Barnard McCann House
The Barnard McCann House stands at 5 Salem Road in North Billerica, on the triangle of land where Salem Road branches off Boston Road a short distance east of the Corner Bridge over the Concord River. The deeds call the spot "the fork of the Boston and Salem roads a little East of the corner bridge, so called."
The lot was once part of the "Parker Place," which Josiah Stevens owned in the 1830s. Stevens came from Dunstable about 1801 and kept a tavern at the "Corner." In 1837 he mortgaged to George Holden "my tavern stand or Parker Place so called and my Patten Place so called adjoining," 39 acres running from the Concord River across the Boston road, bounded north by "the road leading from the corner Bridge so called to Salem." Stevens died intestate early in 1840. His administrator, Marshall Preston, was licensed by the Probate Court to sell real estate to pay $7,338.16 of debts, and at auction on May 18, 1840 he sold the right to redeem the mortgaged land to Holden for $5. Stevens's widow Abigail released her rights to Holden for $140. The records found so far do not show how Stevens first acquired the Parker Place.
On May 27, 1840 Holden sold the Parker Place to Harvey Crosby, yeoman, for $1,450. The deed describes a second tract "with a small tenement thereon" on the opposite side of the highway, beginning "at the fork of said public highway and the Salem road," so a dwelling already stood at the fork by 1840. On March 20, 1847 Crosby sold five acres "with the buildings thereon" at the fork to Barnard McCann, a pedlar, for $1,050. McCann mortgaged the place the same day for $500 to Sewall Stearns and David P. Winning; the mortgage was assigned to Lucretia Stearns and fully discharged by 1853. McCann, born in Ireland, appears in the 1850 census as a farmer aged 28 with real estate worth $1,500. He and his wife Hepzibah had a son, Thomas Bernard, born in 1845. In 1853 he bought nine acres of adjoining land from Jonathan Ladd of Lowell for $733; that lot ran along the Salem road beside a burial ground.
On October 23, 1871 McCann sold the original five acres "with the buildings thereon" to Maurice McElligott for $1,400. McElligott kept the land for more than thirty years. On June 29, 1903 he deeded to Michael H. and Thomas F. McElligott "a certain triangular piece of land with the buildings thereon situated between the Boston Road and the Salem Road," measuring 406 feet on Salem Road and 355 feet on Boston Road, about one acre and "the extreme north westerly part" of the McCann land. This triangle is the present house lot. That December the McElligotts sold it to Elizabeth Davis of Roxbury.
Elizabeth Davis, by then of Lexington, sold the triangle in 1914 to Frank and Eliza Woollard of Billerica, taking back a $900 mortgage. Frank Woollard died on November 4, 1927, and in 1930 his widow, then living in Dorchester, conveyed the place to Guy L. and Ella Grace Woollard of Medford. The Woollards sold it in 1942 to Allen W. and Berla M. Payeur, who sold it in 1947 to a private family. That family held it until 1986, with two family transfers in 1981, and in 1986 it was sold to private owners for $70,000. The assessor lists the lot as one acre and records that a barn on the property was removed in 2002.
The building's date is uncertain. A construction date of 1853 has been given for the house, and the assessor estimates about 1902. The deeds show a "small tenement" on the tract in 1840 and buildings on McCann's five acres when he bought them in 1847. Every deed from 1871 to 1947 conveys the lot "with the buildings thereon," which does not show whether the house was later rebuilt.
References
- Billerica assessor record, parcel 31-45-0, 5 Salem Rd: one acre, year built about 1902, barn removed 2002, sales history from 1947
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883), Genealogical Register: Josiah Stevens came from Dunstable about 1801 and kept a tavern at the Corner
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| July 1, 1837 | Mortgage | Josiah Stevens of Billerica, Abigail Stevens his wife releasing dower | George Holden of Billerica | 1837 Stevens mortgage of the Parker Place, including the fork lot | 363/317 (South) |
Billerica town book 15, pages 394-395. Mortgage dated June 27, 1837 of "my tavern stand or Parker Place so called and my Patten Place so called adjoining both containing thirty nine acres more or less", bounded by Benjamin Spaulding, the Concord River, Samuel H. Mann, "the road leading from the corner Bridge so called to Salem", Rev. Jonathan E. Forbush, Timothy Davis, the Boston road and the Wier Place, "excepting and reserving the public highway"; also the Farmer Place and Whiting lots of 60 acres. Subject to a $1,500 mortgage on the Patten and Parker places to the Lowell Institution for Savings. Void if Stevens paid $2,000 in three years with interest. Acknowledged and recorded July 1, 1837.
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| 1840 | Administration | Estate of Josiah Stevens of Billerica, intestate | Marshall Preston, administrator; Abigail Stevens, widow, and the children | 1840 administration 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 Parker 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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| 1840 | Release | Abigail Stevens of Billerica, widow of Josiah Stevens | George Holden of Billerica | 1840 widow's release to Holden | 394/26 (South) |
Billerica town book 16, pages 379-380. For $140 the widow quitclaimed to Holden her rights in "certain estates in said Billerica known as the Farmer Place containing twenty eight acres more or less" and, as the grantee index describes the deed, the Patten Place and Parker Place on the Boston road and the road from the church to Tewksbury. Only the first page of the copy was examined.
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| June 3, 1840 | Warranty Deed | Josiah B. French of Lowell, gentleman (wife Mary Ann releasing dower) | Harvey Crosby of Billerica, yeoman | 1840 Holden to Harvey Crosby; small tenement at the fork | 394/59 (South) |
For $500, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon called the Mann Place and where the late Josiah Stevens last dwelt," on the east side of Concord River "near the great bridge so called," beginning at a stake and stones near "the building formerly owned by Jonathan M. Dexter called the hatter's shop," west to the river, north by the river to the highway, south by the highway to the beginning; "being the same estate conveyed to me by Abigail Stevens by her deed bearing date May 27 A.D. 1840." Signed and acknowledged June 1, recorded June 3, 1840; witness George Holden. Billerica town book 16, pages 391-392.
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| March 23, 1847 | Warranty Deed | Harvey Crosby of Billerica, yeoman | Barnard McCann of Billerica, pedlar | 1847 Crosby to Barnard McCann, five acres with buildings | 504/166 (South) |
Billerica town book 18, pages 294-295. Dated Mar. 20, 1847, for $1,050: "a certain parcel of land situate in said Billerica with the buildings thereon containing five acres more or less", beginning at the northwest corner "at the fork of the Boston and Salem roads a little East of the corner bridge, so called", east by the Salem road to land of Alden B. Richardson, south and east by Richardson to land formerly of Timothy Davis, south by Davis to land of Wm. D. Mason, west by Mason to the Boston road and northwest by the Boston road to the fork. Witnesses Marshall Preston and Geo. Holden. No title recital.
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| March 23, 1847 | Mortgage | Barnard McCann of Billerica, pedler, Hepzibah his wife releasing dower | Sewall Stearns and David P. Winning of Billerica, yeomen | 1847 McCann mortgage | 504/167 (South) |
Billerica town book 18, pages 295-297. Dated Mar. 20, 1847, securing $500 in two notes of $250, one to each mortgagee, payable in one year with interest, on the same five acres "with the buildings thereon" just bought from Harvey Crosby, with the same bounds. Margin: assignment and discharge at Book 648 Page 361.
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| March 19, 1853 | Assignment and Discharge | Obed Stearns, administrator of Sewall Stearns; Lucretia Stearns; Asa Hodgman 2nd, administrator of David P. Winning | Barnard McCann | Assignment and discharge of the 1847 mortgage | 648/361 (South) |
Billerica town book 21, pages 256-257, endorsed on the 1847 mortgage. On May 24, 1851 Obed Stearns, administrator of Sewall Stearns, assigned the mortgage for one dollar to Lucretia Stearns; on Mar. 16, 1852 she acknowledged "full satisfaction" and discharged it; on Mar. 18, 1853 Asa Hodgman 2nd, administrator of the estate of David P. Winning late of Billerica, the other mortgagee, discharged it in full. All recorded Mar. 19, 1853.
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| August 15, 1853 | Quitclaim | Jonathan Ladd of Lowell, Esquire, Eunice A. Ladd his wife releasing dower | Barnard McCann of Billerica | 1853 adjoining nine-acre lot bought by McCann | 663/2 (South) |
Billerica town book 20, pages 398-399. Dated Aug. 1, 1853, for $733: "a certain tract of land situated in said Billerica containing nine acres and forty five rods more or less" on the Salem road, bounded in part by "land of B. Cann" and by "a Burial ground". No buildings are mentioned. This lot adjoined the McCann house lot and is not part of the five acres sold in 1871.
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| October 28, 1871 | Warranty Deed | Barnard McCann of Billerica, Hepzibah E. McCann his wife releasing dower and homestead | Maurice McElligott of Billerica | 1871 McCann to Maurice McElligott | 83/31 |
Dated Oct. 23, 1871, for $1,400: "a certain tract of land, situate in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, containing five acres, more or less", beginning "at the fork of the Boston and Salem roads, a little east of the [Corner] bridge, so called", east by the Salem road to land of Saml. Kimball formerly of A. C. Richardson, then by Kimball, by land of Cordrey formerly of Davis, by land formerly of Wm. D. Mason and by the Boston road back to the fork. The same bounds as the 1847 deed from Harvey Crosby. Witness and justice Dudley Foster. No title recital.
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| July 3, 1903 | Warranty Deed | Maurice McElligott of Billerica, Mary McElligott his wife releasing dower and homestead | Michael H. McElligott and Thomas F. McElligott | 1903 house lot cut off to Michael H. and Thomas F. McElligott | 356/297 |
Dated June 29, 1903, for one dollar: "a certain triangular piece of land with the buildings thereon situated between the Boston Road and the Salem Road", from the intersection east on Salem Road 406 feet "to my other land", southwest 185 feet to Boston Road and northerly on Boston Road 355 feet, one acre more or less, "Being the extreme north westerly part of land conveyed to me by Bernard McCann by deed dated October 23rd 1871. Recorded Book 83 Page 31".
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| December 3, 1903 | Warranty Deed | Michael H. McElligott and Thomas F. McElligott of Billerica, both unmarried | Elizabeth Davis of Roxbury | 1903 McElligotts to Elizabeth Davis | 360/413 |
Dated Dec. 2, 1903, for "One Dollar and other considerations": "A certain triangular piece of land with the buildings thereon situated between the Boston Road and the Salem Road", 406 feet on Salem Road to land of Maurice McElligott, 185 feet on his land and 355 feet on Boston Road, one acre more or less, being the extreme northwesterly part of the McCann land of 1871 "and being the same premises conveyed to us by said Maurice McElligott by deed dated June 29th 1903".
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| August 4, 1914 | Warranty Deed | Elizabeth Davis of Lexington, unmarried | Frank Woollard and Eliza Woollard, his wife, of Billerica, tenants by the entirety | 1914 Davis to Frank and Eliza Woollard | 526/341 |
Dated July 27, 1914, consideration paid: "a certain triangular piece of land with the buildings thereon situated on the northeasterly side of the Boston road and on the southerly side of the Salem road", 406 feet on Salem road to land of Maurice McElligott, 185 feet, and 355 feet on Boston road, one acre, "being the same premises to me conveyed by Michael H. McElligott and Thomas F. McElligott by deed dated December 2, 1903"; subject to her 1911 mortgage to The Central Savings Bank, $600 then due.
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| August 4, 1914 | Mortgage | Frank Woollard and Eliza Woollard of Billerica | Elizabeth Davis | 1914 Woollard mortgage to Davis | 526/342 |
Purchase-money mortgage of the same date for $900 on the same triangular piece "with the buildings thereon", subject to the Central Savings Bank mortgage of $600. Margin: discharged at Book 557 Page 399.
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| February 18, 1930 | Warranty Deed | Eliza Woollard of Dorchester, unmarried | Guy L. Woollard and Ella Grace Woollard, husband and wife, of Medford | 1930 Eliza Woollard to Guy L. and Ella Grace Woollard | 786/310 |
Dated Feb. 17, 1930, consideration paid: "a certain triangular piece of land with the buildings thereon" on the northeasterly side of the Boston Road and the southerly side of the Salem Road, 406, 185 and 355 feet, one acre, the premises conveyed to Frank and Eliza Woollard by Elizabeth Davis in 1914 (given in this deed as Book 526 Page 541, an error for Page 341). "I received the sole title to said premises upon the death of my said husband, Frank Woollard, deceased on November 4th, 1927." The grantees gave back a $2,000 mortgage for five years at 6 percent.
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| 1942 | Quitclaim | Guy L. Woollard and Ella Grace Woollard, husband and wife, of Billerica | Allen W. Payeur and Berla M. Payeur, husband and wife, of Medford | 1942 Woollards to Payeur | 983/242 |
Dated Sept. 4, 1942, consideration paid: the same triangular acre "with the buildings thereon", 406 feet on Salem Road, 185 feet on McElligott land and 355 feet on Boston Road, the premises conveyed by Eliza Woollard Feb. 17, 1930; the grantees assumed the 1942 taxes. Eliza Woollard, then of Alameda County, California, discharged her 1930 mortgage the same day, and the Payeurs mortgaged the place for $2,000 to the Lowell Co-operative Bank.
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| 1947 | Quitclaim | Allen W. Payeur and Berla M. Payeur, husband and wife, of Billerica | Private owners (husband and wife) | 1947 Payeur to private owners; later private sales | 1062/156 |
Dated Feb. 19, 1947, consideration paid (stamps $7.15): "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on the Northeasterly side of the Boston Road and the Southerly side of Salem Road", 406 feet on Salem Road to land of Michael H. and Thomas F. McElligott, 185 feet, and 355 feet on Boston Road, one acre, the premises conveyed by Guy L. Woollard et ux. in 1942; the buyers gave a $5,000 mortgage to the Lowell Co-operative Bank. The same family held the house until 1986, with two family transfers in 1981; it was sold in 1986 for $70,000 to private owners (assessor sales history).
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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.