Structure · Built 1852 · Demolished 1988
Benjamin S. Bohonan House
The Benjamin S. Bohonan House stood on the east side of High Street in North Billerica, at the corner where the road from Billerica to Lowell crosses the Boston and Lowell Railroad. The 1853 Walling map of Billerica shows a house here labeled with the Bohonan name, read in later lists as "R. S. Bohonan". The deeds show that the owner was Benjamin S. Bohonan, a track repairer for the railroad.
The land came to Bohonan from the railroad itself. In November 1850 the Boston and Lowell Rail Road Corporation bought the lot from Mary Tufts. On May 26, 1851 it sold it to Benjamin S. Bohonan of Billerica, "track repairer", for $1100. The lot ran about 92 rods north along the "high road" from a point 34 feet north of the center line of the tracks, east by Herman Rogers and Francis Sheldon to "a pine stump in a stone wall" and "a ledge of rocks", and back along the railroad. No buildings are named in that deed, so the house was built between 1851 and 1853. In 1855 Benjamin mortgaged the lot for $500 to his relative Peter B. Bohonan, the station agent at East Billerica, who discharged the mortgage in 1868.
Benjamin S. Bohonan died intestate in December 1869. His estate was settled by Dudley Foster of Billerica, who was appointed administrator in January 1870. The inventory valued the "Homestead 23 acres" at $1700. Its list of furniture in the parlor, parlor chamber, two other chambers and sitting room describes a modest farmhouse, and the family kept a horse, a cow, a calf, a pig and hens. In 1871 four of his five children (Sarah L. Hogan, Georgia Bohonan, Albert E. Bohonan and Alfred Bohonan) sold their four-fifths to John E. Rowell of Billerica for $853.34. Their mother Abby A. Bohonan, then of Fitchburg, released her dower for $533.33.
Rowell split the homestead. In 1872 he sold the corner at the railroad, "with a dwelling house and barn thereon", to William J. Horner for $1350. Horner sold it back in 1882, writing from Los Angeles County, California. In June 1890 Rowell sold James Clinton of Lowell three acres at the corner, "with the buildings thereon", for $1100. The lot ran 16 1/2 rods along the road and 37 rods along the railroad. James Clinton died about 1897. In 1909 one of his heirs quitclaimed the lot to Margaret Clinton, who mortgaged it with her Lowell house to the B. F. Butler Co-operative Bank.
The 1937 taxes on the lot went unpaid. The Town's collector offered it at auction in August 1939 and found no bidder, so on September 12, 1939 he deeded "Three (3) acres of land more or less with buildings thereon situated on the easterly side of High Street" to the Town of Billerica for $73.20. That tax deed is the last record of the house found so far. The corner lot is now vacant. It sits between the railroad and the house at 103-105 High Street, opposite the modern house at 100 High Street.
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| 1851 | Release Deed | Boston and Lowell Rail Road Corporation (J. Thos. Stevenson, Treasurer) | Benjamin S. Bohonan of Billerica, track repairer | 1851: the railroad sells Benjamin S. Bohonan the bare lot | 609/418 (South) |
Billerica town book 19, pages 100-101. For $1100 the Corporation releases a lot "on the easterly side of a road leading from Billerica to Lowell," beginning 34 feet north of the centre line of the Boston and Lowell rail road, about 92 rods on the high road to land of Herman Rogers, 39 rods by Rogers to Francis Sheldon, by Sheldon 61 rods 7 links to a pine stump in a stone wall, 30 rods 8 links to a ledge of rocks and 151 feet to the railroad land, and back by the railroad, "intending to convey to said Bohonan all the Lot of Land conveyed to said Corporation by Mary Tufts" on November 2, 1850 (town book 18, page 482), except a triangle kept on the south side. No buildings are named. Signed May 26, 1851, and approved by directors William Sturgis, Francis C. Lowell and Ebenezer Chadwick.
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| June 11, 1855 | Mortgage | Benjamin S. Bohonan (written Bohonon) of Billerica, track repairer (Abigail A., his wife, releasing dower) | Peter B. Bohonan of Billerica | 1855: Benjamin mortgages the lot to Peter B. Bohonan | 713/310 (South) |
Billerica town book 20, pages 579-581. For $500, the same lot on the easterly side of the road from Billerica to Lowell, with the same bounds by Herman Rogers, Francis Sheldon and the railroad, "being the same track of land conveyed to me by the Boston and Lowell Rail road corporation by their deed dated May 26th A.D. 1851," void if Benjamin pays Peter $500 and interest on demand. Signed June 5, 1855, witnessed by John Baldwin Jr.; acknowledged June 7 and recorded June 11, 1855. The grantor index shows Peter B. Bohonan's discharge on June 12, 1868 (Book 62, Page 324).
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| 1870 | Administration | Estate of Benjamin S. Bohonan, late of Billerica | Dudley Foster of Billerica, administrator; widow Abby A. Bohonan and children Sarah L. Hogan, Georgia Bohonan, Alfred Bohonan, Albert E. Bohonan and Abbie M. Bohonan | 1870: Benjamin S. Bohonan's estate, "Homestead 23 acres" | Probate #27665 |
Benjamin S. Bohonan died intestate at Billerica in December 1869, leaving his widow Abby A. and five children; "There are no creditors." Dudley Foster, the heirs' choice, was appointed administrator at Cambridge on January 4, 1870 (sureties Peter B. Bohonan and Anthony Jones). The inventory filed February 17, 1870 (appraisers Charles W. French, T. A. Colson and John E. Rowell) lists the real estate as "Homestead 23 acres" at $1700 and $410 of personal estate, including furniture in the parlor, parlor chamber, two other chambers and sitting room, a horse, cow, calf and hens. The widow was allowed $300, and the account was allowed at Lowell on September 19, 1871.
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| July 3, 1871 | Deed | James H. Hogan and his wife Sarah L. Hogan in her own right, of Lowell; Carlos E. Bohonan and his wife Georgia Bohonan in her own right, of Lowell; Albert E. Bohonan and Alfred Bohonan, of Fitchburg (heirs of Benjamin S. Bohonan) | John E. Rowell of Billerica, yeoman | 1871: four of the five heirs sell to John E. Rowell | 80/529 |
For $853.34, "four undivided fifth parts of a certain parcel of land" on the easterly side of the road from Billerica to Lowell, 34 feet north of the centre line of the Boston and Lowell Railroad, about 92 rods on the road to land formerly of Herman Rogers now of Margaret Ryan, 39 rods by Ryan to the heirs of Francis Sheldon, then by Sheldon land to the railroad, "Being premises conveyed to Benjamin S. Bohonan by Boston & Lowell Railroad Corporation dated May 26, 1851," free of encumbrances "except the widow's dower, which is hereinafter released." Signed May 27, 1871, acknowledged before Dudley Foster; recorded July 3, 1871. The fifth share of the minor daughter Abbie M. Bohonan is not in this deed.
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| July 3, 1871 | Release of Dower | Abby A. Bohonan of Fitchburg, widow of Benjamin S. Bohonan | John E. Rowell of Billerica | 1871: the widow releases her dower to Rowell | 80/531 |
For $533.33, Abby A. Bohonan releases to Rowell all her right, title and interest, dower and homestead in the premises described in the deed on page 529. Signed May 27, 1871, acknowledged at Worcester June 7, 1871.
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| November 23, 1872 | Warranty Deed | John E. Rowell of Billerica; Marietta F. Rowell, his wife, releasing dower and homestead | William J. Horner of Billerica | 1872: Rowell sells the corner "with a dwelling house and barn" to William J. Horner | 90/214 |
Signed November 13, 1872, acknowledged before Dudley Foster, recorded November 23, 1872. For $1,350, "a certain tract of land, with a dwelling-house and barn thereon, situate in that part of Billerica known as North Billerica, containing eleven acres, more or less", with the same bounds as the 1882 deed: from "the road leading from Billerica Centre to the Dwelling House of C. W. French" at the Boston and Lowell Railroad, east by the railroad to the heirs of Francis Sheldon, north by Sheldon thirty-six and three-fourths rods "to a stake and stones at my own land", west by Rowell's land to the road and south on the road thirty-eight rods. No title reference. Book 90, Pages 214-215.
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| December 12, 1882 | Warranty Deed | William J. Horner of Billerica; Abby J. Horner, his wife, releasing dower and homestead | John E. Rowell of Billerica | 1882: Horner sells the house back to Rowell | 157/159 |
Signed October 18, 1882 (acknowledged by Horner in Los Angeles County, California), recorded December 12, 1882. For $1,500, "a certain tract of land with a dwelling-house and barn thereon, situate in that part of Billerica known as North Billerica, containing eleven acres more or less", beginning "at the road leading from Billerica Centre to the Dwelling-House of the late Charles W. French at land of the Boston & Lowell Railroad Corporation", easterly on the railroad land to land of the heirs of Francis Sheldon, northerly by Sheldon thirty-six and three-fourths rods to a stake and stones at land of Rowell, westerly by Rowell to the road, and southerly on the road thirty-eight rods to the beginning; subject to a mortgage to Rowell on which $1,200 was due, which Rowell agreed to discharge as part of the price. Book 157, Page 159.
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| June 9, 1890 | Warranty Deed | John E. Rowell of Billerica; Marietta F. Rowell, his wife, releasing dower and homestead | James Clinton of Lowell | 1890: the three-acre house lot "with the buildings thereon" to James Clinton | 216/25 |
Signed and acknowledged June 5, 1890, recorded June 9, 1890. For $1,100, "A certain lot of land with the buildings thereon situated in that part of Billerica called North Billerica": beginning at the southwesterly corner "on the easterly side of the road leading from Billerica to Lowell", north on the road sixteen and 1/4 rods to a stake and stones "at grantors other land", easterly on his other land thirty-three rods "to a stone wall, and land of the heirs of Francis Sheldon", southerly twelve rods "to land of the Boston & Lowell Railroad", westerly by railroad land thirty-seven rods to the beginning, "containing three acres more or less, and being a part of the same premises conveyed to me by Wm J. Horner by deed dated Oct. 18th 1882 recorded Book 157 Page 159." Book 216, Pages 25-26.
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| June 23, 1909 | Quitclaim Deed | James J. Clinton of Lowell, unmarried, heir at law of James Clinton | Margaret Clinton of Lowell | 1909: an heir of James Clinton quitclaims to Margaret Clinton | 435/498 |
Signed May 29, 1909, acknowledged June 21, recorded June 23, 1909. For one dollar and other consideration, his "undivided interest and estate as an heir at law of James Clinton late of Lowell, deceased intestate" in two parcels: a house lot at the corner of La Grange and Marion Streets in Lowell, and "The second parcel of land situated in that part of Billerica in said County called North Billerica": "Beginning at the southwesterly corner of the premises on the easterly side of the road leading from Billerica to Lowell and running northerly on said road sixteen and 1/4 rods to a stake and stones at land now or formerly of John E. Rowell, thence easterly on said land ... thirty three rods to a stone wall and land now or formerly of the heirs of Francis Sheldon; thence southerly twelve rods to land of the Boston and Lowell Railroad; thence westerly by Railroad land thirty seven rods to the point of beginning containing three acres more or less and being the same premises conveyed to my late father by John E. Rowell by his deed dated June 5th 1890 ... Book 216 Page 25". Book 435, Pages 498-499.
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| September 12, 1939 | Collector's Deed | Patrick J. Mahoney, Collector of Taxes for the Town of Billerica (taxes assessed to Mrs. Margaret Clinton) | Town of Billerica | 1939: tax deed to the Town, "with buildings thereon" | 935/203 |
Signed August 21, 1939. The assessors had assessed "Mrs. Margaret Clinton as owner or occupant" $62.72 in taxes for 1937; a demand was made on October 27, 1938, and the land was advertised in the Billerica News and posted at the Town Hall and the North Billerica Post Office for sale at public auction at the Town Hall on August 18, 1939, adjourned to August 21. No one bid the amount due, so the collector "did, purchase on behalf of the said Town of Billerica said land for the sum of seventy three dollars and twenty cents", conveying "Three (3) acres of land more or less with buildings thereon situated on the easterly side of High Street. For further description see deed recorded in Middlesex North District Registry of Deeds. Book 435 Page 498", subject to the right of redemption. The collector's notice and affidavit was recorded the same day (Book 932 Page 540, grantor index 1926-1940). Margin: "See Notice B 974 P 96" and "See Notice B 1158 P 168". Book 935, Pages 203-205.
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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.