William D. Mason House
William D. Mason House
| Also Known As | Alfred Brown House |
| Address | 314 Boston Rd |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.137 |
| Built | 1842 |
| Demolished | 1986 |
| Tenants | |
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Shear Art (1985 - 1985)
Tony's Gun Shop (1985 - 1985) |
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The William D. Mason House stood at 314 Boston Road, on the point of land at Brown's Corner where Boston Road (Route 3A), Pollard Street and Floyd Street meet. It was a Federal-style clapboarded house, about twenty feet from Boston Road and twenty-five feet from Pollard Street, and it was taken down in the late 1980s for the convenience store that now stands on the lot.
The land was part of the Patten homestead, which ran from the old country road, now Pollard Street, west to the Concord River. By his will of 1690 Thomas Patten gave his sons William and Kendall their portions out of the homestead, and it passed through Deacon William Patten (died 1730) to his son Thomas, a cooper, whose brothers and sisters quitclaimed their shares to him in 1731. When the younger Thomas died in 1747 his inventory began 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." His eldest son William was then "in the Sixteenth year of his age," and Deacon William Stickney was made his guardian; the administrators rented out the place and repaired the house with new glass, sashes and window frames. In 1754 the probate court valued "the Homestead Containing about forty one acres ... Together with all the buildings thereon standing" and settled it on William, the eldest son, while the eighteen acres north of the Bridge Lane (Salem Road) went to his brother Thomas.
William Patten (1732-1801) kept the homestead for the rest of his life; no deed of it by him is recorded. By his will of 1800 he left the residue of his estate, with the homestead, to his son Deacon Jeremiah Patten, whose inventory of 1815 begins with "The Homestead ... containing about 26 Acres with the Buildings thereon." In 1819 the guardian of Jeremiah's daughters sold the thirty acres at auction, half to Josiah Stevens and half to Porter, Stone and Co., and by 1826 Stevens owned the whole "Patten Place." When Stevens died in debt in 1840, the farm went to George Holden and then to George Rice of Boston, and in 1842 Rice sold it to William D. Mason of Newton, a machinist. By then the new line of Boston Road had been cut through the farm, and the deeds describe it in two tracts. The second lay between the new road and the old Boston road "which leads to North Billerica," the triangle that is now 312 and 314 Boston Road.
The Billerica Historic Commission's survey of 1973 dates the house to 1842, the year of Mason's purchase, and the 1853 town map shows "W. Mason" here. In 1847 Mason sold five acres of the farm on Boston Road, later Rufus K. Underhill's place, but he kept the rest. In October 1863 he sold "my homestead farm," twenty-three acres "with all the buildings," to Thomas Brennan of Lowell; the house appears under "T. Brennan" on the map of 1875.
In July 1876 Brennan sold the farm for $3,000 to Maria N. Brown, wife of Alfred Brown of Lowell. She died before 1885, and Alfred Brown lived here for the rest of his life; the junction in front of the house became Brown's Square and then Brown's Corner, and the house is often called the Alfred Brown House. In 1920 his executor, his trustee and the heirs of his wife (named Mary S. Brown in those deeds) sold "the homestead of the late Alfred and Mary S. Brown" to Sabina G. Twombly. From her estate it passed to Daniel E. Callahan, who deeded it to Elizabeth E. Callahan about 1934, and in February 1940 her administrator sold it for $3,000 to James Gerald McCusker of Billerica.
McCusker ran a diner on the north end of the land, and from 1955 a supermarket stood there (see 312 Boston Road). The old house at the southern point stayed a dwelling; a Billerica High School senior gave 314 Boston Road as his address in 1962, and the 1973 survey lists it as a residence owned by Anne H. McCusker, James's widow, who had inherited the land under his will. Her surveyors divided the property in 1971 and again in 1974, when the "Subdivision Plan of Land" of March 25, 1974 drew the house as the "Existing Dwelling" on Lot A, 27,236 square feet, with the market building on Lot B.
Anne McCusker sold Lot A with the house in September 1979 for $80,000. In January 1985 it was sold for $175,000 to Hampshire Investors, Inc. of Methuen, and in 1986 to Christy's Markets, Inc. of Brockton for $250,000. Christy's asked the Board of Appeals in May 1986 for a variance to put a store building and parking on the lot. The board turned it down unanimously, saying "This type of business would increase the congestion and enlarge the volume of traffic at a busy and dangerous intersection," but the store was built in 1987 on a revised site plan and opened under a lease from May 1, 1987. The MACRIS inventory form for the house is annotated "demo'd 1987." In 1995 the town took strips along the front for the widening of Boston Road at Brown's Corner. The land is now the 7-Eleven at 314 Boston Road, which the assessor dates to 1987 on 0.542 acres.
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Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| 1690 | Will | Thomas Patten of Billerica | His widow Sarah (half the dwelling house for her widowhood); sons William and Kendall (their portions out of the homestead); eldest son Thomas and son Nathaniel (other lands) | 1690: Thomas Patten's will; William Patten to have his portion of the homestead | Probate #17030 |
Will dated Jan. 14, 1689/90, inventory Mar. 10, 1689/90, exhibited Apr. 15, 1690. Thomas Patten gives his wife Sarah half his dwelling house and barn with the orchard for her widowhood, and directs that "my sons William and Kendall shall have their portions out of my homestead with suitable meadow to it," William to stay with his mother until he is twenty-one; his eldest son Thomas takes the second-division lot and meadows, Nathaniel the land at Loes Plain. The inventory begins "the house barn & orchard, about one acre of land," with seven acres behind Samuel Frosts house, and lists a quarter part of a saw mill. Hazen places Thomas Pattens house west of Long Street and his son Deacon William "near the corner"; that Williams homestead grew out of this portion is the most likely reading but is not stated in any deed. Papers read, pages 1-4.
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| 1730 | Administration | Estate of Deacon William Patten of Billerica, intestate (died at Cambridge, 1730) | Thomas Patten, administrator; the widow Elizabeth and the children | 1730: estate of Deacon William Patten | Probate #17041 |
Deacon William Patten, the towns representative, died of smallpox at Cambridge in April 1730 while the General Court sat there. His son Thomas Patten administered; the personal inventory was taken Dec. 25, 1730. The account of 1731-32 charges "the improvement of the Real Estate one year" and a payment to "Eliz. Patten, the widow of ye deced for quitclaiming her Right of Dower in said Estate it being an agreement made between ye widow & the heirs being all of age," 106 pounds. Papers read, pages 2-9.
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| December 13, 1731 | Heirs Quitclaim | William Patten, Mary Patten, Jacob and Rebecca Danforth, Mehetabel Patten, of Billerica, and Jacob and Sarah Taylor and Joseph and Elizabeth Taylor, of Concord (heirs of Deacon William Patten) | Thomas Patten of Billerica, their brother | 1731: his heirs quitclaim his real estate to their brother Thomas Patten | 32/181 (South) |
Dated Dec. 8, acknowledged Dec. 10, recorded Dec. 13, 1731. For 130 pounds to each, the brothers and sisters quitclaim to "our Brother Thomas Patten of Billerica" all their right in "the Estate Real both of Lands and Tenements of Deacon William Patten late of Billerica Decd which he died seized of lying ... within the Limits of the Town of said Billerica." Witnesses Rebekah Farley and Thomas Kidder. With the widows dower bought out the same year (Middlesex South 32/439), Thomas held the whole Patten homestead. Billerica town book 3, pages 298-299.
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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 | 1747-1754: estate of Thomas Patten; the homestead to his son William | 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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| 1748 | Guardianship | Estate of Thomas Patten Jr. of Billerica, deceased (his minor son William) | Deacon William Stickney of Billerica, cordwainer, guardian of William Patten | 1748: guardianship of William Patten, heir to the Patten homestead | Probate #17036 |
On Nov. 25, 1747 Benjamin Thompson, justice of the peace, certified to Judge Samuel Danforth that "William Patten in the Sixteenth year of his age, Son of Thomas Patten Junr. late of Billerica Deceased" had chosen Deacon William Stickney to be his guardian, and that his sister Miriam, in her seventeenth year, had chosen Jacob Danforth. Stickney gave bond on May 23, 1748 in 300 pounds, with Jeremiah Abbot, sadler, as surety, to account for "such Estate as shall come to his Hands" and deliver it to the minor at full age. William, the eldest son, was the heir to whom the homestead was settled in the 1754 division of his father's estate (probate 17031); he held it until his death in 1801.
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| 1801 | Will | William Patten of Billerica, yeoman | Jeremiah Patten, his son (the residue, including the homestead), executor; the widow Rebecca (dower) | 1801: will of William Patten; the homestead to his son Jeremiah | Probate #17043 |
Will dated Apr. 3, 1800, proved in 1801 with the assent of the widow Rebecca and the heirs (Aug. 4, 1801). After legacies to his sons William, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas and David and his daughters, William Patten gives "all the rest of my estate, both real and personal" to his son Jeremiah, sole executor, and his desk as well. Witnesses Henry Cumings, Edward Farmer and Timothy Foster. Papers read, pages 2-5.
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| 1815 | Administration | Estate of Deacon Jeremiah Patten of Billerica, intestate | Joseph Locke, administrator; Hannah Patten, widow (dower); daughters Abigail, Julia Ann and Hannah | 1815: estate of Deacon Jeremiah Patten; the homestead of about 26 acres | Probate #17001 |
Jeremiah Patten died intestate early in 1815; his widow Hannah declined and Joseph Locke was appointed administrator Feb. 28, 1815. The inventory of Apr. 13, 1815 begins with "The Homestead of said deceased situated in said Billerica containing about 26 Acres with the Buildings thereon," $1,850, followed by the Whiting place with buildings, the Foster, Spaulding and Pollard lots, Gilson Hill and shares of the Rogers lot, Dean field and Barrot field; the widow petitioned for her dower in October 1815. Papers read, pages 2-9 and 12-15.
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| June 14, 1819 | Guardian's Deed | Josiah Crosby Jr., guardian of Abigail, Julia Ann and Hannah Patten, minor heirs of Jeremiah Patten | Josiah Stevens (one half); Joseph S. Porter, John P. Stone and Samuel S. Reynolds, Porter, Stone and Co. (one half) | 1819: guardian's auction of the 30 acres, half to Josiah Stevens | 229/393 (South) |
Josiah Crosby Jr. of Billerica, Esquire, "guardian of Abigail Patten Julia Ann Patten and Hannah Patten minor heirs of Jeremiah Patten late of said Billerica yeoman deceased intestate," licensed by the Supreme Judicial Court at Concord in March 1819, sold at public vendue on April 24, 1819 "one undivided half of the following tract of land being part of the real estate of said deceased to Josiah Stevens of said Billerica gentleman and the other undivided half to Joseph S. Porter John P. Stone and Samuel S. Reynolds copartners in business under the firm of Porter Stone and Co.," for $1,400: "thirty acres of land be the same more or less situated in said Billerica bounded easterly on Boston road southerly on the widow Hannah Pattens dower westerly on Concord river and northerly on land of Samuel Bowers in part and partly on land of Rebecca Wier with a dwelling house and barn thereon." Dated April 25, 1819. Billerica town book 12, pages 155-157.
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| 1819 | Warranty | Joseph S. Porter, John P. Stone and Samuel S. Reynolds (Porter, Stone and Co.) | Josiah Crosby Jr. | 1819: Porter, Stone and Co. resell their half to Josiah Crosby Jr. | 229/405 (South) |
Porter, Stone and Co. sold to Josiah Crosby Jr. of Billerica, Esquire, for $700 "one undivided half of thirty acres of land situated in said Billerica," bounded easterly on Boston road, southerly on the widow Hannah Patten's dower, westerly on Concord river and northerly by Samuel Bowers and Rebecca Wier, "with a dwelling house and barn thereon," the half they had just bought at the guardian's auction. Billerica town book 12, page 157 and following.
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| October 8, 1819 | Mortgage | Josiah Stevens of Billerica, gentleman | Josiah Crosby Jr. of Billerica, Esquire, guardian | 1819: Josiah Stevens mortgages the whole 30 acres | 231/94 (South) |
Dated Apr. 25, 1819, acknowledged Aug. 23, recorded Oct. 8, 1819. To secure $630 in five yearly payments of $126, Stevens mortgages the whole "thirty acres ... bounded easterly on Boston road southerly on the widow Hannah Pattens dower westerly on Concord river and northerly on land of Samuel Bowers in part and partly on land of Rebecca Wier with a dwelling house and barn thereon." The margin notes its assignment to Hannah Patten and its release by her executor (Middlesex South 305/299). Billerica town book 13, pages 122-123.
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| April 25, 1826 | Sheriff's Deed | Joseph Butterfield of Tyngsborough, deputy sheriff, on an execution against John P. Stone of Billerica, Esquire | Josiah Stevens of Billerica, gentleman | 1826: sheriff's sale of John P. Stone's share to Josiah Stevens | 267/131 (South) |
On an execution in favor of Josiah Stevens against John P. Stone, the deputy sheriff took and sold at auction on February 28, 1826, "at the house of Josiah Stevens," for $225 to Stevens, the highest bidder, Stone's right in equity of redemption of "One undivided third part of one half of the Patten place so called bounded easterly on the Boston road southerly on the widow Hannah Pattens dower, westerly on Concord River and northerly on land of Samuel Bowers" and of the late Rebecca Wier, subject to the mortgage of April 25, 1819 by Stone, Joseph S. Porter and Samuel S. Reynolds to Josiah Crosby Jr. Signed February 28, acknowledged and recorded April 24-25, 1826. Billerica town book 13, pages 396-397.
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| 1826 | Quitclaim | Joseph S. Porter and Samuel S. Reynolds of Charlestown, traders (Anna Porter and Beulah Reynolds releasing dower) | Josiah Stevens of Billerica, gentleman | 1826: Porter and Reynolds quitclaim their share to Josiah Stevens | 270/165 (South) |
For $500, "all our right title and interest in and to one undivided half of thirty acres of land" in Billerica "bounded easterly on Boston road southerly on the widow Hannah Pattens dower westerly on Concord river and northerly on land of Samuel Bowers in part and partly on land now or lately of Rebecca Wier, with a dwelling house and barn thereon, being the same mortgaged by us together with John P. Stone to Josiah Crosby" on April 25, 1819. Signed October 18, acknowledged October 19, 1826 before Marshall Preston. With this deed and the sheriff's sale of Stone's share, Stevens held the whole Patten place. Billerica town book 15, pages 438-439.
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| June 24, 1831 | Assignments of Mortgage | Josiah Crosby, Esquire (and in 1829 Joseph Locke, executor of Hannah Patten) | Josiah Stevens of Billerica, gentleman (and Hannah Patten, widow) | 1826: Crosby assigns his interest to Josiah Stevens | 305/299 (South) |
Two instruments recorded together on June 24, 1831. On Mar. 10, 1826 Josiah Crosby, for $700, assigned to Josiah Stevens "all my right title and interest ... in and unto the within deed of mortgage & all interest in the premises within to me conveyed," that is, the undivided half he had bought from Porter, Stone and Co. in 1819; the same day he assigned Stevenss own 1819 mortgage to the widow Hannah Patten for $600, and on Mar. 21, 1829 her executor Joseph Locke released and discharged it to Stevens for $120.83. From 1826 Josiah Stevens held the whole thirty acre Patten place. Billerica town book 14, pages 418-419.
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| 1840 | Administration | Estate of Josiah Stevens of Billerica, intestate | Marshall Preston, administrator; Abigail Stevens, widow, and the children | 1840: estate of Josiah Stevens | Probate #42319 |
Josiah Stevens died intestate about January 1840; his widow Abigail and children John and Judith F. declined, and Marshall Preston was appointed administrator Feb. 11, 1840, and licensed in April 1840 to sell real estate to pay $7,338.16 of debts. Papers read, pages 2-5.
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| June 2, 1840 | Administrators Deed (equity of redemption) | Marshall Preston, administrator of Josiah Stevens | George Holden of Billerica, gentleman | 1840: administrator's sale of the Patten Place to George Holden | 394/25 (South) |
Sold at auction May 18, 1840, acknowledged May 26 and recorded June 2, 1840. For $5, "the right in equity to redeem" two mortgaged parcels of the Stevens estate: "The Parker Place so called and the Patten Place so called adjoining both containing thirty nine acres," beginning at the south-east corner of the Patten Place at the great Boston road and land of Benjamin Spaulding, west by Spaulding to the Concord River, north-east by the river to the deceaseds Mann Place, north by the Mann Place to the road from the Corner Bridge to Salem, and back by Forbush, Davis, the Wier Place and the Boston road, excepting the public highway through it; with the Farmer Place and Whites lot, 60 acres. Billerica town book 16, pages 377-379.
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| June 3, 1840 | Warranty | George Holden of Billerica, gentleman | George Rice of Boston, grocer | 1840: Holden to George Rice; the second tract between the new and old Boston roads | 394/54 (South) |
Dated May 18, acknowledged in Suffolk and recorded June 3, 1840. For $1,700, "a certain farm situate in said Billerica late the property of Josiah Stevens decd called his Patten Place consisting of two several tracts of land": the first from the great Boston road at Benjamin Spauldings corner west by Spaulding to the Concord River, north-east by the river to Stevenss "Parker Place," east to "the new public highway" and south by it to the start; the second east of the new highway, from "the fork of the roads" to the Parker Place and the Weir Place; "with all the buildings on the above premises standing, both tracts containing twenty eight acres." The new line of the Boston road had already cut the place in two, and the house stood on the river side. Rice mortgaged it back for $1,700 the same day (discharged 1847). Billerica town book 16, pages 384-387.
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| 1842 | Quitclaim | George Rice of Boston, merchant | William D. Mason of Newton, machinist | 1842: Rice to William D. Mason, who builds the house | 414/316 (South) |
For $1,725, "a certain farm situated in Billerica ... late the property of Josiah Stevens deceased called his Patten Place consisting of two several tracts of land," bounded as in the 1840 deed from the great Boston road at Benjamin Spauldings land to the Concord River and on both sides of the new highway. Billerica town book 17, pages 273-274.
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| October 24, 1863 | Deed | William D. Mason of Billerica | Thomas Brennan of Lowell | 1863: Mason's homestead farm, 23 acres, to Thomas Brennan | 33/580 |
For $2,500, "my homestead farm situated in said Billerica, consisting of two several tracts of land": the first from the great Boston road at Rufus K. Underhill's land, by Underhill and Benjamin Spalding to the Concord River, by the river to Harvey Crosby and by Crosby back to the Boston road; the second "beginning at the southerly corner on said Boston road, at a stone bound," by the road to Bernard McCann, by McCann and one Cowdry to Rufus K. Russell, by Russell to "the Boston road which leads to North Billerica" and by that road back to the start, "with all the buildings on the above premises standing. Both tracts containing twenty-three acres more or less," to be held as a homestead. Dated October 24, 1863. The second tract, between the new and old Boston roads, is the land of 312 and 314 Boston Road. A $2,500 purchase-money mortgage back to Mason (Book 33, Page 582) was discharged March 17, 1864.
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| March 18, 1864 | Deed | Thomas Brennan of Billerica (Ann Brennan releasing dower and homestead) | Annie C. Brennan of the city and state of New York | 1864: Brennan to Annie C. Brennan of New York | 37/219 |
For $2,500, "a certain farm with the buildings thereon" in Billerica, the same two tracts, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Wm. D. Mason, by his deed dated Oct. 24, A.D. 1863." Signed March 17, 1864. Recorded on the same page as William D. Mason's release of Brennan's mortgage of October 24, 1863 (Book 33, Page 582), also March 17, 1864.
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| March 1, 1876 | Quitclaim | Thomas Brennan Jr., Richard Brennan, Ellen (Nellie) Brennan, Margaret Shea and Eliza Brennan, children of Thomas Brennan Sr., heirs at law under the will of Annie C. Brennan late of New York City | Thomas Brennan Sr. of Billerica | 1876: her heirs quitclaim the farm to Thomas Brennan Sr. | 115/567 |
The children and heirs of Annie C. Brennan quitclaim to their father "a certain farm with the buildings thereon situated in the town of Billerica aforesaid. Being the same upon which he now lives and occupies," in the same two tracts by the great Boston road, Underhill, Spalding, the Concord River, Harvey Crosby, Bernard McCann, Cowdry, Rufus K. Russell and "the Boston road which leads to North Billerica," "being the same premises conveyed by the said Thomas Brennan to the said Annie C. Brennan by his deed dated March 17th A.D. 1864," Book 37, Page 219. Dated January 17, 1876.
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| July 3, 1876 | Warranty Deed | Thomas Brennan Sr. of Billerica (Ann Brennan releasing dower and homestead) | Maria N. Brown, wife of Alfred Brown of Lowell | 1876: Brennan to Maria N. Brown, wife of Alfred Brown | 119/30 |
For $3,000, "a certain farm in said Billerica consisting of two tracts of land with the buildings thereon," the same two tracts, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Thomas Brennan Jr. et al. dated January 17th A.D. 1876," Book 115, Page 567. Signed July 3, 1876 (the 1920 deeds call it July 5). This is the beginning of the Brown homestead that gave Brown's Corner its name.
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| July 3, 1876 | Mortgage | Alfred Brown and Maria N. Brown (in her own right), both of Lowell | Alden Pinney of Chelmsford | 1876: Browns' mortgage to Alden Pinney | 119/32 |
To secure $2,000, "a certain farm in Billerica ... consisting of two tracts of land with the buildings thereon," the same bounds. Discharged by Pinney on January 5, 1885, by an instrument recorded in Book 171, Page 442.
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| January 15, 1885 | Mortgage | Alfred Brown of Billerica | Moses P. Greenwood of Billerica | 1885: Alfred Brown, widower, mortgages the farm | 171/442 |
To secure $1,500 in one year at five and a half percent, "a certain farm in said Billerica consisting of two tracts of land with the buildings thereon," the same bounds, "being the same premises conveyed by Thomas Brennan Sr. to Maria N. Brown deceased, who at the time of her decease was the wife of the said Alfred Brown." The buildings were to be insured for $1,500. Recorded after Alden Pinney's discharge of the 1876 mortgage on the same page. The margin cites a release in Book 435, Page 406 and a discharge in Book 572, Page 652. Maria N. Brown had died by January 1885 and Alfred Brown held the farm until his death.
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| May 10, 1920 | Trustee's Deed | Frank D. Brown, Trustee | Sabina G. Twombly of Billerica | 1920: the Brown homestead to Sabina G. Twombly (trustee) | 626/225 |
The land with the buildings bounded southwesterly by Boston Road 550 feet, southerly by "Brown's Square, so called," 60 feet, southeasterly by "the road leading from Billerica Centre to North Billerica" 450 feet and northerly by land of Leonard Blood 300 feet, "being the homestead of the late Alfred and Mary S. Brown and all and the same premises conveyed to me by said Trust deed." Signed February 13, acknowledged May 5, 1920. The opening of the deed, on page 225, is not legible in the registry scan.
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| May 10, 1920 | Executor's Deed | Burton O. Sanford of Billerica, Executor of the will of Alfred Brown | Sabina G. Twombly of Billerica | 1920: Alfred Brown's executor to Sabina G. Twombly | 626/226 |
For $5,000, the same land with the buildings, by Boston Road, Brown's Square, the road from Billerica Centre to North Billerica and Leonard Blood, "the homestead of the late Alfred and Mary S. Brown," "a part of the second parcel described in a deed from Thomas Brennan Senior, to Maria N. Brown dated July 5, 1876," Book 119, Page 30. Subject to the 1918 and 1919 taxes. Signed February 13, acknowledged March 1, 1920 before Warren W. Fox.
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| May 10, 1920 | Quitclaim | Vera M. Heselton, George E. Morse, Herbert A. Morse, Roland Morse, Clara A. Staples, Lillian Akley and George A. Miller, heirs at law of Mary S. Brown and devisees of Alfred Brown | Sabina G. Twombly of Billerica | 1920: the Brown heirs quitclaim to Sabina G. Twombly | 626/227 |
"All our right, title and interest" in the same land with the buildings, "the homestead of the late Alfred and Mary S. Brown." The heirs are described as "all the heirs-at-law of Mary S. Brown, wife of Alfred Brown, late of Billerica, Massachusetts, living at the decease of said Alfred Brown and all the devisees under the will of said Alfred Brown"; the grantors were of West Roxbury, Bellows Falls and Saxtons River, Vt., Lowell and West Brattleboro, Vt., and their spouses release dower and curtesy. Dated February 13, 1920.
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| May 6, 1935 | Quitclaim | Daniel E. Callahan of Billerica, unmarried | Elizabeth E. Callahan of Billerica | about 1934: Daniel E. Callahan to Elizabeth E. Callahan | 862/37 |
The land with all the buildings, bounded by Boston Road 550 feet, Brown's Square 60 feet, the road from Billerica Centre to North Billerica 450 feet and Leonard Blood 300 feet. "For my title to the above premises see probate record of Sabina G. Twombly duly filed in Middlesex Probate County records; and also deed to her recorded in Middlesex North District Registry of Deeds, Book 626, Page 226." Subject to a mortgage held by the Washington Savings Institution, which the grantee assumes. Signed December 26, the year partly illegible (about 1934); recorded May 6, 1935. The 1940 deed recites it as dated December 20, 1933 and recorded in "Book 832, Page 37," a misprint for 862/37.
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| February 14, 1940 | Administrator's Deed | Edward P. Collins of Billerica, Administrator of the Estate of Elizabeth H. Callahan, also known as Elizabeth E. Callahan | James Gerald McCusker of Billerica | 1940: the Callahan administrator to James Gerald McCusker | 941/366 |
Under a license of the Middlesex Probate Court dated February 7, 1940, for $3,000, "A certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon," bounded southwesterly by Boston Road 550 feet, southerly by Brown's Square 60 feet, southeasterly by "the road leading from Billerica Centre to North Billerica" 450 feet and northerly by land now or formerly of Leonard Blood 300 feet. "Being the same premises conveyed to the said Elizabeth H. Callahan ... by Daniel E. Callahan by deed dated December 20, 1933." Subject to the 1940 taxes and water assessments. Signed February 13, 1940. McCusker's title to all of 312 and 314 Boston Road.
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| March 17, 1954 | Easement | James Gerald McCusker and Anne H. McCusker, husband and wife, of Billerica | The Lowell Electric Light Corporation | 1954: electric line easement on the McCusker land | 1250/50 |
The right to build and maintain a line of one pole with wires "over, across and upon our land situated on the northeasterly side of Boston Road and the southwesterly side of Pollard Street," running about 160 feet northeast from the company's pole 10/114 on Boston Road, with the right to attach "service wires from said pole to buildings now located and to be located" on the land. Dated March 1954. Every later deed of the lot is made subject to this easement.
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| 1960 | Will | Estate of James Gerald McCusker of Billerica | Anne H. McCusker, his widow | about 1960: will of James Gerald McCusker; his widow inherits | Probate #354056 |
Middlesex Probate Court docket no. 354056. James Gerald McCusker died about 1960 (a plan of July 23, 1960, Plan Book 94, Plan 37B, was already surveyed for Anne McCusker), and his widow took the Boston Road and Pollard Street land under his will: her mortgages of 1964 and 1966 say "For my title see Will of said James Gerald McCusker, duly probated in Middlesex Probate Court," and her deeds of 1969 and 1983 cite "Estate of James Gerald McCusker, Middlesex Probate Court Docket No. 354056." The probate papers themselves (twentieth century, not in the online index) have not been read.
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| September 18, 1979 | Deed | Anne H. McCusker (and the Estate of James Gerald McCusker) | Peter L. Dedousis and Cynthia L. Dedousis | 1979: Lot A with the Mason house sold, $80,000 | 2385/91 |
For $80,000, Lot A on the "Subdivision Plan of Land, Billerica, Mass., owned by Anne H. McCusker" of March 25, 1974 (Plan Book 123, Plan 161), at the corner of Boston Road, Floyd Street and Pollard Street, 27,236 square feet, with the "Existing Dwelling" shown on the plan: the William D. Mason house. Signed September 17, 1979 at Boston, recorded the next day. The first page of the deed is "Image is Unavailable" at the registry; the grantees, price and plan are from the registry index and the recital in the 1985 deed (Book 2933, Page 103). It was the first sale of the Mason house lot apart from the land north of it (Lot B, 312 Boston Road, sold in 1983).
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| September 18, 1979 | Mortgage | Peter L. Dedousis and Cynthia L. Dedousis | Gardner Savings Bank | 1979: mortgage of Lot A | 2385/93 |
To secure $60,000, Lot A of Plan Book 123, Plan 161, at Boston Road, Floyd Street and Pollard Street. Recorded with the deed; discharged in 1985 (Book 2964, Page 145).
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| November 21, 1980 | Mortgage | Peter L. Dedousis and Cynthia L. Dedousis | Commercial Bank and Trust Company | 1980: further mortgage of Lot A | 2452/96 |
A further mortgage of Lot A of Plan Book 123, Plan 161, at Boston Road, Floyd Street and Pollard Street; discharged in January 1985 (Book 2933, Page 102) when the lot was sold.
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| May 13, 1983 | Quitclaim | Anne H. McCusker (also known as Ann H. McCusker) of Lowell | Bruce K. Randolph and Robin D. Randolph of Tewksbury, Trustees of Randolph Realty Trust | 1983: Lot B (312 Boston Rd) sold; Lot A, the house lot, kept | 2611/563 |
For $300,000, "A certain parcel of land, with the buildings thereon," on the northeasterly side of Boston Road and the westerly side of Pollard Street, Lot B on "Subdivision Plan Of Land Billerica, Mass. owned by Anne H. McCusker" of March 25, 1974, by William G. Troy & Associates (Plan Book 123, Plan 161): southwesterly by Boston Road 319.26 feet, northerly by R.G.R. Realty 334.95 feet, easterly by Pollard Street 240.37 feet and southeasterly by Lot A 184.61 feet, 68,566 square feet. Subject to the 1954 electric easement, the Food Basket lease of 1955 as amended and assigned to Purity Food Stores in 1957, the 1958 Purity lease and the 1969 ditch easement. "Being a portion of the premises described in a Deed from Edward P. Collins, Administrator, to James Gerald McCusker dated February 13, 1940 ... Book 941, Page 366. See also Estate of James Gerald McCusker, Middlesex Probate Court Docket No. 354056." Street address "312 Boston Road."
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| January 9, 1985 | Quitclaim | Peter L. Dedousis and Cynthia L. Dedousis of Chelmsford | Hampshire Investors, Inc., of 75 Mystic Street, Methuen | 1985: to Hampshire Investors, Inc., $175,000 | 2933/103 |
For $175,000, "A certain parcel of land together with all buildings and structures thereon situated at the corner of Boston Road, Floyd Street and Pollard Street," "now known as and numbered 314 Boston Road," Lot A of Plan Book 123, Plan 161: southwesterly by Boston Road 227.78 feet, southerly and southeasterly by Floyd Street in three lines of 9.69, 40.79 and 19.53 feet, southeasterly by Pollard Street 215 feet and northwesterly by Lot B 184.61 feet, "Containing 27,236 square feet." "Being the same premises conveyed to the grantors by Anne H. McCusker, by deed dated September 17, 1979," Book 2385, Pages 91-92. Signed January 8, 1985.
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| January 9, 1985 | Mortgage | Hampshire Investors, Inc. | Valley Mortgage Company, Inc. | 1985: mortgage, Valley Mortgage Company | 2933/104 |
Mortgage of Lot A of Plan Book 123, Plan 161, recorded with the deed of January 1985; discharged in March 1985 (Book 2976, Page 2).
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| March 8, 1985 | Mortgage | Hampshire Investors, Inc., of 75 Mystic Street, Methuen (Sumner M. Gladstone, President) | Home Savings Bank, FSB, of 69 Tremont Street, Boston | 1985: $180,000 mortgage; the house let to tenants | 2976/3 |
Security agreement and mortgage deed to secure $180,000, due April 1, 1986, on the land "with buildings and improvements thereon erected or to be erected" at 314 Boston Road, described in an exhibit, with the fixtures and furnishings. With it the company assigned the leases and rents of the premises to the bank on an "Apartment & Office Bldg." form (Book 2976, Page 16), the house then being let to tenants. A second mortgage to Valley Mortgage Company, Inc. was recorded the same day (Book 2976, Page 44). Both were discharged in November 1986 (Book 3779, Pages 8-9).
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| November 10, 1986 | Quitclaim | Hampshire Investors, Inc., of Methuen (Sumner Gladstone, President and Treasurer) | Christy's Markets, Inc., of 22 Christy's Drive, Brockton | 1986: to Christy's Markets, Inc., $250,000 | 3779/12 |
For $250,000, the land "together with all buildings and structures thereon" at the corner of Boston Road, Floyd Street and Pollard Street, "now known as and numbered 314 Boston Road," Lot A of Plan Book 123, Plan 161, 27,236 square feet, the same bounds. "Being the same premises conveyed to the within grantor by deed of Peter L. Dedousis et ux, dated January 8, 1985," Book 2933, Page 103. Signed September 12, 1986. The buyer was the Brockton convenience-store chain of the Mihos family.
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| December 26, 1986 | Certificate of Denial of Variance | Billerica Board of Appeals | Hampshire Investors, Inc. for Christy's Market, Inc., by James T. Dangora, attorney | 1986: variance for a store building denied | 3854/235 |
At 314 Boston Road, Plate 31 Parcel 287, on a "Preliminary Plan of Land" of March 17, 1986 by Robert M. Gill and Associates of Lowell showing "a proposed building and parking area," the petitioners asked for a variance "to construct a building on lot, which will have a sideline setback of 25 ft. on both sides." Denied 0-5 on May 21, 1986: "This type of business would increase the congestion and enlarge the volume of traffic at a busy and dangerous intersection as also indicated by the Safety Officers reports." The town clerk certified on November 13, 1986 that no appeal was taken. The store was built in 1987 all the same, on a site plan of June 6, 1986, revised August 7, 1986 (recited in the 1999 special permit).
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| April 22, 1987 | Quitclaim | Christy's Market, Inc., of 22 Christy's Drive, Brockton (Christy P. Mihos, President; James P. Mihos, Treasurer) | Christy P. Mihos, Trustee of 314 Boston Road Realty Trust, of Brockton | 1987: to 314 Boston Road Realty Trust (Christy P. Mihos) | 4018/19 |
For $250,000, Lot A of Plan Book 123, Plan 161, "together with all buildings and structures thereon," "now known as and numbered 314 Boston Road," 27,236 square feet, the same bounds, "Being the same premises conveyed to the within grantor by deed of Hampshire Investors, Inc." in 1986, Book 3779, Page 12. Signed April 21, 1987; the declaration of the 314 Boston Road Realty Trust of the same date is recorded just before it (Book 4018, Page 14). The store building went up in 1987 and was leased to Christy's Market, Inc. from May 1, 1987.
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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.