Structure · Built 1893
Joseph Feree Talbot House
Joseph Feree Talbot House
| Address | 32 Mt. Pleasant St |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.286 |
| Built | 1893 |
| Owners | Stanley J. Bocko (None - 1994) |
The Joseph Feree Talbot House stands on the northwest side of Mt. Pleasant Street in North Billerica, across the road from the site of the Governor Thomas Talbot Mansion. It was built in 1893 by the Talbot Mills for Joseph Feree Talbot, a nephew of Charles P. Talbot and Thomas Talbot, and it remained company property until 1936.
The land was part of the North Billerica farmland of Lyman Haynes, Anthony Jones and Dudley Foster, who bought the Calvin Rogers "Plain lot" in 1858 and sold it off in pieces. On May 30, 1863 they sold Thomas Talbot, for $400, "a certain tract of land situate in North Billerica opposite said Talbot's dwelling house, containing three and a quarter acres," about eighteen rods deep and twenty-nine rods along the road to Tewksbury. In 1879, by a straw deed through Solomon Lincoln Jr., Talbot put his homestead and "3 1/4 acres opposite" in the name of his wife, Isabella W. Talbot.
On Dec. 31, 1891, five years after her husband's death, Isabella W. Talbot sold the Talbot Mills, for $361, the east end of that lot: one hundred and fifty feet on the road and three hundred feet deep, "one and three one hundredths acres," with no buildings named. According to the mill's 1922 inventory, recorded by the Historical Commission in 1981, the house was built on it in 1893 for Joseph Feree Talbot, born in Georgetown, Texas, in 1867. He and a brother had come to Billerica to learn the mill business; the brother died young, but Joseph stayed. He married Martha Bartlett of Lowell in 1890, and he was remembered as a quiet man famous for his rose garden. A shingled Colonial Revival and Shingle Style house with a porch across the front and a steep roof, it had a barn behind it. In January 1911 the executor of Isabella W. Talbot's will, Frederic S. Clark, sold the mill the rest of her 3 1/4 acres, about 2 1/4 acres lying west of the house lot, for $800.
Joseph Talbot died in 1933 and his widow moved to Lowell. Samuel A. McQuaid, a choir singer at the First Parish Church who kept up the rose garden, moved in from Colson Street. When the Talbot Mills divided its land in September 1936 (Plan C-1, Plan Book 60, Plan 31), the house and barn were drawn on Lot 74, 45,063 square feet. On Oct. 3, 1936 the mill sold Lot 74 to Samuel A. and Florence F. McQuaid, reciting Isabella Talbot's 1891 deed as its title, and the same day it granted the Talbot heirs next door the right to run their sewer and drains through the lot. In October 1939 the McQuaids bought the vacant 93,687 square feet west of the house as well, so they owned the whole tract Thomas Talbot had bought in 1863.
Florence McQuaid died in 1951. After Samuel McQuaid's death his estate had the land surveyed in September 1957 into the "House Lot," the 14,455 square foot "Addition to House Lot" and Lots A and B (Plan Book 89, Plan 90). In October 1957 his executrix, Barbara B. Jacobs, sold the house and its two lots, 59,518 square feet "with the buildings thereon," to Stanley J. and Dorothy A. Bocko, who still owned it when the Historical Commission recorded it in 1981. The family transferred it in 1994, and it was sold to private owners in 1995 and 2015. The assessor lists 1.366 acres, the same land, and dates the house to about 1880, but the deeds show the lot was still vacant at the end of 1891.
References
- MACRIS BIL.286
- Billerica assessor, 32 Mt. Pleasant St (parcel 10-76-0): 1.366 acres, Plan 89-90 House Lot and Addition, Plan 60-31 Lot 74, sales history
Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| January 3, 1859 | Deed | Calvin Rogers of Billerica, yeoman | Lyman Haynes, Anthony Jones and Dudley Foster of Billerica | Haynes, Jones and Foster buy the Plain lot (probable source) | 17/435 |
For $950, the "Plain lot" in North Billerica, beginning at a stone post on Mill Street at land of C. P. Talbot and Co. and running by several courses to Russell Street, 52 acres 120 rods by a plan of Saml. Page Jr., Nov. 1858. Linked here as the only purchase by the three partners that fits the land they were selling on the north side of Mt. Pleasant Street in 1864; the identification is possible, not certain.
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| October 16, 1863 | Warranty Deed | Lyman Haynes, Anthony Jones and Dudley Foster of Billerica, yeomen (wives Caroline, Judith and Louisa P. releasing) | Thomas Talbot of Billerica, manufacturer | Haynes, Jones and Foster sell the 3 1/4 acres to Thomas Talbot | 33/515 |
Dated and acknowledged May 30, 1863. "In consideration of Four hundred dollars", "a certain tract of land situate in North Billerica opposite said Talbot's dwelling house, containing three and a quarter acres, more or less": from the southeast corner on the road leading from North Billerica to Tewksbury (Mt. Pleasant Street), northerly by the grantors' land parallel with a stone wall about eighteen rods, westerly by their land about twenty-nine rods to the corner of a wall, southerly by their land and land of C. P. Talbot & Co. about eighteen rods to the road, and by the road to the start. No buildings and no title recital. The 1879 Talbot deed cites it as Book 33, Page 316.
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| July 1, 1880 | Deed | Thomas Talbot of Billerica (wife Isabella W. releasing dower and homestead) | Solomon Lincoln Jr. of Salem | Thomas Talbot to Solomon Lincoln Jr., incl. the 3 1/4 acres | 140/222 |
For $1,000, the two-acre lot on the road from Billerica Mills to Tewksbury "about fifty (50) rods easterly from the bridge over the Boston and Lowell Railroad" (Calvin Rogers deed of 1848, Middlesex South Book 606, Page 313, with the 1859 release, Book 22, Page 17) and the 43 acres 40 rods (Calvin Rogers deed of 1858, Book 18, Page 367): "The two parcels above described constitute the Thomas Talbot Homestead, and are now surrounded with a wall or fence"; also 3 1/4 acres opposite, from Lyman Haynes and others in 1863 (Book 33, Page 316). Signed February 17, 1879, acknowledged November 27, 1879, recorded July 1, 1880. The first half of a straw conveyance to put the homestead in the name of the former governor's wife.
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| July 1, 1880 | Quitclaim | Solomon Lincoln Jr. of Salem | Isabella W. Talbot, wife of Thomas Talbot of Billerica | Lincoln to Isabella W. Talbot | 140/224 |
For $1,000, quitclaim of the same Thomas Talbot Homestead, beginning on the road from Billerica Mills to Tewksbury at a stake and stones "about fifty (50) rods easterly from the bridge over the Boston and Lowell Railroad", with the 43-acre parcel and the lot opposite. Dated February 17, 1879, recorded July 1, 1880, completing the straw conveyance from Thomas Talbot to his wife. Isabella W. Talbot held the estate until her death; her will was allowed September 16, 1910.
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| May 11, 1892 | Quitclaim Deed | Isabella W. Talbot of Billerica, widow of Thomas Talbot | Talbot Mills of Billerica | Isabella W. Talbot sells the house lot (Lot 74) to the Talbot Mills | 233/210 |
Dated and acknowledged Dec. 31, 1891 before Frederic S. Clark JP; witness Isabella W. T. Clark. "In consideration of Three Hundred and sixty one Dollars", "a certain parcel of land situated in said Billerica on the road leading from North Billerica to Tewksbury": from a point on the road by land of the heirs of Thomas Talbot at the southeast corner, westerly on the road one hundred and fifty feet, northerly by the grantor's land three hundred feet to a stone wall and land of the heirs of Thomas Talbot, easterly by the heirs one hundred and fifty feet, and southerly by them to the start, "containing one and three one hundredths acres". No buildings are named: the lot was vacant. It became Lot 74, where the mill built the house in 1893. No title recital (her title is the 1879 deed of the 3 1/4 acres opposite the homestead).
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| 1911 | Executor's Deed | Frederic S. Clark of Billerica, sole surviving executor of the will of Isabella W. Talbot | Talbot Mills | her executor sells the rest of the 3 1/4 acres to the mill | 461/597 |
Dated Jan. 30, 1911, recorded early February 1911. Under the will of Isabella W. Talbot, allowed by the Middlesex Probate Court Sept. 16, 1910, "in consideration of the sum of Eight Hundred Dollars", "a certain parcel of land in said Billerica on Mt. Pleasant street": southerly on the street 345 ft 8 in, easterly on land of the Talbot Mills "as the fence now stands" 295 ft, northerly on the heirs of Thomas Talbot along the middle of a stone wall 287 ft, and westerly on other land of the mill 300 ft, "containing about two and one-fourth (2 1/4) acres, meaning hereby to convey all that parcel of land formerly of said Isabella W. Talbot, on the north side of said Mt. Pleasant street lying between other land of the grantee on the west and on the east". The mill's land on the east was the 1891 house lot; this parcel is the unnumbered lot of the 1936 plan, sold to the McQuaids in 1939.
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| October 14, 1936 | Easement | Talbot Mills (Thomas T. Clark, treasurer) | Thomas T. Clark, Lincoln Clark, Frederic S. Clark Jr. and Isabella M. Eaton | sewer and drain rights through Lot 74 | 889/380 |
Dated and acknowledged Oct. 3, 1936 before Albert H. Richardson JP. As appurtenant to the grantees' land on the northwesterly side of Mt. Pleasant Street northeast of Lot 74 (the Talbot heirs' land), the right to use the sewer running through Lot 74 and the unnumbered lot southwest of it on plan "C-1" (Plan Book 60, Plan 31), and the drains from their land to Billerica Avenue through Lot 74, the unnumbered lot and Lot 73, with the right to enter Lot 74 to repair them. Recorded the same day as the sale of Lot 74 to the McQuaids, which is made subject to it.
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| October 14, 1936 | Quitclaim Deed | Talbot Mills (Thomas T. Clark, treasurer) | Samuel A. McQuaid and Florence F. McQuaid of Billerica, husband and wife | Talbot Mills sells Lot 74, the house, to the McQuaids | 889/383 |
Dated Oct. 3, 1936; $4.50 revenue stamps. "The land in said Billerica situated on the northwesterly side of Mt. Pleasant Street": southeast by the street 150 ft, northeast by land of Isabella W. T. Clark 301 ft, northwest by other land of the grantor 152.03 ft, and southwest by other land of the grantor 295.97 ft, "Containing forty-five thousand and sixty-three (45063) square feet ... and being lot 74 on plan 'C-1'" of the Talbot Mills division plan (J. C. and W. T. Monahan, Sept. 1936, Plan Book 60, Plan 31), which draws the house and barn on the lot. "Being the same premises conveyed to the grantor by Isabella W. Talbot by deed dated December 31, 1891 ... Book 233, Page 210." With the benefit of the present sewer connection on the unnumbered lot, and subject to the grant to Thomas Talbot Clark and others of even date.
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| October 25, 1939 | Quitclaim Deed | Talbot Mills (Thomas T. Clark, treasurer) | Samuel A. McQuaid and Florence F. McQuaid of Billerica, husband and wife | Talbot Mills sells the adjoining lot to the McQuaids | 936/228 |
Dated Oct. 24, 1939; 50 cents revenue stamps. "The land in said Billerica situated on the northwesterly side of Mt. Pleasant Street": southeast by the street 348.90 ft, northeast by Lot 74 295.97 ft, northwest by the heirs of Thomas Talbot 287 ft, southwest by Lot 73 136.29 ft and by James F. and Martha B. Delmege 162.90 ft, "Containing ninety-three thousand six hundred eighty-seven (93,687) square feet", part of the premises on plan "C-1" (Plan Book 60, Plan 31). "Being the same premises conveyed to said Talbot Mills by Frederic S. Clark, surviving executor of the will of Isabella W. Talbot, by deed dated January 30, 1911 ... Book 461, Page 597." With and subject to the sewer and drainage rights of 1936 (Book 889, Pages 380 and 383). The McQuaids now held the whole 3 1/4 acres Thomas Talbot had bought in 1863.
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| October 10, 1957 | Executor's Deed | Barbara B. Jacobs, executrix of the will of Samuel A. McQuaid, late of Billerica | Stanley J. Bocko and Dorothy A. Bocko of Billerica, husband and wife | McQuaid estate sells the house lot to the Bockos | 1384/418 |
Dated Oct. 8, 1957. "The land with the buildings thereon situated on the Northwesterly side of Mt. Pleasant Street": southeast by the street 198.9 ft, southwest by Lot B of the McQuaid devisees 295.23 ft, northwest by Bagley 200.93 ft, northeast by D'Ornellas 301 ft, the "House Lot" and "Addition to House Lot" on the "Plan of Land Belonging to Estate of Samuel A. McQuaid ... Sept 1957" (Plan Book 89, Plan 90), 59,518 sq ft. "For my title see said deeds [889/383 and 936/228] and Estate of Samuel A. McQuaid, Middlesex Probate Docket No. 341165. Florence F. McQuaid died August 5, 1951." Lots A and B of the plan stayed with the devisees. The house lot is the assessor's 1.366 acres today. Later private transfers: a family deed in 1994, a sale in 1995 for $158,000, a family transfer in 2012, and a sale in 2015 for $453,000.
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.