Structure · Built 1935
Elmer R. Tilton House
The house at 38 High Street in North Billerica stands on a half-acre wedge of land between High Street and the old Lexington Branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad, at the point where the tracks cross the road. The lot was the narrow south end of the farm on High and Rogers Streets that held the Barker House, and its land titles run back with that farm: Zaccheus Shed sold "seven acres ... by the road leading to the Canal mills" to Nathan Mears in 1817, and after Mears's estate was sold by his children's guardians in 1832 the land passed through Daniel Wilson, Sidney S. Russell (who built a house and barn there about 1842), Joel Banfill, John Chamberlain, George H. Barker, Joshua Buffum, Samuel Lees and John Riley to John and Ellen Shea in 1888.
When John T. Brown surveyed "Mrs. E. Shea's" land in April 1923 (Plan Book 41, Plan 85), it measured 4.52 acres, and the only building he drew was the old house near the bend of High Street; the long strip running down to the railroad crossing was open land behind a stone wall. Ellen Shea sold the place in 1925 to James F. and Martha Delmege, who resold it the same year to Peter and Sarah G. Reid.
The Reids agreed in 1934 to sell the south end to Elmer R. Tilton, and on May 13, 1935 they deeded him "the southerly portion of a large parcel of land" on the Shea plan: 240.9 feet "on the stone wall" along High Street, 180.8 feet back on their own land and 301.1 feet along the railroad, "one half an acre, more or less". The deed names no buildings, and the revenue stamps show a price of under $500. Tilton, who had been fire chief at the Billerica railroad shops and lived on Myrtle Street in 1931, built the present house on the lot; by 1941 the directories list him and his wife Louisa K. Tilton on High Street, with Tilton working as chief watchman at the Boston and Maine repair shops, and they were still there in 1951. When Peter Reid, then a widower living in Gould Station, Quebec, sold the rest of the farm to Homer and Anna M. Emery in 1943, he excepted the part conveyed to Tilton.
Tilton kept the house for 38 years. Unmarried by then, he sold it in February 1973 for $10,100, and it has since passed through several private owners (1973, 1974, 1980, 1985, and family transfers in 1995, 2010 and 2022), every deed repeating the bounds of 1935. The assessor's date of "about 1905" for the house does not fit the records: the 1923 plan shows no building on this end of the land, and the house dates from Tilton's ownership, between 1935 and 1940.
References
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 18, 1797 | Heirs Quitclaim | John Shed of Hollis, N.H., yeoman; Oliver Richardson and Elizabeth Richardson; Timothy Davis and Martha Davis; John Rogers and Rhoda Rogers, all of Billerica (heirs of John Shed) | Zaccheus Shed of Billerica, yeoman, their brother | John Shed's heirs release his lands to Zaccheus Shed, 1797 | 127/152 (South) |
Dated and acknowledged Dec. 5, 1797, recorded Dec. 18, 1797. For $200, and because Zaccheus had quitclaimed to them "the indoor moveables, two cows & thirty four pounds sixteen shillings & ten pence in notes" of the personal estate, his brother and sisters release to him "the whole of the lands & buildings that our honoured Father John Shed late of said Billerica Gentleman deceased died seized & possessed of." There was no probate of the elder John Sheds estate; this family settlement is how the homestead passed to Zaccheus. Witnesses Lucy Sheed and Isaac Stearns. Billerica town book 9, pages 331-332.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| August 20, 1817 | Warranty Deed | Zaccheus Shed of Billerica, yeoman (wife Miriam releasing dower) | Nathan Mears of Billerica, yeoman | Zaccheus Shed sells the 7-acre lot by the road to the Canal Mills to Nathan Mears, 1817 | 222/119 (South) |
For $350, "a certain lot of land containing seven acres be the same more or less situate in the northerly part of said Billerica by the road leading to the Canal mills", beginning at the northeasterly corner at said road, westerly by land of the heirs of Thomas Mears 58 poles to land of William Pollard, southerly by Pollard's land "as the wall now stands" to the road, easterly 54 poles by the road to the corner, and northerly by the road 19 poles to the beginning. Warranty; no buildings named and no title recital. Signed Feb. 7, 1817, recorded Aug. 20, 1817. Billerica town book 12, pages 25-26. This is the lot at the corner of High and Rogers Streets, North Billerica, where the Barker House stands.
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| June 24, 1828 | Administration | Estate of Nathan Mears of Billerica, yeoman | His minor children Edwin, Charles, Nathan, Lucy Ann and Elbert Mears; Marshall Preston, administrator | estate of Nathan Mears: "The Zac. Shed Lot, 7 acres", 1828 | Probate #14955 |
Nathan Mears died in June 1828 leaving "no widow, nor heirs of twenty one years of age"; at his children's request (and his own before his death) Marshall Preston of Billerica was appointed administrator at Framingham June 24, 1828, bond $30,000. The inventory lists the homestead of about 27 acres with three dwelling houses, the saw mill, "The Woolen Factory, occupied by Francis Faulkner & son", the forge, the old homestead of Thomas Mears, the Patten lot, and "The Zac. Shed Lot, 7 acres" at $210, with no buildings. Real estate $15,245.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| April 21, 1832 | Guardian's Deed | John Baldwin of Billerica, Esq., guardian of Lucy Ann, Nathan and Elbert Mears, minor children of Nathan Mears | Daniel Wilson of Billerica | guardian's sale of three fifths of the Shed lot to Daniel Wilson, 1832 | 313/22 (South) |
Licensed by the Supreme Judicial Court, sold at public vendue on the premises March 20, 1832, for $1,428.06, three undivided fifth parts of part of the Mears homestead farm (11 acres 25 1/2 rods, lots 3-5 on S. Livingston's plan) and of "the Z. Shed Lot so called, containing six acres and one hundred and forty three rods", from the northeasterly corner at the road from the "old Mears place" to William Rogers', westerly by the widow Lydia Mears's dower land 58 rods 15 links to William Pollard, southerly by Pollard to the road "leading from the corner so called, to said old Mears place," northeasterly by that road to the corner of the roads about 54 rods, and northerly by the road about 19 poles. Signed March 20, 1832, recorded April 21, 1832. Billerica town book 16, pages 93-95.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| April 21, 1832 | Guardian's Deed | Nathaniel Stearns of Billerica, yeoman, guardian of Edwin and Charles Mears, minor children of Nathan Mears | Daniel Wilson of Billerica, yeoman | guardian's sale of two fifths of the Shed lot to Daniel Wilson, 1832 | 313/24 (South) |
Licensed by the Supreme Judicial Court, sold at public vendue on the premises March 20, 1832, two undivided fifth parts of the same two tracts: the 11 acres 25 1/2 rods of the homestead farm and "the Z. Shed lot so called, containing six acres and one hundred and forty three rods," bounded as in John Baldwin's deed of the other three fifths. Recorded April 21, 1832. Billerica town book 16, pages 96-98. With Baldwin's deed this gave Daniel Wilson the whole lot.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| May 7, 1842 | Warranty Deed | Daniel Wilson of Billerica, yeoman (wife Mary releasing dower) | Sidney S. Russell of Lowell | Wilson sells the 7 acres to Sidney S. Russell, 1842 | 415/251 (South) |
For $200, "a certain lot of land situate in the Northerly part of said Billerica containing seven acres more or less", beginning at the northeasterly corner "at the road leading from the corner, so called, in said Billerica to Billerica Mills," westerly by land of Owen Murphy about 58 poles to William Pollard, southerly by Pollard's land "as the wall now stands" to the road, easterly by the road about 58 poles to the corner, and northerly by the road about 19 poles. No buildings named. Signed April 23, 1842. Billerica town book 17, pages 287-288. Russell gave back a mortgage the same day that also secured Wilson's bill "for lumber advanced by said Wilson to said Russell to build a house and barn upon said premises" (Book 416, Page 247): the first house on the lot.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| August 22, 1845 | Warranty Deed | Owen Murphy of Billerica, weaver (wife Bridget releasing dower) | Sidney S. Russell of Lowell, trader | Russell adds the 18 acres behind from Owen Murphy, 1845 | 470/48 (South) |
For $300, "a certain piece of land situated in the westerly part of Billerica aforesaid formerly belonging to Mears Estate," from a stake and stones at the corner of Joel Dix's land on "the old road leading from the Canal Mills to S. S. Russell's own land," westerly to William Pollard, northerly to Joel Dix, and easterly back to the start, "Eighteen Acres and seventy three and half rods". Signed Aug. 15, 1845, recorded Aug. 22, 1845. Billerica town book 18, pages 28-29. The back land north of Russell's house lot; together they made the 27 acres sold in 1849-1888.
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| January 4, 1850 | Warranty Deed | Sidney S. Russell of Billerica, yeoman (wife Lydia releasing dower) | Joel Banfill of Lowell, trader | Russell sells the 27 acres with the buildings to Joel Banfill, 1849 | 577/141 (South) |
For $2,355, "a certain piece of land situate in said Billerica on the old road leading from the corner so called to the Canal Mills containing twenty seven acres", beginning at the northeasterly corner at the road, southerly on the road 58 rods to William Pollard, westerly on Pollard to Joel Dix, northerly on Dix to the road, and on the road to the beginning, "with all the buildings thereon," being the land conveyed to Russell by Daniel Wilson (1842) and Owen Murphy (1845). Subject to a mortgage to Phillips Academy, assumed. Signed Dec. 29, 1849, recorded Jan. 4, 1850. Billerica town book 21, pages 4-5.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1850 | Warranty Deed | Joel Banfill of Billerica, yeoman | John Chamberlain of Lowell, merchant | Banfill to John Chamberlain, 1850 | 593/554 (South) |
For $2,300, the same 27 acres "on the old road leading from the corner (so called) to the canal mills" (58 rods on the road to William Pollard, westerly to Joel Dix) "with all the buildings thereon," being the land Daniel Wilson and Owen Murphy conveyed to Sidney S. Russell and Russell conveyed to Banfill Dec. 29, 1849 (Book 577, Page 141); subject to mortgages to "The Philips Academy" ($500) and Electa Foster ($500), assumed. Signed Aug. 26, 1850. Billerica town book 18, pages 452-454.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| May 7, 1853 | Warranty Deed | John Chamberlin Jr. of Lowell, trader (wife Jane releasing dower) | George H. Barker of Onondaga, Onondaga County, New York | Chamberlin to George H. Barker, 1853 | 654/116 (South) |
For $2,750, "a certain piece of land situated in Billerica on the old road leading from the corner (so called) to the Canal Mills containing twenty seven acres", bounded as before by the road (58 rods), William Pollard and Joel Dix, "with all the buildings thereon; being the same land conveyed to me by Joel Banfield by his deed dated Aug the 20th A.D. 1850 ... Book 593 Page 554." Signed April 25, 1853, recorded May 7, 1853. Billerica town book 19, pages 500-501. Barker is the name on the house on the 1853 map, which gave the Barker House its name.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| May 8, 1858 | Warranty Deed | George H. Barker of Billerica and Eliza Barker his wife | Joshua Buffum of Detroit, Michigan | Barker to Joshua Buffum, 1858 | 14/382 |
For $2,550, "a certain piece of land situated in Billerica on the old road leading from the corner (so called) to the Canal Mills, containing twenty-seven acres," bounded by the road 58 rods, William Pollard and Joel Dix, "with all the buildings thereon standing, being the same premises conveyed to me by John Chamberlin Jr. by his deed dated April 25th 1853 ... Book 654 Page 111 [116]." Eliza joins to release homestead. Signed May 5, 1858, acknowledged May 7 before Dudley Foster, recorded May 8, 1858.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| April 10, 1865 | Warranty Deed | Joshua Buffum of Billerica (wife Ruth A. releasing dower and homestead) | Samuel Lees of Concord, Mass. | Buffum to Samuel Lees, 1865 | 41/454 |
For $3,000, "a certain piece of land situated in Billerica on the old road leading from the corner [so called] to the Canal Mills, containing twenty-seven acres," same bounds, "with all the buildings thereon standing being the same premises conveyed to me by George H. Barker by his deed dated May 1st [5th], 1858 ... Book 14, Page 382." Signed and acknowledged at Lowell April 10, 1865. Samuel Lees is the "S. Lees" of the 1875 map.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| May 17, 1877 | Warranty Deed | Columbia Lees, widow, and John M. Lees, both of Billerica (Jennie M. Lees releasing dower) | John Riley and Catharine Riley his wife, of Nashua, N.H. | the Lees heirs to John and Catharine Riley, 1877 | 123/521 |
For $2,450, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica on the old road leading from the corner (so called) to the Canal Mills," bounded by the road 58 rods to William Pollard, Pollard, Joel Dix and the road. "Being the same premises conveyed to Samuel Lees, by deed from Joshua Buffum dated April 10th A.D. 1865 ... Book 41 Page 454." Signed May 8, 1877, recorded May 17, 1877. Samuel Lees had died; his widow and son sold.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| November 1, 1888 | Warranty Deed | John Riley of Billerica, unmarried | John Shea of Billerica and Ellen Shea his wife | Riley to John and Ellen Shea, 1888 | 201/198 |
For $1,862.50, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica on the old road leading from the corner so called to the Canal mills," bounded by the road 58 rods to land now or formerly of William Pollard, Pollard, Joel Dix and the road. "Being the same premises to the said John Riley and to Catharine Riley wife of said John conveyed by Columbia Lees and another by deed dated May 1st A.D. 1877 ... Book 123, Page 521. Said Catharine Riley having deceased my title ... by survivorship." Signed and recorded Nov. 1, 1888. The "John Shea place" of Kohlrausch's 1903 memoir and the 1889 map.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| June 12, 1925 | Warranty Deed | Ellen Shea of Billerica, unmarried | James F. Delmege and Martha Delmege, husband and wife | Ellen Shea sells the 4.52 acres on Plan 41/85 to the Delmeges, 1925 | 723/367 |
For consideration paid ($3 in stamps), "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated on High and Rogers St. in said Billerica containing four and 52/100 (4.52) acres," north by land of one Konddilla, east by Rogers Street, south by High Street, west by the Lexington Branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad, as on John T. Brown's plan of April 14, 1923 (Plan Book 41, Plan 85). "My title to said property being as heir of said John Shea by his will probated November 16, 1909 at Registry of Probate in Cambridge ... document #81406." Signed and recorded June 12, 1925. The Delmeges mortgaged it the same day for $1,200 to the Middlesex Co-operative Bank.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| December 7, 1925 | Quitclaim Deed | James F. Delmege and Martha B. Delmege of Billerica | Peter Reid and Sarah G. Reid of Billerica, tenants by the entirety | the Delmeges to Peter and Sarah G. Reid, 1925 | 731/332 |
For consideration paid, "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated on High and Rogers Sts. in said Billerica containing four and 52/100 (4.52) acres," bounded by Konddilla, Rogers Street, High Street and the Lexington Branch railroad, per Plan Book 41, Plan 85. "Being the same premises to us conveyed by Ellen Shea by deed duly recorded with said Deeds." Subject to the $1,200 Middlesex Co-operative Bank mortgage, assumed. Signed Dec. 5, 1925, recorded Dec. 7, 1925; the Reids gave the bank a further $800 mortgage the same day.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| June 21, 1935 | Quitclaim | Peter Reid and Sarah G. Reid, his wife, in her own right, both of Billerica | Elmer R. Tilton of Billerica | the Reids sell Elmer R. Tilton the empty south end of their land, half an acre, 1935 | 863/523 |
For consideration paid (50 cents in revenue stamps), "the land in that part of said Billerica called North Billerica being the southerly portion of a large parcel of land shown on" the 1923 plan of Mrs. E. Shea's land by John T. Brown (Plan Book 41, Plan 85): beginning "at the intersection of the northwesterly line of High Street with the easterly line of the Lexington Branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad", northeasterly by High Street "and on the stone wall" 240.9 feet to other land of the Reids, northwesterly by that land at a right angle 180.8 feet to the railroad, and southerly by the railroad 301.1 feet, "one half an acre, more or less", no buildings named. "Being a portion of the premises to us conveyed by James F. and Martha Delmego by deed dated December 5, 1925 ... Book 731, Page 332." Sarah signed by her mark. Signed May 13, 1935, recorded June 21, 1935.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| June 3, 1943 | Warranty Deed | Peter Reid, widower, of Gould Station, Quebec | Homer Emery and Anna M. Emery of Chelsea, husband and wife | Peter Reid sells the rest of the land, excepting the Tilton lot, 1943 | 991/553 |
For "Ten and More Dollars," "a certain piece or parcel of land, with all buildings thereon, situated on High and Rogers streets in said Billerica containing four and 52/100 (4.52) acres," per John T. Brown's 1923 plan (Plan Book 41, Plan 85), "all and the same land and premises, with all buildings thereon, which James F. Delmege and Martha Delmege conveyed to Peter Reid and the late Sarah G. Reid ... December 5, 1925 ... Book 731 on page 332," except the part conveyed to Elmer R. Tilton about Jan. 1, 1935 under an unrecorded 1934 contract. Signed at Gould Station May 20, 1943, recorded June 3, 1943.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| March 5, 1973 | Quitclaim | Elmer R. Tilton of Billerica, unmarried | Private owners | Tilton sells the house lot after 38 years, 1973; later private sales summarized | 2054/237 |
For $10,100, the same half acre at High Street and the Lexington Branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad, "the southerly portion of a large parcel of land" on Plan Book 41, Plan 85, with the bounds of 1935 (240.9 feet on High Street, 180.8 feet on the Reid land, 301.1 feet on the railroad). "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Peter Reid et ux dated May 13, 1935, recorded at said Deeds 863, Page 523." Signed February 19, 1973, recorded March 5, 1973. The buyers passed it to themselves and partners the same day and sold it in 1974 for $29,000; the same lot and bounds were resold in 1980 and 1985 ($109,000), and the assessor lists further private transfers in 1995, 2010 and 2022 (to a family trust). It remains a private one-family house of five rooms on half an acre (assessor parcel 23-30-0).
Title from:
|
|||||
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.