Rufus Kitteredge Underhill House
Rufus Kitteredge Underhill House
| Address | 67 Andover Rd |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.24 |
| Built | 1875 |
The Rufus Kitteredge Underhill House stands back from the south side of Andover Road on a rise east of the Deacon Edward Wright House, a towered Italianate house built about 1875 for Rufus K. Underhill, who had made his money in the edge-tool business in Nashua and Boston. The twelve acres it was built on had been pasture for more than a century before that.
The land was known as the Kidder pasture. In 1753 Enoch Kidder gave his son Samuel Kidder twenty-two acres "on the East side of the Highway that goes from Ebenezer French's to Joshua Davis's", probably the core of it. On April 1, 1793 Samuel Kidder sold Josiah Bowers Jr. "twenty five acres and ninety seven poles", running from "the northeast corner of Benjamin Baldwins dwelling house" along the road "in a curve line one hundred and twenty rods to land of Jonas French", with Nahum Baldwin's pasture on the southwest. Captain Bowers died unmarried in 1824, and in the 1826 division of his estate the Kidder pasture, then counted at 27 1/2 acres, was split between two of his heirs. His sister Sarah French received the half next to the Nahum Baldwin land, thirteen acres and one hundred poles.
Sarah French, by then a widow living in Lowell, sold her half to Edward Wright on April 27, 1846 for $700, "meaning and intending to convey the estate as set off to me" in her brother's estate "in the Kidder Pasture so called". Deacon Wright already owned the old poorhouse lot next west, and he sold about an acre at the northeast corner to Elizabeth A. French. When he died in 1863 his inventory listed "about twelve acres" next to his homestead.
On January 3, 1874 his widow Mary E. Wright and their children sold Rufus K. Underhill, for $1,000, "a certain tract of land situate on the Road leading from the Centre of Billerica to Andover, Containing twelve acres more or less", with the Baldwin land on the south and James Tyler's on the east. The deed names no buildings. Underhill was born in Chester, New Hampshire in 1819. He built the house soon after the purchase: it appears on the 1875 map, Hazen's history of 1883 printed a picture of the residence, and the road was gravelled "to R. K. Underhills" in 1890. Underhill died on May 11, 1895.
His heirs kept the place until November 29, 1913, when his son Jay T. Underhill and Marion T. Blodgett sold three quarters and the guardian of a minor grandson sold the last quarter to William A. Merriam of Billerica, together $4,000, for "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon, containing an area of twelve (12) acres". Merriam's heirs sold it on April 10, 1924 to Clifford D. Little of Malden. Little mortgaged it several times, and in 1931 the Middlesex Co-operative Bank foreclosed and sold it at auction on the premises to Emil Goduti of Somerville for $5,575. The Goduti family conveyed it to Joseph L. Goduti in 1948, and that June he sold a 10,625 square foot house lot on the road to Gleason H. and Winifred Ellice.
The rest of the twelve acres, with the house, was sold to private owners in 1955 and changed hands again in 1968, 1976 and 1985. In 2007 the land was divided: the house kept 2.29 acres as Lot 1, and the 8.92 acres of former pasture behind it, Lot 2, went to developers and in 2021 to the Town of Billerica.
References
- MACRIS BIL.24
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883), Genealogical Register p. 152: Rufus Kittredge Underhill, b. 1819, edge-tool maker; with the plate "Residence of Rufus K. Underhill".
- Billerica assessor: parcel 51-54-2, 67 Andover Rd, 2.290 acres; Lot 1 of Plan 223-72 (2007 subdivision that created 51-54-3, the rear 8.92 acres).
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| October 23, 1754 | Gift | Enoch Kidder of Billerica, gentleman (Sarah Kidder his wife) | His son Samuel Kidder of Billerica, husbandman | Enoch Kidder gives his son Samuel land east of the highway, probably the Kidder pasture (1753) | 53/13 (South) |
Billerica town book 5, pages 341-343. Dated Jan. 25, 1753, acknowledged March 6, 1753 before Benjamin Tompson. For "the Love good will and affection which I have and do bear unto my Son", two parcels valued at 60 pounds "as part of his Portion": "one piece containing twenty two acres and one hundred and fifty two Poles lying on the East side of the Highway that goes from Ebenezer French's to Joshua Davis's", bounded by the Ministry lot, Thomas Hosley, Ebenezer French and other land of Enoch Kidder, and 2 1/4 acres of meadow in Broad Meadow by Samuel Sheldon and the Concord River. Probably the core of the pasture Samuel Kidder sold to Josiah Bowers Jr. in 1793 (the bounds do not match exactly).
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| March 14, 1781 | Will | Estate of Enoch Kidder of Billerica, gentleman | His son Samuel Kidder, executor, and his other children and grandchildren | Will of Enoch Kidder (1781): his land on the Andover road was already Samuel's | Probate #13221 |
Will dated Oct. 14, 1780, proved March 14, 1781 (witnesses William Stickney, Joshua Abbot, Jonathan Stickney). All his lands, buildings and personal estate to be "Equally Divided among" his son Samuel, Benjamin and Joseph Kidder, the heirs of his daughters Abigail Parker and Sarah, his daughters Elizabeth Livermore and Rebecca; the heirs of his son Solomon to have no share, "I having given him his full portion in my Estate in his Life time". Samuel Kidder executor. The inventory of Feb. 6, 1781 lists real estate only west of the Concord River (about 68 acres and five acres of meadow), so the Andover road pasture Samuel sold in 1793 was already his own.
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| April 19, 1825 | Warranty Deed | Samuel Kidder of Billerica, yeoman (Abigail Kidder his wife releasing dower) | Josiah Bowers Jr. of Billerica, gentleman | Samuel Kidder sells the 25-acre Kidder pasture to Josiah Bowers Jr. (1793) | 259/491 (South) |
Billerica town book 13, pages 332-333. Dated April 1, 1793, acknowledged April 9, 1793 before Edward Farmer, recorded only on April 19, 1825. For 128 pounds 6 pence, "a certain tract of land in Billerica aforesaid containing twenty five acres and ninety seven poles", beginning "at the wall at the northeast corner of Benjamin Baldwins dwelling house", by the road "in a curve line one hundred and twenty rods to land of Jonas French", then by French land and walls, northwesterly 20 poles by land of Nahum Baldwin and northerly 20 poles by Benjamin Baldwin to the first corner. No buildings. This is the "Kidder pasture" of the later deeds. Witnesses Peter Hill and John Kidder.
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| 1824 | Administration | Estate of Capt. Josiah Bowers of Billerica, gentleman, intestate | Andrew Bowers of Salisbury, N.H., administrator; his brothers and sisters, heirs | Capt. Josiah Bowers estate: the Kidder pasture divided, half to his sister Sarah French (1826) | Probate #2301 |
Josiah Bowers died intestate on Nov. 17, 1824, leaving no widow. His heirs (James Bowers, Luther French, Amos Muzzy, Jacob Norton by his attorney Joseph Locke, and others) asked that "Andrew Bowers Esq. of Salisbury" be administrator, and he was appointed Nov. 23, 1824. The personal estate was auctioned Feb. 16-17, 1825; the account allowed Apr. 25, 1826 shows personal estate of $310.42 and "proceeds of sale of Real Estate sold by order of the Judge" of $1220, with the guardian's account of $488.32 among the debts.
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| July 16, 1846 | Warranty Deed | Sarah French of Lowell, widow, sister of Capt. Josiah Bowers | Edward Wright of Billerica | Sarah French sells her half of the Kidder pasture to Edward Wright (1846) | 489/356 (South) |
Billerica town book 18, pages 190-191. Dated April 27, 1846, acknowledged June 1, 1846 before Josiah B. French. For $700, "a certain tract of land situated in Billerica aforesaid lying on the road leading from Billerica Meetinghouse to Andover South Parish containing thirteen acres and one hundred poles", bounded south by Henry Baldwin's land "formerly owned by the heirs of Nahum Baldwin", east by James Tyler, and running to the road 38 rods east of the northwest corner and back by other land of Wright. "Meaning and intending to convey the estate as set off to me by Samuel Whiting, Blany Abbott and Ichabod Everett commissioners appointed by the Judge of Probate to divide the Estate of my late brother Josiah Bowers as that part of said division as set to me in the Kidder Pasture so called." Indexed as "Kidder Pasture".
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| 1864 | Administration | Estate of Edward Wright of Billerica (died Sept. 11, 1863, intestate) | His son E. Irving Wright of Roxbury, administrator; widow Mary E. Wright; minor children Clara J., Ella F. and Anna E. Wright of Billerica | Estate of Edward Wright (1864): the twelve acres pass to his widow and heirs | Probate #45207 |
Petition of March 4, 1864 by "the eldest son of said deceased and only child of age", the widow assenting; administration granted at Cambridge March 8, 1864, estate sworn under $5,000. Inventory by William S. Gleason, Ichabod G. Kimball and Moses P. Greenwood, filed April 26, 1864: "Home Stead" $600; "Land with buildings adjoining homestead" $550; "Land adjoining the above, about twelve acres" $550; personal estate $155.50, room by room (kitchen, parlor, pantry, parlor chamber, west chamber, attic, library, entry, cellar, "tools at barn", a sewing machine). No sale of real estate followed: the land passed to the widow (dower) and the heirs, who divided it in 1901.
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| January 14, 1874 | Warranty Deed | Mary E. Wright of Billerica, widow; Anna E. Mathews and her husband; E. Irving Wright of Newton (E. Maria Wright releasing); Ella J. Kinney and her husband; legal heirs of Edward Wright | Rufus K. Underhill of Billerica | The Wright heirs sell the twelve acres to Rufus K. Underhill, who builds the house (1874) | 99/109 |
Dated Jan. 3, 1874. For $1,000, "a certain tract of land situate on the Road leading from the Centre of Billerica to Andover, Containing twelve acres more or less", south by land formerly of Henry Baldwin, east by land formerly of James Tyler, north to land formerly of Elizabeth A. French and by her land westerly 250 feet, then to the road, westerly by the road "to a wall at other land of said heirs" and back by the wall. "Being premises conveyed to Edward Wright by Sarah French, deed dated April 27th 1846 ... Book 489 Page 356, with the exception of the lot conveyed to Elizabeth A. French by said Edward Wright of about one acre." No buildings are named: Underhill bought bare pasture and built the house, which is on the 1875 map.
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| January 29, 1914 | Guardian's Deed | Arthur L. Blodgett of Lexington, guardian of his son Arthur Raymond Blodgett, minor, an heir of Rufus K. Underhill | William A. Merriam of Billerica | Guardian of Underhill's grandson sells his quarter to William A. Merriam (1913) | 516/459 |
Dated Nov. 29, 1913, acknowledged the same day before John Underhay. Under a license of the Middlesex Probate Court of Oct. 20, 1913, for $1,000, "one undivided fourth part of a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon, containing an area of twelve (12) acres, more or less, situate in said Billerica on the road leading from the centre of said Billerica to Andover", the 1874 bounds, "Being all and the same land described in a deed from Mary E. Wright et als to the said Rufus K. Underhill, dated January 3, 1874". The minor was the child of Arthur L. Blodgett and his late wife Jessie Blodgett of Billerica, evidently Underhill's daughter Jessie Fremont Underhill (born 1868).
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| January 29, 1914 | Quitclaim | Jay T. Underhill of Melrose (Carrie D. Underhill releasing) and Marion T. Blodgett of Lexington, heirs at law of Rufus K. Underhill | William A. Merriam of Billerica | Underhill's heirs sell the house and twelve acres to William A. Merriam (1913) | 516/461 |
Dated Nov. 29, 1913, acknowledged Jan. 8, 1914. The heirs of "Rufus K. Underhill, late of Billerica ... deceased, excepting Arthur Raymond Blodgett, a minor under guardianship", for $3,000 release "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon, containing an area of twelve (12) acres more or less", the same bounds and title (Book 99, Page 109). Underhill had died on May 11, 1895; with the guardian's deed Merriam had the whole place.
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| January 29, 1914 | Mortgage | William A. Merriam of Billerica | Arthur L. Blodgett of Lexington | Merriam mortgages the place to Arthur L. Blodgett (1913) | 516/462 |
Dated Nov. 29, 1913. A $2,500 purchase-money mortgage of the same twelve acres "with the buildings thereon" on the road from the centre of Billerica to Andover. Margin: discharged in Book 550, Page 229.
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| April 10, 1924 | Warranty Deed | Walter R. Merriam of Canton, Arthur W. Merriam of Billerica, Elizabeth M. Bartlett and her husband Elmer H. Bartlett of Walpole, heirs of William A. Merriam | Clifford D. Little of Malden | The Merriam heirs sell to Clifford D. Little (1924) | 704/165 |
Dated April 10, 1924, $7.00 in revenue stamps. "A certain tract of land with the buildings thereon, containing an area of twelve (12) acres, more or less, situate in said Billerica on the road leading from the centre of said Billerica to Andover", the 1874 bounds, "Being the same premises described in a deed from Mary E. Wright et al to Rufus K. Underhill" (Book 99, Page 109). Bertha E. and Inez L. Merriam release dower. Little gave a purchase-money mortgage to the sellers the same day (Book 700, Page 531).
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| June 2, 1931 | Foreclosure Deed | The Middlesex Co-operative Bank of Lowell, mortgagee of Clifford D. Little | Emil Goduti of Somerville | Foreclosure: the Middlesex Co-operative Bank sells to Emil Goduti (1931) | 802/296 |
Dated May 29, 1931. Under the power of sale in Little's mortgage of Nov. 25, 1927 (Book 757, Page 464), after notice in The Billerica News and an auction on the premises on May 9, 1931, for $5,575, "A certain tract of land, with the buildings thereon, containing an area of twelve (12) acres, more or less ... on the road leading from the center of said Billerica to Andover", the 1874 bounds, subject to unpaid taxes. The bank had taken possession on May 11 (Book 802, Page 115).
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| March 24, 1948 | Quitclaim | Emil Goduti and Alice C. Goduti of Somerville | Joseph L. Goduti of Billerica | Emil and Alice C. Goduti convey to Joseph L. Goduti; later owners summarized (1948) | 1087/511 |
Dated March 20, 1948. A family transfer for nominal consideration of "a certain tract of land, with the buildings thereon, containing an area of twelve (12) acres, more or less", the 1874 bounds, "Being the same premises conveyed to said Emil Goduti by the Middlesex Co-operative Bank" in 1931. Later owners (private): after the 1948 sale of a house lot on the road (Book 1094, Page 239), the rest of the twelve acres with the house was sold in 1955 (Book 1313, Page 442), 1968 (Book 1854, Page 486), 1976 ($47,000, Book 2204, Page 467) and 1985 ($75,000, Book 2989, Page 227). In 2007 the land was divided on Plan 223-72: the rear 8.92 acres (Lot 2) were sold to a developer (Book 20923, Page 137, $490,600), passed to Sunrise Development Inc. in 2012 (Book 25949, Page 253) and to the Town of Billerica in 2021 for $3.8 million (Book 35347, Page 53); the house on Lot 1, 2.29 acres, went to the owners' realty trust (Book 21725, Page 28).
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| June 25, 1948 | Quitclaim | Joseph L. Goduti of Billerica, unmarried | Gleason H. Ellice and Winifred Ellice of Billerica | A house lot on the road is cut off and sold to the Ellices (1948) | 1094/239 |
Dated June 25, 1948, $11.45 in stamps. "The land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on the southerly side of Andover Road, containing 10,625 square feet", 85 feet on the road and 125 feet deep, east by land formerly of Elizabeth A. French, south and west by the grantor's other land, "Being a part of the same premises to me conveyed by Emil Goduti et ux" in 1948. A house lot cut from the front of the twelve acres, excepted in every later deed of the Underhill place.
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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.