Structure · Built 1827
Charles Stearns House
Charles Stearns House
| Address | 477 Middlesex Tp |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.188 |
| Built | 1827 |
| Owners | Peter Dolan (1864 - 1910) |
The Charles Stearns House is a story-and-a-half clapboard farmhouse on the west side of the Middlesex Turnpike just north of Nutting Lake, at the corner of Canterbury Street (formerly Stewart's road). For about a century and a half it was the centre of a forty-acre farm at the pond, first of Charles Stearns and then of the Irish-born Peter Dolan and his descendants.
The land around the house was the "Pond pasture", 28 acres "through which the Middlesex turnpike road passes", part of the farm of Jeremiah Blanchard. After his death in 1819 his executor sold it with the rest of the farm to William Mann (1820), and the Manns sold the pasture in 1827 to Elizabeth W. Mann, who sold it in 1831 to George Bacon. The house itself stood on a separate one-acre lot at the pond that had belonged to Josiah Crosby Esq., who died in 1829 leaving his estate to his widow Betsey (died 1832). In 1836 the estate of Ichabod Fiske of Lexington included "a dwelling house & about two acres of land situated in Billerica on the Middlesex turnpike adjoining Nuttings pond", which his administrator sold at auction in 1837; this was probably the same house, though no deed records the transfers between the Crosbys, the Fiskes and the 1837 buyers.
Charles Stearns (born 1806), who married Lorinda Wilson about 1827, bought the 28-acre pasture from George Bacon in March 1836 for $300, giving Bacon a mortgage for most of the price. He was then living in the house as a tenant: on June 24, 1840 Benjamin Fiske of Lexington sold him for $150 the one-acre lot "near Nutting's pond on the southwesterly side of the Middlesex turnpike, with a small house and barns thereon now occupied by said Stearns ... the same being formerly owned by Josiah Crosby dec'd". He added eight acres to the north from Dorcas Bridge in 1844 and the eight-acre "Crosby lot" west of the Turnpike from Seth Crosby in 1845, though he did not record any of these deeds until 1863. Family tradition, recorded in 1974, says he and Lorinda had 18 recorded births (some said 21) in the house, of whom about half a dozen grew up.
Charles Stearns died intestate on August 21, 1864. The inventory valued the "Homestead of said deceased about 40 acres" at $2,800. In November 1864 his children George E., William B., Albert and Chauncy C. Stearns, Clara C. Hutchinson and Lucy A. Targett sold six-sevenths of "the Homestead of the late Charles Stearns ... containing forty acres, more or less, with all the buildings thereon" to Peter Dolan of Concord for $1,851.43, and the guardian of Charles Lothrop Stearns, a grandson born in 1857, sold the last seventh at auction to Dolan for $308.57; the widow released her dower in both. Dolan briefly sold a half interest to Stephen Evans but bought it back in 1866, and mortgaged the farm to the Middlesex Institution for Savings, to Evans and, in 1878, to Moses P. Greenwood. The 1875 atlas shows the place as P. Dolan's. In 1899 he gave his son Philip B. Dolan a lot at the corner of Stewart's road.
After Peter Dolan's death his heirs and devisees, through a straw deed in 1910, put "the homestead of Charles Stearns, deceased, and more recently known as the homestead of Peter Dolan, deceased" in the names of his widow Johanna and son Francis J. Dolan, who laid out much of the farm as the Indian Knoll Terrace house lots. On August 22, 1911 Francis conveyed to his mother the old house with its yard, 210 feet along the Turnpike south of Stewart's road, and she conveyed it the same day to her daughter Susie G. Dolan, keeping "the right to occupy and to receive the rent and income of said premises as long as I shall live". Susie, later Mrs. James A. Shaw, owned the house for 36 years. In 1947 she made herself and her daughter Marjorie F. Cooney joint owners, and in 1948 Alice M. Dolan confirmed an enlarged lot of 274 feet on the Turnpike, shown with the house on a plan by J. C. and W. T. Monahan. The northern 100 feet at Canterbury Street were conveyed away in 1950, and in 1951 the house lot passed to Marjorie Cooney alone.
In 1965 the southern 100 feet with the house, the present 0.18-acre lot of 477 Middlesex Turnpike, was sold to private owners; it passed within that family in 1988 and 2002 and was sold again in 2015. The town assessor dates the building to about 1810; MACRIS gives about 1830, and the 1840 deed shows a house already standing when Charles Stearns bought the lot.
References
- MACRIS BIL.188
- Billerica assessor, 477 Middlesex Tpke (parcel 78-145-0): 0.179 acres, year built about 1810, sales history
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| February 17, 1819 | Administrator's Deed | Deborah French of Billerica, administratrix of Cyrus French | Henry Bridge of Billerica | 1818: Indian Hill tract to Henry Bridge, source of the 1844 Bridge parcel | 227/515 (South) |
May 15, 1818. Under a license of the Supreme Judicial Court (Concord, March 1818), sold at public vendue on May 12, 1818 for $158.19 "one tract in said Billerica on Indian hill containing twelve acres and an half", bounded by Isaac French and Jonathan Bowers Esq., the walls "crossing the Middlesex turnpike". Billerica town book 12, pages 112-113. Part of this tract was sold by Henry Bridge's widow Dorcas to Charles Stearns in 1844 (her deed cites it as Book 267, Page 515, a slip for 227/515).
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| 1819 | Will and Inventory | Estate of Jeremiah Blanchard of Billerica | Henry Carter of Wilmington, executor | 1819: Jeremiah Blanchard estate, which included the 28-acre pond pasture | Probate #1881 |
Will dated Apr 27, 1819 empowering the executor to sell all the real estate. Appraisers Oliver Crosby, Josiah Crosby Jr. Esq. and Joseph Blanchard were appointed June 24, 1819; the inventory (Aug 24, 1819) values the homestead of about 200 acres "with the Buildings thereon" at $6,500, out of real estate of $6,968. The Nutting's pond pasture was part of this farm.
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| December 22, 1820 | Executor's Deed | Henry Carter, executor of Jeremiah Blanchard | William Mann | 1820: pond pasture sold by Blanchard's executor to William Mann | 235/328 (South) |
For $4,100, under Jeremiah Blanchard's will of April 27, 1819: "the homestead farm where the said Jeremiah last dwelt containing about seventy acres ... with all the buildings thereon as the same is described and bounded in the deed of Samuel Blanchard to the said Jeremiah, dated the twelfth day of February A.D. 1800"; also 14 acres near Nuttings Pond, 8 acres on the road to Lexington, the 8 acre Stearns pasture, and 28 acres of pond pasture crossed by the Middlesex Turnpike including part of Indian Hill. Billerica town book 12, pages 182-183.
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| October 19, 1827 | Deed | William Mann and William Mann Jr. of Billerica, yeomen (wives Pamela and Sophronia release dower) | Elizabeth W. Mann of Billerica, singlewoman | 1827: the Manns sell the pond pasture to Elizabeth W. Mann | 276/457 (South) |
Signed Feb 26, 1827. For $300, "about twenty eight acres of Pasture land more or less situate in the southerly part of said Billerica", bounded east by land of Josiah Crosby Esqr. and the Middlesex Turnpike, south by Nutting's Pond, west by Seth Crosby and north by the heirs of Henry Bridge, "there being a wall and fence all round it", "known by the name of the Pond pasture". Billerica town book 12, pages 577-578.
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| 1829 | Will | Josiah Crosby Esq. of Billerica | Betsy Crosby, his widow | 1829: will of Josiah Crosby Esq., earlier owner of the house lot | Probate #5353 |
Will dated June 6, 1829, allowed Aug. 11, 1829. After provision for his mother Rachel and legacies to his children Elizabeth H. Whitman, Oliver, Susannah, Sarah C., Martha and Josiah, Josiah Crosby Esq. left the rest of his estate, real and personal, to his wife Betsy "in fee simple." Joseph Locke was later made administrator de bonis non (Aug. 21, 1832). Papers read, pages 1-8.
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| September 26, 1831 | Deed | Elizabeth W. Mann of Lancaster, singlewoman | George Bacon of Billerica, yeoman | 1831: the 28-acre Nutting's pond pasture, Mann to George Bacon | 307/434 (South) |
For $175, "a certain tract of pasture land, situate in said Billerica, containing twenty eight acres more or less": beginning at the southeasterly corner "at land now or formerly owned by Josiah Crosby Esq. deceased, at Nutting's pond", north by the Middlesex Turnpike to land of Dorcas Bridge, west by Bridge and Seth Crosby land to a corner of the wall, south by Seth Crosby's stone wall "till you come to Nutting's pond", and by the pond to the first bound; reserving a right of way to Seth Crosby "where it will do the least damage". Signed Aug 22, 1831 before Marshall Preston JP. No title recital. Billerica town book 16, pages 23-24.
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| 1832 | Will and Inventory | Betsy Crosby of Billerica, widow of Josiah Crosby Esq. | Susanna Crosby and Josiah Crosby (a minor), her children; Joseph Locke, executor | 1832: will and inventory of his widow Betsey Crosby | Probate #5333 |
Will dated Aug. 12, 1831, allowed June 5, 1832; Joseph Locke executor. After other legacies the residue went to her daughter Susanna and her son Josiah. The inventory taken June 1, 1832 values "The Homestead farm with all the buildings, including the Tavern stand & 8 acres of land, the Slaughter house lot, the Richardson land, the Webb orchard & the Lawson house & land" at $7,585, and lists hay "in the tavern barn": the house was already known as a tavern stand before Sereno Fiske bought it. Papers read, pages 2-17.
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| 1836 | Administration | Estate of Ichabod Fiske of Lexington, yeoman | John Merriam, Esquire, and Roger Lane, yeoman, both of Bedford (auction buyers) | 1836-37: Ichabod Fiske estate, a house and two acres on the Turnpike at Nutting's pond | Probate #7579 |
Ichabod Fiske of Lexington, yeoman, died unmarried in 1836; his heirs Benjamin Fiske and Oliver Winship asked for William Chandler of Lexington as administrator, appointed November 15, 1836. The inventory lists only "A Dwelling house & about two acres of land situate in Billerica", $325, and personal estate of $103.31. Under a license of March 21, 1837 the administrator advertised "a dwelling house & about two acres of land covered with young fruit trees, situated in Billerica on the Middlesex turnpike adjoining Nuttings pond", and on April 24, 1837 it was struck off for $151 to John Merriam, Esquire, and Roger Lane of Bedford, who took the administrator's deed of May 24, 1837 (Middlesex South Book 365, Page 231). The lot, bought from Josiah Crosby Esq. in 1829 (Book 300, Page 300), was on the east side of the turnpike, bounded westerly by it.
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| April 21, 1863 | Deed | George Bacon of Billerica, yeoman (wife Mary releases dower) | Charles Stearns of Billerica, yeoman | 1836: George Bacon sells the 28-acre pasture to Charles Stearns | 33/375 |
Signed Mar 26, 1836, acknowledged before Marshall Preston, but recorded only on Apr 21, 1863. For $300, "a certain tract of pasture land, situate in said Billerica containing twenty-eight acres more or less", the Nutting's pond pasture bounded by the Middlesex Turnpike, Dorcas Bridge, Seth Crosby's stone wall and the pond, with Seth Crosby's right of way reserved. The southeast corner is "at land now or formerly owned by Josiah Crosby Esq. deceased", the one-acre lot on which the house stands. No title recital (Bacon bought it from Elizabeth W. Mann in 1831).
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| May 2, 1836 | Mortgage | Charles Stearns of Billerica, yeoman | George Bacon of Billerica, yeoman | 1836: Charles Stearns mortgages the pasture back to Bacon | 353/6 (South) |
Purchase-money mortgage for $250 on the same 28-acre pasture at Nutting's pond on the Middlesex Turnpike, "being the same this day conveyed me by the said Bacon", payable in five yearly instalments of $50 with interest. Billerica town book 15, page 253. The 1863 recording of the Bacon deed shows the debt was cleared.
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| April 21, 1863 | Deed | Benjamin Fiske of Lexington, yeoman (wife Sally D. Fiske releases dower) | Charles Stearns of Billerica, yeoman | 1840: Benjamin Fiske sells the house lot, "a small house and barns", to Charles Stearns | 33/376 |
The house lot. Signed June 24, 1840. For $150, "a certain piece or parcel of land situate in said Billerica near Nutting's pond on the southwesterly side of the Middlesex turnpike, with a small house and barns thereon now occupied by said Stearns, containing one acre, more or less, bounded southeasterly by said pond, northeasterly by said turnpike, elsewhere by land of said Stearns, the same being formerly owned by Josiah Crosby dec'd." Shows Stearns was already living in the house as a tenant before he bought it.
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| April 21, 1863 | Deed | Dorcas Bridge of Billerica, widow | Charles Stearns of Billerica, yeoman | 1844: Dorcas Bridge sells 8 acres to Charles Stearns | 33/377 |
Signed Oct 19, 1844, acknowledged Dec 19, 1844. For $190, eight acres north of the Stearns land: by stone wall on Asa Hannaford, east about 8 rods on Benjamin L. Judkins "to a bridle road, formerly the Middlesex turnpike", southeast on the turnpike about 25 rods "to land of Charles Stearns", and southwest on Stearns to the first bound; "being a part of a tract of land conveyed by Deborah French to Henry Bridge" (Middlesex South Book 267, Page 515, a slip for 227/515).
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| April 21, 1863 | Deed | Seth Crosby of Billerica, yeoman | Charles Stearns of Billerica, yeoman | 1845: Seth Crosby sells the 8-acre "Crosby lot" to Charles Stearns | 33/378 |
Signed Sept 22, 1845. For $150, eight acres "lying west of the old Middlesex turnpike" (later called "the Crosby lot"), beginning at land of Seth Crosby on the east, south by stone wall to a ditch, west by the ditch and wall to a corner of Asa Hannaford's land, and by stone wall to the first corner. Witnesses Jno. Eames and Augustus Crosby.
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| 1864 | Administration | Estate of Charles Stearns of Billerica | Dudley Foster, administrator; widow Lorinda and heirs | 1864: estate of Charles Stearns, "Homestead ... about 40 acres" | Probate #42200 |
Charles Stearns died Aug 21, 1864, intestate. Heirs: widow Lorinda, sons George E., William B., Albert and Chauncy C. Stearns, daughters Lucy Ann Targett and Clara C. Hutchinson, and Charles L. Stearns, "minor, Grandson, born September 12th 1857". Dudley Foster was appointed administrator Sept 6, 1864. The inventory (Oct 25, 1864, appraisers Lyman Haynes, Wm. S. Gleason, Benj. L. Judkins) lists the "Homestead of said deceased about 40 acres" at $2,800, the Seth Crosby lot, 8 acres, $200, and three other lots; real estate $4,825, personal $2,750.50, with furniture in the parlor, east chamber, kitchen, bed room and back room.
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| December 28, 1864 | Warranty Deed | George E. Stearns, William B. Stearns, Albert Stearns, Chauncy C. Stearns, Clara C. Hutchinson (with husband Levi W. Hutchinson) and Lucy A. Targett (with husband Joseph D. Targett of Leominster), heirs of Charles Stearns | Peter Dolan of Concord | 1864: Stearns heirs sell six-sevenths of the homestead to Peter Dolan | 38/433 |
Signed Nov 16, 1864. For $1,851.43, "six undivided seventh parts" of "the Homestead of the late Charles Stearns deceased, situate in said Billerica containing forty acres, more or less, with all the buildings thereon": from the southeast corner at Nutting's Pond at the Middlesex Turnpike north by the Turnpike past the former Dorcas Bridge land about 25 rods to B. L. Judkins, west about 8 rods, south and west by Asa N. Hannaford, south by stone wall to the former Seth Crosby land and to the pond; reserving Seth Crosby's right of way. Also six-sevenths of the 8-acre "Crosby lot" west of the Turnpike. Title recital: the deeds of Benjamin Fiske (1840), George Bacon (1836), Dorcas Bridge (1844) and Seth Crosby (1845), Book 33, Pages 375-378.
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| December 28, 1864 | Release of Dower | Lorinda Stearns of Billerica, widow of Charles Stearns | Peter Dolan of Concord | 1864: widow Lorinda Stearns releases dower | 38/435 |
Signed Nov 16, 1864. For $462.86, the widow releases her dower and homestead rights in the six-sevenths of the Charles Stearns homestead conveyed by the heirs the same day (Book 38, Page 433).
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| December 28, 1864 | Guardian's Deed | Stephen H. Wilson of Billerica, guardian of Charles Lothrop Stearns, minor heir of Charles Stearns | Peter Dolan of Concord | 1864: guardian sells the minor grandson's seventh to Peter Dolan | 38/435 |
Signed Nov 16, 1864. Under a license of the Probate Court at Framingham, Oct 25, 1864, after notice in the Lowell Weekly Journal, the guardian of Charles Lothrop Stearns (born 1857, a grandson of Charles Stearns according to the probate petition) sold at public auction on Nov 14, 1864 to Peter Dolan, "the highest bidder", for $308.57 the minor's one undivided seventh of the 40-acre homestead "with all the buildings thereon" and of the 8-acre Crosby lot, same bounds and title recital as the heirs' deed.
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| December 28, 1864 | Release of Dower | Lorinda Stearns of Billerica, widow | Peter Dolan of Concord | 1864: Lorinda Stearns releases dower in the guardian's seventh | 38/437 |
Signed Nov 16, 1864. For $77.14, the widow releases dower and homestead in the guardian's-deed seventh of the homestead and Crosby lot.
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| December 28, 1864 | Mortgage | Peter Dolan of Billerica (wife Johanna joins) | Middlesex Institution for Savings, Concord | 1864: Dolan mortgage to Middlesex Institution for Savings | 38/438 |
Dec 12, 1864. Mortgage for $1,500 on "the homestead of the late Charles Stearns", 40 acres "with the buildings thereon", and the 8-acre Crosby lot, "the same conveyed by George E. Stearns and others to said Dolan ... and by a deed from Stephen H. Wilson, Guardian, dated November 16, 1864". Discharged 1878 (Book 130, Page 215).
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| December 28, 1864 | Quitclaim | Peter Dolan of Billerica | Stephen Evans of Billerica | 1864: Dolan sells a half interest to Stephen Evans | 38/440 |
Dec 12, 1864. For $1,350, "one undivided half part" of the 40-acre homestead of the late Charles Stearns "with the buildings thereon" and of the 8-acre Crosby lot, "being one undivided half part of the land conveyed to said Dolan by George E. Stearns and others, and by Stephen H. Wilson, Guardian"; Evans assumed half of the $1,500 savings-bank mortgage.
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| April 12, 1866 | Quitclaim | Stephen Evans of Billerica (wife Bridget releases) | Peter Dolan of Billerica | 1866: Stephen Evans quitclaims his half back to Dolan | 48/13 |
Apr 9, 1866. For $640, all his interest in "a certain farm situated in the Southerly part of Billerica near Nutting Pond (so called) known as the Homestead of the late Charles Stearns deceased with the buildings thereon", bounded by the Middlesex Turnpike, B. L. Judkins, Ira N. Hanniford, Seth Crosby and Nutting Pond, and the other half of the Crosby lot; "meaning to convey the same premises conveyed to me by Peter Dolan by deed dated December twelfth A.D. 1864 ... Book 38 Page 440". Dolan assumed the whole $1,500 mortgage and gave Evans a $440 mortgage (Book 48, Page 15).
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| April 12, 1866 | Mortgage | Peter Dolan of Billerica | Stephen Evans of Billerica | 1866: Dolan mortgage to Stephen Evans | 48/15 |
April 1866. Mortgage for $440 on "my farm situate in the town of Billerica near Nuttings Pond so called containing about forty acres", same bounds as the 1864 deeds. Released 1878 (Book 130, Page 143).
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| August 8, 1878 | Mortgage | Peter Dolan of Billerica | Moses P. Greenwood of Billerica | 1878: Dolan mortgage to Moses P. Greenwood | 130/352 |
Aug 8, 1878. Mortgage for $1,500 at 6 percent on the 40-acre "homestead of the late Charles Stearns, deceased, with the buildings thereon" and the Crosby lot, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Geo. E. Stearns & others ... and by deed from S. H. Wilson Guard." The buildings were to be insured for at least $800. It refinanced the 1864 savings-bank and 1866 Evans mortgages, both discharged that summer. Discharged by Greenwood Feb 15, 1898.
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| June 5, 1899 | Deed | Peter Dolan of Billerica (wife Joanna releases) | Philip B. Dolan of Billerica | 1899: corner lot at Stewart's road cut off for Philip B. Dolan | 308/306 |
June 2, 1899. For $100, a lot at the corner of the Turnpike and Stewart's road, 255 feet on the Turnpike and on Stewart's road and 190 feet deep, "being in part the same premises as conveyed to me by heirs of Charles E. Stearns". A house lot cut from the north end of the farm for a son; the Stearns house stayed with Peter Dolan.
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| July 18, 1910 | Quitclaim | Heirs and devisees of Peter Dolan: William J. and Mary L. Lyons, Philip B. Dolan, Catherine A. Loftus, Richard J. and Bessie L. Conway, Susie G. Dolan, Johanna Dolan, Francis J. Dolan, Margaret L. Dolan, Charles A. and Annie F. Dullea, Henry Dolan | Florence E. Grant of Chelmsford | 1910: Peter Dolan's heirs and devisees quitclaim the homestead | 454/213 |
June 14, 1910. For $1, the 40 acres "with all the buildings thereon formerly known as the homestead of Charles Stearns, deceased, and more recently known as the homestead of Peter Dolan, deceased" (same bounds as 1864) and the 8-acre Crosby lot, "Being all and the same premises to Peter Dolan conveyed by four deeds, all dated November 16, 1864 ... Book 38, Pages 433, 435, 435 and 437", releasing all interest "whether derived as legatees or devisees under the will of Peter Dolan ... or otherwise". A straw deed to settle the estate.
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| July 18, 1910 | Quitclaim | Florence E. Grant of Chelmsford | Johanna Dolan (widow of Peter) and Francis J. Dolan of Billerica | 1910: homestead to Johanna and Francis J. Dolan | 454/216 |
Recorded July 18, 1910. For $1, the same 40-acre homestead "with all the buildings thereon formerly known as the homestead of Charles Stearns, deceased, and more recently known as the homestead of Peter Dolan, deceased" and the Crosby lot, to Peter's widow and their son Francis "as joint tenants and not as tenants in common"; "Being all and the same premises to me conveyed by William J. Lyons et als, by deed of even date".
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| August 24, 1911 | Deed | Francis J. Dolan of Billerica | Johanna Dolan of Billerica | 1911: Francis J. Dolan conveys the house lot at Stewart's road to his mother | 472/328 |
Aug 22, 1911. For $1, all his interest in "A certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situated on the westerly side of the Turnpike so called": beginning at the junction of the Turnpike and Stewart's road (now Canterbury Street), 60 feet on Stewart road to a stone bound, easterly "in the rear of said buildings" 298 feet, northerly 52 feet to the Turnpike, and 210 feet on the Turnpike to the start; part of the premises conveyed by Florence E. Grant (Book 454, Page 216); reserving to himself a right to pass "as may be necessary in my farm work". This separated the old Stearns house and its yard from the farm.
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| August 24, 1911 | Deed | Johanna Dolan of Billerica, widow | Susie G. Dolan of Billerica (later Susan G. Shaw) | 1911: Johanna Dolan conveys the house to her daughter Susie, keeping a life estate | 472/329 |
Aug 22, 1911. For $1, the same "tract of land with the buildings thereon" on the westerly side of the Turnpike at Stewart's road (60 feet, 298 feet "in the rear of said building", 52 feet, and 210 feet on the Turnpike), part of the Grant deed and of Francis J. Dolan's deed of even date; "saving excepting and reserving to myself the right to occupy and to receive the rent and income of said premises as long as I shall live", and releasing dower. Peter Dolan's daughter Susie thus received the house, subject to her mother's life tenancy.
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| September 18, 1911 | Mortgage | Francis J. Dolan and Johanna Dolan of Billerica | Central Savings Bank, Lowell | 1911: mortgage of the rest of the Dolan homestead, excepting the house lot | 475/207 |
September 1911. Mortgage for $2,500 on the rest of "the Homestead Lot of Peter Dolan" on the westerly side of the Middlesex Turnpike from Nutting's Pond north to the Judkins land, bounded in part by lots 55 to 71 of "Indian Knoll Terrace ... owned by Frank Dolan, May 28, 1910" (Plan Book 27, Plan 49), and the Crosby lot; expressly excepting the 1899 lot of Philip B. Dolan and the house lot conveyed to Johanna and then to Susie G. Dolan on Aug 22, 1911. "For our title reference may be had to the will of Peter Dolan, late of said Billerica, deceased, testate", and to the Grant deed (454/216) and a deed of Herman C. Long (435/160). Discharged 1923 (Book 648, Page 36).
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| November 8, 1921 | Affidavit | Susie G. Shaw, formerly Susie G. Dolan, of Billerica | (certificate of identity) | 1921: Susie G. Shaw's certificate as heir under Peter Dolan's will | 655/98 |
Nov 5, 1921. She certifies "that I am the Susie Dolan named as a daughter and heir in the will of Peter Dolan, recorded in the Registry of Probate for Middlesex County and numbered 79843", and the same Susie G. Dolan who signed the 1910 heirs' deed (Book 454, Page 213), which she ratifies. She had married James A. Shaw.
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| April 15, 1937 | Quitclaim | Susie G. Shaw, formerly Susie G. Dolan (husband James A. Shaw releases) | Henry Dolan of Billerica | 1937: corner piece to Henry Dolan | 897/451 |
Apr 14, 1937. The corner piece of her lot at the junction of the Turnpike and "Canterbury St. formerly Stewarts Roads": 60 feet on Canterbury Street, 80 feet southerly, 59.42 feet easterly to a drill hole in the wall on the Turnpike, and 80 feet to the start; title from the Francis J. and Johanna Dolan deeds of Aug 22, 1911 (Book 472, Pages 328 and 329). No buildings named.
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| April 8, 1938 | Administrator's Deed | Elizabeth Mary Dolan, administrator of the estate of Henry Dolan | Susie G. Shaw of Billerica | 1938: corner piece reconveyed by Henry Dolan's administrator | 912/210 |
Apr 8, 1938. Under her appointment by the Probate Court (docket 221245, Apr 1, 1938), the widow and administrator of Henry Dolan reconveyed the same 60 by 80 foot corner piece, "Being the same premises conveyed by said Susie G. Shaw to Henry Dolan, my intestate, and late husband".
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| August 29, 1947 | Deed | Susan G. Shaw, formerly Susan G. Dolan, also called Susie G. Dolan, widow, of Billerica | Monica E. Kelly of Forge Village | 1947: Susan G. Shaw straw deed to Monica E. Kelly | 1075/230 |
Aug 29, 1947. For under $50, with warranty covenants, "a certain tract of land in Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on the westerly side of the Turnpike" at Stewart road (the 1911 bounds); "Being all and the same premises conveyed to me by Johanna Dolan ... Book 472, Page 329", noting the corner piece conveyed in 1937 (897/451) and reconveyed in 1938 (912/210). A straw deed.
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| August 29, 1947 | Deed | Monica E. Kelly of Forge Village | Susan G. Shaw and her daughter Marjorie F. Cooney, both of Billerica, as joint tenants | 1947: house lot to Susan G. Shaw and Marjorie F. Cooney as joint tenants | 1075/231 |
Aug 29, 1947. For under $50, the same "tract of land in Billerica with the buildings thereon" on the westerly side of the Turnpike at Stewart road, to Susan G. Shaw and Marjorie F. Cooney "as joint tenants and not as tenants in common"; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Susan G. Shaw by deed of even date".
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| September 15, 1947 | Easement | Alice M. Dolan, Susie G. Shaw, Charles H. and Ruth Reidt, George M. and Anna R. Dixon, all of Billerica | Town of Billerica | 1947: water and sewer easement in Canterbury Street | 1075/471 |
Aug 8, 1947. A perpetual right of way and easement for water and sewer pipes "under and through a way known as Canterbury Street formerly called Stewart Road", as shown on a "Plan of a portion of Stewart Road, Billerica, J.B. Monahan, Surveyor", July 1947 (Plan Book 71, Plan 53), given by the abutting owners.
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| October 26, 1948 | Quitclaim | Alice M. Dolan, widow, of Billerica | Susan G. Shaw and Marjorie F. Cooney, as joint tenants | 1948: Alice M. Dolan confirms the enlarged lot (Plan 74-48) | 1103/83 |
Oct 22, 1948. A confirmatory deed of "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon, situated on the westerly side of Middlesex Turnpike" at Canterbury Street (formerly Stewart Road): from a drill hole in a boulder at the junction, 78.45 feet on Canterbury Street, 278.41 feet south along other land of the grantor, 78.45 feet east to the Turnpike, and 274.18 feet along the Turnpike, as shown on a plan surveyed August 1948 by J. C. and W. T. Monahan (Plan Book 74, Plan 48). "There is no monetary consideration for this deed, it is given for the purpose of correcting any omissions from or errors in previous deeds to the said Susan G. Shaw."
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| April 10, 1950 | Deed | Susan G. Shaw and Marjorie F. Cooney (husband Thomas F. Cooney releases) | Charlotte F. Dziurkiewicz | 1950: northern 100 feet conveyed to Charlotte F. Dziurkiewicz | 1137/151 |
Apr 7, 1950. The northern 100 feet of the lot, at the corner of Canterbury Street (formerly Stewart Road) and the Middlesex Turnpike: 78.45 feet on Canterbury Street, 100 feet south along Alice M. Dolan, 78.45 feet to the Turnpike and 100 feet on the Turnpike; "a portion of those conveyed to the grantors by deed dated October 22, 1948 from Alice M. Dolan, Book 1103, Page 83". The house, in the southern part of the lot, was not included; in 1951 the same grantee conveyed the whole lot to Marjorie F. Cooney (Book 1164, Page 393).
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| April 2, 1951 | Deed | Charlotte F. Dziurkiewicz | Marjorie F. Cooney of Billerica | 1951: house lot to Marjorie F. Cooney; later private sales | 1164/393 |
Mar 15, 1951 (the end of the deed is on page 394; the registry has no image of pages 392-393). The whole 78.45 by 274.18 foot lot from the drill hole at Canterbury Street south along Alice M. Dolan's land, "all of those conveyed to me by deed of even date from Susan G. Shaw and Marjorie F. Cooney to be recorded herewith". A straw transfer that left the house lot in Marjorie Cooney's name alone. Later conveyances: in December 1965 she sold the southern 100 feet with the house (the present 477 Middlesex Turnpike, 174.18 feet south of the corner) to private owners (Book 1730, Page 411); it passed within that family in 1988 and 2002 and was sold to a private owner in 2015 (Book 29688, Page 273).
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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.