Benjamin K. Heald House
Benjamin K. Heald House
| Address | 475 Boston Rd |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.194 |
| Built | 1845 |
| Tenants | |
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Driscoll Insurance Agency (1985 - 1985)
Lawson's Radiator Shop (1985 - 1985) Wickens Automotive (1985 - 1985) Nino's Auto Body (1985 - 1985) Bob Innis & Son (1985 - 1985) Billerica Furniture Co. (1985 - 1985) Billerica Furniture Co. (2003 - 2012) Don's Stuff (2005 - ????) Plus at Home PC Repair (2010 - 2011) Crossfit Billerica (2010 - ????) Fit Results (2011 - 2022) Bob Innis & Son (2014 - 2018) |
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| Other Lot Structures | Heald Red Barn (Built 1850) |
The Benjamin K. Heald House is a Greek Revival house with a later Victorian porch on the west side of Boston Road (Route 3A), south of Billerica Centre and just north of Tufts Lane. It stands close to the road at 475 Boston Road, on land the Heald family farmed for half a century; outbuildings on the lot, including the red barn and buildings of about 1930, have long been used for business.
The land was part of the Bowers homestead, which lay on both sides of the road from the meeting house to Boston. Benjamin Bowers mortgaged it to Josiah Crosby in 1817 and to his son-in-law, the Rev. Jacob Norton of Weymouth, husband of his daughter Hannah, in 1820. In March 1822 Bowers released the sixty-acre farm "with all the buildings thereon standing" to Norton, and Crosby's executor released the earlier mortgage, so that the minister held the homestead free. Norton retired to Billerica and lived there until his death in 1858.
On February 21, 1842 Norton sold Benjamin K. Heald of Billerica, yeoman, for $150, "a certain parcel of land situated in said Billerica on the west side of the road leading from Boston to Lowell containing one acre more or less," six rods on the road and 26 rods 12 feet deep, next to a lot sold the same day to Henry Bowers. That August Heald married Frances Ann Bowers, daughter of Jonathan Bowers, and the house was built on the lot in the 1840s; the 1853 map shows "Benjamin K. Heald" here. In 1851 Norton's daughter Elizabeth C. Norton released to Heald her claim on the lot under a mortgage her father had given her in 1835; the 1973 survey mistook that release for the original purchase. After Norton died, his daughter as executrix sold Heald the rest of the homestead south of his lot, "a portion of the Homestead of late said Jacob Norton," at auction in December 1858 for $1,650. Hazen (1883) notes the Healds living "on Woburn street, in the south part of the village."
Benjamin K. Heald died in the late 1890s. In August 1898 Herbert A. King, administrator of his estate, sold the house lot "with the buildings thereon" and the adjoining "Norton land" to Walter A. Drucker for $4,500, except half an acre with buildings that Heald had sold to Caroline Barker. Drucker put the title in his wife Edith's name in 1901, leased part of the land to the Billerica Electric Company, and in 1902 the Druckers sold the property to George C. Crosby. In October 1920 Crosby sold it to Robert L. Innis and Dougal McLennan, Billerica builders who developed several neighborhoods in town; they cut a house lot from the road front in the 1930s. After Robert L. Innis died his widow conveyed his lands to the family in 1959, and the property has remained with the Innis family; the 1973 survey names a member of the family as owner, and since 1994 it has been held in a family trust. The assessor lists 1.28 acres with a commercial use.
References
- MACRIS BIL.194
- Billerica assessor's record, 475 Boston Rd (parcel 61-208-0): 1.28 acres, commercial and residential use, Plan 118-29 Lot 1B-1A
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| January 15, 1818 | Mortgage | Benjamin Bowers of Billerica, gentleman | Josiah Crosby of Billerica, yeoman | 1817: Benjamin Bowers mortgages his homestead, both sides of the Boston road, to Josiah Crosby | 222/255 (South) |
To secure $2,338.75, "all my homestead farm situate on the easterly side of the road containing twenty five acres," by the Boston road, the lane to Isaac Hurd's house and Jonathan Bowers, and "all that part of my real estate on the west side of said Boston road except about twenty acres which was formerly owned by the late Capt. Daniel Stickney containing twenty five acres," south by the Stickney land, west by Jonathan Bowers and Luther French, north by land lately of Simon Forester and east by the Boston road. Dated September 8, 1817, witnessed by Sarah Hill and Josiah Crosby Jr. (Billerica town book 12, pages 32 to 33). The west-side tract is the land on which the Heald house was later built; the margin refers to the 1822 release of this mortgage to Jacob Norton (Book 255, Page 257).
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| January 20, 1820 | Mortgage | Benjamin Bowers of Billerica, gentleman | The Rev. Jacob Norton of Weymouth, Norfolk County | 1820: Benjamin Bowers mortgages the homestead to the Rev. Jacob Norton | 232/104 (South) |
To secure $1,179 in one year, "my homestead in said Billerica containing fifty acres be it more or less with all the buildings thereon," bounded by the heirs of Simon Forrester, Jonathan Bowers, Luther French and land formerly of Capt. Daniel Stickney, east by the road leading to Boston, with the part of the homestead on the east side of the road by Dr. Isaac Hurd and the road to his house, the whole enclosed with a stone wall, and a Birch Hill lot of eight acres. Dated January 19, 1820, witnessed by James Bowers and Samuel Whiting (Billerica town book 13, pages 50 to 51). Norton was married to Benjamin Bowers's daughter Hannah.
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| March 21, 1822 | Quitclaim Deed | Benjamin Bowers of Billerica, gentleman | The Rev. Jacob Norton of Weymouth, clerk | 1822: Bowers releases the farm to Norton | 241/456 (South) |
For $100, the equity in "a farm situate in said Billerica containing sixty acres more or less with all the buildings thereon standing," east by the highway from Billerica Meeting house to Boston, south by "the Stickney farm so called now belonging to Doct. Josiah Bowers," west by Jonathan Bowers and Luther French and north by land lately of Simon Forrester, with about twenty-five acres opposite on the east side of the highway by the lane to Dr. Isaac Hurd's house. Dated March 20, 1822, witnessed by Joseph Bowers (Billerica town book 13, pages 186 to 187).
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| July 28, 1824 | Executor's Release | Josiah Crosby of Billerica, Esquire, executor of the will of Josiah Crosby, yeoman | The Rev. Jacob Norton of Weymouth, clerk | 1822: Crosby's executor releases the 1817 mortgage to Norton | 255/257 (South) |
For $2,747, "a certain farm situate in Billerica aforesaid containing sixty acres of land more or less with the buildings thereon," the same two parcels on both sides of the highway from the meeting house to Boston, "meaning hereby to release the same and all the estate conveyed in mortgage by Benjamin Bowers to the said Josiah Crosby deceased" (Book 222, Page 255). Dated March 20, 1822, the same day as Bowers's quitclaim (Billerica town book 13, pages 288 to 289). Norton now held the Bowers homestead free of the Crosby mortgage.
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| February 22, 1842 | Warranty Deed | The Rev. Jacob Norton of Billerica, clerk | Benjamin K. Heald of Billerica, yeoman | 1842: Norton sells Benjamin K. Heald the one-acre house lot | 411/405 (South) |
For $150, "a certain parcel of land situated in said Billerica on the west side of the road leading from Boston to Lowell containing one acre more or less": from the northeast corner at the road and land "this day conveyed by me to Henry Bowers," westerly by Henry's land 26 rods 12 feet to a stake and stones, southerly by Norton's land 6 rods, easterly parallel with the first line, "keeping six rods therefrom," 26 rods 12 feet to the road, and northerly by the road 6 rods. Dated February 21, 1842, witnessed by Marshall Preston and Henry Bowers (Billerica town book 17, pages 234 to 235). This is the house lot. Heald, of Carlisle, married Norton's grandniece Frances Ann Bowers that August; the house was built on the lot in the 1840s.
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| March 29, 1851 | Release | Elizabeth C. Norton of Billerica, single woman | Benjamin K. Heald of Billerica, yeoman | 1851: Elizabeth C. Norton releases her mortgage claim on Heald's lot | 605/133 (South) |
For $10, a quitclaim of "a certain parcel of land situate in said Billerica on the west side of the road leading from Boston to Lowell containing one acre more or less," from the northeast corner at the road and land of John J. Gorham, westerly by Gorham 26 rods 12 feet, southerly by land of Jacob Norton 6 rods, easterly 26 rods 12 feet to the road and northerly by the road 6 rods, with covenants against her own acts only. Dated March 5, 1851 (Billerica town book 18, pages 597 to 598). Elizabeth C. Norton, the minister's daughter, held his mortgage of 1835 on the homestead (Book 360, Page 542); this deed released Heald's lot from it. The 1973 survey took it for the purchase deed.
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| 1858 | Will | The Rev. Jacob Norton of Billerica, clerk | His children and grandchildren; Col. Jacob How of Haverhill and his daughter Elizabeth C. Norton, executors with power to sell real estate | 1858: will of the Rev. Jacob Norton; his executors sell the homestead | Probate #38474 |
Will dated June 1, 1847, with a codicil of October 11, 1856 witnessed by his neighbors John J., Eliza and Charlotte Gorham; proved February 23, 1858. After a legacy to the executors, the remainder in four parts: in trust for his daughter Lucy Ann Eames of Billerica, to his daughter-in-law Harriet Norton (widow of his son Jacob A. Norton), to his daughter Elizabeth C. Norton, and to the children of his late daughter Mary C. How; the executors were "authorized and empowered" to sell the real estate and give deeds. Under that power and a license of June 1, 1858, Elizabeth C. Norton sold the rest of his Billerica homestead to Benjamin K. Heald in December 1858 (Book 25, Page 145).
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| August 15, 1860 | Executrix's Deed | Elizabeth C. Norton of Billerica, singlewoman, executrix of the will of the Rev. Jacob Norton | Benjamin K. Heald of Billerica, yeoman | 1858: the executrix of the Rev. Jacob Norton sells Heald the "Norton land" south of the house lot | 25/145 |
Licensed by the Probate Court at Lowell on June 1, 1858, after notice in the American Citizen of Lowell, she sold at public auction on December 11, 1858 to Heald, the highest bidder, for $1,650, "a portion of the Homestead of late said Jacob Norton," bounded north by Heald's land (J. J. Gorham named in error), west by land lately of Wm. Bowers, south and west by "the Stickney farm & Bell Meadow so called, now belonging to Dr. Josiah Bowers," and east by "the road leading from Billerica Centre to Boston," "being a part of said Jacob Norton's homestead which was mortgaged by said Jacob, my father, to me" in 1835. Dated December 18, 1858, witnessed by George H. Whitman; Heald gave a mortgage back of $1,100. This "Norton land" south of the house lot was sold with it in 1898 and later.
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| August 23, 1899 | Administrator's Deed | Herbert A. King of Billerica, administrator of the estate of Benjamin K. Heald | Walter A. Drucker of Billerica | 1898: Heald's administrator sells the house lot and the Norton land to Walter A. Drucker | 311/288 |
By license of the Probate Court of June 21, 1898, at private sale for $4,500, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated on the West side of the road leading from Boston to Lowell containing one acre more or less," from the northeast corner at the road and land of John J. Gorham, 26 rods 12 feet by Gorham, 6 rods by land formerly of Jacob Norton and back to the road, "Also another tract of land adjoining the above known as the 'Norton land'," bought by Heald from Elizabeth C. Norton in 1858 (Book 25, Page 145), "Reserving and excepting ... all that portion of the above premises conveyed by said Benjamin K. Heald to Caroline Barker consisting of about one half acre with buildings thereon." Dated August 31, 1898, recorded August 23, 1899. Drucker mortgaged the property to Sidney A. Bull, treasurer of the First Orthodox Congregational Society, for $2,000 (Book 311, Page 289), discharged in 1902.
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| October 16, 1901 | Warranty Deed | Walter A. Drucker of Billerica (Edith A. Drucker releasing) | M. Alice Cox of Lowell | 1901: Drucker to M. Alice Cox (straw) | 336/539 |
For $1, the one acre "with the buildings thereon situated on the west side of the road leading from Boston to Lowell," by John G. Gorham and land formerly of Jacob Norton, and the adjoining "Norton land," "being the same premises conveyed to me by Herbert A. King, Administrator of the Estate of Benjamin K. Heald" (Book 311, Page 288), excepting the Caroline Barker half acre. Dated October 12, 1901. A straw conveyance: the same day Cox quitclaimed the property to Drucker's wife (Book 336, Page 541).
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| October 16, 1901 | Quitclaim Deed | M. Alice Cox of Lowell, unmarried | Edith A. Drucker of Billerica, in her own right | 1901: Cox to Edith A. Drucker, Walter's wife | 336/541 |
For $1, the same one acre "with the buildings thereon" on the west side of the road from Boston to Lowell and the Norton land, "being the same premises conveyed to me by Walter A. Drucker by deed of even date," excepting the Caroline Barker half acre; covenants against her own acts only. Dated October 12, 1901.
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| May 14, 1902 | Warranty Deed | Walter A. Drucker and Edith A. Drucker, his wife, in her own right, of Billerica | George C. Crosby of Billerica | 1902: the Druckers sell to George C. Crosby | 343/432 |
For $1 and other valuable considerations, the same one acre "with the buildings thereon" on the west side of the road from Boston to Lowell, by land of John J. Gorham and land formerly of Jacob Norton, and the adjoining "Norton land," "being the same premises as conveyed to me by M. Alice Cox by deed dated October 12, 1901" (Book 336, Page 541; Drucker had passed the title through Cox to his wife in 1901), excepting the Caroline Barker half acre; subject to a five-year lease to the Billerica Electric Company of September 10, 1901. Dated April 1, 1902, acknowledged before Herbert A. King.
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| November 2, 1920 | Warranty Deed | George C. Crosby of Billerica (Belle F. Crosby releasing dower and homestead) | Robert L. Innis and Dougal McLennan of Billerica | 1920: Crosby sells to Robert L. Innis and Dougal McLennan | 635/489 |
For $1 and other valuable considerations ($9.00 in stamps), "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon" on the west side of the road from Boston to Lowell, from its northeast corner by land of Augusta Fisk, around land of Alexander H. Mitchel and a ditch to land of one Fred Mason, by Mason on a stone wall to the Boston and Lowell road, and around the Barker land; "Being all the same premises conveyed to me by Walter A. Drucker et ux by deed dated April 1, 1902," except the part sold to Moses C. Mitchell in 1911 (Book 465). Dated October 27, 1920; Innis and McLennan gave Crosby a mortgage back, discharged in 1924 (Book 635, Pages 490 and 491). Innis and McLennan, builders and developers, later cut a 75-foot house lot from the road front (mortgage of 1939, Book 930, Page 217, Plan Book 62, Plan 8A). Robert L. Innis died about 1955 (Middlesex Probate 320444), and in 1959 his widow Gertrude Sarah Innis conveyed his lands to a family member (Book 1457, Page 599); the property has stayed in the Innis family, in a family trust since 1994.
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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.