USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Volume of records relating to the early history of Boston : containing minutes of the Selectmen's meetings, from 1811 to 1817 and part of 1818 > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 B65br v.38 1137100
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
V
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01794 2480
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/volumeofrecordsr3818bost
V.38
A VOLUME
OF
RECORDS
RELATING TO THE
EARLY HISTORY OF BOSTON
CONTAINING
Selec
MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN'S MEETINGS, 1811 TO 1817, AND PART OF 1818
SIT DEL
NOBI
CIV
BOSTONIA CONDITA AD.
D.1822.
1630.
GT
BOSTON MUNICIPAL PRINTING OFFICE 1908
[DOCUMENT 60-1908.]
TR A
R
PATRIBUS, SIT DEUS
R
N
CITY
NOBIS
OFFICE
CI
BOSTONIA
CONDITA AD.
TA A.1822
1630.
BO
GIMINE DONATA
ss.
T
O
N, MA
REGISTRY DEPARTMENT
OF THE 1137100
CITY OF BOSTON
RECORDS RELATING TO THE EARLY HISTORY OF BOSTON
(Formerly called Record Commissioners' Reports.)
This volume, which is the thirty-eighth in the series formerly issued under the direction of the Record Commissioners, contains the minutes of the Selectmen's Meetings from 1811 to 1817, and part of the year 1818, completing the twentieth and twenty-first books of the original records of the Selectmen's Minutes.
EDWARD W. McGLENEN,
City Registrar.
OLD COURT HOUSE, BOSTON.
S
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES.
BOOK TWENTIETH.
[1.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen January 2ª.
1811. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Hunnewell, Wright, Foster, Webb & Weld.
Finished the draft of accounts .-
The report of a Committee of the Directors of the Mill Corpora- tion was received relative to the drain laid in the Mill Pond leading from Prince Street, as follows-
Boston Decr. 19th. 1810. The Subscribers, a Committee of the Boston Mill Corporation, to whom was referred the account annexed of the Selectmen of Boston, report that it is expedient and proper that the said Corporation pay the said account .-
Signed WM WETMORE J. P. DAVIS.
The account with the above certificate having been handed to Mr. Hynes, who did the work, to collect the Amount from the Corporation, was now returned by him, with information that he had called upon the Committee, the President & Agent of the Corporation, who had told him that it was not in their power to pay the account at present .- The board considered the circum- stances of Mr. Hynes, that the work was done by order of a Committee of the Selectmen, & that he suffered [2.] great incon- venience from the want of his money-& agreed to give him an order in the draft on the Treasurer-And Voted, that the account be handed to the Town Advocate, and that he be desired to take measures to collect the same from the Mill Corporation.
Ordered, that the accounts presented by Mr. Lyon for edge stones & by Sargent & Hart for work done in front of Mrs. Grays land and of H. G. Otis' land in Atkinson Street, be handed to the Town Advocate, that he may take measures .to collect the same .-
Agreed to pass an order on the Treasurer for 4000 Dollars in behalf of Mr. Henry Sargent in full of the award in his favour
2
CITY DOCUMENT No. 60.
for land taken from him to widen Exchange Lane, & the Treasurer was directed to call upon the President & Directors of the Union Bank for $2000, being the balance of what they were awarded to pay for that improvement .-
Return being made to the board that Mr. John Brazier had refused to pay the order drawn on him for one half the amount awarded to be paid by him for improving Exchange Lane-it was ordered that his contract and the award be handed to the Town Advocate, that he may take measures to collect the same.
Approved the application of Ebed Hearsey for [3.] a loan of $200. from the Franklin fund.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen January 9th. 1811. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Porter, Hunnewell, Wright, Foster, Webb & Weld .---
On the Application of Wn Hammatt Esq. he is permitted to place 4 posts in front of his house in Southack's Court, where they have been broken down, in consequence of the exposed situation of his house, at the foot of the hill, in front of Somersett Street .-
This time being appointed for a Meeting of the Trustees of the Neck land-no other business was transacted by the Selectmen .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen January 16th. 1811. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Porter, Wright, Webb & Weld .--
A petition was received from the Engine Company Nº. 12 praying to have a small building to deposit their engine in a more public situation.
Agreed that Mr. Porter should have a small building erected on land of Mr. P. S. Whitney in Orange Street, with the consent of [4.] the owner of the land.
The Clerk of the Market having represented that Mr. Bruce the present occupier of the stall in the part of the Market formerly leased by Mr. Redding (now deceased) had declared that he would not take charge of the small scales, & had behaved to himself and others in a rude and insolent manner-it was unanimously determined that Mr. Bruce should be removed from said stall, and that the Clerk of the Market should let the same to some reputable person, who in addition to the usual rent, should agree to keep the scales clean & in order, & to treat with civility the inhabitants, who might have occasion to use them .-
The Application of George Jackson for renewal of his Appoint- ment of Constable was fully considered, when it was unanimously determined upon in the negative.
3
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1811.
A precept was received from the Hon. Judge of Probate for the County of Suffolk-that inquisition should be made into the circumstances of Mrs. Catharine Sweetser-represented incapable to take care of her property-The same was committed to Mr. Wright & MT. Weld to make the necessary inquiries & report .-
[5.] Boston ss. At a Special Meeting of the Selectmen January 19th. 1811. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Hunnewell, Foster, Webb & Weld.
12 Jurors were drawn for the Supreme Judicial Court .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen January 23ª. 1811. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Porter, Oliver, Hunnewell, Wright, Webb & Weld .-
Return was made by Messrs. Benja. Spear and Thomas Aves, of the Expence of repairing the Common Sewer in Salem Street, the account whereof being duly examined by the Selectmen was by them allowed : they being informed at the same time, that all persons concerned in said drain had been notified according to law, and the objections made having been heard & considered : Assessment was now made, an order of payment was passed by the Seletmen as follows viz. Whereas a Drain or Common Sewer has been laid in Salem Street conformably to the directions of the Selectmen the whole expense amounts to Two hundred & Eighty Six dollars 42/100 which expence is to be born by such persons whose [6.] drains enter therein & receive benefit there- by : Wherefore, We, the Subscribers, Selectmen of the said Town of Boston certify that having considered the same expence and by whom and in what manner it ought to be paid do adjudge that the same be paid in the proportion following & by the persons hereafter named viz.
Robert Fennelly Pump & other drain, Eliza Rogers, Benjamin Spear, Thomas Aves, Estate of Edwd. Edes, Peyton Gay, Lynde Walter, Josiah Snelling, James Robinson, Isabella Johnson, Benja. Spear & Ezra Brown, Salem St., 12.20 each.
Edwd. Sargent (1 drain), Mary Darling & Henry Fowle (1 drain), Mary Lord (1 drain), Salem St., 6.10 each.
Hannah Stillman (3 drains), Salem St., 18.30.
John Bray (4 drains), Salem St., 24.40.
Joseph Adams, John Odin, Jonathan Merry, Hull St., 6.10 each.
Daniel Warner (2 drains), Sheafe St., 12.20.
Francis Greene (1 drain), 6.10.
[.] Gardner Hammond 1, Margaret Thomas 1, Sheafe St., 6.10 each.
Benjamin Jepson 12, Mary Waters 12, Sheafe St., 9.15 each.
Lewis's heirs 2, William Bentley 2, Sheafe St., 12.20 Total, $286.70.
4
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
And We hereby Authorize and empower Benjamin Spear and Thomas Aves to demand and receive the above sums from the persons above named & to give discharges therefor. -
Signed
CHARLES BULFINCH
WM. PORTER
EBENR. OLIVER
JONA. HUNNEWELL
FR WRIGHT
NATHAN WEBB
BENJA. WELD
Selectmen
[8.] Return was made by Mr. Josiah C. Rainsford of the expence of repairing the Common Sewer in North Street, the account whereof being duly examined by the Selectmen was by them allowed : they being informed at the same time, that all persons concerned in said drain, had been notified according to law, & no objection had been made : Assessment was now made, an order of payment was passed by the Selectmen as follows, viz. - Whereas a Drain or Common Sewer has been laid in North Street conformably to the directions of the Selectmen, the whole expence whereof amounts to Fifty Two Dollars & fifty cents which expence is to be borne by such persons whose drains enter therein & receive benefit thereby :
Wherefore We the Subscribers Selectmen of the said Town of Boston Certify that having considered the same expense and by whom & in what manner it ought to be paid Do Adjudge that the same be paid in the proportion following & by the persons hereafter named viz .-
B. Jarvis, Samuel Parkman, - Fuller, - Batchelor, Peter Hemmingway, [9.] Josiah C. Rainsford, - Oliver, Captt Webber, John Tuckerman, William Late, Jabez Newhall, Dr. Jacob Holland, Thomas Whitman, Mary Adams, Sam1. Hastings, Lewis Lincoln, W. C. Hackway, William Low, Andrew Drum- mond, - Trull, Nancy Woodward, John Bannister, Wm Mills, $2.30 each; total, $52.90. And We hereby authorize & em- power Mr. Amos Lewis, to demand & receive the above sums from the persons above named & to give discharges therefor .-
Signed CHARLES BULFINCHI WM PORTER
EBENR OLIVER
JONA HUNNEWELL
FR WRIGHT NATHAN WEBB
BENJA. WELD
Selectmen of Boston
[10.] Mr. Frederick Beck, was approved as an Auctioneer to keep an Auction Office in India Street .-
5
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1811.
The Chairman was desired to notify the Assessors & also the Chairman of the Assistant Assessors that the law required a return of qualified voters in the Town to be made by them on the first of March ;- and to request them to take the necessary meas- ures to have the return as correct as possible
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen January 28th. 1811. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Porter, Oliver, Wright, Foster & Weld .-
Passed the Monthly Accounts.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen February 6th. 1811. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Wright, Foster, Webb & Weld .-
The Committee appointed to make inquisition respecting the circumstances of Mrs. Catharine Sweetser, reported, & a return was made to the Judge of Probate that, she was found to be non compos mentis ; & that the board adjudge that she is incapable of taking care of herself.
[11.] M' Hunnewell presented for examination a Petition from MY Leverett to the Legislature praying for powers to convey to the Inhabitants of Boston the proportion of Alms house land which belongs to his minor children-also a resolve to that effect prepared by the Committee to whom the same was referred. The same being read & examined, the Chairman was desired to apply to M'. Jackson, counsel to M'. Leverett, to have a clause inserted to explain the description of the land & flatts to be conveyed ; that the right to low water mark should be clearly expressed, to prevent misunderstanding respecting it in future.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen February 20th 1811. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Porter, Oliver, Foster, Webb & Weld. -
20 Grand Jurors were drawn for the Supreme Judicial Court for March term-also 30 Traverse Jurors for the same Court. -
Return was made by Mr. Joseph Noyes of the Expence of repairing the Common Sewer in Prince Street the account whereof being duly examined by the Selectmen was by them allowed : [12.] they being informed at the same time that all persons con- cerned in said drain had been notified according to Law and the objections made having been heard & considered: Assessment was now made, an order of payment was passed by the Select- men as follows, Viz. Whereas a drain or common sewer has been laid in. Prince Street conformably to the directions of the Selectmen, the whole expense whereof amounts to one hundred & forty four dollars 57 which expense is to be borne by such persons whose drains enter therein & receive benefit thereby,
6
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
Wherefore, We the Subscribers, Selectmen of the said Town of Boston, Certify that having considered the same expense & by whom & in what manner it ought to be paid Do Adjudge that the same be paid in the proportion following & by the persons hereafter named vizt :
Joseph Noyes (3 shares), I. C. Lenow (4 shares), 8.04.
M' Marshall (2 shares), Nath1 Lombard (2 shares), MT Skillings (2 shares), John Hooton (2 shares), Mr. Robey, (2 shares), 5.36 each.
Mary Hall, Jacob Hall, Mr. Cunningham, D. Metignon, Alex- ander Ross, [13.] Elijah Wild, Matthew Lodge, Thaddeus Page, M. - French, Mr. - Shelibar, MT. - - Hunt, Peter Dicker- man, Mary Lord, Robt. Fennelly, Benja. Wheeler, Esther Hall, John Barber, William Palmer, Jos Adams, Henry Wendell, Jos. Mountfort, Mrs. Waters, Wm. Wiswell, Estate of Mrs. Cushing & Mrs. Locke, Sarah White, Jotham Horton, Ezra Curtis, Josiah C. Rainsford, Fredk. Lincoln, Sarah Clark, [14.] Jonas Gould, Nath1. Austin, Benja. Weld, Edwº. Chamberlain, 2.68 each.
Joseph Hurd, Guardian, 4 Shares, 10.72.
And We hereby authorize and empower Joseph Noyes, to demand & receive the above sums from the persons above named & to give discharges therefor. -
(Signed) CHS. BULFINCH WN PORTER EBENR. OLIVER JOSEPH FOSTER NATHAN WEBB BENJA. WELD 7
Selectmen
[15.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen February 25th. 1811. Present Mr. Oliver.
At a Meeting Feby 27th. 1811. Present Messrs. Oliver, Webb & Weld .-
At a Meeting of the Selectmen Feby. 28th. 1811. Present Mess18. Porter, Oliver, Hunnewell, Wright, Foster, Webb & Weld .--
Passed the quarterly & Monthly Accounts.
Signed a Warrant for Town Meeting, on the 11th day of March next .-
Mr. Park to print Notifications .- -
Mr. Eliot to print the lists of Voters .-
7
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1811.
Mr. Wright was desired, to request the Rev. Mr. Channing, to open the Meeting with Prayer .-
Ordered, That the Deputy Police Officer attend in Cornhill, and keep the side walks on both sides of the street, free from Wood, woodsawyers & every other incumbrance-until the Selectmen make some further provision for a stand as a Wood Market .-
[16.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen, March 6th. 1811 .- Present Messrs. Porter, Oliver, Hunnewell, Wright, Webb & Weld .-
4 Grand Jurors were drawn for the District Court of the U. S .-
Mr. Jona. P. Hall with several other Gentlemen appeared, and represented to the Board, that their shops in Union street, were very much incommoded by butchers and other persons placing their carts in front of their shops, some of which remained in the street through the night. The gentlemen having retired, the Board took the subject into consideration, & it was Voted, That the Deputy Police Officer be ordered, to remove all carts, waggons, sleds & other teams from Union street .- and in future no carts or waggons be suffered to stand in Union street, except such as may be placed there by the Clerk of the Market & subject to his orders and regulations.
[17.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen, March 13th. 1811. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Porter, Oliver, Hunnewell, May, Webb & Weld .-
This being the first meeting since the choice of Selectmen in Town Meeting on the 11th Instant : the Town Clerk administered an oath to the members present, according to law. " that they would make due returns, &c."-
The Board now came to the choice of a Chairman the votes being taken by ballot- Charles Bulfinch Esq. was declared to be unanimously chosen .-
A Petition was read from a number of victuallers, requesting to have moveable stalls placed in front of Mr. Holt's & M". Kidder's stores on Union street .- the same gentlemen signified their consent to the same .- .
Voted, That the Chairman, Mr. Weld & Mr. Webb-be a Com- mittee to attend to the regulation of the market during the present year-and that the above mentioned petition be referred to them .-
Great complaint having been made against the practice of per- mitting the carts with wood to stand in Cornhill; the subject was
8
CITY DOCUMENT No. 60.
now considered, & it was determined that an order should be published, to direct all waggons, carts & sleds with [18.] wood from the country, to stand in future in Milk street from Cornhill to Congress street, thence through Congress street to Water street, & in the westerly part of Water street-Also that as many carts as should be found convenient be allowed to stand in Bowdoin Square and the North square-and in Pond street over the Mill Pond.
The Chairman was desired to prepare rules & orders for the regulation of the wood, & to have the same published.
The Assessors having furnished lists of qualified voters in the several wards, and the same having been printed ; the Chairman was desired to send a copy of the same to each Assistant Assessor, for him to revise & correct, to be returned to the board with his corrections .-
Ordered, that it be advertised in the public papers that the lists of qualified voters will be posted up for inspection on Mon- day next.
The following is the form of Regulations of Wood, published in the papers .-
In pursuance of the powers vested in this Board by the act of the Legislature of this Commonwealth, entitled " An act in addi- tion to the several acts now in force [19.] to regulate the paving of Streets in the Town of Boston, and for removing obstructions in the same," the following
RULES AND ORDERS
are established for the regulation of Carts and other Carriages with Wood brought by land for sale-viz.
From and after Monday, the 26th day of March instant, no waggons, cart, or sled with wood for sale, shall be suffered to stand in Court street, or Cornhill, or in any other public street of the Town of Boston, except those hereafter named .-
One row of such waggons, carts & sleds with wood shall be allowed to stand on the north side of Milk street, from the west- erly end thereof on Cornhill, down to Congress street; also on the west side of Congress street, between Milk street and Water street ; and on the south side of Water street, from Congress street to Devonshire street.
As many of such waggons, carts and sleds, shall be allowed to stand in Bowdoin Square and the North Square, as shall, upon experience, be found convenient for the free passage of Car- riages through those Squares.
9
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1811.
[20.] And one row of such waggons, carts and sleds, shall be allowed to stand on the easterly side of Pond-street, leading from Hanover street to Charles River Bridge.
-- And it is further Ordered, that the standing of such waggons, carts & sleds, shall be regulated by the officers of Police, for the mutual convenience of the drivers thereof, and of the Inhabitants of the Town .-
And it is hereby ordered, in pursuance of the authority above named, that if any owner or driver of any waggon, cart or sled, loaded with wood, for sale, shall stand with his carriage or load, in any other place than those directed by these rules and orders, after the 26th day of March Inst. he shall forfeit & pay the sum of Five Dollars, upon conviction of every such breach of these rules and orders .-
[21.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen March 20th. 1811. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Porter, Hunnewell, May, Wright, Foster, Webb & Weld .-
Mess's. John & Joseph Rowe represent, that being about to extend the wharf, known by the name of Rowes Wharf, they wish to have their bounds on the Town's slip marked out by some persons authorized by the Selectmen .-
The Chairman, Mr. Hunnewell & Mr. Weld were desired to have the lines of the Town slip measured off, between Rowes & Foster Wharves ; and the boundaries settled by permanent marks.
The accounts of the hay Weigher were exhibited for the year ending Jany 1st .- by which it appeared, that the gross Amount of Receipts for Weighing were - 1191 two thirds of which being allowed for his services - 794
397
remains for the Town's proportion $397 from which deduct expences, repairs &c . 180.59
leaves the net proceeds which he has paid to the Town Treasurer pr. his certificate 216.41
Voted, That in future the hay weigher settle his accounts once a quarter with the Selectmen & pay the balance to the Town Treasurer .-
[22.] Voted, That in future, all expenditures for repairs of the Hay Scales be done under the direction of & by order of one of the board ; & that E. Oliver Esq be desired to attend to this business the ensuing year .-
Mess's William Thomas & Ezekiel P. Greenleaf having applied for license as Auctioneers, in company ; having been well recommended, were approved by the Board .-
10
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
Warrant was signed for Town Meeting to be held on the 1st. day of April for choice of Gov. Lt. Gov & Senators-
Mr. Park to print notifications, & Rev. Mr. Lowell be requested to open the Meeting with prayer .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen March 25th. 1811. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Wright, Foster & Weld.
Passed the Monthly Accounts.
Approved the Indentures of John Carr, a minor & foreigner to James Fullick-mason & bricklayer to continue in force until the second of Jany Eighteen hundred & Sixteen .-
On the application of MT Henry Sargent, it was Voted, That the Town Treasurer be authorized and empowered to give to Mr. Sargent his note for the balance that may be now due to him on the drafts for payment for his land [23.] taken to widen Exchange Lane-and that the said note be expressed to bear interest from the present time .-
A number of gentlemen inhabitants of Milk street, appeared to state their objections to the regulation lately adopted by the board for placing the wood carts in that street; and to request that some more suitable place should be appropriated for that pur- pose .- A long conversation ensued upon the subject, the objec- tions were heard : & the gentlemen having retired, the subject was referred to a fuller meeting .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen March 27th. 1811. Present Messrs Bulfinch, Porter, Oliver, Hunnewell, May, Wright, Foster, Webb & Weld.
On a representation that certain portions of Deer Island had been swept away by the sea during the past winter, and of the danger to the navigation of the harbour from the alteration of the channel-it was Voted, that Mr Tukesbury be directed to take no more ballast from the Island, nor to suffer any other person to take any, as the board would prosecute any one who should here- after attempt it .-
M' Hunnewell was desired to view the roof of the West School to ascertain what repairs were necessary.
[24.] M' Foster was desired to consult with Mr Bond, who has the care of the old South clock, to determine what repairs were necessary to be made to the dials &c-
The Board met the Trustees of the Franklin donation, received the amounts of Peter Thacher Esq. their Treasurer, which were examined & approved ; M' Thacher having declined serving any
.
11
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1811.
longer in that capacity, Mr William Minot was Chosen Treasurer and Secretary by ballot .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 3ª. 1811. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, May, Foster, Webb & Weld .-
This Meeting was called for the purpose of drawing jurors for the Court of Com. Pleas .-
28 jurors were now drawn for that court & the list delivered to the officer.
adjourned to Wednesday next to supply such deficiencies as may occur.
The Chairman having informed that he had notified a meeting of the new board of Assistant Assessors for Tuesday next-he was desired to request them at that meeting to take immediate measures for obtaining an accurate list of the rateable polls of the inhabitants, for the purpose of ascertaining the number of Repre- sentatives which the Town can constitutionally send to the next General Court and [25.] that the Gentlemen be particularly desired to take the name of every rateable person, as well of minors as of those of full age-with their places of residence- Also that the names of all aliens be taken, and carefully distinguished .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 10th. 1811. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Wright & Weld
Return was made by Messrs. Joshua Ary & Peter Dickerman of the expence of repairing the common sewer in Myrtle Street - the account whereof being duly examined by the Selectmen was by them allowed ; they being informed at the same time that all persons concerned in said drain, had been notified according to law .- & that no objection had been made : Assessment was now made, an order of payment was passed by the Selectmen as follows viz .-
Whereas a drain or common sewer has been laid in Myrtle Street, conformably to the directions of the Selectmen, the whole expence whereof amounts to Sixty three dollars, which expence is to be borne by such persons whose drains enter therein & receive benefit thereby ; Wherefore We the Subscribers, Select- men of the said Town of Boston, certify that having considered the same expence & by whom & in what manner it ought to be paid Do Adjudge [26.] that the same be paid in the proportion following & by the persons hereafter named-viz.
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