Thomas Richardson House
Thomas Richardson House
| Also Known As | Webb Brook Country Club |
| Address | 36 Webb Brook Rd |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.167 |
| Built | 1740 |
| Demolished | 1995 |
| Owners | Thomas Richardson II (1778 - None) |
The Thomas Richardson House stood at the northwest corner of Webb Brook Road and Allen Road until about 1995, the last of the Richardson houses in a neighborhood where Allen Road was once called "Richardson's Row." The family descended from Thomas Richardson, "planter," who succeeded John Parker as tenant of the Church Farm about 1668 and bought its north half in 1699. His son Jonathan Richardson had his house on this corner early in the 1700s. In 1711 Jonathan bought ten acres west of his own land from Thomas Frost, bounded "on the South by the highway, on the west and north by the land of Cornet Joseph Foster," and in 1714/15 and 1717/18 his father deeded him more land, including seven acres "lying on the northward of said Jonathan's house." When Jonathan died in 1720 his inventory began with "the homestead about twenty acres of land with the building." The division made in 1737 described it as twenty acres bounded east and south by highways, west and north by Deacon Foster's and Thomas Ross's land, "and a Mansion house thereon standing and a barn." The widow, now Hannah Frost, received "the westerly end of the house and a third part of the celler," and in 1738 the rest was settled on the eldest son, Jonathan (1716-1791). So a house already stood here before the younger Jonathan married in 1739/40, the event the Historical Commission used to date the building to 1740.
On Feb. 4, 1778 Jonathan and his wife Abigail sold their son Thomas, for 560 pounds, "my Homestead Farm of about fifty acres" by the road at Ebenezer Richardson's corner, with "all the Buildings thereon," keeping "the east end of my Dwelling house" for themselves for life. The deed was not recorded until 1794. Thomas Richardson (1747-about 1827), raised in the house, became one of the town's busiest men of business, with interests in Richardson's Mills, the Billerica Mills and, from 1795, the Tavern at the Corner. On March 28, 1786 he and his wife Judith sold Samuel Danforth, who lived across Allen Road, seventeen acres bounded by William Tompson, Thomas Goodwin, Jonathan Stickney, Josiah Crosby and Reuben Kendall. That deed names no buildings, but the house went with the land: in 1792 Samuel Danforth deeded "Richardsons Land" to his sons Josiah and Joseph, and in 1794/5 Josiah sold Joseph the same sixteen acres "with a Dwelling house and Barn thereon."
Joseph Danforth died in 1805. In 1809 the probate court set off to his widow Dorcas, as her dower, "thirteen acres and one half on which stands the late dwelling house of the deceased," bounded by the heirs of William Thompson "and in all other parts on a road," together with "the Close," half an acre across the road. Dorcas married Alexander Winning and kept the house for life, while the reversion belonged to her eight children. Her daughter Sally (Sarah) married William Richardson, who kept stage horses and coaches and died insolvent in 1826. As a widow, Sarah Richardson spent twenty years buying up the family shares: from her husband's administrator in 1827, from her mother and stepfather the same year, by an execution against William Tyler in 1837, from Dr. Zadok Howe in 1839, from her sister Hannah Robinson in 1841 and from her sister Dorcas Bridge in 1846. The 1837 levy describes the twelve-acre house lot "with a Dwelling House, Shed and the easterly half of the Barn thereon," the Close, and a "small lot in front of said Dwelling House called the Garden and Bounded on all sides by a Road," the little triangle that went with the house into the twentieth century. She is the "widow S. Richardson" shown here on the 1853 map.
Sarah Richardson died in 1865. Her will, written in 1850, left "the dwelling and farm where I now reside" to be sold by her nephew John B. Robinson of Boston, who in April 1865 sold seventy-five acres "with the buildings thereon," including "a triangular piece of land situated in front of the House," to Edwin Crosby. Crosby sold to Edward Snow of Marblehead later that year; Snow sold to Lyman Haynes and Anthony Jones in May 1868, and within days they sold to John W. Essex, the "J. W. Essex" of the 1875 map, whose wife was of the Pasho family of Webb Brook Road. After the deaths of Essex and his widow Mary M. Essex, their daughters released their shares in 1908 to their brother Harry W. Essex, who sold the farm in 1915. It then passed quickly through several owners: Harold E. Wadely (1915), Flora K. Kelley of Belmont (1922), Percy W. and Etta M. Huddell (1924) and Elvet E. and Marguerite F. Laird (1926). The Lowell Co-operative Bank foreclosed the Lairds' mortgage and in 1936 sold the seventy-five acres to Joseph Kobisky. In 1945 Kobisky sold the twenty-acre house lot west of Allen Road, with the triangle in front of the house, to new owners.
The old farmhouse became the Webb Brook Country Club, with a restaurant wing and a barn; in 1974 it stood about 25 feet from the road on a lot with 400 feet on Webb Brook Road and 900 feet on Allen Road. In 1973 the owners put the property into a family trust, the Day By Day Trust, which mortgaged it to the Lowell Institution for Savings. After that bank failed, the Town of Billerica took the 17.10-acre parcel for unpaid 1991 taxes in 1992, and in February 1993 the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, as the bank's liquidating agent, foreclosed the mortgage. The FDIC sold the land in April 1993 to the BAHA Realty Trust, whose surveyors marked the old house on a January 1995 plan as "existing building to be razed" on a 33,022-square-foot corner lot (Lot 1A); the rest of the land became the Webb Brook Commons development. The house was taken down soon after. A new two-story building went up on Lot 1A about 2004, and in 2019 it became the four-unit 36 Webb Brook Road Condominium.
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Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| March 27, 1738 | Deed | Thomas Frost of Billerica, with Deborah his wife | Jonathan Richardson of Billerica | 1711 purchase of ten acres added to the Richardson house lot | 38/737 (South) |
For 27 pounds, "one parcel of Land situate in Billerica abovesaid containing ten acres be it more or less bounded on the East by the land of the said Jonathan Richardson, on the South by the highway, on the west and north by the land of Cornet Joseph Foster being fifty two poles long and thirty eight poles wide." Warranty. Dated Nov. 20, 1711 (witnesses Oliver Whiting and Oliver Whiting Jr.), acknowledged March 10, 1711/12 before Jonathan Tyng; recorded at Cambridge March 27, 1738. Billerica town book 4, pages 175-177 (Southern Registry Book 38 Page 737, where the 1714/15 deed of Thomas Richardson is also entered). This is the 1711 purchase that the Historical Commission described as an extension of the Richardson house lot; in 1737 the homestead was still bounded west and north by "land formerly Deacon Joseph Foster."
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| March 27, 1738 | Deed | Thomas Richardson of Billerica | His son Jonathan Richardson of Billerica | 1714/15 lot north of the house lot, from Thomas Richardson to his son | 38/737 (South) |
For 7 pounds, "one parcel of land situate in Billerica abovesaid lying between the highway and Peter Brackets Lot being the one half of that Lot which was laid out to me in said Place said Lot contains six acres," bounded west by Peter Bracket about fourteen poles, north by Thomas Ross, east by the highway and south by land of Jonathan Richardson, "to take the east half of said Lot reserving a way of twelve feet wide on the north side to go to the west end of said Lot." Dated Jan. 28, 1714/15 (witnesses James Frost, Ephraim Manning), acknowledged Jan. 31, 1714/15; recorded March 27, 1738. Billerica town book 4, pages 177-179 (Southern Registry Book 38 Page 737).
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| March 27, 1738 | Gift | Thomas Richardson of Billerica | His son Jonathan Richardson of Billerica | 1717/18 gift naming "said Jonathan's house" | 39/1 (South) |
"For the Love and affection which I have and do bear unto my son Jonathan Richardson," several parcels: "one parcel of land lying on the northward of said Jonathan's house containing about seven acres ... which I bought of the Town"; one acre of swamp or meadow "lying between Thomas Ross his Pasture and my own land on the north side of my house"; meadow at the mouth of Strong Water Brook on both sides of the Shawshin bought of Capt. Joseph Tompson; his swamp and meadow in Heath Swamp (reserving seven acres); and two acres of meadow on Content Brook "a little above the old saw mill," reserving to himself liberty to set up a saw mill; valued at 57 pounds "in part of his portion in my Estate." Dated 1717/18; recorded March 1738. Billerica town book 4, pages 180-181 (Southern Registry Book 39 Page 1). The deed shows that Jonathan's house already stood on the corner lot by 1717/18.
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| 1738 | Administration and Division | Estate of Jonathan Richardson of Billerica, husbandman, died intestate 1720 | His widow Hannah (later Frost) for dower; his eldest son Jonathan Richardson for the rest | 1737/38 division: the twenty-acre homestead with the mansion house and barn | Probate #18990 |
Administration granted to the widow Hannah Jan. 23, 1720/21. The inventory of Jan. 9, 1720/21 begins the real estate with "the homestead about twenty acres of land with the building," with pasture by the country road, a quarter of a saw mill, a weaver's loom and bags of hops. The division ordered in 1737 (Benjamin Tompson, Thomas Kidder, William Stickney, Jacob French and William French, return Oct. 10, 1737) describes "the Homestead Containing about Twenty acres bounded Easterly and Southerly by a highway and westerly and Northerly partly by land formerly Deacon Joseph Foster and partly by land of Thomas Ross and a Mansion house thereon standing and a barn," with a small piece south of the house bounded by Thomas Hosley and the highway, valued at 230 pounds. The widow, now Hannah Frost, was given eight acres of the homestead with "the westerly end of the house and a third part of the celler," a right to the well and the east end of the barn; "The Remainder or two thirds we settle it on Jonathan Richardson the Eldest son of the said deceased." The decree of March 27, 1738 confirmed the two thirds to Jonathan, who was to pay his brother Thomas and sister Hannah Abbot 107 pounds each.
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| March 31, 1794 | Warranty | Jonathan Richardson of Billerica, yeoman, and Abigail his wife | His son Thomas Richardson of Billerica, yeoman | Jonathan Richardson's homestead farm and buildings to his son Thomas | 115/269 (South) |
For 560 pounds, "several parcels of Land. The first is my Homestead Farm of about fifty acres," beginning "at a stake and stones by the Road at Ebenezer Richardson's corner," south and east on the road to the land of Col. Tompson, then by his land and "the Thirds of the Widow Hosley," westerly by Capt. Daniel Stickney and Ebenezer Richardson back to the road, "and all the Buildings thereon standing and being Excepting the east end of my Dwelling house which I reserve for my Use and for my Wife during our natural Lives then to revert to him the said Thomas." Also thirty acres in Tewksbury near Jonathan Foster's, about fifteen acres of meadow and upland by Samuel Danforth and William Tarbell, seven acres of pasture on the road to Woburn, two and a half acres on Fox Hill, seven acres bought of Samuel Whiting Jr. on Marshall's lane, a lot called Graves with Shawshin meadow, and seven acres of Content Meadow above Content Bridge. Dated Feb. 4, acknowledged March 11, 1778 before William Stickney; recorded at Cambridge March 31, 1794. Billerica town book 9, pages 84-87 (Southern Registry Book 115 Page 269).
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| August 26, 1786 | Warranty | Thomas Richardson of Billerica, gentleman, and Judith his wife | Samuel Danforth of Billerica, yeoman | Seventeen acres to Samuel Danforth (no buildings named) | 94/203 (South) |
For 190 pounds, "a certain Tract or parcel of land ... containing by Estimation seventeen acres more or less," beginning "at a heap of Stones by the highway leading by the Widow Martha Hosly's dwelling house," northerly by Joseph Kendall as the stone wall stands, westerly by Kendall and Josiah Crosby to a brook, over the brook to Capt. Daniel Stickney and by the brook to "an Old Dam," easterly by Stickney and the Widow Hosley, north by Hosley to William Tompson Esq. and easterly to the highway; also ten and a quarter acres by William Tarbell, Oliver Crosby and Asa Richardson, and three quarters of an acre by the Widow Hosley's land and the road, with a right of way through the lands of Josiah Crosby, Nehemiah Kittredge and Asa Richardson. No buildings are mentioned. Dated and acknowledged March 28, 1786 before Edward Farmer; recorded Aug. 26, 1786. Billerica town book 8, pages 71-73 (Southern Registry Book 94 Page 203).
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| March 25, 1793 | Deed | Samuel Danforth of Billerica, yeoman, with Mary his wife | His sons Josiah Danforth and Joseph Danforth of Billerica, yeomen | Samuel Danforth to sons Josiah and Joseph, incl. "Richardsons Land" | 110/341 (South) |
For 400 pounds, "Eight peices of Land": first, "the Homestead containing one hundred and thirty acres" from a black oak at the northwest corner of the road, by John Patten, the Loose Plains, the heirs of Thomas Horsley, Benjamin Beard, Samuel Blanchard, Mill Brook, William Tarbell and Nehemiah Kittredge; second, the piece "called by the Name of Richardsons Land," running westerly by William Tompson, southwesterly by Tompson to Thomas Goodwin, by Goodwin to Jonathan Stickney, over the brook to Josiah Crosby, easterly "as the fence now stands to land of Reuben Kendall, then from said Kendall's land as the wall now stands to the Road" and by the road to the start (the seventeen acres bought of Thomas Richardson in 1786); also the Graseby land, "the Richardson land" by John White and the river, the River meadow, the Island, the Ross Pasture by William Tompson and Oliver Crosby, and "the Richardson peice beginning at the corner of the wall near the House of Thomas Goodwin," "with all the Buildings thereon standing." Dated June 9, 1792 (witnesses Jonathan Stickney, Oliver Crosby), acknowledged before Edward Farmer; recorded March 25, 1793. Billerica town book 8, pages 392-395.
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| February 10, 1795 | Deed | Josiah Danforth of Boston, yeoman, with Ruth his wife | His brother Joseph Danforth of Billerica, yeoman | Josiah to Joseph Danforth: sixteen acres "with a Dwelling house and Barn" | 118/295 (South) |
For 300 pounds, "the following lots of land with the buildings thereon situate in Billerica": first, "One piece containing sixteen acres more or less, with a Dwelling house and Barn thereon, bounded Southerly and Easterly on a public road, to land of William Tompson Esqr" and then by Tompson, Thomas Goodwin, Jonathan Stickney, over a brook to Josiah Crosby, to Reuben Kendall and "Southerly by said Kendall as said wall now stands to the aforesaid road" (the Richardson house lot); also about an acre south of the road by the road to Shawshin River, five acres of wood land in the southerly half of "Grasby's lot," about forty acres "commonly called the French lot," and four acres east of the river by Edward Farmer Jr. Warranty. Dated Dec. 31, 1794 (witnesses Caleb Whiting, Lydia Gould), acknowledged in Suffolk and recorded Feb. 10, 1795. Billerica town book 9, pages 188-190.
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| 1809 | Administration and Dower | Estate of Joseph Danforth of Billerica, yeoman, died intestate 1805 | His widow Dorcas (later Winning) for dower; his children Sally, Nancy, Hannah, Joseph, Josiah, Oliver, Julia and Dorcas (Mrs. Joseph Hill) | Joseph Danforth estate: house lot set off to widow Dorcas as dower | Probate #5897 |
Oliver Crosby was appointed administrator Nov. 8, 1805. The first inventory valued "The homestead of said deceased ... containing by estimation 85 acres, with the buildings thereon" at $4,588.75, besides the Tarbell farm and other lots. The dower return of Oct. 31, 1808 (John Walker, James Abbot, Sears Cook), accepted April 27, 1809, listed first "One piece of land containing by estimation thirteen acres and one half on which stands the late dwelling house of the deceased together with all the buildings thereon," bounded north on John Patten and the heirs of William Thompson, west on Thompson and Josiah Richardson, "and in all other parts on a road," $2,315; also "the Old Farm," the Tarbell farm, the French pasture, the Ross land, "the Close" of half an acre across the road, and the Johnson farm. Set off to the widow Dorcas Danforth: "All that piece or parcel of land first named in the above inventory with all the buildings thereon," except part of the barn and outbuildings at the cow yard, with the Ross lot, the Close, pasture and orchard of the Old Place, 16 1/2 acres of the Tarbell woodland and the pew. Assented to by Alexander and Dorcas Winning (the widow had remarried), Joseph and Dorcas Hill, and Josiah Crosby 3d, guardian of the younger children.
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| 1826 | Administration | Estate of William Richardson of Billerica, gentleman, died intestate June 1826 | Marshall Preston, administrator; widow Sally (Sarah) Richardson | Estate of William Richardson, husband of Sarah (Danforth) Richardson | Probate #19191 |
William Richardson, husband of Joseph Danforth's daughter Sally (Sarah), died in June 1826; his widow declined administration and Marshall Preston was appointed June 27, 1826. The inventory (Joseph Blanchard, Josiah Stevens, Ichabod Everett) shows a stage and livery business: ten horses, four stage harnesses, an old stage coach, a covered wagon, a blacksmith shop and a hop house. Debts of more than $20,000 made the estate insolvent, and on Feb. 13, 1827 the administrator was licensed to sell the real estate. The widow's dower (return of April 3, 1827) was a fifteen-acre lot east of the Shawshin and a pew; no dwelling house is named, since the family lived on Danforth land.
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| 1827 | Deed | Alexander Winning of Billerica, gentleman, and Dorcas Winning his wife, in her right | Simon W. Robinson of Boston, trader, Dorcas Bridge of Billerica, widow, and Sarah Richardson of Billerica, widow | Winnings release Josiah Danforth's share to the Danforth daughters | 274/59 (South) |
For $90, "all the right title and interest in and to the estate of which Josiah Danforth late of said Billerica died seized or possessed or to which he was any way entitled as an heir to his father Joseph Danforth." Warranty. Dated April 26, 1827. Billerica town book 14, page 23. The three grantees were Joseph Danforth's daughters and son-in-law gathering in the family shares.
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| August 29, 1827 | Administrator's Deed | Marshall Preston of Billerica, administrator of William Richardson | Sarah Richardson of Billerica, widow | Administrator's sale to widow Sarah Richardson of rights in the Danforth estate | 276/209 (South) |
Under the license of Feb. 13, 1827, sold at public vendue at A. L. Hoit's tavern June 18, 1827, for $54, the first wall pew left of the north door of the meetinghouse and all of William Richardson's right "in the estate of Joseph Danforth senior" bought from Joseph Danforth Jr.: one undivided third of Joseph Jr.'s share in the part of his father's farm set off to "Dorcas Danforth, mother of Joseph Jr., now Dorcas Winning, for her dower," and one undivided third of Joseph Jr.'s share in the estate of his brother Josiah Danforth. Acknowledged Aug. 2, recorded Aug. 29, 1827. Billerica town book 12, page 557.
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| 1837 | Levy of Execution | William Tyler of Billerica, yeoman, debtor (by the sheriff's appraisers) | Sarah Richardson of Billerica, widow, judgment creditor | Execution levied for Sarah Richardson on a share of the dower house lot | ?/? (South) |
On a judgment of the Court of Common Pleas at Concord, March term 1837, for $121.75 debt and $10.23 costs against William Tyler of Billerica and Noah Harrod of Boston, appraisers Benjamin L. Judkins, John Baldwin and Josiah Rogers on April 5, 1837 set off to Sarah Richardson three fourths of Tyler's undivided one-seventh "of the reversion in fee expectant on the termination of the Estate for Life which Dorcas Winning owns" in the land "set off for Dower to the widow Dorcas Danforth": first, from a stake at the south side of the cow yard "on the north side of the road leading from William Blanchard's house to the Isaac Pollard house," by the stable, barn and mill house to land of Joseph White, by White to Zadoc Allen, by Allen to a town road, and by that road "till you come to the road running from said road westerly in front of the House on said premises," "containing twelve acres more or less with a Dwelling House, Shed and the easterly half of the Barn thereon"; second, "the Close," half an acre opposite the buildings; third, "small lot in front of said Dwelling House called the Garden and Bounded on all sides by a Road"; also nine acres across the road, the Ross lot and a sixteen-acre wood lot; appraised at $144.41. Billerica town book 17, pages 329-333 (Southern Registry executions, book 16 page 343).
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| 1839 | Quitclaim | Dr. Zadok Howe of Billerica, physician | Sarah Richardson of Billerica, widow | Dr. Howe releases his share of the reversion to Sarah Richardson | 388/509 (South) |
For $40, "all my right title & interest in reversion in & to the estate situated in said town of Billerica which was set off to the widow Dorcas Winning ... for her right of dower in the estate of her former husband Joseph Danforth deceased being the same set off to me on my execution against one William Tyler." Dated Oct. 28, 1839 (witness Marshall Preston). Billerica town book 14, page 597.
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| 1841 | Quitclaim | Simon W. Robinson of Boston, trader, and Hannah T. Robinson his wife, in her right | Sarah Richardson of Billerica, widow | Robinsons release their Danforth shares to Sarah Richardson | 414/222 (South) |
For $1,000, all their right "in and to all that part of the real estate of Joseph Danforth late of Billerica ... set off to his widow Dorcas Danforth late Dorcas Winning as her dower" and in the parts set off to his sons Joseph and Josiah Danforth, now deceased, whether held by purchase or as heirs of "her late father the said Joseph Danforth and her late brothers Joseph and Josiah Danforth." Dated and acknowledged in Suffolk Dec. 10, 1841 (witnesses J. B. Robinson, S. O. Robinson). Billerica town book 17, page 272. Their son John B. Robinson later settled Sarah's estate.
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| November 24, 1846 | Quitclaim | Dorcas Bridge of Billerica, widow | Her sister Sarah Richardson of Billerica, widow | Dorcas Bridge releases her share of the dower farm to Sarah Richardson | 493/540 (South) |
For $100, all her right in "all that part of the real Estate of Joseph Danforth, late of said Billerica, deceased ... set off to his Widow, Dorcas Danforth late Dorcas Winning as her Dower, excepting however, the Ross lot so called of about ten acres, and the Gravley Wood Lot so called of about sixteen and a half acres," and in the parts set off to Joseph and Josiah Danforth. Dated Nov. 16, 1846 (witnesses Marshall Preston, Joseph F. Hill); recorded Nov. 24, 1846. Billerica town book 18, page 216. With it Sarah held the dower farm and house outright.
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| November 24, 1846 | Quitclaim | Sarah Richardson of Billerica, widow | Her sister Dorcas Bridge of Billerica, widow | Sarah Richardson releases the Gravley wood lot to her sister | 493/541 (South) |
For $100, the "Gravley" wood lot of sixteen and a half acres that had been set off to Dorcas Danforth, late Winning, as part of her dower; the companion of the deed on the preceding page, by which the sisters divided the dower land. Dated Nov. 16, 1846. Billerica town book 18, page 217.
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| 1865 | Will | Estate of Sarah Richardson of Billerica, widow | Her nephew John B. Robinson of Boston, merchant, executor and residuary legatee | Will of Sarah Richardson: the farm where she lived, sold by her executor | Probate #40514 |
Will dated Nov. 19, 1850 (witnesses Zadok Howe, Martha White, George H. Whitman), proved at Lowell April 4, 1865. Her estate consisted "chiefly of two parcels of real estate, situated in said Billerica, one parcel being the dwelling and farm where I now reside, and the other the dwelling, land and appertenances lately belonging to Dr Hill deceased near the centre of said Billerica on the Bedford road." Legacies to her sister Julia Barrows of Vassalborough, Maine, and Julia's children Sarah and William Barrows; nieces Mrs. Sarah E. Wiggin and Mrs. Amanda E. Codman of Boston and Mrs. Caroline Hill of Hallowell, Maine; and nephew John B. Robinson, who was named executor and residuary legatee and empowered "to sell and convey all my aforesaid real estate ... at public or private sale."
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| 1865 | Executor's Deed | John B. Robinson of Boston, executor of the will of Sarah Richardson, late of Billerica | Edwin Crosby of Billerica, yeoman | Executor's sale of the 75-acre farm with the house | 42/298 |
For $2,600, under the power of sale in the will, "Four pieces or parcels of land situated in said Billerica ... containing seventy five acres more or less being part of the farm mentioned in said Will with the buildings thereon standing": first, a lot beginning at the southeast corner of land of Joseph White and the road, east by the road 23 rods, north by the road to land of Putnam Pollard, west by Pollard to White and south by White (the house lot on the corner of Webb Brook and Allen Roads); second, a lot east of the road bounded by Hurd, I. Kimball, George Carter, Asa Holden and John Allen; third, "a triangular piece of land situated in front of the House on the first mentioned lot," one eighth of an acre "bounded on all sides by the roads"; fourth, "a piece of land called the Close situated on the Road opposite the first named parcel," half an acre by land of Captain West. Covenants only against claims under the executor. Dated and acknowledged in Suffolk April 18, 1865 (witness Chauncey Smith). Followed in the book by Crosby's $1,300 mortgage to Emily Farwell.
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| 1865 | Deed | Edwin Crosby of Billerica, yeoman | Edward Snow of Marblehead, Essex County | Crosby to Snow, the 75-acre farm with the house | 45/231 |
For $2,600, "three pieces or parcels of land situate in said Billerica containing seventy five acres more or less with the Buildings thereon standing": the house lot from the southeast corner of Joseph White's land, 23 rods on the road and north by the road to land of Wm. P. P. Pollard; the lot east of the road by Hurd, I. G. Kimball, G. K. Carter, Asa Holden and John Allen; and "a triangular piece of land situated in front of the House on the first mentioned Lot," one eighth of an acre. "Being premises conveyed to me by John B. Robinson executor of the will of Sarah Richardson deceased deed dated April 18, 1865" (Book 42 Page 298), subject to a $1,300 mortgage due Emily Farwell, which Snow assumed. Dated October 1865, recorded November 1865.
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| May 5, 1868 | Deed | Edward Snow of Billerica, with Malintha his wife | Lyman Haynes and Anthony Jones of Billerica | Snow to Haynes and Jones | 61/586 |
For $1,950, "three pieces or parcels of land, situate in said Billerica, containing seventy five acres more or less, with the buildings thereon": the house lot from the southeast corner of land of Joseph White and the road, 23 rods east on the road and north by the road "to land of the late Wm. P. P. Pollard"; the lot by Hurd, I. G. Kimball, G. K. Carter, Asa Holden and John Allen; and the triangle "in front of the house on the first mentioned lot." "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Edwin Crosby deed dated October 10th, 1865" (Book 45 Page 231), subject to the $1,300 mortgage "due Emily Farwell," which the grantees assumed. Dated May 2, acknowledged May 4, recorded May 5, 1868; witness Dudley Foster.
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| 1868 | Deed | Lyman Haynes and Anthony Jones of Billerica | John W. Essex of Billerica | Haynes and Jones to John W. Essex | 62/48 |
For $2,250, "three parcels of land, situate in said Billerica containing seventy five acres more or less with the buildings thereon standing," described as in the Snow deed: the house lot at the corner (23 rods on the road from Joseph White's southeast corner, north by the road to land of Wm. P. P. Pollard), the lot east of the road (Hurd, I. G. Kimball, G. K. Carter, Asa Holden, John Allen), and "a triangular piece of land situate in front of the house on the first mentioned lot." "Being the same premises conveyed to us by Edward Snow deed dated May 2nd, 1868," subject to the $1,300 mortgage to Emily Farwell of May 1, 1865, which Essex assumed. Dated May 8, 1868 (per the 1908 recital). Haynes and Jones, Billerica dealers, held the farm less than a week.
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| 1908 | Deed | S. Josie Miller and Lillie M. Fayton of Billerica and Nellie M. Bicknell of Burlington, with their husbands Stephen F. Miller, Thomas Fayton and John F. Bicknell | Their brother Harry W. Essex of Billerica | Essex heirs release to Harry W. Essex | 429/221 |
For one dollar, "three undivided fourths of three parcels of land situate in said Billerica containing seventy-five acres, more or less with the buildings thereon standing": the house lot from the southeast corner of land of Joseph White at the road, the lot by Hurd, I. G. Kimball, G. K. Carter, Asa Holden and John Allen, and "a triangular piece of land situate in front of the house on the first mentioned lot." "Being the same premises conveyed to John W. Essex father of the grantors and the grantee by Lyman Haynes and Anthony Jones by deed dated May 8, 1868" (Book 62 Page 48); the grantors and grantee "are the sole heirs at law of the said John W. Essex," referring to the probate records of John W. Essex and of his widow Mary M. Essex. Subject to a $1,300 mortgage which the grantee assumed. Dated and acknowledged at Lowell Dec. 3, 1908.
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| July 22, 1915 | Warranty Deed | Harry W. Essex of Billerica, unmarried | Harold E. Wadely of Winthrop, Suffolk County | Harry W. Essex to Wadely | 542/28 |
For "One Dollar and other valuable considerations" ($6.00 in revenue stamps), "three certain pieces or parcels of land with the buildings, containing in all 75 acres, more or less, situated in said Billerica on the northerly side of the Webb Brook road and on both sides of the Allen road": the first lot from the southeast corner of land formerly of Joseph White, now supposed of William Pasho, 23 rods on Webb Brook road to Allen road and north by Allen road to land formerly of William P. P. Pollard, now supposed of William Canning; the second lot east of Allen road; and the triangle "in front of the house." "My title to said three parcels of land is derived in part as one of the heirs-at-law of my father, John W. Essex, late of said Billerica, deceased, intestate; in part as heir-at-law of my mother, Mary M. Essex, late of said Billerica, deceased, intestate, and in part by deed of release from my sisters" dated Dec. 3, 1908 (Book 429 Page 221). Dated and acknowledged July 17, recorded July 22, 1915.
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| July 22, 1915 | Mortgage | Harold E. Wadely of Winthrop | Harry W. Essex of Billerica | Purchase-money mortgage | 542/30 |
Purchase-money mortgage of the same 75 acres in three parcels, for $5,000, given back to the seller on the day of the 1915 sale (recorded next after the deed, Book 542 Page 30).
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| October 2, 1922 | Quitclaim | Harold E. Wadely of Auburn, New York, with Dorothy T. Wadely his wife | Flora K. Kelley of Belmont | Wadely to Kelley | 669/322 |
For consideration ($5.50 in revenue stamps), with quitclaim covenants, "the land in Billerica ... with the buildings thereon, consisting of three certain parcels, containing in all seventy-five (75) acres," on the northerly side of the Webb Brook Road and on both sides of the Allen Road, described as in 1915, with the triangle "in front of the house on the lot first mentioned." "Being the same premises to me conveyed by Harry W. Essex by his deed dated July 17, 1915" (Book 542 Page 28), subject to a $5,000 mortgage to Central Savings Bank dated Feb. 15, 1917 (Book 568 Page 406), which the grantee assumed. Dated Sept. 19, acknowledged in New York Sept. 20, recorded Oct. 2, 1922.
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| October 2, 1922 | Mortgage | Flora K. Kelley of Belmont | Harold E. Wadely of Auburn, New York | Purchase-money mortgage | 669/323 |
Mortgage of the same 75 acres "with the buildings thereon" to secure $3,500 payable $500 a year with six percent interest, given back to the seller at the 1922 sale; margin note "See Discharge B. 710 P. 480."
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| June 12, 1924 | Warranty Deed | George H. Kelley and Flora K. Kelley his wife, she in her own right, of Belmont | Percy W. Huddell and Etta M. Huddell his wife, of Shawsheen Village, Andover | Kelley to Huddell | 707/214 |
For consideration ($4.00 in revenue stamps), "the land in Billerica ... with the buildings thereon, consisting of three (3) certain parcels containing in all seventy-five (75) acres more or less, situated on the Northerly side of Webb Brook Road and on both sides of Allen Road," the same three lots, with the triangle "in front of the house on the lot first mentioned." "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Harold E. Wadely by deed dated September 19, 1922" (Book 669 Page 322), subject to the Central Savings Bank mortgage of 1917 (balance $3,000) and the Wadely mortgage of 1922 (balance $3,000). Dated, acknowledged and recorded June 12, 1924; the Huddells gave a mortgage back to Flora K. Kelley on the next page.
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| September 10, 1926 | Warranty Deed | Percy W. Huddell and Etta M. Huddell his wife, of Chelsea | Elvet E. Laird and Marguerite F. Laird his wife, of Everett | Huddell to Laird | 741/199 |
"The land in Billerica, Massachusetts, with the buildings thereon, consisting of three (3) certain parcels containing in all seventy-five (75) acres more or less situated on the northerly side of Webb Brook Road and on both sides of Allen Road": the first lot from the southeast corner of land formerly of Joseph White now supposed to be of William Pasho, 23 rods on Webb Brook Road to Allen Road, north by Allen Road to land formerly of William P. P. Pollard now supposed of William Canning; the second lot east of Allen Road (Bartlett, Fred Mears, Asa Holden, Doctor Braun); and "a triangular piece of land situated in front of the house on the lot first mentioned." Conveyed "subject to a mortgage to the Lowell Co-operative Bank for $6000. upon which the balance now due is $5200." No title recital. Dated, acknowledged and recorded Sept. 10, 1926.
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| June 9, 1936 | Foreclosure Deed | Lowell Co-operative Bank, mortgagee under a mortgage from Elvet E. and Marguerite F. Laird dated July 12, 1929 | Joseph Kobisky of Billerica | Bank foreclosure sale to Kobisky | 883/29 |
By the power of sale in the Lairds' 1929 mortgage and "for forty eight hundred dollars paid," the bank conveyed "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, consisting of 3 certain parcels, containing in all 75 acres, situated on the northerly side of the Webb Brook Road and on both sides of the Allen Road": Lot 1, the corner house lot (23 rods on Webb Brook Road from the corner of land formerly of Joseph White, now supposed of William Pasho, north by Allen Road to land formerly of William P. P. Pollard, now supposed of William Canning); Lot 2, east of Allen Road; and Lot 3, "a triangular parcel of land situated in front of the house on the lot first mentioned." The Lairds' title: deed of Percy W. Huddell et ux Sept. 10, 1926 (Book 741 Page 199). The sale notice ran in the Billerica News April 30, May 7 and 14, 1936. Signed by Charles C. Drew, treasurer, May 27; recorded June 9, 1936.
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| June 8, 1945 | Quitclaim | Joseph Kobisky of Billerica, unmarried | Helen Ramsbotham of Tewksbury and a co-purchaser of Boston (private individual), as tenants in common | Kobisky sells the 20-acre house lot | 1024/262 |
For consideration ($13.20 in revenue stamps), "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon situated on the northerly side of Webb Brook Road, and on the westerly side of Allen Road," beginning at the southeasterly corner of land formerly of Joseph White, now supposed of William Pasho, east 23 rods by Webb Brook Road to Allen Road, north by Allen Road to land formerly of William P. P. Pollard, now supposed of William Canning, west by Canning and south by Pasho, "being lot number one," and "a triangular parcel of land situated in front of the house on the lot first mentioned," together twenty acres. "Being parcels numbered one (1) and three (3) in a Foreclosure Deed from the Lowell Co-operative Bank to me dated June 9, 1936" (Book 883 Page 29); the 55 acres east of Allen Road were not included. The buyers gave Kobisky a $9,000 mortgage the same day (next row). Ramsbotham released her half to her co-owner by a deed of Dec. 31, 1948; later private transfers (a 1951 straw conveyance to create a tenancy by the entirety, Book 1163 Pages 599-600) are summarized under the 1973 deed.
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| June 8, 1945 | Mortgage | Helen Ramsbotham of Tewksbury and her co-owner | Joseph M. Kobisky of Lowell | Purchase-money mortgage | 1024/263 |
Purchase-money mortgage of the same twenty-acre house lot and triangle "with the buildings thereon," to secure $9,000 payable monthly over three years at five percent, "Being parcels numbered one (1) and three (3) in a Foreclosure Deed from the Lowell Co-operative Bank to Joseph Kobisky dated June 9, 1936." Dated June 7, recorded June 8, 1945; margin notes a discharge.
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| February 27, 1973 | Quitclaim | The owners of record (husband and wife, private individuals) | Trustees of the Day By Day Trust, under a declaration of trust dated Feb. 26, 1973 | Conveyance to the Day By Day Trust (Webb Brook Country Club) | 2053/440 |
For $20,000, Parcel One: "A certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated on the Northerly side of Webb Brook Road and the Westerly side of Allen Road," 379.50 feet on Webb Brook Road, east by Allen Road, north by land now or formerly of William Canning and west by land formerly of William Pasho, "Also a triangular parcel of land situated in front of the house on the lot first mentioned above, containing 1/8th of an acre, more or less, and bounded on all sides by the roads," twenty acres, excepting the Commonwealth's takings for the relocation of Allen Road (Book 2046 Page 333) and Webb Brook Road (Book 1155 Page 104). Title: the 1951 deed recorded in Book 1163 Page 600 (a straw reconveyance; the land had come through the 1945 Kobisky deed, Book 1024 Page 262, and a 1948 release between the co-owners). Parcel Two: the lot marked "Talutis" (290 feet on Webb Brook Road, 763 feet on Lot B) on the November 1959 plan of land of Dorothy L. and Willa F. Pasho and Phyllis M. Davis (Plan Book 92 Plan 73), formerly part of the Pasho land to the west. The house was then the Webb Brook Country Club.
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| June 8, 1992 | Tax Taking | Town of Billerica, by Arthur M. Curtin Jr., Collector of Taxes | Town of Billerica | Town tax taking of the 17.10-acre lot | 5970/35 |
Instrument of taking dated June 4, 1992 of "A parcel of land with any buildings thereon, being described as 17.10 acres," 36 Webb Brook Road, assessors' Map 71 Parcel 8-1 (later 71/8-1, 8-2 and 8-3), title Book 2053 Page 440, for unpaid 1991 taxes of $51,425.98, which with interest and costs made a taking sum of $59,008.49. The old house was demolished about 1994.
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| February 16, 1993 | Foreclosure Deed | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, liquidating agent of Lowell Institution for Savings, mortgagee | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, liquidating agent of Lowell Institution for Savings | FDIC forecloses the bank mortgage on the country club land | 6341/259 |
Under the power of sale in a mortgage of July 29, 1988 from the trustees of the Day By Day Trust to Lowell Institution for Savings, and "for Three Hundred Twelve Thousand Five Hundred ... Dollars paid," the FDIC as liquidating agent of the failed bank took Parcel One, the twenty-acre corner lot "with the buildings thereon" and the triangle "in front of the house," with the "Talutis" lot and Lot B on the 1959 plan (Plan Book 92 Plan 73), excepting a house lot on Allen Road sold in 1991, and subject to a recorded lease of part of the premises. Title: the 1973 deed (Book 2053 Page 440).
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| April 30, 1993 | Quitclaim | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, liquidating agent of Lowell Institution for Savings | Trustee of the BAHA Realty Trust (declaration of March 25, 1993) | FDIC sells to BAHA Realty Trust | 6441/1 |
For $450,000, the land at "Webb Brook and Allen Roads": the twenty-acre corner lot "with the buildings thereon" and the triangle "in front of the house," and the two lots to the west on the 1959 plan. Executed in April 1993; recorded April 30, 1993. The trust had the corner surveyed as Lot 1A (33,022 square feet) on a plan of Jan. 20, 1995 (Plan Book 187 Plan 148) that shows the old house as "EXISTING BUILDING TO BE RAZED"; the rest of the land became the Webb Brook Commons development.
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| September 20, 2000 | Quitclaim | Trustee of the BAHA Realty Trust | Trustee of the Atlantic View Realty Nominee Trust (declaration of Aug. 15, 2000) | Lot 1A (the house corner) to Atlantic View Realty Nominee Trust | 11067/99 |
For one dollar, Lot 1A on the 1995 plan (Plan Book 187 Plan 148), bounded southwest, northwest and northeast by land of Webb Brook Commons and southeast by Allen Road and Webb Brook Road (147.84 and 70.25 feet), 33,022 square feet, "Being a portion of the property conveyed to Grantor by deed of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation" (Book 6441 Page 1). Acknowledged Aug. 24, recorded Sept. 20, 2000.
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| November 8, 2004 | Quitclaim | Trustee of the Atlantic View Realty Trust | Trustee of the 36 Webb Brook Road Nominee Trust (declaration of Nov. 8, 2004) | Lot 1A to 36 Webb Brook Road Nominee Trust | 18057/85 |
For one dollar, Lot 1A, 33,022 square feet, "36 Webb Brook Road," title Book 11067 Page 99. Recorded Nov. 8, 2004 with a construction mortgage; the present building on the site dates from this time.
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| August 24, 2009 | Quitclaim | Trustee of the 36 Webb Brook Road Nominee Trust | Trustee of the Atlantic View Realty Nominee Trust | Lot 1A back to Atlantic View Realty Nominee Trust | 23322/219 |
For less than $100, Lot 1A on Plan Book 187 Plan 148, 33,022 square feet, 36 Webb Brook Road; title Book 18057 Page 85. Recorded Aug. 24, 2009.
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| February 5, 2016 | Quitclaim | Trustee of the Atlantic View Realty Nominee Trust | Trustee of the 36 Webb Brook Road Nominee Trust II (declaration of Feb. 4, 2016) | Lot 1A to 36 Webb Brook Road Nominee Trust II | 29790/223 |
For one dollar, Lot 1A, 33,022 square feet, 36 Webb Brook Road, with a statement that the property was no beneficiary's principal residence; title Book 23322 Page 219. Recorded Feb. 5, 2016.
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| May 4, 2017 | Tax Taking | Town of Billerica, by its Collector of Taxes | Town of Billerica | Town tax taking of Lot 1A (redeemed) | 31091/75 |
Instrument of taking executed March 17, 2017 of "LAND & BUILDING," 33,022 square feet at 36 Webb Brook Road (parcel 0071-00000810, title Book 29790 Page 223), for fiscal 2016 taxes of $34.09 assessed to the Atlantic View Realty Nominee Trust; total $191.29. The taking was redeemed and released in 2018.
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| March 21, 2019 | Master Deed | Trustee of the 36 Webb Brook Road Nominee Trust II | 36 Webb Brook Road Condominium | Master deed of 36 Webb Brook Road Condominium | 32840/164 |
Master deed submitting the land and building at 36 Webb Brook Road to Chapter 183A as the 36 WEBB BROOK ROAD CONDOMINIUM: four units in "a two (2) story wood-frame building with a concrete slab foundation," with a site plan of Oct. 27, 2018 by Dresser, Williams & Way, Inc. Recorded March 21, 2019. The four units were sold to private owners in April 2019 and have changed hands privately since; those sales are not listed here.
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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.