The following is an index to property transfer deeds and party wall and building restriction agreements recorded at the Suffolk County Deed Registry from the original land purchase until conversion of the building into condominium units. Mortgages, trust agreements, and other similar recorded documents are not included. This index is intended as a guide only; actual deeds should be reviewed for details.
| Transfers of Land and Buildings | ||||
| Date of Deed | Grantor | Grantee | Book | Page |
| 19Nov1998 | 287 Commonwealth, Inc. | The HMS Sears House at 287 Commonwealth Avenue | 23134 | 84 |
| 15Dec1997 | Gordon Reger, trustee, The Gorden Reger Acquisition Trust | 287 Commonwealth, Inc. | 22030 | 144 |
| 12Nov1997 | International Institute of Boston, Inc. | Gordon Reger, trustee, The Gordon Reger Acquisition Trust | 21909 | 298 |
| 26Mar1964 | Edward F. Bowman | International Institute of Boston, Inc. | 7832 | 265 |
| 28Apr1960 | Annette Arata | Edward F. Bowman | 7473 | 71 |
| 05Apr1954 | Fred L. Arata (also known as Fred Arata and Frederick L. Arata) | Beverly Mercier, to the use of Fred L. Arata and Annette Arata | 6947 | 463 |
| 20May1943 | Lillian F. Clinkard | Fred L. Arata | 6037 | 191 |
| 02Dec1942 | Philip S. Sears, Ralph E. Bullard, and The New England Trust Company, executors of the will of Herbert M. Sears | Lillian F. Clinkard | 6019 | 115 |
| Transfers of Unimproved Land | ||||
| Date of Deed | Grantor | Grantee | Book | Page |
| 19Jan1892 | Frank G. Turner (lot with 27 foot frontage) | Caroline Sears, wife of Herbert M. Sears | 2039 | 5 |
| 19Jan1892 | Washington B. Thomas (lot with 27 foot frontage) | Frank G. Turner | 2039 | 3 |
| 19Jan1892 | William A. Burnham (lot with 28 foot frontage) | Caroline Sears, wife of Herbert M. Sears | 2039 | 1 |
| 11Mar1891 | Frederick A. Whitwell, Samuel H. Whitwell, and Sophia L. Whitwell, in their own right, and Frederick A. Whitwell and Samuel H. Whitwell, executors of the will of Henry Whitwell (lot with 27 foot frontage) | Washington B. Thomas | 1985 | 620 |
| 19Nov1883 | Henry Whitwell (lot with 28 foot frontage) | William A. Burnham | 1624 | 628 |
| 01Apr1872 | Grenville T. W. Braman, Henry D. Hyde, and Frank W. Andrews, trustees (lot with 190 foot frontage) | Henry Whitwell | 1102 | 130 |
| 01Mar1872 | Boston Water Power Company | Grenville T. W. Braman, Henry D. Hyde, and Frank W. Andrews, trustees | 1095 | 1 |
| Party Wall Agreements | ||||
| Date | Party One | Party Two | Book | Page |
| 19Jan1892 | Caroline B. Sears, wife of Herbert Sears (owner of lot at 287 Commonwealth) | Frank G. Turner (owner of 285 Commonwealth) | 2039 | 321 |
| Party Wall Stipulations in land transfer deed with respect to wall between 285 and 287 Commonwealth | ||||
| Date | Grantor | Grantee | Book | Page |
| 11Mar1891 | Frederick A. Whitwell, Samuel H. Whitwell, and Sophia L. Whitwell, in their own right, and Frederick A. Whitwell and Samuel H. Whitwell, executors of the will of Henry Whitwell (seller of lot at 287 Commonwealth) | Washington B. Thomas (purchaser of lot at 287 Commonwealth) | 1985 | 620 |
| 30Jan1886 | Henry Whitwell (seller of 285 Commonwealth) | Joseph B. Thomas (purchaser of 285 Commonwealth) | 1710 | 289 |
| Party Wall Stipulations in land transfer deed with respect to wall between 287 and 291 Commonwealth | ||||
| Date | Grantor | Grantee | Book | Page |
| 19Nov1883 | Henry Whitwell (seller of lot at 289 Commonwealth) | William A. Burnham (purchaser of lot at 289 Commonwealth) | 1624 | 628 |
| 02Apr1883 | Henry Whitwell (seller of lot at 291 Commonwealth) | Adeline A. Allen, wife of William H. Allen (purchaser of lot at 291 Commonwealth) | 1592 | 181 |
| Building restriction included in land transfer deeds specifying that no building shall be built at either 285 Commonwealth or 287 Commonwealth further back than 95 feet from the northerly line of Commonwealth Avenue, provided however that a bay or swell may be extended three feet further provided that it is not within six feet of the adjoining estate. | ||||
| Date | Grantor | Grantee | Book | Page |
| 20Jan1892 | Frank G. Turner (seller of 285 Commonwealth) | Martha T. Thomas, Joseph B. Thomas, and Washington B. Thomas, trustees under the will of Joseph B. Thomas (purchaser of 285 Commonwealth) | 2039 | 322 |
| 19Jan1892 | Frank G. Turner (seller of lot at 287 Commonwealth) | Caroline Sears, wife of Herbert M. Sears (purchaser of lot at 287 Commonwealth) | 2039 | 5 |
Back Bay Houses 