Joseph Dane House
The Joseph Dane House is a two-story Federal-style clapboarded house on the east side of Concord Road in South Billerica, a short way south of Hill's Mills, with the Harvey Snow House next door to the south. It stands on about half an acre with roughly 195 feet on the road, the same lot that was described in 1844.
The land was the south part of the farm of Jonathan Hill (died 1796) on the east side of the old Bedford road. He gave it to his sons Job and Josiah in 1785 and confirmed it by his will, and when Job Hill died in 1842 his share went to his son Jonathan Hill, who ran the machine shop at the mills, where Samuel Parker's leather-splitting machine was made. On July 13, 1844 Jonathan Hill sold Joseph Dane of Billerica, a machinist, for $600, "a certain tract or parcel of land, with the dwelling house thereon, now occupied by said Dane, ... containing about half an acre," beginning at the road "and land of Lucy or Henry Snow." So the house was standing, and Dane was already living in it, when he bought it; the 1974 survey dates it to "1844 or a little before" and suggests Dane was one of the first workmen of the small community that grew up around the shops. The 1853 map marks the house "J. Dane."
Joseph Dane died before 1867. His daughter Marietta released her half of "the homestead of my father the late Joseph Dane" to Charles Henry Hill in March 1867, her brother Joseph Dane of Lexington released the other half in 1868, and in 1874 Hill bought in an outstanding claim to a half from Charles Cowley of Lowell. Hill, Jonathan's kinsman and successor at the mills, held the house for the next twenty years; the 1875 map shows it under "C. H. Hill." In 1892 he mortgaged it to Lucy R. Groves of Salem for $800 and then sold it to Georgiana G. Gleason, wife of Loring W. Gleason, taking back a second mortgage; the deed gives the measured bounds used ever since, about 90 feet along the Hill land on the north, 174 feet on the east, 123 feet on the south along the Holland land and "land formerly occupied by Lucy Snow," and 195 feet on the road. When the Gleasons fell behind, Hill sold the house at auction on the premises in February 1896 to Loring W. Gleason, then of Everett, for $525. After his death his heirs, through Frank Moore, put it in the name of Lizzie L. Gleason, wife of Fred L. Gleason, in 1897.
The Gleasons kept the house until June 1936, when they sold it to Wallace and Rose T. Dickson, who sold it in October 1944 to Barbara Galvin; she owned the old Charles Henry Hill farm next door as well. In 1954 she sold the house to a Cambridge couple, who are the owners named on the 1974 survey. In 1978 the house lot was sold with a rear lot of 0.6 acre shown on a compiled plan of the neighboring Proia land (Plan Book 126, Plan 7), and the property has since passed through private owners. In 2025 the parcel was divided, and a new house went up behind the old one at 20 Astrig Way. The assessor dates the Dane house to about 1845.
References
- MACRIS BIL.180
- Billerica assessor's record, 354 Concord Rd (parcel 95-9-3): colonial house built about 1845 on 0.552 acres; FY25 split of parcel 95-9-2 into 95-9-3 and 95-9-4
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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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, the south part of his farm | 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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| May 10, 1796 | Will | Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman | Jonathan Hill, his son (and Job, Josiah, Benjamin and Ralph Hill) | 1796: will of Jonathan Hill; the farm east of the Bedford road to Job and Josiah | 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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| 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 residue to his son Jonathan Hill | 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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| November 3, 1849 | Deed | Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman (Laura W. Hill releasing dower) | Joseph Dane of Billerica, machinist | Jonathan Hill sells Joseph Dane the house lot, 1844 | 568/545 (South) |
For $600, "a certain tract or parcel of land, with the dwelling house thereon, now occupied by said Dane, situate in said Billerica on the road leading from Billerica to Bedford, containing about half an acre": beginning at the southwesterly corner "at said road and land of Lucy or Henry [Harvey] Snow", easterly by Snow's land about six rods to a corner of the wall, then by Hill's land along a stone wall about twelve rods, westerly by a stone wall about five rods to the road, and by the road about twelve rods to the first corner. Dated July 13, 1844, acknowledged July 23 before Marshall Preston, witnessed by Preston and John M. Dane; recorded November 3, 1849. Billerica town book 19, pages 2-3. The Dane house lot (354 Concord Road) adjoins the Snow lot on the north.
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| March 21, 1867 | Quitclaim Deed | Marietta Dane of Billerica, singlewoman | Charles Henry Hill of Billerica | 1867: Marietta Dane releases half of her late father's homestead to Charles H. Hill | 55/44 |
For $25, "one undivided half part of a certain piece of land situated in the southerly part of said Billerica containing about one half of an acre," beginning at the northwest corner on "the road leading from Billerica to Bedford at land of Jonathan Hill," easterly and southerly by Hill to land of Jonas P. Hayward, westerly by Hayward "and land formerly occupied by Lucy Snow" to the road and northerly by the road; "the same being the homestead of my father the late Joseph Dane." Dated March 20, 1867.
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| September 22, 1868 | Deed | Joseph Dane of Lexington | Charles Henry Hill of Billerica | 1868: Joseph Dane of Lexington releases the other half | 64/54 |
For $30, "one undivided half of a certain tract of land" in Billerica, the same bounds (the road from Billerica to Bedford, Jonathan Hill, Jonas P. Hayward, land formerly occupied by Lucy Snow), "the said premises being the same formerly owned and occupied by the late Joseph Dane." Dated September 15, 1868, acknowledged before Daniel French. With his sister Marietta's release of 1867 this gave Charles H. Hill the Dane homestead.
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| April 21, 1874 | Warranty Deed | Charles Cowley of Lowell, unmarried | Charles Henry Hill of Billerica | 1874: Charles Cowley releases an outstanding half claim | 101/155 |
For $25, "one undivided half of a certain tract of land" with the same bounds, "the same being the premises formerly occupied and owned by the late Joseph Dane," free of encumbrances "except a claim of said grantee." Dated April 16, 1874. Cowley's source is not recited; Hill bought in this outstanding claim to clear his title, and later named all three deeds (1867, 1868, 1874) as his title.
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| 1892 | Mortgage | Charles Henry Hill of Billerica (Aphia C. Hill releasing) | Lucy R. Groves of Salem | 1892: Hill mortgages the Dane house lot to Lucy R. Groves | 231/303 |
To secure $800 in three years at six percent, "a certain lot of land in said Billerica containing about one half of an acre," on the road from Billerica to Bedford at land late of Jonathan Hill, by land late of Jonas P. Haywood and land late of Lucy Snow, "Being the premises formerly occupied and owned by the late Joseph Dane"; title by the deeds of Marietta Dane (1867), Joseph Dane (1868) and Charles Cowley (1874); the buildings to be insured for $800. Assigned later (margin, Book 331, Page 524). This is the $800 mortgage subject to which the house was sold in 1892, 1896 and 1897.
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| October 12, 1892 | Warranty Deed | Charles Henry Hill of Billerica (Aphia C. Hill releasing) | Georgiana G. Gleason, wife of Loring W. Gleason, of Billerica | 1892: Hill sells the house to Georgiana G. Gleason | 237/1 |
For $1 and other valuable considerations, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon," beginning at the northwest corner on the road from Billerica to Bedford at land of the heirs of Jonathan Hill, easterly by Hill about 90 feet, southerly by Hill about 174 feet to land of one Holland, westerly by Holland "and land formerly occupied by Lucy Snow" about 123 feet to the road, and northerly by the road about 195 feet; subject to an $800 mortgage; "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Joseph Dane dated Sept. 15th 1868." Dated September 10, 1892. The same day the Gleasons gave Hill a mortgage of $450 (Book 237, Page 2). These measured bounds describe the lot in every later deed to 1977.
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| October 12, 1892 | Mortgage | Loring W. Gleason and Georgiana G. Gleason of Billerica | Charles Henry Hill of Billerica | 1892: the Gleasons mortgage it back to Hill | 237/2 |
To secure $450, the same parcel "with the buildings thereon," subject to the $800 mortgage, "Being the same premises this day conveyed to us by deed of this grantee." Foreclosed in 1896 (Book 272, Page 182).
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| February 25, 1896 | Mortgagee's Deed | Charles Henry Hill, mortgagee under the Gleason mortgage of 1892 | Loring W. Gleason of Everett | 1896: Hill forecloses; auction sale to Loring W. Gleason | 272/182 |
Deed under power of sale: after default and notice in the Lowell Weekly Journal on January 17, 24 and 31, 1896, Hill sold the premises at public auction on the premises on February 17, 1896 to Loring W. Gleason, the highest bidder, for $525, "A certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon," with the same bounds, subject to the $800 mortgage. Acknowledged at Boston February 21, 1896 before Fred L. Gleason; affidavit of sale annexed.
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| April 30, 1897 | Quitclaim Deed (heirs) | Fred L. Gleason and Charles A. Gleason of Everett and Flora May Patterson of Newton, the heirs at law of Loring W. Gleason, deceased, with their spouses | Frank Moore of Everett | 1897: the heirs of Loring W. Gleason to Frank Moore | 284/589 |
For $1 and other valuable considerations, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon" in Billerica with the same bounds (heirs of Jonathan Hill, Holland, land formerly occupied by Lucy Snow, the road to Bedford), subject to mortgages of $800 and $350 and unpaid interest and taxes, "Being the same premises conveyed to said Loring W. Gleason, deceased, by deed of Charles H. Hill dated Feb. 21, 1896." Dated April 6, 1897.
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| April 30, 1897 | Quitclaim Deed | Frank Moore of Everett (Annie E. Moore releasing) | Lizzie L. Gleason, in her own right, wife of Fred L. Gleason of Everett | 1897: Moore to Lizzie L. Gleason | 284/590 |
For $1 and other valuable considerations, the same parcel "with the buildings thereon," subject to the two mortgages, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Fred L. Gleason et al. dated April 6, 1897." Dated April 29, 1897. Moore was a straw: the heirs' deed and this one put the house in the name of Fred L. Gleason's wife, who kept it until 1936.
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| June 24, 1936 | Quitclaim Deed | Fred L. Gleason and Lizzie L. Gleason, his wife, in her right, of Arlington | Wallace Dickson and Rose T. Dickson, husband and wife, of Billerica | 1936: the Gleasons sell to Wallace and Rose T. Dickson | 883/273 |
For consideration paid ($3.00 in stamps), "the land with the buildings thereon," beginning at the northwesterly corner on "the road leading from Billerica to Bedford at land now or formerly of the heirs of Jonathan Hill," easterly about 90 feet, southerly about 175 feet to land now or formerly of one Holland, westerly by Holland "and land formerly occupied by Lucy Snow" about 123 feet to the road, and northerly by the road 195 feet, "one-half acre more or less"; "For our title see deed of Frank Moore, dated April 29, 1897" (given as Book 264, Page 590; the deed is at Book 284). Dated June 24, 1936. The Dicksons mortgaged it to the Lexington Savings Bank for $2,100 (Book 883, Page 273).
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| October 7, 1944 | Quitclaim Deed | Wallace Dickson and Rose T. Dickson, his wife, of Cambridge | Barbara Galvin, wife of Frank Galvin, of Arlington | 1944: the Dicksons sell to Barbara Galvin | 1013/119 |
For consideration paid ($3.85 in stamps), "the land with the buildings thereon" in Billerica, the same half acre (the road to Bedford 195 feet, the heirs of Jonathan Hill, Holland, land formerly occupied by Lucy Snow), "Being the same premises conveyed to us by deed of Fred L. Gleason et ux, dated June 24, 1936," subject to the Lexington Savings Bank mortgage with $1,700 due, which the grantee assumed; furnaces, heaters and fixtures included. Dated October 3, 1944. Barbara Galvin, who also owned the Charles Henry Hill farm next door from 1936, sold this house in November 1954 to a Cambridge couple (Book 1277, Page 295), who are the owners named on the 1974 MACRIS form; in 1977 the widow sold to the abutting owner, the lot was rearranged on a 1978 plan (Plan Book 126, Plan 7) and the house has since been owned privately (1978, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2024).
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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.