Index to Deeds: 393 Commonwealth

The following is an index to property transfer deeds and party wall, use and building restriction agreements recorded at the Suffolk County Deed Registry from the original land purchase until conversion of the property 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
18Aug2005 Dexter House Development, Inc. Dexter House Condominium 37837 177
12Feb2004 Thomas A. Robinson and Richard E. Hazelton, trustees, Dexter House Trust Dexter House Development, Inc. 33922 218
15Dec1983 Gaetano F. Morello, trustee, 393 Commonwealth Avenue Trust Thomas Robinson and Lessie Robinson, trustees, Dexter House Trust 10693 29
02Apr1982 Marvin Smith, trustee, 393 Commonwealth Associates Realty Trust Gaetano F. Morello, trustee, 393 Commonwealth Avenue Trust 9933 443
26Oct1981 Society of Jesus of New England Marvin Smith, trustee, 393 Commonwealth Associates Realty Trust 9869 97
26May1971 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Society of Jesus of New England 8447 617
15Dec1924 Josephine M. Dexter (confirmatory deed, removing a provision in the prior deed reserving to Josephine Dexter the right to occupy the premises for the remainder of her life) Katharine Dexter McCormick, wife of Stanley McCormick 4661 96
05Jun1924 Josephine M. Dexter Katharine Dexter McCormick, wife of Stanley McCormick 4578 541
Transfers of Unimproved Land
Date of Deed Grantor Grantee Book Page
12May1899 John Lawrence, Francis Peabody, Jr., and Reginald Foster, trustees under the will of Abbott Lawrence (lot with 26 foot frontage on Commonwealth and 26.07 foot frontage on Marlborough) Josephine M. Dexter 2606 220
18Jan1886 Francis A. Osborn and Grenville T. W. Braman, a majority of the trustees of Commonwealth Avenue Lands (Francis W. Palfrey, the remaining trustee, being absent from Massachusetts) (lot with 26 foot frontage on Commonwealth and 26.07 foot frontage on Marlborough) Abbott Lawrence 1710 484
01Jun1880 Dwight Foster, Gilman Collamore, and George F. Richardson, trustees under a bond indenture with the Boston Water Power Company dated 1Jun1874 (release) Francis W. Palfrey, Francis A. Osborn, and Grenville T. W. Braman, trustees of Commonwealth Avenue Lands 1495 6
01Jun1880 Boston Water Power Company Francis W. Palfrey, Francis A. Osborn, and Grenville T. W. Braman, trustees of Commonwealth Avenue Lands 1495 9
Party Wall Agreements
Date of Deed Party One Party Two Book Page
23May1899 Josephine M. Dexter (owner of lot at 393 Commonwealth) Frederick Ayer (owner of lot at 395 Commonwealth) 2610 295
01Sep1885 Francis W. Palfrey, Francis A. Osborn, and Grenville T. W. Braman, trustees of Commonwealth Avenue Lands (owners of lot at 393 Commonwealth) George Wheatland, Jr. (owner of lot at 391 Commonwealth and 440 Marlborough) 1701 257
Building and use restrictions included in land transfer deed, specifying that no building on the premises may be used as a stable, and that no building of more than one story in height may be erected within thirty feet of Marlborough
Date of Deed Grantor Grantee Book Page
18Jan1886 Francis A. Osborn and Grenville T. W. Braman, a majority of the trustees of Commonwealth Avenue Lands (Francis W. Palfrey, the remaining trustee, being absent from Massachusetts) (sellers of lot at 393 Commonwealth and 442 Marlborough) Abbott Lawrence (purchaser of lot at 393 Commonwealth and 442 Marlborough) 1710 484
Agreement by owners of land on the north and south sides of Marlborough between West Chester Park (Massachusetts Avenue) and the Beacon entrance to Back Bay Park (Charlesgate East) requiring that buildings must be set back 5 feet from Marlborough except for projections as specified in Book 1588, p. 434 (20Feb1883) [which provided that steps, porticos, and other usual projections appurtenant to the front wall of a building would be permitted in the reserved space, and bays and bows would be permitted in the reserved space subject to dimensional limitations as set forth in the deed].  This 5 foot setback requirement was modified with respect to the north side of Marlborough by a subsequent agreement dated 10Jun1885 (Book 1685, p. 433)
Date of Deed Party One Party Two Book Page
20Feb1883 Francis A. Osborn and Grenville T. W. Braman, a majority of the trustees of the Commonwealth Avenue Lands, Francis W. Palfrey, the remaining trustee, being absent from Massachusetts Grenville T. W. Braman, Henry D. Hyde, and Henry M. Whitney, trustees 1588 437