Town of Westford annual report 1896-1901, Part 1

Author: Westford (Mass.)
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Westford (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 836


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1896-1901 > Part 1


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ANNUAL REPORTS


-OF THE-


TOWN OFFICERS


-OF THE-


TOWN OF WESTFORD


-FOR THE-


YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1897.


-ALSO-


TOWN WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING TO BE HELD APRIL 5, 1897.


WESTF


TOWN


O


RD


INCORP


1729.


RPORATED


2


SE


LOWELL, MASS .: COURIER-CITIZEN COMPANY, PRINTERS 1897.


ANNUAL REPORTS


-OF THE-


TOWN OFFICERS


-OF THE-


TOWN OF WESTFORD


-FOR THE-


YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1897.


-ALSO-


TOWN WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING TO BE HELD APRIL 5, 1897.


WEST


V


FC


N NMO.


1729.


CC


RPORATED


T. 23


SEP


LOWELL, MASS .: COURIER-CITIZEN COMPANY, PRINTERS 1897.


OFFICERS OF THE TOWN OF WESTFORD, 1896.


Town Clerk. GILMAN J. WRIGHT.


Selectmen.


JULIAN A. CAMERON, Sec.,


SHERMAN H. FLETCHER, Chairman,


GEORGE W. HEYWOOD,


Term expires April, 1897 Term expires April, 1898 Term expires April, 1899


Assessors.


SAMUEL L. TAYLOR,


GEORGE H. HARTFORD, Chairman,


WILLIAM H. H. BURBECK,


Term expires April, 1897 Term expires April, 1898 Term expires April, 1899


Overseers of the Poor.


HAMMETT D. WRIGHT, Sec., Term expires April, 1897 WAYLAND F. BALCH, Chairman, ¡Term expires April, 1898


ALVIN G. POLLEY,


Term expires April, 1899


Treasurer. NAHUM H. WRIGHT.


Collector of Taxes. WALTER C. WRIGHT.


Auditor. ARTHUR B. PLIMPTON.


Constables.


ISAAC E. DAY,


EUGENE DEROEHN.


1


School Committee.


ABIEL J. ABBOT, Chairman,


Term expires April, 1897


WALTER J. SLEEPER, Secretary,


Term expires April, 1897


ALBERT R. CHOATE, Term expires April, 1898 .


ALTA M. TAYLOR, Term expires April, 1898


FRANK H. HILDRETH. Term expires April, 1899


ALFRED WOODBURY,


Term expires April, 1899


Sealer of Weights and Measures. TRUE. A BEAN.


4


Registrars of Voters.


QUINCY W. DAY. Term expires April 30, 1897 OSCAR R. SPALDING, Term expires April 30, 1898


NELSON L. TUTTLE, Chairman. Term expires April 30, 1899 GILMAN J. WRIGHT, Clerk Ex-Officio.


Superintendent of Streets. BENJAMIN F. DAY.


Inspectors of Animals and Provisions. GEORGE T. DAY, ALBERT P. RICHARDSON.


Measurer of Grain. ALONZO H. SUTHERLAND.


The foregoing officers have all been sworn; of the following only those marked by a star. (*)


Fence Viewers.


*ALVIN G. POLLEY, LEWIS C. DANE, *ALMON S. VOSE, Measurers of Wood and Bark and Surveyors of Lumber. *THOMAS E SYMMES, *HORACE E. GOULD, *WM. W. JOHNSON, *JOHN A. HEALY, *A. H. SUTHERLAND, *GEO. H. PRESCOTT. JEREMIAH DESMOND.


Field Drivers.


*WARREN P. SWEETSER, FRENCH M. MORSE.


Weighers of Coal.


*CHAS. E. WHIDDEN, *E. H. WHIDDEN, *J. A. HEALY,


*HENRY HEALY, *J. M. FLETCHER, *MINOT A. BEAN,


*W. W. JOHNSON.


No oath is required of the remaining officers.


Trustees of J. V. Fletcher Library.


MARGARET A. O'NEILL, Term expires April, 1897 JOHN W. ABBOT, Term expires April, 1898


WILLIAM E. FROST, Term expires April, 1899


Librarian. CARRIE E. READ.


Commissioners of Public Burial Grounds.


GEORGE W. HEYWOOD, Term expires April, 1897 WILLIAM E. FROST, Term expires April, 1898


GEORGE T. DAY, Term expires April, 1899


5


Board of Health. THE SELECI'MEN, Ex-Oficio.


Agents of Board-


GILMAN J. WRIGHT, to issue burial permits. JULIAN A. CAMERON and JOHN A. HEALY, for sanitary condition of town. Police Officers.


AI BICKNELL, SAMUEL H. BALCH, W. E. PARSONS, HIRAM DANE, JOHN A. HEALY.


Fire Wards.


W. E. PARSONS. JOHN A. HEALY, A. R. LEIGHTON. Only Mr. Healy accepted the office.


Forest Fire Wards.


GEORGE W. HEYWOOD, EDWARD PRESCOTT.


Agent for Burial of Deceased Soldiers, Etc. GEORGE T. DAY.


Undertakers.


ALBERT P. RICHARDSON, JOHN A. HEALY.


Superintendent of Almshouse. SAMUEL H. BALCH.


Janitor of Town House. AI BICKNELL.


Appraisers of Property at Town Farm.


NOAH PRESCOTT, GEORGE H. HARTFORD, SAMUEL L. TAYLOR.


BIRTHS


Recorded by the Town Clerk of Westford. A. D. 1896.


DATE.


NAMES.


PARENTS' NAMES.


Nov. 10,


Allard, Cora May ..


Edward and Mary J. (Dion).


Sept. 19,


Amission, Arthur Frederick .


Feb. 25, Anderson. Emel


Sept.


1-1-13


Bilodeau, Marie M. Elanie Alvina.


Alvin J. and Elizabeth (Hutchins).


Jan. 18,


Blodgett, Arthur Edward


Arthur T. and Emily J. (Weaver). Max and Sevier (Tilda).


April 5,


Boucher, Mary Loroza


Joseph and Mary (Dureault).


June


Brisson, Marie Estelle Benedik


Ar hur and Adeline (Roux).


March 31,


Brow, Viola May


Byron H. and Clara (Kruckman).


July 2.


Byron, Alma .


Frank and Louise (Flitute).


Jan. 8.


Callahan, Genevieve


John F. and Annie ( Bradley).


July 24,


Clement, Marion Gertrude


Peter and Mary (O'Conner).


Feb. 22,


Connell, Delia Gertrude


John H. and Margaret E. (Coughlin).


July 5,


Crockett, Lyman Clinton


Sept. 9,


De Roehn, Eric Moody


Henry C. and Mary D. (Odell). Charles F. and Bertha J. (Hoyt) . Adolph and Eveline.


Oct. 30,


Eli, Mari Louise


Frank P. and Cora (Wilson).


May 26,


Gilson, Alice May


George Q. and Alice M. (Garrett). William and Elizabeth (Donoghue).


March 28,


Gurney, Wallace La Selle.


Henry A. and Mary (Tweddle).


Aug. 22,


Ilaberman, Astrid


A. T. and Caroline ( Lundgren).


Oct. 18, Hanson, Emeli


June 17,


Healy, Edward Timothy


Nov.


8,


Healy, Henry Joseph ..


April


22, Jarvis, Mary Rose Anna Amelia ..


July 18.


Le Clair, Joseph Napoleon


George and Philaman (Talbott).


Aug. 27,


Leighton, Francis Howe


A. Richmond and Helen W. (Howe).


Feb. 5, June 25, 2,


McDonald, John


Joseph J. and Nelly (Sullivan).


May Feb.


24, McMaster, Sadelia Antoinette.


June 21, Miloe, Joseph Odillion.


Odillion and Mary J. (Lamprou).


Nov. 26, ('Brien, Thomas James


John H. and Annie T. (Dunn).


March 10, Orr, Nellie Viola


Robert and Jennie (McMurray).


July 12,


Prescott, Ida Theresa


George W. and Lilla (Lamphear).


Oct.


14, Provost, Mary Geneva


Henry and Mary A. (Larkin). Reuben E. and Damie M. (Carkin).


Feb.


2,


Ephraim and Mary E. (McLaughlin) .


Oct. 1, Rockwell, Clifton Randall


Guy L, and Mamie B. (Bicknell). John B. and Mary (Tatro).


Feb. 4,


Sanborn, George Howard


George L. and Margaret (Mellor).


Dec. 27, Sears, Henry Fred


Joseph H. and Sophie (Brussard).


June 30, Sweetser, Howard Warren.


Warren P. and Jessie (Harrap).


July 15, Talbot, Joseph Alexander


Joseph and Lucy (Chebut).


Aug. 2, Thorp, Ester


Joseph H. and Mamie (Case).


Sept.


12, Tully, Bertha May


Charles and Bertha (White).


May


12, Wall, Rachel May.


Joseph H. and Maria (Agnew). Ralph E. and Hattie R. (McLeod).


May 2,


Woodbury, Bertha May


Francis J. and E. Sophronia (Grant) .


John and Mattie (Smith).


Dec. 19, Paille, Fredie


Fredie and Stephnae (Garceau).


Jan.


9, Redding, Mildred Vera Reed, Ida May ..


Martin and Sayla (Worbjorullon). John A. and Elizabeth (Sullivan). William J. and Ellen F. (Dunn). Alexander J. and Rosa 'Barlow).


Oct. 18,


Felch, William Parker


June 16,


Gower, Frank Francis


Frederick and Alice A. (Drew). Jolin and Dugrid.


June


Bicknell, Elva Mand


Charles H. and Almeda (Gray). Alfred and Melanie (Demers).


Nov. 25, Blaisdell, Chester Everett.


Marclı +,


Blotner, -


Number recorded, 51; males, 26; females, 25; of American parentage, 14; foreign par- entage, 17; American father and foreign mother, 13; American mother and foreign father, 7. GILMAN J. WRIGHT, Town Clerk.


Leland, Henry Levi.


George A. and Mary (Griffin).


McManamon,


Sept. 28, Rosazza, Wirefod


MARRIAGES


Recorded by the Town Clerk of Westford, A. D. 1896.


DATE.


NAMES.


AGE.


RESIDENCE.


BIRTHPLACE.


Nov. 26,


Alward, Morton Silas Blood, Grace May


19


Littleton


Dec. 24,


Baker, William Edward


25


Westford


Westford. Boston. England. 66 Westford.


. 24,


Byron, Henry Leclerc, Albertine


18


Sept. 1,


Conrey, George Edward Reed, Rebecca Jane .


21


Littleton


Oct. 17,


Defoe, Philip Albert


18


Westford


Williamsburg,


April 15,


Dodge, Francis Warren . 57


36


Westford


Littleton. [Me. Dunstable.


Dec. 23,


Cooke, Minnie Amanda . 27


Westford


New Brunswick. Andover.


Nov. 11,


Hoyt, John . Flannery, Polly


Andover. Westford 66


Tewksbury. New Brunswick. England.


Feb. 8,


McManamon, Frank J.


Lewiston, Me.


Grant, Sophronia Elizabeth


York Co., N. B.


Jan. 18, Dec. 28,


Morris, George A Burke, Maggie E


Westford 66


Tyngsborougli.


Oct. 15,


Noble, Hiram Franklin Heald, Hattie A


22


Sept. 30,


Parkhurst, Bertiz E.


27


Carlisle Dunstable Westford


Pittsfield, Me. Westford. Dunstable. Westford. Lowell. Westford. 66


April 8,


Prinn, Alfred T. W Ledwith, Mary Elizabeth.


20 20


66


Nov. 22,


Rabbichou, Eugene Boucher, Lucy


21


20


May 11,


Sargent, Allan Cameron Minter, Lizzie S


43


Lowell ...


Sept. 23,


Tulis, Frank B .. 32


Westford 60


Ireland. Westford.


Mar. 23,


Wheeler, Leonard Winthrop Williams, Mary Houghton


31


66 Concord


Taunton


Sept. 2,


Wright, Bradley V Baldwin, Mabel L


25


Andover, N. H.


Meriden, N. H.


Feb. 2,


Wyman, George W Burnett, Annie M .. 27


Westford 66


Tyngsborough. England.


Number of marriages recorded


23 Between foreigners 5


Solemnized in Westford.


8


American groom and foreign bride. . . 3


Westford grooms


Second marriage of groom .. 2


Westford brides ...


20 15 Second marriage of bride 1


Between Americans 15 Solemnized by Westford clergymen .... 11


GILMAN J. WRIGHT, Town Clerk.


Nov. 26,


Bunce, Henry Augustus


23


66


Polley, Rose


23


22


Province Quebec 66


Crockett, Anna Lizzie


20


Littleton


Gay, Ernest .. 28


Boston


P. E. Island.


July 31,


Hill, George W .


61


Foster, Almira C. (Shedd)


63


23 20 30 29


Merrill, George Winn Coburn, Lillian Susan


24


66


23


Tyngsborough


Albany, N. Y. Tyngsborough. Gloucester.


66


.


.


.


.


.


.


Nov. 15,


Payne, Thomas Patrick Davie, Sarah ..


18 20 17


Burlington, Vt. Canada. 66


37


Westford. Worcester. Concord.


O'Connell, Deborah .


27


24 34


Westford


Westford.


24


Westford


Weaver, Elizabeth Helen


32


66


20


Milford, N. H. Littleton. Low 11.


Howe, Mary Elizabeth


... .


23


27


22


Dane, Lula V ... .


DEATHS Recorded by the Town Clerk of Westford, A. D. 1896.


AGE.


DATE.


NAMES, ETC.


YRS.


MOS.


DYS.


Sept. 27, Ask, Exsenfile, dau. of Thomas and Celista (Arpin).


Jan. 31, Baker, John, son of Edward nud Priscilla


56


5 10 :


.. 10


Mar. 14, Blotner, -- , son ot Max and Sarah (Civer)


:


May 26, Brisson, Mary Eugenie, dau. of Arthur and Adeline (Roux).


6


..


..


July 2, Byron, Louise ( Flitute), wife of Frank


4%


Sept. 10, Carkin, George F., son o Isaac W. and Mahala (Colburn)


34


11


Jan.


Casey, Heury Harold, son of Daniel and Annie (Starr)


5 70


21 . .


Nov. 25, Colyer, Mary S. (Till), wife of James


66


..


Sept. 10, Defoe, Isabella (McCarthy), wife of Edward


May


4, Duffy, Annie, resident of Providence, R 1 ...


35


Dec. 20,


Dugdale, R chard, son of Edward and Mary Ann (Kelley) Ehi, Marie Louise, dau. of Hurdof and Eveline


33


2


14


Oct. 30,


Felch, John P., son of John T. and Sallie (Lewes)


55


5 5


24 15


June 5,


Fifield, George H., son of George O. and Mary J.(Mitchell) Flanders, Moses T , resident of Lowell.


62


9


5


Jan. 17,


Flint, Nathaniel F., resident of Andover.


5.3


July 1, Gardner, Robert, son of John and Marion (Robertson)


73 .. 79


1 . . : 2


Jan. 13,


Griffin, Joseph B., resident of Lowell


39


6


June 8,


Aug. 24, Henvill, Frances L. (Cummings), resident of Haverhill


54


Feb. 10,


Hodgson, Lillian May, dau. of James and Clara ( Dracup)


2


Mar. 25,


Hodgson, Violet Elsie, dau. of James and Clara (Dracup)


5 1


17 11


Aug. 1,


Kebler, Catharine Abbot,dau of Abbot L.and Catharine M.(Abbot) Keyes, Rebecca H (Fletcher), widow of Joseph W.


77


5


1 11 9


May 2,


Mc Manamon, , son of Frank and Elizabeth (Grant)


53


.. 23 ..


April 29, .July 28,


Morron, Martha (Crompton), resident of Chelmsford


6


..


May


31,


Nason, Luther W., son of Elijah and Kuth ( Hyde) .


75


10


April 5 Nutting, Edric G., resident of Lynn . .


41


..


Oct.


21,


Ouillette, Marie, dau. of Octave and Malvina (Martin)


1


..


Oct. 1,


Peltier, Arthur, son of Joseph and Isne (Mitchell)


. .


Oct. 1,


Peltier, Willard son of Joseph and Isoe ( Mitchell)


55


..


Oct.


17,


Reed, Mary E. (Brown), wife of Ephraim


28 70


3


13 4


Sept. 25.


Richardson, Minnie E., dau. of Joseph and Bessie (Phylis)


18


7


April 13, Oct. 17,


Spaulding, Ca vin Warren, son of Calvin and Sarah E. (Wright) Spaulding, Solomon H., resident of Boston


82


Oct. 6.


Spaulding, William W., resident of Chelmsford


26


Dec. 31, Taylor, Ellen F. (Davis), resident of Chelmsford.


52


Oct. 3,


Trumbull, Charles Perkins, resident of Beverly


66


..


July


18,


..


Aug. 25,


73


..


Oct. 1,


Wilkins, Almira F. (Ham lin), widow of Luther


74


..


5


Aug. 12, Woodbur, Betsey (Howard), widow of Sabin


82 59


2


20


Jan.


24, Wright, Abigail P. (Livingston), wife of Nahum H


83


..


.. 13


Nov.


5,


Wyman, Ida A. (Blodgett), wife of Walter W.


Males. Females. Total.


Whole number recorded


31


31


62


Number of deaths in town


24


27


51


Residents of Westford


24


24


48


Non-residents brought to town for interment.


5


4


Number of interments in town


22


20


42


Two residents of town


Five persons who died in town were residents of other places. died in other places.


Cause of death of persons who died in this town and of residents of this town who died in other place« : Phthisis, 6; cholera infantum, 5; still birth and nephritis, 4 each; apoplexy, cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes, 2 each; geyeosuria, membraneous croup, suicide, congestion of lungs, hydrothorax, suppurative hepatitis, congenital heart disease, nephritis and organic disease of heart, pneumonia and asthma, pleurisy and heart failure, hydrochachitis and meningitis, inanition, old age, dementia, heart disease, puerperal eclampsia, Bright's dis- ease. chronic cystitis, angina p ctoris, septicemia, chronic myelitis, cho era, paralysis of heart, pleurisy and hydrothorax and phthisis, pneumonia, pneumonia and rheumatism, chronic enteritis, 1 each.


GILMAN J. WRIGHT, Town Clerk.


11


May 22,


April 3, Lord, Sophronia (Brothers), resident of Worcester


59


1


Jan. 23, Mann, Jane ( Rice), widow of John


74 733 9


July 14, Miloe, Joseph Odillion, son of Odillion and Jeanne (Lamprou)


May 15, Moore, Elizabeth S. (Blowers), resident of Lowell.


57


6


Oct. 21, Moosekian, John, son of Nazaret and Anna M. (Kalousdian) .


..


.. ..


Oct. 25,


Ouillette, Omer, son of Octave and Malvina (Martin)


6 7


.. 12


Feb. 23,


Reed, Thomas C., son of Thomas and Rebecca (Cummings)


Richardson, Sadie F. (Daley), wife of Charles N ..


4l 58


: 4


2


April 4,


11 16 21 21 29 ..


..


24


Sept.


6, Wright, Mary Ann (Red), widow of William O.


43


. .


.. 5


June 28, Driscoll, Timothy D., son of Timothy and Mary (O'Brien)


29


6


..


..


Jan.


69


Nov. 10,


Griffin, Ellen, dau. of Charles M. and Nellie M. (Collins;


Dec. 12, Hamlin, Charles A ., son of Cyrus and Dinah (Cortalyou) Henri, John, son of Joseph


63


21 17 .. 3 29 .. 7


. . 4


. .


Sept. 23, Mason, Matilda L. (Barrons), wife of Josiah B


Oct. 26, McManus, James


. .


Morrison, James, son of John and Ann


86 70


. .


.. 3


Jan. 27,


Peters, Mary Jane (Davis), wite of John H.


..


.. 9


Feb. 15, Charlesworth, Thomas, son of Samuel and Ann ( Whitworth)


9


Feb. 17, Dailey, Bridget (Casry , widow of Patrick


75 23


..


Vinal, Roscoe A., son of Charles E. and Lizzie A. (Davis). Waller, Lucinda A. (Campbell)


March 5,


NOTE.


All persons interested are respectfully requested to examine the foregoing reports of births, marriages and deaths, and if any errors are noted, or if there be omissions, that they be reported to the Town Clerk in writing, that the records may be perfected.


Births occurring late in the year are sometimes returned without the Christian name. In such cases parents should return the name to the Town Clerk as soon as selected, as incompleteness of the record may involve much trouble in the future.


GILMAN J. WRIGHT, Town Clerk.


TOWN CLERK'S REPORT ON DOGS.


Number of dogs licensed during the year ending Nov. 30, 1896 : 149 males at $2.00 . $298 00


6 females at $5.00


30 00


Total .


$328 00


Deduct Clerk's fees, 155 licenses at 20 cents each 31 00


Balance paid into County Treasury . $297 00


For which the receipts of the County Treasurer are on file.


Of the foregoing licenses 5 (males) were for the year ending April 30, 1896.


Number licensed for year ending April 30, 1897, males, 144 ; females, 6; total, 150.


Number returned by Assessors, males, 147; females 4; total, 151.


Owners and Keepers of Dogs who have procured Licenses since last Report, February 6, 1896.


The licenses are for the year ending April 30, 1897, unless otherwise specified.


Abbot & Co. Carmichael, James H. Eastman. Asa B. M.


Adams, Charles L.


Carrick. Thomas


Eaton, Ward W.


Balch, Samuel H.


Carver, Gertrude E.


Edwards, Franklin


Balser, Arthur W. Carver, William R. Eliason, Lars J.


Banister, F. W.


Casey, Daniel


Felch, Frank P.


Batchelder, O. A.


Catchpole, Henry


Felch. John P. ('96)


Bean, True A.


Champagne, Louis


Bemis, Henry S.


Cheever, Jacob


Bennett, Joseph


Clement, Peter


Fletcher, Harry N. (2)


Berry, James


Comey, Arthur H.


Fletcher, Henry A. (3)


Blaisdell, A. J.


Couture, Charles


Fletcher, J. Willard


Blodgett, Josiah W. Crossland, Mary


Floyd. Mary


Blood, Napoleon B.


Cummings, Charles M.


Furbush, Frank L.


Boufford, Ralph


Cummings, E. M. (fem)


Brow, Byron H.


Dane. Hiram


Brown, Mrs. F. J.


Davis. Alfred S.


Gorden, James


Burbeck, Eli T.


Day, George T.


Gould, Horace E.


Callahan, John Cameron, Donald


Decater, John H.


Griffin, Charles M.


Carkin, Charles H.


Decater, Joshua C. Decater, William H.


Gustafsen, William


Carkin, Edwin F.


Carkin, Frank E.


DeRoehn, Eugene


Carkin, George F.


Carkin, I. W.


Carkin, Warren E.


Desjardines. Oliver Downs, Matthew F. Drew, Frank C.


Harrington, P. Henry Hartford, George H. Hawkes, Wesley O.


Gilson, George Q. Gilson, Levi S.


Decater, C. R. P.


Gould, Warren J.


Haley, John Hall, John


Fifield, Mrs. Geo. H. (2) Fisher, Alvan


11


Healy, John A. Heywood, Albert W. Hildreth, Herbert V. Hill, George W. Holt, Arthur S. Howard, Calvin L. Hutchins, Stephen E. Ingalls, Geo. W. ('96-2) Johnson, William R. Krounse, Louis Lawton, Luther


Martin, Fred


Prescott. Nelson L.


Wall, Christina


Mason, L. A.


Prescott, Wallie


Ward. John E. ('96)


McCarty, Joseph F.


Putney, Lucia


Whigham. William


McDonald, Angus


Quinn, Thomas V.


Whitney, Julian


McGlinchy, James


Reckards, John F.


Whitney, Sarah F. (f)


McGlinchy, Peter(fem))


Reckards, Thomas


Whitaker. Christopher


Merritt, Walter J (fem) Moore, Edward A.


Reed, Charles W. Rockwell, Guy L.


Wilson, Arthur Wright. Andrew S.


Morse, French M.


Wright, Chas. H. ('96-'97)


Mountain, Ernest G. (2)


Wright. Frank C.


Mountain, George E. Murphy, Henry J.


Sanborn, George L. Sargent, Charles G. Sargent, Fred G. Spillane, Patrick


Wright, Walter C. Wright, Willey M.


GILMAN J. WRIGHT, Town Clerk.


February 17, 1897.


Nesmith, Mrs G.W. (f) Splaine, Daniel E.


Nesmith, Harry L.


Stephan, Reinhold Sullivan, Jeremiah


Nickless, Maud


Nutting. Benjamin F.


O'Brien, James H.


()'Brien, James, 2d O'Brien, Jas. 2d (fem)


O'Brien, John W. (2)


Orange, Abraham


Paige, A. M.


Parker, Charles Wm.


Valentine. Mary Vose, William M.


Marshall, Josiah E.


Petherick, William H.


Sullivan, Thomas O. Swanson, Noah Sweatt, Fred A. Sweatt, Mrs. S. D. Sweetser, Judson F.


Sweetser. Warren P. Tallant, Eben W.


ANNUAL TOWN MEETING, 1896.


At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of West- ford qualified by law to vote in town affairs, held in the Town House, March 16, 1895, the following business was transacted :


1st. The Town Clerk appointed Lewis C. Dane, Teller, to act during the election of Moderator, and he was duly sworn by said Clerk. George T Day was elected Moderator.


2d. Voted, that the compensation of the Tax Collector be one per cent. on the amount he collects.


3d. The Selectmen appointed William E. Frost and William H. H. Burbeck Ballot Clerks, and they were sworn by the Town Clerk and received from him the official ballots and gave their receipt therefor. L'wis C. Dane and T. Arthur E. Wilson, who had pre- viously been appointed Tellers by the Selectmen, were sworn by the Town Clerk, and took charge of the check list and ballot box re- spectively. The voters then pro eeded to bring in their ballots for the officers named in the third article of the warrant, and also on the following question : "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxi- cating liquors in this town?" Before the commencement of ballot- ing the ballot box was opened and found to be empty, the register standing on zero. Sherman H. Fletcher Julian A. Cameron, John A. Healy and Samuel L. Felch, were appointed Tellers by the Moderator, and sworn by the Town Clerk.


At the close of the polls the register stood on 208.


Number of names checked on ballot clerks' list, 184.


Number of names checked on ballot box list, 182.


Whole number of ballots cast (by count), 182.


George H. Hartford, Charles M. Griffin and Elbert H. Flagg were appointed Tellers by the Moderator and sworn by the Town Clerk.


The discrepancy between the figures on the register and the number of ballots cast was owing to the bad working of the machine, which often caused the register to move twice or more on the passage of a single ballot. The discrepancy between the


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number of names checked on the two lists was owing to the fact that one, at least, and probably two voters who received ballots, passed out of the inclosure without depositing them. One such ballot was returned to the presiding officer.


At this point, the meeting proceeded to take up the remaining articles of the warrant for consideration, during the canvassing of the votes for town officers.


4th. Voted, to accept the Report of the Selectmen as printed.


5th. Voted, to accept the Report of the Selectmen on Guide Boards as printed.


6th. Voted, to accept the Report of the Overseers of the Poor as printed.


7th. Voted, to accept the Report of the School Committee as printed.


8th. Voted, to accept and adopt the Report of the Trustees of the Public Library as printed. The Report recommends that two hundred dollars ($200) be raised and appropriated for the purchase of books and for supplying papers and periodicals for the reading room, during the year next ensuing


9th. Voted, to accept and adopt the Report of the Commis- sioners of Public Burial Grounds as printed. The Report recom- mends that three hundred dollars ($300) be raised and appropriated for the improvement of Public Burial Grounds.


10th. Voted, to accept the Report of the Auditor as printed.


11th. Voted, to accept the list of Jurors as printed, which list is as follows : Wilford G. Blodgett, Augustus Bunce, W. H. H. Burbeck, William R. Carver, Quincy W. Day, Jeremiah Desmond, Frank C. Drew, Elbert H. Flagg, John K. Felch, Allen B. Gould, Horace E. Gould. David L. Greig, Henry A. Gurney, Frank C. Hildreth, Samuel M. Hutchins, Angus McDonald, French M. Morse, Harry L. Nesmith, Wilbert E. Parsons, George H. Prescott, Nathan Prescott, Nelson L. Prescott, Joseph Wall, Leonard W. Wheeler, Hiram Whitney, Hammett D. Wright, Walter C. Wright.


12th. Voted, to raise and appropriate thirty-five hundred dollars ($3500) to repair roads and bridges.


13th. Voted, to raise and appropriate thirty-five hundred dollars ($3500) for town debts and charges.


14th. Voted, to take up the 25th article.


15th. Voted, to dismiss the 25tli article, which related to trans- portation of scholars and consolidation of schools.


16th. Voted, to raise and appropriate fifty-six hundred dollars ($5600) for public schools.


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17th. Voted, to raise and appropriate fifteen hundred dollars ($1500) to pay tuition of High School scholars, residents of the town, at Westford Academy.


18th. Voted, to raise and appropriate twenty-eight hundred dollars ($2800) for support of poor.


19th. Voted, to raise and appropriate seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750) for school text books and supplies.


20th. In regard to Article 18, which was "To see if the Town will authorize the Town Treasurer, under the written direction of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time to meet the demands on the Treasury, and act in relation to the same," the Town voted to give such authority to the Town Treasurer.


21st. Voted. that the taxes of those who pay only a poll tax be payable at sight, and all other taxes shall be payable on the first day of January next, and if any taxes remain unpaid after that date the Collector shall charge interest on such taxes overdue, at the rate of seven per centum per annum, and collect the same according to law.


There shall be allowed a discount on all taxes assessed of five (5) per cent. if paid on or before Oct. 1st, and three (3) per cent. if paid on or before Dec. 1st next, if the whole tax assessed to them is paid at one time. The Auditor shall audit the accounts of the Tax Collector within five days after the first days of October and December, and said Collector shall pay to the Town Treasurer all money he may have received, within seven days after the said first days of October and December.


And, furthermore, the Auditor shall audit the accounts of the Collector between the fifteenth and twentieth days of February next, and the Collector sliall pay to the Town Treasurer all money he may have received within five days after the said twentieth day of February. And the Assessors are instructed to complete the assessment of taxes on or before July 1st next, and issue their warrant to the Collector of Taxes, with a list of persons assessed with their place of abode, within five days after the said first day of July.


22d. Chose the following persons Fence Viewers : Alvin G. Polley, Lewis C. Dane, Almon S. Vose. Mr. Vose sworn by Town Clerk.


23d. Chose the following persons Measurers of Wood and Bark and Surveyors of Lumber: Thomas E. Symmes, Horace E. Gould, William W. Johnson, John A. Healy, Alonzo H. Sutherland, George H. Prescott, Jeremiah Desmond. Mr. Prescott sworn by Town Clerk.




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