John D. Foster House
John D. Foster House
| Address | 373 Boston Rd |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.50 |
| Built | 1900 |
| Other Lot Structures | Samuel Foster House (1800 - 1899) |
This house occupies a site owned by Samuel Foster from about 1800 until his death in 1857. He was a shoemaker, with his shop adjacent.
After Samuel's death, his son Dudley moved into the house and was living there in 1883. Dudley was a prominent member of the town, having been clerk and treasurer for 25 years. He was also influential in marking the "Washington Oak".
Dudley died in 1895, and not long after, his son John Howard Foster returned from Springfield where he had been a merchant. The present house was likely built around this time as a replacement rather than a remodel of the former house.
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Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| February 5, 1799 | Deed | James Sumner Jr. of Beverly, mariner (wife Betsey releasing dower) | Samuel Foster of Billerica, cordwainer | 1798: Samuel Foster buys the first strip of the lot | 130/489 (South) |
For $100, "a certain piece of land in Billerica", beginning at the northeast corner, south by the Country road 43 feet to land of Capt. Bowers, west by Bowers 26 poles 22 links to land of Dr. Bowers, north by Dr. Bowers 43 feet, then east by "land belonging to myself" to the first corner; Foster to build any partition fence "between the aforesaid strip of land & my own land" at his own expense. Dated Oct. 29, 1798; witnesses Nehemiah Roundy and Joseph Foster. Billerica town book 9, pages 389-390. The first piece of the Foster homestead: a narrow strip on the west side of the Boston road north of the meetinghouse.
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| April 17, 1806 | Quitclaim | Samuel Foster of Billerica, gentleman (wife Anna releasing dower) | His brother Joseph Foster of Billerica, cordwainer | 1805: half interest to Joseph Foster | 166/230 (South) |
For $400, quitclaim of "one undivided half of a certain peice of land with half the buildings thereon standing in Billerica": the 43-foot strip on the country road between Alexander Bowers (south), Doct. William Bowers (west) and James Sumner Jr. (north). Dated Nov. 1, 1805; witnesses John Foster and Benjamin H. Foster. Billerica town book 10, pages 336-337. The brothers, both shoemakers, shared the house and shop; Joseph sold his half back in 1806.
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| November 20, 1815 | Quitclaim | Joseph Foster of Billerica, cordwainer (wife Lucy releasing dower) | Samuel Foster of Billerica | 1806: first record of buildings on the lot | 211/356 (South) |
For $400, quitclaim of "one undivided half of a certain piece or tract of land and half the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica": the 43-foot strip on the County road, south by Alexander Bowers, west 26 poles 22 links to Doctor William Bowers, north by William Bowers 43 feet, east by James Sumner Jr. Dated Nov. 22, 1806, acknowledged 1810 before Blaney Abbott, recorded Nov. 20, 1815. Billerica town book 11, pages 355-356. The first record of buildings on the lot: the Foster house and shoe shop stood here by 1806.
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| May 10, 1810 | Deed | Alexander Bowers of Charlestown, merchant, and Dorcas Bowers of Boston, widow (Mary Bowers releasing dower) | Samuel Foster of Billerica, yeoman | 1810: Samuel Foster buys the 3-acre Bowers tract | 188/344 (South) |
For $300, "a certain tract of land situate in Billerica aforesaid the west side of the road leading from Boston to Chelmsford and about twenty five rods north of the meeting house", "three acres more or less", east on the road, north on James Sumner, west on William Bowers, south on other land of the grantors, "all the lines are as the walls now stand". No buildings named. Dated Jan. 1, 1810. Billerica town book 10, pages 541-542. The main body of the Foster homestead.
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| November 20, 1838 | Deed | Samuel Foster of Billerica, gentleman (wife Anna releasing dower) | His son Dudley Foster of Billerica, yeoman | 1838: south part of the homestead cut off for Dudley Foster | 378/272 (South) |
For $150, "a certain tract or parcel of land situate in said Billerica on the westerly side of the great road leading from Boston to Lowell containing one and a quarter acres", beginning at the southeast corner at the road and land of Justin Smith "formerly Joseph Locke", west by Smith about 26 rods to the heirs of Doct. William B[owers], north by them 8 rods, east "by my own land" about 26 rods to the road, and south by the road 8 rods, "reserving the shop thereon". Dated Nov. 17, 1838; witnesses Marshall Preston and Joseph Foster. Billerica town book 14, pages 495-496. Cut from the south side of the homestead for the Dudley Foster House (377 Boston Road); Samuel kept the old house to the north.
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| September 1, 1857 | Will | Estate of Samuel Foster of Billerica | Widow Anna Foster (life estate), then his legal heirs; Dudley Foster executor | 1857: Samuel Foster estate | Probate #32131 |
Will dated March 26, 1850 (witnesses Gardner Parker, Theodore L. Haynes, Elmira Pollard), allowed at Lowell Sept. 1, 1857: to "my beloved wife Anna Foster, the use and improvement of all my real estate" for life, and at her decease "my real Estate ... be equally divided among my legal heirs"; son Dudley Foster sole executor. Inventory Aug. 27, 1857 (Lyman Haynes, Gardner Parker, Amasa Holden): "Homestead of said deceased" $2,000, "Parker Lot" $350, "Plain Land" $175, "Cove Land" $100; personal estate $1,744.46 including hay in the barn, a cow, wagons, and boots and shoes. First account allowed Dec. 7, 1858, assented to by James and Sally F. Damon, Elizabeth A. Foster, Joseph Foster, Sumner Foster, and Dudley Foster as guardian of Anna L., Edward M. and Francis H. Foster.
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| March 27, 1858 | Deed | James Damon and Sally F. Damon (in her right), Elizabeth A. Foster, all of Charlestown; Joseph Foster of Billerica; Sumner Foster of North Reading (heirs of Samuel Foster) | Dudley Foster of Billerica | 1858: heirs to Dudley Foster, 4/6 of the homestead | 13/530 |
Conveys "four undivided sixths" of "the homestead of Samuel Foster late of Billerica deceased, containing about four acres with the buildings thereon standing", beginning at the northeast corner at land of Joseph Foster on the road from Billerica to Lowell, west by Joseph to the heirs of Dr. William Bowers, south by them to land of Dudley Foster, east by Dudley to the road and north on the road, "as the wall now stands"; with four sixths of the Parker lot, a 5-acre lot on the Tewksbury road and 15 acres of plain land (S.393/155), all "as legal heirs" of Samuel Foster. Acknowledged March 25, 1858 before Thomas Sumner; wives Lydia A. and Elizabeth P. Foster release dower. Middlesex North 13/530-532.
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| April 8, 1858 | Quitclaim | Francis D. Foster of Billerica | Dudley Foster of Billerica | 1858: Dudley Foster completes his title to the homestead | 14/39 |
For $500, quitclaim of "one undivided sixth part" of "the Homestead of the late Samuel Foster situate in said Billerica containing about four acres with the buildings thereon standing", same bounds (Joseph Foster on the north, heirs of Dr. William Bowers on the west, Dudley Foster on the south, the road to Lowell on the east), with a sixth of the Parker lot and the other lots. Recorded April 8, 1858. Middlesex North 14/39. With the heirs' deed of March 1858 and his own sixth, Dudley Foster now held the whole homestead.
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| March 6, 1895 | Deed | Dudley Foster of Billerica (wife Mary A. Foster releasing dower and homestead) | His son Frank D. Foster of North Andover | 1892: Dudley Foster to Frank D. Foster | 262/125 |
For $1 and other valuable consideration, "a certain tract of land situate in said Billerica with a house & barn thereon": from the northeast corner at land of Arthur S. Cook on Main Street, south on the street about 185 feet to a bound in the wall at "my other land", west by that land to a bound in the wall at Martin Lane, north by Lane 185 feet to Cook, and east by Cook to the start. Dated Sept. 6, 1892, acknowledged before Frederic A. Morey; recorded March 6, 1895. Middlesex North 262/125-126. The first half of a conveyance from Dudley Foster to his wife through their son.
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| March 6, 1895 | Quitclaim | Frank D. Foster of North Andover, unmarried | Mary A. Foster of Billerica, wife of Dudley Foster | 1892: to Mary A. Foster | 262/127 |
For $1, quitclaim with warranty of the same tract "with a house & barn thereon" (Arthur S. Cook on the north, Main Street on the east for about 185 feet, Dudley Foster's other land on the south, Martin Lane on the west), "Being the same premises conveyed to me this day by Dudley Foster". Dated Sept. 6, 1892; recorded March 6, 1895, after Dudley's death. Middlesex North 262/127.
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| 1898 | Warranty Deed | John G. Rossiter and Mary F. Rossiter (formerly Mary A. Foster), his wife, in her right, of Pasadena, California | Susan U. Phillips, wife of William U. Phillips, of Billerica | 1898: the homestead leaves the Foster family | 296/201 |
For $1 and other valuable consideration, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica Centre, so called ... containing two (2) acres", from a post or stone bound at land of Ellen L. Foster on Main Street north 200 feet to Arthur S. Cook, west on Cook to a stone post at Martin Lane, south on Lane to a stone bound in a stone wall at Ellen L. Foster, and east by Foster. "And being the same premises conveyed by Francis D. Foster, sometimes called 'Frank', to me by deed recorded ... Book 262 Page 127. For title see ... Book 262 Page 125; also Book 14, Page 39." Dated March 9, 1898. Middlesex North 296/201. Dudley Foster's widow, remarried and living in California, sells the old Samuel Foster homestead out of the family.
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| September 2, 1905 | Quitclaim | Susan U. Phillips of Billerica | Clarence A. Backer of Melrose | 1905: Phillips to Backer | 357/599 |
For $1, quitclaim with warranty of "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica Centre, so called ... containing two (2) acres", from a post or stone bound at land of Ellen L. Foster on Main Street north 200 feet to Arthur S. Cook, west on Cook to a stone post at Martin Lane, south on Lane to a stone bound in a wall at Ellen L. Foster, and east by Foster. "Being the same premises to me conveyed by John G. Rossiter et ux, by deed dated March ninth, 1898" (Book 296, Page 201); subject to the taxes of 1900-1903. Middlesex North 357/599.
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| April 16, 1909 | Quitclaim | James E. Andrews of Billerica | Clarence A. Backer of Melrose | 1909: Andrews to Backer | 432/234 |
For $1 and other valuable considerations, quitclaim of "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in that part of said Billerica called Billerica Centre containing two (2) acres", from a post or stone bound at land of Ellen L. Foster on Main Street north 200 feet to Arthur S. Cook, west to Martin Lane, south on Lane to Ellen L. Foster, and east by Foster to the start. "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Clarence A. Backer by deed dated March 17th, 1906", subject to a mortgage back to Backer. Dated March 1909. Middlesex North 432/234. Andrews returned the place to Backer three years after buying it.
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| 1912 | Quitclaim | Clarence A. Backer of Melrose (wife Grace L. Backer releasing dower) | Sarah A. Spiller of Billerica | 1912: Backer to Sarah A. Spiller | 485/458 |
For $1 and other valuable consideration, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in that part of said Billerica called Billerica Centre, containing two (2) acres": from a post or stone bound at land of Ellen L. Foster on Main Street, north on the street 200 feet to Arthur S. Cook, west on Cook to Martin Lane, south on Lane to a stone bound in a wall at Ellen L. Foster, and east by Foster to the start. "Being the same premises conveyed to me by James E. Andrews by deed dated March 19th, 1909" (Book 432, Page 254); subject to the 1911 taxes. Middlesex North 485/458-459. Sarah Spiller later deeded the south 50 feet and the rear to Hemden Spiller (485/460).
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| March 30, 1925 | Deed | Hemden Spiller of Billerica | Dana H. Spiller of Billerica | 1924: southern part and rear of the lot, Hemden Spiller to Dana H. Spiller | 719/470 |
For $1 and other consideration, "a certain parcel of land with the building thereon situated in that part of said Billerica called Billerica Center", 51,800 square feet: from a stone bound at land of Ellen L. Foster north on Main Street 50 feet to Sarah A. Spiller, west on her land 228 feet, north 135 feet to Arthur S. Cook, west 214 feet to Martin Lane, south on Lane 186 feet to Ellen L. Foster, east by Foster 443 feet. "Being the same premises conveyed to said Hemden Spiller by deed of Sarah A. Spiller dated April 23, 1912" (Book 485, Page 460). Dated May 21, 1924, acknowledged before and witnessed by Forrest F. Collier and Lucy B. Collier. Middlesex North 719/470-471. The southern 50 feet of frontage and the rear of the old Foster homestead lot.
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| March 30, 1925 | Quitclaim | Dana H. Spiller and Sarah A. Spiller, his wife, of Billerica | Edith M. Spaulding of Billerica | 1925: the Spillers sell the whole lot "together with all the buildings thereon" to Edith M. Spaulding | 719/471 |
Quitclaim "for consideration paid" ($8 in revenue stamps) of the land on the westerly side of Boston Road from a stone bound at John Foster north about 185 feet to Frank L. Day, west 446 feet to a stone wall at land of one Lane, south 186 feet and east along Foster 443 feet, "together with all the buildings thereon situated. Being the same premises conveyed to said Sarah A. Spiller by deed of Clarence A. Backer [?], dated April 15, 1912" (Book 485, Page 458), "See also" Sarah to Hemden Spiller 1912 (485/460) and Hemden to Dana H. Spiller 1924. Dated March 28, 1925. Middlesex North 719/471-472. Spaulding mortgaged it the same day to the Central Savings Bank for $4,500.
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| July 8, 1926 | Mortgage | Edith M. Spaulding of Billerica | The Middlesex National Bank of Lowell | 1926: Edith M. Spaulding mortgages the house lot to the Middlesex National Bank | 738/335 |
Mortgage to secure $6,000 on demand of "a certain parcel of land, together with the buildings and improvements thereon, situated in said Billerica": from a stone bound on the westerly side of Boston Road at land of John Foster, north on the road about 185 feet to Frank L. Day, west 446 feet to a stone wall at land of one Lane, south 186 feet, east along Foster 443 feet. "Being the same premises to me conveyed by deed of Dana H. Spiller et ux. dated March 28, 1925" (Book 719, Page 471). Subject to a prior $4,500 mortgage to the Central Savings Bank. Dated July 7, 1926. Middlesex North 738/335-336.
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| June 8, 1928 | Mortgagee's Deed | The Middlesex National Bank of Lowell, mortgagee, by Arthur J. Dion, Cashier | Leo E. Dinneen of Lowell | 1928: the bank forecloses on Edith M. Spaulding | 763/583 |
Foreclosure of Edith M. Spaulding's mortgage of July 7, 1926 (738/335): after notice in the Billerica News May 17, 24 and 31, 1928, the bank sold at public auction for $1,000 "a certain parcel of land, together with the buildings and improvements thereon" on the west side of Boston Road (John Foster south, Frank L. Day north, about 185 feet of frontage), "Being the same premises to said Edith M. Spaulding conveyed by deed of Dana H. Spiller et ux dated March 28, 1925", subject to taxes and the Central Savings Bank mortgage. Dated June 8, 1928. Middlesex North 763/583-584. Dinneen held for the bank.
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| May 5, 1931 | Quitclaim | Daniel J. O'Connor of Lowell | The Middlesex National Bank of Lowell | 1930: straw deed confirming the bank's title | 801/573 |
Quitclaim "for consideration paid" of "a certain parcel of land with the buildings and improvements thereon, situated in Billerica": from a stone bound on the westerly side of Boston Road at John Foster, north about 185 feet to Frank L. Day, west 446 feet to a stone wall at Lane, south 186 feet, east along Foster 443 feet, "Being all and the same premises to me conveyed by the aforesaid Middlesex National Bank of Lowell, by its deed of even date, delivered simultaneously herewith". Dated March 25, 1930, recorded May 5, 1931. Middlesex North 801/573-574. A straw conveyance confirming the bank's title after the 1928 foreclosure.
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| May 7, 1932 | Receiver's Deed | The Middlesex National Bank of Lowell, by William G. Roelker, Receiver | Clara E. Sexton of Billerica | 1932: bank receiver to Clara E. Sexton | 813/132 |
Quitclaim "for consideration paid" of "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon": from a stone bound on the west side of Boston Road at land of John Foster, north on the road about 185 feet to Frank L. Day, west by Day 446 feet to a stone wall at land of one Lane, south by Lane 186 feet, and east by Foster 443 feet. "Being the same premises conveyed to said Middlesex National Bank of Lowell by Daniel J. O'Connor by deed dated March 25, 1930" (Book 801, Page 573). The bank had closed Dec. 14, 1931; the sale was approved by the Comptroller of the Currency and the U.S. District Court. Middlesex North 813/132.
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| December 18, 1940 | Trustees' Deed | Frederic H. Sexton of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Union Old Lowell National Bank, trustees under the will of Clara E. Sexton | Lucy B. Collier of Billerica | 1940: to Lucy B. Collier of the Dudley Foster House next door | 955/134 |
For $2,250, "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon": beginning at a stone bound on the westerly side of the Boston Road at land of John Foster, north along the road about 185 feet to Frank L. Day, west 446 feet to a stone wall at land of one Lane, south 186 feet, east along Foster 443 feet. "Being the same premises conveyed to said Clara E. Sexton by the Middlesex National Bank of Lowell by deed dated May 7, 1932" (Book 813, Page 132). Under a Probate Court decree of Dec. 9, 1940 and a bank trust committee vote of Dec. 5, 1940. Dated Dec. 10, 1940. Middlesex North 955/134-135. The Colliers, who lived next door in the Dudley Foster House, reunited the old Foster homestead lot with it.
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| July 12, 1946 | Quitclaim | Forrest F. Collier and Lucy B. Collier, husband and wife, in her own right, of Billerica | Wilfred T. Greenaway and Thelma R. Greenaway, husband and wife, of Somerville | 1946: Collier to Greenaway; lot of today's 373 Boston Road | 1048/476 |
Quitclaim ($15 in revenue stamps) of "the land with the buildings thereon, shown on a 'Plan of Land in Billerica, Mass. surveyed for Forrest F. Collier, dated June 14, 1946, Merrill A. Brown, Reg. Land Surveyor, Carlisle, Mass.'" (Plan Book 68, Plan 83A): beginning on Boston Road 112.12 feet south of a County Bound at the southeast corner of Carl V. Sandberg, south along the road 140 feet, west along land of Lucy B. Collier 455 feet to a stone wall, north along the wall on land of Mary E. Lane 139.29 feet, and east along Sandberg 449.44 feet; 63,000 square feet. Dated July 12, 1946. Middlesex North 1048/476-477. The Colliers kept the south 45 feet with their own house (377 Boston Road); this 140-foot lot is today's 373 Boston Road. The Greenaways mortgaged it the same day for $12,000.
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| October 7, 1994 | Mortgagee's Deed | Diversified Financial Southeast, Inc., holder of a 1987 mortgage to the Lowell Institution for Savings | A private buyer | 1994: mortgage foreclosure sale of 373 Boston Road | 7257/69 |
Foreclosure deed of 373 Boston Road under a mortgage from a private owner to the Lowell Institution for Savings dated Nov. 12, 1987 (Book 4311, Page 205): after notice in the Billerica Minuteman July 14, 21 and 28, 1994, sold at public auction Aug. 4, 1994 (Paul Saperstein, auctioneer) for $155,000. The notice describes "the land in Billerica ... with the buildings thereon" shown on the 1946 Collier plan (Plan Book 68, Plan 83A): 140 feet on Boston Road, 486 feet along land formerly of Lucy B. Collier, 138.29 feet on land of Mary E. Lane and 449.44 feet along Carl V. Sandberg, 63,000 square feet. Dated Aug. 11, 1994. Middlesex North 7257/69. Later transfers (2002, 2014) are between private owners.
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| February 18, 2022 | Taking (easements) | Owners of land abutting Boston Road (Route 3A) | Town of Billerica, by its Select Board | 2022: Town takes roadway easements along the frontage for the Route 3A reconstruction | 36829/239 |
Order of Taking voted Feb. 14, 2022 by the Select Board under G.L. c. 79 and Article 29 of the Oct. 5, 2021 Fall Town Meeting: temporary construction easements (four years) and permanent roadway easements in lands "lying within or abutting Boston Road (Route 3A)" as shown on "Plan of Road Showing Location of Easements, Boston Road (Route 3A) Reconstruction," dated Dec. 15, 2021, prepared for BETA Group, Inc. by Lighthouse Land Surveying, LLC. The registry property index lists it under 336 Boston Road. Recorded Feb. 18, 2022 (24 pages). Middlesex North Book 36829, page 239.
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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.