Structure · Built 1700 · Demolished 1950
Jonathan Hill Barn
Jonathan Hill Barn
| Address | 300 Concord Rd |
| Built | 1700 |
| Demolished | 1950 |
| Owners |
Jonathan Hill
(1742 - 1796)
Jonathan Hill (1796 - 1815) |
| Other Lot Structures |
Hill's Mills (1722 -
1940)
Concord Road Corporate Center (Built 1964) |
The Jonathan Hill Barn was the great barn of the Hill family farm on Concord Road in South Billerica. It stood on the east side of the road about two hundred feet north of the Jonathan Hill House, above the pond and dams on the brook from Nutting's Pond that turned Hill's Mills. The building is gone. It was never a separate lot and never lived in, so no census map names it, but it appears as a large outbuilding on the county's 1915 layout plan of Concord Road, and every deed of the farm from 1825 to 1966 conveys it among "the buildings." Its ground is now part of the office campus at 296-300 Concord Road.
The land is part of the Dudley Farm. By several grants the General Court gave Deputy Governor Thomas Dudley fifteen hundred acres "about six miles northerly from Concord," and on Feb. 28, 1651/2 he sold his rights to Thomas Chamberlin, James Parker and Isaac Learned of Woburn for 110 pounds, payable in "oxen, steers, cowes, heiffers, or calves" and corn at his house in Roxbury. In 1657 Learned sold his share, about 187 acres with the buildings he had put up by the Concord River, to Ralph Hill. Ralph Hill's will of 1662 gave his son Nathaniel "two half lotts" lying toward Concord, and in 1706 Cornet Nathaniel Hill gave the sixty-acre homestead, bounded west by the road to Concord, "with all the buildings fences & Trees," to his son Ralph. Ralph Hill left everything to his nephew Jonathan in 1742; that Jonathan left the farm to his own son Jonathan in 1796. When the younger Jonathan died in 1815 the appraisers valued his dwelling house at $600 and his "barn and hovels" at $180, the first mention of a barn on the homestead. No record gives the year the present barn was built.
In 1825 the Hill heirs sold the farm to John Simonds of Bedford, who sold the ninety acres east of the road "with all the buildings thereon" to William Whitford. Ten years later Whitford's farm became subject to the mill rights that Jonathan Hill, the next generation, bought with Hill's Mills from John Nichols: the right to raise the upper dam and flood "the farm of William Whitford," to dig a creek from the upper to the lower dam and to take stone and gravel from Whitford's land. Every later deed of the barn farm, down to 1932, reserves those rights.
William Whitford died on Dec. 5, 1863. His widow Mary became guardian of the three youngest children and was licensed to sell their three sevenths of "The Homestead farm ... comprising about One hundred acres ... with the buildings thereon." In May 1864 the guardian's share and the shares of the older heirs were deeded to the son Francis O. Whitford, who had just come of age. On Oct. 13, 1864 Francis sold fifty acres "with the buildings thereon standing," the house, barn, pond and dams, to Josiah H. Bartlett for $2,600, and on Dec. 15 Bartlett sold the same land for the same price to Thomas Lyons of Sudbury. The Lyons family were remembered for taking in summer boarders. In 1900 Thomas Lyons, by then a widower, sold five acres at the far end of the farm by the pond and the railroad to the Co-operative Ice Company of Boston; when the company stopped paying its taxes the town sold the lot back to Mary E. Lyons in 1916 for $6.32.
Thomas Lyons died on Nov. 30, 1905 at 83. In 1908 his children deeded the farm to their brother William J. Lyons. In March 1915 the County Commissioners took three strips of his land, 5,650 square feet in all, to straighten Concord Road, and that September he deeded the farm to his wife Mary E. Lyons. She sold the fifty acres "with the buildings thereon" to Edith D. Jones of Newton in 1920, subject to a lease to Victor J. Hosmer; the Joneses sold to Mabel Lent in 1923, and she sold to Edith M. Knights of Lexington in 1932. Arthur A. Knights, her husband, added the old Hill's Machine Shop lot by the dam in 1936. In 1952, as a widow, Mrs. Knights sold the farm and the mill lot to a Belmont couple. No deed records when the barn came down.
The owners sold the back of the farm by Route 3 to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company in 1961 and, in 1966, the 11.23 acres with the house, the barn site and the pond to Honeywell Inc. Honeywell and its successor Bull HN Information Systems built an office campus on the land and sold it to Wang Laboratories in 1995. On Wang's 1997 plan the house kept a lot of its own, Lot 5, while the barn site became part of Lot 4, 45.7 acres at 300 Concord Road. Wang sold Lot 4 to Concord Opco, L.L.C. in 1997; it passed to the California State Teachers' Retirement System in 2000, to that fund's holding companies in 2002 and 2008, and to CRCC Equity Partners, LLC in 2020.
References
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): the Hill family and Hill's Mills
- Middlesex County Probate File Papers, 1648-1871: Hill estates (cases 11473, 11475, 11502, 11504) and the Whitford estate and guardianship (cases 44508, 44509)
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| 1652 | Deed (conditional sale) | Thomas Dudley, Deputy Governor, of Roxbury | Thomas Chamberlin, James Parker and Isaac Learned, all of Woburn | Dudley Farm sold to Chamberlin, Parker and Learned; the Hill homestead was carved from it | 1/208 (South) |
Dated Feb. 28, 1651 [1651/2], recorded 1656. "Whereas by severall grants of divers Generall Courts, there is conveyed to Thomas Dudley the Deputy Governor and his heyres, fifteen hundred acres of land, lying and being about six miles northerly from Concord," Dudley, for 110 pounds, sells to Chamberlin, Parker and Learned "all the right, title, interest, claime and demand" he has in it by the grants "or by any purchase from any Indian," with "all woodes, trees, waters, fishings." The sale is void unless they pay 55 pounds in "oxen, steers, cowes, heiffers, or calves ... none of them then to be above six years old" at his dwelling house at Roxbury on April 28, 1653, and 55 pounds more in cattle or corn (20 pounds in wheat, 35 in rye, pease and Indian corn) on April 28, 1654. Witnessed by Thomas Dudley Jr., Tobias Davis and John Rankens (his mark). This is the Dudley Farm, the tract along the Concord River and Nutting's Pond that became the south part of Billerica. Isaac Learned's share of it, with the buildings he had put up, is what he sold to Ralph Hill in 1657 (Book 2 Page 16). Billerica town book 1, pages 3-5 (also indexed under Tewksbury).
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| May 27, 1657 | Deed | Isaac Learned of Chelmsford, planter, and Mary Learned | Ralph Hill of Billerica | Isaac Learned sells his share of the Dudley Farm to Ralph Hill | 2/16 (South) |
For 52 pounds sterling secured by bill, "one messuage or tenement ... containing all that my right, title and interest in the farm lately purchased of the Worshipful Thomas Dudley Esq. deceased, the whole being by estimation about one hundred eighty and seven acres," in several parcels: the parcel "whereon the buildings are erected," bounded southwest by Concord River, north by George Farley's lot, east by Lieutenant French and south by William Baker; two parcels in Pond Meadow (about ten acres) by William Baker, Henry Jefts and Lieut. French; two small meadows called the Round Meadows, with two springs or slips, near Mr. John Winthrop's farm; a small parcel in Long Meadow bounded north by William Baker; about an acre in the River Meadow between Henry Jefts and William Baker; and upland between the great pond near Cambridge bounds and Robert Parker. Signed the seventh day of the second month (April 7), 1657, witnessed by William Simmes and Jacob Greene; acknowledged the same day before Daniel Gookin, magistrate; entered and recorded 27 3mo. 1657 by Thomas Danforth, Recorder. This is Ralph Hill Sr.'s homestead on the Dudley Farm, the tract later divided among his sons. The house lot here, with the buildings, went to his son Jonathan; the "two half lots lying towards Concord" given to Nathaniel in 1663 were part of his Dudley Farm rights, but the will does not say whether they came from this purchase. Billerica town book 1, pages 7-9.
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| 1663 | Will | Ralph Hill Sr. of Billerica, yeoman | Nathaniel Hill, his son (and Jonathan Hill, son, and Margaret Hill, widow) | Ralph Hill Sr.'s will: the two half lots toward Concord to Nathaniel | Probate #11502 |
Will dated November 18, 1662, "being weak in body but of perfect memory." To his wife Margaret a third part of all his housing, lands and meadows in Billerica for life, a bed, a cow of her choosing and swine. His son Ralph to have 23 pounds from the land bought at Woburn, the rest of his portion; daughter Martha 20 pounds; daughter Rebecca 30 pounds; granddaughters Mary Littlefield 15 pounds and Elizabeth Hill 20 shillings; to his son-in-law Roger Toothaker thirty-three and a half acres in the common field. "My son Nathaniell shall have that parcell of land lying towards Concord which is two half lotts (so called) and bounded as the land ... was exchanged with Benjamin Parker, which is in lieu of land laid to me by the town for highways," with all his meadow in Long Meadow and Little Round Meadow and the slips of meadow adjoining, half the meadow bought of Edward Oakes at Shawshin River, an acre in Concord River meadow and half of all later divisions of land. "My son Jonathan Hill shall have all the rest of my lands and houses with the appurtenances to them belonging," reserving to Nathaniel one third of the improvable land until he has broken up and fenced land of his own. Sons Nathaniel and Jonathan executors; William Tay and John Parker overseers. Signed by mark, witnessed by George Farley and John Parker, who swore to it at Billerica in 1663 before Capt. Gookin; entered and recorded at Cambridge, lib. 2, p. 153, by Thomas Danforth. Ralph Hill died April 29, 1663. The will gives Nathaniel bare land with no buildings, so the house on the site was built by Nathaniel after 1663 (he married in 1667) and was standing by 1706. Middlesex probate case 11502.
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| December 6, 1718 | Gift | Cornet Nathaniel Hill of Chelmsford | Ralph Hill of Billerica, his son | Nathaniel Hill gives the 60-acre homestead with the buildings to his son Ralph | 20/195 (South) |
For "love and affection," several parcels in Billerica: "Sixty acres of Upland be it more or less, bounded North by the Land of Joseph Hill, and East by the Pond medow and the Land of Nathll Hill, and South by ye Land of Zechariah Shed, and West by the Road leading to Concord with all the buildings fences & Trees standing thereon"; two acres in Long Meadow, half of John Stearns's lot; two acres in the River Meadow bounded west by Concord River; three acres of swamp at the east end of Cornet Hill's lot; and a five-acre town right. Signed Feb. 13, 1705/6, witnessed by Moses Barron, Jonathan Richardson and Samuel Hill Sr.; acknowledged at Chelmsford the same day before Jonathan Tyng. The same day Ralph's brother Joseph Hill sold him eight acres by John Parker (next deed on the page). The north bound on Joseph Hill's land is the same as the north bound on "the heirs of Joseph Hill" in 1825. Nathaniel had the land from his father Ralph Hill Sr., who died in 1663. Billerica town book 2, pages 223-225.
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| May 24, 1742 | Will | Ralph Hill of Billerica, yeoman | Jonathan Hill of Billerica, his nephew | Ralph Hill's will: the homestead to his nephew Jonathan | Probate #11504 |
Will dated May 27, 1740, "being old & full of days": to "my well beloved Nephew Jonathan Hill," whom he also makes sole executor, "son to my Brother Joseph Hill of said Billerica, all my right, estate, title & interest in lands, household goods, debts & moveable effects" in Billerica, to him and his heirs forever. Legacies: 50 pounds to his sister Abigail, wife of Capt. Samuel Chamberlain of Chelmsford, two years after his death and 50 more two years later; 30 pounds to Nathaniel Hill, son of Nathaniel Hill deceased, at 21; 20 pounds to Abigail Hill, daughter of Nathaniel Hill deceased, at 18. Witnesses William Bowers, Stephen Osgood and Benjamin Bowers. Proved May 24, 1742 before Judge Jonathan Remington; Jonathan Hill gave bond for 500 pounds with Joseph Hill, husbandman, and Benjamin Shed, housewright. Middlesex probate case 11504.
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| May 10, 1796 | Will | Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman | Jonathan Hill, his son (and Job, Josiah, Benjamin and Ralph Hill) | Will of Jonathan Hill: the homestead farm and corn mill | Probate #11473 |
Will dated Jan. 12, 1795, with a codicil of Sept. 15, 1795. Sons Ralph and Benjamin, already provided for by deed, get 20 shillings each, and Benjamin the lot in Ashby. "My Kinny-farm, so called, containing by estimation about eight acres, with the buildings thereto belonging" goes to son Job. Job and Josiah share the land in Bedford (except Crooked Meadow) and "the southern part of my farm in Billerica on the east side of Bedford-road," divided from the rest by a line from the drawbars a little south of the grist mill along the wall of the ox-pasture, with the Peter lot of river meadow to Job, the Parker lot of meadow to Josiah, and the right to grind their own grain at the corn mill. To son Jonathan, the executor, all the rest of the lands and real estate in Billerica and Carlisle, Crooked Meadow, the stock, tools, clock and great brass kettle. Money to daughters Mary and Isabella; to the five unmarried daughters Susanna, Lucy, Elizabeth, Zuba and Anna, 20 pounds each, the household furniture, and while single the east chamber, the bedroom below at the northwest corner, the kitchen, well and wash yard, half an acre for a garden and a cow kept for them. Witnesses Henry Cumings, Jacob Richardson and Samuel Whiting. Proved May 10, 1796 before Judge Oliver Prescott. Middlesex probate case 11473.
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| May 17, 1815 | Administration and Dower | Estate of Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman, intestate | Mary Hill, widow (dower), and children Mary, Anna, Jonathan and David Hill | Estate of Jonathan Hill (d. 1815): the homestead with all the buildings | Probate #11475 |
Jonathan Hill died intestate early in 1815. His widow Mary declined the administration, and Samuel Whiting of Billerica was appointed administrator on Feb. 28, 1815 (bond $30,000 with Joseph Locke and Jeremiah Farmer). The inventory by Peter Hill, Timothy Stearns and Josiah Hill (March 23, 1815) values "the homestead of said deceased in said Billerica estimated at 150 acres with all the buildings thereon, except the grist-mill" at $5,050, the grist mill at $440 and 13 1/4 acres of woodland in Bedford at $600. The committee to set off dower (Whiting, Peter Hill and Josiah Hill) appraised the real estate: the lot east of the road to Concord, about 98 acres, bounded by the road, Job Hill, the heirs of Jonathan Stickney, Nutting's Pond, Isaac French and the heirs of Joseph Hill ($1,940); the lot west of the road, 70 acres to the Concord River, between the heirs of Joseph Hill and John Stearns, Job Hill and Josiah Hill ($2,020); Long Meadow; the Bedford woodlot; the dwelling house ($600), barn and hovels ($180), mill house and cider mill, corn house and hog sty, grist mill and two pews, $6,200 in all. On May 17, 1815 they set off to the widow about 45 acres east of the road, meadow, woodland and old field, one third of the grist mill and pews, and "one half of the dwelling house (viz.) the west room, bed room, west chamber, and garret over it together with the middle chamber" ($300), the kitchen, meal chamber, well room, milk room and woodhouse to be used in common. The return also provides for the cow that "Jonathan Hill, father of Jonathan Hill deceased" ordered kept for his daughter Susanna. On April 4, 1815 Timothy Stearns of Billerica was appointed guardian of the four minor children Mary, Anna, Jonathan and David at their mother's request (case 11476). Middlesex probate case 11475.
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| April 11, 1826 | Guardian's Deed | Joel Fitch of Bedford, guardian of Jonathan Hill and David Hill, minors | Mather Hayward of Bedford, gentleman | Guardian's auction of the minor Hill heirs' half of the farm | 265/389 (South) |
Joel Fitch, guardian of Jonathan and David Hill, "minors and children of Jonathan Hill late of Billerica ... yeoman deceased intestate," licensed by the Supreme Judicial Court at Concord on the fourth Monday of March 1825 to sell the whole of the minors' real estate, after thirty days' notice posted in Cambridge, Billerica, Bedford and Burlington, sold at public vendue on the premises April 29, 1825, to Mather Hayward, highest bidder, for $1,900: two undivided quarter parts of about 180 acres "with the buildings thereon standing" in the southwesterly part of Billerica, bounded northerly by the heirs of Joseph Hill deceased, westerly by Concord River, southerly by John Stearns and Job Hill, easterly by the heirs of Jonathan Stickney deceased and Seth Crosby; and two quarter parts of a ten-acre meadow by Elijah B. Hill, Job Hill, a brook and land "this day sold to Elijah B. Hill"; including the minors' reversion in the part set off to the widow Mary Hill as dower. Witnessed by Elijah Stearns and John Simonds; acknowledged May 17, 1825. Hayward quitclaimed the same two quarters to John Simonds for the same $1,900 by a deed dated the same day (Book 265 Page 391). Billerica town book 12, pages 464-466.
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| April 11, 1826 | Deed | Mather Hayward | John Simonds of Bedford, cordwainer | Hill heirs sell half the farm to John Simonds | 265/391 (South) |
For $1,900, quitclaim of two undivided fourth parts of about 180 acres "with the buildings thereon standing" in the southwesterly part of Billerica, bounded northerly by the heirs of Joseph Hill deceased, westerly by Concord River, southerly by John Stearns and Job Hill, and easterly by the heirs of Jonathan Stickney deceased and Seth Crosby; also 2/4 of a ten-acre meadow by Elijah B. Hill. This is the farm of Jonathan Hill (d. 1815). Hayward had bought these two quarters, the share of the minor heirs Jonathan and David Hill, at the guardian's auction the same day for the same price (Book 265 Page 389), so he acted as a straw buyer for Simonds. Lucy Hayward released dower. Signed April 29, 1825; acknowledged May 17, 1825. Billerica town book 12, pages 466-467.
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| 1825 | Deed | Samuel Butler of Leominster and Mary Butler (in her right), and Anna Hill | John Simonds of Bedford, cordwainer | Hill heirs sell the other half to John Simonds | 265/392 (South) |
For $1,933.25, the other two undivided fourth parts of the same farm and meadow, with Mary's and Anna's reversion in the dower of the widow Mary Hill, and pew No. 12 and horse shed No. 12 at the meeting house. Mary and Anna were daughters of Jonathan Hill (d. 1815); Mary had married Samuel Butler in 1824, and Anna married the buyer, John Simonds, on June 2, 1825. Signed May 5, 1825. Billerica town book 12, pages 467-469.
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| 1825 | Release | Mary Hill, widow of Jonathan Hill | John Simonds of Bedford | Widow Mary Hill releases her dower to John Simonds | 265/393 (South) |
For $500, release of her dower in the estate of her late husband Jonathan Hill. Followed by William Whitford's mortgage back to Simonds (Book 265 Page 442; town book 12, page 470). Billerica town book 12, page 469.
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| September 1, 1826 | Deed | John Simonds and Anna Simonds | William Whitford of Bedford, laborer | Simonds sells the homestead, 90 acres with all the buildings, to William Whitford | 269/301 (South) |
For $2,300, 90 acres "with all the buildings thereon," beginning at the northwesterly corner on the County Road from Billerica to Bedford at the heirs of Joseph Hill, easterly on those heirs, southerly on Seth Crosby and the heirs of Jonathan Stickney to Job Hill, westerly on Hill to the road and northerly by the road. Simonds reserves the wood for three years from Dec. 1 and a right of way for owners of land to the east. Signed Aug. 16, 1825; acknowledged April 5, 1826. Whitford later added 8 acres of meadow from J. F. Hill (1830, Book 304 Page 147, resold to Sewall Stearns in 1831), the School House Pasture from E. B. Hill (1833, Book 319 Page 430), and land from A. H. Snow (1841) and S. Adams (1842). Billerica town book 13, pages 441-443.
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| 1835 | Quitclaim | John Nichols of Billerica, yeoman, and Mary Nichols his wife | Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman | Hill's Mills water rights over the Whitford farm, reserved in every later deed of the barn farm | 345/138 (South) |
For $5, quitclaim of "a certain Grist mill situate in the southerly part of said Billerica called Hills mills," beginning at the road from Billerica to Bedford at a stone marked B, easterly to another stone B near the corner of a wall, southeasterly "to the upper side of the Dam," and westerly by the water course and stones marked B to the wall at the road, "together with all the water privileges belonging to said mills which consists of the water running from said Nuttings Pond & elsewhere of raising the upper Dam six inches without being subject to any damage which may occur by flowing the farm of William Whitford," of draining the water through Whitford's land, of deepening the water course from Nutting's Pond to the mill, of "making a creek from the upper dam on the south side of the mill pond to said lower Dam," and of taking stone and gravel from Whitford's land to keep the creek and dams in repair, "including the Grist mill apparatus & Turning Lathe." Nichols conveys his right in equity to redeem, the mill having been mortgaged by him to Levi Wilson on April 3, 1833. Dated Sept. 10, 1835 (per the later deeds). These rights ran over the barn farm: every deed of it from 1864 to 1932 reserves "the rights and privileges which Jona. Hill his heirs or assigns has in said premises" under this deed, which they give as Book 343 Page 139; the index and the town book margin give Book 345 Page 138. Billerica town book 15, pages 158-159.
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| December 22, 1863 | Administration | Estate of William Whitford of Billerica, intestate | Mary Whitford, widow and administratrix, and his children | Administration of William Whitford's estate | Probate #44509 |
William Whitford died Dec. 5, 1863, intestate. His widow Mary Whitford petitioned on Dec. 16, 1863 and was appointed administratrix at Cambridge on Dec. 22, 1863 by Judge William A. Richardson (estate sworn at not over $20,000). The heirs were the children George H. Whitford of Boston, John S. Whitford of Elizabeth Port, New Jersey, Edward L. Whitford of Orford, New Hampshire, and Mary Eliza, Francis O., Addison B. and Emma M. Whitford of Billerica, the last three minors. Their guardianship is case 44508, which holds the 1864 license under which the minors' share of the homestead farm was sold at auction to Francis O. Whitford. Middlesex probate case 44509.
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| 1863 | Guardianship and License to Sell | Francis O., Addison B. and Emma M. Whitford, minor children of William Whitford, by their guardian Mary Whitford | Mary Whitford of Billerica, their mother, guardian (licensed to sell their shares of the homestead farm) | Guardianship and license to sell the Whitford minors' three sevenths of the homestead farm | Probate #44508 |
On Dec. 16, 1863 Mary Whitford, widow of William Whitford, petitioned to be guardian of Francis Onslow Whitford (born April 21, 1843), Addison Barnard Whitford (born April 29, 1847) and Emma Maria Whitford (born Feb. 3, 1849), all over fourteen, who chose her; appointed at Cambridge on Dec. 22, 1863 by Judge William A. Richardson. The inventory of the minors' estate (appraisers Jona. Hill, Moses P. Greenwood and Constantine Hill) lists "Three seventh parts of the Homestead farm of the late William Whitford, situated in Billerica, subject to the widow's dower," appraised at $1,508. Her petition for license to sell for their maintenance (January 1864) describes "The Homestead farm of said deceased, comprising about One hundred acres, more or less, with the buildings thereon," on both sides of the road from Billerica to Bedford: the lot east of the road bounded north by Susan Fitch, east by Susan Fitch, William Stewart, Nutting's Pond and Josiah Bowers, south by Jonathan Hill and Charles H. Hill, and west by the road; and on the west side about twelve acres, the Orchard Lot of about four acres and the School House Lot of about eight. The heirs George H., J. S., E. L., Mary E., Francis O., Addison B. and Emma M. Whitford assented in December 1863. Francis came of age on April 21, 1864, so the guardian's sale of May 1864 (Book 38 Page 38) conveyed only Addison's and Emma's shares. Middlesex probate case 44508.
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| May 27, 1864 | Guardian's Deed | Mary Whitford, guardian of Addison B. and Emma M. Whitford | Francis O. Whitford | Whitford homestead farm with buildings to Francis O. Whitford | 38/38 |
Sold at public auction May 16, 1864 for $678 under Probate license of Jan. 26, 1864: the minors' interest in "the homestead farm of William Whitford," deceased, in three parts: 88 acres with buildings on the county road from Billerica to Bedford at Susan Fitch, bounded by the Crosby heirs, the Stickney heirs, Jona. Hill and C. H. Hill to the road, "near the machine shop of C. H. Hill," to a stone marked B near the dam; 3 acres at John Dane; and the "school house pasture," about 6 acres. Reserves the rights of Jonathan Hill under John Nichols's deed of Sept. 10, 1835 (Middlesex South Book 343 Page 139). The adult heirs, Mary, Mary E., George W., John H. and others, conveyed their shares to Francis O. Whitford for $2,883.50 by the next deed, Book 38 Page 40.
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| May 27, 1864 | Quitclaim (heirs) | Mary Whitford (widow) and Mary E. Whitford of Billerica, George H. Whitford of Boston, John S. Whitford of Tamaqua, Pa., and Edward L. Whitford of Orford, N.H., heirs of William Whitford, with the wives of George and John | Francis O. Whitford of Billerica, yeoman | Whitford heirs quitclaim the 80-acre homestead farm with the buildings to Francis O. Whitford | 38/40 |
For $2,883.50, quitclaim of all their right in "the homestead farm of William Whitford, deceased": "One Tract with the buildings thereon standing containing eighty acres more or less," beginning at the northwest corner on the county road from Billerica to Bedford at land of Susan Fitch, easterly by Fitch 20 rods, southerly 4 rods, easterly about 150 rods, southerly about 20 rods, easterly to the heirs of Seth Crosby, southerly by the Crosby heirs and the heirs of Jonathan Stickney to Jonathan Hill, westerly by Hill and C. H. Hill to the road, northerly by the road about ten rods "to corner of a wall near the machine shop of Chas. H. Hill," easterly to a stone marked B near the dam, across the dam and back by Hill's land to the road and the first bound; "Reserving all the rights and privileges" of Jonathan Hill under John Nichols's deed of Sept. 10, 1835. Also 3 acres across the road by John Dane and Susan Fitch, and the "school house pasture" of about six acres, bounded north by a road leading to Jonathan Hill's, south by land formerly of Artemas Hill now of Josiah P. Heywood, and east by the road to Bedford. "The said Francis O. Whitford being the owner of the remaining share in his own right as heir at law to William Whitford, deceased." Dated April 23, 1864, acknowledged May 16, 1864 before Dudley Foster; Book 38 Pages 40-42.
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| December 9, 1864 | Warranty Deed | Francis O. Whitford of Billerica | Josiah H. Bartlett of Billerica | Francis O. Whitford sells 50 acres with the buildings to Josiah H. Bartlett | 38/378 |
For $2,600, "the following described Real Estate being a part of the homestead of the late William Whitford, deceased": "One tract with the buildings thereon standing containing fifty acres more or less," beginning at the northwest corner on the county road from Billerica to Bedford at land of widow Susan Fitch, easterly by Fitch 20 rods, southerly 4 rods, easterly about 150 rods, southerly about 20 rods, easterly to the heirs of Seth Crosby, southerly by Crosby "to a large stone near the pond," by the edge of the pond to the brook at land of S. W. Foster, westerly by the brook to the upper dam, by the edge of the pond to a stone marked B by the lower dam, across the dam and westerly by land of C. H. Hill to the road; reserving Jonathan Hill's rights under the Nichols deed of Sept. 10, 1835; also 3 acres across the road by John Dane, Susan Fitch and Jona. Hill. Warranted free of encumbrances "except the within named." Dated Oct. 13, 1864, acknowledged the same day before Dudley Foster, recorded Dec. 9, 1864. This cut the 80-acre farm down to the 50 acres around the house, barn and pond that the Lyons family held for the next 56 years; Bartlett sold the same tract to Thomas Lyons for the same price on Dec. 15, 1864 (Book 38 Page 485). Book 38 Pages 378-379.
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| January 6, 1865 | Deed | Josiah H. Bartlett | Thomas Lyons of Sudbury | Lyons family farm, 50 acres with buildings; the barn stood just north of the house | 38/485 |
For $2,600, "a part of the homestead of the late William Whitford": 50 acres "with the buildings thereon standing", beginning at the northwesterly corner on the county road at widow Susan Fitch, by the Crosby heirs to "a large stone near the pond," by the edge of the pond to the brook at S. W. Foster, to the upper dam, to a stone marked B by the lower dam, and by C. H. Hill's land to the road; reserving Jonathan Hill's rights under John Nichols's deed of Sept. 10, 1835 (town book 15, pages 158-159); and 3 acres at John Dane across the road. Dated Dec. 15, 1864, recorded Jan. 6, 1865. Subject to Bartlett's mortgage to Francis O. Whitford dated Oct. 13, 1864. Bartlett had bought the same tract from Francis O. Whitford on Oct. 13, 1864 for the same $2,600 (Book 38 Page 378), so he passed it straight on to Lyons. Thomas Lyons owned the farm until his death on Nov. 30, 1905; his heirs deeded it to his son William J. Lyons in 1908 (Book 420 Page 582), and it passed to William's wife Mary E. Lyons in 1915 (Book 544 Page 221).
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| March 19, 1901 | Warranty Deed | Thomas Lyons of Billerica, widower | The Co-operative Ice Company of Boston | Thomas Lyons sells five acres by the pond and railroad to the Co-operative Ice Company | 328/167 |
For one dollar "and other good and valuable considerations," about five acres "in the southerly part of said Billerica," beginning at a point on the Boston and Maine Railroad at "the Canal so-called," easterly on the canal to Nutting's Pond, easterly on the pond to a large rock, northerly by land of the heirs of Wm. Stewart 250 feet, westerly by other land of the grantor to the railroad, and southerly by the railroad 250 feet to the beginning; "being in part the same premises as conveyed to me by Josiah H. Bartlett by deed dated December 15, 1864 ... Book 38, Page 485." The company was to have "no right-of-way ... over or across any land of said grantor to any Public Highway." Dated Dec. 26, 1900, acknowledged the same day before Herbert A. King, recorded March 19, 1901. This was the far east end of the farm by the railroad, an ice-house site on the pond, not the barn ground. Book 328 Pages 167-168.
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| July 3, 1908 | Deed (heirs) | Maria L. Kelley of Boston, Charles Lyons of Chelmsford, John H. Lyons of Boston, Thomas F. Lyons of Billerica, and Harry J. Gay and Ellen A. Gay of Manchester, heirs of Thomas Lyons | William J. Lyons of Billerica | Thomas Lyons's heirs convey the farm with its buildings to William J. Lyons | 420/582 |
For one dollar and other consideration, all their interest in "real estate being formerly a part of the Homestead of the late William Whitford, deceased": "One tract with the buildings thereon standing containing fifty [50] acres," beginning at the northwest corner "on the County Road leading from Billerica to Bedford at land formerly of Susan Fitch," easterly and southerly to land of the heirs of Seth Crosby, by the edge of the pond to the brook at land of S. W. Foster, westerly by the brook to the upper dam, by the pond to a stone marked B by the lower dam, northerly across the dam, and westerly by land of C. H. Hill to the road; reserving Jonathan Hill's rights under John Nichols's deed of Sept. 10, 1835 (S. 343/139) and excepting five acres sold by Thomas Lyons to the Co-operative Ice Company of Boston on Dec. 26, 1900 (Book 328 Page 167). Also a 3-acre tract with buildings on the other side of the road, from the road westerly by John Dane and Susan Fitch about 30 rods and southerly by Fitch 16 rods to land of Jonathan Hill. "Being all and the same premises conveyed by Josiah H. Bartlett to Thomas Lyons by deed dated December 15th 1864 ... Book 38, Page 485." The grantors' title came "as heirs at law of their father said Thomas Lyons, late of said Billerica, deceased" (Middlesex probate case 69796), the grantee "being the only other heir at law." Dated June 30, recorded July 3, 1908.
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| March 3, 1915 | Taking | William J. Lyons and other owners on Concord Road | County of Middlesex (County Commissioners Levi S. Gould and Chester B. Williams) | County takes three strips of the Lyons farm to straighten Concord Road | 534/254 |
At a meeting of the County Commissioners at Cambridge begun the first Tuesday of January 1915 and adjourned to March 2, 1915, "in the matter of the alterations and specific repairs of the Concord road in Billerica," land "was thereby taken for highway purposes" from Matthew Matiosaytis, the Suburban Land Company (six parcels), Mary A. and Charles E. Hosmer, A. W. Albert Lakemann, Francis W. Belknap, "William J. Lyons, three parcels" of 1,800, 1,450 and 2,400 square feet, Isabella B. Bond (two parcels), Edward F. Judkins and Edward M. Mace. "For a more particular description of the parcels thus taken reference may be had to the accompanying plan" (margin: Plan Book M, Plan 90; the county layout of Concord Road from Bedford to Meadow Lane, 1915). Recorded March 3, 1915. The Lyons deeds of 1915-1932 all except "about 5,650 square feet" taken to straighten the road. Book 534 Page 254.
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| September 24, 1915 | Quitclaim | William J. Lyons of Billerica | Mary E. Lyons of Billerica, his wife | William J. Lyons deeds the farm to his wife Mary E. Lyons | 544/221 |
For one dollar, "real estate, being formerly a part of the homestead of the late William Whitford": first, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon containing fifty acres," bounded as in 1908, still excepting the five acres of the Co-operative Ice Company; second, the 3-acre parcel with buildings on the road to Bedford by John Dane, Susan Fitch and Jonathan Hill, less 20,000 square feet sold to Rena Goodman in 1913 and 1914 (Book 502 Page 548, Book 503 Page 189); excepting from both about 5,650 square feet "taken by the County Commissioners ... for the purpose of straightening the Concord Road" (Book 534 Page 254; Plan 90 of Plan Book M). "For my title see a certain deed to me from Maria L. Kelley et als. dated June 30, 1908" (Book 420 Page 582). Dated, acknowledged and recorded Sept. 24, 1915. The same day Mary E. Lyons mortgaged the land to the Merrimack River Savings Bank of Lowell for $4,000 (Book 544 Page 223), discharged Oct. 14, 1920.
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| 1916 | Collector's Deed | Everett S. Bull, Collector of Taxes of Billerica (land assessed to The Cooperative Ice Company) | Mrs. Mary E. Lyons of Billerica | Tax sale returns the ice company lot to Mary E. Lyons | 564/198 |
The 1914 state, county and town taxes of $1.40 assessed to The Cooperative Ice Company went unpaid after demand on June 15, 1916; the collector advertised the land in the Lowell Courier-Citizen and at the Town Hall and sold it at auction there on Nov. 9, 1916, when "no person offering at said auction to take an undivided part of said land, the whole of said land was struck off to Mrs. Mary E. Lyons of Billerica ... for the sum of Six dollars and thirty two cents": "About five acres of land in South Billerica adjoining Nuttings Pond and land of the Boston & Maine Railroad, being the premises conveyed by Thomas Lyons to the Cooperative Ice Company by deed dated December 26, 1900 ... Book 328, Page 167," subject to the right of redemption. Recorded November 1916. So the ice company lot came back to the Lyons farm, and Mary E. Lyons conveyed it with the rest to Edith D. Jones in 1920 (the margin refers to Book 634 Page 301). Book 564 Pages 198-199.
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| October 15, 1920 | Quitclaim | Mary E. Lyons of Billerica, unmarried | Edith D. Jones of Newton | Mary E. Lyons sells the farm to Edith D. Jones | 634/301 |
"The land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, being formerly a part of the homestead of the late William Whitford, deceased, containing fifty (50) acres," bounded as in 1908 and 1915 from the County Road at land formerly of Susan Fitch to the Crosby heirs, the pond, S. W. Foster, the upper and lower dams and C. H. Hill; reserving Jonathan Hill's 1835 rights and excepting the Concord Road taking (Book 534 Page 254); "being a part of the same premises conveyed to me by William J. Lyons by his deed dated Sept. 24, 1915," with a tax collector's deed of Nov. 18, 1916 (Book 564 Page 198). "This conveyance is made subject to a lease made between the said Mary E. Lyons and Victor J. Hosmer, expiring November 1, 1924, of a portion of the above-described premises." Dated Oct. 14, recorded Oct. 15, 1920 (Book 634 Pages 301-302). In 1923 Henry V. and Edith D. Jones sold the farm to Mabel Lent (Book 696 Page 287).
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| 1923 | Quitclaim | Henry V. Jones and Edith D. Jones (in her right) | Mabel Lent, wife of Howard B. Lent, of Arlington | Joneses sell the 50-acre farm with buildings to Mabel Lent | 696/287 |
The land with the buildings, "formerly a part of the homestead of the late William Whitford," 50 acres, same bounds as 1865 (Fitch, Crosby heirs, the pond, S. W. Foster, the upper dam, stone B by the lower dam, C. H. Hill), reserving Jonathan Hill's 1835 rights and excepting the strip taken by the County Commissioners to straighten Concord Road (Book 534 Page 254; Plan Book M, Plan 90). Title from Mary E. Lyons by deed of Oct. 14, 1920 (Book 634 Page 301). Subject to a lease from Mary E. Lyons to Victor J. Hosmer expiring Nov. 1, 1924 and an $8,000 mortgage to the Lexington Savings Bank. Signed Nov. 12, 1923.
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| February 3, 1932 | Deed | Mabel Lent | Edith M. Knights of Lexington | Lent sells the farm to Edith M. Knights | 810/492 |
The same 50 acres with buildings, same bounds, reservation and road taking; title from Henry V. and Edith D. Jones (Book 696 Page 287). Subject to an $8,500 mortgage of 1924 to the Woburn Five Cent Savings Bank. Her husband Arthur A. Knights added a lot 80 by 180 ft by the dam, bounded north by Thomas Lyons, which he deeded to her Dec. 18, 1936 (Book 892 Page 136).
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| December 31, 1936 | Quitclaim | Arthur A. Knights of Billerica | Edith M. Knights, his wife | Arthur A. Knights to Edith M. Knights, the Hill's Machine Shop lot on the south line of the farm | 892/136 |
For consideration under $100, "the land in Billerica with the buildings thereon situated in the southerly part of Billerica on the road from Billerica to Bedford now or formerly known as the Hill's Machine Shop," bounded north by land now or formerly of Thomas Lyons about 80 feet, east by a dam about 180 feet "to the stone wall at the further side of the water way," south by the wall about 80 feet to the road, and west by the road 175 feet, "with all the water privileges of the water of Nutting's Pond, so-called as shown in deed from Jonathan Hill to Charles H. Hill dated October 15, 1853" (Middlesex South Book 677 Page 561); "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Margaret E. Hill by deed dated May 26, 1936." With a disclaimer of tax title for 1928 and 1929. Dated Dec. 18, 1936, acknowledged at Boston, recorded Dec. 31, 1936. This joined the mill lot on the south line of the barn farm to the Knights farm; both passed together to the next owners in 1952 (Book 1195 Page 141). Book 892 Page 136.
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| 1952 | Deed | Edith M. Knights, widow | William E. Davis and Naomi M. Davis of Belmont | Knights sells the farm to the Davises; the barn was gone by about 1950 | 1195/141 |
Two parcels on Concord Road with the buildings: the 50-acre farm, now bounded by Isabel B. Bond, from Lent (Book 810 Page 492), and the 80 by 180 ft lot by the dam from her late husband Arthur A. Knights (Book 892 Page 136). Book 1195 Pages 141-142.
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| May 26, 1961 | Quitclaim | William E. Davis and Naomi M. Davis of Billerica | Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, a Delaware corporation of Wellesley | Davises sell Parcel C by Route 3 to Minneapolis-Honeywell | 1514/553 |
For consideration paid, Parcel "C" on the westerly side of State Route 3 on a "Plan of Land in Billerica, Mass., Surveyed for Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company," March 1961, Emmons and Fleming, Inc.: northeasterly by Route 3, 468.04 feet; southeasterly by the Boston and Maine Railroad, Bedford Branch, about 471 feet; southerly by the center line of a brook about 440 feet; westerly by other land of the grantors about 642 feet; and northwesterly by Parcel B, land of Ralph W. and Claire H. Stoker, 308.32 and 493.86 feet. Recorded May 26, 1961. This was the back of the old Lyons farm toward the highway; the company's first foothold here, five years before it bought the house, barn site and pond (Book 1764 Page 589). Book 1514 Page 553.
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| August 25, 1966 | Deed | William E. Davis and Naomi M. Davis | Honeywell Inc. | Davises sell the land by the house and pond to Honeywell | 1764/589 |
Parcel F, 11.23 acres "with the buildings thereon" on the easterly side of Concord Road, including Mill Brook and the pond (31 acres of water on the plan), by Stoker and Barbara Galvin, and Parcels D and E, 2 acres by Route 3, on a plan surveyed for Honeywell Inc., June 1964, Emmons and Fleming (Plan Book 104, Plan 44, two sheets; approved July 21, 1964, recorded Aug. 25, 1966). Parcel F took in the old farmhouse and the ground north of it where the barn had stood. The Davises had sold Parcel C, by Route 3 and the Bedford branch railroad, to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company in 1961 (Book 1514 Page 553). The company became Honeywell Information Systems and then Bull HN Information Systems, which sold the campus to Wang Laboratories in 1995 (Book 7379 Page 234).
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| 1995 | Deed | Bull HN Information Systems Inc. | Wang Laboratories, Inc. | Bull HN sells the campus, including the barn site, to Wang Laboratories | 7379/234 |
The former Honeywell campus on Concord Road, including the old Hill farmhouse, sold by Bull HN Information Systems, successor to Honeywell Information Systems, to Wang Laboratories. On the Wang plan of 1997 (Plan Book 194, Plan 59) the house is Lot 5, 1.46 acres on the easterly side of Concord Road, and the rest of the campus is Lot 4 (sold in 1997, Book 8812 Page 152). Wang merged into GetronicsWang Co. LLC in 1999, which sold Lot 5 to private owners in 2002 (Book 14028 Page 25); later sales are between private owners.
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| October 1, 1997 | Quitclaim Deed | Wang Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation of Billerica | Concord Opco, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (c/o Leggat McCall Properties Group LLC, Boston) | Wang sells Lot 4, 45.7 acres at 300 Concord Road, including the barn site | 8812/152 |
For $15,325,000, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon ... situated on the easterly side of Concord Road and the westerly side of Route 3 now known as and numbered 300 Concord Road and shown as Lot 4 containing 45.7 acres, more or less," on the Wang Laboratories plan of land by Howe Surveying Associates, April 8, 1997 (Plan Book 194, Plan 59), excepting a strip about 33 feet wide along the southeasterly line; with easements under the 1995 deed and a Declaration of Covenants and Easements of the same date. "The above-described premises are a portion of the same conveyed to the Grantor by the above-referenced January 30, 1995 deed recorded with said Deeds in Book 7379, Page 234." Executed Sept. 30, 1997, recorded Oct. 1, 1997. Lot 4 surrounds the 1.46-acre house lot (Lot 5) on the north and east and takes in the site of the barn, the pond and the office buildings. Book 8812 Pages 152-153.
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| June 20, 2000 | Quitclaim Deed | Concord Opco, L.L.C. (by Leggat McCall Opportunity Investors, LLC) | California State Teachers' Retirement System, a public entity of Sacramento | Lot 4 (296-300 Concord Road) to the California State Teachers' Retirement System | 10886/243 |
For $41,600,000, "The land at 296, 298 and 300 Concord Road," shown as Lot 4 on a "Plan of Land in Billerica ... Prepared for Leggat McCall Properties, 300 Concord Road," Oct. 20, 1998, by Consulting Engineers and Scientists, Inc., recorded June 6, 2000 (Plan Book 203, Plan 76), excepting Lot 6 on that plan, with the easements of the 1997 Wang declaration and of the Honeywell Information Systems declaration of 1982; "the same premises conveyed by deed from Wang Laboratories, Inc. to Grantor dated September 30, 1997 ... Book 8812, Page 152." Executed June 2000, recorded June 20, 2000. Book 10886 Pages 243-244.
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| December 23, 2002 | Quitclaim Deed | California State Teachers' Retirement System | CSDV, Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (c/o CalSTRS) | Lot 4 to CSDV, Limited Partnership | 14273/50 |
For $10, "those certain parcels of land located at 296, 298 & 300 Concord Road, Billerica," Lot 4 on the Leggat McCall plan of 1998 (Plan Book 203, Plan 76), excepting Lot 6, with the same easements; "Being the same premises conveyed to Grantor pursuant to that certain Quitclaim Deed recorded ... in Book 10886, Page 243." Executed Nov. 2002, recorded Dec. 23, 2002. A transfer into the pension system's own holding partnership. Book 14273 Pages 50-52.
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| September 9, 2008 | Quitclaim Deed | CSDV, Limited Partnership (by CSDV-GP, LLC; sole member California State Teachers' Retirement System) | CSHV Concord, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (c/o CB Richard Ellis Investors LLC) | Lot 4 to CSHV Concord, LLC | 22425/229 |
For $10, the land at 296, 298 and 300 Concord Road, Lot 4 on the 1998 Leggat McCall plan (Plan Book 203, Plan 76), excepting Lot 6. "The Grantor and the Grantee in this conveyance are comprised of the same parties who continue to hold the same proportionate interests." Title from CalSTRS by deed recorded Dec. 23, 2002 in Book 14273, Page 50. Executed Aug. 14, 2008, recorded Sept. 9, 2008. Book 22425 Pages 229-231.
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| November 25, 2020 | Quitclaim Deed | CSHV Concord, LLC (sole member California State Teachers' Retirement System) | CRCC Equity Partners, LLC, a Massachusetts limited liability company (c/o KS Partners, LLC, New York) | Lot 4 to CRCC Equity Partners, LLC, the present owner of the barn site | 34968/197 |
For $12,500,000, the real property at 296, 298 and 300 Concord Road with all improvements, as described in Exhibit A, subject to easements and restrictions of record; "Said premises the property conveyed to Grantor by Deed recorded at Book 22435 [sic, 22425], Page 229." Executed November 2020, recorded Nov. 25, 2020. This is the present owner of Lot 4, the office campus that includes the site of the Hill barn. Book 34968 Pages 197-201.
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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.