Peter Bohonon House
Peter Bohonon House
| Also Known As | Robert Wright House |
| Address | 68 Gray St |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.308 |
| Built | 1845 |
| Demolished | 2021 |
| Owners | Peter B. Bohonan (1845 - 1899) |
| Other Lot Structures | Peter Bohonon Shed (1845 - 2021) |
The Peter Bohonon House stood at 68 Gray Street in East Billerica, on the northwest side of the old county road from Billerica to Andover and Tewksbury, just west of the railroad crossing at the East Billerica Station. It was built in 1845 by Peter B. Bohonan (the name is spelled both Bohonon and Bohonan in the records), who married Susan Tibbetts, and it stood until 2021.
The lot was cut from the Richardson Homestead farm, which Oliver Richardson bought from his brother Thomas in 1778 and left by will in 1836 to his son John Richardson 2nd. On April 21, 1845 John Richardson 2nd sold Bohonon, then described as a yeoman, "a certain tract or parcel of land situate in the North Easterly part of said Billerica containing about Seventy Eight square rods" for $75. It ran 8 rods along the county road and back to the south side of "my Mill Lane so called," the lane to Richardson's mill, with the right to pass over the lane and to fill the ground beside it "for the accommodation of the buildings he may erect for his front yard." Bohonan enlarged the lot twice: a one-rod strip on the "Mill road" from John O. Richardson, recorded in 1863, and in 1871 a corner between "the road leading to the Depot" and "the new road leading to the Freight Depot." These three parcels made up the property until 2019.
Bohonan was the station agent at East Billerica from 1855 to 1891 and postmaster from 1877 to 1891; Hazen gives his appointment as postmaster as December 21, 1877. He also bought land across Gray Street beside the railroad in 1863 and sold part of it to the Boston and Lowell Railroad in 1868 for the station grounds. Susan Bohonan died on January 24, 1890, aged 69, and Peter B. Bohonan died on February 12, 1899, aged 86. His daughter Harriet (Hattie) A. Bohonan, executrix of his estate, lived in the house until her death in 1922.
On May 26, 1923 Eugenia L. Hogan of Lowell, who held the title after Harriet's death, sold the homestead to Robert Wright and Hilda L. Wright of Billerica; the deed refers to the "Probate Records, Middlesex County, Peter and Peter B. Bohonan, and Harriet A. Bohonan, 1922." The Wrights gave the Lowell Co-operative Bank a $2,000 mortgage, discharged in 1935. Their nephews lived with them. In 1949 the County Commissioners rebuilt the Gray Street bridge over the railroad and took a slope easement along the front of the lot. After Hilda L. Wright's death, her estate (Middlesex Probate docket 302248) passed the property to her nephews, and by 1965 one of them owned it all. The barn was torn down in 1960.
The house stayed in the family until 2007, when the executrix of the last family owner sold it for $399,900. That mortgage was foreclosed in 2017 and the property passed to Fannie Mae, which sold it in 2018 to a realty trust. In 2019 the land was divided into two lots, No. 66 and No. 68 (Plan Book 246, Plan 143), and in 2021 the trust sold both to a builder. The house and the old shed at No. 66 were demolished in 2021 and two new houses were sold in 2022. The site lies within the Richardson's Mill Historic District.
References
- MACRIS BIL.308
- Billerica assessor, 68 Gray St (parcel 26-119-2, from old parcel 26-119): Plan 246-143; sales history
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): Peter B. Bohonan appointed postmaster of East Billerica, December 21, 1877
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| March 22, 1786 | Warranty | Thomas Richardson of Billerica, yeoman, and Judith Richardson his wife | Oliver Richardson of Billerica, husbandman, his brother | 1778: the Richardson homestead farm the house lot was cut from | 93/377 (South) |
For 266 pounds, "the several pieces of Land hereafter mentioned. The first is my homestead farm lying in said Billerica containing forty six acres," beginning "at the road to Tewksbury at the Southeast corner of said Land at Jonathan Richardson's meadow," by land bought of Jonathan French and of James Lewis, west on William Needham and the heirs of Benjamin Needham to the corner at the road "near Sheldons folly (so called)," on the road across the brook to Samuel Brown's land, "then on said road to the corner where we began near Content Bridge with one quarter part of the saw mill thereon standing with all the appurtenances thereto belonging with all the other buildings thereon standing"; also nine and a quarter acres "near my Dwelling House" bought of Josiah Richardson, bounded westerly on the road to Tewksbury, by Nehemiah Kittredge, John French and Samuel Baldwin; six acres by William Needham's lot and Jonathan Richardson's meadow; two thirds of a great swamp lot in Tewksbury laid out to Caleb Farley; and four acres in Mill Meadow by William Kidder, John French and the Long Pond brook. Dated Feb. 4, 1778, acknowledged March 11, 1778; recorded March 22, 1786. Billerica town book 8, pages 53-55 (Southern Registry Book 93 Page 377). The same day in 1786 was recorded Samuel Brown's deed to Oliver of Jan. 2, 1779, five acres of upland near the upper end of "Richardson's content meadow" (town book 8/52, S. 93/376).
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| 1836 | Will | Estate of Oliver Richardson of Billerica, yeoman, died 1836 | His son John Richardson (called John Richardson 2d), residuary devisee and executor | 1836: Oliver Richardson's will, the farm to John Richardson 2nd | Probate #19083 |
Will dated Nov. 4, 1825 (witnesses Marshall Preston, Zadok Howe, John Baldwin): $500 each to the granddaughter Martha Jenney, only child of the late daughter Patty Jenney, and the grandson John Chandler Jr. of Tewksbury; $5 each to the sons-in-law John Chandler, Philip Mills and Benjamin Jenney; daughter Lucy Mills already provided for; "All the rest and residue of my estate, both real and personal ... I give, devise and bequeath to my son John Richardson his heirs and assigns forever," John to be sole executor. The heirs assented Oct. 1, 1836 (Philip Mills for Lucy, Enoch Foster for Martha), and the will was proved Oct. 11, 1836, with John Richardson 2d as executor under a $30,000 bond (sureties Theophilus Manning and Ebenezer Page). No inventory is in the file. The homestead thus passed whole to John, who already owned the west front room under the 1811 deed.
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| June 27, 1845 | Deed | John Richardson 2nd of Billerica, yeoman (Nancy, his wife, releasing dower) | Peter B. Bohonan (written Bohonon) of Billerica, yeoman | 1845: John Richardson 2nd sells Peter B. Bohonan the house lot | 465/277 (South) |
The house lot. For $75, "a certain tract or parcel of land situate in the North Easterly part of said Billerica containing about Seventy Eight square rods," from the southwest corner northerly 8 rods by the grantor's land to a stake and stones "on the Southerly side of my Mill Lane so called," easterly parallel with the lane 9 1/2 rods and on to the county road, southerly 8 rods by the county road (Gray Street) and westerly 10 rods by the grantor's land; with the privilege of passing on the Mill Lane from the county road "so long as the said Mill Lane is used and occupied as a pass way," and of filling between the lot and the lane "for the accommodation of the buildings he may erect for his front yard." Bohonon was to build and keep the partition fences. Dated April 21, 1845; recorded June 27, 1845; Billerica town book 18, pages 6-8. Every later deed of the lot recites it as "Book 18, Page 7."
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| December 10, 1863 | Deed | John O. Richardson of Billerica | Peter B. Bohonan of Billerica | 1863: one-rod strip on the Mill road added to the house lot | 36/297 |
A strip on the north side of the house lot: from the northeast corner "at land of Bohonan" on "Mill road so called," westerly on the Mill road, southerly parallel with Bohonan's land 8 rods and back by Bohonan's land, the strip one rod wide, with the privilege of passing on the Mill road from the county road; Bohonan to build the partition fence. Dated April 1863 before Dudley Foster; recorded December 10, 1863. The consideration was not clearly legible on the scan. The 1923 and later deeds call it the "Mill Road" parcel and date it "April 11, 1862."
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| December 10, 1863 | Deed | Alden B. Richardson of Lowell (Martha, his wife, releasing) | Peter B. Bohonan of Billerica | 1863: Bohonan's ten acres across Gray Street (other land) | 36/298 |
For $300, "a certain lot or parcel of land situate in the easterly part of said Billerica," beginning at its northeast corner "on the road leading from Billerica to Tewksbury and on the westerly side of the Boston and Lowell Rail-road," southwest along the road about 53 rods to Samuel Brown, then by Brown, Henry Allen and a dry ditch back to the railroad and northwest "by and with said rail-road" about 28 rods to the start; "being the same conveyed to me by deeds of John O. Richardson and others dated Oct 1861 ... Book 29 Page 371," and of Priscilla Brown and others (1862) and Samuel Brown (1862), "being ten acres more or less." Dated September 22, 1863; recorded December 10, 1863. The station agent's land beside the depot, from which he sold the station grounds to the railroad in 1868.
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| September 21, 1868 | Deed | Peter B. Bohonan of Billerica (Susan E., his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | Boston and Lowell Railroad | 1868: Bohonan sells the station grounds across Gray Street (other land) | 64/41 |
The station grounds. For $200 the station agent sold the railroad "a certain tract of land, situate in the easterly part of said Billerica containing about 26,325 square feet," beginning at a stake and stones in the westerly line of the corporation's land "about 238 feet from the southerly line of the highway running from Billerica Centre to Tewksbury" (Gray Street), southwest 186 feet, northwest about 113 feet to the highway, 152 3/4 feet along the highway to the railroad line and back by the railroad about 238 feet; "Said Corporation hereby agree to build and forever maintain all fences around said premises." Dated September 14, 1868, acknowledged before Dudley Foster. The 1944 deed of the Railroad House lot is bounded on two sides by "land now or formerly of Bohonan," so the house was built on this purchase.
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| June 21, 1871 | Deed | John O. Richardson of Billerica (Pamelia, his wife, releasing) | Peter B. Bohonan of Billerica | 1871: corner on the Depot road added to the house lot | 80/392 |
For $25, a small parcel beginning at its northeast corner "on the road leading to the Depot, at land of said Bohonan," easterly by that road 2 1/2 rods "to the new road leading to the Freight Depot," northwest by the new road 15 rods and back by Bohonan's land 9 3/4 rods. Dated May 23, 1871 before Dudley Foster; recorded June 21, 1871. A corner beside Bohonan's house lot, recorded here because it names the depot road and the new road to the freight depot.
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| May 28, 1923 | Deed | Eugenia L. Hogan of Lowell, unmarried (successor to the Bohonan title) | Robert Wright and Hilda L. Wright, his wife, of Billerica, tenants by the entirety | 1923: the Bohonan homestead sold to Robert and Hilda L. Wright | 683/145 |
For consideration paid ($2.50 in revenue stamps), with quitclaim covenants, the three parcels of the Bohonan homestead: the 78 square rods by "Mill Lane" and the county road, "Being all and the same premises conveyed by J. Richardson 2d to P. Bohonan, by deed dated April 21, 1845 ... Book 18, Page 7"; the strip on "Mill Road" from John O. Richardson (Book 36, Page 297); and the corner on "the road leading to the depot" and "the new road leading to the Freight Depot" from John O. Richardson, "by deed dated May 23, 1871 ... Book 80, Page 392"; subject to the 1923 taxes. "See Probate Records, Middlesex County, Peter and Peter B. Bohonan, and Harriet A. Bohonan, 1922." Dated May 26, 1923 before William H. Wilson; recorded May 28, 1923. The registry indexes it under the estates of Harriet A. and Peter B. Bohonan.
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| May 28, 1923 | Mortgage | Robert Wright and Hilda L. Wright, husband and wife, of Billerica | Lowell Co-operative Bank | 1923: Wright purchase mortgage, Lowell Co-operative Bank | 683/146 |
For $2,000, "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon," the first parcel the 78 square rods with the 1845 Mill Lane privileges (passing on the lane from the county road "so long as the Mill Lane is used and occupied as a pass way," and filling "for the accommodation of the buildings which may be erected in the front yard"), the second the Mill Road strip and the third the Depot road corner. Recorded May 28, 1923, after the deed. Margin: "See Discharge B.881 P.562."
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| 1935 | Discharge of Mortgage | Lowell Co-operative Bank (by Charles C. Drew, Treasurer) | Robert Wright and Hilda L. Wright | 1935: the Wright mortgage paid off | 881/562 |
The bank discharged the mortgage given by Robert Wright and Hilda L. Wright, dated May 1923 (written "May 11") and recorded "Book 685 Page 146" (an error for Book 683, Page 146). Signed by the treasurer Charles C. Drew November 16, 1935; recorded in 1936.
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| June 13, 1949 | Taking | Middlesex County Commissioners, for the Town of Billerica | Town of Billerica (highway and slope easements) | 1949: Gray Street bridge layout, slope easement across the front of the lot | 1117/161 |
On the selectmen's 1947 petition that "the bridge and approaches thereto, carrying Gray Street, in Billerica, over the tracks of the Boston and Maine Railroad, at the East Billerica Station, should be altered," the commissioners laid out the altered road and took easements for highway and sloping purposes, among them Parcel 2 from "Leopold C. and Phyllis B. Tappey about 800 square feet" and Slope Parcel 3 from the Tappeys about 1,700 square feet, with "Trees, walls, and fences" within the limits, and ordered a new five-span timber bridge with a 24-foot roadway and a four-foot walk. Dated April 29, 1949; recorded June 13, 1949. Middlesex North Book 1117, pages 161-164.
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| June 11, 1957 | Quitclaim Deed | One of the heirs of Hilda L. Wright (a nephew; private, not named; his wife releasing dower and homestead) | Another nephew and heir of Hilda L. Wright (private, not named) | 1957: heirs of Hilda L. Wright consolidate the title | 1373/42 |
For consideration paid, "all my right, title and interest in and to" the three parcels: the 78 square rods (Book 18, Page 7), the Mill Road strip (Book 36, Page 297) and the Depot road parcel from John O. Richardson, subject to the County taking of 1949 (Book 1117, Page 161). "For my title see estate of Hilda L. Wright duly probated in the Middlesex Probate Court, Docket #302248." Dated June 10, 1957; recorded June 11, 1957. The same day the two nephews who then held the lot mortgaged it to the City Institution for Savings, Lowell, for $3,000 (Book 1373, Page 43).
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| February 26, 1965 | Quitclaim Deed | The third nephew and heir of Hilda L. Wright (private, not named) | The nephew who held the rest of the title (private, not named) | 1965: last heir's share released | 1686/519 |
Release of his interest in the same three parcels, subject to Book 1117, Page 161: "For my title see estate of Hilda L. Wright duly probated in the Middlesex Probate Court, Docket #302248." Recorded February 26, 1965. After this deed one nephew owned the whole lot.
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| November 5, 1979 | Quitclaim Deed | The owner (private, not named) | Himself and his wife, tenants by the entirety (private, not named) | 1979: owner adds his wife to the title | 2393/556 |
For nominal consideration, "the land in East Billerica, with the buildings thereon," the 78 square rods by "Mill Lane" and the county road, "Being all the same premises conveyed by J. Richardson, 2nd to Peter B. Bohonan April 21, 1845 ... Book 18, Page 7," the Mill Road strip (Book 36, Page 297) and the Depot road parcel, subject to the County Commissioners' taking of April 29, 1949 (Book 1117, Page 161). "For my title see Estate of Hilda L. Wright duly probated in the Middlesex Probate Court, Docket #302248. See also deed ... Book No. 1373, Page 42 and deed ... Book 1686, Page 519." Dated October 11, 1979; recorded November 5, 1979.
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| October 22, 2007 | Executor's Deed | Executrix under the will of Frederick C. Ferren (Middlesex Probate Court docket 05P1309EP1) | Private buyers (a married couple; not named) | 2007: estate sale of 66-68 Gray Street | 21684/58 |
For $399,900, under a power of sale in the will, "The land in East Billerica, with the buildings thereon," the same three parcels (78 square rods, Mill Road strip and Depot road corner), subject to the 1949 taking (Book 1117, Page 161); "Being the same premises conveyed to [the testator and his wife] by deed ... dated October 11, 1979 ... Book 2393, Page 556." Property address 66-68 Gray Street. Recorded October 22, 2007 with an estate affidavit (Book 21684, Page 56) and the buyers' mortgage to Bank of America (Book 21684, Page 60).
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| August 4, 2017 | Foreclosure Deed | Ditech Financial LLC, formerly Green Tree Servicing LLC, holder by assignment of the 2007 mortgage | Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association) | 2017: mortgage foreclosure, to Fannie Mae | 31354/32 |
Massachusetts foreclosure deed by corporation: the holder of the 2007 mortgage to Bank of America, N.A. (Book 21684, Page 60), "by the power conferred by said mortgage," for $307,300 granted the property, 68 a/k/a 66-68 Gray Street, to Fannie Mae. Recorded August 4, 2017.
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| October 29, 2018 | Quitclaim Deed | Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association) | Trustee of the 68 Gray Street Billerica RT, dated August 29, 2018 | 2018: Fannie Mae sells to a realty trust | 32522/79 |
For $283,500, "a certain tract or parcel of land situated in the North Easterly part of said Billerica, containing about 78 square rods," bounded "by land now or formerly of J. Richardson, 2nd" and "Richardson's 'Mill Lane' so called" and 8 rods on the county road, assessors' parcel 26-119-0; title, the 2017 foreclosure deed. Recorded October 29, 2018 with the trustee's certificate (Book 32522, Page 83).
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| September 9, 2021 | Quitclaim Deed | Trustee of the 68 Gray Street Billerica RT (declaration of August 29, 2018) | C & L Homes, LLC, of Burlington | 2021: to a builder; house demolished and replaced (2022 sales summarized) | 36235/69 |
For $1, "The land together will all of the buildings and structures thereon," 66 and 68 Gray Street, Lots 1 and 2 on the "Subdivision Plan of Land Located in Billerica, MASS," Eastern Land Survey Associates, November 12, 2018 (Plan Book 246, Plan 143); title, Book 32522, Page 79. Recorded September 9, 2021. Both old buildings were taken down in 2021 and a new house built on each lot. In 2022 C & L Homes, LLC conveyed the lots to Litchfield Co Inc (Lot 1, Book 37077, Page 46; Lot 2, Book 37113, Page 78), which sold the new houses to private owners: 66 Gray Street for $900,000 (Book 37105, Page 184, May 2022) and 68 Gray Street for $879,900 (Book 37113, Page 81, June 2022).
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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.