Structure · Built 1909
Annie F. Merriam House
Annie F. Merriam House
| Address | 60 Concord Rd |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.62 |
| Built | 1909 |
The Annie F. Merriam House at 60 Concord Road stands on the south side of the road at the corner of Charnstaff Lane, on ground that was part of the homestead of the Whiting family for nearly two centuries. In 1838 Deacon Samuel Whiting gave his walled thirteen-acre homestead, bounded "North by Churnstaff lane so called," to his daughters, and in 1863 his son Dr. Augustus Whiting of Charlestown and his widowed sister Anne Baldwin sold about two acres of it, "on the south side of Churnstaff lane so called & of the road to Bedford," to Emery E. Hill for $400. The deed began "at the Barn" on the lane, and its west line of 21 rods 12 links is still the 355-foot west line of the lot today. In 1865 Hill added four acres from E. W. Wilson behind it, part of the old Blaney Abbot homestead, and the neighboring Hill farm of four acres "with all the buildings thereon" to the east.
Hill, by then living in Scranton, Pennsylvania, mortgaged the ten acres to Anthony Jones for $1,000 in 1868 and in 1871 sold all three lots to Charles M. Hannaford for $1,800. The Jones mortgage was never paid, and in May 1886 Judith Jones, executrix of her husband's will, made "an open, peaceable, and unopposed entry on the premises" to foreclose it. The land passed under her will to her daughter Nellie M. Bemis, who with her husband Frederick C. Bemis sold the ten acres "with the buildings thereon" to William A. Merriam of Billerica in December 1906, keeping a 192-foot strip on the east.
Merriam, a farmer from the family place on Boston Road near Tufts Lane, had the tract surveyed in November 1907. His bank mortgage that October shows that the only buildings then stood on a 150-foot lot at the northeast corner, the old Hill farmhouse. In 1908 he deeded the whole tract to Annie F. Merriam, a Boston school teacher who had grown up in Billerica, and she sold the east three acres and the old buildings to Hannah Monsen in 1910. In February 1911 she deeded the west four acres "with the buildings thereon" back to William, who gave her a $4,500 mortgage and agreed to keep the buildings insured for that amount. The house was built in the meantime, while she held the title. The assessor dates it to 1909, and the 1912 directory lists William A. Merriam at "Concord rd. cor. Charnstaffe lane." The Historical Commission's 1973 survey called it a Victorian house of about 1900 with a small barn, part of the turn-of-the-century in-fill along this stretch of Concord Road.
Merriam sold the house in January 1914 to J. Edward and Emily Viola Allen of Somerville and moved to the Andover road. The Allens sold it at the end of 1916 to Ellis Wetherbee of Concord, and Wetherbee sold it in 1925 to Ruth A. Connell, taking back a $5,000 mortgage. In 1946, by then Mrs. Herbert E. McCurdy of Santa Barbara, she sold the four acres to Harry W. and Anna Marie Turner of Baltimore. The Turners split off a small lot in 1958 and sold the house on lot A, 2.9 acres, to Charles O. and Jane F. Hallenborg, whose family owned the land next door to the east. Charles O. Hallenborg owned it when the house was surveyed in 1973.
After his death his executor sold the property in 1983 to a private owner. A 1991 subdivision plan cut it down to Lot A-1, just under an acre, with Kenmar Drive along its west side. The house was sold in 1999 to a private realty trust and in 2007 to a private company, and it has since been enlarged into a four-unit apartment building with two apartments over the garage.
References
- MACRIS BIL.62
- Billerica assessor, parcel 61-73-1: built about 1909, 0.962 acres, four apartments; 1992 subdivision of 61/73/0, Plan 178-69 lot A-1
Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| January 22, 1838 | Gift | Deacon Samuel Whiting of Billerica, Esquire | His daughters Harriet Whiting, Anne Baldwin, Catherine Whiting and Mary Ann Whiting, all of Billerica | Deacon Samuel Whiting gives his homestead south of Charnstaff Lane, which included this lot, to his daughters | 369/323 (South) |
Billerica town book 15, pages 574-576. Dated January 17, 1838, acknowledged January 18 before Marshall Preston. "In consideration of the natural love and affection" and "for services rendered," all his real estate in Billerica: "the Homestead with all the Buildings thereon containing Thirteen acres," walled, bounded north "by Churnstaff lane so called," and "one other tract Enclosed with Stone Wall containing about Three acres Bounded north by land formerly occupied by John Richardson, East and North and East by land of William Bowers, South by said lane and West by the road," with wood lots west of Concord River, seven acres on the road to Concord, the "Bruce land" by the Middlesex Turnpike, and all his personal estate. The three-acre tract is the land of 46 to 54 Concord Road.
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| 1844 | Quitclaim | Harriet Whiting, Catherine Whiting, Henry and Anne Baldwin, George P. and Mary Ann Elliot, all of Billerica | Dr. Augustus Whiting of Charlestown, physician | the Whiting daughters release a fifth of the homestead to their brother Augustus | 454/117 (South) |
Billerica town book 17, pages 547-548. Dated November 29, 1844. For $1 the four daughters of Samuel Whiting and their husbands release "one undivided fifth part of the estate which Samuel Whiting late of Billerica gave to his daughters Harriet, Catherine & Mary Ann & Anne Baldwin by deed dated the seventeenth day of January" 1838, Book 369 Page 323, to their brother. Witnesses Henry A. Baldwin, Marshall Preston and Nathaniel Wright.
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| September 4, 1863 | Warranty Deed | Dr. Augustus Whiting of Charlestown and Anne Baldwin of Billerica (Catherine Whiting, wife of Augustus, releasing dower) | Emery E. Hill | the Whitings sell the two acres at the corner of the Bedford road (Concord Rd) and Charnstaff Lane, the house site, to Emery E. Hill | 35/422 |
Dated September 1, 1863. For $400, "a certain tract of land in Billerica aforesaid on the south side of Churnstaff lane so called & of the road to Bedford being a part of the homestead of the late Samuel Whiting deceased": from the northeast corner "at the Barn," south by the barn and land lately sold to Elijah B. Hill about 23 rods 15 links to a wall, west by a wall by land formerly of Blaney Abbott and the grantors' own land about 12 rods 21 links, north by a wall by their own land about 21 rods 12 links "to the road leading to Bedford," and east by the road about 13 rods 5 links to the barn, "about two acres," subject to a right of way one rod wide by the barn and wall. Witnesses Elijah B. Hill and Charles H. Parker. The 21 rod 12 link west line is the 355-foot west line of 60 Concord Road: this is the front of the house lot.
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| May 23, 1865 | Deed | E. W. Wilson of Swampscott, single woman | Emery E. Hill of Scranton, Pennsylvania | Emery E. Hill buys four acres of the old Blaney Abbot homestead behind the Whiting piece | 42/565 |
Dated May 20, 1865. For $400, four acres bounded by the heirs of Samuel Whiting, J. J. Gorham, John F. Baldwin, T. B. Fellows and Hill's own land, "being a part of the old Blaney Abbot Homestead." This is the third lot of the 1871 Hill-Hannaford deed and the back (south) part of the later four-acre house lot.
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| January 18, 1868 | Mortgage | Emery E. Hill of Scranton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania | Anthony Jones of Billerica | Emery E. Hill mortgages the ten acres to Anthony Jones; the mortgage is foreclosed in 1886 | 60/38 |
Dated January 13, 1868. For $1,000, "a certain tract of land, situate in said Billerica, containing ten acres more or less," made up of the lots Hill bought from Augustus Whiting and Anne Baldwin (1863), E. W. Wilson (1865) and S. S. and Lucy Hill (1865, with all the buildings). Margin: "See Poss. Book 181 Page 365." Never discharged: Jones's executrix foreclosed by entry in 1886.
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| September 13, 1871 | Warranty Deed | Emery E. Hill of Scranton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania | Charles M. Hannaford of Billerica | Emery E. Hill sells the ten acres, including the later house lot, to Charles M. Hannaford | 82/78 |
Dated April 15, 1871. For $1,800, "three lots of land situate in said Billerica on the south side of Churnstaff Lane": the four acres "With all the buildings thereon" from S. S. and Lucy H. Hill (May 23, 1865, Book 59 Page 124), the old Hill farm on the east; "one other tract of land adjoining" from the northeast corner "at the Barn" north by land of Wm. Whiting 21 rods 12 links "to the road leading to Bedford" and east by the road 13 rods 5 links, about two acres, from Augustus Whiting (Book 35 Page 422); and the lot from E. W. Wilson (Book 42 Page 565) bounded by Whiting, John J. Gorham, John F. Baldwin and Caroline Fellows. Subject to the Anthony Jones mortgage of 1868.
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| May 25, 1886 | Entry to Foreclose | Charles M. Hannaford (mortgagor's successor) and the estate of Emery E. Hill | Judith Jones of Billerica, executrix of the will of Anthony Jones | Judith Jones, executrix of Anthony Jones, forecloses the 1868 mortgage on the ten acres | 181/365 |
Certificate of entry. Fred C. Bemis and Dudley Foster certify that on May 6, 1886 they saw "Judith Jones of Billerica ... Executrix of the will of Anthony Jones," the mortgagee in Emery E. Hill's mortgage of January 13, 1868 (Book 60 Page 38), "make an open, peaceable, and unopposed entry on the premises described in said mortgage for the purpose ... of foreclosing said mortgage for breach of the condition thereof." Sworn at Lowell May 22, 1886 before Charles W. Eaton, justice of the peace. Anthony Jones's will was proved December 5, 1882.
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| 1906 | Mortgage | Frederick C. Bemis and Nellie M. Bemis (in her own right), of Billerica | Henry A. Jones of Pelham, New Hampshire | the Bemis mortgage of 1906 covers this ten-acre lot (the 22nd lot) among 25 lots | 386/409 |
Mortgage for $5,200 on 25 lots in Billerica. "The Third Lot, with the buildings thereon situated near that part of said Billerica known as Billerica Centre, on the road leading to Bedford," bounded by W. B. Stearns, land formerly of David Parker and land formerly of William P. P. Pollard, "being the same premises conveyed to said Judith Jones by said Dudley Foster by deed dated August 5, 1884," subject to the Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank mortgage of 1904. Signed Jan. 16, 1906; partial release Book 398 Page 435, discharged Book 405 Page 315.
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| December 14, 1906 | Release | John A. Jones of Hudson, Worcester County | Nellie M. Bemis of Billerica | Anthony Jones's heir John A. Jones releases the ten acres to Nellie M. Bemis | 398/431 |
Dated December 4, 1906, acknowledged December 7. For $1, release of "a certain tract of land situate in said Billerica containing ten acres more or less," beginning at the northwest corner "on the road leading to Bedford at land formerly of Samuel Whiting," by Whiting land, John J. Gorham, John F. Baldwin and Mrs. I. B. Fellows "to Churnstaff Lane so called," then west on the lane and the Bedford road. "Being premises conveyed to Emery E. Hill by three separate deeds" (Book 35 Page 422, Book 42 Page 565, Book 59 Page 125). Given "to release any right I may have in said land by reason of the will and codicil of Anthony Jones," mortgagee under Book 60 Page 38, with possession taken May 6, 1886, Book 181 Page 365.
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| December 14, 1906 | Deed | Frederick C. Bemis and Nellie M. Bemis, his wife, in her own right, of Billerica | William A. Merriam of Billerica | the Bemises sell the ten acres to William A. Merriam, who builds this house on the west part | 398/432 |
Dated December 8, 1906. For $1, quitclaim with warranty against their own acts, "a certain tract or parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica containing about ten acres," from a stone bound on the south side of Churnstaff Lane south about 22 rods 15 links, by Fellows, Baldwin, Gorham and Whiting land, and north about 21 rods 12 links "to the Bedford Road so called," then east "along said road and along said Lane about forty-two rods and twenty-six links." "There is expressly reserved from this conveyance a strip of land one hundred ninety-two and 1/2 feet more or less in width" along the east side. "Being same premises described in a deed given by Emery E. Hill to Charles M. Hannaford dated April 15, 1871 ... Book 82 Page 78," with reference to the Jones mortgage and entry, and "For title of the grantor said Nellie M. Bemis, see will of Judith Jones, widow of said Anthony Jones, mother of said Nellie M. Bemis." Except a mortgage to Edmond R. Fowler assigned to the Central Savings Bank of Lowell and the 1905-1906 taxes.
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| October 14, 1907 | Mortgage | William A. Merriam of Billerica | Merrimack River Savings Bank of Lowell | mortgage of the old buildings at the NE corner shows the house lot was still vacant in 1907 | 410/466 |
October 1907. For $2,500, "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon," a lot 150 feet square at the northeast corner of Merriam's tract, on the south side of Churnstaff Lane at the west line of the 192 1/2-foot strip reserved in the Bemis deed. In 1907 the old buildings of the tract stood on this corner lot, not on the west four acres where this house was built. Margin: partial release Book 456 Page 525, discharge Book 516 Page 222.
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| December 22, 1908 | Quitclaim | William A. Merriam of Billerica (Mary J. Merriam, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | Annie F. Merriam of Billerica | William A. Merriam puts the ten acres in Annie F. Merriam's name; she holds title while the house is built (assessor: 1909) | 428/158 |
Dated and acknowledged August 8, 1908; recorded December 22, 1908. For "One Dollar and other good and valuable considerations," "a certain tract or parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica and containing about ten acres," the same premises conveyed to him by Frederick C. Bemis et al. December 8, 1906, Book 398 Page 432. Witness Herbert A. King. Annie F. Merriam, a Howe School graduate and Boston school teacher, held the record title while the house was built.
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| September 8, 1910 | Warranty Deed | Annie F. Merriam of Billerica, unmarried | Hannah Monsen of Carlisle | the east three acres and old buildings are sold to Hannah Monsen; her 748-ft west line is this lot's east line | 455/564 |
Dated September 8, 1910. For $1, "a certain parcel of land, with the buildings thereon, situated on the southerly side of Churnstaff lane," beginning at land of Albert Jones (formerly Bemis) at the west line of the strip reserved in the 1906 Bemis deed, south by Jones land in several courses to the heirs of Dudley Foster, west by them, "thence northerly on other land of the grantor seven hundred forty-eight feet to said Churnstaff lane," and east on the lane, three acres, "a portion of the same premises to me conveyed by William A. Merriam ... Book 428 Page 158." The 748-foot line is the east line of the 60 Concord Road lot; this is the neighboring Monsen, later Hallenborg, land with the old farm buildings.
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| March 11, 1911 | Warranty Deed | Annie F. Merriam of Billerica | William A. Merriam of Billerica | Annie F. Merriam deeds the new house and the west four acres back to William A. Merriam | 464/302 |
Dated February 25, 1911. For "One Dollar and other good and valuable considerations," "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon," beginning on the Concord road at land of Blanchard, east on the Concord road and "Charnstaffe Lane" 261 feet, south in a straight line 280 feet to a wall, east on the wall to Bemis land, south "in an irregular line, as shown on plan entitled Plan of Land at Billerica Mass. belonging to William A. Merriam ... November 5, 1907" to Foster, 240 feet on the wall to Blanchard, and north 357 and 354 feet to the road. Witness Herbert A. King. The house now stands on this lot.
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| March 11, 1911 | Mortgage | William A. Merriam of Billerica | Annie F. Merriam of Billerica | mortgage back to Annie F. Merriam; the buildings to be insured for $4,500 | 464/304 |
For $4,500 in three years at five percent, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon," the same four acres as Book 464 Page 302, by the 1907 Merriam plan. He was to "keep the buildings on said premises insured against fire in a sum not less than Forty five hundred dollars." Discharged January 1914, Book 517 Page 1.
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| January 14, 1914 | Warranty Deed | William A. Merriam of Billerica (Mary J. Merriam, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | J. Edward Allen and Emily Viola Allen of Somerville, husband and wife | William A. Merriam sells the house to the Allens of Somerville | 517/2 |
Dated January 10, 1914. For "One Dollar," "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon," beginning on the south side of "the Concord Road, so-called," at land formerly of Blanchard, now of Mitchell, east along the road and "Churnstaffe Lane" 261 feet to a stone bound at land of one Hallenborg, south along Hallenborg 748 feet to Foster, west 180 feet, north by Mitchell 357.60 feet to a drill hole in the wall, west 90 feet and north 355.05 feet to the road, "four (4) acres, more or less," free of all encumbrances. "Being a part of the same premises conveyed to me by Frederick C. Bemis and Nellie M. Bemis by their deed dated December 8, 1906 ... Book 398, Page 432."
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| January 2, 1917 | Warranty Deed | J. Edward Allen and Emily Viola Allen of Billerica | Ellis Wetherbee of Concord | the Allens sell the house to Ellis Wetherbee | 566/245 |
Dated December 29, 1916. For "one dollar and other valuable considerations," "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon," the same four acres on the Concord Road and "Churnstaffe Lane" (261 feet; Hallenborg 748 feet; Foster 180 feet; Mitchell 357.60, 90 and 355.05 feet). "Being the same premises conveyed to me by William A. Merriam by deed dated January 10th, 1914 ... Book 517, Page 2." Subject to a mortgage of $4,000.
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| April 16, 1925 | Warranty Deed | Ellis Wetherbee of Billerica (Annie E. Wetherbee, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | Ruth A. Connell of Somerville | Ellis Wetherbee sells the house to Ruth A. Connell and takes back a $5,000 mortgage | 720/397 |
Dated April 16, 1925; $10 in revenue stamps (about $10,000). "A certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon," the four acres on the Concord Road and "Churnstaffe Lane." "Being the same premises conveyed to me by J. Edward Allen, et al, by deed dated January 2, 1917." The same day Ruth A. Connell, with her husband Henry J. Connell, mortgaged it back to Wetherbee for $5,000 in three years at six percent (Book 720 Pages 397-398).
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| June 29, 1927 | Quitclaim | Ruth A. Connell of Billerica, married (Henry J. Connell, her husband, releasing curtesy) | Marion K. Terry of Somerville | straw deed to Marion K. Terry, to add Alfred R. Smith to the title | 751/252 |
Dated June 27, 1927. "The land with the buildings thereon," the four acres on the south side of the Concord Road and "Churnstaffe Lane," west by land "formerly of one Blanchard, now of one Mitchell," east by Hallenborg, south by Foster. Subject to the $5,000 Wetherbee mortgage. A straw deed: Terry conveyed it back the same day (Book 751 Page 253).
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| June 29, 1927 | Quitclaim | Marion K. Terry of Somerville, unmarried | Ruth A. Connell of Somerville and Alfred R. Smith of Billerica, tenants in common | Terry reconveys to Ruth A. Connell and Alfred R. Smith | 751/253 |
Dated June 27, 1927, acknowledged before Ralph W. Smith. "The land with the buildings thereon," the same four acres, subject to the $5,000 mortgage held by Ellis Wetherbee. "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Ruth A. Connell to be recorded herewith."
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| April 18, 1946 | Quitclaim | Ruth A. Connell McCurdy of Santa Barbara, California (Herbert E. McCurdy, her husband, releasing curtesy) | Harry W. Turner and Anna Marie Turner of Baltimore, Maryland, husband and wife | Ruth A. Connell McCurdy sells the house to the Turners of Baltimore | 1041/165 |
Dated April 18, 1946; $9.90 in stamps. "The land in Billerica ... together with the buildings thereon," from the northwest corner "on the southerly side of the Concord Road, so-called," at Mitchell, east along the road "and along Charnstaffe Lane" 261 feet to Hallenborg, south 748 feet to Foster, west 180 feet, and back by Mitchell 357.60, 90 and 355.05 feet, four acres. "Meaning and intending hereby to convey the same property conveyed to Alfred R. Smith and Ruth A. Connell by Marion K. Terry ... Book 751, Page 253."
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| April 18, 1946 | Mortgage | Harry W. Turner and Anna Marie Turner of Baltimore, Maryland | Arlington Co-operative Bank | the Turners' purchase mortgage | 1041/166 |
Dated April 18, 1946. To secure $9,000 in twenty years at four percent, in monthly payments of $54.54, "the land, with the buildings thereon," the same four acres on the Concord Road and Charnstaffe Lane.
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| December 31, 1958 | Quitclaim | Harry W. Turner and Anna Marie Turner of Baltimore, Maryland | Charles O. Hallenborg and Jane F. Hallenborg of Billerica, husband and wife | the Turners sell lot A with the house to Charles O. and Jane F. Hallenborg | 1415/240 |
1958. "A certain lot or parcel of land, together with the buildings thereon," lot A on a "Plan of Land in Billerica Belonging to Harry W. Turner," September 1958, J. B. Monahan, surveyor (Plan Book 90 Plan 104): northwesterly by Charnstaff Lane and Concord Road 158.68 feet, northeasterly by land of Hallenborg 753 feet, southeasterly and southwesterly by Mitchell, and by lot B, "two and 9/10 (2.9) acres." "Being part of the premises conveyed to us by Ruth A. Connell McCurdy by deed dated April 18, 1946 ... Book 1041, Page 165." The Turners kept lot B, 37,030 square feet, on the west.
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| November 18, 1983 | Executor's Deed | The executor of the will of Charles O. Hallenborg | A private owner | sold by Charles O. Hallenborg's estate; later private owners summarized | 2672/689 |
Dated November 16, 1983. Lot A on Plan Book 90 Plan 104, "together with the buildings thereon," 158.68 feet on Charnstaff Lane and Concord Road, northeasterly by land of Hallenborg 753 feet, 2.9 acres. "For decedents title see said Deeds Book 1415, Page 240, See also Middlesex County Probate Court Docket Number 548050." The grantor reserved the right to reacquire for $1 all vacant land over 30,000 square feet if the buyer sold. Later private transfers (not listed by name): a 1991 subdivision plan (Plan Book 178 Plan 69) made the house lot Lot A-1, 41,894 square feet, bounded by Concord Road, Hallenborg land, lot A-2 and Kenmar Drive; it was sold in 1999 for $180,000 to a private realty trust (Book 9991 Page 87) and in 2007 to a private company (Book 21759 Page 130).
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.