Nathaniel Cheever House 1

"For and in consideration of the love and affection I have and do bear unto my son Sam'l Bowers and as ... pounds in part of his portion out of my Estate", several parcels, first "the Homestead where he now lives containing about fourteen acres be it more or less bounded westwardly on the county Road southwardly on my own land eastwardly and northwardly on David Abbot to the road first mentioned with all the buildings thereon", also about twenty acres on the Lexington road by Capt. Stickney, about two acres on the County road by Josiah Bowers and the road to William Tompson's, fourteen acres of woodland on the north side of Fox Hill and half of six acres by John White and Jacob Richardson, reserving the improvement of the last four pieces for his life. Dated May 23, 1788; acknowledged June 1, 1796; recorded Nov. 8, 1822. Billerica town book 12, pages 263-264. The earliest deed found for the 14-acre homestead that became the Cheever place: Samuel Bowers already lived there in 1788.

• 1825 Deed in Trust: Samuel Bowers of Billerica, yeoman to His son-in-law Dr. Abraham R. Thompson of Charlestown, physician, in trust (261/524) ("all the lands which I purchased of William Bowers ... the homestead where I now live")

Samuel Bowers, "being advanced in years and infirm of body" and "desirous of relieving myself from the cares incident to the management of my worldly substance and of settling my estate in my life time", in consideration of Thompson's bond of $10,000 for the trusts and "of love and affection to my wife Sarah and to all my children and to my granddaughter Caroline W. Little", conveys his pew in the meeting house and all his lands, first "all the lands which I purchased of William Bowers by his deed dated the twenty third day of May ... one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight that is to say, all the homestead where I now live, containing about twenty acres of land", with many other pieces in Billerica, Lynesborough, N.H., and Maine, and his livestock and chattels, the trustee to pay his debts and support the family. Dated Aug. 25, 1825 (date from the 1830 deed to Cheever). Billerica town book 12, pages 400-404. The homestead is the later Cheever place.

• November 8, 1822 Gift: Capt. William Bowers of Billerica, gentleman to His son Samuel Bowers of Billerica (244/269) ("all the lands which I purchased of William Bowers ... the homestead where I now live")

• November 11, 1828 Warranty Deed: Abraham R. Thompson of Charlestown, physician (Elizabeth Thompson releasing dower) to John Baldwin Esq. and Henry Baldwin, gentlemen, of Billerica (284/362) ("the same land conveyed to me by Samuel Bowers by Deed dated August 25th 1825")
• October 1, 1830 Deed: Dr. Abraham R. Thompson of Charlestown, physician (Elizabeth Thompson releasing dower) to Nathaniel Cheever of Billerica, blacksmith (300/7)
• July 3, 1834 Warranty Deed: Dr. Abraham R. Thompson of Charlestown, physician (wife Elizabeth releasing dower) to Henry Bowers of Billerica, yeoman (334/41) ("the same conveyed to me by the late Samuel Bowers")

For $900, "a certain piece or parcel of land situate in Billerica aforesaid, with the buildings thereon, bounded as follows, viz. Westwardly on the County road, Southerly on land belonging to the Heirs of late Jonathan Bowers deceased, Eastwardly and Northerly on land of David Abbot to the road first mentioned and containing fourteen acres, two roods and seventeen perches ... being the homestead place of the late Samuel Bowers deceased, and is the same conveyed to me by the said Samuel Bowers in his deed dated Anno Domini 1825 the twenty fifth day of August" (Book 261, Page 524). Dated Oct. 1, 1830. Billerica town book 14, pages 333-334. Later deeds cite it as Book 311, Page 7 in error.

• 1825 Deed in Trust: Samuel Bowers of Billerica, yeoman to His son-in-law Dr. Abraham R. Thompson of Charlestown, physician, in trust (261/524)

• August 17, 1853 Warranty Deed: Nathaniel Cheever of Billerica, yeoman (Lucy Cheever releasing dower) to Josiah Richardson of Roxbury, trader (663/64) (the north acre of the Cheever place)
• April 3, 1857 Warranty Deed: Nathaniel Cheever of Billerica, blacksmith, and Lucy Cheever, his wife, in her right jointly to Jacob P. Brown of Lowell, pattern maker (9/129) (less one acre sold to Josiah Richardson in 1853)

For $800, the same land "with the buildings thereon", west on the County road, south on the heirs of the late Jonathan Bowers, east and north on David Abbott, "containing fourteen acres, two roods and seventeen perches ... being the homestead place of the late Samuel Bowers dec'd", conveyed by Samuel Bowers to Abraham R. Thompson Aug. 25, 1825 and by Thompson to the grantor "by his deed bearing date the first of October inst." Billerica town book 14, page 335. The index notes the discharge; Cheever mortgaged the place again in 1839 (to James Cheever, Book 387, Page 21) and 1849-1850 (to Jonathan Hill).

• October 1, 1830 Deed: Dr. Abraham R. Thompson of Charlestown, physician (Elizabeth Thompson releasing dower) to Nathaniel Cheever of Billerica, blacksmith (300/7) (purchase-money mortgage)

For $1,900, "a certain piece or parcel of land, situated in said Billerica with the buildings thereon": west on the County Road, south on "the heirs of late Jonathan Bowers", east and north on David Abbott "to land of Josiah Richardson and by said Richardson land to the Road first mentioned", "containing thirteen acres more or less, being the same Estate conveyed to said Nathaniel Cheever by A. R. Thompson's Deed in 1830" (Book 300, Page 7), "excepting about one acre ... heretofore conveyed to said Josiah Richardson, being mostly the homestead of the late Samuel Bowers" (Book 261, Page 524), "and the same being the homestead of us the said Nathaniel and his wife, the grantors which we now occupy." Subject to two $200 mortgages to Jonathan Hill. Dated April 2, 1857. Brown mortgaged it back to Cheever for $600 the same day (Book 9, Page 263).

• October 1, 1830 Deed: Dr. Abraham R. Thompson of Charlestown, physician (Elizabeth Thompson releasing dower) to Nathaniel Cheever of Billerica, blacksmith (300/7) (less one acre sold to Josiah Richardson in 1853)

• January 22, 1859 Warranty Deed: Jacob P. Brown of Billerica, pattern maker, and Susan E. N. Brown, his wife, in her right jointly to Abel Patten of Burlington, clerk (17/582)

• August 17, 1853 Warranty Deed: Nathaniel Cheever of Billerica, yeoman (Lucy Cheever releasing dower) to Josiah Richardson of Roxbury, trader (663/64) (the 1857 sale of the Cheever place excepts this acre)

For $600, the same "Piece or parcel of Land situated in said Billerica with the buildings thereon", west on the County Road, south on the heirs of the late Jonathan Bowers, east and north on David Abbott and Josiah Richardson, thirteen acres, "being the same Estate (except one acre granted to said Richardson) which was conveyed to said Cheever by A. R. Thompson's deed 1830 ... and the same estate this day conveyed by said Cheever and wife in her right to me." Subject to two $200 mortgages and a third of $300 "this day" to Jonathan Hill. Margin: see Book 18, Page 101; Book 37, Page 194; Book 39, Page 92 (assigned by George Holden to Moses C. Trask, May 31, 1864).

• April 3, 1857 Warranty Deed: Nathaniel Cheever of Billerica, blacksmith, and Lucy Cheever, his wife, in her right jointly to Jacob P. Brown of Lowell, pattern maker (9/129) (purchase-money mortgage)

For $2,025, "a certain piece or parcel of land situate in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon": west on the County Road, south on the heirs of the late Jonathan Bowers, east and north on David Abbott to Josiah Richardson and by Richardson to the road, "containing thirteen acres more or less. Being the same estate conveyed to said Brown by Nathaniel Cheever and wife, deed dated April 2, 1857 ... Book 9, Page 129, and the same being the homestead of us the said Jacob P. and his wife the grantors, which we now occupy." Subject to the $600 mortgage to Nathaniel Cheever and three to Jonathan Hill, $1,300 in all, which Patten assumes. Dated Nov. 10, 1858, before Dudley Foster, J.P.

• April 3, 1857 Warranty Deed: Nathaniel Cheever of Billerica, blacksmith, and Lucy Cheever, his wife, in her right jointly to Jacob P. Brown of Lowell, pattern maker (9/129)

• June 7, 1864 Executor's Deed: William S. Gleason and Aaron K. Patten of Billerica, executors of the will of Abel Patten, late of Tewksbury to Moses C. Trask of West Cambridge (39/90) (by the will of Abel Patten)

For $1,575 (reading of "Fifteen hundred & seventy five" slightly uncertain), "a certain parcel of land situate in said Billerica with the buildings thereon", bounded "Westerly on the County road, Southerly on land of Harlow(?) Colby, Easterly & Northerly on land of or formerly of David Abbot to land formerly of Josiah Richardson & by said Richardson land to the Road first mentioned, and containing thirteen acres more or less, being the estate (except one acre granted to said Richardson) which was conveyed to Nath. Cheever by A. R. Thompson Dec. in 1830, recorded in Middlesex Deeds, Book 311, page 7, and the same estate conveyed by said Cheever to one Jacob P. Brown." Subject to a mortgage of $600(?) to Jonathan Hill, which Fuller is to pay. Dated Oct. 12, 1864, acknowledged before Dudley Foster, J.P. The Colby on the south is the H. Colby house lot of the atlases.

• June 7, 1864 Executor's Deed: William S. Gleason and Aaron K. Patten of Billerica, executors of the will of Abel Patten, late of Tewksbury to Moses C. Trask of West Cambridge (39/90)

• January 25, 1917 Warranty Deed: Walter H. Fuller of San Pedro, Los Angeles County, California, unmarried to Bertram S. Ward of Billerica (567/290) (by the wills and estates of William H. Fuller (1903) and Addie F. Fuller (1912))

Under the power in Abel Patten's will (dated Dec. 24, 1863, proved at Cambridge April 26, 1864), sold at public auction May 24, 1864 to Trask, the highest bidder, for $1,525, "a certain parcel of land situated in said Billerica and formerly known as the Cheever Place": west on the County Road, south on the heirs of the late Jonathan Bowers, east and north on "land formerly of David Abbott to land formerly of Josiah Richardson, thence runs Southerly by said Richardson's land four rods, thence Westerly by the same forty rods to said County Road", thirteen acres, "being premises conveyed to said Abel Patten deceased by Deed of Jacob P. Brown dated Nov. 10, 1858" (Book 17, Page 582), subject to a $500 mortgage to George Holden and $600 to Jonathan Hill, which Trask is to pay. Dated May 31, 1864, before Dudley Foster, J.P. The same day George Holden assigned Brown's 1857 mortgage to Cheever to Trask (Book 39, Page 92).

• January 22, 1859 Warranty Deed: Jacob P. Brown of Billerica, pattern maker, and Susan E. N. Brown, his wife, in her right jointly to Abel Patten of Burlington, clerk (17/582) (by the will of Abel Patten)

• November 15, 1864 Warranty Deed: Moses C. Trask of West Cambridge (Mary C. Trask releasing dower and homestead) to William H. Fuller of Billerica (38/274)

"For consideration paid", "A certain lot of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica on the easterly side of the County Road, now called Main Street", with the same bounds as Fuller's deed (the 1853 Cheever to Josiah Richardson land, the heirs of Jonathan Bowers, David Abbott), "Containing thirteen acres, more or less. Being the same premises to me conveyed by Walter H. Fuller by deed dated January 15, 1917," subject to Fuller's three Merrimack River Savings Bank mortgages. Dated Jan. 23, 1917. Ward was a straw: the Fuller deed was recorded the day after this one.

• January 25, 1917 Warranty Deed: Walter H. Fuller of San Pedro, Los Angeles County, California, unmarried to Bertram S. Ward of Billerica (567/290)

• June 4, 1926 Executor's Deed: Thomas W. Fernald and Reginald B. Fonda, executors of the will of Clarence A. Backer, late of Damascus, Virginia, formerly of Billerica to Isabel Porter, wife of Fred A. Porter, of Lincoln (736/589) (parcel 3, the Cheever place)

"For consideration paid", "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on the easterly side of the County Road, now called Main Street": from the southwest corner of "land conveyed by Nathaniel Cheever to Josiah Richardson by deed dated July 28, 1853" (Middlesex South Book 663, Page 64), south on the street to the heirs of Jonathan Bowers, east to David Abbott, north and west by Abbott to the Richardson land, south 4 rods and west 40 rods by it, "Containing thirteen acres, more or less. Being the same premises conveyed to William H. Fuller by Moses C. Trask by deed dated October 12, 1864" (Book 38, Page 274). "Said William H. Fuller deceased, testate, September 10, 1903, and by his will duly probated ... Case No. 62686, this property was devised to his wife, Addie F. Fuller. Said Addie F. Fuller deceased, intestate, April 24, 1912 ... Case No. 92536. My title to said premises is derived as the son and only heir-at-law of said Addie F. Fuller." Subject to three Merrimack River Savings Bank mortgages (1912, 1913, 1915). Dated Jan. 15, 1917.

• November 15, 1864 Warranty Deed: Moses C. Trask of West Cambridge (Mary C. Trask releasing dower and homestead) to William H. Fuller of Billerica (38/274) (by the wills and estates of William H. Fuller (1903) and Addie F. Fuller (1912))

• January 24, 1917 Quitclaim: Bertram S. Ward of Billerica (Susie L. Ward releasing dower) to Clarence A. Backer of Billerica (567/16)

By the power of sale in Backer's will, for $16,000, four parcels "with the buildings thereon": (1) registered land on Boston Road (249.59 feet) north of Clara E. Sexton's land (Certificate 864, plan of July 1915), less Lot 3 on Plan 6093-B sold to Jennie M. Kinsman in 1924; (2) Lot B on Land Court Plan 3956-A, less Lots 1 and 3 on Plan 6093-B, subject to Backer's 1913 mortgage to Clara E. Sexton; (3) "A certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon on the easterly side of the County Road now called Main Street", beginning at the southwest corner of "land conveyed by Nathaniel Cheever to Josiah Richardson by deed dated July 28th, 1853" (Middlesex South Book 663, Page 64), south on the street to "the heirs of Jonathan Bowers", east to David Abbott, north and west by Abbott back to the Richardson land, south 4 rods and west 40 rods by it, "thirteen (13) acres more or less", conveyed to Backer by Bertram S. Ward, Jan. 23, 1917 (Book 567, Page 16), subject to a $2,500 Merrimack River Savings Bank mortgage; (4) "A certain lot of land with the buildings thereon containing sixteen (16) acres", from Jacob P. Brown's land on the east side of Boston Road south to the Town's standpipe lot, around it, to a wall "at land formerly of one Rogers, supposed to be now of one Davis", south to "land formerly of Sewall Worthley, now of one Backer", to "land formerly of Barnard Tufts", east to "land formerly of Blaney Abbott" and north to Brown. Dated April 10, 1926.

• October 21, 1908 Warranty Deed: Arthur J. Larratt of Billerica (Katharine Larratt releasing dower and homestead) to Clarence A. Backer of Melrose (425/445) (parcel 4, the Colby place)
• January 24, 1917 Quitclaim: Bertram S. Ward of Billerica (Susie L. Ward releasing dower) to Clarence A. Backer of Billerica (567/16) (parcel 3, the Cheever place)

• December 3, 1934 Mortgagee's Deed: James Shannon, Robert J. Shannon, Herbert F. Shannon and James W. Shannon of Woburn, mortgagees of Isabel Porter to James Shannon, Robert J. Shannon, Herbert F. Shannon and James W. Shannon (853/480) (foreclosure of Porter's 1926 purchase-money mortgage)

Foreclosure under the mortgage from Isabel Porter dated June 5, 1926 (Book 736, Page 592; document 6870 on Certificate 3085): after notice in the Billerica News on Nov. 1, 8 and 15, 1934, the premises were sold at auction "on the premises" on Nov. 23, 1934 for $5,000 to the mortgagees themselves. The deed repeats the four parcels of the 1926 Backer estate deed: the registered land north of Clara E. Sexton, Lot B on Plan 3956-A, the 13-acre parcel "on the easterly side of the County Road now called Main Street" south of the land "conveyed by Nathaniel Cheever to Josiah Richardson" in 1853, and the 16 acres from Jacob P. Brown's land south to the Town standpipe, Rogers (now Davis), Sewall Worthley, Barnard Tufts and Blaney Abbott, "Said four parcels being the same premises conveyed to Isabel Porter by deed of Estate of Clarence A. Backer dated April 10, 1926." Affidavit: $17,720 due on the $15,000 mortgage.

• June 4, 1926 Executor's Deed: Thomas W. Fernald and Reginald B. Fonda, executors of the will of Clarence A. Backer, late of Damascus, Virginia, formerly of Billerica to Isabel Porter, wife of Fred A. Porter, of Lincoln (736/589) (foreclosure of Porter's 1926 purchase-money mortgage)

• October 25, 1939 Quitclaim: James Shannon, James W. Shannon and Robert J. Shannon of Woburn and Herbert F. Shannon of Lexington (wives releasing) to John Thomas Musgrave of Billerica (934/174) (part of the foreclosed land)

"For consideration paid" ($8.50 in stamps), "A certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon on Boston Road in Billerica": from a stake on the east side of Boston Road southeast 333.95 feet to "a way at land of the Town of Billerica leading to a standpipe", east 366 feet by the way, around the Town land, southwest 79.5 feet to "land now or formerly of Angel", southeast 181 feet by a wall to Backer, then east 415, south 94 and east 358 feet by walls "along land of said Backer", northeast 750 feet along Jones, and northwest 63.72, 1,582.5 and 275.11 feet back to Boston Road; "Containing 15.70 acres more or less as shown on a plan of land in Billerica dated August 13, 1938, E. N. Montague, C.E." (Plan Book 62, Plan 35). "Said premises are a part of the land described in deed recorded in Book 853, Page 480." Dated Oct. 21, 1939. The start of Musgrave's Tower Farm dairy. The 15.70 acres are the south lot of Plan 62-35: the sixteen acres Josiah Rogers sold to Harlow Colby in 1858, less the Town standpipe lot.

• December 3, 1934 Mortgagee's Deed: James Shannon, Robert J. Shannon, Herbert F. Shannon and James W. Shannon of Woburn, mortgagees of Isabel Porter to James Shannon, Robert J. Shannon, Herbert F. Shannon and James W. Shannon (853/480) (part of the foreclosed land)

• April 21, 1948 Quitclaim: John Thomas Musgrave of Billerica (Evelyn R. Musgrave releasing dower) to Musgrave's Tower Farm, Inc., of Billerica (1089/61)

For $569,000 ($1,297.30 in stamps), two parcels. Parcel 1: "A parcel of land with the buildings thereon located on the Easterly side of Boston Road", from the Town of Billerica's right of way north 434 feet on Boston Road, bounded by the Town's standpipe land, land of Farmer on the south and east, a stone wall along the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and "registered land of Davis" (Lot A) on the north, and the lots of Baraldi and Evelyn R. Musgrave on the road; subject to easements to Lowell Electric Light Company (Book 1108, Page 521) and to the Town for water purposes, Sept. 6, 1967 (Book 1838, Page 423). Conveys all the corporation's land under the deeds of John Thomas and Evelyn R. Musgrave (Book 1089, Page 61), Robert J. and James W. Shannon, April 28, 1948 (Book 1089, Page 385), and James W. Shannon et al., Feb. 14, 1970, except the Baraldi lot (Book 1541, Page 4), the Hargrove lot sold to Evelyn R. Musgrave in 1955 (Book 1307, Page 484) and a 1950 lot to John T. and Evelyn R. Musgrave (Book 1146, Page 275). Parcel 2: thirty acres on the west side of Allen Road (other land). Dated March 9, 1970.

• April 21, 1948 Quitclaim: John Thomas Musgrave of Billerica (Evelyn R. Musgrave releasing dower) to Musgrave's Tower Farm, Inc., of Billerica (1089/61)

• November 20, 1974 Deed: James E. Farmer (also known as J. Everett Farmer) and Phyllis C. Farmer of Billerica to Twenty-Fifth Billerica Corp., a Massachusetts corporation (2133/294) (part of the Tower Farm land)