19 Wharf Lane: Major Rufus K. Knowles

This house is best known for its owner from the 1830s to 1860s  Major Rufus K. Knowles.

He was Tanner & Currier listed on the 1830’s census, 1837 listed as a tanner and leather dealer in The Manufacture of Shoes and Hats–Improvements. Chapter 28


Deeds

1731/2: John Swett of Haverhill, innholder and wife Sarah to Samuel Chase yeoman (64/79 ) for 167 xx bills of credit 18.5 acres and 23 rods in the same county and butted and bounded: start at xxxxxxx of tree Mxxxxley river Merrimac then nw to land of Smace (Small?),White, Oxxxxx Maxxx of Country Rd or highway which leads from Swetts ferry to Kingstown, then w and stopping? within 2 rods of sd way until it comes to a first? Xxx upon then further w xx keeping within one rod of xx Way a way which leads up two fxxx (fence?)  at Peaslees till it connects to a open? Xxx C of Marixxx Gorge? 12 Rod way which trees is also a bound of sd way, then se xx sd way till it comes to a river Merrimac of thence by? sd river to start.

Sam Chase probate #5171 with 18 acres by Swetts Ferry in 1743

1761: John Chase sells to brother Samuel all land inherited from
father Samuel, in Newbury or Haverhill. (110/170)

1796, Sept 20: Moses Moody to John Brown Jr.  (172/84). 25R of Land with House bounded: South 7R7′ by Abbott, East 3.5R, West 3.5R by Moody, North by Daniel Swan 7R 7′.  Mark B on south easterly corner of lot.

1801, July 23: John Brown Jr. to Nathaniel Chaney (175/120). 25R of land with buildings bounded: South 7R7′ John Little, Moses Moody on West 3.5R, Daniel Swan on North 7R7′.

1805, May 20: Nathaniel Chaney (Christopher Sargent Administrator) to Jacob Noyes (197/27). 2/3 of dwelling house.  East by road 2R 18L, south by Widow Chaney’s 3rd, West by Moses Moody, north by Daniel Swan.

Nathaniel’s Probate # 5291 dated 1804.

Nathaniel, jr., and Elisabeth Ela [Oct. 5, 1769. CR4]
Nathaniel, and Bettey Key, Mar. 9, 1780.

1814, Apr 6: Jacob and Elizabeth Noyes to William Poor (203/141). 2/3 of dwelling house East by Road 2R 8L, South by Widow Cheney’s 1/3, West by Widow Elizabeth Moody, North by Daniel Swan.

1821, May 12: William Poor to William George (234/66). 2/3 of dwelling house. E. Foot on West, N. Ladd on North, Road on east, Widow Cheney 1/3 on south.

1824, Apr 13: William George and Hannah George to Samuel C. Foot (244/164). Lot of land with the buildings. E. Foot on West 2R 18L, N. Ladd on North, Road on east 2R 18L, Widow Cheney 1/3 on south. Including all land of Cheney’s at his decease except for the widow’s 1/3.

Rufus K. Knowles and Mary Knowles are on 1830 census between Harriet Black and Simeon Chase.

In 1850 Haverhill census:
877-1104  Rufus KNOWLES, 50, shoemaker $1800 Rufus K. Knowles: Sept 6, 1797 in Chester NH.
          Mary (Randall)", 51
          Rebecca ", 20
          Sarah ", 24
          Jane ", 22
          Harriet ", 18
          John ", 17, shoemaker
          Charles ", 14  
          Horace ", 12

1850: R.K Knowles listed on Map

1855 Census
Rufus K age 54 Shoemaker
Mary age 55
Charles K. age 20 Shoemaker
Horace M age 18 Shoemaker

1859:  Rufus K. Knowles dies. Probate #44710 dated June 28, 1859. One 1/2 undivided property on Steamboat Lane.

Rebecca M. Knowles (1830 – 1921) marries James W. Bradley (1827 – 1898) in 1850

1860 Census:
Mary Knowles (68)
Charles Knowles (20), shoemaker

1863, Oct 14: James and Rebecca M. Bradley to Patrick Riley (660/76) a piece of land with buildings starting  on southeast corner opposite of Goss running northerly by highway 4R, running westerly by Mrs. Knowles 11R6F, then southerly by Daniel H. Hall 4R, easterly by Hall 11R6F to bound first named.

1864, March 9:  Mary Knowles to Patrick Riley (1005/273) Starting on corner of the heirs of Rufus K. Knowles then running westerly 12R (198′), southerly 3R 15L (59′) by land of Hall and heirs of E. Foot, then running easterly partially by land of E. Foot and partially by land of Samuel C. Foot, then northerly by highway 3R 15L.

1865 Census:
Patrick Riley (33) Farmer
Michael (Mackey) Riley (22) Cordwainer (1843 Ireland – 1866)
Philip Riley (14) Cordwainer (1846 – xx)
Michael Carroll (19) Cordwainer

1870 Census:
Patrick Riley (50) farm laborer (1825 Ireland – xx)
Alice (Somers) (44) keeps house (1826 Ireland – xx)
Mary Eliza (17) no employment (1851-1906) marries Thomas Cluney
John R. (16) works at shoe factory (1854 – xx)
Phillip (33) works at shoe factory (1847 Ireland – 1914)
James B. (13) attends school (1857 – 1893)

1880 census: Alice is head of household with daughter Mary E. Cluney (1851 – 1906) and Granddaughter Agnes M. Cluney (6).

1881 Atlas lists Mrs. A. Riley

1892 map lists Mrs. A. Riley as owner

1900 Census:
Alice Riley – 74 (born Apr 1826),
Philip (53) born Mar 1847, shoe maker
John (47) born Sept 1852, shoe maker
Mary Cluney (daughter) (46)
Agnes Dawkins (grand daughter) (24)
Viola Dawkins (great grand daughter (1)

1878, Oct 4: James B. Riley, Phillip Riley, John Riley, Mary E. Clooney, and Alice Riley to Oscar F. Leary (1005/273) bounded by James O’neil (15 Wharf) 11R 6′, Hall, and South by Riley and Dolly Little. (mortgage, discharge: (1215/504). East by Road 7R15L  Part of the land left to them by Patrick Riley.

1887, October 31: Alice Riley (widow of Patrick Riley), Philip Riley, Mary Clooney, John B. Riley and James B. Riley to Harrison G. O. Chase  (1210/142) Four Acres beginning at northeast corner on Wharf Lane and land of William Taylor running westerly by Taylor to a private way (Colby Lane?), then southerly by way and land previously of Daniel H. Hall, then easterly by Hall land to River near steam boat wharf, then westerly by Steam Boat Wharf to street, then northerly to street to Dolly Little, then westerly by Little, northerly by Little, easterly to Wharf Lane, then northerly by street to first bound.

1898, Jan 7:  1899, May 19: Orin Warren and Eliza Warren (Executor of Will of Harrison G. O. Chase) to Eliza J. Chase (1577/471) Will of Harrison Chase (1897) (1544/346) Same bounds as 1210/142.

1899, May 11: Eliza J. Chase to Edward W. Little for $1.00. (1577/473) Four Acres bounds running west by William Taylor, South by land previously owned by Daniel H. Hall to River, back up along steamboat landing to wharf then up to Dolly Little on North.

 

1931, Dec 30: Augusta L. (Getchell) Little (conservator of Manly C. Little) to Blanche A. (Colby) Wilson (wife of Arthur H. Wilson) (2908/115) Includes water rights.(bounded by Ramsey, Colby, Gannon (Augusta unmarried at this time) 200 feet on north by land of Ramsey and Colby, West by land of Gannon 112′, south by Little 200′, East by Wharf Lane 112′.

1937, July 12: Blanche A. (Colby) Wilson and Arthur H. Wilson to Economy cooperative Bank (3115/564) 200 feet on north by land of Ramsey and Colby, West by land of Gannon 112′, south by Little 200′, East by Wharf Lane 112′.

1937, July 12: Economy Cooperative Bank to James Bulgaris (3115/565). Ramsey, previously Colby on North 200′, on west by Gannon 112′, South by Little 200′, East by Lane 112′.  Blanche (Colby) Wilson marries James Bulgaris.

1940 Census:
Blanche Wilson-29, stitcher shoe factory
Medelyn – 10,
Nana Jane – 7,
Patsy Ann – 3,
Grace Wilson – 56 (mother in law),
James Bulgaris – 29 (Lodger) Day Cleaner, Cleaning Co.

1947, April 8: James and Blanch A. Bulgaris to Alice G. Williams for $1.00 (3514/495)

1947, April 8: Alice G. Williams to James and Blanche A. Bulgaris for $1.00 (3514/497) Ramsey, previously Colby on North 200′, on west by Gannon 112′, South by Little 200′, East by Lane 112′.

1975, Jan 31: James Bulgaris to James and Blanch Bulgaris (6294/745) Ramsey, previously Colby on North 200′, on west by Gannon 112′, South by Little 200′, East by Lane 112′.

1975, Jan 21: Blanche Bulgaris to James Bulgaris (6126/538) Ramsey, previously Colby on North 200′, on west by Gannon 112′, South by Little 200′, East by Lane 112′.

1952: James and Blanche Bulgaris to City for Taxes (4000/4) 22,400 sq ft Plat 430, Block 6, lot 7A

1953, Aug 26:  City back to James and Blanche (4004/434) 22,400 sq ft Plat 430, Block 6, lot 7A

1993: James Bulgaris dies (20Jul 1912 – Dec 1993).  He and Blanche are living at 19 Wharf Lane at the time. Death Cert: 12776/243 at Salem Deeds

2002, Jan 28: Nancy-Jane Barry, executrix of will of Blanche A. Bulgaris to Edward F. Coyman Jr.(18281/311) Ramsey, previously Colby on North 200′, on west by Gannon 112′, South by Little 200′, East by Lane 112′.

2005, May 20: Coyman to Dianne Baxter (24317/2). Ramsey, previously Colby on North 200′, on west by Gannon 112′, South by Little 200′, East by Lane 112′.

2015: Diane Baxter to Diane Baxter and Bill Rogers (34097/213). Ramsey, previously Colby on North 200′, on west by Gannon 112′, South by Little 200′, East by Lane 112′.