Samuel Manning Homestead
Samuel Manning Homestead
| Address | 349 Boston Rd |
| Built | 1660 |
| Demolished | 1886 |
| Other Lot Structures |
Pemberton Academy (1794 -
1808)
Dr. Harlin Pillsbury House (Built 1886) |
This farm on the west side of Boston Road, running back to the Concord River north of the town center, was the 32-acre house lot granted by the town to Thomas Hubbard among the first settlers; Hazen placed the Hubbards "between Dr. Pillsbury's place and Mrs. Wild's." After Hubbard's death the place passed to Caleb Beal of Hingham, who in 1666 sold "one dwelling house with thirty two acres of land" to Samuel Manning, bounded "by long street east, James Paterson south, Jno. Rogers Senr North, the great River West." The deed shows that a house stood here by 1666 and that the farm next south was James Patterson's house lot, the site of his garrison in 1675 (see Joshua Abbott House). Manning sold the messuage in 1710 to Benjamin Heywood, whose south line was then John Wilson Jr., owner of the old Patterson homestead, and Heywood sold it in 1728 to William Stickney, with Joshua Abbott as the neighbor to the south.
After Stickney's death his executors sold the farm, "Northward of the Meeting House on the Country road leading to the old Bridge," to Dr. Isaac Hurd in 1786, less the part set off as his widow's dower. Hurd moved to Concord and in 1794 conveyed the 35 acres "together with all the Buildings thereon" to Isaac Wilkins, a merchant and later mariner. Wilkins sold a quarter acre on the road to Ebenezer Pemberton, where Pemberton kept his celebrated Pemberton Academy from 1794 to 1808. In 1799, about to "take a long voyage to Sea," Wilkins gave Dr. William Wilkins power of attorney, and in 1800 the farm, about 36 acres "with all the buildings standing thereon," was sold for $2,000 to Robert Caldwell of Boston.
The Caldwells lived here for the next four decades. A house is shown on the site on the 1831 map. In 1842 Francis Faulkner, John Baldwin and James R. Faulkner sold "the homestead of the late Mrs. Francis Caldwell," 38 acres with a dwelling house and other buildings, to Stephen and Caroline Parker of Lowell for $2,750, and the 1853 Walling map shows the place as S. Parker's. When Caroline Parker, by then a widow, sold the farm to Dr. Harlin Pillsbury of Lowell in 1871, the deed described it as "the farm formerly owned and occupied by Mr. & Mrs. Caldwell" with "the building and remains of a house thereon." The old farmhouse had evidently been lost by then, and the house that stands on the lot today, the Dr. Harlin Pillsbury House, was built or rebuilt on the property by 1886.
References
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883): the Hubbard lot "between Dr. Pillsbury's place and Mrs. Wild's" among the settlers of 1660
- Walling, Map of the Town of Billerica (1853), State Library of Massachusetts via Digital Commonwealth
- Beers, County Atlas of Middlesex, Massachusetts (1875)
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| 1666 | Deed | Caleb Beal of Hingham | Samuel Manning of Billerica | 1666: Thomas Hubbard's town grant, with a dwelling house, sold to Samuel Manning; bounded south by James Patterson | 3/214 (South) |
For "a valluable Summe of money," "One messuage or tenement ... conteyning one dwelling house with thirty two acres of land, be it more or less, adjoyning to the same, bounded by long street east, James Paterson south, Jno. Rogers Senr North, the great River West, which land was granted by the Towne of Billerica to Thomas Hubbard now deceased," with Hubbard's other upland and meadow lots and the privileges of his six-acre lot, except thirteen and a half acres in the great common field that Hubbard had sold to John Rogers Jr. Dated 1666, recorded 1667. Billerica town book 1, pages 32-33. The deed shows that a dwelling house already stood here by 1666 and that James Patterson's house lot was the next lot to the south.
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| July 7, 1710 | Deed | Samuel Manning of Billerica and Abiel Manning his wife | Benjamin Heywood of Billerica | 1710: Manning sells the 32-acre messuage to Benjamin Heywood | 15/288 (South) |
For 97 pounds, "one Messuage or Tenement situate in Billerica abovesaid, on ye North side of the Township Containing about Thirty and Two acres be it more or less, bounded Eastward by the Country Road, Southward by the Land of John Wilson Junr, Westward by Concord River, Northward by the Land of Danll Rogers, with all the buildings ffences Trees thereon standing or lying," with 44 acres by the Great Swamp, 35 acres in the second range east of it and a five-acre town right. Dated April 17, acknowledged May 8, recorded July 7, 1710. John Wilson Jr. then owned the old Patterson homestead to the south. Billerica town book 1, pages 472-474.
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| 1728 | Deed | Benjamin Heywood of Billerica | William Stickney of Billerica | 1728: Heywood sells the messuage to William Stickney, bounded south by Joshua Abbott | 29/41 (South) |
For 400 pounds, "one messuage or Tenement situate in Billerica aforesaid on the north side of the Township Containing about thirty and two acres," bounded east by the County Road, "Southward by the land of Joshua Abbott," west by the Concord River and north by the heirs of Daniel Rogers, "with all the Buildings Fences & Trees thereon standing." Recorded 1728. Billerica town book 3, pages 200-201.
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| April 11, 1786 | Executor's Deed | Joshua Abbot and Jonathan Stickney, executors of William Stickney Esq. | Dr. Isaac Hurd | Stickney executors to Dr. Isaac Hurd | 93/470 (South) |
Under license of the Supreme Judicial Court, the executors of William Stickney Esq., late of Billerica, sell for 231 pounds lawful silver money to Isaac Hurd of Billerica, physician, "a certain parcel of land lying in said Billerica Northward of the Meeting House on the Country road leading to the old Bridge being about Thirty two acres," bounded south by Joshua Abbot, west by Concord River, north by Hurd's own land to the widow's thirds, then around the thirds "as the wall now stands" to the highway, "excepting what was laid off to the widows thirds as is recorded in the Probate Office, with the Buildings thereon standing." Signed March 30, 1786, "in the tenth year of American Independence," witnessed by Benjamin Hurd Jr. and William Tompson. Stearns traced the farm back through Stickney and Benjamin Heywood (1721-1728) to Samuel Manning, who bought the Hubbard grant in 1662; those earlier transfers were not traced in the registry. Billerica town book 8, pages 57-58.
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| September 11, 1794 | Deed | Dr. Isaac Hurd and Polly Hurd | Isaac Wilkins | Hurd to Isaac Wilkins | 117/229 (South) |
Isaac Hurd, now of Concord, physician, conveys to Isaac Wilkins of Billerica, merchant, "a certain parcel of Land lying in Billerica aforesaid Northwardly of the Meeting House in said Billerica on the County road leading to the old Bridge containing about thirty five acres," bounded southerly by Joshua Abbott, westerly by Concord River "to a maple tree standing by said River," northerly "to an heap of stones in the Island so called," then as the wall stands to an old stump and by the County road back to the first bound, "together with all the Buildings thereon standing." The stated consideration is only five shillings. Signed Sept. 8, 1794, witnessed by Amos Bancroft and Eliza Knight. Billerica town book 9, pages 163-165.
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| 1794 | Deed | Isaac Wilkins | Anna Orne | Wilkins to Anna Orne, widow | 117/231 (South) |
Recorded next after the Hurd deed: Isaac Wilkins of Billerica, trader, for 150 pounds sells the same 35 acres "Northerly of the Meeting House ... on the County Road leading to the Old Bridge," same bounds, to Anna Orne of Billerica, widow. Only the first page was read. Wilkins still held the farm in fee in 1799, so this was probably security or was reconveyed; no release was looked for. Billerica town book 9, pages 165-166.
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| 1796 | Deed | Isaac Wilkins of Billerica, gentleman (wife Sally releasing dower) | Ebenezer Pemberton of Billerica, gentleman | 1796: the quarter acre cut from the farm for Pemberton Academy | 135/325 (South) |
Billerica town book 11, page 17. For $40, "a certain peice of land" beginning "at a stake and stones at the road being Deacon Joshua Abbots northeast corner," then west 11 degrees south 6 rods 4/10 to a stake and stones, north 12 1/2 degrees west 6 rods 4/10, east 11 degrees north 6 rods 4/10 "to a stake and stones at the road," and by the road south to the first bound: a square of about 41 square rods, the quarter acre on which the academy was built. Signed Nov. 11, 1796, witnessed by Reuben Bole and Edward Farmer; recorded 1800. No title recital: Wilkins held the farm under Middlesex South Book 117 Page 229.
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| September 10, 1800 | Deed | Isaac Wilkins, by his attorney Dr. William Wilkins | Robert Caldwell | Wilkins to Robert Caldwell | 137/309 (South) |
Isaac Wilkins, mariner, "about to take a long voyage to Sea," gave Dr. William Wilkins of Billerica power of attorney on July 29, 1799 (Middlesex South Book 137 Page 307). Under it, for $2,000, William sells to Robert Caldwell of Boston, gentleman, "a certain tract or parcel of land situate in said Billerica north of the Meeting house of that town" on the Boston road, bounded from a stake and stones at the northeast corner westerly on Silas and Aaron Cragin in a straight line to a maple tree on Concord River, southerly by the river to Deacon Joshua Abbot, easterly by Abbot to the Boston road, and northerly by the road, "excepting out of the above bounded piece of land about one fourth of an acre as bounded and described in a deed of the same from the said Isaac to Ebenezer Pemberton," about 36 acres "with all the buildings standing thereon." That quarter acre was the site of Pemberton's academy, which Hazen placed "at the place where the late Dr. Pillsbury lived." Signed Aug. 25, 1800, with Sally Wilkins, Isaac's wife, releasing dower. Billerica town book 10, pages 44-47.
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| 1804 | Will | Estate of Robert Caldwell of Billerica, gentleman | His widow Frances Caldwell | 1804: Robert Caldwell's will leaves the farm to his widow Frances | Probate #3862 |
Will signed April 6, 1804, witnessed by Samuel Whiting, Joseph Locke and Francis Baldwin, proved May 1, 1804. After debts and $5 to each child (Frances Barnard, William Mackay Caldwell, Mary, Jane Hallett, Ruth, Tristram Barnard and Elisabeth Barnard Caldwell), "I give, devise, and bequeathe unto my beloved wife, Frances Caldwell, and her heirs, all my Estate, whether real, personal, or mixed." Executors Frances Caldwell and her brother William Mackay of Boston, merchant; bond $30,000, May 2, 1804. Carries the farm around the academy lot to Frances Caldwell.
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| 1839 | Will | Estate of Frances Caldwell of Billerica, widow | Her executor Joseph Locke, with power of sale | 1839: Frances Caldwell's will orders her farm sold | Probate #3854 |
Will signed Sept. 23, 1828 (witnesses Henry Baldwin, Thomas Shed, Hannah Upton), proved at Concord April 9, 1839 by Joseph Locke, now of Lowell. Money legacies to daughter Mary Caldwell, son Tristram B. Caldwell (in trust), grandchildren William Caldwell and Moses and Frances Barnard, and others; "all the remainder of my estate, both real and personal" to be sold by the executors "at private or public sale." Inventory of April 12, 1839 by John Baldwin, Thomas Shed and Thomas Sumner: "Real estate appraised at $3000," the furnished house, barn and stock, bank shares, and "1 Pew in the old meeting house in Billerica." Locke's first account charges "Farm &c in Billerica 2200.00" from the sale.
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| 1839 | Executor's Deed | Joseph Locke of Lowell, Esq., executor of the will of Mrs. Frances Caldwell | John Baldwin and Francis Faulkner, Esquires, James R. Faulkner and John Baldwin Jr., all of Billerica | 1839: Frances Caldwell's executor sells the farm to Baldwin and the Faulkners | 385/432 (South) |
Billerica town book 14, pages 552-553. For $2,200, under the will's power of sale, "a certain farm with the dwelling house & other buildings thereon, being the homestead of the said late Mrs Caldwell," on the westerly side of the road from Lowell to Billerica and Boston "a short distance Northwardly from the Congregational Meeting House, containing about thirty seven acres," from the road at land of John Foster to Concord River, by the river to W. H. Nash and Stephen Winters, by them to the road and by the road to the start (about 189, 36, 189 and 36 rods), "Meaning to convey hereby all the right title & interest that said Mrs Caldwell had." Unlike the 1800 deed there is no exception: the old academy quarter acre at the Foster (formerly Abbot) corner lies within these bounds.
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| 1840 | Mortgage | John Baldwin and Francis Faulkner, Esquires, James R. Faulkner and John Baldwin Jr. | Mary Caldwell of Boston, single woman | 1840: the 1839 buyers mortgage the farm to Mary Caldwell | 393/161 (South) |
Billerica town book 16, page 359. For $1,100, "a certain farm with the dwelling house and other buildings thereon, being the homestead of the late Mrs. Caldwell of Billerica," on the west side of the road from Lowell to Billerica and Boston "a short distance northwardly from the Congregational meeting house, containing about thirty seven acres": the buyers of 1839 secure part of the price to Mrs. Caldwell's daughter and chief legatee.
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| February 22, 1843 | Deed | Francis Faulkner, John Baldwin and James R. Faulkner | Stephen Parker and Caroline Parker | Caldwell homestead to Stephen and Caroline Parker | 425/226 (South) |
Francis Faulkner and John Baldwin, Esquires, and James R. Faulkner, gentleman, all of Billerica, with their wives releasing dower, sell for $2,750 to Stephen Parker and his wife Caroline, of Lowell, "a certain farm with a dwelling house & other buildings thereon being the homestead of the late Mrs. Francis Caldwell," on the westerly side of the road from Lowell to Billerica and Boston, about 38 acres, bounded by the late John Foster, Concord River, land lately of William H. Nash and Stephen Winters, and the road, the lines about 189, 36, 189 and 36 rods. No deed from Robert Caldwell to his widow, or into the three sellers, was found. Signed Oct. 31, 1842. The Parkers, then of Dracut, mortgaged it for $600 to Louisa Jaquith of Billerica (Middlesex South Book 425 Page 228), discharged by her administrator to Samuel L. Pillsbury et al. in 1879 (Middlesex North Book 135 Page 378). The 1853 Walling map labels the place "S. Parker." Billerica town book 17, pages 421-424.
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| February 2, 1871 | Deed | Caroline J. Parker | Dr. Harlin Pillsbury | Widow Parker to Dr. Harlin Pillsbury; "remains of a house" | 77/464 |
Caroline J. Parker of Billerica, widow, for $1,602 sells to Harlin Pillsbury of Lowell "a certain farm with the building and remains of a house thereon, being the farm formerly owned and occupied by Mr. & Mrs. Caldwell," on the westerly side of the road from Lowell to Billerica and Boston, about 38 acres, bounded by the late John Foster, Concord River, William H. Nash and Stephen Winter, and the road, the lines about 189, 36, 189 and 36 rods 2 links by John Bennett's survey and plan of June 14, 1837. Signed Feb. 2, 1871, witnessed by Geo. H. Pillsbury and Joseph Jaquith. Title from Middlesex South Book 425 Page 226. The old farmhouse was already in ruins. The 1875 Beers atlas shows "Dr. H. Pillsbury" here.
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| February 23, 1883 | Foreclosure | Andrew C. Wheelock, mortgagee of Samuel L. Pillsbury | Edmund R. Fowler | Samuel L. Pillsbury mortgage foreclosed; sold to Fowler | 158/171 |
Dr. Harlin Pillsbury had died by 1877, when his executors were active in the registry, and the farm passed to Samuel L. Pillsbury of Winchester; no deed or probate transfer was found. Samuel mortgaged it to Andrew C. Wheelock of Lowell on Sept. 10, 1880 (Book 141 Page 361). On default Wheelock advertised it in the Lowell Daily Citizen and sold it at auction on the premises on Feb. 5, 1883 for $1,850 to Edmund R. Fowler of Billerica: "a certain farm with the buildings thereon, being the farm formerly owned and occupied by one Caldwell and another," the same 38 acres, "being the same premises described in a deed of Caroline J. Parker to Harlan Pillsbury" (Book 77 Page 464). Fowler mortgaged it back to Wheelock (Book 158 Page 322). In 1885 Prentiss Webster conveyed "same as 77-464" to Fowler's wife Charlotte E. Fowler (Book 175 Page 259, index only).
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| April 14, 1886 | Deed | Charlotte E. Fowler and Edmund R. Fowler | Charles B. Wood | Fowlers to Charles B. Wood | 180/350 |
For $2,500, Charlotte E. Fowler, in her own right, with her husband Edmund R. Fowler, sells to Charles B. Wood of Billerica "a certain farm, being the farm formerly owned and occupied by one Caldwell and another," about 38 acres on the westerly side of the road from Lowell to Billerica and Boston, same bounds and Bennett survey, "being the same premises described in a deed of Caroline J. Parker to Harlin Pillsbury," reserving the rights of the Boston and Lowell Railroad Corporation through the farm and Hill and Ellenwood's right to remove soil. Subject to a $1,200 mortgage held by Judith Jones, assignee of the 1883 Wheelock mortgage, which Wood assumed. Signed April 3, 1886. Wood mortgaged the farm to Philander D. Howe for $2,000 (Book 180 Page 351).
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| September 8, 1886 | Deed | Charles B. Wood and Lizzie A. Wood | Orra A. Fletcher | Wood to Orra A. Fletcher, who rebuilt the house | 183/483 |
Five months later, for $1,900, Wood sells to Orra A. Fletcher of Lowell "a certain tract of land or farm being formerly owned and occupied by one Caldwell and another," on the westerly side of the road from Lowell to Billerica and Boston, about 35 acres: from the road at the late John Foster's land westerly about 189 rods to Concord River, northwesterly along the river about 36 rods to Nash and Winter, easterly about 160 rods to Allen and Sweetser, southerly by them about 249 feet to the grantor's land, easterly by Allen's land about 524 feet to the road, and southerly along the road about 345 feet to the start. Wood kept the northerly road frontage. Being part of the premises Wood bought from Charlotte E. Fowler (Book 180 Page 350). Signed and recorded Sept. 8, 1886, the same day Howe discharged Wood's mortgage. The change in the house's footprint between the 1875 and 1889 maps points to Fletcher rebuilding or remodelling the house at this time. Stearns gives the name as Orra H. Fletcher.
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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.