Alley's Blacksmith Shop
Alley's Blacksmith Shop
| Address | 474 Boston Rd |
| Built | 1849 |
| Demolished | 1919 |
| Owners | William G. Alley (1849 - 1855) |
Alley's Blacksmith Shop stood on the east side of Boston Road at Billerica Centre, on a narrow lot of about two acres, 6 rods on the road and 46 rods deep, between the Parker land on the north and the Blaney Abbot farm on the south. The lot was the south end of the 24-acre "Bowers lot", which John Parker bought from the Bowers heirs in 1810 and his son David Parker bought at the executor's sale in 1834; the John H. Parker Store stood at its north end.
In January 1846 David Parker sold the two acres next to Blaney Abbott to his son John H. Parker for $500, and in February 1849 John H. Parker, by then of Lowell, sold them to William G. Alley for $600. Neither deed names any buildings, so Alley built the shop himself; it appears as "B. Shop" on the 1853 map. Alley mortgaged the lot for $300 to Polly Manning, a mortgage that stayed on the record until 1900.
On Aug. 27, 1855 Alley sold the lot "with the buildings thereon standing", together with a house lot nearby, for $2,750 to Mark Lund of Clinton, a blacksmith, who kept the shop for 26 years; the 1875 map marks it "M. Lund" and shows a paint shop beside the smithy. In 1881 Lund sold it for $2,000 to Rozina Howe, whose husband Philander D. Howe owned the farm around it, and on Nov. 2, 1885 the Howes sold both the shop lot "with all the buildings thereon standing" and the 18-acre farm to Calvin P. Sawyer, whose name is on the 1889 map.
After Sawyer's death his widow, Lucy M. Sawyer, sold the farm and the shop lot in 1900 to Guy P. Walton of Everett, paying off the old Manning mortgage at the sale. Walton sold them in 1901 to Elizabeth Hodge of Newton, and that November the Hodges sold them to Henrietta Fraser of Boston. By 1912 the land belonged to Clarence A. Backer, who also bought the north part of the Sexton farm to the south in 1913 and registered the old Howe farm in the Land Court in 1916. The shop was gone by about 1919.
In June 1922 Backer had the Boston Road frontage cut into house lots on Land Court plan 6093-B, with Grace Avenue at the north end. Lot 3, 64.10 feet on the road and made from both of his certificates, covers the south end of Alley's lot. Backer sold it in 1924 to Jennie M. Kinsman, wife of Dwight M. Kinsman, and the two-family house now at 474 Boston Road was built for them. The Medford Co-operative Bank took the house in 1928 and sold it within weeks to Thomas P. and Florence M. Murphy; the federal Home Owners' Loan Corporation took it from them in 1937 and sold it in 1940 to Emile G. and Ann E. Brouillard, who sold it in 1945 to Robert E. and Margaret M. Valyou. Later private owners used it as a dental office, and in 2022 it was sold to YTRE, LLC.
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Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| January 12, 1846 | Warranty Deed | David Parker of Billerica, gentleman (Achsah Parker releasing dower) | His son John H. Parker of Billerica, yeoman | 1846: David Parker sells the south two acres of the Bowers lot to his son John H. Parker | 472/520 (South) |
For $500, two acres "on the easterly side of the road leading to Boston": from a stake and stones south by the road 6 1/2 rods to Blaney Abbott, east by Abbott 46 rods 10 links to a stone wall, north by the wall 7 1/2 rods to a stake and stones, and west by other land of David Parker on a straight line to the start. No buildings named and no title recital; the land is the south end of the 24-acre "Bowers lot" David Parker bought at his father's executor's sale in 1834. Dated Jan. 9, 1846; witnesses Norman Parker and Caroline Parker. Billerica town book 18, pages 57-58.
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| February 24, 1849 | Warranty Deed | John H. Parker of Lowell | William G. Alley of Billerica | 1849: John H. Parker sells the bare two acres to William G. Alley | 557/118 (South) |
For $600, the same two acres: from a stake and stones at land of David Parker, south by the road to Boston 6 rods to Blaney Abbot, east by Abbot "by a stone wall" 46 rods 10 links to a wall at David Parker's land, north by David Parker 7 rods, and west by David Parker about 48 rods to the start. No buildings named. Dated Feb. 17, 1849, acknowledged before Marshall Preston; witnesses Marshall Preston and Charles E. Parker. Billerica town book 20, pages 275-276.
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| February 24, 1849 | Mortgage | William G. Alley of Billerica, gentleman | Polly Manning of Billerica, singlewoman | 1849: Alley mortgages the lot to Polly Manning (discharged 1900) | 557/119 (South) |
Mortgage for $300, payable in one year with interest, of the same two acres bought of John H. Parker the same month. It stayed on the record for half a century: William Manning of Chelmsford, administrator of Polly Manning, discharged it in September 1900 on payment by Lucy M. Sawyer, "the present owner" (recorded with Book 322, Page 147). Billerica town book 20, pages 276-277.
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| November 3, 1855 | Warranty Deed | William G. Alley of Billerica, yeoman (Mary H. Alley releasing dower) | Mark Lund of Clinton, Worcester County, blacksmith | 1855: Alley sells the shop lot "with the buildings thereon" to Mark Lund, blacksmith | 2/322 |
For $2,750, two tracts: about two acres near the centre "with a dwelling house thereon standing" on the main road, between land of David Parker and Jefferson Cutter (534 and 558 feet deep, 147 feet on the road); and "about two acres" on the east side of the road leading to Boston, from a stake and stones at land of John T. Jordan, south by the road 6 rods to the late Blaney Abbot, east by Abbot "as the wall stands" 46 rods 10 links, north by Jordan 7 rods and west by Jordan about 48 rods, "with the buildings thereon standing". Subject to mortgages of $1,000 on the first tract and $300 on the second. Dated Aug. 27, 1855, acknowledged before Dudley Foster; witnesses Dudley Foster and George Proctor.
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| September 8, 1881 | Warranty Deed | Mark Lund of Billerica (Martha R. Lund releasing dower and homestead) | Rozina Howe of Billerica, wife of Philander D. Howe | 1881: Mark Lund sells the shop lot to Rozina Howe | 147/567 |
For $2,000, about two acres in the Centre on the east side of the road leading to Boston, from a stake and stones at land of Philander D. Howe, south by the road 6 rods to land of the late Blaney Abbott "now of Henry Crosby", east by Crosby "as the wall stands" 46 rods 10 links to a stone wall at Howe's land, north by Howe 7 rods and west by Howe straight to the start, "with the buildings thereon standing". "Being the second tract of land with buildings named in a deed of Wm. G. Alley to me dated August 27th 1855 ... Book 2, Page 322". Dated Sept. 5, 1881, acknowledged before Dudley Foster.
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| November 11, 1885 | Warranty Deed | Rozina Howe of Billerica, wife of Philander D. Howe, in her own right (he assenting) | Calvin P. Sawyer of Billerica | 1885: Rozina Howe sells the shop lot to Calvin P. Sawyer | 177/491 |
For $2,000, the same two acres in the Centre on the east side of the road to Boston (6 rods on the road to land of the late Blaney Abbot "now of Henry Crosby", 46 rods 10 links by Crosby "as the wall stands", 7 rods by Sawyer's land), "with all the buildings thereon standing"; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Mark Lund, deed dated Sept 5th 1881" (recited as Book 147, Page 547; the deed is at Page 567). Dated Nov. 2, 1885, acknowledged before Dudley Foster.
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| November 11, 1885 | Warranty Deed | Philander D. Howe of Billerica (Rozina Howe releasing dower and homestead) | Calvin P. Sawyer of Billerica | 1885: Sawyer buys the Howe farm around the shop lot the same day | 177/492 |
For $4,000, Howe's "Homestead Farm" of 18 acres "with all the buildings thereon" on the east side of the road from Billerica to Boston, from the road at land formerly of Mark Lund (the shop lot), by Lund about 46 rods, south 7 rods to land formerly of the Blaney Abbot heirs, east by Abbot about 108 rods to Jonathan Wright, north 10 rods to the heirs of Henry Baldwin, then by Baldwin, land formerly of Jefferson Cutter and Bernard McCann to the road; same as from Alonzo Ordway, Oct. 20, 1879, Book 136, Page 343. Bought the same day as the shop lot, which it surrounds on the north and east.
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| September 7, 1900 | Warranty Deed | Lucy M. Sawyer of Billerica, widow (of Calvin P. Sawyer) | Guy P. Walton of Everett | 1900: Calvin P. Sawyer's widow sells the farm and shop lot to Guy P. Walton | 322/147 |
For $1 and other consideration ($3.50 in revenue stamps), two parcels on the east side of the road to Boston: the 18-acre homestead farm with the buildings, with the bounds of 1885, and "another parcel of land, with the buildings thereon", two acres, 6 rods on the road to the late Blaney Abbot "now or formerly of Henry Crosby", 46 rods 10 links and 7 rods. "For my title see probate of estate of Calvin P. Sawyer". Dated Aug. 31, 1900, acknowledged in Suffolk and recorded Sept. 7, 1900. Recorded with it, William Manning of Chelmsford, administrator of Polly Manning, discharged Alley's mortgage of Feb. 23, 1849, paid by Lucy M. Sawyer "the present owner".
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| September 7, 1900 | Trustee's Deed | Lucy M. Sawyer of Billerica, trustee under the will of Calvin P. Sawyer (allowed Nov. 1, 1892) | Guy P. Walton of Everett | 1900: the trustee's half under Sawyer's will, to Walton | 322/149 |
The same day, as trustee under her husband's will, Lucy M. Sawyer conveyed to Walton one undivided half of the same two parcels, the homestead farm and the two-acre lot with the buildings, the share the will had put in trust; same as from P. D. Howe and Rozina Howe in 1885 (Book 177, Pages 491-492).
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| July 20, 1901 | Warranty Deed | Guy P. Walton of Everett | Elizabeth Hodge of Newton, wife of Stephen D. Hodge, in her own right | 1901: Walton sells the farm and shop lot to Elizabeth Hodge | 332/229 |
For $1 and other consideration, two parcels on the easterly side of the road from Billerica to Boston: eighteen acres with the buildings, the same as Philander D. Howe to Calvin P. Sawyer, Nov. 2, 1885 (Book 177, Folio 492), and two acres with the buildings, the same as Rozina Howe to Sawyer (Folio 491); "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deeds of Lucy M. Sawyer and Lucy M. Sawyer, Trustee, dated Aug. 31st 1900", subject to a $6,000 mortgage on which $5,000 remained unpaid, and the taxes. The Hodges gave a further $2,500 mortgage to Edward T. Harrington and others the same day (Book 332, Page 231).
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| November 8, 1901 | Warranty Deed | Stephen D. Hodge and Elizabeth Hodge, in her own right | Henrietta Fraser of Boston | 1901: the Hodges sell to Henrietta Fraser of Boston | 336/479 |
For $1 and other valuable consideration, the same two parcels on the easterly side of the road from Billerica to Boston, eighteen acres "with the buildings thereon" (Book 177, Folio 492) and "two (2) acres of land ... with the buildings thereon" (Folio 491); "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Guy P. Walton", subject to the $6,000 mortgage ($5,000 unpaid) and a $2,500 mortgage. Dated Nov. 2, 1901, acknowledged in Suffolk.
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| November 8, 1912 | Land Court Decree | Land Court decree, case 3956 (petition of Clara E. Sexton) | Clara E. Sexton of Billerica, married to William H. Sexton | 1912: the Sexton farm to the south registered (its Lot B later part of Lot 3) | Ctf 341 |
Original Certificate of Title 341 on the decree of Nov. 2, 1912 in case 3956: Clara E. Sexton is "the owner in fee simple" of land "Southwesterly by Boston Road three hundred eighty-four and 69/100 (384.69) feet", north by George S. Daniels 2,534.37 feet, northeast by Edwin H. Blakie 379.47 feet, southeast by "Nathaniel R. Jones et al." (756.61, 7 and 386.10 feet), west by Clarence A. Backer 556.98 feet and south by Backer, Walter H. Fuller and Susan E. Burton 1,569.25 feet, as shown on the plan by O. M. Snell, C.E., July 1912 (Land Court Plan 3956-A). The plan copy filed with the certificate divides it into Lot A (165.24 feet on the road, already Fitzgerald's) and Lot B (219.45 feet), with a house drawn near the road on each. Memoranda: Lot A deeded to Frank A. Fitzgerald Nov. 9, 1912 (document 464, Certificate 347); Lot B to William H. Sexton Feb. 1, 1913 (document 510, Certificate 385).
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| 1913 | Certificate of Title | Transfer from the Sexton title (Lot B of plan 3956-A) | Clarence A. Backer of Billerica, married to Grace Lilian Backer | 1913: Backer acquires Lot B of the Sexton land | Ctf 432 |
Transfer certificate of July 15, 1913: Backer owns Lot B on Land Court plan 3956-A (O. M. Snell, July 1912), cut from the Sexton farm: southwest by Boston Road 219.45 feet, with the Daniels, Blakie and Jones bounds of 1912, "Westerly by land now or formerly of Clarence A. Backer" 556.98 feet and southerly by Backer 243.23 feet, then by Lot A. Backer already held the old Howe farm and shop lot to the west and north as unregistered land.
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| 1916 | Certificate of Title | Land Court decree, case 6093 (petition of Clarence A. Backer) | Clarence A. Backer of Billerica, married to Grace L. Backer | 1916: Backer registers the Howe farm and shop lot | Ctf 864 |
Original certificate entered on a decree of Nov. 23, 1916 (transcribed Nov. 25, 1916) registering the rest of Backer's land, the old Howe farm with the shop lot: westerly by Boston Road 249.59 feet, northerly by George P. Greenwood (the Parker store lot) 495.10 feet and westerly by Greenwood 91.82 feet, northerly by Sidney A. Bull 2,056.46 feet, easterly by Nat R. Jones 163.60 feet, and "Southerly by land now or formerly of Clara E. Sexton" 2,534.37 feet, on a plan by F. W. Huntington and Co., July 1915; subject to an attachment of May 25, 1915 in a suit of Ernest T. Wheeler against the Imperial Fur and Breeding Company.
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| 1924 | Certificate of Title | Transfer from Clarence A. Backer (certificates 432 and 864) | Jennie M. Kinsman of Billerica, married to Dwight M. Kinsman | 1924: Lot 3 of plan 6093-B to Jennie M. Kinsman | Ctf 2610 |
Transfer certificate of Nov. 14, 1924 for Lot 3 on Land Court subdivision plan 6093-B (John T. Brown, June 16, 1922): "Southwesterly by Boston Road, sixty-four and 10/100 (64.10) feet; Northwesterly by Lot 4, one hundred twenty-four and 10/100 (124.10) feet; Northeasterly by land now or formerly of Clarence A. Backer, sixty-eight (68) feet; and Southeasterly by Lot 2", 123.78 feet. The lot is made from both of Backer's certificates, the south end of the old shop lot and the edge of Lot B. The present two-family house was built for the Kinsmans in the 1920s.
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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.