Structure · Built 1806
Reuben French House
The Reuben French House stands at 14 Allen Road, about three quarters of a mile northeast of the Billerica meetinghouse. It was the homestead of the French family on the old roads to Salem and Boston, and for most of the nineteenth century the center of a farm of about ninety-five acres that was bought and sold more than twenty times before it was cut into house lots in 1961.
The farm came to Reuben French from his father. Jonas French, a Billerica yeoman, made his will on August 20, 1799, giving "to my son Reuben French and to his heirs and assigns for ever all my Lands and Buildings in Billerica", with nine acres in Tewksbury, his pew in the meetinghouse and his horse stable, on condition that Reuben pay his brothers' and sisters' legacies (Middlesex probate 8502). When the town drew the line of the centre school squadron in 1782, one of its marks was "on Wilmington road, Jonas French's new house" (Hazen), which may be this house. Reuben French (born 1761) had married Abigail Farmer, daughter of Lt. John Farmer, in 1789. On April 7, 1806 he added a lot of one and three quarters acres bought from Nahum Baldwin for $90, "about three fourths of a mile nearly a northeast point from the meeting house", bounded by Benjamin Daland, Baldwin and the heirs of Joseph Foster. That deed names no buildings; French already held his father's farm.
On April 1, 1819 Reuben French sold "my homestead containing ninety five acres be it more or less with all the buildings thereon" to Judith Pollard for $1,113, with a nine-acre lot "at the foot of rocky hill". The farm lay on the east side of the road to Boston and the south side of the road to Salem, bounded by the heirs of Eben Richardson, the heirs of Joseph Foster and Thomas Richardson. Judith Pollard, widow of Francis Pollard, sold "the following described real estate ... formerly owned by Capt Reuben French" to William Richardson in 1821, and in June 1821 Richardson sold it to the brothers George and William Tyler of Tewksbury.
For thirty years the place was "the Tyler farm". George Tyler's half passed, without a recorded deed, to the brothers' father Joseph Tyler, who in 1827 quitclaimed it to his son James Tyler, a Lowell trader; James and his brother Joseph Jr. passed it back and forth in 1836 and 1837, and James came to live on the farm. William Tyler mortgaged his half to Moses Tyler of Dunstable, New Hampshire in 1828, and that mortgage title went to Jonathan Spalding of Lowell in 1846 and to Moses Foster of Andover in 1850. In 1843, on a judgment against James Tyler, the sheriff sold his right to redeem "The farm on which said James Tyler now resides" to John Baldwin for $25, but Tyler kept the farm until he died in 1849. Moses Foster Jr. administered his estate (probate 43487) and on October 24, 1850 sold James Tyler's half at auction to Henry Sperry; by deeds of the next day the administrator and Moses Foster and John Baldwin conveyed the two halves to Sperry.
From 1851 the deeds describe the house lot from "a cross road turning out in a southerly direction from the road leading from Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Meeting house", about sixty rods by Richardson and Danforth land and about seventy rods by a stone wall; the 1923 deed calls it "a cross road (now named Allen Road)". Sperry sold to Joseph Mann of Boston, a grocer, in 1851, and Mann to Joseph Farmer, a butcher, in 1852 (the "J. Farmer" of the 1853 map). Farmer and his wife sold "the same premises which we ... now occupy as their homestead estate" to William F. Burrows in 1857. Burrows sold to Moza A. Clough in 1870, Clough to Charles Swan of Arlington in 1872 (the "Chas Swan" of the 1875 map), Swan to Louisa Baldwin of Lowell in 1875, and she to Stephen A. and Charles T. Fish in 1876. The Fishes sold the four-acre "Nutting place" at the corner of the Salem road separately and the farm to Philander D. Howe of Manchester, New Hampshire, who sold it in 1878 to Oliver M. Harding of Lowell, the "O. M. Harding" of the 1889 map.
Harding sold the farm, with "All the personal property on the place", to Francis S. Hall of New York in 1893. Hall sold to Thomas J. Gile of Boston in 1897, and Gile to Albert H. Andrews of South Paris, Maine in 1899. After Andrews died, his widow H. Faustina Andrews sold the farm in 1906 to Reuben T. Baisley of Beverly. Baisley kept the nine-acre lot by the Boston road and in 1923 sold the house and thirty acres on Allen Road to Sarah M. Smith. She and her husband Albert R. Smith, a farmer, held it as tenants by the entirety from 1930; after his death in 1940 she sold it in 1948, and it passed the same year through John J. McClain and Hester M. Porter to a Medford buyer.
In August 1961 the land was laid out in twelve house lots on Andover Street and Allen Road (Plan Book 95, Plan 64). The plan shows the house and garage on Lot 10, at the curve of a private way off Allen Road, and the old barn on Lot 9. The house has been in private hands since.
References
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| 1801 | Will | Estate of Jonas French of Billerica, yeoman | His son Reuben French | Will of Jonas French leaves all his lands and buildings in Billerica to his son Reuben (1799, probated 1801) | Probate #8502 |
Middlesex probate 8502. Will dated August 20, 1799: "I give to my son Reuben French and to his heirs and assigns for ever all my Lands and Buildings in Billerica together with nine acres of land in Tewksbury my Pew in Billerica meeting house and my Horse stable also standing near said House", on condition that Reuben pay the legacies to his brothers Nathaniel, William, Thomas and Ziba and his sisters Hannah Heald and Susannah Jaquith; executors Jonathan Heald Esq. and Nathaniel French. This is the source of the 95-acre homestead that Reuben French sold in 1819.
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| 1806 | Deed | Nahum Baldwin of Billerica, yeoman (wife Patty releasing dower) | Reuben French of Billerica, gentleman | Nahum Baldwin sells the house lot to Reuben French (1806) | 203/29 (South) |
Billerica town book 11, page 207. Dated April 7, 1806, for $90: "a certain peice or tract of land situated in said Billerica about three fourths of a mile nearly a northeast point from the meeting house", bounded south and west by land of Benjamin Daland, north on the grantor's "own land", and east on land of the heirs of Joseph Foster deceased, "containing one and three fourths of an acre", with "the privilege of a pass way across my land". No buildings are mentioned: Reuben French built the house on this lot. No title recital.
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| April 22, 1819 | Deed | Reuben French of Billerica, gentleman (wife Abigail releasing dower) | Judith Pollard of Billerica | Reuben French sells "my homestead", 95 acres with the buildings, to Judith Pollard (1819) | 229/184 (South) |
Billerica town book 12, pages 139-140. Dated April 1, 1819, for $1,113: "my homestead containing ninety five acres be it more or less with all the buildings thereon", beginning at the southwest corner on the east side of the road leading to Boston, bounded southerly by the heirs of Eben Richardson and the heirs of Joseph Foster "as the fence now stands" to Thomas Richardson, then by Thomas Richardson to the road leading to Salem, then by the south side of Salem road and the road leading to Boston "as the wall now stands"; also a 9-acre tract "at the foot of rocky hill so called" on the west side of the road, bounded by the heirs of Joseph Foster, the heirs of Nahum Baldwin and Josiah Bowers. No title recital. Margin notes refer to book 14 page 7 and this book page 200.
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| July 5, 1821 | Deed | William Richardson of Billerica, gentleman | George Tyler and William Tyler of Tewksbury, yeomen | William Richardson sells the farm to George and William Tyler of Tewksbury (1821) | 237/373 (South) |
Billerica town book 12, pages 200-201. Dated June 30, 1821, for $1,120: "a certain tract of land situate in said Billerica, containing about ninety five acres, more or less, with the buildings thereon", bounded southerly by land lately belonging to Eben. Richardson deceased and land formerly owned by Joseph Foster deceased, then by Thomas Richardson to the road leading to Salem and by the road to Boston; also the 9-acre walled tract on the westerly side of the Boston road, "it being the same estate conveyed to Judith Pollard by Reuben French, by deed dated April first, A.D. 1819".
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| June 20, 1821 | Deed | Judith Pollard of Billerica, widow | William Richardson of Billerica, gentleman | Widow Judith Pollard sells the former Reuben French farm to William Richardson (1821) | 238/228 (South) |
Billerica town book 12, pages 203-205. Dated April 2, 1821, for $1,112: "the following described real estate lying in said Billerica formerly owned by Capt Reuben French", the 95-acre homestead on the east side of the road leading to Boston and the south side of the Salem road, bounded by the heirs of Eben. Richardson, the heirs of Joseph Foster and Thomas Richardson, "with the buildings thereon", and the 9-acre walled tract "at the foot of rocky Hill". Witnessed by Francis Faulkner and Andrew Pollard. Judith Pollard was the widow of Francis Pollard (died 1813).
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| December 20, 1827 | Quitclaim | Joseph Tyler of Billerica, yeoman (wife Abigail releasing dower) | James Tyler of Lowell, trader | Joseph Tyler quitclaims his half of the farm to James Tyler of Lowell (1827) | 278/215 (South) |
Billerica town book 14, pages 7-9. Dated December 19, 1827, for $900: quitclaim of "one undivided half" of "a certain tract of land situate in said Billerica containing about ninety five acres more or less with the buildings thereon" (the Reuben French homestead, same bounds), the 9-acre walled tract, "it being the same estate conveyed to Judith Pollard by Reuben French by deed dated April first A.D. 1819", and about 25 acres by the Boston road (abutting the heirs of Eben. Richardson, George Bruce, Blaney Abbot, Isaac Hurd and Benjamin Beard), "being the same land conveyed to said Bruce by Reuben French by deed dated April 19, 1819". Witnessed by Marshall Preston and William Tyler.
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| March 28, 1828 | Mortgage | William Tyler of Billerica, yeoman | Moses Tyler of Dunstable, New Hampshire, yeoman | William Tyler mortgages his half of the farm to Moses Tyler (1828) | 280/329 (South) |
Billerica town book 14, pages 74-76. Dated February 14, 1828, for $1,360: "One undivided half of the three following tracts", the 95 acres with the buildings (the former Reuben French homestead), the 9-acre walled tract, "the same which were conveyed to George Tyler and myself by William Richardson by deed dated the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty one", and the 25-acre tract conveyed to George Tyler and William Tyler by George Bruce the same day; void on payment of two notes for $1,000 and $360. A marginal note refers to an assignment to Jonathan Spalding, Book 483 Page 196.
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| January 9, 1836 | Quitclaim | James Tyler of Lowell, trader | Joseph Tyler (Jr.) of Lowell, gentleman | James Tyler quitclaims his half of the farm to his brother Joseph Tyler (1836) | 349/200 (South) |
Billerica town book 15, pages 218-219. Dated January 9, 1836, for $900: quitclaim of "one undivided moiety or half part of two pieces and parcels of land lying & situate in Billerica", being the pieces "described in a deed from my late honored father Joseph Tyler late of said Billerica deceased dated the nineteenth day of December ... 1827", Book 278 Page 215 (the former Reuben French homestead and the walled lot by the Boston road).
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| June 10, 1837 | Quitclaim | Joseph Tyler of Lowell, gentleman | James Tyler, formerly of Lowell, trader, now of Billerica | Joseph Tyler reconveys the half interest to James Tyler, now living in Billerica (1837) | 365/227 (South) |
Billerica town book 15, pages 404-405. Dated June 10, 1837, for $900: quitclaim of "one undivided half of two pieces of land situate in Billerica", the pieces "described and conveyed in and by the deed of my father Joseph Tyler late of said Billerica deceased dated December nineteenth 1827" (Book 278 Page 215) "and the same land which said James Tyler by his deed dated January ninth 1836 conveyed to me" (Book 349 Page 200). James Tyler is now described as of Billerica.
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| May 31, 1844 | Sheriff's Deed | Jefferson Bancroft of Lowell, deputy sheriff (execution of Anne Shattuck, executrix of Moses Shattuck, against James Tyler) | John Baldwin of Billerica, Esquire | Sheriff sells James Tyler's equity of redemption in the farm to John Baldwin (1843) | 443/392 (South) |
Billerica town book 16, pages 515-517. Dated December 14, 1843: on a judgment for $64.08 and costs against James Tyler, the deputy sheriff sold at public auction, for $25, "the right in equity which the said James Tyler had ... of redeeming the following described mortgaged Real Estate, to wit: The farm on which said James Tyler now resides", being the tracts conveyed by Joseph Tyler in 1827 (Book 278 Page 215) and by the quitclaims of 1836 and 1837 (Book 349 Page 200, Book 365 Page 227), "subject, however, to be redeemed agreeably to the law". The sale was advertised in the Lowell Journal. James Tyler still held the farm at his death in 1849, so the equity was redeemed.
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| May 5, 1846 | Quitclaim (Mortgagee) | Moses Tyler of Nashua, New Hampshire, mortgagee | Jonathan Spalding of Lowell | Moses Tyler assigns his mortgage title to William Tyler's half of the farm to Jonathan Spalding (1846) | 483/197 (South) |
Billerica town book 18, pages 160-161. Dated April 11, 1846, for one dollar: quitclaim of "all my estate right title & interest in and to several tracts of land situate in Billerica ... being the several tracts of land described in a Mortgage deed from one William Tyler to the said Moses Tyler bearing date the fourteenth day of February A.D. 1828" (Book 280 Page 329), that is, William Tyler's mortgaged half of the former Reuben French farm. The marginal note on the 1828 mortgage cites this assignment as Book 483 Page 196.
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| 1850 | Administration | Estate of James Tyler late of Billerica, yeoman | Moses Foster Jr. of Andover, administrator | Administration of the estate of James Tyler, owner of half the farm (1850) | Probate #43487 |
Middlesex probate 43487. On the petition of Moses Foster of Andover, "one of the principal creditors", a citation of November 15, 1849 was served on Tyler's heirs (Philip Tyler of Charlestown, Joseph and William Tyler of Billerica); on January 8, 1850 Foster waived his right and the court appointed Moses Foster Jr. of Andover administrator. Under a license of September 3, 1850 the administrator sold James Tyler's half of the farm at auction to Henry Sperry (Book 599 Page 369).
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| 1850 | Deed | Jonathan Spalding of Lowell, yeoman | Moses Foster of Andover, yeoman | Jonathan Spalding sells William Tyler's former half of the farm to Moses Foster (1850) | 587/17 (South) |
Billerica town book 21, pages 70-71. Dated April 30, 1850, for $900, with warranty: "the one undivided half" of the 95-acre parcel on the easterly side of the road (bounded by Ebenezer Richardson deceased and Joseph Foster deceased "as the fence stands", Thomas Richardson, the Salem Road and the road leading to Boston), the 9-acre parcel on the westerly side of the road leading to Boston, and the 25-acre parcel, "Being the several parcels of land described in a mortgage deed from William Tyler to Moses Tyler dated February 14 A.D. 1828" (Book 280 Page 329). This was William Tyler's half of the farm, which had passed under his mortgage to Moses Tyler and then to Spalding.
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| December 30, 1850 | Quitclaim | Moses Foster of Andover, gentleman | John Baldwin of Billerica, Esquire | Moses Foster quitclaims a quarter of the Tyler farm to John Baldwin (1850) | 599/368 (South) |
Billerica town book 18, pages 519-520. Dated October 19, 1850, for $625: quitclaim of "one undivided fourth part" of the three parcels of the Tyler farm, the 95 acres on the easterly side of the road (bounded by the heirs of Ebenezer Richardson, Joseph Foster, Thomas Richardson and the Salem road), the 9 acres on the westerly side of the Boston road and the 25 acres bounded by George Bruce, Blaney Abbott, Isaac Hurd and Benjamin Beard, "Said parcels being described in a deed from Jonathan Spaulding to Moses Foster dated April thirtieth 1850 & recorded with Middlesex deeds Book 587 page 17".
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| December 30, 1850 | Administrator's Deed | Moses Foster Jr. of Andover, administrator of James Tyler late of Billerica, yeoman | Henry Sperry of Billerica, gentleman | James Tyler's administrator sells his half of the farm at auction to Henry Sperry (1850) | 599/369 (South) |
Billerica town book 18, pages 520-523. Dated October 25, 1850: under a license of the Probate Court of September 3, 1850, after notice in the Lowell Weekly Journal and Courier, the administrator sold at public auction on October 24, 1850, for $1,200, to Henry Sperry, the highest bidder, "one undivided half" of the 95-acre parcel on the easterly side of the road (the former Reuben French homestead), the 9-acre parcel on the westerly side of the road leading to Boston and the 25-acre parcel. James Tyler had died in 1849 (Middlesex probate 43487).
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| December 30, 1850 | Deed | Moses Foster of Andover and John Baldwin of Billerica, gentlemen (Clarissa Baldwin releasing dower) | Henry Sperry of Billerica, gentleman | Moses Foster and John Baldwin sell the other half of the farm to Henry Sperry (1850) | 599/370 (South) |
Billerica town book 18, pages 523-525. Dated October 25, 1850, for $1,500, with warranty: "one undivided half" of the same three parcels (95, 9 and 25 acres), "Intending hereby to convey the same premises described in a deed from Jonathan Spaulding to Moses Foster dated April 30th 1850", Book 587 Page 17. With the administrator's deed of the same day, Henry Sperry now held the whole Tyler farm.
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| December 30, 1850 | Mortgage | Henry Sperry of Billerica, gentleman (wife Mehitabel P. releasing dower) | Moses Foster of Andover, gentleman | Henry Sperry mortgages "the Tyler farm" to Moses Foster (1850) | 599/372 (South) |
Billerica town book 18, pages 525-527. Dated October 25, 1850, for $2,000 payable in one year at six per cent: "a certain farm known as the Tyler farm situate in the South easterly part of said Billerica", the 95-acre, 9-acre and 25-acre parcels, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Moses Foster and John Baldwin and by deed of Moses Foster Jr. Administrator of the estate of the late James Tyler deceased both of said deeds bearing even date herewith".
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| 1851 | Deed | Henry Sperry of Billerica, trader (wife Mehitable P. releasing dower) | Joseph Mann of Boston, grocer | Henry Sperry sells the farm, "with the buildings thereon", on the cross road (Allen Road) to Joseph Mann (1851) | 603/194 (South) |
Billerica town book 18, pages 560-562. Dated January 15, 1851, for $3,000: "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon" beginning "on a cross road turning out in a southerly direction from the road leading from Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Meeting house" (that is, Allen Road at the Salem road) at the corner of land of Richardson, bounded by Richardson and Danforth about sixty rods to a stone wall, by the wall about seventy rods to the road to the meeting house, and by that road and the cross road; also the 9-acre walled parcel west of the Boston road and 30 acres by the Boston road (Richardson, George Bruce, Blaney Abbot, Isaac Heard, Benjamin Beard). Free of incumbrances "except a mortgage of Two Thousand dollars" (the 1850 Foster mortgage), which Mann assumed.
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| 1852 | Deed | Joseph Mann of Boston, grocer (wife Elizabeth B. releasing dower) | Joseph Farmer of Billerica, butcher | Joseph Mann sells the farm with the buildings to Joseph Farmer, butcher (1852) | 645/52 (South) |
Billerica town book 19, pages 427-428. Dated November 30, 1852, for $3,050: "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon" beginning "on a cross road turning out in a southerly direction from the road leading from the Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica centre" at the corner of land of Richardson, bounded by Richardson and Danforth about sixty rods to a stone wall, about seventy rods by the wall to the Depot road and back by that road and the cross road; also the 9-acre parcel west of the Boston road and 30 acres by the Boston road. Free of incumbrances except the $2,000 mortgage, which Farmer assumed. Joseph Farmer is the "J. Farmer" of the 1853 map.
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| April 11, 1857 | Deed | Joseph Farmer of Billerica, butcher, and Mary Ann Farmer his wife in her right | William F. Burrows of Billerica, yeoman | Joseph and Mary Ann Farmer sell their homestead with the buildings to William F. Burrows (1857) | 9/164 |
Dated March 24, 1857, for $2,500, with warranty: "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon" beginning "on a cross road leading southerly from the road running from Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Centre" at the corner of land of Richardson (about sixty rods by Richardson and Danforth, about seventy rods by a stone wall), with the 9-acre and 30-acre parcels by the Boston road, "being the same tracts of land and premises conveyed to Joseph Farmer by Joseph Mann's deed of November 1852 recorded in Middlesex Registry Book 645 page 52, and being the same premises which we the said Joseph and Mary Ann Farmer his wife now occupy as their homestead estate". Burrows assumed the $2,000 Foster mortgage.
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| November 21, 1870 | Deed | William F. Burrows of Billerica, yeoman (wife Louisa E. releasing dower and homestead) | Moza A. Clough of Chelmsford | William F. Burrows sells his homestead with the buildings to Moza A. Clough (1870) | 76/374 |
Dated November 10, 1870, for $4,500, with warranty: "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon" beginning "on a cross road leading southerly from the road running from Billerica & Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Centre" at the corner of land of Richardson, bounded by Richardson and land "formerly of Danforth now Fletcher" about sixty rods to a stone wall, about seventy rods by the wall to the Depot road, and by the Depot road and the cross road; also the 9-acre and 30-acre parcels by the Boston road, "Being premises conveyed to me by Jos. Farmer & wife by deed dated March 24th 1857" (Book 9 Page 164); also four acres "with the buildings thereon" bounded on all sides by roads, between the Salem road, the road "to my homestead dwelling house" and the road from "my said house to Billerica Centre", "known as the 'Nutting place'". Possession March 1, 1871.
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| February 13, 1872 | Mortgage | Charles Swan of Arlington | Moza A. Clough of Billerica | Charles Swan mortgages the farm back to Moza A. Clough for $2,000 (1872) | 84/416 |
Purchase-money mortgage for $2,000 given back to the seller: "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon" on the cross road leading southerly from the Billerica and Tewksbury Depot road to Billerica Centre (Richardson, land "formerly of Danforth now Fletcher", about sixty and seventy rods), the 9-acre tract west of the Boston road and the 4-acre "Nutting Place" with its buildings. Margin notes: partial release Book 117 Page 221 (1876, the Nutting Place, to Stephen A. Fish and others) and discharge Book 120 Page 456 (November 3, 1876). Louisa Baldwin assumed this mortgage in 1875.
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| March 25, 1872 | Deed | Moza A. Clough of Billerica, yeoman (wife Adeline S. releasing dower and homestead) | Charles Swan of Arlington | Moza A. Clough sells the homestead with the buildings to Charles Swan of Arlington (1872) | 85/244 |
Dated February 12, 1872, for $4,000, with warranty: "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon" beginning "on a cross road leading southerly from the road running from Billerica to Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Centre" at the corner of land of Richardson, by Richardson and land "formerly of Danforth, now Fletcher" about sixty rods to a stone wall, about seventy rods by the wall to the Depot road, and back by the Depot road and the cross road; also the 9-acre tract west of the Boston road and four acres "with the buildings thereon" between the Salem road, the road from the Depot "to the Homestead dwelling house" and the road from that house to Billerica Centre, "known as the 'Nutting place'". Clough kept the 30-acre lot. Charles Swan is the "Chas Swan" of the 1875 map.
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| December 6, 1875 | Deed | Charles Swan of Billerica (wife Sarah E. releasing dower and homestead) | Louisa Baldwin of Lowell | Charles Swan sells the homestead with the buildings to Louisa Baldwin of Lowell (1875) | 114/133 |
Dated December 4, 1875, for $4,550, with warranty: "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon" beginning on the cross road leading southerly from the road from Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Centre at the corner of land of Richardson (about sixty rods by Richardson and land "formerly of Danforth now Fletcher", about seventy rods by a stone wall), the 9-acre tract west of the Boston road and the 4-acre "Nutting place" with its buildings, "Meaning hereby to convey the same premises conveyed to me by deed from Moza A. Clough dated Feby 12th 1872" (Book 85 Page 244), subject to a mortgage on which $2,000 and interest from February 12, 1875 remained due, which the grantee assumed.
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| April 17, 1876 | Deed | Louisa Baldwin of Lowell, in her own right, and Benjamin C. Baldwin her husband | Stephen A. Fish and Charles T. Fish of Lowell | Louisa Baldwin sells the farm with the buildings to Stephen A. and Charles T. Fish of Lowell (1876) | 116/370 |
Dated April 1876, for $4,550, with warranty: "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon" beginning on the cross road leading southerly from the road from Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Centre at the corner of land "owned now or formerly by Richardson" (Richardson and land "formerly of Danforth now Fletcher", a stone wall, the Depot road), the 9-acre tract west of the Boston road, and the 4-acre "Nutting Place" bounded by the Salem road and the road from the Depot "to dwelling house on the first described tract of land", "Meaning hereby to convey all and the same premises conveyed to me by deed from Charles Swan dated December 4th A.D. 1875" (Book 114 Page 133), subject to the $2,000 mortgage, which the grantees assumed.
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| November 3, 1876 | Discharge of Mortgage | Moza A. Clough, mortgagee | Charles Swan, mortgagor, and his successors in title | Moza A. Clough discharges the 1872 mortgage (1876) | 120/456 |
Dated November 3, 1876: Moza A. Clough, "in consideration of the payment and satisfaction of the within mortgage note", discharges the $2,000 mortgage of Book 84 Page 416 on the former Reuben French farm. Recorded on the same page, just ahead of the Fish deed to Philander D. Howe.
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| November 3, 1876 | Deed | Stephen A. Fish of Thetford, Vermont, and Charles T. Fish of Lowell (wives Mary A. and Anna M. releasing dower and homestead) | Philander D. Howe of Manchester, New Hampshire | Stephen A. and Charles T. Fish sell the house and farm to Philander D. Howe (1876) | 120/456 |
Dated November 1, 1876, for $3,100, with warranty, recorded on pages 456-457: "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon" beginning "at a cross road leading southerly from the road running from Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Centre" at the corner of land now or formerly of one Richardson (Richardson and land "formerly of Danforth now Fletcher" about sixty rods, a stone wall about seventy rods, the Depot road), and the 9-acre tract west of the Boston road, "Being a portion of the premises to us conveyed by deed from Louisa Baldwin dated April 7th A.D. 1876" (Book 116 Page 370), subject to a $1,500 mortgage which Howe assumed. The 4-acre Nutting Place had been sold separately to Jennie Parnaby in May 1876.
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| April 22, 1878 | Deed | Philander D. Howe of Billerica (wife releasing dower and homestead) | Oliver M. Harding of Lowell | Philander D. Howe sells the house and farm to Oliver M. Harding of Lowell (1878) | 128/473 |
Dated April 22, 1878, for $4,000, with warranty: "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon" beginning "at a cross road leading southerly from the road running from Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Centre" at the corner of land now or formerly of one Richardson (Richardson and land "formerly of one Fletcher" about sixty rods to a stone wall, about seventy rods to the Depot road), and the 9-acre tract west of the Boston road, "Being the same premises to me conveyed by deed from Stephen A. and Charles T. Fish dated November 1st 1876" (Book 120 Page 456). Oliver M. Harding is the "O. M. Harding" of the 1889 map.
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| April 22, 1878 | Mortgage | Oliver M. Harding of Lowell | Philander D. Howe of Billerica | Oliver M. Harding mortgages the farm back to Philander D. Howe (1878; discharged 1879) | 128/474 |
Purchase-money mortgage for $1,500 given back to the seller, recorded on pages 474-475: "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon" on the cross road leading southerly from the Billerica and Tewksbury Depot road to Billerica Centre (Richardson, Fletcher, the stone wall, about sixty and seventy rods) and the 9-acre tract west of the Boston road. Margin: discharged, Book 133 Page 330 (May 1, 1879).
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| October 11, 1893 | Deed | Oliver M. Harding of Billerica (wife Minerva K. releasing dower and homestead) | Frances S. Hall of New York, New York | Oliver M. Harding sells the farm, buildings and stock to Frances S. Hall of New York (1893) | 248/101 |
Dated September 25, 1893, for one dollar and other valuable consideration, with warranty: "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon" beginning "at a cross road leading southerly from the road running from Billerica and Tewksbury depot to Billerica Centre" at the corner of land now or formerly of one Richardson (Richardson and land formerly of one Fletcher about sixty rods to a stone wall, about seventy rods to the Depot road), and the 9-acre tract west of the Boston road, "Being the same premises conveyed by Philander D. Howe by deed dated April 22 1878" (Book 128 Page 473), "excepting one half acre on southerly side of farm deeded by me to one Richardson", together with "All the personal property on the place as per schedule".
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| 1893 | Mortgage | Frances (Francis) S. Hall of New York, New York | Oliver M. Harding of Billerica | Frances S. Hall mortgages the farm back to Oliver M. Harding for $600 (1893) | 248/243 |
Purchase-money mortgage for $600, payable in one year at six per cent, recorded on pages 243-244: "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon" on the cross road leading southerly from the Billerica and Tewksbury Depot road to Billerica Centre, "except one half acre on Southerly side belonging to one Richardson", and the 9-acre tract west of the Boston road, "being the same premises conveyed to me this day by deed of the aforesaid Harding". The grantee was to keep the buildings insured against fire. Margin: discharged, Book 255 Page 523.
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| September 7, 1897 | Deed | Francis S. Hall of New York City (wife Jane Hall releasing dower and homestead) | Thomas J. Gile of Boston | Francis S. Hall sells the farm with the buildings to Thomas J. Gile of Boston (1897) | 288/158 |
Dated August 25, 1897, for one dollar and other valuable considerations, with warranty, recorded on pages 158-159: "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon" beginning "at a cross road leading southerly from the road running from Billerica and Tewksbury depot to Billerica Centre" at the corner of land now or formerly of one Richardson (about sixty rods by Richardson and Fletcher, about seventy rods by a stone wall), and the 9-acre tract west of the road to Boston, "excepting one half acre more or less formerly sold to one Richardson. Both tracts being the same premises conveyed to me by Oliver M. Harding by a deed dated September 25, 1893" (Book 248 Page 101). The grantee's name is written Gile in the deed and Sile in the index.
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| August 3, 1899 | Mortgage | Albert H. Andrews of South Paris, Maine | Thomas J. Gile of Billerica | Albert H. Andrews mortgages the farm back to Thomas J. Gile (1899; paid 1901) | 310/49 |
Purchase-money mortgage for $2,300, payable in five years at four per cent, recorded on pages 49-50: "two certain parcels of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica", "Being the same premises as conveyed to me by the said Thomas J. Gile by deed of even date and also the same as conveyed by Francis S. Hall to the said Thomas J. Gile by deed dated Aug 25 1897" (Book 288 Page 158); the buildings to be insured for at least $1,500. A marginal note of December 6, 1901 records full payment, and the margin refers to the discharge, Book 338 Page 200.
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| July 31, 1899 | Deed | Thomas J. Gile of Billerica (wife Mary J. releasing dower and homestead) | Albert H. Andrews of South Paris, Maine | Thomas J. Gile sells the farm with the buildings to Albert H. Andrews (1899) | 310/186 |
Dated July 31, 1899, for $2,500, with warranty, recorded on pages 186-187: "the following parcels of real estate with the buildings thereon", first the farm beginning "at a cross road leading Southerly from the road running from Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Centre" (about sixty rods by Richardson and Fletcher to a stone wall, about seventy rods by the wall to the Depot road), second the 9-acre tract west of the Boston road, "Excepting one half acre formerly sold to one Richardson and also reserving one acre of the Northerly end of the last described lot. It being in part the same premises as conveyed by Francis S. Hall to me by deed dated Aug. 25 1897" (Book 288 Page 158).
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| September 9, 1902 | Deed | Albert H. Andrews of Billerica (wife Faustina H. releasing dower and homestead) | Nellie F. Monty of Billerica | Albert H. Andrews sells a strip at the north end of the farm on Allen Road to Nellie F. Monty (1902) | 347/520 |
Dated August 27, 1902, for $75, with warranty: a small lot "beginning at a point on Allen Road, so called, by land of Minerva J. Monty", running westerly by Monty to the heirs of E. Baker, southerly by Baker and the heirs of Rufus K. Underhill to a point three rods from the corner of the wall, then by "other land of said grantor" and a stone wall back to Allen Road, "being part of the same premises as conveyed to me the said Albert H. Andrews by Thomas J. Gile by deed dated July 31 1899" (Book 310 Page 186). A strip off the northern end of the farm; the house stayed with Andrews. This is the first deed in the chain to name Allen Road.
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| May 31, 1906 | Deed | Helen F. (H. Faustina) Andrews of Billerica, widow of Albert H. Andrews | Reuben T. Baisley of Beverly | Albert H. Andrews's widow sells the farm with the buildings to Reuben T. Baisley (1906) | 391/208 |
Dated May 21, 1906, for one dollar and other good and valuable considerations, with warranty, recorded on pages 208-209: "the following parcels of real estate with the buildings thereon", first the farm beginning "at a cross road leading southerly from the road running from Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Centre" (about sixty rods by Richardson and Fletcher to a stone wall, about seventy rods to the Depot road), second the 9-acre tract west of the road to Boston, "Excepting one half acre formerly sold to one Richardson and also reserving one acre of the northerly end of the last described lot. It being part of the same premises as conveyed to Albert H. Andrews by Thomas J. Gile by deed dated July 31 1899" (Book 310 Page 186). The widow released dower and homestead; Albert H. Andrews had died between 1903 and 1906 and no deed from him to her is indexed.
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| May 31, 1906 | Mortgage | Reuben T. Baisley of Beverly | H. Faustina Andrews, widow of the late Albert H. Andrews of Billerica | Reuben T. Baisley mortgages the farm back to H. Faustina Andrews (1906; discharged 1909) | 391/209 |
Purchase-money mortgage for $2,200, payable in three years at five per cent, recorded on pages 209-210: the same two parcels "together with the buildings thereon", the cross road farm and the 9-acre tract by the Boston road, "Reference to be had to deed of Hall recorded with North District Registry Book 288 leaf 158 for title"; the buildings to be insured for at least $1,500. Margin: "Discharged B.433 P.595" (May 1909, by her executor).
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| May 17, 1909 | Discharge of Mortgage | Ellen C. French, executrix of the estate of H. Faustina Andrews of Billerica | Reuben T. Baisley, late of Beverly, now of Billerica | the Andrews mortgage is paid off by Reuben T. Baisley (1909) | 433/595 |
Dated May 15, 1909: the executrix acknowledges "full payment and satisfaction" of the mortgage given by Reuben T. Baisley to H. Faustina Andrews dated May 21, 1906 (Book 391 Page 209) and releases the premises. H. Faustina Andrews had died by 1909.
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| May 17, 1909 | Mortgage | Reuben T. Baisley of Billerica | Arthur S. Cook of Billerica | Reuben T. Baisley mortgages the farm to Arthur S. Cook (1909) | 433/595 |
For $800, recorded on pages 595-597: "the following parcels of real estate with the buildings thereon", the farm beginning "at a cross road leading southerly from the road running from Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Centre" and the 9-acre tract by the road to Boston, with the same exceptions, "It being part of the same premises as conveyed to Albert H. Andrews by Thomas J. Gile ... Book 310 Page 186. See deed to me from Helen F. Andrews ... Book 391 leaf 208". Margin: discharged, Book 528 Page 58.
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| June 9, 1923 | Warranty Deed | Reuben T. Baisley of Billerica, formerly of Beverly (wife Annie L. releasing dower and homestead) | Sarah M. Smith, formerly of Newcastle, Indiana, now of Chelsea | Reuben T. Baisley sells the house and 30 acres on Allen Road to Sarah M. Smith (1923) | 683/50 |
Dated June 7, 1923, with warranty covenants: "the land in Billerica aforesaid, with the buildings thereon", "Beginning at a cross road (now named Allen Road) leading Southerly from the road running from Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Centre" at the corner of land now or formerly of one Richardson, by Richardson and land formerly of one Fletcher about sixty rods to a stone wall, about seventy rods by the wall to the Depot road, "said parcel containing thirty acres, more or less. Intending to convey only the first parcel in the deed of Helen F. Andrews ... dated May 21, 1906" (Book 391 Page 208), excepting the half acre sold to Richardson. Baisley kept the 9-acre lot by the Boston road.
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| June 9, 1923 | Mortgage | Sarah M. Smith of Chelsea (husband Albert R. Smith releasing curtesy) | Reuben T. Baisley of Billerica | Sarah M. Smith mortgages the house and 30 acres back to Reuben T. Baisley (1923) | 683/51 |
Dated June 7, 1923, with mortgage covenants, to secure $3,800 in three years at six per cent: "the land in Billerica aforesaid, with the buildings thereon", beginning at the cross road "(now named Allen Road)", thirty acres, "Being the same premises conveyed to the grantor by the grantee by deed of even date". Margin: discharged, Book 797 Page 495.
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| December 10, 1930 | Warranty Deed | Sarah M. Smith of Billerica (husband Albert R. Smith releasing curtesy) | William D. Cochrane of Billerica | Sarah M. Smith conveys the house lot to William D. Cochrane as a straw (1930) | 798/93 |
Dated December 9, 1930, with warranty covenants: "the land in Billerica aforesaid, with the buildings thereon", "Beginning at a cross road (now named Allen Road)", about sixty rods by Richardson and Fletcher, about seventy rods by a stone wall to the Depot road, thirty acres, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Reuben T. Baisley, dated June 7, 1923" (Book 683 Page 50). A straw deed: Cochrane conveyed the same land back the same day (Book 798 Page 94).
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| December 10, 1930 | Warranty Deed | William D. (William Duncan) Cochrane of Billerica, unmarried | Albert R. Smith and Sarah M. Smith of Billerica, husband and wife, as tenants by the entirety | William D. Cochrane reconveys to Albert R. and Sarah M. Smith as tenants by the entirety (1930) | 798/94 |
Dated December 9, 1930, with warranty covenants: the same thirty acres "with the buildings thereon", beginning at the cross road "(now named Allen Road)" leading southerly from the road from Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Centre, conveyed back to Sarah M. Smith and her husband "as tenants by the entirety and not as tenants in common".
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| April 26, 1948 | Warranty Deed | Sarah M. Smith of Billerica, widow | John J. McClain of Medford | Sarah M. Smith, widow, sells the house and 30 acres on Allen Road to John J. McClain (1948) | 1088/538 |
Dated February 24, 1948, with warranty covenants, recorded on pages 538-539: "the land in Billerica, Middlesex County, with the buildings thereon", "Beginning at the cross road, now known as Allen Road, leading southerly from the road running from Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Centre", about sixty rods by Richardson and Fletcher to a stone wall and about seventy rods by the wall to the Depot road, "said parcel containing 30 acres, more or less. These premises are the same conveyed by deeds recorded ... Book 683, page 50; Book 683, page 51; Book 797, page 495; Book 798, page 93; Book 798 page 94". "Husband of grantor is deceased": a certificate recorded with the deed shows that Albert Ross Smith, farmer, of Billerica, died September 17, 1940, and was buried in Fox Hill Cemetery.
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| May 17, 1948 | Quitclaim | John J. McClain of Medford (wife Irene releasing dower and homestead) | Hester M. Porter of Boston | John J. McClain quitclaims the house and 30 acres to Hester M. Porter (1948) | 1090/484 |
Dated April 20, 1948, with quitclaim covenants: "the land in Billerica, County of Middlesex, with the buildings thereon", beginning "at the cross road, now known as Allen Road", about sixty rods by Richardson and Fletcher and about seventy rods by a stone wall to the Depot road, thirty acres, "the same piece of realty" conveyed by the deeds in Book 683 Pages 50 and 51, Book 797 Page 495, Book 798 Pages 93 and 94 and Book 1088 Page 538. Porter mortgaged it the same day to the Reliance Co-operative Bank of Cambridge for $2,500 (page 484-485).
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| July 21, 1948 | Quitclaim | Hester M. Porter of Boston, unmarried | William N. Paglia of Medford | Hester M. Porter sells the house and farm to William N. Paglia, who subdivided it in 1961 (1948) | 1096/416 |
Dated July 20, 1948, with quitclaim covenants ($9.90 in stamps): "the land with the buildings thereon" beginning "at the Cross Road, now known as Allen Road, leading Southerly from the road running from Billerica and Tewksbury Depot to Billerica Center", thirty acres, excepting the part conveyed by Oliver M. Harding to Edward K. Richardson by deed dated December 20, 1882 (Book 157 Page 319) and the lot conveyed by Albert R. Smith and his wife to E. Gertrude Ingram in 1937 (Book 908 Page 47), "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of John J. McClain, dated April 20, 1948" (Book 1090 Page 484). Paglia mortgaged it to the Fellsway Co-operative Bank of Malden for $5,000 (page 417). In 1961 he had the land divided into twelve house lots on Andover Street and Allen Road (Plan Book 95 Plan 64); the house became Lot 10.
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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.