Samuel Ruggles House
Samuel Ruggles House
| Also Known As | John Parker House |
| Address | 19 Concord Rd |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.53 |
| Built | 1710 |
| Moved | 1972 |
| New Address | 5 River St |
| Owners |
John Parker
(1819 - 1832)
Charles H. Parker (1861 - 1868) |
| Other Lot Structures |
Universalist Church (1842 -
1868)
Centre Schoolhouse (River Street) (1870 - 1892) Gardner Parker Hall (1892 - 1940) |
The Samuel Ruggles House stood for more than 260 years on the west side of Concord Road at the corner of Blanchard Avenue, just south of the Common, before it was moved in 1972 to River Street. It was probably built about 1710 by the Rev. Samuel Ruggles, Billerica's second minister, at the time of his marriage to Elizabeth Whiting, daughter of the first minister, the Rev. Samuel Whiting. The frame is of that date; the two-story portico, hip roof, fine dentil work in two rooms and an ell were added in a Federal remodeling of the 1790s. In December 1712 Mr. Ruggles, who already owned the land to the north, bought from John Rogers Jr. "one Messuage or Tenement ... about nine acres" bounded east by the highway and west by Nathaniel Rogers, filling out a homestead that ran along the road south from the meeting house.
Mr. Ruggles died early in 1749. By his will of June 1748 he divided the house between his sons, leaving Joseph "the one half of my house viz. that half which stands towards the south" and William "the other half of my house & barn," while his unmarried daughters might live in the north chamber; he also directed that his slave Phillis be sold. His inventory valued "about Sixteen acres of Land ... together with a Large Mansion House" at 2,300 pounds. The brothers, both clothiers, did not keep it long. William sold Joseph his eight acres "together with the one half of a Mansion house & Barn," and on Nov. 13, 1755 Joseph sold twelve acres near the meeting house "with the Buildings thereon Viz. a Dwelling House which was my Father Ruggles's in which I now dwell also a Barn and a Shop" to his brother-in-law the Rev. Daniel Rogers, minister of Littleton. Joseph moved to the north part of town, where he started a fulling mill.
How the house passed from Rogers to John Parker is not recorded; Rogers's estate in 1782 held no land in Billerica. Parker had come to Billerica shortly before 1750, married Abigail Kidder in 1751 and built up a prosperous tannery on the brook south of the Common, and he lived in his own house on the south side of the Common. His will of 1801 left his son Stephen Parker "the whole of my farm on the west side of Concord road, commonly called the Ruggles farm," with the barn. Stephen lived here for a time, and the remodeling probably dates from his marriage to Mary Duren, daughter of the builder Reuben Duren; the old central chimney and cramped front entry were kept. By 1819 the house was the home of his brother John Parker Jr., to whom Stephen sold the five acres "near the said John Parker's dwelling house ... enclosed with a stone wall all round."
John Parker Jr. died in 1832, leaving "my House Lot ... about twelve acres of land, with a Dwelling House, Barn & outbuildings" two thirds to his wife Susan and one third to his daughter Ann. Susan left her share to her son George in 1841; George sold it to his sister Maria and her husband Marshall Preston in March 1842, and in September they sold it to Ann Parker, who then owned the whole house lot. In 1845 she sold John Baldwin the "Academy Lot" behind it. Ann Parker died unmarried in 1861 and left the residue of her estate to her nephew Charles Henry Parker, the shoemaker next door, who in 1868 sold the six and a half acres "with all the buildings thereon" to John Baldwin, his father-in-law. When Baldwin's estate was divided in 1876 the house went to the five children of his daughter Mary B. Parker: Mary C. Morey, Clara B. Reed and Frederick A., Charles W. and Lucy B. Parker. In 1907, after Frederick had deeded his interest to his brother-in-law Nathan H. Reed, the Reeds sold the property to Fannie M. Blanchard.
Miss Blanchard laid out Blanchard Avenue across the land, and on E. P. Sellew's plan of 1915 the house stood on Lot 3A, 33,200 square feet "on the southwesterly corner of Blanchard Avenue and the Concord Road," which she sold in December 1915 to Martha A. Greeley of Boston. The Greeleys sold it in 1919 to Florence M. Barton, and in June 1922 the Bartons sold it to Dr. Maurice S. Buck, who lived here until about 1940 and was for many years chairman of the School Committee and a selectman. The house stayed with his family until 1964, when it was sold under the will of Bessie C. Buck.
In March 1970 Town Meeting voted to acquire the corner lot as the site of a new public library, and on July 6, 1970 the Selectmen took it by eminent domain, "a parcel of land together with the buildings thereon." The house was moved in 1972 to a lot on the north side of River Street owned by the Stearns family, the site of the old Universalist church, schoolhouse and Gardner Parker Hall, and the library (now the Council on Aging) was built on the old site. The house was listed in the Billerica Common National Register district in 1973 and the local historic district in 1990, and it has been privately owned since 1984.
References
- MACRIS BIL.53
- Middlesex County Probate File Papers, 1648-1871: Ruggles (19569), Rogers (19447) and Parker estates (16643, 16646, 38803, 38954)
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): the Rev. Samuel Ruggles and the Parker family
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| July 31, 1713 | Deed | John Rogers Jr. of Billerica | The Rev. Samuel Ruggles of Billerica | Samuel Ruggles buys the nine acres south of his land on the road from the meeting house | 16/343 (South) |
For 26 pounds, "one Messuage or Tenement situate in Billerica abovesaid Containing about nine acres be it more or less, bounded on the East by the High way, on the North by the Land of Samuel Ruggles & Enoch Kidder, on the West by the Land of Nathaniel Rogers, and on the South by the Land of Saml. ffassett with all the buildings, with all the Fences and Trees thereon standing (Excepting Nathaniel Rogers his orchard which is Contained within the bounds abovesaid)." Dated Dec. 8, 1712 (11 Anne), signed by the mark of John Rogers Jr., witnessed by Samuel Fassett, Thomas Ball and Jacob Danforth; acknowledged Jan. 16, 1712/13 before Jonathan Tyng; recorded at Charlestown July 31, 1713. Ruggles, the town's second minister, already owned the land to the north; with this purchase his homestead ran along the road south from the meeting house to the Fassett (later Danforth) line, the sixteen acres "Bounded Easterly on the Country Road ... westerly on Land of Capt. Enoch Kidder" of his 1749 inventory. Billerica town book 1, pages 518-519.
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| 1749 | Will and Inventory | Rev. Samuel Ruggles of Billerica, clerk | His sons Joseph Ruggles and William Ruggles; his daughters | Rev. Samuel Ruggles's will and inventory: sixteen acres "with a Large Mansion House" | Probate #19569 |
Will dated June 29, 1748: to "my Beloved Son Joseph Ruggles the one half of my house viz. that half which stands towards the south," half the barn and yard and about seven or eight acres "lying between my Orchard and Mr. Jacob Danforth's land," with his silver tankard, Joseph to pay the debts and be sole executor; to his son William Ruggles "the other half of my house & barn and the other part of my Homestead Land," reserving to his daughters Lucy and Sarah the right to live in the north chamber while single; bequests to his daughters Elizabeth Rogers (wife of Rev. Daniel Rogers of Littleton), Martha (wife of John Whiting of Littleton), Dorothy (wife of Rev. Mr. Morrill of Wilmington), Lucy and Sarah Ruggles, and the sale of his "Negrowoman (Phillis)" with the money divided among three daughters. Witnesses Joshua Abbott, Jacob Danforth and John Chandler. The inventory of April 1749 lists his library at 228 pounds and, last, "the Real Estate to about Sixteen acres of Land Consisting of pasturing mowing & orcharding Bounded Easterly on the Country Road Northerly on a high way westerly on Land of Capt. Enoch Kidder Southerly on land of Lt. Jacob Danforth together with a Large Mansion House and other the Buildings thereon standing," at 2,300 pounds old tenor. Middlesex probate case 19569.
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| 1754 | Deed | William Ruggles of Billerica, clothier | His brother Joseph Ruggles of Billerica | William Ruggles sells his half of the mansion house and barn to his brother Joseph | 53/455 (South) |
For 146 pounds 13 shillings 8 pence, "a Certain peice or parcel of Land & orcharding ... Containing by Estimation Eight acres," bounded northerly on a highway, easterly on a highway and Joseph Ruggles's land, southerly on Ruggles's land and westerly on land of Capt. Enoch Kidder, "together with the one half of a Mansion house & Barn being premises that were given to me the said William Ruggles in my Honrd Father's Last will & testament." Dated 1754 and recorded 1756 (per the index). With this deed Joseph Ruggles, who already had the south half of the house under the will, owned the whole house. Billerica town book 5, pages 365-366.
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| July 14, 1756 | Deed | Joseph Ruggles of Billerica, clothier, and Sarah his wife | The Rev. Daniel Rogers of Littleton, clerk | Joseph Ruggles sells the house "which was my Father Ruggles's" and twelve acres to the Rev. Daniel Rogers | 54/451 (South) |
For 266 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence, "a Tract of Land lying in Billerica aforesaid near the Meeting House containing twelve acres be it more or less consisting of Orcharding Plowland Mowing and Pasturage with the Buildings thereon Viz. a Dwelling House which was my Father Ruggles's in which I now dwell also a Barn and a Shop," beginning at a stake and stones at the southeast corner of Mr. John Chandler's land, southerly by the Common and highway to the southeast corner, westerly by land of David and Timothy Danforth to the wall at a corner of Capt. Enoch Kidder's lot, then northerly, easterly and northerly by Kidder's land, and easterly by Mr. Chandler's land to the beginning; Sarah released dower. Dated Nov. 13, 1755, witnessed by Saml. Whiting and Oliver Abbot, acknowledged the same day before Thos. Kidder, recorded at Cambridge July 14, 1756. Rogers, minister of Littleton, was married to Joseph's sister Elizabeth. How the house then came to John Parker the tanner is not recorded: no deed from Rogers is in the Billerica books, and the inventory of Rogers's estate in 1782 lists land only in Littleton and Cambridge. Billerica town book 5, pages 393-395.
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| 1782 | Will and Inventory | The Rev. Daniel Rogers of Littleton, clerk | His son Daniel Rogers (executor) and daughters Sarah and Lucy Rogers | Rev. Daniel Rogers's estate, 1782: no Billerica land left | Probate #19447 |
Will dated Oct. 25, 1779: five shillings each to his sons Jeremiah Dummer Rogers and Samuel Rogers and his daughter Elizabeth Willard, who "are now absent and their Return prohibited"; 200 pounds each to his unmarried daughters Sarah and Lucy with the use of half the dwelling house; the residue to his son Daniel and to Sarah and Lucy, with a share for the absent children if they are ever allowed to return; his son Daniel executor with power to sell real estate. Witnesses William Henry Prentice, Abraham Patch Jr. and Joseph Sawtell. Proved Dec. 11, 1782 before Judge Oliver Prescott. The inventory of Dec. 9, 1782 lists as real estate only "The Mantion House out Buildings and farm in Littleton containing about 115 acres," a small house with about ten acres, and "A Farm in Cambridge ... about 200 Acres": the Billerica house Rogers bought from Joseph Ruggles in 1755 was no longer his. Middlesex probate case 19447.
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| 1803 | Will | John Parker of Billerica, gentleman (tanner) | His sons Stephen Parker and John Parker (executors) and his other children | John Parker's will: "the Ruggles farm" to his son Stephen | Probate #16643 |
Will dated March 27, 1801, with a codicil of Feb. 28, 1803. To his son John the tan-house and tan-yard and a strip from the Common westward to the wall of the orchard, among other land; to his son Stephen "my dwelling-house, and the land adjoining" on the south side of the Common, on condition he support his sister Abigail, and "I also bequeath to my said son, Stephen, the whole of my farm on the west side of Concord road, commonly called the Ruggles farm, except that small parcel of it which I have given to my son, John. This bequest is to be understood as including the barn, and all other appurtenances belonging to said farm." Legacies to sons Daniel and Samuel and daughters Sarah Bowers, Anne Prichard and Elizabeth Breed. Witnesses Henry Cumings, Jacob Richardson and John Richardson Jr. Proved at Woburn Sept. 20, 1803 before Judge Oliver Prescott. This is the first record of the house in Parker hands. Middlesex probate case 16643.
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| December 11, 1837 | Warranty Deed | Stephen Parker of Billerica, gentleman, and Sibel his wife | His brother John Parker of Billerica, Esq. | Stephen Parker sells his brother John the five acres by John's dwelling house | 368/529 (South) |
For $1,200, "the following described piece of land containing five acres & the same more or less," beginning "at an Elm tree near the said John Parker's dwelling house," westerly by John Parker's land about twenty rods to a stone wall running south, southerly by the wall seven or eight rods, westerly again by John Parker's land about twenty rods, southerly by Stephen Parker's land about eighteen rods to land of the Revd. Nathl. Whitman, easterly by Whitman "by the wall as it now stands to the road leading south from the meeting house" about forty rods, and by the road to the beginning, "the said piece of land being now enclosed with a stone wall all round with all the buildings thereon standing." Dated Oct. 13, 1819, witnessed by M. Preston and Elizabeth Parker, acknowledged Oct. 30, 1819 before Blaney Abbot, recorded Dec. 11, 1837. By 1819 John Parker Jr. was living in the Ruggles house; this completed the twelve-acre house lot of his will. On the same page is Stephen's 1829 release to John of half the "City Farm." Billerica town book 15, pages 487-488.
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| 1832 | Will | John Parker of Billerica (d. 1832) | His wife Susan Parker and daughter Ann Parker; other children and grandchildren | John Parker's will: the twelve-acre house lot to his wife Susan and daughter Ann | Probate #16646 |
Will dated Dec. 20, 1831: to his wife Susan Parker "two undivided third parts of my House Lot in Billerica, consisting of about twelve acres of land, with a Dwelling House, Barn & outbuildings thereon: bounded easterly on the road, southerly on land of the Rev. N. Whitman, westerly on land of Gardner Parker, and northerly on land late of Stephen Parker & Samuel Foster to said road," with a wood lot and the Oliver Abbot lot for life; to his daughter Ann Parker "one undivided third part of my House Lot containing about twelve acres of land, with Dwelling House, Barn & out buildings"; to his son David half the tanyard; to his daughter Maria, wife of Marshall Preston, the Minister Lot; to his grandsons Francis James Parker, Charles Henry Parker and Frederic Augustus Parker and granddaughter Henrietta Parker, other land and money; son-in-law Marshall Preston executor. Witnesses Phineas How, Tilly Merrick and Nathan Brooks. Proved at Lowell June 5, 1832. Middlesex probate case 16646.
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| 1841 | Will | Susan Parker of Billerica, widow of John Parker | Her son George Parker; her daughter Maria Preston | Susan Parker's will: her two thirds of the homestead to her son George | Probate #38954 |
Will dated Oct. 11, 1841: to "my son George Parker, two undivided third parts of the Homestead where I now live, consisting of about twelve acres of land, with a Dwelling house, barn and out buildings thereon, bounded Easterly on the road, Southerly on land of George Bacon, westerly on land of Gardner Parker and Northerly on land of said Gardner Parker, and of Samuel Foster, to said road"; to "Ann Parker the daughter of my late Husband, John Parker," a wood lot for life and furniture; the residue to her daughter Maria Preston, wife of Marshall Preston, the executor. Witnesses Thomas Shed, Chas. E. Parker and Mary Wilson. Proved at Concord Nov. 9, 1841, with George Parker's assent. Middlesex probate case 38954.
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| April 14, 1842 | Deed | George Parker of Clinton, Oneida County, N.Y., merchant, and Catharine Ann his wife | Marshall Preston of Billerica, Esq., and Maria Preston his wife, as joint tenants | George Parker sells his two thirds to the Prestons | 414/358 (South) |
For $2,000, "two undivided third parts of a certain messuage the homestead of the late Susan Parker deceased mother of the said George and Maria situate in said Billerica containing twelve acres more or less," bounded easterly on the Concord road and the Common, southerly by George Bacon, westerly by Gardner Parker, and northerly on the widow Sybil Parker's dower land, Capt. Samuel Foster, the heirs of Doct. Wm. Bowers and in part the Billerica Academy, "being the same devised to me in the last will & testament of my said mother." Dated March 22, 1842, witnessed by John Baldwin, John Baldwin Jr. and Rufus Mills, acknowledged the same day, recorded April 14, 1842. Billerica town book 17, pages 275-276.
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| October 11, 1842 | Warranty Deed | Marshall Preston of Billerica, Esq., and Maria Preston his wife in her right as joint tenant | Ann Parker of Billerica, singlewoman | The Prestons sell the two thirds to Ann Parker | 421/4 (South) |
For $2,000, "two undivided third parts of a certain tract or parcel of land situate in said Billerica late the homestead of Col. John Parker deceased & containing twelve acres more or less," from the northeast corner at the Billerica Academy and the Common, southerly by the Common and the Concord road to George Bacon, westerly by Bacon to Gardner Parker, northerly by Gardner Parker to the widow Sybil Parker's dower, then by the dower, Capt. Samuel Foster and the heirs of Wm. Bowers to the horse stables, and by the stables and the Academy land back to the Common. Dated Sept. 9, 1842, witnessed by Lovice M. Preston and John Baldwin, recorded Oct. 11, 1842. With her own third under her father's will, Ann Parker now owned the whole house lot. Billerica town book 17, pages 388-389.
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| March 18, 1845 | Warranty Deed | Ann Parker of Billerica, singlewoman | John Baldwin of Billerica, Esq. | Ann Parker sells the Academy Lot behind the house lot to John Baldwin | 458/79 (South) |
For $500, the "Academy Lot," one acre and 48 rods "on the westerly side of the Common," from its southeast corner "at said Common and said Ann's mansion house lot," westerly by the stone wall of the mansion-house lot 13 rods 13 links to the widow Sybil Parker's thirds, northerly by Sybil's thirds and Capt. Samuel Foster, easterly by the Bowers heirs to the First Parish, and back by the Parish and Baldwin's own Academy lot to the Common. Dated Feb. 24, 1845, witnessed by Mrs. Martha A. Lyman and Marshall Preston, recorded March 18, 1845; the Prestons quitclaimed the same lot to Ann Parker the same day (next deed). The lot behind the Common north of the house was excepted from every later deed of the house lot. Billerica town book 17, pages 572-573.
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| 1861 | Will | Ann Parker of Billerica, singlewoman (d. March 22, 1861) | Her nephew Charles Henry Parker of Billerica | Ann Parker's will: all her estate to her nephew Charles H. Parker | Probate #38803 |
Will dated Feb. 21, 1859: $1,000 to her brother David Parker, and "to my Nephew Charles Henry Parker of said Billerica, all the rest, residue and remainder of all the Real, Personal and mixed estate of which I shall die seized or possessed"; William Rogers of Tewksbury executor. Witnesses Amos Spalding, John T. Farmer and Francis Richardson. Charles H. Parker petitioned April 9, 1861, naming as heirs her brother David Parker of Billerica, sister Maria Preston of Lexington, brother George Parker of Clinton, N.Y., nephew James Parker of Texas and himself; the executor declined, and on May 14, 1861 the will was allowed at Cambridge and administration with the will annexed granted to Charles H. Parker. So the house of Ann's father John Parker passed to his grandson, the shoemaker who lived next door. Middlesex probate case 38803.
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| March 20, 1868 | Quitclaim | Charles H. Parker of Billerica, Esq., and Mary B. Parker his wife | John Baldwin of Billerica | Charles H. Parker sells the six and a half acres with the buildings to John Baldwin | 60/495 |
For $3,248.57, "a piece or parcel of land lying in the centre of Billerica," near the town house, "containing six and a half acres ... with all the buildings thereon standing," bounded east by the Billerica Common, south by land of the Baptist Society, Benjamin Gilbert and School District No. One, west by Gardner Parker, and north by Gardner Parker, the grantee and the Town of Billerica; free of encumbrances except Parker's mortgage to Baldwin of April 10, 1864 for $2,051.51. Dated March 12, 1868, acknowledged March 13, 1868 before Dudley Foster, recorded March 20, 1868. Mary B. Parker was Baldwin's daughter. Every later deed of the house lot to 1907 is "the same premises conveyed by Charles H. Parker to John Baldwin." Book 60 Pages 495-496.
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| September 28, 1876 | Quitclaim (partition) | Sarah Baldwin, John Baldwin, Lucy A. Baldwin, Francis Baldwin, Rachel A. Baldwin and Elizabeth C. Baldwin, heirs of John Baldwin | Mary C. Morey, Clara B. Reed, Frederick A. Parker, Charles W. Parker and Lucy B. Parker, "heirs of the late Mary B. Parker deceased" | Baldwin heirs partition: the house lot to the five children of Mary B. Parker | 120/235 |
For one dollar and other consideration, quitclaim of "The piece or parcel of land in the Center of said Billerica, near the Town House, with the buildings thereon, it being the same premises conveyed by Charles H. Parker to John Baldwin by deed dated March 12th A.D. 1868 ... Book 60, Page 495," except the lot "south of the house" that John Baldwin sold to Doct. George A. Monroe on Sept. 10, 1873 and the Academy Lot; with the Fox Hill lot of about 47 acres, the Middle Bridge lot of about 12 acres west of Concord River, and 1 3/4 acres of meadow on the Shawsheen River. "All of the above mentioned premises are a portion of the estate of the late John Baldwin, deceased; and are deeded for the purpose of partition between the heirs." Dated Sept. 14, 1876, recorded Sept. 28, 1876; Charles H. Parker, guardian of his minor children Charles W. and Lucy B., released their shares in the other Baldwin lands by the deed before it. Book 120 Pages 235-236.
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| March 8, 1899 | Deed in Trust | Charles W. Parker of Billerica, unmarried | Mary C. Morey and Frederic A. Morey of Billerica, trustees | Charles W. Parker puts his share in trust with the Moreys | 305/423 |
For one dollar and other consideration, all his right in the lots "described in deed of Sarah Baldwin and others to Mary C. Morey and others dated September 14, 1876": "The piece or parcel of land in the center of said Billerica near the Town House with buildings thereon it being the same premises conveyed by Charles H. Parker to John Baldwin by deed dated March 12, 1868 ... Book 60, Page 495," less the lot south of the house and the Academy Lot, with the Fox Hill, Middle Bridge and Shawsheen meadow lots, "a portion of the Estate of John Baldwin deceased," in trust to apply the income and principal to his support after the death of his father, pay a mortgage made the same day to Frederic A. Morey, and at his death convey to his appointees or heirs, with power of sale. Dated Nov. 30, 1895, witnessed by Charles H. Parker, acknowledged Dec. 2, 1895, recorded March 8, 1899. Book 305 Pages 423-425.
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| October 23, 1901 | Mortgage | Frederick A. Parker of Billerica | Nathan H. Reed of Somerville | Frederick A. Parker mortgages his fifth to Nathan H. Reed | 336/588 |
For $800, mortgage of "one undivided fifth part of a certain piece or parcel of land in the Centre of said Billerica near the Town Hall, with the buildings thereon, it being the same premises conveyed by Charles H. Parker to John Baldwin by deed dated March 12, 1868 ... Book 60 Page 495," excepting the lot south of the house sold by John Baldwin to Dr. George A. Munroe in 1873, the Academy Lot, and the lot southwest of "the old Town Hall lot" that the heirs of John Baldwin and of Mary B. Parker conveyed to the Town on Sept. 24, 1894; "Meaning hereby to convey ... one undivided fifth part of the same premises as conveyed by deed of John A. Baldwin and others to Mary C. Morey and others." Payable in one year at five percent. Dated and recorded Oct. 23, 1901. Reed was the husband of Frederick's sister Clara. Book 336 Pages 588-589.
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| October 22, 1907 | Quitclaim | Frederick A. Parker and Ada R. Parker of Billerica | Nathan H. Reed of Somerville | Frederick A. Parker quitclaims to Nathan H. Reed | 411/146 |
For one dollar and other consideration, quitclaim of (1) a parcel "and the buildings thereon" bounded east on the Concord Road 16 rods, south by the land John Baldwin sold to George A. Munroe, then by land of an unknown owner, west by land now or late of J. Nelson Parker, north by land formerly of Frederic A. Morey and others and by the lot conveyed to the Town by John A. Baldwin; and (2) the premises conveyed by Charles H. Parker to John Baldwin, March 12, 1868 (Book 60 Page 495), except the Munroe lot "south of the house," the "Academy Lot" behind the store of F. A. Morey and the Town Hall, and the 1894 Town lot (Plan Book 10); subject to mortgages held by the grantee and the 1907 taxes. Dated and acknowledged Oct. 8, 1907 before F. DeWitt Lapham, recorded Oct. 22, 1907. Book 411 Pages 146-147.
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| 1907 | Warranty Deed | Nathan H. Reed and Clara B. Reed of Somerville | Fannie M. Blanchard of Billerica | The Reeds sell the house lot to Fannie M. Blanchard | 412/119 |
For one dollar and other consideration, "a certain parcel of land and buildings thereon lying in said Billerica and being the premises conveyed by Charles H. Parker to John Baldwin by deed dated March 12th 1868 ... Book 60 Page 495," excepting "the lot lying south of the house which was conveyed by deed of John Baldwin to George A. Munroe" on Sept. 10, 1873, "the lot known as the 'Academy Lot' containing about one acre ... being the rear of the store and dwelling of F. A. Morey and of the Town Hall," and the lot conveyed to the Town of Billerica by John A. Baldwin and others on Sept. 24, 1894 (Plan Book 10). Dated Oct. 12, 1907, acknowledged Oct. 14, 1907, recorded November 1907. Clara B. Reed was one of the five Parker heirs of 1876, and her husband had just taken in Frederick A. Parker's share. Fannie M. Blanchard laid out Blanchard Avenue across the land and sold the house on Lot 3A in 1915 (Book 547 Page 565). Book 412 Pages 119-120.
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| December 16, 1915 | Warranty | Fanny M. Blanchard of Billerica, unmarried | Martha A. Greeley, wife of Michael C. Greeley, of Boston | Lot 3A at Concord Road and Blanchard Avenue, with buildings | 547/565 |
Two parcels "with all buildings thereon": the first "beginning at a point on the southwesterly corner of Blanchard avenue and the Concord Road," running southerly by Concord Road 132.39 feet to land of Flanders, westerly 216.58 feet to Mary R. Eames, northerly 145.35 feet to Blanchard Avenue and easterly by the avenue to the beginning, 33,200 square feet, Lot 3A on E. P. Sellew's plan of Dec. 6, 1915 "to be recorded herewith" (Plan Book 33 Plan 22); the second, Lot 2C, 8,044 square feet across Blanchard Avenue by land of the Town and of Parker, on which no building was ever to be erected. Blanchard's title: Book 412 Page 119, and the exchange of deeds with Mary R. Eames dated Dec. 2, 1915 (Book 545 Pages 374 and 375). Dated Dec. 16, 1915.
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| September 9, 1919 | Quitclaim | Martha A. Greeley and Michael C. Greeley of Boston | Florence M. Barton of Billerica | Lot 3A to Florence M. Barton | 610/577 |
The same two parcels, Lot 3A at "the Southwesterly corner of Blanchard Avenue and the Concord Road," 33,200 square feet, and Lot 2C, 8,044 square feet, on Sellew's plan of Dec. 6, 1915, with the provision that Blanchard Avenue "shall forever remain open as a way or street." Title Book 547 Page 565. Dated Sept. 9, 1919, recorded Sept. 11, 1919. The same day Mary R. Eames released Lot 2C to Barton (Book 610 Page 579).
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| June 10, 1922 | Quitclaim | George S. Barton and Florence M. Barton of Billerica | Dr. Maurice S. Buck of Billerica | Lot 3A to Dr. Maurice S. Buck; 1964 sale and 1970 library vote noted | 662/479 |
The Bartons conveyed to Maurice S. Buck (written "Maurice A. Buck" in the record copy) Lot 2C and "the land in said Billerica ... beginning at a point on the southwesterly corner of Blanchard Avenue and the Concord Road," 33,200 square feet, Lot 3A on Sellew's plan (Plan Book 33 Plan 22), subject to a $6,000 mortgage to the Central Savings Bank. Dated and recorded June 10, 1922. Dr. Buck lived here from about 1920 to 1940. The house stayed in the family until June 1964, when it was sold under a power of sale in the will of Bessie C. Buck to a private owner. In March 1970 Town Meeting authorized the Selectmen to take or buy the lot for a new library, and on July 6, 1970 they took it by eminent domain (Book 1929 Page 275; Plan Book 111 Plan 19); in 1972 the house was moved to River Street and the library was built on the site.
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| August 10, 1940 | Quitclaim | Billerica Building Association | A. Warren Stearns of Billerica | Stearns land on River Street where the house was moved in 1972 | 950/153 |
The Billerica Building Association sold to A. Warren Stearns a parcel of about 4,950 square feet "together with the remains of the old district school building standing thereon," beginning at the road from Billerica to Carlisle (River Street) at land formerly of Joel Richardson, "five feet easterly of the southeasterly corner of the former underpinning wall of the meeting house formerly standing on said premises," being the premises bought from J. Nelson Parker in 1892 (Book 232 Page 391). Dated Aug. 10, 1940. This Stearns land on River Street is where the Ruggles house was moved in 1972: an August 1972 plan surveyed for Charles E. Stearns (Plan Book 115 Plan 59) shows the house lot as Lot B1, 40,003 square feet on the north side of River Street, and it was sold to private owners in 1984 (Book 2894 Page 287), with later private sales from 1990.
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| July 31, 1970 | Order of Taking | Owner of the lot at Concord Road and Blanchard Avenue (a private owner) | Town of Billerica (Board of Selectmen Michael E. McLaughlin, Thomas H. Conway Jr. and John P. Fitzgerald) | Town takes the corner lot with the buildings for the library site | 1929/275 |
Under the vote of the annual Town Meeting of March 7, 1970, the Board of Selectmen on July 6, 1970 "take in fee on behalf of the Town of Billerica, by the power of eminent domain for purposes of library building construction a parcel of land together with the buildings thereon," about 34,067 square feet, shown on "Plan Land in Billerica, Mass., taken for Library Site by Billerica Board of Selectmen dated July 1970, Emmons, Fleming & Bienvenu, Inc." (Plan Book 111 Plan 19): easterly by Concord Road 132.29 feet, northerly by Blanchard Street, westerly by land of "Mary B. Parker Heirs," southerly by land of Roland Caron 228.58 feet; damages awarded $32,000. Certificate of the clerk of the board, recorded July 31, 1970. The plan shows the house on Lot 1 (33,417 square feet) at the corner. In 1972 the house was moved to the Stearns lot on River Street and the new library, later the Council on Aging, was built on the site. Book 1929 Pages 275-276.
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| November 19, 1984 | Quitclaim | Charles E. Stearns of Billerica, widower | Private owners | Charles E. Stearns sells Lot B1 with the Samuel Ruggles House, 1984 | 2894/287 |
For $75,000, "The land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, now supposed to be 5 River Street, situated on the northerly side of said River Street", Lot B1 on the "Plan of Land in Billerica, Mass., surveyed for Charles E. Stearns" (August 1972, Emmons, Fleming and Bienvenu; Plan Book 115, Plan 59), 175 feet on River Street and 40,003 square feet, "being the same premises conveyed to me and my late wife, Helen L. Stearns, by deed dated October 22, 1967 ... Book 1775, Page 79. My said wife deceased on October 5, 1983." The lot includes the site of the Universalist meetinghouse, the Centre schoolhouse and Gardner Parker Hall, and since 1972 the Samuel Ruggles House. Private owners since; the property sold in 1990, 1996, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2018, 2020 and 2021.
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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.