Structure · Built 1887
Benjamin Walker House
The Benjamin Walker House stands on the west side of Billerica Avenue in North Billerica, on a lot of about an acre that runs back to the old Boston and Lowell (later Boston and Maine) Railroad. The land was once part of the Rogers farm at the corner of the Lowell road, which Hermon Rogers sold to Anthony Jones in 1859. Jones took Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster into the farm the next year, and in 1864 the three partners sold fourteen acres of it to Martin Conway, keeping the strip between Conway's land and the railroad. After Anthony Jones died, his widow Judith Jones sold that strip, "five acres" bounded by the heirs of Edward Collins on the north and James Haulton on the south, to Conway for $300 on February 21, 1883.
On April 13, 1886 Conway sold three acres of it to Benjamin Walker for $325: a long lot running about 678 feet north along the railroad from Haulton's land to Sarah Cullinan's, and about 230 feet deep. The deed mentions no buildings. Walker built his house here soon after, at the south end of the lot next to Haulton; the deed was recorded in February 1887. The road in front, then called "Billerica street," was laid out as Billerica Avenue by the county in 1897. Walker gave the north end of the lot, 175 feet on the street, to his son Christopher C. Walker in 1893, and in 1897 sold the next lot south to James F. and Martha Delmage, warning them of "a probability of the County Commissioners widening Billerica Avenue."
Benjamin Walker died in 1898. On November 17 of that year his children, Christopher C., Joseph, Ben, Eliza, Nancy and Mary Ann Walker and Elizabeth Mason, released to his widow Mary Walker the homestead "with the buildings thereon," citing his will. The rest of the land was sold under the will: in October 1899 his executor, Herbert A. King, auctioned a half-acre lot "with the buildings thereon" between the Delmage lot and the homestead to Julia A. Holly for $1,537.50. Charles W. Walker and Isabella Butterfield released their shares to the widow in 1905.
Mary Walker kept the house until August 16, 1907, when she sold it to Mary A. and Ephraim Jeffery. The deed fixed the lot as it still is: 213 feet on the railroad, 203 feet on Billerica Avenue, Julia A. Holly's land on the north and James Haulton's on the south. The Jefferys paid with a $1,600 loan from the Lowell Co-operative Bank and a $400 mortgage to Mrs. Walker. They sold the house in 1910 to Mary A. and Eugene McSweeney, who for a time also owned the Holly lot next door. After Eugene McSweeney's death, his widow sold her interest to Agnes C. and John McColough in October 1926, and his administrator, John Joseph McSweeney, sold them Eugene's half for $1,750 in March 1927.
The McColoughs lived here for more than fifty years. Agnes C. McColough died in 1966, and in 1978 John McColough sold the house for $43,000 to the private owners who still held it in 2026. The assessor dates the house to "about 1860," but the deeds show the land was bare when Walker bought it in 1886 and had a house on it by 1898, which agrees with the 1887 date usually given and with "B. Walker" on the 1889 map of North Billerica.
References
Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| February 23, 1798 | Deed | Isaac Kidder of Billerica, yeoman; Sarah his wife and Sarah Kidder, widow, releasing dower | John Rogers of Billerica, yeoman | 1789 Isaac Kidder sells John Rogers the 71-acre farm | 128/13 (South) |
For 190 pounds, "a certain tract or parcel of land ... containing by estimation seventy one acres" (the 63 acres from his father plus the 8 acres from Thomas Rogers), beginning "at the Northeasterly angle by the road or highway leading from Billerica to Tewksbury at the wall on the South side of Ebenezer French's Orchard," west along the wall past "the lower garden" to the Concord River, up the river to Timothy Sprague, by Sprague and Thomas Richardson to a road, and by the roads back to the first bounds, "with all the buildings thereon standing"; also ten acres on the other side of the road by Samuel Trull. The widow Sarah Kidder released her dower "in consequence of my sons giving me a lease of one third part of his land & buildings in Townshend." Signed Dec. 15, 1789; recorded Feb. 23, 1798. Billerica town book 9, pages 339-341.
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| February 10, 1846 | Deed | John Rogers of Billerica, yeoman | His son Hermon Rogers of Billerica, yeoman | 1827 John Rogers gives son Hermon the other half | 474/379 (South) |
"In consideration of a bond for the support of myself and wife and for the payment of one thousand dollars to my son Cyrus Rogers by my son Hermon Rogers ... and for the love I bear him," John Rogers conveys "one undivided half of all my real estate wheresoever the same may be situated," "I having conveyed to the said Hermon the other half by a deed of this date but he the said Hermon is not to come into the actual possession or improvement thereof until my decease and then not untill he has paid to the said Cyrus the sum of one thousand dollars." With the companion deed (Book 474, Page 380) this put the whole of the 1789 Kidder farm, house included, in Hermon's hands. Signed May 12, 1827 before Joseph Locke; recorded Feb. 10, 1846. Billerica town book 20, pages 53-54.
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| February 10, 1846 | Deed | John Rogers | Hermon Rogers | 1827 John Rogers gives son Hermon half of his real estate | 474/380 (South) |
John Rogers of Billerica, yeoman, "in consideration of love and affection and also of past services rendered by my son Hermon Rogers," conveys "one undivided half of all my real estate wherever the same is situated and however bounded or described." Signed May 12, 1827 before Joseph Locke; not recorded until Feb. 10, 1846, with Franklin B. Chapman's deed to Hermon of ten acres by Morey and Stevens, the heirs of William Bowers and C. W. French (Book 474 Page 381). Hazen: Hermon Rogers (1792-1878) "lived in the east part of North Billerica, at the corner of the Lowell road." The descent of the Rogers land from John Rogers Jr., killed here in 1695, to this John Rogers has not been traced. Billerica town book 18, pages 71-72.
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| October 10, 1859 | Deed | Hermon Rogers and Hannah Rogers | Anthony Jones | 1859 Hermon Rogers sells the farm to Anthony Jones | 21/331 |
For $4,700, a lot "on the west side of the old road which leads from Billerica by said Rogers dwelling house to Lowell," from the corner of "the Collins farm" (now Mrs. Pinnock's) westerly across the Boston and Lowell Railroad location, by Mrs. McGlone to the Concord River, up the river to J. R. Faulkner, by the Faulkners and "land taken from John Rogers and myself" for the railroad to the road from North Billerica Mills to Tewksbury, around a lot of the Talbots, and easterly "to the first wall west of said Rogers present dwelling house" and the Sprague lot; subject to the railroad location and flowage rights sold to Oliver M. Whipple. Also a second lot on the easterly side of the Lowell and Billerica road, from the corner of Mary Pasho's land "near her dwelling," by C. W. French and Ebenezer French to the Collins farm. Signed Oct. 8, 1859. Jones mortgaged it back to Hermon (Book 21 Page 334), discharged Feb. 29, 1860 (Book 23 Page 68).
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| March 8, 1860 | Quitclaim | Anthony Jones and Judith Jones | Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster | 1860 Jones sells two thirds to Haynes and Foster | 23/68 |
For $3,100, "one undivided two thirds of my Hermon Rogers farm," with the same bounds as Hermon Rogers's 1859 deed on the west side of the old road "by said Rogers dwelling house to Lowell," and two thirds of the lot on the east side of the road beginning "at the corner of land I this day conveyed to Martin Conway." Signed Feb. 29, 1860. The same day Jones sold Conway, for $350, four acres "on the east side of the old road leading from Billerica to Lowell," beginning at the southwest corner by Mary Pasho, now Mary Burbank, "near her dwelling," and running to C. W. French (Book 23 Page 70).
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| April 18, 1864 | Deed | Lyman Haynes, Anthony Jones and Dudley Foster | Martin Conway | 1864 Conway buys 14 acres east of this land, bounded by the grantors | 37/426 |
For $350, fourteen acres "in the northerly part of said Billerica on the road leading to Lowell through a part of Tewksbury," from the southeast corner on the road northwest 13 rods to the heirs of Edward Collins, then southwest, west and southwest to the grantors' land and back by a wall, "being a part of our Hermon Rogers farm so called," Conway to maintain the wall on the south side against H. Rogers. Signed April 16, 1864. Conway added the Judith Jones lots by the railroad in 1883 (Book 158 Pages 238-239) and a right of way from Thomas Talbot in 1884 (Book 169 Page 112).
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| March 3, 1883 | Warranty Deed | Judith Jones of Billerica, widow | Martin Conway of Billerica | 1883 Judith Jones sells Martin Conway five acres by the railroad | 158/239 |
For $300, "a certain tract of land situate in North Billerica," beginning at the northeast corner "at land of the grantee and land of the heirs of Edward Collins, deceased," westerly by the Collins land to the land of the Proprietors of the Boston and Lowell Railroad, southerly by the railroad to land of James Haulton, easterly by Haulton and other land of the grantor to the southwest corner of the grantee's land, and northerly by the grantee's land to the start, "containing by estimation five acres." The grantee was to build all fences against the grantor's land. No buildings and no title recital. Signed Feb. 21, 1883 before Dudley Foster, J.P.; recorded March 3, 1883.
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| 1886 | Warranty Deed | Martin Conway of Billerica; Margaret Conway releasing dower | Benjamin Walker of Billerica | 1886 Conway sells Benjamin Walker three acres, no buildings | 186/143 |
For $325, "a certain piece or parcel of land situated in said Billerica," beginning at the southwest corner "at a point at land of James Haulton and at the Boston and Lowell Railroad," northerly on the railroad about 678 ft to land of Sarah Cullinan, easterly on her land 229 ft to other land of the grantor, back on that land 678 ft to Haulton, and westerly on Haulton's land 233 ft; "containing three acres more or less." "Being a part of the same premises conveyed to me by Judith Jones, by deed dated February 21st A.D. 1883," Book 158 Page 239, with the right of way given by Thomas Talbot (Book 169 Page 112) and a way over the grantor's land to it. No buildings. Signed April 13, 1886; recorded February 1887.
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| 1893 | Warranty Deed | Benjamin Walker of Billerica; Mary Walker releasing dower | His son Christopher C. Walker of Billerica | 1893 Walker gives the north end to his son Christopher | 242/467 |
For $200, "a certain tract of land situate in North Billerica," 175 ft on "Billerica street" (the later Billerica Avenue), bounded north by Mrs. Cullinan 224 ft to the Boston and Lowell Railroad, west by the railroad 175 ft and south by "my other land" 224 ft. The grantee to do his part of the fencing. No buildings. Signed April 10, 1893 before Dudley Foster, J.P. The north end of the 1886 lot; excepted in the heirs' deed of 1898.
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| 1897 | Warranty Deed | Benjamin Walker of Billerica | James F. Delmage and Martha Delmage, husband and wife, of Billerica | 1897 Walker sells the Delmage lot | 291/9 |
"A certain lot of land situated on the westerly side of Billerica Avenue" in North Billerica, about 44,000 sq ft, beginning on the avenue "at the southeasterly corner of land of C. C. Walker," westerly about 230 ft to the Boston and Maine Railroad, southerly on the railroad to other land of the grantor and back 230 ft to the avenue, "being a part of the same premises conveyed to me by Martin Conway." Walker was to fence the south line against "my other land," and warranted except for "a probability of the County Commissioners widening Billerica Avenue and taking a strip of this land nine feet in width." No buildings. Dated Sept. 12, 1897; recorded September 1897.
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| 1898 | Quitclaim | Christopher C. Walker, Annie Walker, Joseph Walker, Jennie Walker, Ben Walker, Eliza Walker, Nancy Walker, Mary Ann Walker, Elizabeth Mason and Victor J. Mason, all of Billerica | Mary Walker of Billerica, widow of Benjamin Walker | 1898 heirs release the homestead with buildings to the widow | 345/437 |
For $500, the heirs quitclaim to the widow "the following described parcel of land with the buildings thereon," the whole 1886 lot by the same bounds, "excepting and taking from the above described lot" the lots conveyed to Christopher C. Walker (242/467) and James Delmage (291/9). "For our title see will of Benjamin Walker late of said Billerica, deceased, on record at the Probate Office for the County of Middlesex." Signed Nov. 17, 1898 before Herbert A. King; not recorded until July 1902. The earliest record of the house.
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| October 26, 1899 | Executor's Deed | Herbert A. King of Billerica, executor of the will of Benjamin Walker | Julia A. Holly of Billerica | 1899 executor sells the Holly lot to the north | 312/391 |
Under a license of the Probate Court of Sept. 19, 1899, the executor sold at public auction on Oct. 7 to Julia A. Holly, "the highest bid," for $1,537.50, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated on Billerica Avenue in that part of said Billerica called North Billerica": 100 ft on the avenue, north by James Delmage to the Boston and Maine Railroad, 100 ft on the railroad, south by "land of heirs of Benjamin Walker," about half an acre. Signed and recorded Oct. 26, 1899. The lot just north of the Walker homestead, not this house.
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| 1905 | Quitclaim | Charles W. Walker of Billerica and Isabella Butterfield of Methuen | Mary Walker of Billerica, widow | 1905 last heirs release their shares to the widow | 374/507 |
"In consideration of One Dollar and other valuable considerations," quitclaim of "all our undivided right, title and interest" in "the following described parcel of land with the buildings thereon," bounded by the Boston and Maine Railroad, land "now or formerly of one Wilson" to the south, Billerica Avenue and land "now or formerly of one Russell" (the 1899 Holly lot) to the north, "meaning and intending hereby to convey all the title and interest ... which we derived under the will of our father Benjamin Walker." Dated Feb. 11, 1905; recorded February 1905. The last two heirs' shares.
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| August 24, 1907 | Warranty Deed | Mary J. Walker of Billerica, unmarried (widow of Benjamin Walker) | Mary A. Jeffery and Ephraim Jeffery of Billerica, joint tenants | 1907 Mary Walker sells the house to the Jefferys | 408/169 |
"In consideration of One Dollar," "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon": from the southwest corner at James Haulton and the Boston and Maine Railroad, 213 ft north along the railroad to land of Julia A. Holly, 230 ft east along Holly to Billerica Avenue, 203 ft south along the avenue to Haulton, and 233 ft west along Haulton to the railroad. "Being a portion of the premises conveyed by Martin Conway to Benjamin Walker," with her title by "Will of Benjamin Walker" and the heirs' deeds of 1898 (345/437) and 1905 (374/507). Signed Aug. 16, 1907; recorded Aug. 24, 1907. These bounds describe the lot at 30 Billerica Av ever since.
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| August 24, 1907 | Mortgage | Mary A. Jeffery and Ephraim Jeffery of Billerica | Lowell Co-operative Bank | 1907 Jeffery mortgage to Lowell Co-operative Bank | 408/171 |
"In consideration of the sum of Sixteen Hundred Dollars," mortgage of the same lot "with the buildings thereon," "being the same premises to me conveyed by Mary Walker by her deed of even date and to be recorded herewith." Signed Aug. 16, 1907; recorded Aug. 24, 1907. In the margin: discharged Book 449 Page 429 (1910).
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| August 24, 1907 | Mortgage | Mary A. Jeffery and Ephraim Jeffery of Billerica | Mary Walker of Billerica | 1907 Jeffery mortgage to Mary Walker | 408/174 |
"In consideration of Four Hundred Dollars," a second mortgage of the same lot "with the buildings thereon" back to the seller. Signed Aug. 16, 1907; recorded Aug. 24, 1907. In the margin: discharged Book 449 Page 428 (1910). With the bank loan, the price was about $2,000.
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| May 2, 1910 | Warranty Deed | Mary A. Jeffery and Ephraim Jeffery of Billerica | Mary A. McSweeney and Eugene McSweeney of Billerica | 1910 Jefferys sell to the McSweeneys | 449/430 |
"In consideration of One Dollar and other valuable considerations," "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon" by the 1907 bounds (railroad 213 ft to Julia A. Holly, Holly 230 ft, Billerica Avenue 203 ft, Haulton 233 ft), "being the same premises conveyed to us by Mary Walker by her deed dated August 16, 1907," Book 408 Page 169. Signed April 30, 1910; recorded May 2, 1910, just after the bank's discharges of the Jeffery mortgages.
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| May 2, 1910 | Mortgage | Mary A. McSweeney and Eugene McSweeney of Billerica | Philip Gleason of Billerica | 1910 McSweeney mortgage to Philip Gleason | 449/431 |
"In consideration of Fifteen Hundred and Fifty Dollars," mortgage of the same lot "with the buildings thereon," same bounds. Recorded May 2, 1910. Discharged in the margin by Philip Gleason, "I acknowledge full satisfaction for the debt secured by this mortgage."
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| December 8, 1923 | Warranty Deed | Mary A. McSweeney of Billerica; Eugene McSweeney releasing curtesy | Susan Helliwell of Lowell | 1923 the Holly lot next door sold to Susan Helliwell | 699/574 |
"The land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on Billerica Avenue," the half-acre lot 100 ft on the avenue between James Delmage and "land of Heirs of Benjamin Walker," "the same premises as conveyed to me by Carl G. Laurin, Guardian, by his deed dated May 7th, 1918," Book 585 Page 177. Dated Dec. 5, 1923; recorded Dec. 8, 1923. This is the 1899 Holly lot north of the Walker house, which the McSweeneys also owned for a time; not this house.
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| November 2, 1926 | Quitclaim | Mary A. McSweeney of Billerica, widow of Eugene McSweeney | Agnes C. McColough and John McColough, husband and wife, of Billerica | 1926 Mary McSweeney sells to the McColoughs (held to 1978) | 743/339 |
"For consideration paid," "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon" by the 1907 bounds, "being the same premises conveyed to me and my husband Eugene McSweeney deceased" by the Jefferys in 1910 (449/430), "including any title and interest I have as the widow." Signed Oct. 30, 1926; recorded November 1926. The McColoughs kept the house for more than fifty years: Agnes died Jan. 25, 1966, and John McColough, as survivor, sold it in October 1978 for $43,000 to private owners (Book 2334 Page 303), who still held it in 2026.
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| April 4, 1927 | Administrator's Deed | John Joseph McSweeney of Billerica, administrator of the estate of Eugene McSweeney | Agnes C. McColough and John McColough, husband and wife | 1927 administrator sells Eugene McSweeney's half | 748/24 |
"By the power conferred by the Probate Court for said County of Middlesex by a license dated November 12th, 1926," "for seventeen hundred and fifty dollars paid," "one undivided half interest in a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon," the premises conveyed to Mary A. and Eugene McSweeney by the Jefferys (449/430), "meaning to convey all the right, title and interest that said Eugene McSweeney had." Signed March 31, 1927; recorded April 4, 1927, 10:10 A.M.
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| April 4, 1927 | Mortgage | Agnes C. McColough and John McColough of Billerica | John Joseph McSweeney of Billerica | 1927 McColough mortgage to John Joseph McSweeney | 748/25 |
"To secure the payment of Three thousand dollars in ten years with six per centum interest," mortgage of the land "with the buildings thereon," same bounds, "being the same premises conveyed to Eugene McSweeney and Mary A. McSweeney" in 1910 (449/430). Signed March 31, 1927; recorded April 4, 1927, 10:11 A.M. A discharge is noted in the margin.
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.