Structure · Built 1846
William Gray House
William Gray House
| Also Known As | Herbert Wright - Sweatt House |
| Address | 79 Gray St |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.141 |
| Built | 1846 |
The William Gray House stands on the east side of Gray Street at the corner of Patten Road in East Billerica, across the road from the Richardson Homestead. The land was part of the farm of John Richardson 2d. On October 30, 1845 Richardson sold "six and half acres" on "the road leading from Billerica to Andover" to William Gray of Boston, a merchant, for $700, with no buildings on it; Gray was "to build and maintain the fences forever" on the east side.
Gray, born in Tewksbury in 1792, married Richardson's daughter Abigail Allen Richardson, many years his junior, and built the house about 1846. It is a large Greek Revival house with two marble fireplaces. By his will of 1864 he gave his wife Abigail A. Gray "the use and income of said homestead estate, containing six acres" for life, and after her the place went to their daughters Maria R. and Lucy Ann, who were also to have "the right of a home free of charge, in my Mansion House" while they stayed single. Gray died in 1868.
In 1904 the daughters, then Maria R. Bickford and Lucy A. Clewley of Woburn, sold the house and six and a half acres to Herbert A. Wright of Philadelphia, reciting their father's 1845 deed. Wright sold it in February 1912 to Sarah C. Sweatt. Her heirs, the Sweatts and Websters, mortgaged it to the Billerica Trust Company in 1930. In the Depression the loan went unpaid; the bank took possession on June 18, 1938, bought the place at its own mortgagee's sale for $1,500, and that August sold the house to a member of the family. The family kept it until 1972, when it was sold with 3.27 acres on a new survey. It was vacant in 1973, and a fire in the late 1970s destroyed the attached barn and the kitchen. It has been a private home since.
References
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| December 19, 1845 | Warranty Deed | John Richardson 2d of Billerica, yeoman (Nancy Richardson releasing dower) | William Gray of Boston, gentleman | John Richardson 2d sells the lot to William Gray, 1845 | 476/55 (South) |
For $700, a tract "containing six and half acres more or less", from the southwest corner on the east side of "the road leading from Billerica to Andover" at the grantor's other land, east by his land 16 1/2 rods, northeast 25 1/2 rods to a ditch, about 7 rods by the ditch to the main ditch, north by the ditch and a straight line to the highway, and west and south on a curve by the highway; "the said Gray is to build and maintain the fences forever, on the East Side of said premises". No buildings are mentioned. Dated and acknowledged October 30, 1845, before Marshall Preston, witnessed by Albert R. Richardson; recorded December 19, 1845. Billerica town book 18, pages 123-125.
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| 1861 | Will | Estate of John Richardson 2d of Billerica, died June 15, 1861 | His widow Nancy (rooms for life); his sons John O., Alden B. and Albert R. Richardson | John Richardson 2d, who sold Gray the lot (will 1861) | Probate #40437 |
Will dated March 20, 1841 (witnesses Zadok Howe, Charles Hopkins, Marshall Preston). The widow Nancy received "the northwest lower Room in my homestead Dwelling house, and the chamber over the same, and a privilege in the southwest Parlour, and in my Kitchen, Cellar and out buildings" for life or widowhood, with maintenance and a $50 annuity; daughters Abigail A. and Maria E. a home in the house until 21 or marriage and $2,000 each; grandson John Anthony Jones, son of the late daughter Nancy Jones, $300. The rest of the real and personal estate, with the reversion of the widow's rooms, went "to my three sons, John O. Richardson, Alden B. Richardson and Albert R. Richardson," on condition they support their mother. Proved at Framingham June 25, 1861; John O. Richardson executor (bond $10,000). Heirs then: Alden B. of Lowell, Abigail A. Gray (wife of William Gray), Maria E. Teele (wife of Elbridge Teele of Medford). Final account allowed Feb. 4, 1868.
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| 1868 | Will | Estate of William Gray of Billerica | His widow Abigail A. Gray (life estate); daughters Maria R. Gray and Lucy Ann Gray | William Gray will: homestead to his widow and daughters, 1868 | Probate #33042 |
Will dated June 22, 1864, witnessed by Abraham A. Dame, John Wilson and William A. Dame. Gray left his daughters Maria R. and Lucy Ann his piano forte, a bed each and "the right of a home free of charge, in my Mansion House, while they shall remain single and unmarried", and to his wife Abigail A. Gray the furniture, farming tools, horses and carriages and "the use and income of said homestead estate, containing six acres, more or less, for and during the term of her natural life, and at her decease, I give the same to my said two daughters, in equal proportions ... free from the control or interference of any husband". Other lands in Billerica and Tewksbury, Boston and Lowell Rail Road bonds, two pews and $500 for the Fox Hill Cemetery are also given; his wife and Albert R. Richardson are executors.
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| October 6, 1904 | Warranty Deed | Maria R. Bickford and Lucy A. Clewley of Woburn | Herbert A. Wright of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Gray heirs sell to Herbert A. Wright, 1904 | 370/578 |
For $1 and other good and valuable considerations, "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica ... containing six and one half acres", from the southwest corner on the east side of "the road leading from Billerica to Andover" (Gray Street) at land of the heirs of John O. Richardson, east by Richardson 16 1/2 rods, northeast 25 1/2 rods to a ditch, about 7 rods by the ditch to the main ditch, north by the ditch and a straight line to the road, and around by the road on a curve; "It being the same premises as conveyed by John Richardson 2nd to William Gray by deed dated October 30, 1845", Book 476 Page 55. The grantors release dower and homestead. Dated September 29, 1904; recorded October 6, 1904. A correcting deed followed in 1909 (Book 441 Page 346).
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| October 6, 1904 | Mortgage | Herbert A. Wright of Philadelphia | Maria R. Bickford and Lucy A. Clewley of Woburn | Wright's purchase mortgage, 1904 | 370/579 |
For $1,500, the same six and a half acres "with the buildings thereon" on the road from Billerica to Andover, "the same premises as conveyed by John Richardson 2nd to William Gray by deed dated October 30, 1845" (Book 476 Page 55) and by the sellers to Wright "by deed of even date". Discharged in 1909 (Book 441 Page 345). Recorded October 6, 1904.
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| February 17, 1912 | Warranty Deed | Herbert A. Wright (Helen B. Wright releasing dower and homestead) | Sarah C. Sweatt | Wright sells to Sarah C. Sweatt, 1912 | 482/166 |
The grantee index (1901-1915, Swett and Sweatt) lists the deed as "Billerica, Rd to Andover". The registry's scan of page 166, with the description, shows "Image is Unavailable"; page 167 has the warranty covenants, Helen B. Wright's release of dower and homestead, and the signatures of February 14, 1912, witnessed by Olive A. and H. R. Hayward, and the acknowledgment the same day before Henry R. Hayward. On the same day the Central Savings Bank of Lowell and Fanny L. Wright discharged Wright's mortgages (Book 482 Page 165). Recorded February 17, 1912.
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| July 14, 1930 | Executors' Deed | Joseph E. Sweatt of Presque Isle, Maine, and Sadie A. Webster of Billerica, co-executors of the will of Sarah C. Sweatt | Chester E. Sweatt of Billerica | Sarah C. Sweatt's executors convey a fifth to Chester E. Sweatt, 1930 | 792/229 |
Under the powers in the will of "the late Sarah C. Sweatt, late of said Billerica" (Middlesex probate docket 149527), quitclaim of "One undivided fifth of a certain tract of land, with the buildings thereon, situated in said Billerica, containing 6 1/2 acres", bounded by land of the heirs of John O. Richardson, the ditch and main ditch and the Billerica and Andover Road, the title being her estate and the 1912 Wright deed. Dated May 14, 1930; recorded July 14, 1930, just before the family's mortgage to the Billerica Trust Company.
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| July 14, 1930 | Mortgage | Heirs of Sarah C. Sweatt: Chester E. Sweatt, Llewellyn A. and Sadie A. Webster of Billerica, Joseph E. Sweatt of Presque Isle, Maine, and Samuel H. Sweatt of Cheyenne, Wyoming | Billerica Trust Company | Sweatt heirs mortgage the house to Billerica Trust Co., 1930 | 792/230 |
For $1,500 in one year at six per cent, "payable in gold coin", "A certain tract of land with the buildings thereon ... containing 6 1/2 acres" on the road from Billerica to Andover, same bounds; "For Title see Estate of the late Sarah C. Sweatt filed in the Middlesex Probate Court and being Docket No. 149527. Being the same premises conveyed to said Sarah C. Sweatt by deed of Herbert A. Wright dated February 14, 1912", Book 482 Page 166. The bank took possession for breach of condition on June 23, 1938 (Book 915 Page 92) and sold under the power in July 1938 (grantee index 1926-1940, Billerica Trust Company, "Mtgee's Sale & Affidavit 792-230"), then deeded the house in August 1938 to a relative of the family (Book 917 Page 340).
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| July 1, 1938 | Mortgagee's Deed | Billerica Trust Company, mortgagee (Everett R. Brigham, Treasurer) | Billerica Trust Company | Billerica Trust Co. forecloses the Sweatt heirs' mortgage, 1938 | 915/384 |
Foreclosure of the 1930 mortgage of Chester E. Sweatt, Llewellyn A. Webster and Sadie A. Webster, Joseph E. Sweatt and Samuel H. Sweatt (Book 792 Page 230). The bank made "an open, peaceable and unopposed entry on the premises" on June 18, 1938 (certificate of possession, Book 915 Page 92, recorded June 23, 1938), advertised a mortgagee's sale in the Billerica News on May 26, June 2 and June 9, 1938, and at the sale bought the place itself "in consideration of the sum of Fifteen Hundred (1500) Dollars": "A certain tract of land with the buildings thereon ... containing 6 1/2 acres", bounded by land of the heirs of John O. Richardson, the ditch and main ditch and the Billerica and Andover Road. Signed June 1938, acknowledged June 30, 1938 before Forrest F. Collier, recorded July 1, 1938, with the treasurer's affidavit of sale.
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| August 19, 1938 | Quitclaim | Billerica Trust Company (Everett R. Brigham, Treasurer) | A relative of Sarah C. Sweatt (private) | Billerica Trust Co. sells to a Sweatt relative, 1938 | 917/340 |
Under a vote of the directors of August 9, 1938, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon located on the southerly side of Gray Street in East Billerica, containing six and one-half (6 1/2) acres", with the same bounds as the 1904 deed (heirs of John O. Richardson, the ditch and main ditch, the Billerica and Andover Road). The buyer gave the bank an $1,825 mortgage the same day (Book 917 Page 341). Dated August 10, 1938; recorded August 19, 1938.
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| August 4, 1964 | Trustee's Deed | Sadie A. Webster, Trustee under the will of Sarah C. Sweatt | The 1938 buyer (private) | trustee under Sarah C. Sweatt will, 4/25 interest, 1964 | 1659/91 |
By power of a Middlesex Probate Court decree of July 28, 1964 (docket 149527), for $900, "Four undivided twenty-fifths interest in a certain parcel of land with the building thereon" on the east side of the road from Billerica to Andover at land of the heirs of John O. Richardson, with the same bounds as the 1904 and 1938 deeds. Recorded August 4, 1964.
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| December 14, 1972 | Quitclaim | The 1938 buyer (private) | Two private buyers, tenants in common | sold out of the family, 1972 | 2044/268 |
For $28,000, the land "with the buildings thereon, located on the Easterly side of Gray Street, now numbered 79 Gray Street, in East Billerica", 3.27 acres on a December 1972 plan by Emmons, Fleming & Bienvenu (Plan Book 115 Plan 164), bounded by Gray Street, the corner of Patten Road, abutters on the north, a ditch on the east and land on the southwest; "Being a portion of the premises conveyed to the grantor by deed of Billerica Trust Co. dated August 10, 1938", Book 917 Page 340, and the 1964 deed of the trustee under the will of Sarah C. Sweatt, Book 1659 Page 91. The house was vacant in 1973. Later private conveyances of the same 3.27 acres: a confirmatory deed in 1986 (Book 3345 Page 314) and a family transfer in 2015 (Book 28820 Page 230). Recorded December 14, 1972.
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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.