sarah releasing dower) | His brother John Parker of Billerica, Esquire | 1805 Samuel Parker sells his half "with the buildings thereon" to his brother John | 160/191 (South) |
For $250, "one undivided moiety of a certain tract or parcel of land situate on the north side of the road leading from Thomas Richardsons in said Billerica to the bridge over Concord river", the same quarter acre beginning "about one rod and eight tenths west of the house built by Silas Cragin", now "with the buildings thereon". The price, two and a half times what the whole lot cost fifteen months before, and the new phrase show that the house was built on the lot in 1804. Signed, acknowledged and recorded March 1, 1805 (witnesses Joseph Locke and Elijah Stearns). Billerica town book 10, pages 234-235.
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| February 18, 1806 | Quitclaim | John Parker of Billerica, esquire (wife Susanna releasing dower) | Stephen Richardson of Billerica, carpenter | 1806 John Parker sells the house lot to Stephen Richardson, carpenter, for $500 | 164/305 (South) |
For $500, the quarter acre "on the north side of the road leading from the present dwelling house of Thomas Richardson to the bridge over Concord river", beginning "about one rod and an eight tenths west of the house built by Silas Cragin", 6 2/3 rods deep and 6 rods on the road, "containing one fourth part of an acre", subject to the same reservations that no "retail store or stores, tavern or taverns" be kept and that the sluice way in front be kept open. The deed does not mention buildings, but the price had risen from $100 for the vacant lot in 1803. Signed and acknowledged Feb. 11, 1806 (witnesses Joseph Locke and Henry Putnam), recorded Feb. 18, 1806. Billerica town book 10, pages 286-287.
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| June 28, 1815 | Warranty Deed | Stephen Richardson of Billerica, yeoman (wife Rhoda releasing dower) | Sears Cook of Billerica, gentleman | 1815 Stephen Richardson sells the house lot "with all the buildings" to Sears Cook | 211/189 (South) |
For $500, "a certain tract or parcel of land containing about one quarter of an acre more or less with all the buildings thereon standing as bounded and described in the deed of John Parker to the said Richardson dated the eleventh day of February A D 1806 and recorded in the Registry of Deeds Book 164 page 305." Signed May 25, 1815 (witnesses Joseph Locke and William Richardson), acknowledged May 26, recorded June 28, 1815. Billerica town book 11, pages 349-350.
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| 1816 | Will | Estate of Sears Cook of Billerica, gentleman | His widow Abigail and son Francis Cook, executor and residuary devisee | Sears Cook, buyer of the house in 1815, dies in 1816; his will does not mention it | Probate #5053 |
Will dated Oct. 26, 1811 (witnesses Joseph Parker, Francis Kidder and Joseph Locke): to his wife Abigail "the improvement of all my house and one half of all my other real estate" for life; $500 each to his daughters Abigail Crosby, Susannah Walker and Sarah Gleason; the residue to his son Francis Cook, sole executor. Sears Cook died in the summer of 1816; the will was proved at Chelmsford Oct. 1, 1816. The file has no inventory, and neither the will nor the indexes show the house lot he bought in 1815 still in his estate: William Richardson, a witness to the 1815 deed, held it and sold it with full warranty in June 1816, so Cook's title passed to him by a conveyance that was never recorded.
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| October 10, 1816 | Warranty Deed | William Richardson of Billerica, gentleman | Noah Harrod of Billerica, cabinet maker | 1816 William Richardson sells the quarter acre "with all the buildings" to Noah Harrod, cabinet maker | 218/194 (South) |
For $750, "a small tract of land containing about a quarter of an acre, more or less, with all the buildings thereon situate in said Billerica near Thomas Richardson's tavern, as the same is bounded and described in the deed of John Parker to Stephen Richardson dated the eleventh day of February A.D. 1806." Signed and acknowledged June 19, 1816 before Joseph Locke (witnesses John H. Stone and Joseph Locke), recorded Oct. 10, 1816. Billerica town book 11, page 476. The deed the MACRIS form cites as "William Richardson to Noah Harrod, cabinet maker".
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| June 20, 1826 | Warranty Deed | Noah Harrod of Billerica, yeoman (wife Zoa releasing dower) | Reuben T. Robinson of Boston, painter | 1826 Noah Harrod sells the house to Reuben T. Robinson, a Boston painter | 268/205 (South) |
For $950, (1) "a small tract of land containing about a quarter of an acre more or less with all the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica near Thomas Richardson's Tavern as the same is bounded and described in the deed of John Parker to Stephen Richardson dated the eleventh day of February A.D. 1806", and (2) about five and a half acres at the northwest corner of "the Newman farm (so called)" on the road from Joseph Trask's to the house lately of William Frost. Signed June 19, acknowledged and recorded June 20, 1826. Billerica town book 12, pages 476-477. Robinson reconveyed the house lot to Harrod in 1829.
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| August 20, 1829 | Warranty Deed | Reuben T. Robinson of Boston, painter (wife Eliza releasing dower) | Noah Harrod of Billerica, cabinet maker | 1829 Robinson sells the house back to Noah Harrod, "the same on which the said Harrod now dwells" | 291/338 (South) |
For $800, "a small tract of land situate in Billerica aforesaid containing about one quarter of an acre more or less with all the buildings thereon standing being the same on which the said Harrod now dwells", bounded southerly by "the road leading from Billerica to Lowell and on all other sides by land lately belonging to Thomas Richardson deceased". Signed Aug. 17, acknowledged at Boston and recorded Aug. 20, 1829. Billerica town book 14, pages 209-210. Harrod had lived in the house throughout; the 1826 sale was in effect undone.
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| August 20, 1829 | Mortgage | Noah Harrod of Billerica, cabinet maker (wife Zoa releasing dower) | William G. Shed of Billerica, trader | 1829 Harrod mortgages the house to William G. Shed, trader | 291/339 (South) |
For $357.42, mortgage of "a certain small parcel of land situate in said Billerica containing about one quarter of an acre more or less with the buildings thereon", bounded southerly by the road from Billerica to Lowell and on all other sides by land lately of Thomas Richardson deceased, "the premises being the same where the said Harrod now dwells"; void if Harrod paid the sum with interest in one year. Signed Aug. 17, acknowledged Aug. 19 before Joseph Locke, recorded Aug. 20, 1829. Billerica town book 14, pages 211-212. This is the mortgage to "one Wm Shed" excepted in Harrod's 1831 deed.
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| July 14, 1831 | Quitclaim | Noah Harrod of Boston, trader | Josiah B. Richardson, blacksmith, and Josiah Stevens, yeoman, both of Billerica | 1831 Noah Harrod, now of Boston, sells the house to Josiah B. Richardson and Josiah Stevens, subject to his mortgage to William Shed | 306/150 (South) |
For $300, quitclaim of "a small tract of land containing about a quarter of an acre, more or less, with all the buildings thereon, situate in said Billerica near Thomas Richardson's Tavern, as the same is bounded and described in the deed of John Parker to Stephen Richardson dated the eleventh day of February A.D. 1806", "the same being the premises conveyed to me the said Harrod by a deed from one William Richardson dated June 19th A.D. 1816 and recorded ... Book 218 page 194", and "also being those mortgaged by me said Harrod to one Wm Shed", the mortgage excepted. Signed and acknowledged at Boston May 31, 1831, recorded July 14, 1831. Billerica town book 11, pages 575-576. Harrod, the cabinet maker of 1816, had moved to Boston and become a trader.
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| November 19, 1834 | Sheriff's Deed | Thomas Sumner, deputy sheriff, on execution for Josiah B. Richardson against Noah Harrod of Boston, joiner | George K. Kendall of Billerica, yeoman | 1833 sheriff's sale of Harrod's equity of redemption in the "dwelling house and work shop" to George K. Kendall | 335/547 (South) |
On a Common Pleas judgment of September 1833 for Josiah B. Richardson against Noah Harrod for $136.16 and costs, the deputy sheriff took and sold at auction, Nov. 16, 1833, "at the tavern of Lyman Haynes", for $88, Harrod's "right in equity of redemption of a certain messuage consisting of a dwelling house and work shop adjoining said house and one acre [sic] of land on which the same stands ... situated at the corner so called", bounded south by the great road and on the other sides by land of Artemas Rogers Esq. and Betsy Richardson (the tavern heirs), subject to William G. Shed's mortgage of Aug. 17, 1829 (Book 291 Page 339). Recorded Nov. 19, 1834. Billerica town book 15, pages 8-10. The first record to name the workshop beside the house, where Harrod worked as a cabinet maker and joiner.
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| November 11, 1835 | Quitclaim | Noah Harrod of the City of Boston (wife Zoa releasing dower) | Sarah Kendall of Billerica, widow | 1834 Noah Harrod releases the house to Sarah Kendall, widow ("S. Kendall" on the 1853 map) | 347/245 (South) |
For $525, quitclaim of "the following described tract of land containing about a quarter of an acre more or less with all the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica near the late Thomas Richardson's Tavern as the same is bounded and described in the deed of John Parker to Stephen Richardson dated the eleventh day of February AD 1806." Signed and acknowledged at Boston Nov. 20, 1834, recorded Nov. 11, 1835. Billerica town book 15, pages 175-176. With the sheriff's sale of the equity to George K. Kendall, this put the house in the Kendall family; "S. Kendall" is the owner on the 1853 map.
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| 1867 | Will (contested) and Inventory | Estate of Sarah Kendall of Billerica, widow | Her brother Thomas Richardson of Boston, trustee for her daughter Sarah Ann Kendall | 1867 Sarah Kendall dies; her "Home Stead lot in Billerica" ($750) passes under a contested will in trust for her daughter | Probate #35686 |
Sarah Kendall, widow, a daughter of Thomas Richardson of the tavern, died June 1867. Her will of Aug. 4, 1860 left everything to her brother Thomas Richardson of Boston in trust to support her daughter Sarah Ann Kendall for life, with $20 a year to repair "the tomb in Billerica in which the remains of my father are deposited". The daughter, through her guardian Dudley Foster, appealed the probate, claiming the will was "procured by the fraud and undue influence of said Thomas Richardson", and Otis Drury of Boston was appointed special administrator Nov. 12, 1867. His inventory (appraisers Anthony Jones, Winslow Warren Jr. and William Hedge, filed Feb. 11, 1868) lists five eighths of a Boston estate at Batterymarch and Hamilton Streets, the "Home Stead lot in Billerica" at $750, two other Billerica lots and a lot in Chelmsford. The homestead lot is the house she bought from Noah Harrod in 1834.
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| May 29, 1872 | Warranty Deed | Thomas F. Richardson of Boston (wife Ellen P. releasing dower and homestead) | Anthony Jones of Billerica | 1872 Thomas F. Richardson sells "the Noah Harrod place" to Anthony Jones of the old Richardson tavern farm | 86/470 |
For $700, "all that lot of land situated in Billerica ... containing one third of an acre, more or less, with all the buildings thereon standing, bounded southerly on the highway and on all other sides by land of Anthony Jones. Being the premises formerly called the Noah Harrod place and more recently occupied and made her residence for many years of Mrs. Sarah Kendall." Signed May 22, acknowledged May 23 (witness Dudley Foster), recorded May 29, 1872. Anthony Jones owned the old Richardson tavern farm around it, so the lot went back into the farm it had been cut from in 1803.
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| August 13, 1872 | Warranty Deed (confirmatory) | Thomas F. Richardson of Cohasset (wife Ellen P. releasing dower and homestead) | Anthony Jones of Billerica | 1872 confirmatory deed of the Harrod place to Anthony Jones, recorded with the trustee's deed | 88/271 |
For $700, the same lot "containing one third of an acre, more or less, with all the buildings thereon standing, bounded southerly on the highway, and on all other sides by land of Anthony Jones, being the premises formerly called the Noah Harrod Place, and more recently occupied and made her residence for many years by Mrs Sarah Kendall." Signed July 30, acknowledged July 31, recorded Aug. 13, 1872, together with the trustee's deed (Book 88 Page 273) that gave Thomas F. Richardson his title: a re-execution of the May deed once that title was on record.
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| August 13, 1872 | Trustee's Deed | Thomas Richardson of Boston, executor and trustee under the will of Sarah Kendall | Thomas F. Richardson of Cohasset, his eldest son | 1872 the trustee conveys "the Noah Harrod place", Sarah Kendall's homestead, to Thomas F. Richardson of Cohasset | 88/273 |
For $1, in execution of the trust in Sarah Kendall's will (which had been "duly proved & allowed"): her daughter Sarah Ann Kendall "has since deceased without lawful issue", so the estate passed to Thomas Richardson's eldest son named Thomas. Conveys her share of the estate at Batterymarch and Hamilton Streets, Boston; "the Dutton Lot" on the Great Road to Boston; "all the parcel in said Billerica lately occupied by the said Sarah Kendall as a homestead and sometimes called the 'Noah Harrod place'"; a lot of meadow and upland near the Boston and Lowell Railroad; a lot near Cold Brook; and a wood lot in Chelmsford, "meaning and intending hereby to convey all the real estate which said Sarah Kendall owned at the time of her decease". Signed and acknowledged June 18, 1872, recorded Aug. 13, 1872.
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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 | 1889 Judith Jones, widow of Anthony, gives the 20-acre farm, including the Harrod house, to her daughter Nellie M. Bemis, reserving her 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 | 1907 Bemis mortgage of the farm (the "Second lot", with the Harrod house) to the Central Savings Bank | 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 | 1908 Frederick C. and Nellie M. Bemis convey their Billerica lots, including the farm, 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 | Warranty Deed | Anthony J. Bemis of Billerica | Albert H. Jones of Billerica | 1908 Anthony J. Bemis conveys the 20-acre farm at Jones's Corner 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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| June 4, 1921 | Deed | Albert H. Jones of Billerica (wife Ada F. Jones releasing dower and homestead) | Charles P. Collins and Alice B. Collins of Lowell | 1921 Albert H. Jones sells the house "next westerly" of his own, 118 by 142 feet, to Charles P. and Alice B. Collins | 644/542 |
Land with the buildings on the northerly side of the Salem Road, about 142 feet deep and 118 feet on the road, between stone walls, "Hereby conveying the dwelling house situated next westerly of the dwelling house now occupied by the grantor at the intersection of said Salem Road and the Fordway Road"; part of the farm conveyed to Jones by Anthony J. Bemis in 1908 (Book 416 Page 496). Signed June 2, recorded June 4, 1921, with a mortgage back to Jones (Book 644 Page 543, discharged by Ada F. Jones July 16, 1936). The lot cut out here, 118 by 142 feet, is the house lot of today; Albert H. Jones then deeded the rest of the farm to his wife Ada, "expressly excepting" this lot (Book 715 Page 113).
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| July 17, 1936 | Quitclaim Deed | Charles P. Collins and Alice B. Collins of North Hampton, N.H. | Doris A. MacKenzie of Lowell | 1936 the Collinses, now of North Hampton, N.H., sell the house to Doris A. MacKenzie | 882/599 |
Quitclaim of "the land in Billerica ... with the buildings thereon, situated on the northerly side of the Salem Road", beginning at the southwest corner "at the end of a stone wall at land formerly of Albert H. Jones", 518 feet more or less west of Pollard Street, "formerly called Fordway Road", then north by the Jones land and wall 142 feet, east 118 feet, south 142 feet to the road "at a point near a large elm tree", and west 118 feet on Salem Road; "Being all and the same premises to us conveyed by Albert H. Jones by deed dated June 2, 1921 ... Book 644, Page 542". Signed July 16, recorded July 17, 1936; Ada F. Jones discharged the 1921 mortgage the same day.
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| April 15, 1938 | Quitclaim Deed | Doris A. MacKenzie of Billerica (husband Donald C. MacKenzie releasing) | John Harvey of Lowell | 1938 Doris A. MacKenzie sells the house to John Harvey of Lowell (private owners after 1953) | 912/262 |
Quitclaim of the same land with the buildings on the northerly side of Salem Road, 118 feet on the road and 142 feet deep, now bounded on three sides by "land of Rosaline B. Hayden" (who had bought the Jones farm at the 1934 foreclosure), "being the same premises conveyed to me by Charles P. Collins and Alice B. Collins by their deed dated July 16, 1936 ... Book 882, Page 599". Signed and recorded April 15, 1938; Harvey mortgaged it the same day to the Union Old Lowell National Bank for $4,700 (Book 912 Page 263). Harvey sold it in February 1953 (Book 1240 Page 456), and it changed hands among private owners in 1953, 1958 and 1967; the owners since 1967 transferred it to a family trust in 2022 (Book 36975 Page 202). All of these deeds repeat the 1921 bounds: 518 feet west of Pollard Street, 118 by 142 feet, by "a large elm tree".
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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.