William F. Sanborn House

For $2,500, "all that tract of land situate in Billerica ... known as the homestead farm of the late John Foster containing by estimation forty acres more or less," bounded easterly by "the great road leading from Billerica Centre to Lowell," northerly by land formerly of Stephen Parker, westerly by the Concord River and southerly by Joshua Bennett, "together with the buildings thereon standing," being the premises George P. Elliot conveyed to Getchell on June 9, 1865 (Book 42 Page 80). Dated Aug. 16, recorded Aug. 26, 1870. Sanborn, a master mason, built the present mansard-roofed house on the road frontage; the 1875 map shows "W. Sanborn" and the 1889 map his heirs.

• June 10, 1865 Warranty: George P. Elliot of Billerica and Ann D. R. Elliot to Joseph L. Getchell of Lowell (42/80)

• November 12, 1907 Warranty Deed: Ella B. Richardson, Grace A. Stanton, Etta F. Stanton and Albert D. Stanton, heirs of William F. Sanborn to Jeremiah S. Mahoney of Billerica (412/87) (through the Sanborn estate)

For $200, "the right of way across all my land in said town of Billerica, which is included within the location of the Bedford and Billerica branch of the Boston & Lowell Railroad Company," two rods wide, as shown on the location plan of Oct. 1, 1884. The railroad was to provide "a suitable grade crossing with gates at the lane running through my premises," a cattle pass, a pipe culvert and wooden fencing, "not barbed wire," and the grant was void unless a standard-gauge railroad was running across the land within a year. Dated Oct. 14, recorded Oct. 24, 1884. The branch cut the farm in two between the house lot on the road and the river meadows.

• August 26, 1870 Warranty: Joseph L. Getchell of Lowell and Lucinda M. S. Getchell to William F. Sanborn of Billerica (75/92) (right of way across Sanborn's farm)

"Being all the legal heirs of William F. Sanborn, late of said Billerica, deceased," for one dollar and other considerations, two parcels: the first from Main Street at "the land of Holden (formerly of Bennett)" west by a hedge and fence to the Boston and Lowell Railroad, north by the railroad to "the land of Woodside," and east by Woodside to Main Street; the second from the railroad west by a stone wall and ditch to the Concord River, north by the river to Woodside and back to the railroad, "said to contain forty acres." "Being the same premises conveyed to William F. Sanborn by deed recorded ... Book 75 Page 92. For grantors title see Probate Records," with the rights reserved in Sanborn's 1884 railroad deed. Dated Nov. 9, recorded Nov. 12, 1907.

• August 26, 1870 Warranty: Joseph L. Getchell of Lowell and Lucinda M. S. Getchell to William F. Sanborn of Billerica (75/92) (through the Sanborn estate)

• June 8, 1912 Mortgage: Mary E. Reardon of Billerica to Washington Savings Institution, Lowell (488/521) (Mahoney's will to his sister Mary E. Reardon)

• October 24, 1884 Grant of Right of Way: William F. Sanborn of Billerica to Boston and Lowell Railroad Corporation (170/12) (railroad rights carried with the farm)

Mortgage for $1,500 at five per cent of the same two parcels "said to contain forty acres," "Being the same premises conveyed to my brother Jeremiah S. Mahoney, late of said Billerica, by deed of Ella B. Richardson et al, dated November 9, 1907 ... and being the same premises which were devised to me by the will of my said brother Jeremiah S. Mahoney." The buildings were to be kept insured for $1,500. Recorded June 8, 1912; discharged (Book 841 Page 514). This is the record of the transfer by Mahoney's will to his sister Mary E. Reardon.

• November 12, 1907 Warranty Deed: Ella B. Richardson, Grace A. Stanton, Etta F. Stanton and Albert D. Stanton, heirs of William F. Sanborn to Jeremiah S. Mahoney of Billerica (412/87) (Mahoney's will to his sister Mary E. Reardon)

• May 17, 1937 Quitclaim: Genevieve V. Connors of Brighton (James J. Connors, husband) to Elizabeth P. Reardon and D. Fred Reardon of Billerica, brother and sister (897/223) (heirs of Mary E. Reardon)

For nominal consideration, "one undivided third part" of "Two certain parcels of land, with buildings thereon situated on the westerly side of Main Street in said Billerica, containing forty acres, more or less," bounded by Holden, the Boston & Lowell Railroad, Woodside and the Concord River, subject to the 1884 railroad deed, being her share "as one of the heirs at law of Mary E. Reardon, late of said Billerica." Dated May 15, recorded May 17, 1937. The same day the brother and sister, now owning the whole, mortgaged the farm to the federal Land Bank Commissioner under the Emergency Farm Mortgage Act of 1933 for $1,000 (Book 897 Page 224).

• June 8, 1912 Mortgage: Mary E. Reardon of Billerica to Washington Savings Institution, Lowell (488/521) (heirs of Mary E. Reardon)

• July 30, 1956 Quitclaim: Elizabeth P. Reardon and D. Fred Reardon of Billerica to Francis A. Corcoran of Burlington (1343/493)

The same two parcels on Main Street (Boston Road) and the Concord River, "said to contain forty (40) acres," "Being the same premises conveyed to us by deed of Genevieve V. Connors dated May 15, 1937" (the deed cites it in error as Book 412 Page 87; it is Book 897 Page 223). Dated July 27, recorded July 30, 1956. Corcoran, a Burlington builder, financed the purchase with a $29,000 mortgage to the East Cambridge Savings Bank (Book 1343 Page 495).

• May 17, 1937 Quitclaim: Genevieve V. Connors of Brighton (James J. Connors, husband) to Elizabeth P. Reardon and D. Fred Reardon of Billerica, brother and sister (897/223)

• December 13, 1956 Quitclaim: Francis A. Corcoran of Burlington to Woodside Manor, Inc., of Billerica (1358/410)

Three parcels "with the buildings thereon": the two farm parcels between Main Street, the railroad and the Concord River, "taken together ... forty (40) acres," subject to the East Cambridge Savings Bank mortgage, title by the Reardon deed of July 27, 1956, and a third lot on Main Street. Recorded December 1956. The farm had been laid out in June 1956 as "Woodside Manor Estates" (Plan Book 88 Plan 15), with La Salette Road and Corcoran Road; the Sanborn house stands on Lot 23 at the corner of Boston Road and La Salette Road, 25,500 square feet. Lot 23 passed from the developers to a private owner in 1965 and has changed hands privately since (1966, 1978, 1995 and later).

• July 30, 1956 Quitclaim: Elizabeth P. Reardon and D. Fred Reardon of Billerica to Francis A. Corcoran of Burlington (1343/493)