Job Hill Barn
The Job Hill Barn stood on the south side of Dudley Road, once called Chestnut Avenue, across the road from the Job Hill House. It was the barn of the Hill farm in South Billerica, and the site is now 24 Dudley Road.
The farm can be traced to 1761, when Joseph Hildreth Jr. of Westford sold Thomas Hall about fifty acres on the west side of the road to Concord "with all the buildings." When Hall died in 1772 his estate held "about 63 acres ... with one House and Barn." In 1773 Hall's widow, as administratrix, sold 41 1/2 acres to Jonathan Hill, who in 1785 passed the farm to his sons Job and Josiah; that year they also bought the Hall widow's dower "with the Dwelling House." Job Hill kept the farm until his death in 1842, and by his will it went to his son Jonathan Hill, who held it until he died in 1870. The barn takes its name from Job Hill's long ownership.
Jonathan Hill's widow Laura sold the farm in 1871 to Thomas E. Perrin, and it was known afterward as "the Perrin Place." Dudley Foster bought it in 1888 and sold it in 1891 to Charlotte E. Fowler. Her surveyor's plan of April 1906 shows the farmhouse alone on the north side of Chestnut Avenue and a group of farm buildings, among them a large L-shaped barn, just south of the road at its bend. That year the Fowlers sold the 92-acre farm "with the buildings" to Arthur J. Larratt, and it then changed hands quickly: to William H. Gafford, Jacob Perlis, William F. Morse, Ellsworth J. Dickson and Richard L. Champney, Catherine H. Belknap, Florence W. Dowling, Mary W. Hart and Florence L. Torrey, then under a court decree of 1921 to a Boston real estate trust, to James M. Burr and to Leah S. Perry. In 1924 the Perrys sold the western thirty acres and returned the eastern part to Burr, including the 21 acres south of Chestnut Avenue on which the barn stood. After the farmhouse burned in November 1925 the land passed through several hands to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston (1927) and in 1935 to Margaret A. Barber.
In 1947 Margaret Barber divided the land along the road. The 20 1/2 acres south of Chestnut Avenue, "with the buildings thereon," went to Joseph L. and Caroline I. Barber, and in 1948 the land north of the road, the old house lot, went to Barbara Galvin. In 1956 Joseph and Caroline Barber sold six house lots at the corner of Dudley and Concord Roads to Turnpike Acres, Inc., keeping the land around the barn. Joseph Barber died before 1965, when a state certificate recorded that the "Land and buildings" had passed to Caroline as surviving joint owner.
The barn was gone by about 1970. When Caroline Barber's estate sold the rest of the land to Doyle Homes, Inc. of Tewksbury in June 1974 for $36,000, the deed named no buildings. Doyle Homes divided it into six lots on a plan by Robert P. Morris, built houses, and sold them that summer and fall. Lot 3, 3.8 acres running back from Dudley Road to the brook, was sold "with the buildings thereon" in August 1974 for $38,645. That house, 24 Dudley Road, stands on the site of the Hill barn and has since been sold several times to private owners.
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| December 17, 1764 | Deed | Joseph Hildreth Jr. of Westford, yeoman, and Abigail Hildreth his wife | Thomas Hall of Billerica, husbandman | 1761 Hildreth to Thomas Hall, about 50 acres "with all the buildings" | 61/489 (South) |
For 300 pounds (old tenor), "a certain Tract of Land lying and being in Billerica aforesaid on the westerly side of the highway that leads to Concord and by Estimation about fifty acres ... with all the buildings thereon", "bounded Easterly on Concord Road so called", south and west by Samuel Stearns (marked walnut, great black oak, "a great Rock under the end of the wall"), over "the Brook", by Samuel and John Stearns to "a little swamp", to a birch "at Jonathan Hill's Land", and by Hill "in a crooked line to the highway first mentioned"; excepting "a certain piece of meadow & upland ... that is own'd by Jonathan Hill". Signed Feb. 4, 1761; acknowledged Jan. 2, 1764; recorded Dec. 17, 1764. Billerica town book 9, pages 75-77. The earliest deed of the farm found; its buildings are the "House and Barn" of Hall's 1772 inventory.
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| September 29, 1772 | Administration | Estate of Thomas Hall of Billerica, yeoman, intestate (d. May 10, 1772) | Lydia Hall, widow and administratrix | 1772 Thomas Hall estate: "one House and Barn" | Probate #10188 |
Administration granted Sept. 29, 1772 (sureties Isaac Stearns and Joseph Ruggles). The inventory (sworn Nov. 23, 1772; appraisers Lt. Jonathan Spaulding, Deacon Ralph Hill, Isaac Foster) lists "about 63 acres of Land and meadow with one House and Barn on the same". A summary sheet notes "a mortgage of the whole real estate to Isaac Stearns" of 140 pounds and that the administratrix "must sell 41 1/2 acres on the westerly side of the place". Bond of Jan. 11, 1773 for the sale; account allowed Oct. 7, 1777 (debts 188 pounds, "maintaining 3 children", "repairing the house"). Bond of Nov. 9, 1785: Edward Farmer, authorized by the General Court on Nov. 2, 1785 to sell the part "set off to his widow for her dower", with Jonathan Hill and Zebadiah Rogers sureties.
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| March 17, 1777 | Administrator's Deed | Lydia Hall of Billerica, administratrix of the estate of Thomas Hall, intestate | Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman | 1773 Hall administratrix sells 41 1/2 acres to Jonathan Hill | 77/362 (South) |
Under a license from the Inferior Court of Common Pleas to sell real estate for debts, for 152 pounds 9 shillings, "forty one Acres and an half of Land lying in Billerica aforesaid in the Southerly part of said Town", from the northwest angle by Jonathan Hill south by Isaac Stearns "to a stake and stones near a little swamp", by Samuel Stearns to the brook, over the brook to the ditch and Benjamin Hutchinson, then by Hill's land, the meadow, the wall and "a bowing line to the Fence about twenty five Feet East of the great Tree to which the Gate hangs". Signed Feb. 20, 1773; acknowledged March 15, 1777. These are the bounds and the price of Jonathan Hill's 1785 deed to Job and Josiah (Book 93, Page 336). The inventory had advised selling "41 1/2 acres on the westerly side of the place" to pay a mortgage of the whole farm to Isaac Stearns. Billerica town book 7, pages 139-140.
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| February 27, 1786 | Administrator's Deed | Edward Farmer of Billerica, Esq., empowered by the General Court to sell the dower of Lydia (Hall) Crosby, widow of Thomas Hall | Job Hill and Josiah Hill of Billerica, yeomen | 1785 the Hall widow's dower, with the dwelling house, to Job and Josiah Hill | 93/335 (South) |
Under an act of the General Court of Oct. 10, 1785 to sell "the Thirds or Dower of Lydia the wife of Samson Crosby but heretofore the Widow of Thomas Hall late of said Billerica yeoman", for 110 pounds 6 shillings ("the said Josiah Hill being the highest bidder when sold at Publick auction"), 21 1/2 acres "on the West side of the road leading from Billerica to Bedford": from the road by Jonathan Hill "with a crooked line ... to a rail fence Westerly of the Dwelling House on said Premises", to land sold to pay Hall's debts, to Long Meadow, by Jonathan Hill across the meadow, to Benjamin Hutchinson and back to the road, "with the Dwelling House & that part of the Barn standing thereon". Signed Nov. 13, 1785. Billerica town book 8, pages 45-47. With the 40 1/2 acres their father sold them that year (the rest of the Hall farm, bought by him from Lydia Hall in 1777), this gave the brothers the whole Hall place.
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| February 27, 1786 | Deed | Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman | Job Hill and Josiah Hill of Billerica, yeomen | 1785 Jonathan Hill to his sons Job and Josiah Hill | 93/336 (South) |
For 152 pounds 9 shillings, 40 1/2 acres "in the Southerly part of said Town," beginning at the northwesterly angle by land of said Jonathan Hill, southerly by Isaac Stearns to a little swamp, by Samuel Stearns to the brook, east over the brook to the ditch and by the ditch to Benjamin Hutchinson, northerly by Hutchinson to Jonathan Hill, and westerly, northerly and easterly by Hill's land, the meadow, a wall and "the fence about twenty five feet East of the great tree to which the gate hangs," back to the start. Signed Feb. 25, 1785; acknowledged Nov. 30, 1785 before Edward Farmer. Job (b. 1754) and Josiah were Jonathan's sons. This set off the south end of the farm; the homestead stayed with Jonathan and passed to his son Jonathan (m. 1798, d. 1815), whose south abutter in 1825 was Job Hill. Billerica town book 8, pages 44-45.
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| April 12, 1842 | Will | Estate of Job Hill of Billerica, yeoman (d. Feb. 5, 1842) | His son Jonathan Hill, residuary legatee and executor | 1842 will of Job Hill: the farm to his son Jonathan | Probate #34231 |
Will dated April 20, 1837 (witnesses Marshall Preston, John Baldwin and John Baldwin Jr.): $700 each to his daughters Asenath Hill and Susan Lane Hill and the household furniture except one bed and the clock; $250 to his daughter Lucretia, wife of Sewall Stearns, less $200 paid at her marriage; $50 to his son Daniel Hill if he came to Billerica in person within three years; and "to my son Jonathan Hill, the Bed & Clock above mentioned, together with all the rest & residue of my estate, real & personal, of whatever name or nature and wherever situated", Jonathan to be sole executor. Petition Feb. 18, 1842 ("late of Billerica, yeoman"); proved at Concord April 12, 1842; executor's bond of $20,000 the same day, Jonathan Hill "Gentleman" principal with David P. Whiting and Franklin Stearns as sureties, "being residuary legatee". No inventory is filed. The homestead farm passed under this residuary clause to Jonathan Hill.
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| 1870 | Will | Jonathan Hill of Billerica (d. May 17, 1870) | Laura W. Hill, his widow and executrix (legacies to son James W. Hill and daughter Laura Hill) | 1870 will of Jonathan Hill: the farm to his widow Laura | Probate #34235 |
Will dated Sept. 10, 1869, witnessed by William B. Stearns, Dudley Foster and Louisa P. Foster: $100 each to his son James W. Hill and his daughter Laura Hill, and "all the rest and residue of my property and estate" to his wife Laura W. Hill, executrix without bond. He died May 17, 1870; the will was proved at Lowell on July 19, 1870 (Judge William A. Richardson), the estate sworn at not over $37,000. Jonathan Hill had bought the grist mill from John Nichols in 1835, began the leather-splitting machine business there, and sold the mill and shop to Charles H. Hill in 1853, taking back a mortgage that was assigned in 1858. Middlesex probate case 34235.
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| January 5, 1871 | Warranty Deed | Laura W. Hill of Billerica, widow (of Jonathan Hill) | Thomas E. Perrin of Andover | 1871 Laura W. Hill sells the farm to Thomas E. Perrin | 77/167 |
For $7,000 ($7 in revenue stamps), "a certain parcel of land situate in said Billerica with the buildings thereon", beginning "at the corner of the wall nearly opposite the house of Thos. Lyons on the Billerica and Bedford road", north by Lyons and Susan Hamilton to the Chelmsford and Bedford road, west by that road to Francis Wheeler, then by Wheeler and Henry Desmarzes ("several angles being formed by the walls, ditches, brook and dam, the bounds formed by the dam being its westerly side") back to the Billerica and Bedford road; "Excepting the land occupied by the Blacksmith Shop, School House, Burying ground, and the cross road", and reserving the right of carting hay across the west end of "the meadow, deeded by F. O. Whitford, May 16, 1864". Also the pasture opposite the burying ground (Franklin Stearns, Moses P. Greenwood) and river meadow "a few rods from Hills Bridge". Signed Jan. 2, 1871 before Dudley Foster. No title recital: Mrs. Hill held it under her husband's will (probate 34235), and he under his father Job Hill's will (probate 34231).
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| August 20, 1888 | Warranty Deed | Thomas E. Perrin of Billerica (Abbie O. Perrin, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | Dudley Foster of Billerica | 1888 Perrin to Dudley Foster | 199/83 |
For $6,500, "a certain parcel of land situated in Billerica ... with the buildings thereon", with the bounds repeated in 1891 (the wall "nearly opposite the house of Thomas Lyons on the Billerica and Bedford road", Lyons and Susan Hamilton, the Chelmsford and Bedford road, Francis Wheeler, Henry Desmarzes, the brook and dam), "excepting the land occupied by the Blacksmith's shop, School house, Burying ground and the cross road", with the pasture opposite the burying ground and the river meadow near Hills bridge; "meaning and intending to convey the same premises to me conveyed by Laura W. Hill by her deed dated January 2nd 1871". Subject to "a mortgage to Laura W. Hill to secure a note of Four Thousand" and a $2,500 mortgage to Edward H. Boutwell. Signed April 23, 1888. That summer the town report records a cow bought by Dudley Foster at "Perrin's auction".
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| May 25, 1891 | Warranty Deed | Dudley Foster of Billerica (Mary P. Foster, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | Charlotte E. Fowler of Billerica, a married woman | 1891 Foster to Charlotte E. Fowler, "the Perrin Place" | 224/312 |
For $7,000, "a certain parcel of land situated in said Billerica with the buildings thereon", beginning "at the corner of the wall nearly opposite the house of Thomas Lyons on the Billerica and Bedford road", north by Lyons and "the late Susan Hamilton" to the Chelmsford and Bedford road, west by that road to land formerly of Francis Wheeler, then by Wheeler and Henry Desmarzes ("several angles being formed by the walls, ditches, brook and dam") back to the Billerica and Bedford road; "excepting the land occupied by the blacksmith's shop, school house, burying ground and the cross road", and reserving the right of carting hay across the west end of the meadow deeded by F. O. Whitford in 1864. Also a pasture on the Chelmsford and Bedford road "nearly opposite the burying ground" and river meadow "at Concord river a few rods from Hills bridge", the whole "known as the Perrin Place". Signed May 18, 1891. Mrs. Fowler (wife of Edmund R. Fowler) had the farm surveyed in 1906 (Plan Book 23, Plan 25).
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| June 19, 1906 | Quitclaim Deed | Edmond R. Fowler and Charlotte E. Fowler, his wife, in her own right, of Chelmsford | Arthur J. Larratt of Bedford | 1906 Fowlers to Arthur J. Larratt, 92 acres "with the buildings" | 391/530 |
For $1, "a certain tract or parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica": north by Thomas Lyons and Susan Hamilton, west by the Chelmsford and Billerica Road, then by Francis Wheeler and "land formerly of Henry Desmarzes and now supposed to belong to one Grady" (walls, ditches, brook and dam), east by the Billerica and Bedford Road, "excepted ... the land occupied by the blacksmith shop, a School House, the burying ground and a cross road called Chestnut Avenue"; "Containing 92 085/1000 acres", shown on the "Plan of land in Billerica Mass. belonging to Charlotte E. Fowler, April 1906, O. M. Snell C.E." (Plan Book 23, Plan 25). "Being the first described parcel in a deed given by Dudley Foster to said Charlotte E. Fowler dated May 18th 1891 ... Book 224 Page 312"; the grantee "assumes and agrees to pay" the mortgage to the Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank. Signed June 15, 1906. The same day the Fowlers sold the 14.34-acre pasture across the road to John B. Stearns (Book 391, Page 529).
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| October 3, 1906 | Quitclaim Deed | Arthur J. Larratt of Bedford (Katherine Larratt, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | William H. Gafford of Billerica | 1906 Larratt to William H. Gafford | 395/480 |
For $1 and other considerations, the same tract "with the buildings thereon" (Lyons and Hamilton, the Chelmsford and Billerica Road, Wheeler, Desmarzes "now supposed to belong to one Grady", the Billerica and Bedford Road), excepting the blacksmith's shop, the schoolhouse, the burying ground "and a cross road called Chestnut Avenue", "ninety-two and 85/1000 acres", shown on the Fowler plan "recorded with Book of Plans 23 Plan 25"; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Edmond R. Fowler and wife by deed dated June 15, 1906 ... Book 391 Page 530". Signed Oct. 1, 1906.
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| February 13, 1907 | Warranty Deed | William H. Gafford of Billerica (Jessie Gafford, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | Jacob Perlis of Everett | 1907 Gafford to Jacob Perlis | 400/308 |
For $1 and other considerations, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon": north by Lyons and Hamilton; "westerly by other land of this grantor by a line beginning at a stake by a clump of birch trees and running in a southerly direction by a line parallel with the woods to a chestnut tree on the northerly side of Chestnut Avenue said tree being about ten feet distant easterly from the bar way"; south by Chestnut Avenue about 510 feet; then the Chelmsford and Billerica Road, Wheeler and Grady, and the Bedford and Billerica Road; excepting the blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, burying ground and Chestnut Avenue (Plan Book 23, Plan 25). "For my title see deed from Arthur J. Larratt to me dated Oct. 1, 1906 ... Book 395 Page 480." Signed Feb. 12, 1907. Perlis gave back a $4,000 mortgage the same day (Book 400, Page 309; assigned to the Hudson Savings Bank and James A. Bailey Jr.; discharged Book 461, Page 337) and a second mortgage to Lyman P. Priest (Book 400, Page 312). Gafford kept a strip north of Chestnut Avenue west of the birch-clump line and sold it in 1908 to H. H. Mason (Book 416, Page 179).
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| May 5, 1909 | Quitclaim Deed | Jacob Perlis of Everett (Lena Perlis, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | William F. Morse of Boston | 1909 Perlis to William F. Morse | 433/234 |
For $1 and other considerations, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica", with the bounds of 1907 (the birch-clump line to "a chestnut tree on the northerly side of Chestnut Avenue", Chestnut Avenue about 510 feet, the Chelmsford and Billerica road, Wheeler and Grady, the Bedford and Billerica road), excepting the blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, burying ground and "a cross road called Chestnut Avenue", Plan Book 23, Plan 25; "subject to a first mortgage for Four Thousand [4000] Dollars and a second mortgage on which Five hundred [500] dollars remains unpaid". "For my title see deed dated February 12, 1907 Book 400 Page 308." Signed May 4, 1909.
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| November 19, 1909 | Warranty Deed | William P. (F.) Morse of Boston, unmarried | Ellsworth J. Dickson and Richard L. Champney, both of Somerville | 1909 Morse to Dickson and Champney | 442/555 |
For $1 and other considerations, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica": north by Lyons and Hamilton, "westerly by land of William H. Gafford by a line beginning at a stake by a clump of birch trees" to a chestnut tree on the north side of Chestnut Avenue, south by Chestnut Avenue about 510 feet, then the Chelmsford and Billerica roads, Wheeler and Grady, and the Bedford and Billerica roads; excepting the blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, burying ground and "a cross road called Chestnut avenue" (Plan Book 23, Plan 25); subject to "a mortgage of Four Thousand Dollars held by the Hudson Savings Bank". Signed Nov. 15, 1909. The same day Morse's $5,000 mortgage to Clarence H. Lewis (Book 433, Page 347) and Perlis's second mortgage to Lyman F. Priest were discharged (Book 442, Pages 554-555), and the buyers gave a $1,000 mortgage to George H. Prescott (Book 442, Page 557).
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| October 18, 1910 | Quitclaim Deed | Ellsworth J. Dickson of Somerville, unmarried | James A. Bailey Jr. of Arlington | 1910 Dickson to James A. Bailey Jr. | 457/491 |
For $1 and other considerations, "seven undivided tenth parts of a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica", with the bounds of 1909 (Lyons and Hamilton, Gafford's birch-clump line, Chestnut Avenue about 510 feet, the Chelmsford and Billerica roads, Wheeler and Grady, the Bedford and Billerica roads; Plan Book 23, Plan 25), "subject to two mortgages duly recorded". Signed Oct. 17, 1910. Bailey, who bought the Hudson Savings Bank's mortgage in December, reconveyed the seven-tenths to Dickson on Dec. 31, 1910 (Book 461, Page 335) and discharged the mortgages the same day.
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| January 2, 1911 | Quitclaim Deed | James A. Bailey Jr. of Arlington (Helen G. Bailey, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | Ellsworth J. Dickson of Somerville | 1910 Bailey back to Dickson | 461/335 |
For $1 and other considerations, "Seven undivided tenth parts of a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica" (the same bounds, Plan Book 23, Plan 25), "subject to two mortgages duly recorded". Signed Dec. 31, 1910. Recorded with the Hudson Savings Bank's assignment to Bailey of the Perlis-Gafford mortgage (Book 461, Page 334, for about $4,088) and Bailey's discharges of that mortgage and of the Dickson-Champney mortgage to George H. Prescott (Book 461, Pages 337-338).
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| January 2, 1911 | Warranty Deed | Ellsworth J. Dickson, unmarried, and Richard L. Champney (Lizzie S. Champney releasing dower), both of Somerville | Catherine H. Belknap of Salem | 1911 Dickson and Champney to Catherine H. Belknap | 461/338 |
For $1 and other considerations, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica", north by Lyons and Hamilton, west by Gafford's birch-clump line to the chestnut tree, "northerly again by the northerly side of Chestnut avenue about five hundred and ten [510] feet", then the Chelmsford and Billerica road, Wheeler and Grady, and the Bedford and Billerica road; excepting the blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, burying ground and Chestnut Avenue; "also subject to a right to cart hay across the west end of the meadow ... which right was reserved by F. O. Whitford in a deed to Jonathan Hill, dated May 16th 1864, if said right still exists"; "part of those shown on" Plan Book 23, Plan 25. Free of encumbrances. Signed Dec. 31, 1910.
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| September 27, 1917 | Quitclaim Deed | Catherine H. Belknap of Salem, unmarried | Florence W. Dowling of Boston | 1917 Belknap to Florence W. Dowling | 579/19 |
For consideration paid, with quitclaim covenants, "the land in Billerica" with the bounds of 1911 (Lyons and Susan Hamilton on the north; William H. Gafford's line from "a stake by a clump of birch trees" to "a chestnut tree on the northerly side of Chestnut Avenue"; the north side of Chestnut Avenue about 510 feet; the Chelmsford and Billerica road; Wheeler and Desmazes "now supposed to belong to one Grady"; the Bedford and Billerica road), excepting the blacksmith shop, the schoolhouse, the burying ground and Chestnut Avenue, and subject to the hay right "reserved by F. O. Whitford in a deed to Jonathan Hill, dated May 16th, 1864, if said right still exists"; part of Plan Book 23, Plan 25; the grantee to pay the 1917 taxes. Signed Sept. 25, 1917 (acknowledged at Salem before George A. Vickery). Unlike the earlier deeds it does not mention buildings.
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| December 21, 1917 | Quitclaim Deed | Florence W. Dowling of Boston (Mark Temple Dowling, her husband, releasing curtesy) | Mary W. Hart of Lynn | 1917 Dowling to Mary W. Hart | 581/527 |
For consideration paid ($12 in revenue stamps, about $12,000), with quitclaim covenants, "the land in Billerica" with the bounds of 1911-1917 (Lyons and Susan Hamilton; William H. Gafford's birch-clump line; the north side of Chestnut Avenue about 510 feet; the Chelmsford and Billerica Road; Wheeler and Desmazes "now supposed to belong to one Grady"; the Bedford and Billerica road), with the same exceptions (blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, burying ground, Chestnut Avenue) and the Whitford hay right of 1864; part of Plan Book 23, Plan 25; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Catherine H. Belknap by deed dated September 25, 1917 ... Book 579, Page 19". Signed Dec. 20, 1917.
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| June 28, 1918 | Warranty Deed | Mary W. Hart, wife of Fred E. Hart, of Lynn | Florence L. Torrey (Torry) of Winthrop | 1918 Hart to Florence L. Torrey | 589/284 |
For $1 and other valuable considerations ($7.50 in revenue stamps over the assumed mortgage), "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica", with the bounds of 1911-1917 (Lyons and Susan Hamilton; William H. Gafford's birch-clump line; the north side of Chestnut Avenue about 510 feet; the Chelmsford and Billerica Road; Wheeler and Desmazes "now supposed to belong to one Grady"; the Bedford and Billerica road), with the same exceptions, subject to the Whitford hay right of 1864 "and to a mortgage given by me to Florence W. Dowling for six thousand (6000) dollars, dated December 20, 1917" (Book 581, Page 528); part of Plan Book 23, Plan 25, "and are the same premises conveyed to me by said Florence W. Dowling by deed dated December 20, 1917 ... Book 581, Page 527"; subject to taxes as of April 1, 1918. The Hart deed is the first since 1910 to mention "the buildings thereon" again. Recorded on the same page, the same day: Joseph P. Draper, assignee (Book 582, Page 559) of the second mortgage the Harts had given Mark Temple Dowling on Dec. 20, 1917 (Book 581, Page 530), acknowledges its satisfaction.
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| July 26, 1921 | Deed under Decree | Frederick J. White, Esquire, appointed by the Superior Court in place of Richard F. Torrey, a minor (heir of Florence L. Torrey) | George Fickeissen of Chelsea | 1921 deed under court decree to George Fickeissen | 646/290 |
Recites that Mary W. Hart had conveyed the farm to Florence L. Torrey on June 28, 1918 (Book 589, Page 284), and that by a final decree of the Superior Court for Middlesex County entered May 27, 1921 it was adjudged that Florence L. Torrey, mother of Richard F. Torrey, had held it "upon a resulting trust by implication of law for the use and benefit of the said George Fickeissen", that the legal title had come to Richard F. Torrey "by descent and operation of law", and that it should be conveyed to Fickeissen; Frederick J. White was appointed "a suitable person in place of the said Richard F. Torrey" to make the conveyance. White accordingly quitclaims to George Fickeissen "all that parcel of land with the buildings thereon" in South Billerica, on the main road from Bedford to Billerica, the road from Bedford to Chelmsford and both sides of Chestnut Avenue, 82 acres, as described in Book 461, Page 338. Signed June 29, 1921. (Fickeissen had also taken a mortgage from Torrey the day she bought, Book 589, Page 286; his suit against the minor heir was noticed in Book 636, Page 244, Nov. 1920.)
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| July 26, 1921 | Quitclaim Deed | George Fickeissen of Chelsea (Annie M. Fickeissen, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | John J. Higgins of Somerville | 1921 Fickeissen to John J. Higgins | 646/292 |
For consideration paid, with quitclaim covenants, "that parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica ... in that part of Billerica known as South Billerica on the main road from Bedford to Billerica, and on the road from Bedford to Chelmsford and on both sides of Chestnut Avenue, containing eighty-two (82) acres more or less", as described in Book 461, Page 338, the premises Mary W. Hart conveyed to Florence L. Torrey (Book 589, Page 284), "and being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Frederick J. White ... dated June 29, 1921, under a final decree of the Superior Court for Middlesex County, May 27, 1921"; subject to two mortgages and encumbrances of record. Signed July 21, 1921.
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| September 9, 1921 | Quitclaim Deed | John J. Higgins of Somerville (Isabel G. Higgins, his wife, releasing) | Meredith W. Palmer of Billerica, a trustee of the Boylston Real Estate Trust | 1921 Higgins to the Boylston Real Estate Trust | 649/502 |
For a nominal consideration ("The consideration being nominal no stamps are affixed"), with quitclaim covenants, "a certain parcel of land with buildings thereon situated in said Billerica", with the bounds of 1911-1918 (Lyons and Susan Hamilton; William H. Gafford's birch-clump line; the north side of Chestnut Avenue about 510 feet; the Chelmsford and Billerica Road; Wheeler and Desmazes "now supposed to belong to one Grady"; the Bedford and Billerica road), with the usual exceptions and the Whitford hay right of 1864, part of Plan Book 23, Plan 25, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of George Fickeissen"; subject to the 1920 and 1921 taxes and the $6,000 Hart-Dowling mortgage. The trust's declaration was dated Oct. 15, 1917 and registered Nov. 23, 1917 (Document 23249, South Registry District). Recorded on the same page as the International Trust Company's discharge (Sept. 6, 1921) of the Torrey-Fickeissen mortgage of June 28, 1918 (Book 589, Page 286).
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| January 16, 1923 | Quitclaim Deed | James M. Burr of Boston, unmarried | Leah S. Perry, wife of Roy E. Perry, of Randolph, Vermont | 1923 Burr to Leah S. Perry | 674/330 |
For consideration paid ($11 in revenue stamps), with quitclaim covenants, "A certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica", with the bounds of 1911-1923 (Lyons and Susan Hamilton; William H. Gafford's birch-clump line; Chestnut Avenue about 510 feet; the Chelmsford and Billerica Road; Wheeler and Desmazes now Grady; the Bedford and Billerica Road), excepting the blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, burying ground and Chestnut Avenue, "containing 82 acres more or less. Together with all my right, title and interest in and to the so called schoolhouse lot, if any"; subject to the $6,000 Hart-Dowling mortgage (Book 581, Page 528); "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Meredith W. Palmer, Trustee of the Boylston Real Estate Trust". Signed Jan. 12, 1923. Recorded on the same page as Guy D. Tobey's discharge (Jan. 13, 1923) of Burr's mortgage of Jan. 8, 1923 (Book 675, Page 26).
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| January 8, 1923 | Quitclaim Deed | Meredith W. Palmer, Trustee of the Boylston Real Estate Trust | James M. Burr of Boston | 1923 the Trust to James M. Burr | 675/25 |
Under a declaration of trust dated Oct. 15, 1917 (Middlesex South Deeds Book 4176, Page 205), for consideration paid ($15 in revenue stamps), with quitclaim covenants, "the land in Billerica ... with the buildings thereon", with the bounds of 1911-1918 (Lyons and Susan Hamilton; W. H. Gafford's birch-clump line; the north side of Chestnut Avenue about 510 feet; the Chelmsford and Billerica Road; Wheeler and Desmazes "now supposed to belong to one Grady"; the Bedford and Billerica Road), excepting the blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, burying ground and Chestnut Avenue, subject to the Whitford hay right of 1864 and to the $6,000 Hart mortgage (Book 581, Page 528); part of Plan Book 23, Plan 25; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of John J. Higgins, dated Sept. 8, 1921 ... Book 649, Page 502". Recorded with John J. Higgins's discharge of his mortgage (Book 649, Page 504), Dec. 27, 1922.
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| June 5, 1924 | Quitclaim Deed | Leah S. Perry of Billerica (Roy E. Perry, her husband, releasing curtesy) | James M. Burr of Boston | 1924 Perry back to Burr: the eastern 51 acres, the barn side south of Chestnut Avenue | 707/201 |
For consideration paid ($4 in revenue stamps), with quitclaim covenants, the eastern remainder of the farm in two parcels, neither described as having buildings: Parcel 1, the south side of Chestnut Avenue, "Easterly by Bedford Road so called", then by Grady, a brook and Wheeler, southwesterly by a stone wall and ditch to Chestnut Avenue (an iron pipe in the wall about 879 feet from the Chelmsford and Billerica Road), northerly by Chestnut Avenue, 21 acres; Parcel 2, the north side, "Easterly by Billerica Road. Southerly and Easterly by the school house lot so called. Southerly by Chestnut Avenue in several courses", westerly by a stone wall (about 947.49 feet from the Chelmsford and Billerica Road at the avenue), "Northerly by land of the Lyons Estate", 30 acres; both part of Plan Book 23, Plan 25, and "a part of the premises conveyed to me by James M. Burr by deed dated January 12, 1923 ... Book 674, Page 330"; subject to a mortgage for $5,500 and a second mortgage of $500. Signed June 4, 1924. Recorded with Guy D. Tobey's discharge (June 4, 1924) of Perry's mortgage of Dec. 18, 1923 (Book 697, Page 172).
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| June 24, 1925 | Quitclaim Deed | James M. Burr of Boston, unmarried | Alton F. Randall and Sibyl W. Randall, his wife, tenants by the entirety, of Lincoln | 1925 Burr to Alton F. and Sibyl W. Randall | 724/256 |
For consideration paid ($4.50 in revenue stamps), with quitclaim covenants, the same two parcels: Parcel 1, 21 acres on the south side of Chestnut Avenue, "Easterly by Bedford Road, so-called", then by Grady, the brook and Wheeler to the iron pipe in the wall; Parcel 2, 30 acres on the north side, "Easterly by Billerica Road; Southerly and Easterly by the school house lot so-called; Southerly by Chestnut Avenue in several courses", westerly by the stone wall 947.49 feet from the Chelmsford and Billerica Road, "Northerly by land of the Lyons Estate"; both on the 1906 Fowler plan (written "Plan Book 33, Plan 25" for 23/25); "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Leah S. Perry, by deed dated June 4, 1924 ... Book 707, Page 202"; subject to a mortgage "on which a balance of Forty-nine Hundred (4900) Dollars remains unpaid" and to the taxes of April 1, 1925. Recorded with Guy D. Tobey's discharge of Burr's mortgage (Book 707, Page 202). The Randalls owned the farm when the old house burned on Nov. 29, 1925.
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| March 3, 1926 | Quitclaim Deed | Alton F. Randall and Sibyl W. Randall, his wife | William N. Ambler of Boston | 1926 Randalls to William N. Ambler | 733/547 |
For consideration paid, with quitclaim covenants, two parcels, three months after the old house burned and with no mention of buildings: Parcel 1, the 21 acres south of Chestnut Avenue by Bedford Road, Grady, the brook and Wheeler, "Excepting, However, from this conveyance, a certain parcel of land containing approximately one-half (1/2) acre situated at the southeasterly corner" on "the westerly side of Bedford Road, otherwise known as Concord Road" (435.5 by 50 feet), leaving about 20 1/2 acres; Parcel 2, the 30 acres north of Chestnut Avenue, "Easterly, by Billerica Road; Southerly and Easterly, by the school house lot, so-called", westerly by the stone wall 947.49 feet from the Chelmsford and Billerica Road, "Northerly, by land of the Lyons Estate"; both on the 1906 Fowler plan; "Being the same premises conveyed to us by James M. Burr by deed dated June [24], 1925 ... Book 724, Page 256"; subject to the 1925 taxes and to "a mortgage given by Leah S. Perry unto Katie G. Reed, dated December 16, 1923 ... Book 697, Page 171, on which a balance of Twelve Hundred (1200) dollars remains unpaid". Signed Feb. 23, 1926; received for record March 3, 1926. (The Randalls sold the excepted half acre on Concord Road to Herbert Austin, Book 737, Page 60, May 1926.)
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| March 3, 1926 | Quitclaim Deed | William N. Ambler of Boston, unmarried | Thomas W. Lynch of Cambridge | 1926 Ambler to Thomas W. Lynch | 733/549 |
For consideration paid, with quitclaim covenants, the same two parcels the same day (Parcel 1, about 20 1/2 acres south of Chestnut Avenue by Bedford or Concord Road, the half acre on Concord Road excepted; Parcel 2, 30 acres north of Chestnut Avenue, "Easterly by Billerica Road; Southerly and Easterly, by the school house lot, so-called", north by the Lyons Estate), on the 1906 Fowler plan; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Alton F. Randall and Sibyl W. Randall by deed of even date to be recorded herewith"; subject to the 1925 taxes and the Perry-Reed mortgage (Book 697, Page 171) with $1,200 unpaid. Signed Feb. 23, 1926. Ambler held title for a moment only, as a conveyancer's intermediary.
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| July 7, 1927 | Quitclaim Deed | Thomas W. Lynch of Cambridge, unmarried | Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole | 1927 Lynch to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston | 751/525 |
For consideration paid, with quitclaim covenants, "Two certain parcels of land with the buildings thereon, situated in Billerica": the First Parcel, easterly by "the Bedford-Billerica Road, so called", southerly and easterly by land now or formerly of Austin (the half acre sold off in 1926), then by Grady, the brook, Wheeler and the stone wall and ditch to Chestnut Avenue, about 20 1/2 acres; the Second Parcel, easterly by the Bedford-Billerica Road, "Southerly and Easterly by the school house lot, so called; Southerly again by Chestnut Avenue by several courses", westerly by the stone wall 947.49 feet from the Chelmsford and Billerica Road, "Northerly by land now or formerly of the Lyons Estate", 30 acres; Plan Book 23, Plan 25; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by William N. Ambler by deed dated February 23, 1926 ... Book 733, Page 549". Signed July 5, 1927.
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| September 13, 1935 | Quitclaim Deed | Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (by William H. O'Connell, Archbishop) | Margaret A. Barber, wife of Giles K. Barber, of Billerica | 1935 the Archbishop to Margaret A. Barber | 872/312 |
For consideration paid ($1.50 in revenue stamps), with quitclaim covenants, "two certain parcels of land with the buildings thereon": the first parcel of 20 1/2 acres south of Chestnut Avenue (the Bedford-Billerica Road, Austin, Grady, the brook, Wheeler and the stone wall and ditch); the second parcel of 30 acres north of it (the Bedford-Billerica Road, "the school house lot, so-called", Chestnut Avenue, the stone wall 947.49 feet from the Chelmsford and Billerica Road, and the Lyons Estate), "Excepting herefrom the old blacksmith shop lot, distant from the above named school house lot in the northerly direction approximately 129.96 feet, situated on the aforesaid Billerica and Bedford Road"; Plan Book 23, Plan 25; "Being the same premises conveyed to the above named grantor by deed of Thomas W. Lynch, dated July 7, 1927 ... Book 751, Page 525"; subject to the current taxes. Signed Aug. 30, 1935.
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| October 28, 1947 | Quitclaim Deed | Margaret A. Barber of Billerica (Giles K. Barber, her husband, releasing curtesy) | Joseph L. Barber and Caroline I. Barber, husband and wife, of Billerica | 1947 Margaret A. Barber to Joseph L. and Caroline I. Barber, the 20 1/2 acres south of Chestnut Avenue "with the buildings" | 1080/238 |
For consideration paid, with quitclaim covenants, "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon": the 20 1/2-acre parcel south of Chestnut Avenue (east by the Bedford-Billerica Road, south and east by Austin, then Grady, the brook, Wheeler and the stone wall and ditch to Chestnut Avenue, the iron pipe 879 feet from the Chelmsford and Billerica Road), Plan Book 23, Plan 25; "Being a part of the premises conveyed to me by deed of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, dated August 30, 1935 ... Book 872, Page 312". Signed Oct. 22, 1947. The south side of Chestnut Avenue (Dudley Road) thus left the house lot.
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| July 16, 1956 | Quitclaim Deed | Joseph L. Barber and Caroline I. Barber, husband and wife, of Billerica | Turnpike Acres, Inc., of Billerica | 1956 the Barbers sell the corner lots east of the barn to Turnpike Acres | 1342/194 |
For consideration paid, quitclaim covenants, Lots 1 through 6 of a May 1956 subdivision by Anthony J. Canon (Plan Book 87, Plan 175) at the corner of Dudley Road and Concord Road: Lots 1-5 bounded easterly by Concord Road 683.38 feet, northerly by Dudley Road 252 feet, westerly by Lot 6 "and land of Joseph L. Barber and Caroline I. Barber" 578 feet and southerly by McKay 245 feet, about 30,000 square feet each; and Lot 6 on Dudley Road, 150 feet of frontage and 30,800 square feet, bounded south and west by "land of said Barber." "For title see deed of Margaret A. Barber to the grantors, dated October 22, 1947 ... Book 1080, page 238." No buildings named. The barn stood on the land the Barbers kept, west of Lot 6.
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| June 17, 1965 | Inheritance Tax Certificate | Estate of Joseph L. Barber of Billerica | Caroline I. Barber, surviving joint owner | 1965 Joseph L. Barber dies; the land and buildings pass to his widow Caroline | 1701/346 |
Inheritance Tax Real Estate Certificate of June 16, 1965 (Department of Corporations and Taxation): no inheritance tax is due on "Land and buildings in Billerica" described by the deed of Oct. 22, 1947, Book 1080, Page 238, which passed to Caroline I. Barber "as surviving joint owner" on the death of Joseph L. Barber of Billerica. The buildings are those of the 1947 deed, the old barn among them.
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| June 25, 1974 | Executrix's Deed | Executrix under the will of Caroline I. Barber (Middlesex Probate 449666) | Doyle Homes, Inc., of Tewksbury | 1974 Caroline Barber's estate sells the land, without buildings, to Doyle Homes | 2115/721 |
For $36,000, quitclaim covenants, "lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6" on a "Plan Of Land In Billerica, Mass. Surveyed For Doyle Homes, Inc." by Robert P. Morris, R.L.S., May 27, 1974 (Plan Book 119, Plan 31): the rest of the Barbers' land on the south side of Dudley Road, back to the brook. "For my title see Book 1080 Page 238 ... and Estate of Caroline I. Barber, Middlesex Probate Court Number 449666." Signed in Florida June 7, 1974. No buildings are named: the barn was gone by then.
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| August 30, 1974 | Quitclaim Deed | Doyle Homes, Inc., by Ronald J. Doyle, vice president | Private owners (husband and wife) | 1974 Lot 3, the barn site, sold with the new house | 2124/467 |
For $38,645, "The land with the buildings thereon being shown as Lot 3" on the Doyle Homes plan (Plan Book 119, Plan 31): northeasterly by Dudley Road in two courses of 57.14 and 142.86 feet, by Lot 4, by the center line of the brook about 360 feet, by McGarry, and northwesterly by Lot 2 946.24 feet, 3.8 acres. "For title see ... Book 2115, Page 721." This is the house at 24 Dudley Road, built in 1974 on the site of the Job Hill barn. The lot was later sold privately (1985, 1988 for $184,000, 1997).
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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.