Structure · Built 1852 · Demolished 1949
Benjamin Abbot House
The Benjamin Abbot House stood on the east side of Allen Road, the old County road, about a mile and a quarter east of Billerica Centre, where the 1853 Walling map marks "C. Kittredge". It was the house of a 54-acre farm that ran east from the road between the Danforth farm on the north and the Haynes, Holden and Beard lands on the south, with a small lot and "the West Field" across the road. The deeds show that the farmhouse was much older than the map: it was already standing in 1799, and it served the farm for about 150 years until it was taken down around 1949. The Cape at 34 Allen Road now stands on its corner of the old farm.
The earliest deed found is of January 1799, when Benjamin Abbot, husbandman, sold 112 acres "with the buildings standing on the premises" to Elijah Bradstreet, a blacksmith from Greenfield, New Hampshire, for $2000. The farm had probably come down in the Abbot family: Joshua Abbot, a cordwainer whose will was proved in 1769, had already given his sons farms of their own, and in 1799 Prudence Abbot released her dower and "Joshua Abbot deceased" owned land next door. Bradstreet sold the farm in two undivided halves in 1800, to Benjamin Deland, a saddler of Beverly, and to Joseph Foster, a Beverly cordwainer whose daughter Hannah was Deland's wife.
Joseph Foster died soon after, and his will of 1802 left his widow Elizabeth the use of everything for life. In April 1803 the probate court's commissioners divided the land he held "in Common with Benjamin Daland" and set off to his estate the 54-acre homestead "with the buildings thereon standing", described from "the end of the wall the south side of the barn yard", past "the new barn", a shed, "the old barn", "a large Chesnutt tree" and "the end of an old dam". His inventory lists "1 Shoe makers seat & tools". In March 1836 Samuel Foster, the surviving executor, sold "the whole of the real estate of said Joseph Foster Senior" at auction on the premises to Bill Russell of Woburn for $1400.
On October 12, 1837 Russell sold the farm, "with the building thereon", to Charles Kittredge of Billerica, baker, for $1600. Kittredge deeded it to Joseph D. Kennedy of Goffstown, New Hampshire, the following March, but Kennedy conveyed the "fifty eight acres" with the buildings back to him in 1848 for $3600, and Kittredge kept the farm, under mortgages of 1849 and 1850, for the rest of his life. A neighboring deed of 1848 mentions "Kittredge's House" and its dooryard fence running down to the road.
After Charles Kittredge's death the farm passed to his daughter, Ellen K. Hamilton, who in January 1884 mortgaged it to Ellen Smith of Boston for $700 as the land deeded "to my father, Charles Kittredge, deceased". The town still taxed the "Heirs of Charles Kittredge" in 1889. Ellen Smith entered to foreclose in April 1886, and in 1896 she sold the farm to Henry B. Rudd, who resold it in 1899 to Angeline Litchfield of Somerville.
Angeline Litchfield's eight heirs divided the farm in December 1922. Eva M. Parkhurst took the main part, "with the buildings thereon", and Sadie E. Parkhurst took the southwest corner, 485 feet along the County road and 400 feet deep. In 1925 Sadie and Edward Parkhurst sold that corner, "with the buildings thereon", to Frederick H. and Alice A. Gould of Charlestown; Alice was herself one of the Litchfield heirs. Frederick Gould died in Billerica on June 16, 1949, and the old house is recorded as demolished that year.
A plan surveyed in December 1951 divided the Gould land into a large Lot A and a 100-foot-square corner lot, Lot B, beginning "at a drill hole in the wall"; it shows no buildings. Alice A. Gould conveyed Lot B to members of her family in January 1952, and the present house was built on it soon afterward, a little later than the assessor's date of about 1950. Lot B was sold in 1957, and after the owners' FHA-insured mortgage was foreclosed in 1967 the Worcester County Institution for Savings deeded it to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who sold it to private owners in 1968. It was sold again in 1975 and has stayed in that family since.
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Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| 1769 | Will | Estate of Deacon Joshua Abbott of Billerica, cordwainer | His son Deacon Joshua Abbott Jr. and other children | 1769 Abbot will (Abbot family land before 1799) | Probate #36 |
Will of Joshua Abbott, cordwainer, who died Feb. 11, 1769; lodged April 4, 1769, recorded Lib. 30 p. 37. He directs "my son Joshua Abbott" to pay legacies to his brother John and sisters Sarah Goodwin, Mary Jefts, Elisabeth Walker and Dorcas Abbott, "I having given him the said Joshua a Deed of that Land he now Lives on wherein I gave him his full portion in my Real Estate." Son Oliver had a deed of "part of my Homestead" and son David a deed of the land he lived on. The deed of gift to Joshua Jr. was never recorded (it is not in the 1620-1855 grantor index), so this will is the record of the transfer of the Concord River farm to him.
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| 1799 | Deed | Benjamin Abbot of Billerica, husbandman | Elijah Bradstreet of Greenfield, New Hampshire, blacksmith | 1799 Abbot to Bradstreet, 112 acres with buildings | 131/440 (South) |
For $2,000, "a certain tract of land lying and being situate in Billerica", beginning on the highway at a stake and stones, east by land of Jonas French about 222 rods, south by land of Thomas Richardson, Isaac Marshall and Nehemiah Kittredge about 57 rods, west by Kittredge about 43 rods and by the grantor's own land, then by land of Josiah and William Bowers about 80 rods, and north by the highway; also another piece beginning on the highway by land of Jonas French. Billerica town book 9, page 411; Benjamin Abbot's wife released dower (town book 9, page 413).
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| 1800 | Deed | Elijah Bradstreet of Billerica, blacksmith (Phebe his wife releasing dower) | Benjamin Daland (Deland) of Beverly, saddler | 1800 half to Benjamin Deland | 137/384 (South) |
For $2,500, "the one undivided half of a certain tract of land in Billerica ... with the buildings thereon containing one hundred and twelve acres", bounded by Jonas French about 222 rods, by land of Isaac Marshall and Nehemiah Kittredge about 57 rods, by Benjamin Beard Jr. about 20 and 70 rods, by Josiah and William Bowers about 80 rods and by the highway; also a piece bounded by the highway, Jonas French, Nahum Baldwin and Joshua Abbot deceased. Dated September 6, 1800. Billerica town book 10, pages 48-49. The other half appears to have gone to Joseph Foster, cordwainer, who bought an adjoining piece with Deland in 1801 and whose heirs bounded the farm afterward.
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| 1800 | Deed | Elijah Bradstreet of Billerica, blacksmith | Joseph Foster of Beverly, cordwainer | 1800 half to Joseph Foster | 140/47 (South) |
Billerica town book 10, pages 42-43. For $2500, the other "one undivided half" of the same 112-acre tract "with the buildings thereon", by the same bounds. Recorded 1801. Foster and Benjamin Deland, his son-in-law (husband of Hannah Foster), both of Beverly, now owned the farm in common.
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| 1803 | Will and Partition | Estate of Joseph Foster of Billerica, yeoman | His widow Elizabeth and sons Joseph, Samuel, Benjamin Hilton, John and Levi | 1803 Foster will and partition: 54-acre homestead with buildings | Probate #8231 |
Will dated Oct. 9, 1802, proved Jan. 18, 1803: the widow Elizabeth to have the use of all his estate while his widow, then the residue to his five sons; sons Joseph and Samuel, cordwainers, executors. Commissioners John Walker, James Abbot and Ebenezer Bridge on April 30, 1803 severed the land held "in Common with Benjamin Daland" and set off to the estate "the following lots of land with the buildings thereon standing": about 54 1/4 acres beginning "by the road at the end of the wall the south side of the barn yard", past "the new barn", a shed and "the old barn", "a large Chesnutt tree", "a gravelly ridge" and "the end of an old dam", north to Reuben French; 104 rods across the road by French's blacksmith shop; and 3 acres 40 rods. Inventory: "The Homestead ... fifty eight acres and twenty four rods with the buildings thereon", $1328, with "1 Shoe makers seat & tools".
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| November 10, 1836 | Executor's Deed | Samuel Foster of Billerica, surviving executor of Joseph Foster Sr. | Bill Russell of Woburn, Esquire | 1836 executor's auction to Bill Russell | 359/133 (South) |
Billerica town book 15, pages 328-331. Licensed by the Court of Common Pleas (June 1835) to sell "the whole of the real estate of said Joseph Foster Senior" for legacies, the executor sold it at public vendue on the premises March 28, 1836 to Russell, highest bidder, for $1400: "a certain tract or parcel of land with the buildings thereon ... containing fifty four acres", beginning by the road at the wall on the south side of Aaron Danforth's barn yard, by Danforth, a brook at Benjamin Beard's, William Tyler, Henry Allen, Daniel Shed and Beard back to the road; with 104 rods and 3 acres 40 rods west of the road, referring to the 1803 partition with Benjamin Daland.
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| April 30, 1838 | Warranty Deed | Bill Russell of Billerica, Esquire, and his wife Phebe | Charles Kittredge of Billerica, baker | 1837 Russell to Charles Kittredge, baker | 374/17 (South) |
Billerica town book 15, pages 578-580. For $1600, "a certain tract or parcel of land with the building thereon ... containing fifty four acres" by the same bounds (Aaron Danforth's barn yard, the brook at Benjamin Beard's, William Tyler, John Richardson 2d, Henry Allen, Reuben Kendall, John Crosby, Daniel Shead), the 104 rods west of the road and the West Field of 3 acres 40 rods, referring to the deed from Samuel Foster, executor. Warranted free of encumbrances "excepting a right to Drive Bridle cattle through the premises to the Abbott land given to Benjamin Beard". Signed Oct. 12, 1837. This is the C. Kittredge of the 1853 map.
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| October 5, 1848 | Warranty Deed | Joseph D. Kennedy of Goffstown, N.H., and his wife Maria | Charles Kittredge of Billerica | 1848 Kennedy reconveys to Charles Kittredge | 546/36 (South) |
Billerica town book 20, pages 171-173. For $3600, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon ... containing fifty eight acres", the 54-acre farm by the old bounds with the 104 rods and the West Field, "the same piece of land that was conveyed to me by Charles Kittredge by Deed dated March 27, 1838 and acknowledged April 28, 1838". Signed Sept. 27, 1848. Kittredge had deeded the farm to Kennedy within a year of buying it; this deed gave it back, and he kept it, under mortgages of 1849 and 1850, until his death.
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| February 21, 1884 | Mortgage | Ellen K. Hamilton of Billerica, with her husband James A. Hamilton | Ellen Smith of Boston | 1884 Ellen K. Hamilton mortgage (daughter of Charles Kittredge) | 165/163 |
To secure $700 in three years at 6%, "a certain tract or parcel of land with the buildings thereon ... containing fifty-four acres", bounded from the road at the wall on the south side of the barn yard "formerly of Aaron Danforth" around by land formerly of Benjamin Beard, William Tyler, John Richardson 2d, Henry Allen, Reuben Kendall, John Crosby and Daniel Shedd; with the 104 rods and the West Field. "All the above three tracts being all and the same land described in a deed by Bill Russell to my father, Charles Kittredge, deceased, said deed dated Oct. 12th 1837". Signed Jan. 15, 1884, subject to an earlier $300 mortgage.
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| April 23, 1886 | Entry to Foreclose | Ellen Smith, mortgagee | Ellen K. and James A. Hamilton, mortgagors | 1886 entry to foreclose, Ellen Smith | 180/468 |
Certificate of two witnesses, G. C. Crosby and Annie L. Gale, sworn April 1, 1886, that Ellen Smith, holder of the 1884 Hamilton mortgage (Book 165, Page 163), made "an open, peaceable and unopposed entry" on the premises to foreclose for breach of condition. After three years in possession her title became absolute; in 1896 she sold the farm.
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| June 12, 1896 | Mortgage | Henry B. Rudd of Billerica, unmarried | Ellen Smith of Boston | 1896 Rudd mortgage | 275/320 |
Purchase-money mortgage for $1200 ($200 in a year, $1000 in five years, at 6%) of the same three parcels "with the buildings thereon", "being the same premises this day conveyed to me by Ellen Smith", the buildings to be insured for $1200. Signed June 1, 1896; margin: discharged, Book 398, Page 245.
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| June 11, 1896 | Warranty Deed | Ellen Smith of Boston, widow | Henry B. Rudd of Billerica | 1896 Smith to Henry B. Rudd | 275/491 |
For one dollar and other considerations, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica ... containing about fifty-four acres ... about one and a quarter miles east of Billerica Centre lying east of the County road", bounded north by land formerly of Aaron Danforth, Asa Holden, James Tyler and John Richardson, west by the County road, east by land formerly of Henry Allen and John Crosby, and south by land of Lyman Haynes and Asa Holden; with 104 rods and "the West Field" west of the road; "being all the land described in a mortgage from Ellen K. Hamilton to me dated January 15, 1884". Signed June 1, 1896.
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| July 8, 1899 | Warranty Deed | Henry B. Rudd of Billerica, unmarried | Angeline Litchfield of Somerville | 1899 Rudd to Angeline Litchfield | 309/117 |
For one dollar and other consideration, "a certain lot of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica containing fifty four acres more or less on the east side of the road", the West Field of about 4 acres and another 3/4 acre west of the road, "being the same premises conveyed to me by Ellen Smith ... June 1st 1896". Signed July 7, 1899. Angeline Litchfield owned the farm until her death; her eight heirs divided it in 1922 (title through Middlesex probate 132215).
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| January 24, 1923 | Release | Sadie E. Parkhurst of Somerville (husband Edward releasing) | Eva M. Parkhurst, Almon A., Charles A., Joseph H. and George H. Litchfield, Carrie J. Piper and Alice A. Gould | 1922 Litchfield heirs division (Sadie release) | 675/261 |
Signed Dec. 6, 1922. As one of the eight heirs "of the late Angeline Litchfield", Sadie releases to the other seven her share of "the following parcels of land, with the buildings thereon": the 54 acres east of the County road (bounded as in 1896), 104 rods west of the road, and "the West Field" of 3 acres 40 rods, "Being the same premises conveyed to Angeline Litchfield by deed dated July 7, 1899". Part of the division in which the heirs gave the southwest corner to Sadie and the rest to Eva M. Parkhurst.
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| January 24, 1923 | Quitclaim | Almon A. Litchfield, Charles A. Litchfield, Carrie J. Piper, Alice A. Gould, Joseph H. Litchfield and George H. Litchfield | Eva M. Parkhurst of Somerville, wife of Charles W. Parkhurst | 1922 heirs to Eva M. Parkhurst, rest of the farm | 675/262 |
Signed Dec. 7, 1922. "Six (6) of the eight (8) heirs of Angeline Litchfield, late of Billerica" quitclaim the 54 acres "with the buildings thereon" east of the County road, excepting the southwest portion "which we have this day conveyed to Sadie E. Parkhurst"; title through the 1899 Rudd deed and probate 132215. The northern part of the old farm, kept by Eva M. Parkhurst.
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| January 24, 1923 | Quitclaim | Eva M. Parkhurst, Almon A. Litchfield, Charles A. Litchfield, Carrie J. Piper, Alice A. Gould, Joseph H. Litchfield and George H. Litchfield | Sadie E. Parkhurst of Somerville, wife of Edward Parkhurst | 1922 heirs to Sadie E. Parkhurst, SW corner | 675/264 |
Signed Dec. 7, 1922. Seven of the eight heirs of Angeline Litchfield release "the southwest portion of the fifty four (54) acre parcel of land more fully described in deed from Henry B. Rudd to Angeline Litchfield": beginning at the corner by land of Lyman Haynes and Asa Holden, north along the County road 485 feet, east along other land of the grantors 400 feet, south 485 feet, and west by Haynes and Holden to the beginning. "For our title, see Middlesex Registry of Probate Records, Number 132,215".
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| September 25, 1925 | Quitclaim | Sadie E. Parkhurst and Edward Parkhurst, husband and wife | Alice A. Gould and Frederick H. Gould of Charlestown, husband and wife | 1925 Parkhurst to Gould, corner with the buildings | 728/544 |
Signed Sept. 25, 1925. "The land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon": from the corner by land now or formerly of Lyman Haynes and Asa Holden, north along the County Road 485 feet, east along other land of heirs of Angeline Litchfield 400 feet, south 485 feet and west by Haynes and Holden, "Being all and the same premises to said Sadie E. Parkhurst conveyed by Eva M. Parkhurst et als." (Book 675, Page 264), subject to a 1923 mortgage to the Lowell Co-operative Bank that the Goulds assumed. Alice A. Gould was herself one of the Litchfield heirs.
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| January 16, 1952 | Quitclaim | Alice A. Gould of Billerica, widow | Private owners (Lot B) | 1952 Lot B cut off (house gone, lot vacant) | 1186/484 |
Signed Jan. 8, 1952. Lot B, 9930 square feet on the easterly side of Allen Road, "beginning at the northwesterly corner of the premises at a drill hole in the wall at land formerly of the heirs of Angeline Litchfield", 100 feet square, shown on "Plan of Land in Billerica Surveyed for Stanley T. Gould, December, 1951" (Plan Book 81, Plan 130B), "Being a part of the premises conveyed to me and my late husband Frederick H. Gould" in 1925; "Said Frederick H. Gould died in said Billerica June 16, 1949". The plan shows no building on the lot; the present house was built after it. Lot B was sold to other private owners in 1957.
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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.