Colonel Charles A. Ranlett House
Colonel Charles A. Ranlett House
| Address | 305 Concord Rd |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.177 |
| Built | 1850 |
| Demolished | 2019 |
| Owners | John Dane (1850 - 1866) |
The Colonel Charles A. Ranlett House stood at 305 Concord Road in South Billerica, on the west side of the old road from Billerica to Bedford. It was built in the 1850s on a lot cut from the farm of Susan Dodge Adams, the widow of Amos Adams, who had bought back the equity of the family farm at the administrator's auction in 1841. The house was taken down in 2019.
On September 4, 1850 Susan Adams sold John Dane, a blacksmith, a bare lot of "One hundred and sixty six square rods" on the road at the land of William Whitford, "being a part of the same premises" she had bought in 1841. In 1855 she added two and a quarter acres behind it, "my own land" on the west and north. When Dane, now called a machinist, mortgaged the place to John Baldwin in 1858 it was "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon standing", about three and a half acres. That is the first record of the house. Many of the older houses nearby were built or occupied by men who worked in the Hill machine shop.
John Dane and his wife Lucretia sold the house in October 1866 to Amos W. Proctor for $1,700, taking back a mortgage. Proctor kept it for 24 years, then sold it in 1890 to Elizabeth M. Carpenter of Salem. She passed it in 1899 to Ernest M. Carpenter of Salem, who sold it in January 1901 to Fred L. Gleason of Billerica. Every deed in these years repeats the same description: a tract "with the buildings thereon" in the southwest part of the town, beginning on the road at the Whitford land (later "of one Lyons"), with the Adams land sixteen rods on the north, about four acres. Gleason borrowed $1,700 from the trustees of the Howe School and in June 1901 sold the place, subject to that mortgage, to Julia P. Small, wife of Frank M. Small of Cambridge.
Julia P. Small owned the house until her death. Her will, allowed by the Middlesex Probate Court on July 18, 1928, left it to her three daughters, and on September 8, 1928 Bessie E. Small of Cambridge and Helen S. White of Brookline released their shares to their sister Mary S. Ranlett, "wife of Charles A. Ranlett, of Billerica". Mary financed the purchase with a $2,600 co-operative bank mortgage and later borrowed again on the house in 1934, 1955 and 1956, each time with her husband releasing his curtesy.
Colonel Charles A. Ranlett was a grandson of Captain Charles A. Ranlett, the sea captain whose house stood a short way north at 287 Concord Road. The colonel was a horseman who served in the First World War, rode in Billerica's Memorial Day parades and wrote on hunting and fishing; the house had a large carriage house with a cupola linked to the ell by a passage. After Mary Small Ranlett died, the executrix of her will sold the house in June 1960 for $10,500 under a license of the probate court.
The house then passed through a series of private owners (sales in 1964, 1965, 1969 and 2015). A 1985 survey (Plan Book 148, Plan 2) shows the lot at 3.26 acres with the wood-frame house and barn set close to Concord Road. After a bank sale in 2016 the property went to a development company, the old house was demolished in 2019, the lot was divided, and a two-family house was built on the house lot in 2024.
References
Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| 1841 | Administrator's Deed | Leonard Thompson of Woburn, administrator of the estate of Amos Adams | Susan Dodge Adams of Billerica, widow of Amos Adams | 1841: the Adams farm from which the lot was cut | 402/564 (South) |
Billerica town book 17, pages 111-113. Under the probate license of Feb. 1841 the administrator sold at public auction on April 12, 1841 "all the right in equity of redeeming" the farm to "Susan Adams of said Billerica widow of Amos Adams aforesaid for the sum of two hundred & twenty dollars she being the highest bidder." The land was under mortgage to Joseph F. Hill and the town of Billerica "as surety for two notes" amounting to $1,073; it comprised the lot "of fifty acres more or less with the buildings thereon" east of the road to Concord and the 136-acre lot west of it, "Being the same tract of land conveyed by Joseph F. Hill to the deceased by deed bearing date Sept. 13, 1831 ... Book 307, Pages 372 & 373." Dated April 20, 1841.
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| January 8, 1851 | Warranty Deed | Susan Dodge Adams of Billerica, widow | John Dane of Billerica, blacksmith | 1850 house lot sold by Susan Adams to John Dane | 599/201 (South) |
Dated Sept. 4, 1850 (Billerica town book 18, pages 510-511). For $100, a lot beginning at a stake and stones on the road (the road from Billerica to Bedford, now Concord Road), running S 5 30 E 11.12 rods along the road to land of William Whitford, S 79 W on Whitford 15.08 rods to a wall, N 2 15 E 12.64 rods by the wall, and N 84 30 E 13.24 rods "on land of the grantor" back to the road: "One hundred and sixty six square rods, being a part of the same premises conveyed to me by Leonard Thompson Esq. Administrator of the Estate of Amos Adams deceased" in 1841. A bare house lot cut from the west side of the Adams farm, opposite her own house; no buildings are named.
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| April 30, 1858 | Warranty Deed | Susan Dodge Adams of Billerica, widow | John Dane of Billerica, machinist | 1855 rear land, 2 1/4 acres, added to the Dane lot | 14/306 |
Dated June 6, 1855, recorded April 30, 1858 (pages 306-307). For $50, "a certain tract or parcel of land situate in the Southwesterly part of said Billerica", beginning at the northwesterly corner "at the corner of land now owned by said Dane", south by Dane 12 1/2 rods to land of William Whitford, west by Whitford 25 1/2 rods to "my own land", north 16 rods and east 24 1/2 rods by the grantor's land: "two and one quarter acres more or less". The land behind the 1850 house lot, bringing the homestead to about three and a half acres.
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| April 30, 1858 | Mortgage | John Dane of Billerica | John Baldwin of Billerica | 1858 Dane mortgage, first mention of the buildings | 14/307 |
For $172 payable in one year at six percent, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon standing, situate in the Southwest part of said Billerica", beginning at the southeast corner on the road from Billerica to Bedford at land of William Whitford, west on Whitford to land of Susan Adams, north by Mrs. Adams 16 rods, east by her land to the road and south by the road, "about three and a half acres". The first record of buildings on the lot. Assigned (Book 20, Page 70) and discharged by William Whitford as assignee in 1861.
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| August 23, 1861 | Mortgage | John Dane of Billerica (wife Lucretia G. Dane releasing dower and homestead) | William Whitford of Billerica | 1861 Dane mortgage to William Whitford | 28/496 |
Dated Aug. 1, 1861. For $500 on demand with interest, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon, situate in the Southwest part of said Billerica", beginning at the southeast corner on the road leading to Bedford at land of William Whitford, west on Whitford to land of "the Widow Fitch", north by Fitch 16 rods, east by Fitch to the road and south by the road, "about three and a half acres". Discharged by Whitford Oct. 22, 1867.
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| 1866 | Mortgage | Amos W. Proctor of Billerica (wife Mary J. Proctor releasing) | John Dane of Billerica | 1866 Proctor mortgage back to Dane | 52/236 |
Dated Oct. 9, 1866 (pages 236-237). Purchase-money mortgage back to the seller: $800 in one year, the same three and a half acres "with the buildings thereon", "Being the same premises this day conveyed to me by said Dane", subject to the older mortgage. Discharged by John Dane in November 1867.
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| October 17, 1866 | Warranty Deed | John Dane of Billerica (wife Lucretia G. Dane releasing dower and homestead) | Amos W. Proctor of Billerica | 1866 John Dane sells the house to Amos W. Proctor | 52/288 |
Dated Oct. 9, 1866 (pages 288-289). For $1,700, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situate in the South West part of said Billerica", beginning at the southeast corner on the road from Billerica to Bedford "at land formerly of Wm. Whitford now of one Lyons", west on the Whitford land to land "now or formerly of Susan Adams", north by Adams 16 rods, east by Adams land to the road and south by the road, "about three and a half acres"; free of incumbrances except a $500 mortgage "on which there is now due four hundred dollars which the said grantee assumes". Witnesses Dudley Foster and George W. Emerson.
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| July 23, 1890 | Warranty Deed | Amos W. Proctor of Billerica (wife Mary J. Proctor releasing dower and homestead) | Elizabeth M. Carpenter of Salem | 1890 Proctor sells to Elizabeth M. Carpenter of Salem | 217/198 |
Dated July 23, 1890 (pages 198-199). For "One Dollar and other valuable considerations", "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situate in the Southwest part of said Billerica", same bounds (Whitford "now of one Lyons" on the south, Susan Adams west and north, sixteen rods on the north line), "containing about four acres more or less, being the same premises conveyed to me by John Dane dated October 9th 1866" (given as Book 52 Page 278, for 288), subject to the current year's taxes. Proctor had owned the house for 24 years.
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| May 17, 1900 | Warranty Deed | Elizabeth M. Carpenter of Salem, singlewoman | Ernest M. Carpenter of Salem | 1899 Elizabeth M. Carpenter to Ernest M. Carpenter | 319/7 |
Dated Dec. 13, 1899, acknowledged at Salem Dec. 19, recorded May 17, 1900 (pages 7-8). For "one dollar and other valuable considerations", "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon, situate in the Southwest part of said Billerica", the same bounds as the Dane and Proctor deeds (Whitford land "now or late of one Lyons" on the south, Susan Adams land west and north, sixteen rods on the north), "about four (4) acres more or less", "being the same premises conveyed to me by Amos W. Proctor, dated July 23d 1890" (Book 217, Page 198). A transfer within the Carpenter family of Salem.
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| January 24, 1901 | Warranty Deed | Ernest M. Carpenter of Salem | Fred L. Gleason of Billerica | 1901 Ernest M. Carpenter sells to Fred L. Gleason | 327/141 |
Recorded Jan. 24, 1901. For "One Dollar and other valuable considerations", "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situate in the southwest part of Billerica", beginning at the southeast corner on the road from Billerica to Bedford at land formerly of William Whitford "now or late of one Lyons", west on the Whitford land to land "now or formerly of Susan Adams", north by Adams 16 rods, east by Adams land to the road and south by the road, "about four (4) acres more or less", "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Elizabeth M. Carpenter dated December 13th 1899" (Book 319, folio 7). The Carpenters held it about ten years from Salem.
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| January 24, 1901 | Mortgage | Fred L. Gleason of Billerica | Trustees of the Howe School, Billerica | 1901 Gleason mortgage to the Howe School trustees | 327/142 |
For $1,700, "a certain lot of land with the buildings thereon situated in the south westerly part of said Billerica", the same bounds (road from Billerica to Bedford, Whitford "now or formerly of one Lyons", Susan Adams land sixteen rods on the north), "about four acres", "all the same premises conveyed to me by Ernest M. Carpenter by his deed dated January twenty third A.D. nineteen hundred and one". The Howe School trustees lent on local real estate. Discharged (Book 384, Page 182).
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| June 21, 1901 | Warranty Deed | Fred L. Gleason of Billerica (wife Lizzie Gleason releasing dower and homestead) | Julia P. Small, wife of Frank M. Small of Cambridge, in her own right | 1901 Gleason sells to Julia P. Small of Cambridge | 331/49 |
Dated June 20, 1901, recorded June 21, 1901 (pages 49-50). For "One Dollar and other valuable considerations", "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situate in the southwest part of said Billerica", the same bounds, "four (4) acres more or less", "subject to a mortgage of seventeen hundred (1700) dollars now on said Estate" (the Howe School mortgage), which the grantee assumes, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Ernest M. Carpenter dated January 23rd 1901" (Book 327, Page 141). Julia P. Small was the mother of Mary S. Small, wife of Colonel Charles A. Ranlett.
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| September 11, 1928 | Quitclaim | Bessie E. Small of Cambridge, unmarried, and Helen S. White, wife of William H. White of Brookline (he releasing curtesy) | Mary S. Ranlett, wife of Colonel Charles A. Ranlett, of Billerica | 1928 Small sisters release to Mary S. Ranlett, wife of Col. Charles A. Ranlett | 767/154 |
Dated Sept. 8, 1928 (pages 154-155). For consideration paid, quitclaim of all their right, title and interest in "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in the Southwesterly part of said Billerica", the same bounds as since 1866, "four (4) acres more or less", "Being the same premises conveyed by Fred L. Gleason of Billerica to Julia P. Small by deed dated June 20, 1901, and being devised by said Julia P. Small to above grantors and grantee by will allowed July 18, 1928, by Middlesex Probate Court, Case 168232". The deed calls Julia P. Small "our mother": her three daughters inherited and the two sisters released to Mary, who already lived there with the Colonel.
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| October 1, 1928 | Mortgage | Mary D. S. Ranlett of Billerica (husband Colonel Charles A. Ranlett releasing curtesy) | B. F. Butler Co-operative Bank, Lowell | 1928 Ranlett mortgage, $2,600 | 768/466 |
Dated Sept. 7, 1928, the day before her sisters signed their release. For $2,600 at $26 a month, secured by thirteen shares of the bank, "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, being a certain parcel of land situated in the southwesterly part of said Billerica", the four acres on the road from Billerica to Bedford, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Bessie E. Small et al by their deed dated September 8, 1928". The loan apparently bought out her sisters' shares.
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| November 8, 1934 | Mortgage | Mary D. S. Ranlett of Billerica (husband Colonel Charles A. Ranlett releasing curtesy) | B. F. Butler Co-operative Bank, Lowell | 1934 Ranlett second mortgage, recites the 1928 $2,600 mortgage | 855/336 |
Dated Nov. 5, 1934 (pages 336-337). Second co-operative bank mortgage for $400 at $4 a month, "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon", the four acres on the road from Billerica to Bedford, "Being the same premises to me conveyed by Bessie E. Small et al by their deed dated Sept. 8, 1928" (Book 767, Page 154), "subject to a prior mortgage to said B. F. Butler Co-operative Bank originally given for the principal sum of $2600.00 dated Sept. 7, 1928" (Book 768, Page 466), with the furnaces, ranges and fixtures in the buildings.
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| 1955 | Mortgage | Mary D. S. Ranlett of Billerica | B. F. Butler Co-operative Bank, Lowell | 1955 Ranlett mortgage, $1,600 | 1288/267 |
Indexed March 28, 1955. For $1,600 in fifteen years ($12.66 a month), "the land, with the buildings thereon, situated in said Billerica in the southwesterly part thereof, containing four acres more or less", the road from Billerica to Bedford on the east, land "now or formerly of one Lyons" on the south and Susan Adams land sixteen rods on the north, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Bessie E. Small et al dated September 8, 1928" (Book 767, Page 154).
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| 1956 | Mortgage | Mary D. S. Ranlett of Billerica (with her husband Colonel Charles A. Ranlett) | B. F. Butler Co-operative Bank, Lowell | 1956 Ranlett mortgage, recites the 1955 mortgage | 1356/596 |
Indexed Nov. 28, 1956. For $400 in ten years at six percent ($4.45 a month), "the land, with the buildings thereon, situated in said Billerica in the southwesterly part thereof, containing four acres more or less", on the road from Billerica to Bedford at land "now or formerly of one Lyons" and Susan Adams land sixteen rods on the north, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Bessie E. Small et al dated September 8, 1928" (Book 767, Page 154), "Subject to a previous mortgage to the B. F. Butler Co-operative Bank dated March 28, 1955" (Book 1288, Page 267).
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| June 10, 1960 | Executor's Deed | The executrix of the will of Mary Small Ranlett (Mary S. Ranlett, Mary D. S. Ranlett), late of Billerica | Private owners of Lexington | 1960 Ranlett estate sale by the executrix | 1478/315 |
Dated June 1, 1960. Under a license of the Middlesex Probate Court dated April 27, 1960, for $10,500, "the land in Billerica, with buildings thereon situated in the Southwesterly part", beginning at the southeast corner on the road from Billerica to Bedford at land formerly of William Whitford "now or late of one Lyons", west on the Whitford land to land of Susan Adams, north on the Adams land 16 rods, east to the road and south by the road, "4 acres" more or less. The end of 32 years of Ranlett ownership after Mary S. Ranlett died. Later sales (1964, 1965, 1969, 2015, 2016) were between private owners; the house came down in 2019 after a 2016 sale to a development company, and a two-family house followed in 2024.
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.