Structure · Built 1852 · Demolished 2013
James Fletcher House
The James Fletcher House stood on the north side of River Street, the old road "leading from the great Boston road to the Middle Bridge", a short way west of the Bowers land (later Martin Lane's, now the Billerica Housing Authority's elderly housing at 13 River Street). Its lot began as a strip of six acres, 16 1/4 rods wide on the road and about 60 rods deep, running north to land of Joshua Bennett.
On February 3, 1844, Gardner Parker cut the strip from his farm and sold it, bare, for $300 to James Fletcher, a Billerica "victualler", after Marshall Preston released his mortgage on it. The same month Fletcher mortgaged the lot to Sewall Stearns for $350, pledging "the frame & materials for a dwelling house and barn thereon". The house was therefore framed in 1844, not about 1852 as long assumed. Fletcher and his wife Louisa sold the place "with the buildings thereon standing" to Nathan L. Bryant of Dorchester in March 1854 for $1,650.
The deeds kept the builder's name on the property. Bryant passed it to Royal T. Bryant in January 1857, and in March 1857 Royal T. Bryant sold "My James Fletcher place so called situate near the centre of said Billerica" to Oliver Hutchins of Lowell for $1,500. After Hutchins died (his will was proved at Lowell on February 4, 1862) his children and their spouses, including the Dupees of Winchester, sold the six acres "with all the buildings standing thereon" to his widow Phebe. In 1876 Phebe Hutchins sold to Silas H. P. Cowdrey. His widow Catherine sold "my Homestead ... Five acres" to Lucy M. Baker in 1885, the Boston and Lowell Railroad's Bedford branch having by then taken a strip across the back of the land.
Lucy Baker, later Lucy M. B. King, sold the place to Frederick A. Casey on November 1, 1898, but that deed was lost before it was recorded, and she gave him a confirming deed in 1909. Casey's family already owned the land just to the east, which Mary N. Casey had bought from Martin Lane in 1886 and 1889. A 1916 plan of the "Mary N. Casey and Frederick A. Casey Estates" drew a 1.4 acre house lot at the corner of River Street and Maple Avenue, whose 267 ft on River Street is the old 16 1/4 rod Fletcher frontage. Frank A. Casey conveyed that corner lot "with the buildings thereon" to Elsie A. Carr in 1920.
William and Elsie Carr kept the house for almost forty years. In November 1957 Emmons and Fleming divided the corner lot into Lots F, G and H (Plan Book 89, Plan 124B), drawing the old house on Lot F, and the Carrs sold Lot F (31,123 square feet) to a private owner. It changed hands among private owners in 1970, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1987 and 1992. In 2013 the heirs of the last owners sold it to 39 River Street LLC; the house was taken down that year, Lot F was divided into F-1 and F-2 (Plan Book 237, Plan 107), and a new colonial house built on F-1 at 41 River Street in 2014 was sold to a private owner that October.
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| February 5, 1844 | Release | Marshall Preston of Billerica, yeoman | Gardner Parker of Billerica, yeoman | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 438/59 (South) |
Billerica town book 16, pages 474-475. For $300 Preston quitclaims "all my right title and interest being that of a mortgage" in a tract "on the north side of the road leading from Billerica over the middle bridge so called to Carlisle containing six acres more or less": from the road at land of William Bowers north 59 rods to Joshua Bennett, west 16 1/4 rods, south by Parker's land about 60 rods to the road, and east by the road. Signed Feb. 3, 1844, acknowledged before Dudley Foster. Clears the lot for the sale to James Fletcher the same day.
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| February 5, 1844 | Deed | Gardner Parker of Billerica, yeoman (wife Adelia B. Parker releases dower) | James Fletcher of Billerica, victualler | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 438/60 (South) |
Billerica town book 16, pages 475-476. For $300, "a certain tract of land situate in said Billerica containing six acres more or less", beginning at the southeast corner "at the road leading from the great Boston road to the Middle Bridge so called and land of William Bowers", north by Bowers 59 rods to Joshua Bennett, west by Bennett 16 1/4 rods to a stake and stones, south "by my land" about 60 rods to the road, east by the road 16 1/4 rods. No buildings are named: bare land cut from Parker's farm.
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| 1844 | Mortgage | James Fletcher of Billerica, victualler | Sewall Stearns of Billerica, esquire | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 438/61 (South) |
Billerica town book 16, page 477. For $350 Fletcher mortgages the same six acres by the road to the Middle Bridge (Bowers, Bennett and Parker bounds), "Also the frame & materials for a dwelling house and barn thereon". The house was being framed in February 1844, which dates the J. Fletcher House to 1844.
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| March 29, 1854 | Deed | James Fletcher of Billerica, yeoman (wife Louisa Fletcher releases dower) | Nathan L. Bryant of Dorchester, yeoman | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 677/183 (South) |
Billerica town book 19, pages 609-610. For $1,650, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon standing situate in said Billerica containing six acres more or less", southeast corner at "the road leading from the Great Boston Road to the Middle Bridge so called and land of the heirs of the late William Bowers", north 59 rods to Joshua Bennett, west 16 1/4 rods, south by Gardner Parker about 60 rods, east by the road 16 1/4 rods; subject to "a mortgage of nine hundred and sixty dollars" which Bryant assumes. Signed March 27, 1854, before John Baldwin Jr.
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| January 30, 1857 | Deed | Nathan L. Bryant of Lexington, yeoman | Royal T. Bryant of Billerica, yeoman | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 7/492 |
For $1,750, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon standing situate in said Billerica containing six acres more or less", with the same bounds as the 1854 deed (road from the great Boston road to Middle Bridge, heirs of the late Wm. Bowers, Joshua Bennett, Gardner Parker), "Subject to a Mortgage of six hundred dollars which the said Grantee is to pay and discharge".
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| March 30, 1857 | Deed | Royal T. Bryant of Billerica, yeoman (wife Sarah H. Bryant releases dower) | Oliver Hutchins of Lowell | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 9/101 |
For $1,500, "My James Fletcher place so called situate near the centre of said Billerica containing six acres more or less", from the southeast corner at land of the heirs of William Bowers and the Road leading to Middle Bridge, east by Bowers to Joshua Bennett, north by Bennett to A. F. Page, west by Page to the road; subject to the $600 mortgage, which the grantee is to pay. Signed March 27, 1857, before Dudley Foster.
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| 1862 | Will | Estate of Oliver Hutchins of Billerica | His heirs; widow Phebe (Dodge) Hutchins | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | Probate #35053 |
Will of Oliver Hutchins, made while "of Chelmsford ... Yeoman", "Proved at Lowell Feb. 4, 1862": debts paid, furniture and $1,000 to his then wife Hannah A. Hutchins, $2 each to the two children of his late daughter Maria, wife of George Dupee of Westford, and the residue to his children. He had married Phebe Dodge under a marriage contract in 1856 (N 3/505). His heirs sold the James Fletcher place to the widow Phebe in 1862.
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| August 26, 1862 | Deed | Charles H. Dupee and Louisa H. Dupee of Winchester, George O. Hutchins of Chelmsford, Albert F. Hutchins of Hingham and Charles F. Hutchins of Philadelphia | Phebe Hutchins of Billerica, widow of Oliver Hutchins | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 31/560 |
For $1,500, "six acres of land, more or less, with all the buildings standing thereon, situate near the centre of said Billerica", bounded by the heirs of William Bowers, Joshua Bennett, A. F. Page and the road to Middle Bridge; "Being the premises conveyed by Royal T. Bryant to Oliver Hutchins by deed dated March 27, A.D. 1857 ... Book 9 Page 101". Signed Aug. 7, 1862 by the heirs and their wives (Elizabeth, Abigail B. and Lydia R. Hutchins).
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| 1876 | Deed | Phebe Hutchins of Billerica, widow | Silas H. P. Cowdrey of Billerica | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 117/172 |
For $1,550, "six acres of land more or less with all buildings standing thereon, situate near the centre of said Billerica", beginning "at land formerly of the heirs of William Bowers deceased (now of Martin Lane) and the road leading to Middle Bridge", then by Joshua Bennett deceased and A. F. Page; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Charles H. Dupee and others", Book 31 Page 560. Signed April 22, 1876, before Dudley Foster; Cowdrey gave a mortgage back (Book 118 Page 29).
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| September 8, 1885 | Deed | Catherine P. Cowdrey of Billerica, widow of Silas H. P. Cowdrey | Lucy M. Baker of Billerica, single woman | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 176/404 |
For $1,400, "my Homestead situated in said Billerica containing Five acres more or less, with all the buildings thereon", from land of Martin Lane and the Road leading to Middle Bridge, by Joshua Bennett deceased and land formerly of Ambrose F. Page, "Reserving all the land taken by the Boston & Lowell Railroad Corporation which I have conveyed to them"; "Being the same premises conveyed to my husband Silas H. P. Cowdrey, by Phebe Hutchins", Book 117 Page 172. On the same page Laura A. Monroe discharges Cowdrey's 1877 mortgage (Book 124 Page 415), paid by the widow as executrix.
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| December 20, 1886 | Warranty Deed | Martin Lane of Billerica; Bridget Lane releases dower and homestead | Mary N. Casey of Billerica, a married woman | abutting Lane land bought by Mary N. Casey | 186/596 |
Signed and acknowledged Dec. 7, 1886 before Dudley Foster, recorded Dec. 20, 1886. For $300, a tract on River Street beginning at its southwest corner "at land of Mrs. Lucy M. King," north by King about sixteen rods, east 85 feet "by my other land," south parallel about sixteen rods to River Street and west 85 feet on the street, "containing about one half acre. The grantee is to build all fences and keep them in repair." Witnesses Dudley Foster and Patrick Kennelly. Excepted from the Lane Homestead in 1917 and 1945.
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| May 9, 1889 | Warranty Deed | Martin Lane of Billerica; Bridget Lane releases dower and homestead | Mary N. Casey of Billerica | abutting Lane land bought by Mary N. Casey | 205/544 |
Signed and acknowledged April 30, 1889 before Dudley Foster, recorded May 9, 1889 (pages 544-545). For $200, a strip beginning on River Street at Mrs. Casey's land, east on River Street 40 feet "to a bound at my other land," north 40 feet from the Casey land 234 feet, west 40 feet to Casey and south by her land to the beginning. Witnesses Dudley Foster and Eunice Lane. Excepted from the Lane Homestead in 1917 and 1945.
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| 1898 | Mortgage | Frederic A. Casey of Billerica | John Fisk of Billerica | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 303/454 |
For $1,400 Casey mortgages the tract "with the buildings thereon" between Martin Lane, the Boston and Maine Railroad and a private way, "in part the same premises conveyed by Lucy M. King to Frederic A. Casey by deed dated Nov. 1st 1898" (left without book and page: that deed was never recorded). Discharged by Fisk's executor in 1909 (Book 441 Page 81).
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| October 15, 1909 | Quitclaim | Lucy M. B. King of Billerica (formerly Lucy M. Baker; husband Herbert A. King releases) | Frederick A. Casey of Billerica | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 440/512 |
Confirmatory deed. For $1, "a certain parcel of land situate in said Billerica containing five acres, more or less, with all the buildings thereon", from "land formerly of Martin Lane now of Mrs. Casey and the road leading to Middle Bridge", by Joshua Bennett deceased and Ambrose F. Page, reserving the railroad land; "Being the same premises to me conveyed, by the name of Lucy M. Baker by Catherine P. Cowdrey" (Book 176 Page 404) and "heretofore conveyed by me to the grantee ... by deed dated Nov. 1st A.D. 1898, but which last named deed has never been recorded, the same having become lost". Signed Oct. 8, 1909.
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| 1909 | Mortgage | Frederick A. Casey of Billerica | City Institution for Savings, Lowell | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 441/82 |
For $1,400, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon, situated in said Billerica, northerly of the road to the middle bridge, so called", beginning at land of Martin Lane and Mary N. Casey, west by a fence across a private way about 514 ft to the Boston and Maine Railroad, north by the railroad about 525 ft; "Being a portion of the same premises to me conveyed by Lucy M. B. King". Discharged in 1920 (Book 636 Page 69).
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| November 1, 1920 | Quitclaim | Frank A. Casey of Billerica (wife Ethel J. Casey releases) | Elsie A. Carr, wife of William M. Carr, of Providence, R.I. | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 636/69 |
For $1, the land "with the buildings thereon, situated at the corner of River Street and Maple Avenue, and containing 1.4 acres", Plan Book 34 Plan 19 (Oct. 1916, Mary N. Casey and Frederick A. Casey Estates): south by River Street by three lines 267.22 ft, west by Maple Avenue 232 ft, north 262 ft and east 220 ft by owners unknown. "For reference to title see settlement of the Estate of Mary N. Casey, Middlesex Probate Records, Case No. 120,663." The 267 ft frontage is the 16 1/4 rods of the 1844 Fletcher lot. Signed Sept. 1, 1920.
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| March 7, 1950 | Quitclaim | Elsie A. Carr of Billerica (husband William M. Carr releases) | Francis F. O'Donnell of Lowell | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 1135/74 |
The land "with the buildings thereon situated at the corner of River Street and Maple Avenue, and containing 1.4 acres", Plan 34-19, same bounds; title through the estate of Mary N. Casey (probate 120,663) and the 1920 deed, Book 636 Page 69. A straw deed, re-conveyed the same day.
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| March 7, 1950 | Quitclaim | Francis F. O'Donnell of Lowell (wife Charlotte G. O'Donnell releases) | William M. Carr and Elsie A. Carr of Billerica, tenants by the entirety | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 1135/75 |
The same 1.4 acres "with the buildings thereon" at River Street and Maple Avenue, Plan 34-19; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Elsie A. Carr by deed of even date". Signed Feb. 18, 1950; it put the property in the names of husband and wife.
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| December 9, 1957 | Quitclaim | William M. Carr and Elsie A. Carr of Billerica | A private owner | chain of title of the J. Fletcher house lot | 1390/259 |
The Carrs sell "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, located on the northerly side of River Street", Lot F of Plan Book 89 Plan 124B (Nov. 1957, Emmons and Fleming, a subdivision of Plan 34-19): northeast by Town of Billerica 220 ft, southeast by River Street 142.22 ft, southwest by Lot G 235.89 ft, northwest by Town land 132 ft, 31,123 sq ft; "Being a part of the premises conveyed to us by Francis F. O'Donnell" (Book 1135 Page 75). The plan draws the house on Lot F.
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| July 9, 2013 | Quitclaim | Heirs of the private owners | 39 River Street LLC | last sale before demolition | 27466/16 |
For $352,500, Lot F of Plan 89-124B, "41 River Street a/k/a 39-41 River Street, with the buildings thereon" (31,123 sq ft); title from the 1992 deed, Book 6233 Page 229. Lot F passed among private owners in 1970, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1987 and 1992. The old house was taken down in 2013; Plan 237-107 (2014) divided Lot F into F-1 (41 River St) and F-2, and the new house built on F-1 in 2014 was sold to a private owner in October 2014.
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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.