Billerica Academy
Billerica Academy
| Address | 11 Concord Rd |
| Built | 1821 |
| Demolished | 1873 |
| Other Lot Structures | Billerica Masonic Temple (Built 1875) |
The Billerica Academy building stood on the west side of the Common, just south of the First Parish meetinghouse (the Billerica First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church), on the lot now occupied by the Billerica Masonic Temple at 11 Concord Road. It housed the Billerica Academy from 1821 to 1836, was then a store and post office, and burned in 1873.
The corner was part of the house lot of the Parker family, who had it from the land of the Rev. Samuel Ruggles. In 1791 a town committee recommended that the centre ward school-house be set "in Stephen Parker's corner, at the west end of the meeting house." John Parker Sr.'s will of 1801 left his son John "the strip on which his barn stands from the common westward," and in 1819 Col. John Parker bought five more acres around his house from his brother Stephen.
The academy was established in 1820 with Bernard Whitman and his sister Bathsheba, who had kept a private school in a hall of the old hotel, as its teachers. Its trustees included Josiah Crosby, Samuel Whiting, Joseph Locke, Rev. Nathaniel Whitman, Francis Faulkner, Col. J. B. Richardson and Dr. Zadock Howe. On March 2, 1821 Col. John Parker and his wife Susanna sold the Trustees of Billerica Academy "a certain piece or lot of land situate on the south side of the Meeting house": sixty feet on the Common, six rods and sixteen links back along Parker's own land, and five rods and two links on the north "to the southwest corner of the horse sheds appurtenant to the said Meetinghouse," with land of the town on the east. Hazen thought the building "was probably identical with the earlier school-house, on the same spot," but the 1821 deed does not mention a building, and no record shows whether the academy took over the old schoolhouse or built anew.
The academy never had a fund to support it, and it still owed Parker's estate for the land. On June 18, 1833, after Parker's death, the trustees, by their secretary John Baldwin, mortgaged the lot "with the buildings thereon standing" to Marshall Preston, executor of Parker's will, for $378.18, reserving to John and Henry Baldwin "the use of the cellar under the Academy building" for the term of their lease. The school closed in 1836. Preston took possession, the trustees' right to redeem was foreclosed, and on October 14, 1837 he sold thirteen fourteenths of "the buildings thereon standing, known as the Billerica Academy" for $445.99 to thirteen townsmen: Zadock Howe, John Baldwin, Thaddeus Brown, James R. Faulkner, Henry Baldwin, John Eames, Ichabod Everett, Francis Richardson, George Holden, Sereno Fisk, George Bacon, George P. Elliot and Jonas Merriam Jr. The academy building did not become a town school. On May 2, 1844 the others, with Preston, sold their shares to John Baldwin for $730, and he owned the whole. In 1845 he also bought the acre behind it, which the deeds called the "Academy Lot," from Ann Parker.
Under Baldwin the building was a country store and the centre post office. His son John Baldwin Jr. kept it and was postmaster from 1849 to 1855, and Sylvester S. Hill ran it in the 1860s, but the deeds show that Baldwin kept the ownership. On May 1, 1873 Baldwin sold "the 'Academy Lot,'" now 98 feet on the road and about 104 feet deep, to Frederic A. Morey, a trader, for $873, and Morey mortgaged it back to him, promising to keep "the buildings standing on the land" insured. Hazen wrote that the old building "was burned in 1873; and rebuilt by Mr. Morey for the same use," and the town accounts for the year ending February 1874 paid men for "watching Morey's fire." By March 20, 1874 Morey owed Baldwin $4,100 on the lot "with the buildings thereon standing," most likely the cost of the new store. That rebuilt store is the present Masonic Temple. The outline of the academy here is copied from it, since no record gives the size of the academy building.
References
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| 1803 | Will | John Parker of Billerica, gentleman (tanner) | His sons Stephen Parker and John Parker (executors) and his other children | 1803: John Parker Sr. wills his son John the strip from the Common westward, the later academy corner | Probate #16643 |
Will dated March 27, 1801, with a codicil of Feb. 28, 1803. To his son John the tan-house and tan-yard and a strip from the Common westward to the wall of the orchard, among other land; to his son Stephen "my dwelling-house, and the land adjoining" on the south side of the Common, on condition he support his sister Abigail, and "I also bequeath to my said son, Stephen, the whole of my farm on the west side of Concord road, commonly called the Ruggles farm, except that small parcel of it which I have given to my son, John. This bequest is to be understood as including the barn, and all other appurtenances belonging to said farm." Legacies to sons Daniel and Samuel and daughters Sarah Bowers, Anne Prichard and Elizabeth Breed. Witnesses Henry Cumings, Jacob Richardson and John Richardson Jr. Proved at Woburn Sept. 20, 1803 before Judge Oliver Prescott. This is the first record of the house in Parker hands. Middlesex probate case 16643.
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| December 11, 1837 | Warranty Deed | Stephen Parker of Billerica, gentleman, and Sibel his wife | His brother John Parker of Billerica, Esq. | 1819: Stephen Parker sells his brother Col. John Parker five acres by John's house | 368/529 (South) |
For $1,200, "the following described piece of land containing five acres & the same more or less," beginning "at an Elm tree near the said John Parker's dwelling house," westerly by John Parker's land about twenty rods to a stone wall running south, southerly by the wall seven or eight rods, westerly again by John Parker's land about twenty rods, southerly by Stephen Parker's land about eighteen rods to land of the Revd. Nathl. Whitman, easterly by Whitman "by the wall as it now stands to the road leading south from the meeting house" about forty rods, and by the road to the beginning, "the said piece of land being now enclosed with a stone wall all round with all the buildings thereon standing." Dated Oct. 13, 1819, witnessed by M. Preston and Elizabeth Parker, acknowledged Oct. 30, 1819 before Blaney Abbot, recorded Dec. 11, 1837. By 1819 John Parker Jr. was living in the Ruggles house; this completed the twelve-acre house lot of his will. On the same page is Stephen's 1829 release to John of half the "City Farm." Billerica town book 15, pages 487-488.
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| June 22, 1833 | Deed | Col. John Parker of Billerica (Susanna Parker releasing dower) | The Trustees of Billerica Academy | 1821: Col. John Parker sells the academy lot south of the meetinghouse | 323/274 (South) |
Signed and acknowledged March 2, 1821 before Blaney Abbot, recorded June 22, 1833 (Billerica town book 16, pages 195-196). Witnesses Henry Baldwin and Henry Bridge. "A certain piece or lot of land situate on the south side of the Meeting house," beginning at the northeast corner by the Common at land of the town, southerly by the Common sixty feet, westerly by the grantor's own land six rods and sixteen links to a stake and stones, northerly by his land five rods and two links "to the southwest corner of horse sheds appurtenant to the said Meetinghouse," and easterly by the town's land to the beginning.
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| June 22, 1833 | Mortgage | The Trustees of Billerica Academy, by John Baldwin, secretary | Marshall Preston of Billerica, Esq., as executor of the will of Col. John Parker | 1833: the trustees mortgage the academy building to Marshall Preston | 323/274 (South) |
Dated June 18, 1833, acknowledged June 19 before Joseph Locke (Billerica town book 16, pages 197-198). For $378.18, "a certain piece or lot of land with the buildings thereon standing situate in said Billerica on the south side of the Meeting house," the same bounds as the 1821 deed (the Common sixty feet, land late of Col. John Parker, the horse sheds, the town's land), "reserving to John and Henry Baldwin the use of the cellar under the Academy building upon said premises during the term of the lease of said cellar." Void on payment of a note of the same date by Samuel Whiting, Josiah B. Richardson and Francis Richardson, a committee of the trustees, to Preston as executor.
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| 1837 | Quitclaim | Marshall Preston of Billerica, Esquire (Maria Preston releasing dower) | Zadock Howe, John Baldwin, Thaddeus Brown, James R. Faulkner, Henry Baldwin, John Eames and seven others of Billerica | 1837: after foreclosing the academy mortgage, Preston sells 13/14 of the building to thirteen townsmen | 373/450 (South) |
Billerica town book 14, pages 438-440. Signed October 14, 1837, acknowledged November 4. For $445.99 paid by Zadock Howe, John Baldwin, Thaddeus Brown, James R. Faulkner, Henry Baldwin, John Eames, Ichabod Everett, Francis Richardson, George Holden, Seneca Fisk, George Bacon, George P. Elliot and Jonas Merriam Jr., "thirteen undivided fourteenth parts of a certain piece or parcel of land situate in said Billerica on the south side of the meeting house, with the buildings thereon standing, known as the Billerica Academy," 60 feet on the common, 6 rods 16 links back along land late of Col. John Parker, 5 rods 10 links "to the southwest corner of the horse shed appurtenant to said meeting house," reserving to John and Henry Baldwin the cellar for the term of their contract. Preston recites that the trustees had mortgaged it to him for a debt due Parker's estate and that he had "taken possession thereof & the right in equity to redeem the same having been foreclosed is the source of my title." The academy had closed in 1836; the building passed to a group of townsmen as shareholders. Recorded July 1838.
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| 1844 | Quitclaim | Zadock Howe, James R. Faulkner, Henry Baldwin, Marshall Preston and nine other owners of the Billerica Academy | John Baldwin of Billerica, Esquire | 1844: the shareholders sell 13/14 of the academy building to John Baldwin, who now owns all of it | 443/390 (South) |
Billerica town book 16, pages 513-514. Signed May 2, 1844. For $730, Zadock Howe, James R. Faulkner, Henry Baldwin, John Eames, Ichabod Everett, Francis Richardson, George Bacon, George P. Elliot, Jonas Merriam Jr. and Marshall Preston of Billerica, George Holden of West Cambridge, Susan Brown of Andover, widow, and Sereno Fisk of Southport, Wisconsin Territory, quitclaim "Thirteen undivided fourteenth parts of a certain parcel of land situate in said Billerica on the southerly side of the first parish meeting house with the buildings thereon standing known as the Billerica Academy," bounded by the Common at the Meeting House Lot, west 6 rods 16 links and north 5 rods 2 links by Ann Parker, "to the Southwest corner of the Horse sheds appurtenant to said Meeting house." With the share he bought in 1837, John Baldwin now owned the whole building and lot.
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| March 18, 1845 | Warranty Deed | Ann Parker of Billerica, singlewoman | John Baldwin of Billerica, Esq. | 1845: the rear "Academy Lot," bounded east by Baldwin's academy building lot | 458/79 (South) |
For $500, the "Academy Lot," one acre and 48 rods "on the westerly side of the Common," from its southeast corner "at said Common and said Ann's mansion house lot," westerly by the stone wall of the mansion-house lot 13 rods 13 links to the widow Sybil Parker's thirds, northerly by Sybil's thirds and Capt. Samuel Foster, easterly by the Bowers heirs to the First Parish, and back by the Parish and Baldwin's own Academy lot to the Common. Dated Feb. 24, 1845, witnessed by Mrs. Martha A. Lyman and Marshall Preston, recorded March 18, 1845; the Prestons quitclaimed the same lot to Ann Parker the same day (next deed). The lot behind the Common north of the house was excepted from every later deed of the house lot. Billerica town book 17, pages 572-573.
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| June 9, 1873 | Warranty Deed | John Baldwin of Billerica, yeoman | Frederic A. Morey of Billerica, trader | 1873: John Baldwin sells the "Academy Lot" to Frederic A. Morey | 94/263 |
Dated May 1, 1873, acknowledged June 7 before Charles H. Parker. For $873, "a certain lot or parcel of land situated in said Billerica, known as the 'Academy Lot'": beginning at its northeast corner "on the public highway and at land of the Unitarian Society," south on the highway about 98 feet to land of the town, west by the town's land "and by my own land" about 104 feet, north by Baldwin's land about 118 feet to the Unitarian Society, and east by the Society's land about 104 feet. Witnessed by John Baldwin Jr. and Charles H. Parker.
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| June 9, 1873 | Mortgage | Frederic A. Morey of Billerica, trader | John Baldwin of Billerica | 1873: Morey mortgages the lot back to Baldwin; the buildings to be insured for $1,000 | 94/264 |
Same date. Morey mortgaged the "Academy lot" back to Baldwin for the whole $873 price, payable in two years at seven percent, and was to "keep the buildings standing on the land aforesaid insured against fire in a sum not less than one thousand dollars," so the old academy building, then a store, still stood in May 1873.
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| 1874 | Mortgage | Frederic A. Morey of Billerica, trader | John Baldwin of Billerica | 1874: mortgage of the Academy Lot "with the buildings thereon standing" after the old building burned | 100/341 |
Dated March 20, 1874. For $4,100, "a certain lot or parcel of land with the buildings thereon standing situated in said Billerica known as the 'Academy Lot'," with the bounds of the 1873 deed, payable in four yearly installments of $1,025 at seven percent, the buildings to be kept insured against fire. The jump from the $873 owed in 1873 to $4,100 suggests Baldwin financed the new store Morey built after the 1873 fire. The margin notes an assignment (Book 125, Page 459) and the 1904 discharge (Book 371, Page 68).
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| October 24, 1904 | Executors Deed | Nathan H. Reed of Somerville and Thomas J. Morey of Haverhill, executors of the will of Frederic A. Morey | Lawrence B. Gannon and Ernest C. Towle of Billerica | 1904: Morey executors sell the store on the academy lot at auction to Gannon and Towle | 371/70 |
Signed August 25, 1904. Under a Probate Court license of May 25, 1904, the executors sold Morey's real estate at public auction on August 4, 1904 to Gannon and Towle, the highest bidders, for $3,250: "a certain parcel of land and the buildings thereon," bounded east by the public highway 98 feet, north by the Unitarian Church and F. H. Parker 252 feet, west by Mary F. Bryant and J. N. Parker 199 feet, south by the heirs of Mary B. Parker 120 feet, then east 75 feet and south 116 feet by "the Town Hall lot." This joined the old academy lot on the road and the land behind it into the parcel of the present Masonic Temple.
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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.