Lawrence B. Gannon
Lawrence B. Gannon (about 1828-1911) was a mill overseer, storekeeper and real estate broker in North Billerica, who owned much of the river side of Wilson Street for half a century. He was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, about 1828, and came to this country with his parents. He worked in the Talbot mills as a spinner and rose to be an overseer. In 1862 he married Catherine (Kate) Quinlan, who was also born in Ireland, and they had six children.
On June 23, 1860 he and Israel N. Wilson were the highest bidders, at $281.05, at the auction of a lot on the Concord River that the guardian of Joel Dix sold south of the old Dix homestead. In 1867 Gannon bought Wilson's half for $150. The building that became his store at 38-40 Wilson Street, the Lawrence B. Gannon Store, was the family's first home. It stood by 1875, and between 1875 and 1889 he built a house beside it at 34 Wilson Street. He kept a market on Wilson Street for more than forty years. In 1891, after the town bought a steam fire engine, the selectmen sold the old North Billerica engine house, and on September 28, 1891 the treasurer, Dudley Foster, deeded the lot with its buildings to Gannon for $1,530. This is now 20-22 Wilson Street. By 1905 he owned the land on both sides of Eliza Mahoney's lot, and when she sold the Mahoney House to the Talbot Mills he gave the mill a quitclaim deed to settle the bounds.
From the 1890s he also dealt in land. Town lists of 1897 to 1905 call him a real estate broker. In 1895 he bought and resold the house at 345 Boston Road. In 1899 he and Daniel A. Reardon of Chelmsford bought at auction, for $257.50, 58 acres of the old Joseph Dows farm and a lot in Mock Meadow. In 1904 he and Ernest C. Towle bought the Morey store and its tenements opposite the Common, now 11 Concord Road, at the auction of Frederick A. Morey's estate for $3,250. In 1905 he and his son-in-law Bernard W. Kearney bought the Sarah Cullinan farm on Talbot Street for $3,500 and had it surveyed into lots. They sold the 28-acre second lot to Ovide Ouellette in 1910. Gannon was a founding member of St. Andrew's Church on Talbot Avenue and was drawn as a traverse juror in 1904. By 1906 the town listed him as retired.
Kate Gannon died on August 3, 1907, and Gannon was a widower when he signed a deed in 1910. He died in 1911. A 1981 survey form gives his death as 1921, but deeds of 1914 refer to his will, and in 1919 his daughters called him "late of said Billerica." His children were William H. Gannon, Catherine A., who married Bernard W. Kearney in 1898, Elizabeth A. (Lizzie), Hannah, Henrietta F. and James F. Gannon. In 1914 they sold his half of the Concord Road store to Towle. In December 1918 his Wilson Street land was divided into three lots for the family. The store lot came back to Henrietta F. Gannon in 1943, and she sold it in 1946.
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Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Property | Recorded |
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| December 22, 1860 | Guardian's Deed | Horace N. Wilson of Billerica, guardian of Joel Dix, "an insane person" | Israel N. Wilson and Lawrence B. Gannon, both of Billerica | Details | Lawrence B. Gannon Store | 26/405 |
Licensed by the Probate Court at Lowell Feb. 7, 1860, and after notice in the Lowell Weekly Journal and Courier, sold at public auction June 23, 1860 to Wilson and Gannon, highest bidders, for $281.05, "A certain lot of land situate in said Billerica": from the northeast corner at Concord River and land of Joel Dix, south up the river about nine and one third rods to land of C. P. Talbot and Co., west by Talbot land in a straight line to the street, north on the street about eleven rods to Dix, and by Dix about twenty rods to the river. No buildings are named. Dated Dec. 12, 1860.
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| June 25, 1867 | Warranty Deed | Israel N. Wilson of Billerica | Lawrence B. Gannon of Billerica | Details | Lawrence B. Gannon Store | 57/282 |
For $150 (50 cents in revenue stamps), "one undivided half" of the lot from the corner at Concord River and land of Joel Dix, about 9 1/3 rods up the river to land of C. P. Talbot and Co., west by Talbot land to the street, about eleven rods north on the street to Dix and about twenty rods by Dix to the river, "Being the same premises conveyed to said Gannon and myself by Guardian's deed of Horace N. Wilson dated the 12th day of December A.D. 1860" (26/405). No buildings are named; the store stood here by the 1875 map.
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| July 15, 1872 | Warranty Deed | Anthony Jones and Dudley Foster, both of Billerica (Judith Jones and Louisa P. Foster releasing dower and homestead) | Eliza Mahoney of Billerica | Details | Mahoney House Talbot Textile Mills Worker Housing at 24-26 Wilson St Talbot Textile Mills Worker Housing at 28-28 1/2 Wilson St |
87/581 |
For $400, "a certain tract of land situated in North Billerica, so called": from the southwest corner on Wilson Street at land of L. B. Gannon, north by Wilson Street four rods to a stake in the wall, east by "our own land" parallel with Gannon's land and four rods from it to Concord River, south by the river four rods to Gannon, and west by Gannon to the beginning. "The grantee to make all the fence whenever required by the grantors. These premises are conveyed for the purpose of erecting a dwelling house." Dated April 3, 1872, acknowledged the same day before Chas. A. Ranlett JP.
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| October 3, 1891 | Warranty Deed | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica, by Dudley Foster, Treasurer, authorized by the Selectmen | Lawrence B. Gannon of Billerica | Details | Mahoney House 20-22 Wilson St |
227/281 |
For $1,530, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon, situated on Wilson street, North Billerica": from land of Eliza Mahoney on Wilson Street east by Mahoney to Concord River, north on the river two rods to land of Elizabeth Auty, west by Auty "just two rods distant" from the first line to the street, and south on Wilson Street two rods, "Being the same premises conveyed to the Inhabitants of Billerica by Elizabeth Auty" (155/247). Dated Sept. 28, 1891, acknowledged Sept. 29 before Frederick A. Morey JP. The building was the old North Billerica engine house, sold at auction when the town bought a steamer ("for engine house sold, $1,530.00", town report 1892).
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| 1899 | Administratrix's Deed | Sarah M. Webster of Lowell, administratrix of the estate of Prentiss Webster | Lawrence B. Gannon of Billerica and Daniel A. Reardon of Chelmsford | Details | 313/463 | |
Under a license of the Probate Court of July 25, 1899, Sarah M. Webster sold the real estate of Prentiss Webster, late of Lowell, at public auction on September 13, 1899 to Lawrence B. Gannon and Daniel A. Reardon, the highest bidders, for $257.50: the 58.43 acres "being part of the farm of the late Joseph Dows", "Being the same premises conveyed by Maria A. Dows and others to William P. Webster by deed dated the thirty-first day of December, A.D. 1863 ... Book 37, Page 287", and a three-acre tract in Mock Meadow conveyed to William P. Webster by Amos W. Dows and others. Recorded about October 1899.
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| October 24, 1904 | Quitclaim | Charles W. Parker, Frederick A. Parker and Clara B. Reed, heirs at law of Mary C. Morey, and Nathan H. Reed | Lawrence B. Gannon and Ernest C. Towle of Billerica | Details | Billerica Masonic Temple | 371/69 |
Signed August 23, 1904, for $1. The heirs of Mary C. Morey release the land behind the store: bounded north by Frederic H. Parker 148 feet, west by Mary F. Bryant and J. N. Parker "by a wall about 199 feet," south by the heirs of Mary B. Parker about 127 feet, and east by the town hall lot and "by land conveyed to Frederic A. Morey by John Baldwin by deed recorded ... Book 94 Page 263," in all about 193 feet, "intending hereby to release all our interest in the premises described in a deed to said Frederic A. Morey, recorded ... Book 210 Page 24." Catherine W. Parker and Ada R. Parker release dower.
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| October 24, 1904 | Executors Deed | Nathan H. Reed of Somerville and Thomas J. Morey of Haverhill, executors of the will of Frederic A. Morey | Lawrence B. Gannon and Ernest C. Towle of Billerica | Details | Billerica Academy Billerica Masonic Temple |
371/70 |
Signed August 25, 1904. Under a Probate Court license of May 25, 1904, the executors sold Morey's real estate at public auction on August 4, 1904 to Gannon and Towle, the highest bidders, for $3,250: "a certain parcel of land and the buildings thereon," bounded east by the public highway 98 feet, north by the Unitarian Church and F. H. Parker 252 feet, west by Mary F. Bryant and J. N. Parker 199 feet, south by the heirs of Mary B. Parker 120 feet, then east 75 feet and south 116 feet by "the Town Hall lot." This joined the old academy lot on the road and the land behind it into the parcel of the present Masonic Temple.
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| June 13, 1905 | Executor's Deed | Sarah E. Collins of Billerica, executrix of the will of Sarah Cullinan | Lawrence B. Gannon and Bernard W. Kearney of Billerica | Details | Enoch Kidder House 216 High St |
379/5 |
Dated June 5, acknowledged and recorded June 13, 1905 (pages 5-6). Under the power of sale in the will of Sarah Cullinan, late of Billerica (proved Feb. 21, 1905), for $3,500, "a certain farm situated in the Town of Billerica ... being all and the same premises conveyed to the said Sarah Cullinan, deceased, under the name of Sarah Collins, by John A. Knowles by deed dated July 29, 1848, and recorded ... in book 536, page 463." Recorded on the same page, just before it: the discharge of her 1873 mortgage (Book 93 Page 149) to Knowles, "Sarah Cullinan otherwise called Sarah Collins." That June the buyers had O. M. Snell survey the farm into lots (Plan Book 26 Plan 1).
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| August 16, 1905 | Quitclaim | Lawrence B. Gannon of Billerica (Kate Gannon releasing dower and homestead) | The Talbot Mills | Details | Mahoney House 20-22 Wilson St Talbot Textile Mills Worker Housing at 24-26 Wilson St Talbot Textile Mills Worker Housing at 28-28 1/2 Wilson St Lawrence B. Gannon Store |
379/439 |
For $1 and other valuable considerations, "all the right title and interest" in the Mahoney tract "with the buildings thereon situated on the easterly line of Wilson Street", 351.70 feet by the grantor's land, the river, 320.40 feet by his other land and 80.45 feet on the street, "Being the same premises shown on a 'Plan of land and buildings bought by the Talbot Mills from Mrs Eliza Mahoney' surveyed by H. W. Sheldon". "This conveyance is made for the purpose of establishing the bounds and boundary lines between said Mahoney land and lands of my own adjoining the same on the north and south." Dated Aug. 4, 1905.
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| August 16, 1905 | Warranty Deed | Eliza Mahoney of Billerica, widow (her mark) | The Talbot Mills | Details | Mahoney House Talbot Textile Mills Worker Housing at 24-26 Wilson St Talbot Textile Mills Worker Housing at 28-28 1/2 Wilson St |
379/440 |
For $1 and other valuable considerations, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situated on the easterly side of Wilson Street": from the northwest corner of L. B. Gannon's land east 351.70 feet to Concord River, north on the river, west 320.40 feet by Gannon's other land and south 80.45 feet on the street, as on H. W. Sheldon's plan of the land "bought by the Talbot Mills from Mrs Eliza Mahoney". Title: Jones and Foster April 3, 1872 (87/581) and Aug. 27, 1875 (133/448); Elizabeth Auty Nov. 16, 1881 (160/103). Dated Aug. 7, 1905; witness Jeremiah S. Mahoney.
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| September 6, 1910 | Warranty | Lawrence B. Gannon, widower, and Bernard W. Kearney (Catherine A. Kearney releasing dower), both of Billerica | Ovid (Ovide) Ouellette of Lowell | Details | Enoch Kidder House 216 High St |
456/333 |
Dated Aug. 30, recorded Sept. 6, 1910 (pages 333-334). For $1, a parcel on the easterly side of Talbot Street: from the northwest corner at John Durkhurst, east by Durkhurst and the McGlone heirs about 1,352 feet to "the Lowell road so called," south on the Lowell road 968.5 feet to the heirs of Martin Conway, then by the Conway heirs and one Barrington back to Talbot Street and north on Talbot Street 948.5 feet: 28.097 acres, "lot two on plan surveyed for L. B. Gannon and B. W. Kearney by O. M. Snell C.E." (Plan Book 26 Plan 1), "a part of the same premises conveyed to us by Sarah E. Collins, Exec." (Book 379 Page 5). No buildings named.
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| March 28, 1914 | Quitclaim | William H. Gannon, Catherine Kearney, Lizzie A. Gannon, Hannah Gannon and Henrietta F. Gannon of Billerica | Ernest C. Towle of Billerica | Details | Billerica Masonic Temple | 519/339 |
Signed March 7, 1914. With quitclaim covenants, "five undivided twelfths interest in and to a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon," 98 feet on the public highway, north by the Unitarian Church and F. H. Parker, west by Mary F. Bryant and J. N. Parker, south by the heirs of Mary B. Parker and the Town Hall lot. "Being the same premises conveyed to Lawrence B. Gannon et al" in 1904 (Book 371, Pages 69 and 70). Lawrence B. Gannon's children released their shares of his half to his partner Towle.
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| March 28, 1914 | Conservator's Deed | Henrietta F. Gannon, conservator of the property of James F. Gannon of Billerica | Ernest C. Towle of Billerica | Details | Billerica Masonic Temple | 519/340 |
Signed March 28, 1914, under a Probate Court license of March 27. For $400, "one undivided twelfth interest" in the same parcel "with the buildings thereon," with the same bounds; "see will of said Lawrence B. Gannon for title of said James F. Gannon." With the deed of March 7, this completed Towle's ownership of the whole.
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| February 9, 1918 | Deed | Daniel A. Reardon of Billerica | Amasa A. Brown of Lowell | Details | 583/260 | |
Signed February 7, 1918, for one dollar and other considerations. Daniel A. Reardon, with his wife Mary J. Reardon releasing dower, sells "one undivided half" of the 58.43 acres of the Dows farm and of the Mock Meadow lot, "Being all and the same premises to said Daniel A. Reardon and Lawrence B. Gannon conveyed by Sarah M. Webster, Administratrix of the estate of Prentiss Webster ... Book 313, Page 463." The deed of Gannon's half to Brown has not been found.
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| May 9, 1919 | Quitclaim | Elizabeth A. (Lizzie A.) Gannon and Henrietta F. Gannon of Billerica, both unmarried, daughters of Lawrence B. Gannon | Their sister Catherine A. Kearney of Billerica | Details | Mahoney House 20-22 Wilson St |
604/37 |
$2 in stamps. "The land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon, situated on Wilson Street", the two-rod lot from land of Eliza Mahoney "now or formerly" to land of Elizabeth Auty, "Being the same premises conveyed to our father Laurence B. Gannon, late of said Billerica, by deed of the Inhabitants of Billerica, dated September 28, 1891" (227/281). Dated April 26, 1919, acknowledged at Lowell before John J. Hogan JP. Part of the division of the Gannon estate among his children, recorded with deeds of the other Gannon lots on F. W. Huntington and Co.'s plan of December 1918.
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| May 9, 1919 | Quitclaim | Elizabeth A. (Lizzie A.) Gannon and Henrietta F. Gannon of Billerica, both unmarried, daughters of Lawrence B. Gannon | Bernard W. Kearney and Catherine A. Kearney, husband and wife, of Billerica | Details | Lawrence B. Gannon Store | 604/38 |
$2 in stamps. "The land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon, situated on the easterly side of Wilson Street": from a bolt at land of the Talbot Mills on Wilson Street east 315.30 feet to a drill hole at Concord River, north 54.50 feet on the river to land "this day conveyed to Henrietta F. Gannon", west 250 feet and through the centre of a proposed ten-foot passageway 77 feet to the street, and south 60.08 feet on Wilson Street, 15,863 square feet, "lot number three (3)" on the "Plan of Land in Billerica belonging to L. B. Gannon Estate Dec. 1918, F. W. Huntington and Co." (Plan 36/20). The passageway strip "is to be forever kept open". Dated April 26, 1919.
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| August 15, 1944 | Vote | Board of Selectmen of the Town of Billerica | (confirmation of the 1891 deed to Lawrence B. Gannon) | Details | Mahoney House 20-22 Wilson St |
1011/360 |
Vote of Aug. 7, 1944, unanimous, "That the act of the Selectmen of the Town of Billerica in conveying the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on Wilson Street" (the two-rod lot beside the Mahoney land) "to Lawrence Gannon by deed dated September 28, 1891, be and the same hereby is ratified and confirmed", with the seal and delivery of that deed. Attested by George S. Gracie, Secretary. Recorded to clear the title for the 1944 sale.
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.