Rogers Barn
The Rogers Barn, now a house at 180 High Street in North Billerica, stands on land that was part of the corner farm at High Street and Mount Pleasant Street, the homestead of the Thomas Rogers House. In 1784 Thomas Rogers sold the corner, 8 acres "with the Buildings", to Isaac Kidder, who sold the farm back to John Rogers in 1789. John Rogers deeded it in two halves to his son Hermon Rogers in 1827, and Hermon, by then of Amesbury, sold "my former Homestead", twenty acres with the buildings, to Frank D. Rogers of Belvidere, Illinois, in 1864. Two years later it passed to George P. Elliott, and the barn, dated to about 1880, was built in his time. In 1887 his widow Ann D. Elliott sold "the George P. Elliott Homestead" to Allan Bottomley.
In September 1911 Bottomley had O. M. Snell survey the High Street frontage into five lots (Plan Book 28, Plan 84). On October 31, 1911 he sold Lot 1, a lot of 100 by 60 feet north of the farmhouse, "together with the buildings thereon", to John E. Rowell of Billerica. Rowell sold it in December 1919, again "with the buildings thereon", to John R. Sutcliffe, who had been born in 1891 as John Rowell Sutcliffe, the son of Walter H. and Mabel E. Sutcliffe and evidently Rowell's grandson.
Sutcliffe deeded the lot to his wife Ruth Mildred Sutcliffe in 1922, and she deeded it back to him in 1929. In 1932 he mortgaged it for $600 to the Woburn National Bank as executor of the will of Harriet J. Deland, with "furnaces, heaters, ranges, gas and electric fixtures" included, the usual form for a dwelling, and in 1941 he paid that off and gave the bank a new mortgage of $900. The Sutcliffes lived here: the 1957 directory lists John R. and Ruth B. Sutcliffe at 180 High Street, he an attendant at the State Hospital in Tewksbury.
In October 1961 Sutcliffe sold Lot 1 to private owners, and it has changed hands privately since, in 1968, 1983 (the first deed to give the address 180 High Street), 2001, 2007 and 2011. Every deed from 1911 on describes the same 5,994.60 square feet, and the assessor still records the parcel as Lot 1 of the 1911 Bottomley plan.
References
Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 5, 1790 | Deed | Thomas Rogers of Billerica, yeoman; Martha Rogers his wife releasing dower | Isaac Kidder of Billerica, yeoman | 1784: Thomas Rogers sells the 8-acre corner on the Wamesit road "with the Buildings" to Isaac Kidder | 101/379 (South) |
For 40 pounds 8s 8d, "a certain tract of land ... containing Eight acres & seventy six rods," beginning at the southeasterly corner and running northerly "upon the road leading from Billerica to Wamassett" (the Lowell road, now High Street) 54 rods, westerly by Isaac Kidder 28 7/10 rods, southerly "by my own land" 58 rods to the road (now Mt. Pleasant Street), and by that road 20 rods to the corner, "with the Buildings & appurtenances." This corner lot is the site of the Thomas Rogers House. Signed Jan. 26, 1784 (witnesses William Kidder, Samuel Foster), five weeks before Rogers made his will; acknowledged Jan. 28, 1784; recorded Jan. 5, 1790. Billerica town book 8, pages 201-202.
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| February 23, 1798 | Deed | Isaac Kidder of Billerica, yeoman; Sarah his wife and Sarah Kidder, widow, releasing dower | John Rogers of Billerica, yeoman | 1789: Isaac Kidder sells the farm back to John Rogers | 128/13 (South) |
For 190 pounds, "a certain tract or parcel of land ... containing by estimation seventy one acres" (the 63 acres from his father plus the 8 acres from Thomas Rogers), beginning "at the Northeasterly angle by the road or highway leading from Billerica to Tewksbury at the wall on the South side of Ebenezer French's Orchard," west along the wall past "the lower garden" to the Concord River, up the river to Timothy Sprague, by Sprague and Thomas Richardson to a road, and by the roads back to the first bounds, "with all the buildings thereon standing"; also ten acres on the other side of the road by Samuel Trull. The widow Sarah Kidder released her dower "in consequence of my sons giving me a lease of one third part of his land & buildings in Townshend." Signed Dec. 15, 1789; recorded Feb. 23, 1798. Billerica town book 9, pages 339-341.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| February 10, 1846 | Deed | John Rogers of Billerica, yeoman | His son Hermon Rogers of Billerica, yeoman | 1827: John Rogers to his son Hermon, second undivided half | 474/379 (South) |
"In consideration of a bond for the support of myself and wife and for the payment of one thousand dollars to my son Cyrus Rogers by my son Hermon Rogers ... and for the love I bear him," John Rogers conveys "one undivided half of all my real estate wheresoever the same may be situated," "I having conveyed to the said Hermon the other half by a deed of this date but he the said Hermon is not to come into the actual possession or improvement thereof until my decease and then not untill he has paid to the said Cyrus the sum of one thousand dollars." With the companion deed (Book 474, Page 380) this put the whole of the 1789 Kidder farm, house included, in Hermon's hands. Signed May 12, 1827 before Joseph Locke; recorded Feb. 10, 1846. Billerica town book 20, pages 53-54.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| February 10, 1846 | Deed | John Rogers | Hermon Rogers | 1827: John Rogers to his son Hermon, first undivided half | 474/380 (South) |
John Rogers of Billerica, yeoman, "in consideration of love and affection and also of past services rendered by my son Hermon Rogers," conveys "one undivided half of all my real estate wherever the same is situated and however bounded or described." Signed May 12, 1827 before Joseph Locke; not recorded until Feb. 10, 1846, with Franklin B. Chapman's deed to Hermon of ten acres by Morey and Stevens, the heirs of William Bowers and C. W. French (Book 474 Page 381). Hazen: Hermon Rogers (1792-1878) "lived in the east part of North Billerica, at the corner of the Lowell road." The descent of the Rogers land from John Rogers Jr., killed here in 1695, to this John Rogers has not been traced. Billerica town book 18, pages 71-72.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| November 11, 1864 | Warranty Deed | Hermon Rogers of Amesbury; Hannah Rogers his wife releasing dower | Frank D. Rogers of Belvidere, Boone County, Illinois | 1864: Hermon Rogers sells "my former Homestead" to Frank D. Rogers | 38/250 |
For $2,500, "a certain tract of land situate in North Billerica ... containing about twenty acres more or less with the buildings thereon," beginning at the southwest corner "at the road leading from North Billerica to Tewksbury at land of Mrs. L. Talbot," north by Talbot and L. Rogers to Martin Conway, east by Conway "to the road leading from Billerica to Lowell," and back along both roads, "known as my former Homestead in Billerica"; also five acres in Broad Meadow, fifteen acres of woodland called the Cold Brook lot (by Dudley Foster, Micajah Rogers and the Boston and Lowell Railroad), and ten acres in East Billerica bought of Franklin B. Chapman in 1846 (Book 474, Page 381). Signed Nov. 1, 1864; recorded Nov. 11, 1864 (Book 38, pages 250-251).
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| May 1, 1866 | Deed | Frank D. Rogers of Belvidere, Illinois; Mary E. Rogers his wife releasing dower | George P. Elliott of Billerica | 1866: Frank D. Rogers to George P. Elliott, 20 acres with the buildings | 49/109 |
For two thousand ... hundred and fifty dollars (the scan is faint), "a certain tract of land located at North Billerica ... containing twenty acres more or less with the buildings thereon," with the same bounds as the 1864 deed (Tewksbury road, Talbot, Martin Conway, road from Billerica to Lowell), and the five acres in Broad Meadow; "being the same conveyed to me in deed of Hermon Rogers dated November 1st 1864 ... Book 38 Page 250." Dated April 1866 (April 25 per the 1887 deed), acknowledged April 30, 1866 before Dudley Foster; recorded May 1866 (Book 49, pages 109-111; exact recording day illegible, entered as May 1).
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| April 22, 1887 | Deed | Ann D. Elliott of Billerica, widow | Allan Bottomley of Billerica | 1887: Elliott's widow sells the George P. Elliott Homestead to Allan Bottomley | 187/154 |
For $6,000, "A certain tract of land located at North Billerica and known as the George P. Elliott Homestead, containing twenty acres, more or less, with the buildings thereon," bounded from the road from North Billerica to Tewksbury (Mt. Pleasant St) at land of Mrs. F. S. Clark, north by Clark and the heirs of Thomas Talbot to Martin Conway, east by Conway to the road from Billerica to Lowell (High St), and back along both roads. "Being premises conveyed to George P. Elliott by Frank D. Rogers by deed dated April 25th 1866 ... Book 49, Page 109, and devised to me by the said George P. Elliott by his last will." Signed April 14, 1887 before Dudley Foster; recorded April 22, 1887 (Book 187, pages 154-155).
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| November 17, 1911 | Deed | Allan Bottomley of Billerica; Jane Bottomley releasing dower | John E. Rowell of Billerica | 1911: Bottomley sells Lot 1, the barn lot, to John E. Rowell | 479/338 |
For one dollar and other consideration, "a certain lot of land together with the buildings thereon" on the westerly side of High Street, "being lot No. 1 on a Plan of Land in North Billerica Mass. belonging to Allan Bottomley, Sept. 1911, surveyed by O. M. Snell C.E." (Plan Book 28, Plan 84), 100 by 60 feet, 5,994.60 square feet, "a part of the premises conveyed to me by Ann D. Elliot" in 1887. This lot, north of the house, held the old barn; Lots 2 to 5 along High Street were laid out on the same plan. Signed Oct. 31, 1911; recorded Nov. 17, 1911.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| December 30, 1919 | Warranty Deed | John E. Rowell of Billerica; Marietta F. Rowell his wife releasing dower and homestead | John R. Sutcliffe of Billerica | 1919: John E. Rowell sells Lot 1 with the buildings to John R. Sutcliffe | 617/487 |
Signed and acknowledged at Lowell December 17, 1919 before John J. Hickman; recorded December 30. For consideration paid, with warranty covenants, "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on the westerly side of High Street, in that part thereof known as North Billerica and being lot number one (1)" on the September 1911 plan of Allan Bottomley's land by O. M. Snell (Plan Book 28, Plan 84): from a drill hole on High Street westerly 100 feet, northerly 60 feet, easterly 100 feet to the street and back 60 feet, 5,994.60 square feet. "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Allan Bottomley by his deed dated October 31, 1911" (Book 479, Page 338). The grantee assumes the 1919 taxes. Sutcliffe, born in 1891 to Walter H. and Mabel E. Sutcliffe and named John Rowell Sutcliffe, was evidently Rowell's grandson.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| September 11, 1922 | Quitclaim | John R. Sutcliffe of Billerica | His wife Ruth Mildred Sutcliffe of Billerica | 1922: John R. Sutcliffe puts the lot in his wife Ruth's name | 667/429 |
Signed and acknowledged August 31, 1922 before W. Franklin Burnham; recorded September 11. For consideration paid, with quitclaim covenants, "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon", Lot 1 on the 1911 Bottomley plan (Plan Book 28, Plan 84), with the same bounds and 5,994.60 square feet. "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of John E. Rowell, dated Dec. 17, 1919" (Book 617, Page 487). Ruth Mildred Sutcliffe signs as well, releasing dower and homestead. The same day John R. Sutcliffe also conveyed to her a lot east of High Street (Book 667, Page 427).
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| September 19, 1929 | Quitclaim | Ruth Mildred Sutcliffe of Billerica; John R. Sutcliffe her husband releasing curtesy | John R. Sutcliffe of Billerica | 1929: Ruth Sutcliffe deeds the lot back to her husband | 782/13 |
Signed and acknowledged July 15, 1929 before W. Franklin Burnham; recorded September 19 (pages 13-14). For consideration paid, with quitclaim covenants, "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on the westerly side of High Street", Lot 1 on Plan Book 28, Plan 84, the same 5,994.60 square feet. The recital names only "the same premises conveyed to John R. Sutcliffe by deed of John E. Rowell, dated Dec. 17, 1919" (Book 617, Page 487), skipping her own 1922 deed. On the same page Ruth M. Sutcliffe sold three Central Park lots to A. Waldo Phinney (other land).
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| September 8, 1932 | Mortgage | John R. Sutcliffe of Billerica; Ruth Mildred Sutcliffe his wife releasing dower and homestead | Woburn National Bank, Executor of the will of Harriet J. Deland | 1932: Sutcliffe mortgages the house lot for $600 | 817/65 |
Signed September 3, 1932 and acknowledged before John G. Maguire; recorded September 8 (pages 65-66). To secure $600 in one year at six percent, "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon" on the west side of High Street, Lot 1 on Plan Book 28, Plan 84, 5,994.60 square feet, "Being the same premises described in a deed to John R. Sutcliffe from Ruth Mildred Sutcliffe, dated July 15th, 1929" (Book 782, Page 13), "Including all furnaces, heaters, ranges, gas and electric fixtures, screens, screen doors, window shades, storm windows and storm doors". This fixtures clause is the printed form of the time, but it shows the building was being mortgaged as a dwelling. Discharged July 2, 1941 (Book 963, Page 30).
Title from:
|
|||||
| July 3, 1941 | Mortgage | John R. Sutcliffe of Billerica | Woburn National Bank | 1941: the 1932 mortgage is discharged and Sutcliffe gives a new $900 mortgage; later sales summarized | 963/31 |
Recorded July 3, 1941 (pages 31-32), directly after the bank's discharge, as trustee under the will of Harriet J. Deland, of the 1932 mortgage (Book 817, Page 65), signed July 2, 1941 by William M. Cooke, trust officer. To secure $900 at five percent, payable at seven dollars a month from August 1, 1941, the balance in ten years, "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon situated on the Westerly side of High Street", Lot #1 on Plan Book 28, Plan 84, 5,994.60 square feet, "the same premises described in a deed from Ruth Mildred Sutcliffe to me, dated July 15, 1929" (Book 782, Page 13), with fixtures including oil burners and refrigerators. The Sutcliffes lived here: the 1957 directory lists John R. and Ruth B. Sutcliffe, an attendant at the Tewksbury State Hospital, at 180 High Street. Sutcliffe sold Lot 1 to private owners in October 1961 (Book 1531, Page 289, reciting the 1929 deed); they resold it in 1968 (Book 1858, Page 431), and later private sales followed in 1983 (Book 2658, Page 130, the first deed to name "180 High Street"), 2001, 2007 and 2011.
Title from:
Related:
|
|||||
Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.