Person · 1803 - 1889
Israel A. Colson
Israel A. Colson
| Born | 1803-08-04 Uxbridge, MA |
| Died | 1889-01-04 Billerica, MA |
| Select Board | |
| In Office | 1860 - 1861 1869 - 1874 |
| Spouses |
Rachel Farmer |
| Children | George (b. 1839-09-18) |
Israel Aldrich Colson (1803 to 1889) was a North Billerica farmer who came to the town in the years of the Middlesex Canal, married into the Farmer family and lived for more than half a century at the Farmer place by the Baptist church, on what is now Colson Street. Hazen gives his birth at Uxbridge on August 4, 1803, and he came to Billerica from Rhode Island. According to the state historic inventory of the neighborhood, the census called him a farmer, but in his early years he worked as assistant to Daniel Wilson, who ran the canal's works at North Billerica, and he took part in building the locks that let canal boats into the Concord River. On June 1, 1833 the canal proprietors sold him lots 17 and 18 of their house lots on the road below the locks; he sold them in 1857 to Charles P. Talbot and Thomas Talbot, the year they began their mill.
In March 1832 he married Rachel Farmer, born in 1804, a daughter of Oliver Farmer, said to be the first child born in the brick-ended house her father built in 1803. Oliver Farmer's will of May 3, 1839 left his widow Hannah rooms in the house for life on condition that Colson support her, and gave the rest of his estate to Colson, his son-in-law, who was executor. So the farm of about sixty acres between the road to Billerica Centre, the old canal and the Concord River became the Colsons', with the Oliver Farmer II House and the barn now known as the Colson Barn. The maps of 1853 and 1875 mark the house with his name, and the census of 1850 valued his real estate at $5,000.
He served on the Select Board in 1860 and 1861 and again from 1869 to 1874, and with George P. Elliot he audited the town treasurer's accounts in 1865. In May 1871 town meeting empowered him and his fellow selectmen Dudley Foster and David L. Mason to sell the real estate that Mary and Fanny Bowers had left to the town for its poor. As a committee they sold the Bowers homestead in the Centre, the Shed place and a row of house lots on the road to Boston, and the proceeds founded the fund later managed by the Bowers Fund Committee. The same year he and Daniel Floyd sold for the town the old schoolhouse lot of the first school district in the Centre. In 1859 he was one of the appraisers of the property of the aged Joel Dix, and in 1865 he bought and resold ninth shares in the Dix homestead near the Talbot mill.
Rachel Colson died in 1883. On January 23, 1884, describing himself as unmarried, Israel deeded "my Homestead Farm" with all the buildings to their son George F. Colson for $2,000 and other consideration. He died at Billerica on January 4, 1889, aged 85. Their children were Caroline Augusta, born July 10, 1832, who taught the District No. 4 school in the early 1850s and died in 1857; Mary Elizabeth, born June 9, 1834, who married Julius Jockow of Lowell in 1862; and George Farmer, born in 1839. The family name survives in Colson Street and in the Colson Heights house lots laid out on the farm after George's death.
References
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883), Genealogical Register p. 25, COLSON
- Vital Records of Billerica to 1850, marriages p. 240: Israel A. Colson and Rachel Farmer, Mar. 29, 1832
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Property | Recorded |
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| 1839 | Will | Estate of Oliver Farmer (1760-1839) of Billerica, yeoman | His son-in-law Israel A. Colson, residuary devisee and executor | residuary devisee and executor under the will of his father-in-law Oliver Farmer, 1839 | Colson Barn Oliver Farmer II House Tanden Plaza South James W. Sutcliff House George F. Colson Two-Family House 18-20 Colson St Martin A. and Frances T. Lydon House Frederick Wain House 16 Colson St Archibald Dunlop House 40-42 Colson St Elmer E. and Mary J. Perrigo House Lyons House |
Probate #7205 |
Will dated May 3, 1839, witnessed by Reuben Chamberlin, Marshall Preston and James R. Faulkner; proved at Concord Aug. 13, 1839 on the petition of Israel A. Colson, executor (bond $30,000 with Daniel Wilson and Francis Faulkner). The widow Hannah received for life "the two lower rooms at the south end of my house, and the front chamber over the same," with the front entry, stairs, well room, well and cellar, an annual allowance of food and "six cords of good wood, cut up and housed," and whatever she had from her sister Susannah Sprague, in lieu of dower; daughter Rebecca had money, the furniture and "the lower front room at the north end of my house" until marriage; Oliver Jr., Asa, Hannah Abbot, Rachel Colson, Zadoc and three grandchildren had money legacies. "All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real personal and mixed" went to "my said Son in law Israel A. Colson," on condition that he support the widow. No inventory survives in the file. The farm with the 1803 brick-end house passed to the Colsons by this will, not by Rachel Farmer's marriage alone.
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| April 8, 1857 | Warranty Deed | Israel A. Colson of Billerica (Rachel Colson releasing dower) | Charles P. Talbot of Lowell and Thomas Talbot of Billerica, manufacturers | sells canal lots 17 and 18 to the Talbots, 1857 | C. P. Talbot Mill Worker Housing at 19 21 Old Elm St C. P. Talbot Mill Worker Housing at 23-25 Old Elm St 23 25 Old Elm St |
9/145 |
Dated March 30, 1857. For $487.50, "a tract of land situate in said Billerica on the Northerly side of the road leading from the dwelling house of the late Oliver Farmer deceased to the Canal Mills": by John Mixer's land 10 1/2 rods back toward the canal, 8 rods on the road "to a stone post", by land formerly of the canal 14 1/2 rods, and by the towing path, lots 17 and 18 on Samuel Whiting's plan of May 27, 1816, which the Middlesex Canal had sold Colson on June 1, 1833.
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| September 15, 1865 | Release | John Q. A. Griffin of Medford; Sarah E. W. Griffin, his wife | Israel A. Colson of Billerica | release of the Griffin interest in the Dix homestead, 1865 | Captain Joel Dix House 10 Old Elm St |
44/281 |
For $1, all Griffin's interest in the parcel "with the Buildings thereon situate in North Billerica" from the corner at the common land, east about five rods to C. P. Talbot et als, south about five rods to Concord River, along the river about twenty rods, west by Wilson and Gannon about twenty rods to a private way, north on it about twenty-one rods "to land of Haynes, Foster and others," east about nine rods and north about fifteen rods to the beginning, "being a portion of the premises conveyed to said Griffin by Joel Dix by his deed dated Dec. 27, 1860 ... Book 26 Page 413." Signed September 2, 1865; recorded September 15, 1865, with the release of Martha Dix, wife of Joel Dix [Jr.], of her dower and homestead rights (Book 44, Page 283).
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| September 25, 1865 | Deed | Sybil Rand of Nashua, N.H., in her own right, an heir of Joel Dix; George W. Rand, her husband | Israel A. Colson of Billerica | buys Sybil Rand's ninth of the Joel Dix homestead, 1865 | Captain Joel Dix House 10 Old Elm St |
44/374 |
For $200, "one undivided ninth part of the following described piece or parcel of land situate in that part of said Billerica known as North Billerica together with the buildings thereon ... Being the homestead of the late Joel Dix of said Billerica," bounded from the road from Billerica Mills to Lowell at land of Lyman Haines and others, south about fifteen rods, west to a passageway, about twenty rods on it to Wilson and Gannon, to Concord River, and by C. P. Talbot & Co. and the common land back to the beginning. Signed and acknowledged at Nashua September 22, 1865; recorded September 25, 1865. Her ninth came to her by descent from Joel Dix.
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| March 19, 1866 | Quitclaim | Israel A. Colson of Billerica; Rachel Colson, his wife | Dudley Foster of Billerica | resells the Griffin interest in the Dix homestead to Dudley Foster, 1865 | Captain Joel Dix House 10 Old Elm St |
47/333 |
For $200, "one undivided ninth part of a certain parcel of land with the Buildings thereon situate in North Billerica and known as the Homestead of the late Joel Dix deceased," from the corner at the common land, east about five rods to C. P. Talbot & Co., south to Concord River, about twenty rods along the river, west about twenty rods by Wilson and Gannon to a private way, north on it about twenty-one rods "to land of Haynes, Foster & Jones," east about nine rods and north about fifteen rods to the beginning, "Intending to convey all my right title & interest acquired by deed of J. Q. A. Griffin dated Sept. 2nd 1865 with Martha Dix release of Dower ... Book 44, page 281 & Page 283." Signed December 6, 1865; recorded March 19, 1866 (index date).
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| March 19, 1866 | Quitclaim | Israel A. Colson of Billerica; Rachel Colson, his wife | Lyman Haynes, Anthony Jones and Dudley Foster, all of Billerica | resells the Rand ninth of the Dix homestead, 1865 | Captain Joel Dix House 10 Old Elm St |
47/335 |
For $200, "one undivided ninth part of the following described parcel of land with the Buildings thereon situate in North Billerica known as the Homestead of the late Joel Dix deceased," from the road from Billerica Mills to Lowell at land of Lyman Haynes and others, about fifteen rods south, west to a passageway, about twenty rods on it to Wilson and Gannon, to Concord River, and by C. P. Talbot & Co. and the common land back to the road: "Being premises conveyed to me by Sibyl Rand deed dated Sept. 22nd 1865 ... Book 44, Page 374." Signed December 6, 1865; recorded March 19, 1866.
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| June 13, 1871 | Quitclaim Deed | The Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica, by Dudley Foster, Israel A. Colson and David L. Mason, committee | William H. Osborn of New York City | town committee selling the Bowers estate, 1871 | Old Providence House 1 Concord Rd Bennett Public Library |
80/253 |
Signed May 16, 1871 under a town-meeting vote of May 2, 1871, for $2800: "two undivided third parts of a certain tract of land situate in the centre of said Billerica, and known as the Bowers Homestead containing one & three quarter acres more or less, with a house and barn thereon", same bounds as the Baptist deed (Dudley Foster, John Baldwin, the First Congregationalist Society, the main street and the Carlisle road). "Being part of the real estate devised to said grantors by Mary Bowers and Fanny Bowers." The town kept the proceeds in the Bowers fund for the worthy poor. Countersigned by Dudley Foster, Treasurer.
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| September 21, 1871 | Quitclaim | The Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica, by Dudley Foster, Israel A. Colson and David L. Mason, committee | George W. Gragg of Billerica | town committee selling the Bowers estate, 1871 | Lund Building | 82/136 |
Under the town meeting vote of May 2, 1871, for $266.67, "two undivided third parts" of a parcel on the main road leading to Boston: from a bound at "land this day sold to L. T. Eastman", westerly by Eastman 33 3/4 rods to land of Mrs. Bowers, by the Bowers land 5 1/2 rods to a corner of the wall, southerly by the wall 5 3/5 rods to "Chunstaff lane so called", along the lane "as staked out by the Selectmen" 29 rods 3 links to the main road, and northerly 8 rods on the road; "containing 1 acre 50 rods. Being No. 4 on a plan surveyed by Samuel Sage A.D. 1871. Being a part of the real estate devised to said grantors by Mary Bowers and Fanny Bowers." Dated May 31, 1871. No buildings named.
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| January 26, 1872 | Quitclaim | The Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica, by Dudley Foster, Israel A. Colson and David L. Mason, committee | Mark Lund of Billerica | town committee selling the Bowers estate, 1871 | Charles Lund House William H. Patten House (Boston Road) 427 429 Boston Rd |
84/242 |
Same date and bounds as the church deed (Book 84 Page 241). Under a vote of the town meeting of May 2, 1871, for $150, "two undivided third parts" of Lot No. 2 "on a Plan surveyed by Saml Sage A.D. 1871," 1 acre 54 rods, eight rods on the main road leading to Boston between the lot sold that day to Samuel Sage and the lot sold to Lund T. Eastman. "Being a part of the real estate devised to said Grantors by Mary Bowers and Fanny Bowers" (left to the town for the poor). Recorded Jan. 26, 1872.
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| May 2, 1872 | Quitclaim | The Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica, by Dudley Foster, Israel A. Colson and David L. Mason, committee; Dudley Foster, Treasurer | Charles E. Gorham of Billerica | town committee selling the Bowers estate, 1871 | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Billerica Meetinghouse Sunnyside Mitchell Boys' School Shed Place Campbell Hall |
86/118 |
Dated May 31, 1871, under a vote of town meeting of May 1871; acknowledged before Charles H. Parker JP; recorded May 2, 1872. For $2,330.56, "seventeen undivided eighteenth parts of a certain parcel of land known as the 'Shed place'", 49 acres 81 rods "with an old house thereon", the same bounds as the church's deed. "Being part of the real estate devised to said grantors by Mary Bowers and Fanny Bowers." The two deeds together brought $2,450 for the whole farm.
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| May 6, 1873 | Quitclaim | The Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica, by Daniel Floyd and Israel A. Colson, committee | Benjamin F. Gilbert of Billerica | town committee selling the old schoolhouse lot, 1871 | Centre Schoolhouse (Pages Court) Benjamin F. Gilbert House |
93/104 |
Dated and acknowledged Feb. 28, 1871 before Dudley Foster, recorded May 6, 1873. For $550, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon," about forty-six square rods, with the same bounds as the 1870 deed (Gilbert's land on two sides, the centre of the passageway on the south, land formerly of Ann Parker on the north), reserving twenty-five feet as a public passageway, "being the premises conveyed to said Inhabitants by the First School District in the Town of Billerica, by deed dated Feb'y 26th 1870."
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| July 25, 1879 | Quitclaim | The Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica, by Dudley Foster, Israel A. Colson and David L. Mason, committee | Lund T. Eastman of Billerica | town committee selling the Bowers estate, 1871 | L.T. Eastman Blacksmith Shop Lund T. Eastman House 435 437 Boston Rd |
134/442 |
Under the vote of the town meeting of May 2, 1871, for $203.33, "two undivided third parts" of a parcel on the Main road leading to Boston: from a bound at land "this day sold to Mark Lund", westerly by Lund 30 rods to land of the Bowers, southwesterly 6 rods 15 links and southeasterly 4 3/4 rods by the Bowers land, easterly by land "this day sold to G. W. Gragg" 33 3/4 rods to the road, northerly 8 rods on the road, "containing 1 acre 86 rods. Being No. 3 on a plan surveyed by Saml Sage A.D. 1871. Being part of the real estate devised to said grantors by Mary Bowers and Fanny Bowers." Dated May 11, 1871; not recorded until July 25, 1879.
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| July 25, 1879 | Quitclaim | The Members of the First Baptist Church and Society of Billerica, by Edward Spaulding and George C. Gilman, committee | Lund T. Eastman of Billerica | town committee selling the Bowers estate, 1871 | L.T. Eastman Blacksmith Shop Lund T. Eastman House 435 437 Boston Rd |
134/442 |
Under a vote of May 1, 1871, for $101.67, "one undivided third part" of the same Lot No. 3 on Samuel Sage's 1871 plan, 1 acre 86 rods, bounded by Mark Lund, the Bowers land, G. W. Gragg and the Main road, "Being a part of the real estate devised to said grantors by Priscilla Bowers." Dated May 11, 1871 (book pages 442-443), recorded July 25, 1879 with the town's deed.
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| September 11, 1880 | Quitclaim | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | Martin Lane | town committee selling the Bowers estate, 1871 | Jonathan Danforth House Martin Lane House BMHS Memorial Building Billerica Memorial High School BMHS New Addition |
141/370 |
Two undivided third parts of about 24 acres with a dwelling house and barn, for $1,933.33. Bounded beginning at the southeasterly corner at the wall on the highway leading to Middle Bridge at land of Josiah Richardson; northerly by Richardson, the heirs of Joel Richardson, and land of Dudley Foster and Mrs. Parker to land of the heirs of Joshua Bennett; westerly by Bennett about 75 3/4 poles to land of Phebe Hutchins; southerly by Hutchins to the highway about 81 1/2 poles; easterly by the highway to the first bound about 83 poles. Part of the real estate devised to the town by Molly (Mary) Bowers and Fanny Bowers, daughters of Dr. William Bowers. Signed May 25, 1871 by Dudley Foster, Israel A. Colson and David L. Mason, a committee authorized by town meeting vote of May 2, 1871; recorded Sept 11, 1880.
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| November 8, 1884 | Warranty Deed | Israel A. Colson of Billerica, unmarried | George F. Colson of Billerica | deeds the homestead farm to his son George F. Colson, 1884 | Colson Barn Oliver Farmer II House Tanden Plaza South James W. Sutcliff House George F. Colson Two-Family House 18-20 Colson St Dr. Neil K. Forhan House Martin A. and Frances T. Lydon House Frederick Wain House 16 Colson St Archibald Dunlop House 40-42 Colson St Elmer E. and Mary J. Perrigo House Lyons House |
170/272 |
For "Two Thousand Dollars and other valuable consideration," "my Homestead Farm situated in that part of Billerica called North Billerica," beginning "at the dwelling house on said premises and road leading to Billerica Centre," running by the road and the old back road to the Lowell road, by land formerly of T. F. Farmer, the heirs of Betsy Richardson and Bernard Kearney "to the old Middlesex Canal," west by the canal to the Chelmsford line, by Ready, the late John Barrett and Patrick Meehan back to the Lowell road, across it by Mixer and Kearney "to Concord River," then south on the river to C. P. Talbot and Co. and the road, "with all the buildings thereon. Reserving all the public roads." Also the stock, hay, grain, wagons, carts, farming tools and household furniture. Dated Jan. 23, 1884 (Dudley Foster, witness and justice); recorded Nov. 8, 1884. Middlesex North Book 170, pages 272-273.
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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.