Structure · Built 1852 · Demolished 1976
Crosby Slaughterhouse
The Crosby Slaughterhouse stood on the small triangle of land at 630 Boston Road where Webb Brook Road leaves the Boston road, a lot that every deed from 1833 to 1906 describes as "bounded on all sides by" the highways. The building began as the Crosby family's slaughter house; the 1856 Walling map labels it "W. E. Greenwood" for William F. Greenwood, who owned it as a dwelling from 1847 to 1854.
Before it was a house lot the triangle belonged to the Crosby family of the Fiske Tavern Stand up the road. When the widow Betsy Crosby died in 1832 her inventory listed "the Slaughter house lot" among the tavern lands of her late husband Josiah Crosby Esq. In April 1833 her daughter Susan and son-in-law Dr. Thaddeus Brown sold the estate lands to Oliver Crosby, including "the slaughter house and land to the same belonging containing two acres and sixty five rods bounded on all sides by a highway".
Five days later Oliver Crosby sold the northern acre, at the fork of the roads, to Joseph Farmer, yeoman, for $150, "with the Slaughter House & Shoe makers Shop on the same", reserving a blacksmith shop that still stood there "untill the same be removed". Within six years the slaughter house had become a home: when Joseph Farmer sold the acre to Sereno Fiske in April 1839 for $1,200, the south line ran "two rods ... south of the southerly end of the dwelling house" between two rows of apple trees. Fiske, who had bought the Crosby tavern in 1833, had already taken the southern acre of the slaughter house lot from Oliver Crosby in December 1838, so the whole triangle was his again, and it became known as "Fiske's Farmer Place", that is, the place Fiske bought from Farmer.
Fiske moved to Southport in the Wisconsin Territory and in April 1844 sold the "Farmer Place" of two acres "with the buildings thereon" to Moses P. Greenwood for $1,275, through his attorney Marshall Preston, who added a separate release to clear the dower claim of Fiske's wife. Greenwood, who bought the tavern stand the same year, sold the house in November 1847 to William F. Greenwood for $1,225, and on April 29, 1854 William F. and Laura Ann Greenwood sold it to Aaron Maynard, blacksmith, for $1,475.
Aaron Maynard was related to the earlier owner by marriage twice over: his wife Mary was Joseph Farmer's sister, and Joseph Farmer's wife Mary Ann Champney was Maynard's half-sister. Maynard lived here more than thirty years and on March 29, 1887 sold "my homestead ... with all the buildings thereon" to Nathaniel F. Bruce. The house then passed through Bruce's widow Sarah, Charles S. Gay and Bella M. Burnett (1910), whose heirs lost it to a tax title in 1940, and through later owners (see 630 Boston Rd) until the old buildings were cleared about 1976 for the office building that stands on the lot today.
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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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 | Betsy Crosby inventory, 1832: "the Slaughter house lot" among the Crosby tavern lands | 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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| April 6, 1833 | Warranty Deed | Thaddeus Brown of Billerica, physician, and Susan Brown his wife in her right | Oliver Crosby of Billerica, gentleman | The slaughter house lot, two acres bounded on all sides by highways, to Oliver Crosby | 322/139 (South) |
Billerica town book 16, pages 205-207. Signed Apr 1, 1833. For $4,434, "the following several lots of land situate in said Billerica lately belonging to the estate of Josiah Crosby Esq. deceased": the Tavern stand or Bowers land of nine acres seventy rods "with the buildings thereon", and "Also the slaughter house and land to the same belonging containing two acres and sixty five rods bounded on all sides by a highway", with the Webbs orchard and Richardson land, the Rocky pasture and Fuller land, the Crosby pasture and two Shawsheen river meadows. Witnesses Marshall Preston and Michael Crosby Jr.
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| 1833 | Warranty Deed | Oliver Crosby of Billerica, gentleman; his wife Hannah M. releasing dower | Joseph Farmer of Billerica, yeoman | North acre of the slaughter house lot, with the slaughter house and shoemaker shop, to Joseph Farmer | 334/408 (South) |
Billerica town book 15, pages 5-6. Signed Apr 6, 1833 (indexed as recorded 1834). For $150, one acre "being the northerly end of what is called the Slaughter House lot, with the Slaughter House & Shoe makers Shop on the same": from the northerly corner "at the fork of the roads" southerly by the Boston road "to a stake and stones standing about three rods ... south of the south end of said Slaughter House in the centre of two rows of Apple trees", easterly between the rows of trees to the road leading to Webbs brook, and northwesterly by that road to the beginning, "reserving the Blacksmith shop and the land under said shop untill the same be removed." No title recital.
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| December 11, 1838 | Warranty Deed | Oliver Crosby of Billerica, gentleman; his wife Hannah M. releasing dower | Sereno Fiske of Billerica, gentleman | South acre of the slaughter house lot to Sereno Fiske | 379/171 (South) |
Billerica town book 14, pages 573-575. Acknowledged Dec 7, 1838. For $5,000, "the following several lots of land ... formerly belonging to the Estate of Josiah Crosby Esq. deceased": his homestead of nine acres seventy rods with the buildings, "Also the Southerly part of the slaughter house lot so called containing one acre more or less bounded Southwesterly by the Boston Road, Southeasterly by the Road leading from said Boston road to Webbs Brook so called and Northerly by land of Joseph Farmer", with the Webb Orchard and Richardson land and the Rock pasture, Stony pasture and Fuller land; subject to mortgages to Michael Crosby Jr. ($5,000) and Sarah Hill ($380).
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| April 24, 1839 | Warranty Deed | Joseph Farmer of Billerica, yeoman; his wife Mary Ann releasing dower | Sereno Fiske of Billerica, gentleman | Joseph Farmer sells the house acre to Sereno Fiske: the origin of the name "Fiske's Farmer Place" | 381/433 (South) |
Billerica town book 14, pages 518-519. Signed and acknowledged Apr 15, 1839 before Marshall Preston. For $1,200, "a certain tract or parcel of land with the buildings thereon situate in the southeasterly part of said Billerica containing one acre": from the northerly corner "at the fork of the roads" southerly by the Boston road "to a stake and stones standing two rods or thereabouts south of the southerly end of the dwelling house to the centre of the two rows of apple trees", easterly between the rows to the road leading to Webbs brook, and northwesterly by a road to the beginning. The former slaughter house lot now carries a dwelling. No title recital.
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| August 14, 1844 | Release | Marshall Preston of Billerica, Esquire | Moses P. Greenwood of Billerica, yeoman | Release clearing the dower of Sereno Fiske's wife | 448/45 (South) |
Billerica town book 17, pages 521-522. "In consideration of a sale and conveyance by Sereno Fiske and one dollar", a quitclaim of "a certain tract or parcel of real estate situate in said Billerica with the buildings thereon called Mr Fiske's Farmer Place containing two acres more or less", bounded by the Great Boston Road, the road to Webbs Brook and the other road, "having a road on all sides of it. The object of this conveyance being to secure to the grantee a release of the contingent right of dower of the said Sereno Fiske's wife."
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| August 14, 1844 | Warranty Deed | Sereno Fiske, formerly of Billerica, now of Southport, Wisconsin Territory, by Marshall Preston his attorney | Moses P. Greenwood of Billerica, yeoman | Sereno Fiske sells the Farmer Place, two acres with the buildings, to Moses P. Greenwood | 448/46 (South) |
Billerica town book 17, pages 523-524. Signed Apr 1, 1844; acknowledged by the attorney June 8, 1844 before Dudley Foster. For $1,275, "a certain tract or parcel of real estate situated in said Billerica with the buildings thereon called the said Fiskes Farmer Place containing two acres more or less bounded westerly by the Great Boston Road so called, southeasterly by the road leading from said Boston Road to Webbs Brook so called, northeasterly by the other road leading from said Brook to said Boston road, being surrounded on all sides by a road." Witnesses George R. Preston and Edward C. Bacon. No title recital.
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| 1847 | Warranty Deed | Moses P. Greenwood of Billerica, yeoman; his wife Lucy releasing dower | William F. Greenwood of Billerica, yeoman | Moses P. Greenwood to William F. Greenwood, the "W. E. Greenwood" of the Walling map | 527/67 (South) |
Billerica town book 20, pages 17-18. Signed Nov 29, 1847. For $1,225, "a certain piece or parcel of land situate in said Billerica with the buildings thereon called the 'Fisk Farmer Place' containing two acres more or less bounded westerly by the great Boston Road so called, southeasterly by the road leading from said Boston road to Webbs Brook, so called, Northeasterly by the other road leading from said Brook to said Boston road, being bounded on all sides by said roads." No title recital.
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| August 19, 1854 | Warranty Deed | William F. Greenwood of Billerica, yeoman; his wife Laura Ann releasing dower | Aaron Maynard of Billerica, blacksmith | William F. Greenwood sells to Aaron Maynard, blacksmith, who kept it as his homestead until 1887 | 688/515 (South) |
Billerica town book 20, pages 425-427. Signed and acknowledged Apr 29, 1854 before John Baldwin Jr.; witnesses John Baldwin Jr. and Moses P. Greenwood. For $1,475, "a certain piece or parcel of land situate in said Billerica known as the 'Fisk Farmer Place' containing two acres more or less bounded Westerly by the Great Boston Road, so called, Southeasterly by the road leading from said Boston road to Webbs brook, so called, North easterly by the other road, being bounded on all sides by said roads." No title recital.
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| March 31, 1887 | Warranty Deed | Aaron Maynard of Billerica, unmarried | Nathaniel F. Bruce of Billerica | Aaron Maynard sells his homestead, the triangle of Boston Road, Webb Brook Road and the cross road | 187/271 |
For one dollar and other valuable consideration, "my homestead situated in said Billerica": from the northwest corner "on the Boston road and a cross road", southerly on the Boston road to "the road leading to East Billerica", northerly on that road to the cross road, and westerly on the cross road to the beginning, "with all the buildings thereon. Said homestead is bounded on all sides by the highway." Signed Mar 29, 1887 before Dudley Foster. No title recital.
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| May 14, 1906 | Warranty Deed | Sarah E. Bruce of Medford, widow of Nathaniel F. Bruce | Charles S. Gay of Billerica | The Bruce homestead to Charles S. Gay | 390/232 |
"A certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon" between the Boston road, the road leading to East Billerica and a cross road; "Said lot is bounded on all sides by a highway. Being the same premises conveyed to my late husband Nathaniel F. Bruce by Aaron Maynard by his deed dated March 29th 1887 ... Book 187 Page 271. My title to said premises is derived as devisee under the will of my said husband". The grantor pays the 1906 taxes.
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| October 22, 1906 | Warranty Deed | Charles S. Gay of Billerica and his wife Martha J. | William J. Burnett of Boston | The homestead to William J. Burnett of Boston | 396/393 |
For one dollar and other considerations, the same parcel "with the buildings thereon standing" on the Boston Road, the road to East Billerica "also known as the road leading to Webb's Brook" and a cross road: "The said premises are bounded on all sides by a road. Being the same premises conveyed to me by Sarah E. Bruce by deed dated the fourteenth day of May A.D. 1906 ... Book 390 and Page 232." Signed Oct 22, 1906.
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| March 15, 1910 | Warranty Deed | William J. Burnett of Boston and his wife Bella M. | Eugene Paramino of Boston | Straw deed, step one: Burnett to Paramino | 447/162 |
For one dollar and other considerations, the same parcel "with the buildings thereon standing" bounded by the Boston road, the road to East Billerica ("the road leading to Webbs Brook") and a cross road. "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Charles S. Gay by deed dated October 22nd 1906 ... book 396 page 393." Signed Mar 14, 1910; a straw conveyance, passed on the same day to Bella M. Burnett.
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| March 15, 1910 | Warranty Deed | Eugene Paramino of Boston | Bella M. Burnett of Boston | Straw deed, step two: the homestead to Bella M. Burnett | 447/163 |
The same parcel "with the buildings thereon standing" on the Boston road, the road leading to East Billerica and the cross road. "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of even date and to be herewith recorded." Signed Mar 14, 1910, putting the title in the name of William J. Burnett's wife.
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| August 10, 1942 | Tax Title Redemption | Town of Billerica, by Lawrence E. Desmond, Treasurer | Walter Collins of Medford | Tax title on the Burnett heirs' land redeemed by Walter Collins, 1942 | 981/336 |
Certificate that Walter Collins, "claiming to be the holder of an interest in the land ... which was purchased by said town for non-payment of the 1940 tax assessed thereon to Heirs of Bella Burnett", redeemed it from the title held by the town under a tax collector's deed of April 25, 1942, paying $60.95: "3 acres of land, more or less, with buildings thereon, situated on easterly side of Boston Road, for further description see deed recorded in said Registry, Book 447, Page 163." Dated July 21, 1942.
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| August 10, 1942 | Quitclaim | Walter H. Collins and Florence Collins of Medford | James M. Sheehan and Mary A. Sheehan of Malden | The three acres to James M. and Mary A. Sheehan | 981/337 |
"The land in Billerica with the buildings thereon containing three acres of land": from the northwest corner "on the easterly side of the Boston Road as relocated by Middlesex County taking in 1916" and a cross road, southerly to "the road leading to East Billerica, also known as the Webb's Brook Road", northerly on it to the cross road, westerly to the beginning. "For our title, see assignment of tax title from Town of Billerica to us dated July 5, 1940 ... Book 946, Page 325. And further see Order and Decree of Land Court case #18317 ... Book 979, Page 223." Signed Aug 6, 1942.
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| June 25, 1954 | Quitclaim | James M. and Mary A. Sheehan of Lowell | A private owner of Billerica | The three acres to a private owner, who had the lot resurveyed in 1956 | 1259/326 |
"The land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on the northeasterly side of Boston Road and the southwesterly and westerly sides of Webb Brook Road, so called, containing three acres": SW by Boston Road, E by "Webb Brook Road, formerly known as the Road leading to East Billerica", NE by a cross road "also sometimes known as Webb Brook Road". "Being the same premises conveyed to us by deed of Walter H. Collins et ux dated August 6, 1942 ... Book 981, Page 337." Shown on the 1950 plan of the relocation of Webb Brook Road.
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| July 15, 1966 | Quitclaim | The 1954 owner, then of Winchester | The trustees of Gervais Investment Trust (declaration July 15, 1966) | The 1.44-acre corner lot to the Gervais Investment Trust (the Gervais brothers, Chevrolet dealers) | 1759/279 |
"The land situated on the Northeasterly side of Boston Road, Billerica": N 63-11-30 E 195.66 feet by land of Brealey to Webb Brook Road, southeasterly by Webb Brook Road 140.14 feet, S 40-51-20 E 290.40 feet, a curve of 28.43 feet, and 410.08 feet along Boston Road; "Containing 1.44 acres, more or less, and being shown on Plan of Land in Billerica Drawn for [the owner] ... August, 1956, J. B. Monahan, Reg. Land Surveyor". "For title reference see ... Book 1259, Page 326." Recorded with the trust declaration (Book 1759, Page 273) and a mortgage.
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| October 14, 1976 | Quitclaim | The trustees of Gervais Investment Trust | Gervais Bros. Inc., of Billerica | The lot to Gervais Bros. Inc., who built the office building about 1977 | 2216/179 |
For $20,000, "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on the northeasterly side of Boston Road, containing 1.44 acres", on the August 1956 J. B. Monahan plan, noted "(626 Boston Road, Billerica, Mass.)". "Being the same premises described in deed from [the 1954 owner] to [the] Trustees dated July 14, 1966 ... Book 1759, Page 279." Recorded with a discharge of an old mortgage and a new mortgage of two parcels (Book 2216, Page 180). The office building at 630 Boston Road dates from about 1977.
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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.