Field House
The Field House at 354 Andover Road is a small Greek Revival house in Pattenville & Morningside, the old mill village in East Billerica where Andover Road meets Content Brook and the Tewksbury line. Its lot, about seventeen rods deep and four and a half rods wide on the north side of the road, was cut from the land of the Patten family, whose saw and grist mills and cabinet works gave the village its name. Deacon Aaron H. Patten bought "Patten's Mills" and the land around them in the 1820s, and when he died in September 1866 his will left the residue of his estate, including the Pattenville land, to his son Thomas Patten.
The house was standing by August 1874, when Thomas Patten sold the lot "with the buildings thereon" to Emily Webster for $1,875, the first deed of it as a separate parcel. She gave him a $200 mortgage, which he assigned to his brother William H. Patten and which was paid off in 1877. The Websters were living here when the 1875 county atlas was drawn, and the house is marked there for "E. K. Webster", Emily's husband Eliphalet K. Webster. In September 1877 Emily and Eliphalet sold the place for $1,825 to their daughter, Sarah W. Livingston of Lowell, who soon married G. Frank Green.
In July 1886 Emily Webster's children, Daniel D. Webster, Sarah W. Green, Emma M. Webster and Edward K. Webster, all then living in New Hampshire, sold the house for $1,000 to Edward K. Richardson of Billerica. He borrowed $400 on it from Ann E. Baker, and $150 more in 1891, and on 30 July 1891 she made "an open and peaceable entry" to foreclose. The foreclosure became final, and in December 1896 Ann and Ebenezer Baker sold the house back to Richardson for $550, taking a mortgage he paid off in 1908. Richardson, who did labor and dug graves for the town, lived here until his death on 25 May 1911, aged 73.
His heirs held "the land in Pattenville, a part of Billerica, known as the Edward K. Richardson estate" until 31 December 1920, when Roy L. Palmer of Winchester and Randolph P. Nason of Medford sold it to Evan S. Field of East Billerica. Evan Field, a machinist, and his wife Margaret raised a large family here; their children were born between 1916 and 1930. After Evan's death his estate was settled in the Middlesex Probate Court, and in December 1957 the six children released the house to their mother. Margaret E. Field sold it in April 1968, and in October 1970 it was sold again to the family that has owned it since. The lot keeps the bounds of the 1874 deed, about 76 feet on Andover Road and 280 feet deep, a little under half an acre.
References
- MACRIS BIL.145
- Billerica assessor, 354 Andover Rd (parcel 27-6-0, 0.493 acres): current deed and sales history
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| 1866 | Will | Estate of Deacon Aaron H. Patten of Billerica | His son Thomas Patten, residuary devisee and executor | Deacon Aaron H. Patten leaves the Pattenville land to his son Thomas (1866) | Probate #39072 |
Will of 11 February 1864: five dollars to each child, his widow the use for life of "any of my houses with the garden connected therewith", she to select it, and "all the rest residue and remainder of my estate real personal and mixed" to his son Thomas Patten. Aaron H. Patten died 10 September 1866. The heirs named in October 1866 included Aaron H. Patten Jr., then of Reading.
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| September 12, 1874 | Warranty Deed | Thomas Patten of Billerica (Fannie J. Patten releasing dower and homestead) | Emily Webster of Billerica | Thomas Patten sells the house lot with the buildings to Emily Webster (1874) | 105/124 |
For $1,875, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situate in the easterly part of said Billerica": from a bound at the Andover road northerly by a fence about 17 rods, westerly about 4 rods and 10 1/2 feet, southerly about 17 rods back to the road, and easterly on the Andover road about 4 rods 10 1/2 feet, bounded on every side but the road by other land of the grantor. No title recital: Thomas Patten held the Pattenville land under the will of his father, Deacon Aaron H. Patten (1866). Signed 11 August 1874 and acknowledged before Dudley Foster JP on 20 August; recorded 12 September 1874. The first record of the house lot as a separate parcel.
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| December 3, 1874 | Assignment of Mortgage | Thomas Patten of Billerica | William H. Patten of Billerica | the Webster mortgage assigned to William H. Patten (1874) | 107/43 |
For $200, Thomas Patten, mortgagee in the mortgage given by Emily W. Webster dated 11 August 1874, assigns the mortgage deed, the real estate it covers and the note to his brother William H. Patten. Signed 21 November 1874 before Dudley Foster JP, recorded 3 December 1874 with the mortgage itself.
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| December 3, 1874 | Mortgage | Emily Webster of Billerica | Thomas Patten of Billerica | Emily Webster mortgage back to Thomas Patten (1874) | 107/44 |
Purchase-money mortgage for $200 on "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon" in the easterly part of Billerica, the same 17 rod by 4 rod 10 1/2 foot lot on the Andover road, "being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of said Thomas Patten of even date and to be delivered simultaneously herewith". Dated 11 August 1874, recorded 3 December 1874; the margin refers to the release in Book 126, Page 497.
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| October 13, 1877 | Warranty Deed | Emily Webster in her own right and Eliphalet K. Webster her husband, of Billerica | Sarah W. Livingston of Lowell | Emily and Eliphalet K. Webster sell to their daughter Sarah W. Livingston (1877) | 126/78 |
For $1,825, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situated in the easterly part of said Billerica", the same bounds (17 rods by a fence to land of Thomas Patten, 4 rods 10 1/2 feet by Patten, back to the Andover road), "being the same premises conveyed to said Emily Webster by Thomas Patten by deed dated August 11th A.D. 1874" (Book 105, Page 124). Signed by Emily Webster and E. K. Webster, the "E. K. Webster" shown at this house on the 1875 county atlas. Dated 28 September 1877, acknowledged before John Davis JP and recorded 13 October 1877. The buyer was the Websters' daughter, who married G. Frank Green by 1880.
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| November 27, 1877 | Discharge of Mortgage | William H. Patten, assignee | Emily Webster | the Webster mortgage paid off (1877) | 126/497 |
William H. Patten, assignee of the mortgage given by Emily Webster to Thomas Patten dated 11 August 1874 (libro 107, folio 44), acknowledges "full payment and satisfaction of the same" and releases the premises to her. Signed 10 October 1877 before Dudley Foster JP, recorded 27 November 1877.
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| November 8, 1886 | Warranty Deed | Daniel D. Webster of Boscawen NH, Sarah W. Green and her husband G. Frank Green of Hampton NH, Emma M. Webster of Concord NH and Edward K. Webster of Pittsfield NH | Edward K. Richardson of Billerica | the Webster heirs sell to Edward K. Richardson (1886) | 185/116 |
For $1,000, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situated in the easterly part of said Billerica", the same 17 rod by 4 rod 10 1/2 foot lot on the Andover road bounded by land now or formerly of Thomas Patten, "being the same premises described in a deed of Thomas Patten to Emily Webster dated August 11th A.D. 1874" (Book 105, Page 124). The grantors are Emily Webster's children; Martha P. Webster, wife of Daniel D., released dower and homestead. Dated 9 July 1886, acknowledged in Merrimack County NH on 13 July, recorded 8 November 1886.
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| November 8, 1886 | Mortgage | Edward K. Richardson of Billerica | Ann E. Baker of Billerica | Richardson mortgage to Ann E. Baker (1886) | 185/117 |
Mortgage for $400 on the same tract "with the buildings thereon", "being the same premises conveyed to me by Daniel D. Webster and others by deed dated July 9th A.D. 1886 and to be recorded herewith"; $400 in two years at six percent, the buildings to be insured for at least $400, with a power of sale at auction in Billerica. Dated 9 July 1886, recorded 8 November 1886; the margin refers to the 1891 entry in Book 225, Page 375.
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| April 14, 1891 | Mortgage | Edward K. Richardson of Billerica | Ann E. Baker of Billerica | Richardson second mortgage to Ann E. Baker (1891) | 223/48 |
Second mortgage for $150 on the same tract "with the buildings thereon", "being the same premises conveyed to me by Daniel D. Webster and others by deed dated July 9, 1886 and the same heretofore mortgaged by me to said Ann E. Baker", free of incumbrances "except said prior mortgage"; $150 in one year at six percent. Recorded 14 April 1891.
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| July 30, 1891 | Certificate of Entry | Edward K. Richardson, mortgagor | Ann E. Baker, mortgagee | Ann E. Baker enters to foreclose (1891) | 225/375 |
Henry Sherman of Billerica and George E. Stevens of Lowell certify on oath that on 30 July 1891 they saw Ann E. Baker "make an open and peaceable entry in and upon the premises described in the within mortgage and take possession thereof for breach of the condition of said mortgage and for the purpose of foreclosing the same", without opposition from Edward K. Richardson (the 1886 mortgage, Book 185, Page 117). Sworn before Daniel W. Richardson JP and recorded the same day. Unless redeemed, a foreclosure by entry became absolute after three years, in July 1894.
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| December 30, 1896 | Warranty Deed | Ann E. Baker in her own right and her husband Ebenezer Baker, of Billerica | Edward K. Richardson of Billerica | Ann E. Baker sells the house back to Richardson (1896) | 282/28 |
For $550, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situated in the easterly part of said Billerica": from a bound at the Andover road northerly by a fence about 17 rods to land now or formerly of Thomas Patten, westerly 4 rods 10 1/2 feet, southerly about 17 rods to the road and easterly on the road 4 rods 10 1/2 feet, "being the same premises described in a deed of Thomas Patten to Emily Webster dated Aug 11, 1874" (Book 105, Page 124). Ann E. Baker held the place after her 1891 foreclosure and here sold it back to Richardson. Signed 11 December 1896 before Herbert A. King JP, recorded 30 December 1896.
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| December 30, 1896 | Mortgage | Edward K. Richardson of Billerica | Ann E. Baker of Billerica | Richardson purchase mortgage to Ann E. Baker (1896) | 282/32 |
Purchase-money mortgage for $550 on the same tract "with the buildings thereon", "the same as this day conveyed to me by the said Ann E. Baker"; $550 in one year with interest at six percent payable semi-annually, the buildings to be insured for $550, with a power of sale at auction in Billerica. Dated 11 December 1896, recorded 30 December 1896; discharged in 1908 (Book 428, Page 403).
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| January 1, 1909 | Discharge of Mortgage | Ann E. Baker of Billerica, mortgagee | Edward K. Richardson | the Baker mortgage discharged (1908) | 428/403 |
Ann E. Baker acknowledges that she has received from Edward K. Richardson "full payment and satisfaction" of his mortgage dated 11 December 1896 (Book 282, Page 32), and releases to him all her interest in the premises. Signed 30 December 1908 before Herbert A. King JP, recorded 1 January 1909. Richardson owned the house free and clear until his death on 25 May 1911, aged 73 (town report deaths for 1911).
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| January 14, 1921 | Quitclaim Deed | Roy L. Palmer of Winchester and Randolph P. Nason of Medford (Elsie A. Palmer releasing dower and homestead) | Evan S. Field of East Billerica | the Edward K. Richardson estate sold to Evan S. Field (1920) | 639/132 |
For consideration paid, "the land in Pattenville, a part of Billerica, known as the Edward K. Richardson estate, a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon, situated in the easterly part of said Billerica", the same 17 rod by 4 rod 10 1/2 foot lot on the Andover road, "being the same premises described in a deed of Daniel D. Webster and others to Edward K. Richardson dated July 9, 1886" (Book 185, Page 116). The grantors took Richardson's title through his estate after his death in 1911. Signed 31 December 1920 and acknowledged in Suffolk County before George P. Nason NP, recorded 14 January 1921.
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| 1957 | Administration | Estate of Evan S. Field of Billerica | His widow Margaret E. Field and their six children | estate of Evan S. Field (about 1957) | Probate #345901 |
Middlesex Probate Court docket 345901, the administration of the estate of Evan S. Field, who owned the house from 1920 until his death about 1957. Known from the recitals of the 1957 heirs' deed ("For our titles see estate of Evan S. Field duly administered in Middlesex Probate Court, Docket No. 345901") and of Margaret E. Field's 1968 deed; Middlesex probate files after 1871 are not online.
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| January 7, 1958 | Quitclaim Deed | The six children of Evan S. Field, of Billerica, Chelmsford and Buffalo NY (their wives releasing dower and homestead) | Margaret E. Field of Billerica, widow of Evan S. Field | the Field heirs release the house to the widow, Margaret E. Field (1957); later private owners | 1392/471 |
For a consideration other than money, all their right, title and interest in "a certain parcel of land, with the buildings thereon, situated in the easterly part of said Billerica", the same 17 rod by 4 rod 10 1/2 foot lot on Andover Road, "being all and the same premises conveyed to Evan S. Field by Roy L. Palmer, et al by deed dated December 31, 1920" (Book 639, Page 132), "for our titles see estate of Evan S. Field", probate docket 345901. Dated 10 December 1957, recorded 7 January 1958. Later private sales: Margaret E. Field sold the house in April 1968 to a private couple (deed recorded Book 1839, Page 414, the same bounds now given as 280.5 by 76.5 feet), and they sold it in October 1970 to the owners named on the 1973 survey (Book 1939, Page 156, $21,900); it has stayed in that family since, with survivorship records in 2013.
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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.