Billerica Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Dutton Barn at 30 Pond Street is the old barn of the Dutton - Holden Homestead next door, standing on a lot of 20,000 square feet that was cut off from the farm in 1950. For two and a quarter centuries the barn and the house shared one chain of title, and the barn has since been, in turn, the Odd Fellows hall of Shawsheene Lodge, a Lutheran church and a Seventh-day Adventist church.
The farm was part of the land of John Dutton, who in 1723 gave his son Jonathan eighty acres of upland and meadow "with the buildings." Jonathan sold the farm to his brother Samuel in 1732, and when Samuel Dutton, a blacksmith, died in 1736 the homestead was divided among his widow and sons. Samuel Dutton Jr. sold the thirty-six acre homestead "with a house and Barn" to his guardian and neighbor Thomas Kidder in 1740. Kidder sold it in two parcels in 1765 and 1767 to Deacon Joshua Davis; the first deed included the dwelling house "and also a Frame of a Barn." After Davis died in 1777 the farm passed to his son Timothy, who in 1785 sold "all my Homestead ... containing about thirty five acres ... with my Dwelling House & Barn" to John Soley, a Boston merchant. Soley's heirs sold it in 1802 and 1803 to Thomas Holden, a shoemaker.
The Holdens kept the farm for well over a century: Thomas Holden until his death in 1842, his son Amasa Holden until 1876, and Amasa's son Warren Holden, who in 1926 deeded the remaining thirty-five acres "together with all the buildings" to a relative in Stoneham, Lester D. Holden. Lester sold in 1929 to George R. Ford of Belmont, who sold the same year to Forrest F. Collier of Billerica. Collier sold the corner of the farm with the house and barn to Robert E. and Irene H. Wyman in 1930 and took it back in 1936, and in 1946 had it surveyed into lots. The barn stood on Lot B, a hundred feet on Pond Street and two hundred feet deep, beside Lot A, which held the house.
On January 4, 1950 Collier conveyed Lot B, "with the buildings thereon," to five trustees of the Shawsheene Building Association, a trust whose 500 units of ten dollars each were sold to members of the Shawsheene Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and its Rebekah lodge; the trust certificate names the property "Odd Fellows Hall Building and land on Pond St., Billerica." Collier took back a $2,000 mortgage, and in 1956 lent the trustees a further $1,500 as trustee of the Foster Trust. The trust was renewed in 1975 for "Shawsheene Lodge, No. 64," and Winning Rebekah Lodge, and on August 12, 1977 its trustees sold the lot for $12,000 to the Community of Christ Lutheran Church, whose congregation had voted to buy the property "commonly known as the Odd Fellows Hall." In 1991 the church sold it for $110,000 to the Southern New England Conference Association of Seventh-Day Adventists, which still owns it as the home of the local Seventh-day Adventist church.
The Community of Christ Lutheran Church began as a mission of The American Lutheran Church, the national church body based in Minneapolis. On Dec. 31, 1970 The American Lutheran Church bought a house on a 30,000 square foot lot on the south side of Salem Road (now 155 Salem Road) for $31,300, and on Oct. 15, 1971 it paid $30,000 for 3.1 acres of the Chandler estate on the northwest side of Andover Road. The congregation was incorporated on Dec. 30, 1971, and on June 27, 1972 the national church deeded it the Salem Road house. Its pastor in 1973 and 1974, the Rev. Henry Boschen, judged the town report cover contest in January 1974 and gave the invocation at a town meeting that year for "the Lutheran Church of Billerica." The church never built on Andover Road: after buying the Odd Fellows Hall in 1977 it worshiped on Pond Street, and in September 1986 The American Lutheran Church sold the Andover Road land for $75,000. The 1985 directory lists the "Community Of Christ Lutheran Church, Rev Douglas Behm, Pastor, 30 Pond St." The church sold the Salem Road house in 1990 and the hall in 1991. At town meeting on June 4, 1991 Representative Buffum announced that "the Lutheran Church of Billerica has given a sizable donation" for scholarships, and from 1991 the town's trust funds carry a $15,000 "Lutheran Church Scholarship Fund." A Community of Christ Lutheran Church Scholarship was still being awarded to a Billerica Memorial High School senior in 2020.
The deeds do not say when the present barn was raised. A barn is named on the farm in 1740, a barn frame in 1765 and a barn in 1785. Warren Holden passed the farm to Lester Holden in 1926, and Collier bought it from George R. Ford in 1929.
References
- National Register nomination 01000307 (2001), Dutton-Holden Homestead: in 1950 Forrest Collier "divided out a small lot with the Holden barn on it" for the Odd Fellows hall
- Billerica Seventh-day Adventist Church, 30 Pond St: Sabbath School and worship on Saturdays
- Lowell city directory 1985 (Billerica listings): "Community Of Christ Lutheran Church, Rev Douglas Behm, Pastor, 30 Pond St (B)"
- Billerica annual town report 1974: invocation by "Reverend Henry Boschen of the Lutheran Church of Billerica"
- Billerica annual town report 1991: June 4, 1991 town meeting, the Lutheran Church's donation; trust funds, "Lutheran Church Scholarship Fund" $15,000
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| December 9, 1723 | Gift | John Dutton of Billerica | Jonathan Dutton, his son | Land of the Dutton farm | 33/249 (South) |
Deed of gift "for and in Consideration of the Love and affection which I have and do bear unto my son Jonathan Dutton ... and in full of his part and portion in my Estate": "one Messuage or Tract of Land situate in Billerica aforesaid containing eighty acres be it more or less of upland and meadow bounded Northward by the Land of Ebenezer Farley eastward by the Road to Andover Southward by the Land of Samuel Shelden westward by my own Land," running from a stake at the southwest corner in a straight line "to the long Dam" and to a pine tree by Ebenezer Farley's field marked D, reserving convenient ways to his own land and excepting about twelve acres of Enoch Kidder's within the bounds, "with all the Buildings fences and Trees thereon standing or being," the land and buildings valued at two hundred pounds. Dated Dec. 9, 1723. Billerica town book 5 page 1.
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| 1732 | Guardianship | Jonathan Dutton of Billerica, non compos | Jacob Walker of Billerica, guardian | Jonathan Dutton guardianship, 1732 | Probate #6590 |
On June 23, 1732 John Dutton asked the judge of probate to appoint a guardian for "a son whose name is Jonathan Dutton who is Non Compos or uncapable to take care of him self or family"; the Billerica selectmen certified on July 3 that he was "so far non compos as to stand in great need of a Guardian," and on Aug. 3, 1732 Jacob Walker, husbandman, was appointed. In 1738, when Tewksbury chose William Kittredge as guardian, Walker resigned, reporting that "the sd Dutton was restored to his former reason again" and that he had "never disposed of so much as one pennyworth of his Estate." Jonathan had sold his Billerica homestead to his brother Samuel on June 5, 1732, three weeks before the inquest.
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| June 21, 1732 | Deed | Jonathan Dutton of Billerica | His brother Samuel Dutton of Billerica | Jonathan Dutton to his brother Samuel, the 80 A farm with the buildings, 1732 | 33/518 (South) |
For 100 pounds, "one messuage or Tract of Land situate in Billerica ... containing eighty acres be it more or less of upland and meadow bounded northwards by the land of Ebenezer Farley, Eastwards by the road to Andover, Southwards by the land of Samuel Sheldon, westward by the land of John Dutton," running from a stake at the southwest corner in a straight line "to the long Dam" and to a pine tree by Ebenezer Farley's field marked D, "excepting about twelve acres of land belonging to Enoch Kidder," "and also all the Buildings that are upon said Land," reserving a convenient highway through it: the farm their father had given Jonathan in 1723. Dated Jan. 25, 1731/2 and signed with Jonathan's mark (witnesses Joseph Pattin, Nicholas French); acknowledged Jan. 26 before Oliver Whiting; recorded June 21, 1732, two days before John Dutton asked for a guardian for Jonathan. Billerica town book 5, pages 19-20 (given by MACRIS as 5/29).
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| 1737 | Guardianship | Samuel Dutton Jr., minor son of Samuel Dutton of Billerica | Thomas Kidder of Billerica, gentleman, guardian | Thomas Kidder guardian of Samuel Dutton Jr., 1737 | Probate #6593 |
On Jan. 8, 1736/7 "Samuel Dutton son of Saml Dutton late of sd Billerica decd being about the age of Eighteen years acknowledged that he chose Thomas Kidder of sd Billerica his Guardian"; Kidder gave bond Jan. 10, 1736/7 with John Dutton, husbandman, in 500 pounds. Kidder signed the 1739 division of Samuel Dutton's estate as guardian when his ward received the 23 1/4 acres with the buildings, and bought the farm from him after he came of age.
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| 1739 | Administration and Division | Estate of Samuel Dutton of Billerica, blacksmith (d. 1736) | His sons John Dutton and Samuel Dutton Jr.; widow Hannah Dutton | Samuel Dutton estate: homestead with the buildings to Samuel Jr., 1739 | Probate #6592 |
Samuel Dutton died intestate in 1736; his widow Hannah and son John were admitted administrators (bonds June 28, 1736 and Jan. 10, 1736/7). By a quitclaim of Jan. 25, 1738/9 Hannah, then of Bedford, released her dower to "my two sons John Dutton of Billerica ... Blacksmith and Samuel Dutton of Bedford ... Labourer" for 120 pounds, reserving "Liberty to possess and live in the west Room of the most Northerly house that was my late husbands," part of the cellar, the way to the house and the well, and yard room for firewood. The committee's inventory (Jan. 24, 1738/9) begins with about 22 1/2 acres "that was formerly Mr John Duttons Homestead or houselott ... with the old Buildings thereon standing" (375 pounds) and "thirty six acres of Land ajoyning to the abovesaid Peice," bounded east and north by highways and west by Thomas Patten Jr. and Lt. Thomas Kidder, "with the Buildings thereon Standing" (370 pounds). John, the eldest son, received the old homestead and 12 3/4 acres at the northeast end of the 36 acres; Samuel Jr. (Thomas Kidder his guardian) received "the Remaining Part of the Thirty six acres, which is Twenty Three acres and a quarter," east on the highway, south on the old Dutton homestead, "with the Buildings thereon Standing," appraised at 338 pounds.
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| April 16, 1771 | Deed | Samuel Dutton of Bedford; Martha Dutton, his wife, releasing dower | Thomas Kidder of Billerica, gentleman | Samuel Dutton Jr. to Thomas Kidder, 36 A "with a house and Barn", 1740 | 71/377 (South) |
For 440 pounds, "a Certain tract Containing thirty six acres more or less and was the homestead of Samuel Dutton late of Billerica Decd," bounded south on land of Ebenezer French, east and north on highways, west on Thomas Patten to a rock and then on Kidder's own land, "together with a house and Barn thereon standing," the northeast corner a stake and stones "southerly of Deacon Davis his Barn"; with 7 acres and 8 acres of meadow at Mill Meadow. Samuel Jr., whose guardian Kidder had been, had received 23 1/4 acres of this homestead "with the Buildings" in his father's estate in 1739. Dated Nov. 17, 1740 (witnesses Jeremiah Abbott, Samuel Danforth Jr., Hannah Dutton, Elizabeth Fitch); acknowledged at Worcester Sept. 25, 1759; recorded Apr. 16, 1771. Billerica town book 6, pages 458-461 (MACRIS dates it 1749 in error).
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| October 27, 1767 | Deed | Thomas Kidder of Billerica, Esq. | Deacon Joshua Davis of Billerica, gentleman | Frame of a barn on the house lot, 1765 | 67/290 (South) |
For 80 pounds, "a certain parcel of Land consisting of orcharding and pasture Land being the easterly part of my Homestead ... containing Eleven acres & seventy poles," beginning at the highway leading to Joshua Davis's by Ebenezer French's land, west 24 poles to a stone wall, north 40 1/4 poles, northeast "as the fence stands in a bowing line" 28 poles and east 23 poles to the highway at a small walnut tree, and south on the highway, "together with a Dwelling House thereon standing and also a Frame of a Barn thereon," with "a Liberty that the said Joshua Daves his heirs and assigns to pass & repass westerly down to the watering place from his Pasture at all Times forever," the way about a pole and a half wide. Dated and acknowledged Feb. 11, 1765 (before William Stickney); recorded Oct. 27, 1767. Billerica town book 6, pages 274-276. The same bounds and watering-place right reappear in the 1785 deed to John Soley and in deeds as late as 1930.
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| October 27, 1767 | Deed | Thomas Kidder of Billerica, Esq. | Deacon Joshua Davis of Billerica, yeoman | Kidder to Joshua Davis, the adjoining 34 1/4 A, 1767 | 67/291 (South) |
For 95 pounds 18 shillings, a parcel "containing Thirty four acres and a Quarter," beginning at the northwest corner by the highway "that leads from said Daves's to Edward Farmers," south to the southeast corner of Josiah Brown's land, to a rock and to the end of the stone wall at a pair of draw bars, southeast and south by land of Davis to a little walnut tree by the highway, and east by the way to a stake and stones "Southwards of said Daves his Barn," then north by the highway: the rest of the old Dutton farm, adjoining the house lot Kidder sold Davis in 1765. Dated Jan. 1, 1767 (witnesses Isaac Marshal, Jonathan Kidder); acknowledged July 10, 1767. Billerica town book 6, pages 276-278.
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| 1778 | Administration and Division | Estate of Deacon Joshua Davis of Billerica, yeoman (d. 1777) | His sons Benjamin, Jonathan and Timothy Davis | Joshua Davis estate: the farm with the buildings to Timothy Davis, 1778 | Probate #6049 |
Joshua Davis died intestate in 1777; his widow Hannah and eldest son Joshua declined, and his second son Benjamin was appointed administrator June 3, 1777. The first inventory (June 12, 1777) lists "a parcel of land containing 45 acres with the Buildings thereon standing" (300 pounds) besides "the homestead being about 134 acres with the Buildings." The committee's real-estate inventory of Dec. 3, 1777 describes the same farm as "another Dwelling house and Barn of the Decd and about forty seven acres of land adjoyning thereto Bounded east and North by highway, west by Josiah Brown and Solomon Pollard, South by land of Ebenezer French" (347 pounds 10s). After setting off the widow's thirds in the main homestead, the committee settled the two thirds on the three next eldest sons, Joshua being "well settled in a neighbouring town": "Upon Timothy about forty seven acres with the Buildings thereon standing Bounded east and North by highways, west by Josiah Brown and Solomon Pollard, South by Ebenezer French," with two acres at the Lewis place, together appraised at 378 pounds. All the heirs signed, and Judge John Winthrop's decree of Feb. 10, 1778 assigned the lands accordingly, Timothy paying his brother William 188 pounds (Probate Records vol. 58 p. 116).
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| October 27, 1785 | Deed | Timothy Davis of Billerica, yeoman; Martha Davis, his wife, releasing dower | John Soley of Boston, merchant | Dwelling house and barn sold to Soley, 1785 | 89/456 (South) |
For 240 pounds, "all my Homestead in said Billerica containing about thirty five acres (be the same more or less) with my Dwelling House & Barn standing on the same," beginning at the highway leading to Benjamin Davis's by Ebenezer French's land, west 24 poles to a stone wall, south by French, north on Capt. Solomon Pollard's land "as the wall now stands" and on the heirs of Josiah Brown, east by Benjamin Davis, and south by the highway, with liberty "to pass & repass westerly down to the watering place from his Pasture at all times forever," Soley keeping a good fence on the north side of the way. Timothy had received the farm in the 1778 division of his father's estate. Dated Sept. 8, 1785 "in the tenth Year of the Independance of America" (witnesses Edward Farmer, Benjamin Davis); acknowledged Sept. 16; recorded Oct. 27, 1785. Billerica town book 7, pages 505-506.
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| 1801 | Administration | Estate of John Soley late of Billerica, merchant (d. 1801) | Samuel Soley of Charlestown, administrator | John Soley estate administration, 1801 | Probate #20856 |
On Nov. 28, 1801 John Soley and Hannah Adams consented at Charlestown "that Samuel Soley our Brother should administer upon the Estate of John Soley late of Billerica deceased"; Samuel gave bond Dec. 1, 1801 with Nathan Adams and Thomas Kettell of Charlestown, merchants, in $30,000. The file holds no inventory, insolvency proceedings or license to sell: the Billerica farm passed to Soley's five children, who sold it to Thomas Holden in 1802. The bankrupt named in the 1802 deed was the son John Soley, whose fifth was conveyed by his assignee, not the father's estate.
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| July 26, 1802 | Warranty | Nathan and Hannah Adams, Samuel and Mary Soley of Charlestown, and John Ward Gurley of Boston, assignee of the estate of John Soley, a bankrupt | Thomas Holden of Woburn | Holden barn on the farm until the 1950 barn lot | 146/297 (South) |
For $1,080, "four undivided fifth parts of a certain piece of land together with all the buildings standing thereon situated in Billerica ... which said land is the same which was conveyed by a certain deed given by Timothy Davis & Martha Davis to John Soley late of said Boston merchant deceased" (Southern Registry Book 89 Page 456; town book 7 page 505), with four fifths of a ten-acre lot on Fox Hill that Soley bought of Benjamin Davis, "Also the four undivided fifth part of pew No 20 in the Meeting house in said Billerica." The grantors were Soley's daughter Hannah and her husband Nathan Adams, his son Samuel and daughter Mary, and John Ward Gurley, assignee of the son John Soley, a bankrupt; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Soley, released her dower. Dated July 16, 1802, acknowledged at Boston and Charlestown July 17 and recorded July 26, 1802. The remaining fifth was conveyed by Nathaniel Soley on Jan. 28, 1803 (Book 149 Page 374). Billerica town book 10 page 152.
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| February 9, 1803 | Warranty Deed | Nathaniel Soley of Charlestown, mariner | Thomas Holden of Billerica, shoemaker | Nathaniel Soley's fifth to Thomas Holden, 1803 | 149/374 (South) |
For $270, "my undivided fifth part of a certain farm, containing about thirty five acres more or less, together with all the buildings thereon," a fifth of a ten-acre lot on Fox Hill and a fifth of pew number twenty, "my undivided fifth part of the estate of my late father Mr. John Soley deceased ... which farm is the same that my late father bought of one Timothy Davis" by deed of Sept. 8, 1785 (Book 89 Page 456). Dated and acknowledged Jan. 28, 1803 (witnesses Josiah Bartlett, Phillips Payson); recorded Feb. 9, 1803. With the 1802 deed of the other four fifths, this completed Holden's title. Billerica town book 10, pages 174-175 (Warren Holden's 1926 deed dates it 1805).
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| 1843 | Will | Thomas Holden of Billerica, yeoman (d. 1842) | His son Amasa Holden | Will of Thomas Holden: farm (barn lot included) to Amasa Holden | Probate #34435 |
Will dated Feb. 8, 1835 (witnesses Ichabod G. Kimball, Thomas Shed, Marshall Preston): wearing apparel to son Thomas Jr., small legacies to sons George and Artemas R. Holden and daughter Abigail French, wife of Reuben French Jr., and "all the rest and residue of my Estate both Real and personal" to "my other son Amasa Holden," he "maintaining and supporting his mother, my beloved wife, Mary Holden, during her natural life, and as a kind & dutiful son shall provide for her at all times." Amasa, sole executor, gave bond Feb. 10, 1843 as residuary legatee (sureties George Holden of West Cambridge and Artemas R. Holden of Boston); the will was proved at Concord Feb. 14, 1843 (Probate Records vol. 278 p. 59).
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| August 12, 1878 | Mortgage | Warren Holden of Billerica, unmarried | David Floyd of Billerica | Holden homestead with the buildings, 1878 | 130/309 |
Mortgage of Aug. 9, 1878 to secure $600 in three years at six per cent: "a certain parcel of land together with all the buildings thereon situate in said Billerica, Being the homestead of the late Amasa Holden deceased, and by said Amasa bequeathed to me in his last will approved March 21st 1876," bounded from a corner of Eben Baker's land at the road to Tewksbury, west on Baker to Abel Spalding, north by a wall, west to a bound, north on Spalding to Haynes and Foster, east, north and west on them to Martin Lane, north to Charles H. Stackpole, east on Stackpole and the heirs of George Holden to the road, and south on the road, "containing about fifty acres," free of incumbrances "except the widow's right of dower." The buildings were to be insured for $600. A marginal discharge records payment in full. Indexed as "Holden, Amasa's devisee, to Daniel Floyd."
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| February 25, 1916 | Taking | County Commissioners of Middlesex County (Levi S. Gould, Erson B. Barlow, Alfred L. Cutting) | Middlesex County (Pond Street relocation) | Pond Street relocation taking from Warren Holden, 1916 | 551/33 |
"In the matter of the relocation of Pond street, in the town of Billerica," the commissioners' return of Feb. 19, 1916 took land for highway purposes, with a plan filed in the registry (Plan Book M-99): from the estate of Ebenezer Baker about 2,500 square feet; from Warren Holden three parcels of about 350, 6,300 and 320 square feet along the front of the Holden farm; and smaller parcels from Arthur S. Cook, Charles P. H. Nason, Carolina Schult, Josiah Wright, Nellie M. Dockham and Joseph Steinberg. The stone bound of this 1916 layout is the reference point of the 1930 deeds of the house lot.
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| June 22, 1928 | Warranty Deed | Warren Holden of Billerica, unmarried | Lester D. Holden of Stoneham | Holden farm with the barn, 1926 | 763/99 |
Dated and acknowledged Oct. 2, 1926, recorded June 22, 1928: for consideration paid, with warranty covenants, "the land in Billerica, about (35 acres) thirty-five acres more or less together with all the buildings thereon," being the premises conveyed "in the first part of the deed of Nathan Adams & Hannah ux. in her Rt., Samuel Soley and Mary Soley, all of Charlestown and John Ward Gurley of Boston assignee of the estate of John Soley of said Boston, a Bankrupt to Thomas Holden of Woburn" dated July 16, 1802 (Book 146 Page 297) and in "the first part of the deed of Nathaniel Soley of Charlestown to Thomas Holden of Billerica" dated Jan. 28, 1805 (Book 149 Page 374). "For full description see deed of Timothy Davis of Billerica to John Soley of Boston" of Sept. 8, 1785 (Book 89 Page 456). "For my title see will of Thomas Holden #34435 ... Probated Cambridge Feb. 1843, also will of Amasa Holden #5341 probated at Cambridge, March 1876." Warren also gave Lester all his household furniture and personal property. Indexed under "Holden, Amasa Est."
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| January 23, 1929 | Mortgage | Lester D. Holden of Stoneham; Ruth E. Holden, his wife, releasing dower | Merrimack River Savings Bank, Lowell | Lester D. Holden mortgage of the farm, 1929 | 772/596 |
Mortgage of Jan. 19, 1929 to secure $3,500 in one year at six per cent: "the land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica ... on the westerly side of Pond Street," beginning at a corner of land of Eben Baker at Pond Street, west on Baker to Abel Spalding, north by a wall, west to a bound, north on Spalding to Haynes and Foster, east and then north and west on them to Martin Lane, north to Charles H. Stackpole, east on Stackpole and on the heirs of George Holden to Pond Street, and south on Pond Street to the beginning, "thirty-five (35) acres, more or less," "being the same premises conveyed to me by Warren Holden" (Book 763 Page 99), "with the benefit of the right of way set forth in a deed from Timothy Davis to John Soley dated September 8, 1785" (Billerica town book 7 page 505). The mortgage was assumed by George R. Ford and then by Forrest F. Collier in 1929.
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| September 16, 1929 | Quitclaim | Lester D. Holden of Stoneham; Ruth E. Holden, his wife, releasing dower | George R. Ford of Belmont | Lester D. Holden to George R. Ford, 1929 | 781/519 |
Dated and acknowledged at Lowell Sept. 14, 1929, recorded Sept. 16: for consideration paid, "the land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica ... on the westerly side of Pond Street," bounded on Eben Baker, Abel Spalding, Haynes and Foster, Martin Lane, Charles H. Stackpole, the heirs of George Holden and Pond Street, "thirty-five (35) acres, more or less, and being the same premises conveyed to me by Warren Holden by deed dated October 2, 1926" (Book 763 Page 99), with the 1785 Davis to Soley right of way, subject to the $3,500 Merrimack River Savings Bank mortgage, which Ford assumed, and the 1929 taxes. Ford conveyed the farm to Forrest F. Collier two days later.
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| March 22, 1930 | Quitclaim | George R. Ford of Belmont; Esther McDade Ford, his wife, releasing dower | Forrest F. Collier of Billerica | Holden farm to Collier, 1929 | 787/88 |
Dated and acknowledged Sept. 16, 1929, recorded Mar. 22, 1930: for consideration paid, "the land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica ... on the westerly side of Pond Street," the same 35 acres bounded on Eben Baker, Abel Spalding, Haynes and Foster, Martin Lane, Charles H. Stackpole and the heirs of George Holden, "being the same premises conveyed to me by Warren Holden by deed dated October 2, 1926" (Book 763 Page 99; in fact Ford bought from Lester D. Holden, Book 781 Page 519), with the right of way of the 1785 deed from Timothy Davis to John Soley "recorded ... Book 7, Page 505, of the Southern District Copies for Billerica," subject to the $3,500 Merrimack River Savings Bank mortgage, which Collier assumed as part of the price.
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| March 22, 1930 | Quitclaim | Forrest F. Collier of Billerica | Lucy B. Collier, his wife | Collier to his wife, the back land; the house and barn corner excepted, 1930 | 787/89 |
Dated Mar. 21, 1930, recorded Mar. 22: the 35-acre Holden farm on the west side of Pond Street, "but excepting the following portion of said land located on the southeasterly corner": from the Eben Baker corner at Pond Street west on Baker to Abel Spalding, north by a wall on land of Mary E. Lane and Lucy B. Collier about 620 feet to where the wall "turns and runs westerly along a lane," then east in a straight line to Pond Street 113 feet south of a stone bound on the 1916 County Commissioners' plan of Pond Street, and south on Pond Street 694 feet to the beginning. Collier kept that southeasterly portion, with the house and barn; his wife took the back land, later the Holden Heights lots. "Part of the premises conveyed to me by deed of George R. Ford," with the 1785 right of way and subject to the $3,500 mortgage.
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| July 23, 1930 | Quitclaim | Forrest F. Collier of Billerica; Lucy B. Collier, his wife, releasing dower | Robert E. and Irene H. Wyman of Billerica, husband and wife | House and barn corner to Wyman, 1930 | 792/431 |
Dated July 15, 1930: for consideration paid, "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon consisting of 345,563 [elsewhere 343,563] square feet, more or less, on the westerly side of Pond Street," from the Eben Baker corner at Pond Street west 392.45 feet on Baker to Abel Spalding, north 669.67 feet "by a wall on land now or formerly of Mary E. Lane and Lucy B. Collier, to the end of the stone wall where said stone wall turns and runs westerly along a lane," east 644.50 feet to Pond Street 113 feet south of a stone bound on the 1916 County Commissioners' plan, and south 694.87 feet on Pond Street, "Being portion located on the southeasterly corner of the premises conveyed to said Forrest F. Collier by George R. Ford" in 1929: the house, barn and about eight acres. The Wymans gave Collier a $6,000 purchase-money mortgage the same day (Book 792 Page 432).
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| July 23, 1930 | Mortgage | Robert E. and Irene H. Wyman of Billerica | Forrest F. Collier of Billerica | Wyman purchase-money mortgage on the house and barn corner, 1930 | 792/432 |
Purchase-money mortgage to secure $6,000 in three years at six per cent, payable quarterly, on "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon consisting of 343,563 square feet, more or less, on the westerly side of Pond Street," with the same bounds as the Collier to Wyman deed recorded just before it. The Wymans reconveyed the property to Collier in 1936 (Book 895 Page 443).
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| January 29, 1937 | Quitclaim | Robert E. and Irene H. Wyman of Billerica | Forrest F. Collier of Billerica | Back to Collier, 1936 | 895/443 |
Dated and acknowledged Aug. 15, 1936, recorded Jan. 29, 1937 ($6 in revenue stamps): "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon consisting of 343,563 square feet, more or less, on the westerly side of Pond Street," with the bounds of 1930, "Being the same premises conveyed by the grantee to the grantors hereunder." The Wymans, who still owed Collier on the 1930 purchase-money mortgage, gave the house back to him rather than await a foreclosure.
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| January 18, 1950 | Trust Deed | Forrest F. Collier of Billerica; Edna T. Collier, his wife, releasing dower | Chester A. Wright, Robert C. Petersen, Edward O. Pickering, Harold S. Roberts and James B. Goodrich, Trustees of the Shawsheene Building Association | Lot B with the barn to the Shawsheene Building Association (Odd Fellows Hall), 1950 | 1132/355 |
Dated Jan. 4, 1950: for consideration paid, "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon located on the westerly side of Pond Street and shown as Lot B on a plan of land recorded in Middlesex North District Registry of Deeds, Plan Book 68, Plan 89A," in trust as the "SHAWSHEENE BUILDING ASSOCIATION," whose 500 units at $10 were to be sold to members of Shawsheen Lodge No. 54, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and its Rebekah lodge; the certificate form describes the trust property as "Odd Fellows Hall Building and land on Pond St., Billerica." Lot B is the old Holden barn lot, now 30 Pond Street. The trustees gave Collier a mortgage back (Book 1132 Page 360).
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| January 18, 1950 | Mortgage | Chester A. Wright, Robert C. Petersen, Edward O. Pickering, Harold S. Roberts and James B. Goodrich, Trustees of the Shawsheene Building Association | Forrest F. Collier of Billerica | Odd Fellows trustees' mortgage back to Collier on Lot B, 1950 | 1132/360 |
Mortgage of Jan. 4, 1950, recorded Jan. 18, 1950 a minute after the trust deed (Book 1132, Page 355) by which Collier conveyed the barn lot to the same trustees: to secure $2,000 "in ten (10) years with four (4) per centum interest per annum, payable semi-annually," on "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, located on the westerly side of Pond Street, and shown as Lot B on a plan of land recorded in Middlesex North District Registry of Deeds, Plan Book 68, Plan 89A," with the statutory power of sale.
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| November 14, 1955 | Appointment of Trustees | Edward O. Pickering, Harold S. Roberts and James B. Goodrich, surviving Trustees of the Shawsheene Building Association | Biagio S. DeMaggio and Dexter H. Wakefield of Billerica, successor trustees | successor trustees of the Shawsheene Building Association, 1955 | 1316/119 |
The trust created by the deed in Book 1132, Page 355 provided for five trustees; Chester A. Wright had resigned by an instrument recorded Dec. 8, 1953 (Book 1242, Page 337) and Robert C. Petersen "has recently died." The "remaining and surviving Trustees" appoint Biagio S. DeMaggio and Dexter H. Wakefield of Billerica in their place, "duly ratified by more than two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding units of this trust," and the two accept. Acknowledged at Billerica in November 1955, recorded Nov. 14, 1955.
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| March 12, 1956 | Mortgage | Edward O. Pickering, Harold S. Roberts, James B. Goodrich, Biagio S. DeMaggio and Dexter H. Wakefield, Trustees of the Shawsheene Building Association | Forrest F. Collier, Trustee of the Foster Trust | second mortgage of Lot B to Collier as trustee of the Foster Trust, 1956 | 1328/492 |
Mortgage dated and acknowledged Mar. 12, 1956, recorded the same day: to secure $1,500 "on or before January 4, 1960, with five (5) per centum interest," on "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, located on the westerly side of Pond Street, and shown as Lot B" on Plan Book 68, Plan 89A. "This mortgage is subject to another given to said Forrest F. Collier on January 4, 1950 ... Book 1132, Page 360." The grantors hold under the deed to Chester A. Wright and others as trustees (Book 1132, Page 355).
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| October 15, 1971 | Warranty Deed | Willette C. Lacey and Patricia B. Lacey of Billerica, and Isabelle C. Franz of Eastham (Chandler estate heirs) | The American Lutheran Church, a Minnesota corporation not for profit | The congregation's Andover Road church site, bought by The American Lutheran Church, 1971 (another lot) | 1982/464 |
For $30,000, land "on the northwesterly side of Andover Road" shown on "Land in Billerica, Surveyed for Chandler Estate," July 1971, James B. Monahan (Plan Book 113, Plan 26): southeasterly by Andover Road 321.10 feet, by Chandler Estate 183.21 and 429.98 feet, northerly by Glassman and Donnelly 279.60 feet, easterly and northeasterly by Foster 269.83 and 50 feet, 3.1 acres. Title: estates of Avis E. B. Chandler and E. Blanche Chandler and the 1970 deed of the administratrix of George Albert Chandler (Book 1944, Page 573). The church site that was never built.
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| June 27, 1972 | Limited Warranty Deed | The American Lutheran Church, Minneapolis (by the chairman and secretary of its Board of Trustees) | The Community of Christ Lutheran Church, Inc., a Massachusetts non-profit corporation | The congregation's Salem Road house, 1972 (another lot) | 2016/276 |
For "One Dollar ($1.00), and other valuable considerations," on a Minnesota corporation-to-corporation form: "The land in Billerica ... with the buildings thereon, situated on the southerly side of Salem Road," Lot 4 on Plan Book 100, Plan 40A, 30,000 square feet, "Being the same premises as conveyed to the Grantor by Deed of Marie J. Bugden, Trustee of Lady Alyce Realty Trust ... dated December 31, 1970." Acknowledged in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The church mortgaged it the same day (page 278) and sold it to private owners in 1990 (Book 5187, Page 60).
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| September 30, 1975 | Declaration of Trust | Edward O. Pickering and Harold S. Roberts, remaining trustees of the Shawsheene Building Association of 1950 | Shawsheene Building Association (trust of Sept. 22, 1975): trustees Pickering, Roberts, Alf N. Hedberg, Bernard H. Houghton and Ernest F. Hutchinsen | new Shawsheene Building Association trust for Shawsheene Lodge No. 64, I.O.O.F., 1975 | 2167/84 |
Declaration of trust of Sept. 22, 1975, eight pages. Pickering and Roberts, "two of the original and also being the remaining trustees" of the trust of Jan. 4, 1950 (Book 1132, Page 355), believing it "in the best interest of the unit holders," establish a new trust of the same name. The original trustees are Pickering, Roberts, Alf N. Hedberg, Bernard H. Houghton and Ernest F. Hutchinsen of Billerica, and the beneficial interest is "five hundred (500) units, at a par value of Ten (10) dollars each," to be sold to "members of Shawsheene Lodge, No. 64, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows," and of the Order and Winning Rebekah Lodge.
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| September 30, 1975 | Quitclaim | Edward O. Pickering and Harold S. Roberts, Trustees of the Shawsheene Building Association under the trust of Jan. 4, 1950 | Edward O. Pickering, Harold S. Roberts, Alf N. Hedberg, Bernard H. Houghton and Ernest F. Hutchinsen, trustees under the trust of Sept. 22, 1975 | Lot B to the trustees of the 1975 trust | 2167/92 |
Dated and acknowledged Sept. 22, 1975, recorded Sept. 30 with the new declaration of trust: for one dollar, "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon located on the westerly side of Pond Street and shown as Lot B on a plan of land recorded in Middlesex North District Registry of Deeds, Plan Book 68, Plan 89A." "For the grantors title see ... Book 1132, Page 355."
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| August 12, 1977 | Quitclaim | Edward O. Pickering, Harold S. Roberts, Alf N. Hedberg, Bernard H. Houghton and Ernest F. Hutchinsen, trustees of the Shawsheene Building Association (1975) | Community of Christ Lutheran Church, Inc., of 155 Salem Road, Billerica | Odd Fellows Hall sold to Community of Christ Lutheran Church, 1977 | 2260/108 |
Dated and acknowledged Aug. 12, 1977, recorded the same day: for $12,000, "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon located on the westerly side of Pond Street and shown as Lot B" on Plan Book 68, Plan 89A. "BEING the same premises conveyed to the Grantors by Deed dated September 22, 1975 recorded ... in Book 2167 page 92." The church's vote recorded next calls the property "commonly known as the Odd Fellows Hall."
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| August 12, 1977 | Mortgage | Community of Christ Lutheran Church, Inc. (Arthur E. Schott, president; Bonita Pesaturo, treasurer) | Stoneham Co-operative Bank | church vote ("commonly known as the Odd Fellows Hall") and mortgage, 1977 | 2260/109 |
Recorded with the deed: a vote of a special meeting of the congregation, May 8, 1977, authorizing the purchase of "real estate located on the westerly side of Pond Street in Billerica ... presently owned by the Trustees of Shawsheen Building Association and commonly known as the Odd Fellows Hall," then the church's mortgage, acknowledged Aug. 12, 1977, to secure $11,000 in monthly instalments on "the land, with the buildings thereon ... located on the westerly side of Pond Street and shown as Lot B" on Plan Book 68, Plan 89A, with the statutory power of sale.
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| September 12, 1986 | Quitclaim Deed | The American Lutheran Church, of 422 South Fifth Street, Minneapolis | Trustees of Birchwood Realty Trust (declaration of June 24, 1985, Book 3076, Page 114) | The unbuilt Andover Road church site sold, 1986 (another lot) | 3690/260 |
For $75,000, the 3.1 acres "on the northwesterly side of Andover Road" on Plan Book 113, Plan 26, with the same bounds as the 1971 deed: "For our title, being the same premises conveyed to THE AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH, by warranty deed of WILLETTE C. LACEY ... as duly recorded in ... Book 1982 Page 464." Signed by Noel I. Fedje and David H. Rokke, chairman and executive secretary of its Board of Trustees, with a certified resolution.
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| August 23, 1991 | Certificate | Secretary of the Commonwealth (Michael J. Connolly) | The Community of Christ Lutheran Church, Inc. | Certificate of the church's incorporation, recorded with the 1991 sale | 5626/130 |
Recorded just before the church's 1991 deed of the Pond Street hall (page 131): the Secretary certifies that "The Community of Christ Lutheran Church, Inc. appears by the records of this office to have been incorporated under the General Laws of this Commonwealth on December 30, 1971" and "still has legal existence."
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| August 23, 1991 | Quitclaim | Community of Christ Lutheran Church, Inc., Billerica (John Davies, president and treasurer) | Southern New England Conference Association of Seventh-Day Adventists, Inc., of 34 Sawyer St., South Lancaster | Lutheran church to the Seventh-Day Adventists, 1991 | 5626/131 |
Dated and acknowledged June 26, 1991, recorded Aug. 23, 1991: for $110,000, "The land with the buildings thereon situated on Pond Street," Lot B on "Plan of Land in Billerica, Mass., Surveyed For: Forrest F. Collier," dated May 11, 1946, by Merrill A. Brown (Plan Book 68, Plan 89A): southeasterly by Pond Street 100 feet, northeasterly and northwesterly by land of Forrest Collier 200 and 100 feet, southwesterly by Lot A 200 feet, "containing 20,000 square feet." "For Grantor's title see deed of Edward O. Pickering, et al., dated August 12, 1977 ... Book 2260, Page 108." The Conference still owns the lot (no later conveyance in the computerized index).
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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.