Structure · Built 1764
Richardson Homestead
Richardson Homestead
| Also Known As | Middlesex Canal Boarding House |
| Address | 78 Gray St |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.138 |
| Built | 1764 |
| Owners |
Thomas Richardson II
(1770 - 1778)
Oliver Richardson (1778 - 1836) |
The Richardson Homestead stands on Gray Street in East Billerica, between the road (once Andover Road) and the railroad, close to Content Brook, the old Mill Meadow pond and the bed of the Middlesex Canal, in the neighborhood that grew up around Richardson's Mill. For about 166 years, from 1778 to 1944, it belonged to one branch of the Richardson family.
The land came to the French family in the 1730s and 1740s. In December 1739 William French Jr. bought from John Marshall four acres of meadow "upon & on both sides of a brook commonly called and known by ye name of Content brook lying wholly above ye Bridge & casway there (that is ye Country road)," the site of the later mill pond. On Jan. 24, 1744/5 his father, William French, gave him "about twenty acres" of woodland "on the northerly side of Content Brook," which the father had also bought of John Marshall (the gift was recorded only in 1765). Here the younger William built a house and a saw mill, by tradition about 1764. The Historical Commission named the builder as the William French born in 1738/9, but the deeds point to the older man: the William French Jr. who sold the place in 1766 already had a grown son, Jonathan.
In 1766 French sold out to John White, gentleman. On Aug. 12 he sold him fifteen acres of upland on "the highway that leadeth from Billerica to Tewksbury" and four acres of meadow by "Sheldon's Folly," and on Dec. 3 he and his wife Tabitha sold about twenty acres "with the House and barn the Saw Mill and all the Buildings thereon standing," beginning "at the Road at Jonathan Richardson's Meadow near Content Bridge" and running to "Andover Road so called." White is said to have sold the place to Thomas Richardson in 1770; that deed has not been found in the registry or the town books, but Thomas was living here when he answered the alarm of April 19, 1775. On Feb. 4, 1778 he and his wife Judith sold "my homestead farm," 46 acres on the road to Tewksbury, "with one quarter part of the saw mill thereon standing ... with all the other buildings," with meadow and swamp lots, to "my brother Oliver Richardson" for 266 pounds. In 1779 Oliver added nine acres near Mill Meadow bought of Samuel Brown. Neither deed was recorded until 1786.
Oliver Richardson enlarged the house, probably about 1798, when the Middlesex Canal was being dug past the farm; by tradition he boarded as many as fifteen canal laborers, three of whom married Richardson daughters. In December 1811 he sold his son John Richardson "the west front room and the chamber and garrett over the same in my dwelling house" with 23 acres east of the Tewksbury road, so father and son shared the house. Oliver's will, written in 1825 and proved in October 1836, left "All the rest and residue of my estate" to John. John Richardson (called John 2d) ran the saw mill west of the house and in 1852 bought the canal land beside the farm from the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal. His will of 1841 gave his widow Nancy "the northwest lower Room in my homestead Dwelling house, and the chamber over the same," with a share of the parlor, kitchen and cellar, and left the rest to his three sons. He died June 15, 1861, and that October John O. and Alden B. Richardson released the 178-acre farm, "with all the buildings thereon," to their brother Albert R. Richardson, reserving "the right to enter the premises at any time to manage water and make repairs as usual for the mill privilege." John O. Richardson kept the land to the north.
Albert R. Richardson, who probably added the porch and ell, died by 1894, when his widow Caroline E. Richardson, as executrix and trustee under his will, took a small strip "near the barn" from John O. Richardson to straighten the line. The estate stayed with her until 1924, when Albert's children divided it. A survey by Henry O. Brooks in May 1924 marked out the house, barn and 2.15 acres as the "homestead lot," and on June 30, 1924 Mary R. Eames and Alden B. Richardson released it, with an 83-acre field running to Mill Meadow, to their brother Albert H. Richardson. He rented the house to tenants and on May 18, 1944 sold the homestead lot to Otto Paul and Jessie W. Franz, the first owners outside the family since 1778.
Four sales followed in seven years: to Pauline F. and Clayton R. Downing in 1946, Fred P. and Lyndall M. Thompson in March 1947, Leopold C. and Phyllis B. Tappey in August 1947, and in December 1951 to a couple who owned the house for more than forty years. In 1949 the County Commissioners took strips of the front of the lot to rebuild the Gray Street bridge over the railroad at East Billerica station. The original barn burned and was replaced in the 1960s, an upper story was added on the north side in 1978, and the house was included in the local historic district in 1994. It was sold to private owners in 1994 and again in 2003.
References
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| July 14, 1740 | Deed | John Marshall of Billerica, yeoman, with Abigail his wife | William French Jr. of Billerica, yeoman | William French Jr. buys the meadow on Content Brook above the bridge, the later mill site | 40/662 (South) |
For 150 pounds, "One Parcel of Meadow land ... containing by Estimation about four acres ... lying upon & on both sides of a brook commonly called and known by ye name of Content brook lying wholly above ye Bridge & casway there (that is ye Country road)," bounded southward by the bridge and causeway, westward by upland and northward by land laid out to John Marshall, eastward by upland and Jonathan Danforth Sr., "according as it was granted & laid out by sd. town of Billerica to Saml. Kinsley decd."; also a slip of upland of about 100 poles adjoining the meadow. Warranty. Dated and acknowledged Dec. 18, 1739 (witnesses John Parker Jr., William Tarbell); recorded July 14, 1740. Billerica town book 4, pages 269-271 (Southern Registry Book 40 Page 662). This meadow on Content Brook just above the bridge on the country road is where the French saw mill and its pond were later made; the 1766 house lot began "near Content Bridge."
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| July 10, 1765 | Gift | William French of Billerica (died by August 1746) | His son William French of Billerica | William French gives his son the 20 acres of woodland north of Content Brook | 63/96 (South) |
"For the Love and affection I have and do bear unto my son William French" and in full of his portion, on condition that the son pay 80 pounds old tenor to his sisters Elizabeth Kidder and Mehetable White within two years of the father's death, several parcels in Billerica and Tewksbury, among them three and a half acres of pasture northwest of the son's dwelling house and "another Parcel of Land lying on the northerly side of Content Brook it containing about twenty acres be it more or less it is the one half of my woodland there and bounded as may appear by my Deed of the same which I had of John Marshall"; also five acres on Fox's Hill laid out to the heirs of "my hond Father John French," Shawshin meadow and two lots at the great swamp in Tewksbury. Dated Jan. 24, 1744/5; proved by the witnesses William French Jr. and Jacob French at the Sessions in Concord in August 1746, the grantor being then dead; recorded July 10, 1765. Billerica town book 6, pages 73-75 (Southern Registry Book 63 Page 96). The twenty acres of woodland north of Content Brook are the land on which the saw mill and house stood by 1766.
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| September 26, 1766 | Deed | William French Jr. of Billerica, yeoman | John White of Billerica, gentleman | William French Jr. sells John White 15 acres and meadow by Content Brook | 66/267 (South) |
For 43 pounds, "a certain Tract of upland lying in Billerica aforesaid containing fifteen acres more or less," bounded easterly by "the highway that leadeth from Billerica to Tewksbury," southerly and westerly by "the Land that I gave my son Jonathan French a deed of," and northerly by Lieut. Samuel Brown; also "four acres of Meadow Land ... lying on the Southwesterly side of Content Brook," bounded by the brook from Jonathan French's land to "Sheldon's Folly so called," by Jonathan's land to a black oak and by William Needham, with a way to the meadow "from the Road from Content Bridge." Warranty. Dated Aug. 12, 1766 (witnesses John White Jr., Ebenezer Temple), acknowledged Aug. 27, 1766; recorded Sept. 26, 1766. Billerica town book 6, pages 184-186 (Southern Registry Book 66 Page 267). The grantor had a grown son Jonathan, so he was the William French of the 1745 gift, not the younger William born 1738/9; this upland and meadow became part of Thomas Richardson's 46-acre homestead farm (1778).
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| February 25, 1767 | Warranty | William French Jr. of Billerica, yeoman, and Tabitha French | John White of Billerica, gentleman | William French sells the house, barn and saw mill near Content Bridge to John White | 66/438 (South) |
For 200 pounds, "one Parcel of Land lying in Billerica aforesaid containing about twenty acres be the same more or less with the House and barn the Saw Mill and all the Buildings thereon standing & all Things belonging to said Mill," beginning at a heap of stones at the southerly corner "at the Road at Jonathan Richardson's Meadow near Content Bridge," northwesterly by Richardson's land to land White already had by deed, northeasterly "taking in said Mill" by land deeded to Joseph Hill, easterly by land deeded to White "to Andover Road so called," and by the road to the beginning. Dated Dec. 3, 1766, witnesses William French Sr. and Elizabeth French; acknowledged Feb. 24, recorded Feb. 25, 1767. Billerica town book 6, pages 233-235 (Southern Registry Book 66 Page 438). MACRIS says French built the house and a saw mill about 1764 and that White was his uncle by marriage; in 1770 White sold to Thomas Richardson (deed not read).
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| March 22, 1786 | Warranty | Thomas Richardson of Billerica, yeoman, and Judith Richardson his wife | Oliver Richardson of Billerica, husbandman, his brother | Thomas Richardson sells his homestead farm to his brother Oliver | 93/377 (South) |
For 266 pounds, "the several pieces of Land hereafter mentioned. The first is my homestead farm lying in said Billerica containing forty six acres," beginning "at the road to Tewksbury at the Southeast corner of said Land at Jonathan Richardson's meadow," by land bought of Jonathan French and of James Lewis, west on William Needham and the heirs of Benjamin Needham to the corner at the road "near Sheldons folly (so called)," on the road across the brook to Samuel Brown's land, "then on said road to the corner where we began near Content Bridge with one quarter part of the saw mill thereon standing with all the appurtenances thereto belonging with all the other buildings thereon standing"; also nine and a quarter acres "near my Dwelling House" bought of Josiah Richardson, bounded westerly on the road to Tewksbury, by Nehemiah Kittredge, John French and Samuel Baldwin; six acres by William Needham's lot and Jonathan Richardson's meadow; two thirds of a great swamp lot in Tewksbury laid out to Caleb Farley; and four acres in Mill Meadow by William Kidder, John French and the Long Pond brook. Dated Feb. 4, 1778, acknowledged March 11, 1778; recorded March 22, 1786. Billerica town book 8, pages 53-55 (Southern Registry Book 93 Page 377). The same day in 1786 was recorded Samuel Brown's deed to Oliver of Jan. 2, 1779, five acres of upland near the upper end of "Richardson's content meadow" (town book 8/52, S. 93/376).
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| March 22, 1786 | Deed | Samuel Brown of Billerica, yeoman, with Sarah his wife releasing dower | Oliver Richardson of Billerica, yeoman | Samuel Brown sells Oliver Richardson 9 acres by Mill Meadow, next to his farm | 93/375 (South) |
For 465 pounds 12 shillings 6 pence (wartime currency), "A Tract of Land in Billerica aforesaid near Mill Meadow so called containing nine acres & fifty rods more or less," from a stake and stones by James Lewis's land southwesterly by Brown's own land 33 1/2 rods, westerly 46 1/2 rods "by said Richardsons land," northwesterly four rods to Jonathan Foster, northeasterly about 35 rods to a marked pine and by James Lewis to the start, "with the priviledge of the watering place to the Brook," reserving a way one rod wide across the northwest end. Warranty. Dated Nov. 9, 1779 (witnesses Isaac Foster, Ephraim Crosby), acknowledged March 6, 1780; recorded March 22, 1786, with Oliver's other deeds. Billerica town book 8, pages 50-52 (Southern Registry Book 93 Page 375). An addition to the homestead farm bought from Thomas the year before.
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| October 27, 1812 | Deed | Oliver Richardson of Billerica, yeoman | His son John Richardson Jr. of Billerica, yeoman | Oliver Richardson sells his son John the west front room of the house and 23 acres | 199/454 (South) |
For $800, "the west front room and the chamber and garrett over the same in my dwelling house," and a tract "in the northeasterly part of said Billerica on the easterly side of the road leading to Tewksbury" of "twenty three acres more or less," bounded by common land, land claimed by Abigail French, Jeremiah Allen and Samuel Brown "to Content brook," by the brook to Joseph Kendall, by Thomas Craige, Benjamin Beard and William Gleason Jr. "to my own land," and by a town road and the Tewksbury road. Warranty. Dated Dec. 3, 1811 (witness Blaney Abbot), acknowledged Feb. 17, 1812; recorded Oct. 27, 1812. Billerica town book 11, pages 200-201 (Southern Registry Book 199 Page 454). Oliver thus shared the house with his son John from 1811, giving him the west front room and the chamber and garret above it.
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| 1836 | Will | Estate of Oliver Richardson of Billerica, yeoman, died 1836 | His son John Richardson (called John Richardson 2d), residuary devisee and executor | Oliver Richardson will: the homestead to his son John | Probate #19083 |
Will dated Nov. 4, 1825 (witnesses Marshall Preston, Zadok Howe, John Baldwin): $500 each to the granddaughter Martha Jenney, only child of the late daughter Patty Jenney, and the grandson John Chandler Jr. of Tewksbury; $5 each to the sons-in-law John Chandler, Philip Mills and Benjamin Jenney; daughter Lucy Mills already provided for; "All the rest and residue of my estate, both real and personal ... I give, devise and bequeath to my son John Richardson his heirs and assigns forever," John to be sole executor. The heirs assented Oct. 1, 1836 (Philip Mills for Lucy, Enoch Foster for Martha), and the will was proved Oct. 11, 1836, with John Richardson 2d as executor under a $30,000 bond (sureties Theophilus Manning and Ebenezer Page). No inventory is in the file. The homestead thus passed whole to John, who already owned the west front room under the 1811 deed.
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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 will: the homestead to his three sons, rooms to the widow | 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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| November 12, 1861 | Quitclaim | John O. Richardson of Billerica and Alden B. Richardson of Lowell, with their wives Pamelia and Martha releasing dower | Their brother Albert R. Richardson of Billerica | John O. and Alden B. Richardson release the homestead farm to their brother Albert R. | 29/394 |
For $6,000, the brothers released "all our right, title and interest in and to the following described real estate with all the buildings thereon, situate partly in Billerica and partly in Tewksbury," beginning at "the road leading to Tewksbury at a bound at land of the Proprietors of Boston & Lowell R.R.," north by the railroad 527 feet to "the Long Pond road, so called," by that road to Abiel Saunders and back to the Tewksbury road, "containing one hundred and seventy eight acres 2 R. 24 r." (about four acres of J. Baldwin excepted), "Reserving the right to enter the premises at any time to manage water and make repairs as usual for the mill privilege"; also the 19 1/2-acre "Thompson lot" with a way to the road from Billerica to Andover, and seven acres on Candlewood Island in Tewksbury "conveyed to Oliver Richardson by Joseph Shed Jr." in 1792. Dated Oct. 3, 1861 (witness Dudley Foster); recorded Nov. 12, 1861. Middlesex North Book 29, pages 394-396. With a companion deed of the same date for the Tewksbury lots, this divided John Richardson 2d's estate: Albert took the homestead farm, John O. kept adjoining land to the north.
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| July 17, 1894 | Quitclaim | John O. Richardson of Billerica, with Pamelia his wife releasing dower | Caroline E. Richardson, executrix of the will of Albert R. Richardson and trustee under it | John O. Richardson adds a strip behind the barn to the Albert R. Richardson estate | 256/525 |
For $1 and other consideration, "a certain tract of land situate in the Easterly part of said Billerica," beginning "at a bound at the end of a fence near the barn on the estate of the late Albert R. Richardson," running westerly by John O.'s other land about 29 rods to a stone bound one rod from the Boston & Lowell Railroad, one rod to the railroad, and back by the railroad and the Albert R. Richardson estate. In exchange the executrix released (Book 256, page 526) a right of way Albert had held through John O.'s land. Dated and acknowledged July 13, 1894; recorded July 17, 1894. Middlesex North Book 256, pages 525-526. This strip behind the barn became part of the 2.15-acre homestead lot of 1924, which cites this deed (misdated there "July 15, 1890"). Albert R. Richardson had died by 1894; his will (Middlesex Probate 32240) left the estate to his widow Caroline E. as trustee.
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| July 14, 1924 | Quitclaim | Mary R. Eames of Billerica (husband Charles H. Eames) and Alden B. Richardson of Arlington (wife Marion G.) | Their brother Albert H. Richardson of Billerica | Albert R. Richardson heirs partition: the homestead lot to Albert H. Richardson | 706/587 |
Partition of the estate of Albert R. Richardson among his three children. For a $3 stamp, "an undivided two-thirds part of the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on the westerly side of Andover Road," from a stake at the road "at land of the heirs of John O. Richardson," westerly by a fence 209.08 and 488.45 feet "to a stake at the end of a wall," 16.5 feet to the Boston & Maine Railroad, 716.69 feet along the railroad and back to the road, 2.15 acres, "Being the lot shown as the homestead lot on a plan of land in Billerica and Tewksbury, Mass., belonging to Albert H. Richardson, being part of the estate of Albert R. Richardson, Surveyed May 1924, Henry O. Brooks" (Plan Book 44, Plan 76); title from the 1861 and 1894 deeds. Also two thirds of an 83.58-acre field running from Andover Road to "the pond called Mill Meadow," partly in Tewksbury. "Our title is derived under the will of Albert R. Richardson ... No. 32240." Dated June 30, 1924; recorded July 14, 1924. Middlesex North Book 706, pages 587-588. A companion deed the same day gave Mary R. Eames 69.52 acres on the south side of Andover Road.
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| May 19, 1944 | Quitclaim | Albert H. Richardson of Billerica, with Hattie B. his wife releasing dower and homestead | Otto Paul Franz and Jessie W. Franz, husband and wife, of Billerica | Albert H. Richardson sells the homestead lot to Otto Paul and Jessie W. Franz | 1006/411 |
For consideration paid ($2.75 in stamps), "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on the westerly side of Gray Street," from a stone bound at Gray Street "and at land of the heirs of John O. Richardson," by a fence 209.08 and 488.45 feet, 16.5 feet to the Boston & Maine Railroad, 716.69 feet along the railroad, 92.31 feet to Gray Street and 183.18 feet along it, "Being the lot shown as the homestead lot" on Plan Book 44, Plan 76; "Being a part of the premises derived by me under the will of Albert R. Richardson, Middlesex Probate #32240, and being a part of the premises described in a deed from Mary R. Eames et al to me dated June 30, 1924 ... Book 706, Page 587," subject to rights of way to New England Power Construction Co. and Colonial Beacon Oil Co. Dated May 18, 1944; recorded May 19, 1944. Middlesex North Book 1006, pages 411-412. The Franzes gave Richardson back a $2,200 mortgage (page 412), discharged April 30, 1946. This sale ended about 180 years of Richardson ownership.
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| May 1, 1946 | Quitclaim | Otto Paul Franz and Jessie W. Franz, husband and wife, of Billerica | Pauline F. Downing and Clayton R. Downing of Billerica, joint tenants | Franz sells to Pauline F. and Clayton R. Downing | 1042/287 |
For consideration paid ($3.30 in stamps), the same land "with the buildings thereon, situated on the westerly side of Gray Street," the homestead lot of 2.15 acres on Plan Book 44, Plan 76, "Being the same premises conveyed to us by deed of Albert H. Richardson dated May 18, 1944," subject to the power and oil company rights of way and 1946 taxes. Dated April 30, 1946; recorded May 1, 1946. Middlesex North Book 1042, pages 287-288.
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| March 20, 1947 | Quitclaim | Pauline F. Downing and Clayton R. Downing of Billerica (Harold G. Downing, Pauline's husband, releasing curtesy) | Fred P. Thompson and Lyndall M. Thompson, husband and wife | the Downings sell to Fred P. and Lyndall M. Thompson | 1063/546 |
For consideration paid ($9.35 in stamps), "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon, situated on the Westerly side of Gray Street," the 2.15-acre homestead lot on Plan Book 44, Plan 76, "Being the same premises conveyed to us by deed of Otto Paul Franz et ux dated April 30, 1946, ... Book 1042, Page 287." Dated, acknowledged and recorded March 20, 1947. Middlesex North Book 1063, pages 546-547. (Later deeds misdate it "May 20, 1947" and call the buyer "Fred C." Thompson.)
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| August 20, 1947 | Quitclaim | Fred P. Thompson and Lyndall M. Thompson, husband and wife, of Billerica | Leopold C. Tappey and Phyllis B. Tappey, husband and wife, of East Billerica | the Thompsons sell to Leopold C. and Phyllis B. Tappey | 1074/370 |
For consideration paid ($11 in stamps), "the land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica on the westerly side of Andover Road, now Gray Street," 2.15 acres, the homestead lot on Plan Book 44, Plan 76, "Being the same premises conveyed to us by Pauline F. Downing et al dated March 20, 1947." Dated, acknowledged and recorded Aug. 20, 1947. Middlesex North Book 1074, pages 370-371. The Tappeys mortgaged it for $12,000 to the Andover Savings Bank the same day.
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| June 13, 1949 | Taking | Middlesex County Commissioners, for the Town of Billerica | Town of Billerica (highway and slope easements) | County takes a strip of the front yard to rebuild the Gray Street railroad bridge | 1117/161 |
On the selectmen's 1947 petition that "the bridge and approaches thereto, carrying Gray Street, in Billerica, over the tracks of the Boston and Maine Railroad, at the East Billerica Station, should be altered," the commissioners laid out the altered road and took easements for highway and sloping purposes, among them Parcel 2 from "Leopold C. and Phyllis B. Tappey about 800 square feet" and Slope Parcel 3 from the Tappeys about 1,700 square feet, with "Trees, walls, and fences" within the limits, and ordered a new five-span timber bridge with a 24-foot roadway and a four-foot walk. Dated April 29, 1949; recorded June 13, 1949. Middlesex North Book 1117, pages 161-164.
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| December 17, 1951 | Quitclaim | Leopold C. Tappey and Phyllis B. Tappey, husband and wife, of Billerica | A private couple of Arlington | the Tappeys sell to the long-time later owners (private) | 1185/46 |
For consideration paid, "the land with the buildings thereon situated on the westerly side of Andover Road, now Gray Street," 2.15 acres, the homestead lot on Plan Book 44, Plan 76, "Being the same premises conveyed to us by Fred P. Thompson et ux dated August 20, 1947," subject to the County Commissioners' taking of April 29, 1949. Dated Dec. 14, 1951; recorded Dec. 17, 1951. Middlesex North Book 1185, page 46. The buyers kept the house for more than forty years (placing it in a family realty trust in 1976); it was sold to private owners in 1994 (Book 7078, page 282, $188,900) and again in 2003, subject to a 1993 Gray Street layout and taking (Book 6722, page 303, Plan Book 183, Plan 16).
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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.