USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Andover Massachusetts town meeting records 1709-May 21, 1776 > Part 1
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A
ANDOVER
Massachusetts
31330007454279 Andover Room R 352. 7445 And 1709- 1776
TOWN MEETING RECORDS 1709 - 1773 May 21, 1776 5128-5263
Preliminary rough draft typed by Betty Senechal from records dictated by Forbes and Rosamond Rockwell.
Note - Original in Andover Town Clerk's Vault. Facsimile copy at North Andover Historical Society. Microfilm copy at North Andover Historical Society. Andover Public Library and "Graphic Microfilm" in Waltham.
North Andover Historical Society North Andover, Massachusetts
August 1961
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Jno
These orders were offered to the Town at their meeting on the 20th day of this March and they voted their acceptance of them and pray that the Selectmen for them to the honorable gentlemen and jus- ticex at this quarter sessions for their passing a sanction upon them to their confirmation. Jou Chandler, Jan Osgood, Jen Aslebe, George Abbott, Benjamin Stevens, Selectmen, At a general session of the peace holden in Ipswich March 20th, 1710. These bylaws and orders of Andover were read, considered and allowed and all persons to conform thereto accordingly by order of Court. Steven Sewall, Clark; Ephriam Foster, Ensign William Lovejoy, Sgt. Samuel Osgood, Sgt. Hooker Osgood, Walter Write, Ralph Farnum, and Samuel Farnum are chosen to look after the timber and chosen to look after encroachments on the common.
At a legal Town Meeting ordered by the Selectmen of Andover on the 20th day of August 1710, Capt. Jon Chandler was chosen Moderator for the meeting. It was voted to empower the Selectmen to hire a schoolmaster until the last of March ensuing. It was also ordered that the Selectmen should have power to raise money on the inhabitants to defray the charge of the committee appointed by the court to settle our differences between our precincts, which was 12 pounds, and to pay our representatives and the Selectmen's charges or expenses in the Town's service.
At our Annual Town Meeting March 5th, 1712, Ensign Ephriam Stevens was chosen Moderator for the meeting. Christopher Osgood was chosen Town Clerk for the year ensuing. Ensign Samuel Frye, William Foster, Ephriam Foster, Capt. Mehamiah Abbott and Capt. John Chandler are chosen Select- men and Assessors for the ensuing year. Voted that the Assessors shall go about the Town to take a view of the real estate that a regular pro- portion may be made thereon. - - James Ingalls and James Johnson are chosen Constables for the year ensuing. Mr. Andrew Peters is chosen Town Treasurer for the ensuing year.
Abbott
George Holt, Capt. Henry Chandler, Ebenezer Lovejoy, Jacob Maston, Nathan Stevens, Joseph Emery were chosen Tithingmen. George Emmett, Jr. is chosen Leather Sealer for the ensuing year. Ephriam Stevens is chosen Clerk of the Market for the ensuing year. Ephriam Farnum, Abraham Foster, John Ballard, John Blanchard, Joseph Osgood, William Barker, Sr., Samuel Farnum, Capt. John Johnson, Thomas Chandler, Sr., William Abbott, Sgt. Benjamin Barker, Daniel Poore and Henry Gray are chosen Surveyors. John Johnson is chosen Pound Keeper. Joseph Parker, Nathaniel Lovejoy Fenceviewers. John Carleton, John Farnum, Benjamin Abbott, Ephrium Abbott are chosen field drivers for the ensuing year. Walter Write, James Bridges, are chosen Overseers for the field drivers for the year ensuing. Voted and passed that Capt. John March have liberty of trying the experiment of building a sloop in some con- venient place for launching into Merrimack River and to have the benefit of what timber can be found already felled and also if need be, to supply him with the liberty of cutting half a dozen sticks for some choice use for the vessel If" imber for such use cannot be found already felled.
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5129
Sold to Samuel Parker, a small gore of land, lying between the land of Richard Barker, Sr., and Joseph Parker going down to the mill pond, he leaving a road going down to the pond of two rods width.
Voted that the Surveying Committee that was appointed to trans- cribe the town book of records shall have power and order to regulate some mistakes that may be found therein.
Voted and passed that Capt. John Chandler, Lt. George Abbott, and John Abbott shall be empowered to lay out to Stevens Osgood and John Allen so much land joining to their other land as is taken from them by the country road going to Capt. Benjamin Stevens and John Farnum, Jr., are chosen to run along the line along by Samuel Smith and Abenezer Stiles' farms near Salem Road.
Beverley ??
At a legal Town Meeting the 14th of May 1711, Ensign William Love- joy was chosen Moderator of the meeting. Ordered the Selectmen shall have power to hire a schoolmaster for half a year, which shall be
entertained one and half of the time in one province and the other half in the other, in order to the benefiting of both precincts. - precinct
Voted that Lt. John Aslebe and General (?) Moses Tyler shall set the bounds of four acres of land which was granted to Ensign Ephriam Stevens in order to a recording of it.
At our annual Town Meeting the 3rd day of March 1711/12, Ensign Ephriam Stevens was chosen Moderator for the meeting. (The usual Town Officers were elected. Since their names can be found in the original, and since they are mostly a repitition of the previous year, they will be omitted from this copy of the records in all future meetings.)
Sold to Ephriam Foster two acres of land for his son John's con- venience for building, he paying for the Town price of thirty shillings per acre in money.
Sold to John Farnum Sersha (III) one acre of land where his house and barn stand, he paying the usual price for it to the Town. Sold to Samuel Stevens one acre of land where his house stands, he paying to the Town the usual price.
Sold to Ebenezer Osgood half an acre of land where his house stands, he paying to the Town the usual price.
Granted to Ephriam Foster, John Barker and Samuel Stevens, Ebenezer Stevens, William Barker, Dane Robertson, five feet into the highway ad- joining to the five-foot allowed by Capt. Stevens for their convenience of building a trable for horses on the Sabbath Day.
Granted to John Granger the breadth of five foot of land into the highway 2 Capt. for his convenience to build a stable.
2 flands Robinson
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5129
Granted to Joseph Parker one acre of land on the south side of the land he formerly had of John Farnum, which is in satisfaction of the land the Town had of himy for setting up the new Meeting House.
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concerning warned.
5130
January 12, 1712/13: At a lawful Town Meeting legally by order from the Selectmen, Lt. John Osgood was chosen Moderator for the meeting.
It was ordered and passed a confirmation of our Town orders that were drawn up by the Selectmen and voted by the Town and accepted and confirmed by the Court of Sessions in Ipswich Court on March 28, 1710. William Foster and James Ingalls are voted to be ades (?) to Ralph Farnum and Samuel Farnum so for a committee to look after and to prosecute any who shall break our Town order exerting timber and fire wood at the common and it is also voted that they shall have full power to prosecute to full extent any they shall find under the breach of the order and not withstanding what was voted, it is so ordered for the dis- posing of the fines to the Town and informer. The Town has now voted the fines to be wholly to the committee for a recompense for their pay. Levt
Voted liberty to John malebe to make use of the timber which was voted to Capt. John March to build a sloop in Andover of about 40 tons and so to cut off from the Common what is still wanting to make it fit for a launching. This former vote not rightly understood in the and below.
pièce
Voted to allow Sgt. Samuel Ingalls two acres of land adjoining to the southerly end of his land OF the same price which was
which the way was laid through and that said land to be a sufficient allowance for said way.
Voted that the Selectmen shall be empowered to lay out to Henry Holt, Sr., so much land as they shall see convenient to be a compensa- tion to said Holt for a way laid out through his land.
Granted liberty to Lt. John Eslebe what timber is necessary for the building of a vessel about 40 tons.
* *
At a lawful meeting of the proprietors of Andover the 14th of December 1713, Lt. John Aslebe was chosen Moderator for the meeting and that Can't. Christopher Osgood was chosen the Clerk of the Proprietors. Ephriam Foster and William Barker, Sr., Edward Farrington and John Farnum, JI_ sraze are chosen a committee until the next meeting to take care to cease any timber and bark that is cut to be carted from our Common or undivided land and to prosecute any suspect they shall find so transgressing and they shall be satisfied by the Proprietors with their trouble in a reasonable manner.
Voted that Capt. George Abbott, Christopher Osgood and Capt. Benjamin Stevens, Capt. James Frye, Ephriam Foster be a committee empowered and chosen by a major vote to warn and appoint a proprietors' meeting as they shall have reason for it as any urgent occasion may be offered to them and shall be a legal warning given thereof as the law directs.
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5130
At our Annual Town Meeting March 2nd, 1712/13, Capt. Benjamin Stevens was chosen Moderator for the meeting. Capt. Christopher Os- good was chosen Town Clerk for the ensuing year. (The usual officers were chosen. See the original for their names.)
Voted liberty to Joseph Parker, Miller, liberty of exchange or removing of two acres of land which he had formerly exchanged with the Tom. It is now voted him liberty to join it to his other land for his convenience at fencing. He, obliging himself and heirs for- ever to make and maintain the road on his own charge that will be moved further to the side of the land.
Voted that Sgt. Benjamin Barker and John Farnum, Secundus, be hereby appointed and invested with power from the Town to take prudent care to prevent any obstructions of the passage of the fish up Cochichewick River by either of the mills erected on said stream, and empowered effectually to prosecute any that shall hinder or stop their passage up into the Great Pond.
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5132 (5131 is duplicate of 5130)
By virtue of a warrant from the Selectmen of Andover, at a legal Town Meeting convened together on the 10th day of February 1713/14, Lt. John Osgood was chosen Moderator for the meeting. Capt. Christopher Osgood, Capt. John Chandler, Ensign Samuel Frye, Lt. John Aslebe and Henry Holt were chosen a committee to draw up a form of a vote for the settlement of our proprietors with the method of drawing their rights from our undivided commons and so offer the same to the Town for consideration and confirmation.
The return of the committee that were appointed for the affair above said do offer this to be voted. (viz.) That our rights and privileges in Common be settled and confirmed according to the pro- portion of taxes upon the proprietors who was, at this day, accepted as such beginning the account from their payment from the year 1681 to this present year and that no man shall draw from the common but by one single right and that also by his pay in the tax. This was voted and passed in the affirmative at the same meeting.
At the same meeting Capt. George Abbott, Lt. John Osgood, Lt. John Aslebe, Capt. John Chandler and Ephriam Foster are chosen a Committee to calculate every man's proportions of the tax from and to the time above prefixed and the said committee shall have power to take into a list such as they shall judge requisite to be added to those who are already recorded and entered and to make their re- turn of their doings to the Town for approbation.
At our Annual Town Meeting March Ist, 1713/14, Capt. George Abbott was chosen as Moderator for said meeting. Capt. Christopher Osgood was chosen Town Clerk for the year ensuing.
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5133
At the same Annual Meeting in March, the first day, 1713/14, it was then voted and passed that there shall be a committee chosen and be fully empowered by the Town to prosecute any person or persons having no right or interest in our common undivided lands belonging to our Township of Andover who shall carry off or transport or by any indirect. means cause to be transported any of our wood, underwood or timber belonging to any part of our common undivided land and the said committee, who are hereby named have, by this vote, full power given them by the Town to seize such wood or timber and prosecute any person or persons to the full effect, who shall be found transgressors of this nature and if need require, to use any regular device or de- vices by themselves for attornies to prosecute by a court of law or to make agreements with such as our committee or attornies shall see required according to the circumstances of the matter, and to be understood that this prohibition includes both such as belong to our own Town as well as strangers. The committee chosen for this affair are James Bridges and Capt. John Johnson.
It was also voted that the Selectmen have power hereby to draw money out of the treasury to defend and justify the said committee for their doings herein and what they shall recover, either by law or agreement, shall be brought into our Town treasury. Capt. George Abbott and Ephriam Foster are voted to join with the former committee to regulate that affair with Capt. Stevens about an irregular entry of land in our Town Book of Records.
At a legal Town Meeting convened by warrant from the Selectmen on the 16th day of March 1713/14, Lt. John Aslebe was chosen Moderator for said meeting.
Voted liberty and power for the Selectmen to raise money for the inhabitants to defray the necessary charges to the Town.
Voted also that the Selectmen have the liberty and power to agree with and hire a schoolmaster for the ensuing year.
It was also voted to leave it with the Selectmen and Schoolmaster to compound together with the schoolmaster's compliance wherewith to serve he one-half part of his time in the north precinct and the other half in the south precinct, for the of the whole.
It was also voted that the Town will pay the committee that they have chosen at the meeting on the 10th of February for the calculation of the inhabitant's part, their payment in the tax according to which was voted at said meeting, and Sgt. John Frye is added to said committee.
At the same meeting, it was voted that James Bridges and Capt. John Johnson were chosen at our Annual Meeting of the present year to be a committee or agents for the Town to prosecute any person or persons
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5133 (Continued)
that have or shall trespass on our common undivided land, as it is to be seen in their vote at said meeting. This addition is made and voted to the former that the said agent shall have full power and jointly or separately, as occasions shall offer, in the management of the trust that is put into their hands.
Voted and passed that the Selectmen shall have the power by them- selves or by employing others to take sufficient care to prevent any person or persons from obstructing the course of the fish called lairlives" from going up in their season in those brooks and streams which hath been their usual course.
disenter
Ebenezer Osgood enters him name a dessenter from the vote of pay- ment of the committee appointed to calculate the proportion of the in- habitants in the tax as expressed in the vote.
At a lawful Town Meeting of the inhabitants of Andover by order of the Selectmen on the 14th day of May 1714, Lt. John Aslebe was chosen Moderator for the meeting.
It was voted and passed that the list which the committee brought in of the calculation of the tax be amended by the same committee in some particulars concerning the persons within the time pro- fixed and to offer said lists with @mendations according as it is directed to the Town at their next meeting for confirmation.
Voted and passed that there be a committee chosen to look after encroachements on our common undivided land and to make return of what they find to the Town at the next meeting. Ephriam Foster, James Bridges, Lt. William Lovejoy are a committee chosen for the affair above said.
Voted that there be a committee chosen to regulate some irregular entries in our Town Book of Records. Capt. George Abbott, Capt. James Frye, Capt. Christopher Osgood, Lt. John Aslebe are chosen a committee for said affair.
alewives
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5134
At a lawful Town Meeting of proprietors and inhabitants of Andover on the first day of June 1714, Lt. John Aslebe was chosen Mabrator for the meeting. No business was effected.
At a lawful Town Meeting by order of the Selectmen of Andover on November 30th, 1714, Capt. John Chandler was chosen Moderator for the meeting. No business was effected.
At a legal Town Meeting warned by order of the Selectmen September 16th, 1715, for the giving power to the Selectmen to raise money on the inhabitants to defray the necessary charges of the Town. Lt. John Osgood was chosen Moderator for the meeting.
It was voted in the affirmative to give them full power to raise money on the inhabitants to defray the necessary charges for the Town.
At a legal Town Meeting the first day of March 1714, Lt. John Osgood was chosen Moderator for said meeting; Capt. Christopher Osgood was chosen Town Clerk for the ensuing year.
Voted that the charges of mending and maintaining the highways be- longing to Andover shall be done and defrayed by rate made upon in- habitants by itself for that purpose and this to continue for this present year.
Voted that Mr. Dorr be offered to continue as our schoolmaster for the ensuing year. The Selectmen are empowered to agree with him to that end.
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5135
Lt. John Osgood was chosen as Moderator for the meeting. Christopher was chosen Town Clerk for the ensuing year.
Voted that the charge for mending and maintaining of highways belong- ing to Andover shall be done and carried out by a rate upon the inhabitants by itself for that purpose and this to be the rule for the ensuing year.
Voted that the Selectmen shall discourse with Mr. Dor in order to settlement of him to be our Schoolmaster and to make a report of his terms to the Town at their next meeting. - alemundo
Voted that the Selectmen shall draw up some orders concerning the preservation of our fishodalled "airlines" that the order may be offered to the court in Ipswich for confirmation.
Joseph Chandler, Moses Haggett, Nathan Barker, Jonothan Abbott, Samuel Sessions Stevens, Ebenezer Frye are chosen as Field drivers for the year ensuing.
At a lawful Town Meeting May 8, 1716, Capt. John Chandler was chosen Moderator of the meeting.
Voted to give order and power to the Selectmen to provide and agree for the schoolmaster for the ensuing year.
At a lawful Town Meeting of the inhabitants of Andover the 29Mt of October 1716. Capt. James Frye was chosen Moderator for the meet- ing.
It was voted and passed that the Selectmen are empowered to raise money on the inhabitants to defray the charges of the schoolmaster and our representative and the Selectmen's necessary expenses for the present year.
At our Annual Town Meeting on March 4th, 1716/17, Capt. George Abbott was chosen Moderator for the meeting. Capt. Christopher Osgood was chosen Town Clerk for the ensuing year.
Voted and passed that a rate shall be made amounting to 1/4 part of our last year's country tax, which shall be approved for the mend- ing and repairing of the highways belonging to our Town for the ensu- ing year and that every inhabitant shall have liberty to work out the proportion of his own rate if he desires it.
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5136
At the same annual meeting, voted and passed that the Selectmen shall have power to raise money on the inhabitants to defray the necessary charges of the ensuing year.
Voted that Thomas Russell's account be brought into the Town of the charge of mending a highway that was allowed by
through their land should be allowed them, as others are paid for highway work out of the rate made for such occasion.
Voted that our Town Ordinances for the preservation of fish shall be now drawn by the Selectmen and sent down to the court of sessions at Ipswich to pray for their justification of them.
At a legal Town Meeting on May 8th, 1717, Capt. Benj. Stevens was chosen Moderator.
It was voted that there shall be allowed two shillings and sixpense per day for hand laborers at the highways for what is done in May and June, and one shilling per day for a pair of oxen and sixpense per cart. Voted that there shall be a new book bought for the entering of this Selectmen's affairs for the town business.
Voted that the Selectmen shall be empowered to chose and appoint men to bound the line between the two precincts of Andover, once in three years, as it is done in our perambulation line between town and town.
Voted that Lt. Benj. Barker and James Bridges shall have full power to join with a committee from Boxford to settle the line between us, and them, and that Boxford be notified hereof to send their committee to join with ours to settle that affair and that they make return thereof under their hands, to be entered on record: Ephriam Foster is also voted to be added to said committee for the same affair.
At a legal Town Meeting July 29th, 1717, Lt. John Osgood was chosen Moderator for the meeting.
Voted that the town shall be supplied with a schoolmaster as the law directs and it was voted and passed that the Selectmen shall agree with a schoolmaster for our supply for the year ensuing.
At our Annual Town Meeting on March 3rd, 1717/18, Lt. John Osgood was chosen Moderator for said meeting. Capt. Christopher Osgood was chosen Tom Clerk for the year ensuing.
Voted and passed that a third part of our province tax be raised upon the inhabitants for the making and maintaining of our town high- ways for the ensuing year, and every inhabitant is hereby enjoined to work out his proportion as the surveyors shall direct.
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5136 (continued)
Voted that the highway to Bradford going over the brook coming out of Russ Meadow be moved a little lower and a sufficient cart bridge be made over the said brook.
Voted that an iron melting ladle be secured for the Clerk of the market, to melt lead to make weights as occasion may be for the inhabitants and to be paid for by the Town and kept up for the Town's use.
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5137
At the same Annual Meeting, a petition of the south precinct in the behalf of having the schoolmaster some part of the year at the south precinct when their schoolhouse is erected was voted, and the vote determined for to answer said petition by one man in number that shall cast a vote.
At our Annual Meeting March 2nd, 1718/19, Capt. George Abbott was chosen Moderator for the meeting. Christopher Osgood was chosen Tom Clerk for the year ensuing.
At the same Annual Meeting it was voted and passed that there shall be half proportions of the province tax raised upon the in- habitants of Andover to be improved in the making and maintaining of the highways belonging to the said Town for the ensuing year. Every inhabitant is hereby required to work out his proportion of the tax as the surveyor shall direct.
It was voted also that the same rates which were passed at the Town Meeting on May 8th in the year 1717 shall be the rule for the ensuing year, both for their time of working and wages for labor and teams.
Lient. John CAgood
and Ephriam Foster are chosen a committee to reckon with Capt. Benj. Stevans and Capt. James Frye about the charges they bring in about their expense in Salem Court. Capt. Benj. Stevens and Capt. James Frye and William Foster are chosen a committee to view the Selectmen's accounts and to inform the Town of their disposing of the money that hath been, by the Town, put into their hands.
At a legal Town Meeting the 30th of October 1719, Lt .- John Osgood was chosen Moderator for the said meeting.
It was voted to raise money on the inhabitants to defray the nec- essary charges of the Town.
Voted that the Selectmen shall be hereby empowered to raise money on the inhabitants of Andover for their ends above said, a double pro- portion of the county tax, as it is settled for this present year, on the inhabitants of Andover.
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5138
At our Annual Meeting on March 7th, 1719/20, Lt. John Osgood was chosen Moderator for the day. Sgt. John Frye was chosen Town Clerk for the year ensuing. Samuel Holt, John Farrington, Josiah Chandler, John Phelps, Timothy Abbott, Jr., James Ingalls, Jr., Jacob Tyler and John Poore were chosen to prosecute the law about swine.
Voted and passed that highways shall be made and maintained this year as they were last year by the Tom rate and said rate shall be the same sum that it was the last year and not to exceed 5 pounds more and all persons concerned shall have liberty to work out their rates as in the last year and in the same months and price, and further, the Town have granted liberty to the Surveyors to call out men to work on the highway in the months March and April.
Granted thirty shillings for to buy plank to make or help make bridge over Shawsheen River to Ballard's Mill. Said money to be drawn out of the Tom Treasury.
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