Job Hill House

Job Hill House
Job Hill House
November 30, 1925 - The Boston Globe
Also Known As Perrin Place
Address 19 Dudley Rd
Built 1790
Demolished 1925
Owners Job Hill (1785 - 1842)
Other Lot Structures Captain John J. Gorham House (Built 1998)


The Job Hill House stood on the north side of what is now Dudley Road (in the deeds "a cross road called Chestnut Avenue"), between Concord Road and Nashua Road in South Billerica, on the lot now numbered 19 Dudley Road. It was the farmhouse of Job Hill (1754-1842) and his son Jonathan Hill, and later "the Perrin Place" and "the Fowler Place". The old house burned on November 29, 1925. Since June 1998 the Captain John J. Gorham House, moved from 473 Boston Road, has stood on the site.

The deeds carry the farm back to 1761, when Joseph Hildreth Jr. of Westford and his wife Abigail sold Thomas Hall of Billerica, husbandman, about fifty acres "on the westerly side of the highway that leads to Concord ... with all the buildings thereon", bounded by the Stearns families and by land of Jonathan Hill. How Hildreth came to hold it is not recorded. Hall died intestate in 1772, leaving "about 63 acres of Land and meadow with one House and Barn", a mortgage to Isaac Stearns and three young children. His widow Lydia, as administratrix, sold 41 1/2 acres to their neighbor Jonathan Hill in 1773 to pay the debts. In 1785 Jonathan Hill passed the same 40 1/2 acres to his sons Job and Josiah Hill, and that year the brothers also bought, at public auction, the widow's dower: 21 1/2 acres on the west side of the Bedford road "with the Dwelling House & that part of the Barn standing thereon", sold by Edward Farmer under a special act of the General Court. In 1793 their father added a meadow of 2 1/2 acres "a little West of the Road leading from my Dwelling house to Bedford". Hazen's History of Billerica (1883) puts Job Hill on the 1776 tax list with the note "Mr. Perrin's place", and in 1791 the town agreed to set the south ward schoolhouse "at the head of Job Hill's lane".

Job Hill married Susanna Blanchard in 1790 and lived on the farm until his death on February 5, 1842. His will left legacies to his daughters and to his son Daniel and "all the rest & residue of my estate" to his son Jonathan Hill, who held the farm until his own death on May 17, 1870 and left everything to his widow, Laura W. Hill. On January 2, 1871 she sold the farm "with the buildings thereon" for $7,000 to Thomas E. Perrin of Andover. The deed describes it from "the corner of the wall nearly opposite the house of Thos. Lyons on the Billerica and Bedford road" west to the Chelmsford and Bedford road, excepting "the Blacksmith Shop, School House, Burying ground, and the cross road", with a pasture opposite the burying ground and a river meadow "a few rods from Hills Bridge". This description was copied into the deeds for the next fifty years. Perrin sold to Dudley Foster in 1888 for $6,500, and in 1891 Foster sold "the Perrin Place" for $7,000 to Charlotte E. Fowler, wife of Edmond R. Fowler.

In April 1906 the Fowlers had the farm surveyed by O. M. Snell (Plan Book 23, Plan 25), showing the house and barns on the north side of Chestnut Avenue. They sold the pasture to John B. Stearns and the 92-acre farm to Arthur J. Larratt of Bedford. Over the next twenty years the farm changed hands quickly, mostly among buyers from Boston and its suburbs: William H. Gafford (1906), Jacob Perlis of Everett (1907), William F. Morse of Boston (1909), Ellsworth J. Dickson and Richard L. Champney of Somerville (1909), Catherine H. Belknap of Salem (1911), Florence W. Dowling (1917), Mary W. Hart of Lynn (1917) and Florence L. Torrey of Winthrop (1918). Torrey's title ended in a lawsuit. In 1921 the Superior Court decreed that she had held the farm in trust for George Fickeissen of Chelsea, and a court-appointed conveyancer deeded it to him for her minor son. Fickeissen sold to John J. Higgins, who conveyed it to the Boylston Real Estate Trust. In 1923 the trust sold the 82 acres "with the buildings thereon" to James M. Burr, who resold them to Leah S. Perry.

In 1924 the Perrys divided the farm. Hans P. Hansen bought the western thirty acres along the Chelmsford road, and James M. Burr took back the eastern 51 acres, including the 30 acres north of Chestnut Avenue where the house stood. Burr sold these on June 24, 1925 to Alton F. and Sibyl W. Randall of Lincoln, and they owned the farm when the old house burned that November. In February 1926 the Randalls sold the land, now described without buildings. After passing through two intermediate buyers it went in 1927 to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, who sold it in 1935 to Margaret A. Barber of Billerica. She sold the part south of Dudley Road in 1947, and in 1948 she sold the 30 acres north of it, "Excepting herefrom, the old blacksmith shop lot", to Barbara Galvin.

The Galvins kept the land for fifty years, transferring it within the family in 1964 while reserving a life estate. After Barbara Galvin's death in 1994 it was divided (Plan Book 196, Plan 143, April 1998), and Lot 2, 57,473 square feet on the north side of Dudley Road, was sold to private owners in 1998. On June 28, 1998 they moved the Captain John J. Gorham House to this lot, the former site of the Job Hill homestead.



Job Hill House
Plan of Land Belonging to Charlotte Fowler, 1906 (Plan 23/25)
Job Hill House
Plan of Land, Billerica, Mass., Prepared for Daniel Kindred (Amherst Survey Associates, Inc., Amherst, N.H., May 23, 1979, revised June 1, 1979), 1979 (Plan 128/162)
Job Hill House
Plan of Land Belonging to Frances Duserick, 1998 (Plan 196/143)


References

  1. Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): tax list of 1776 ("Hill, Job ... Mr. Perrin's place"), the 1791 schoolhouse "at the head of Job Hill's lane", Genealogical Register (Hall 3, Hill 24, Hill 34)


Title References

Date Type Grantor Grantee Summary Recorded
December 17, 1764 Deed Joseph Hildreth Jr. of Westford, yeoman, and Abigail Hildreth his wife Thomas Hall of Billerica, husbandman 61/489 (South)
September 29, 1772 Administration Estate of Thomas Hall of Billerica, yeoman, intestate (d. May 10, 1772) Lydia Hall, widow and administratrix Probate #10188
March 17, 1777 Administrator's Deed Lydia Hall of Billerica, administratrix of the estate of Thomas Hall, intestate Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman 77/362 (South)
February 27, 1786 Administrator's Deed Edward Farmer of Billerica, Esq., empowered by the General Court to sell the dower of Lydia (Hall) Crosby, widow of Thomas Hall Job Hill and Josiah Hill of Billerica, yeomen 93/335 (South)
February 27, 1786 Deed Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman Job Hill and Josiah Hill of Billerica, yeomen 93/336 (South)
April 15, 1794 Deed Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman His son Job Hill of Billerica 115/330 (South)
April 12, 1842 Will Estate of Job Hill of Billerica, yeoman (d. Feb. 5, 1842) His son Jonathan Hill, residuary legatee and executor Probate #34231
1870 Will Jonathan Hill of Billerica (d. May 17, 1870) Laura W. Hill, his widow and executrix (legacies to son James W. Hill and daughter Laura Hill) Probate #34235
January 5, 1871 Warranty Deed Laura W. Hill of Billerica, widow (of Jonathan Hill) Thomas E. Perrin of Andover 77/167
January 5, 1871 Mortgage Thomas E. Perrin of Andover Laura W. Hill of Billerica 77/169
August 20, 1888 Warranty Deed Thomas E. Perrin of Billerica (Abbie O. Perrin, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) Dudley Foster of Billerica 199/83
May 25, 1891 Mortgage Charlotte E. Fowler of Billerica and Edmond R. Fowler, her husband Dudley Foster of Billerica 224/65
May 25, 1891 Warranty Deed Dudley Foster of Billerica (Mary P. Foster, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) Charlotte E. Fowler of Billerica, a married woman 224/312
November 22, 1901 Mortgage Edmond R. Fowler and Charlotte E. Fowler, his wife, in her own right, of Billerica Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank 337/69
June 19, 1906 Quitclaim Deed Edmond R. Fowler and Charlotte E. Fowler, his wife, in her own right, of Chelmsford John B. Stearns of Billerica 391/529
June 19, 1906 Quitclaim Deed Edmond R. Fowler and Charlotte E. Fowler, his wife, in her own right, of Chelmsford Arthur J. Larratt of Bedford 391/530
October 3, 1906 Quitclaim Deed Arthur J. Larratt of Bedford (Katherine Larratt, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) William H. Gafford of Billerica 395/480
February 13, 1907 Warranty Deed William H. Gafford of Billerica (Jessie Gafford, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) Jacob Perlis of Everett 400/308
February 13, 1907 Mortgage Jacob Perlis of Everett William H. Gafford of Billerica 400/309
May 5, 1909 Quitclaim Deed Jacob Perlis of Everett (Lena Perlis, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) William F. Morse of Boston 433/234
May 5, 1909 Mortgage William F. Morse of Boston Clarence H. Lewis of Winchester 433/347
November 19, 1909 Discharge Clarence H. Lewis of Winchester; Lyman F. Priest William P. (F.) Morse; Jacob Perlis 442/554
November 19, 1909 Warranty Deed William P. (F.) Morse of Boston, unmarried Ellsworth J. Dickson and Richard L. Champney, both of Somerville 442/555
November 19, 1909 Mortgage Ellsworth J. Dickson and Richard L. Champney of Somerville George H. Prescott of Reading 442/557
October 18, 1910 Quitclaim Deed Ellsworth J. Dickson of Somerville, unmarried James A. Bailey Jr. of Arlington 457/491
January 2, 1911 Assignment of Mortgage Hudson Savings Bank James A. Bailey Jr. of Arlington 461/334
January 2, 1911 Quitclaim Deed James A. Bailey Jr. of Arlington (Helen G. Bailey, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) Ellsworth J. Dickson of Somerville 461/335
January 2, 1911 Discharge James A. Bailey Jr. of Arlington, assignee Ellsworth J. Dickson and Richard L. Champney 461/337
January 2, 1911 Warranty Deed Ellsworth J. Dickson, unmarried, and Richard L. Champney (Lizzie S. Champney releasing dower), both of Somerville Catherine H. Belknap of Salem 461/338
January 2, 1911 Mortgage Catherine H. Belknap of Salem James A. Bailey Jr. of Arlington 461/340
March 3, 1915 Taking William J. Lyons and other owners on Concord Road County of Middlesex (County Commissioners Levi S. Gould and Chester B. Williams) 534/254
September 27, 1917 Quitclaim Deed Catherine H. Belknap of Salem, unmarried Florence W. Dowling of Boston 579/19
December 21, 1917 Quitclaim Deed Florence W. Dowling of Boston (Mark Temple Dowling, her husband, releasing curtesy) Mary W. Hart of Lynn 581/527
December 21, 1917 Mortgage Mary W. Hart and Fred E. Hart, her husband, of Lynn Florence W. Dowling of Boston 581/528
June 28, 1918 Warranty Deed Mary W. Hart, wife of Fred E. Hart, of Lynn Florence L. Torrey (Torry) of Winthrop 589/284
July 26, 1921 Deed under Decree Frederick J. White, Esquire, appointed by the Superior Court in place of Richard F. Torrey, a minor (heir of Florence L. Torrey) George Fickeissen of Chelsea 646/290
July 26, 1921 Quitclaim Deed George Fickeissen of Chelsea (Annie M. Fickeissen, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) John J. Higgins of Somerville 646/292
September 9, 1921 Quitclaim Deed John J. Higgins of Somerville (Isabel G. Higgins, his wife, releasing) Meredith W. Palmer of Billerica, a trustee of the Boylston Real Estate Trust 649/502
January 16, 1923 Quitclaim Deed James M. Burr of Boston, unmarried Leah S. Perry, wife of Roy E. Perry, of Randolph, Vermont 674/330
January 16, 1923 Mortgage Leah S. Perry, wife of Roy E. Perry, of Randolph, Vermont Guy D. Tobey of Brookline 674/331
January 8, 1923 Quitclaim Deed Meredith W. Palmer, Trustee of the Boylston Real Estate Trust James M. Burr of Boston 675/25
January 8, 1923 Mortgage James M. Burr of Boston, unmarried Guy D. Tobey of Brookline 675/26
January 9, 1924 Quitclaim Deed Roy E. Perry and Leah S. Perry, husband and wife, in her right, of Billerica Hans P. Hansen of Billerica 702/36
June 5, 1924 Quitclaim Deed Leah S. Perry of Billerica (Roy E. Perry, her husband, releasing curtesy) James M. Burr of Boston 707/201
June 5, 1924 Mortgage James M. Burr of Boston, unmarried Guy D. Tobey of Newton 707/202
June 24, 1925 Quitclaim Deed James M. Burr of Boston, unmarried Alton F. Randall and Sibyl W. Randall, his wife, tenants by the entirety, of Lincoln 724/256
March 3, 1926 Quitclaim Deed Alton F. Randall and Sibyl W. Randall, his wife William N. Ambler of Boston 733/547
March 3, 1926 Quitclaim Deed William N. Ambler of Boston, unmarried Thomas W. Lynch of Cambridge 733/549
March 3, 1926 Mortgage Thomas W. Lynch of Cambridge, unmarried Alton F. Randall and Sibyl W. Randall of Cambridge 733/550
July 7, 1927 Quitclaim Deed Thomas W. Lynch of Cambridge, unmarried Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole 751/525
September 13, 1935 Quitclaim Deed Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a corporation sole (by William H. O'Connell, Archbishop) Margaret A. Barber, wife of Giles K. Barber, of Billerica 872/312
October 28, 1947 Quitclaim Deed Margaret A. Barber of Billerica (Giles K. Barber, her husband, releasing curtesy) Joseph L. Barber and Caroline I. Barber, husband and wife, of Billerica 1080/238
April 27, 1948 Quitclaim Deed Margaret A. Barber, a widow, of Billerica Barbara Galvin of Billerica 1089/364

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.