USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Andover Massachusetts town meeting records 1656-1709 > Part 9
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0424
At a lawful town meeting on the 6th day of March in the year 1703-4 Lt. John Chandler was chosen moderator for sd meeting.
Mr. Dudley Bradstreet was chose tom clerk for the year ensuing.
Mr. Andrew Peeters, Lt. John Chandler, Sgt. William Lovejoy, Sgt. George Abbott and Mr. Dudley Bradstreet were chosen selectmen for the year ensuing.
John Granger chosen constable for the north end of the town for the year ensuing.
Nehemiah Abbott is chosen constable for the south end of the tom for the year ensuing.
Ensign John Aslbee chosen town treasurer for the year ensuing.
Capt. James Frye, Sgt. Stevens, Sgt. Abbott, Lt. Johnson, Ephraim Foster, William Foster, William Abbott, Dan Poor, Corpl. Benjamin Barker were chosen surveyers for the year ensuing.
James Bridges is chosen surveyer for the year ensuing.
Sgt. Ephraim Stevens is chosen clerk of the market for the year ensuing.
John Farnum Jr., John Johnson Jr., William Chandler and Edward Phelps are chosen tithing men for the year ensuing.
Thomas Johnson Jr. is chosen tithing man for the year ensuing.
Nathaniel Lovejoy and Joshua Stevens are chosen fence viewers for the year ensuing.
Corporal Benjamin Barker is chosen Pound Keeper for the year ensuing.
Upon application of Reverend Mr. Barnard it's voted and passed that the town shall pay to said Mr. Barnard the year next ensuing eight pounds money which is in consideration of his supply of wood for the next year.
John Marston Jr. is chosen grand jury man for the year ensuing.
Voted and passed that the vote of the town on the first day of March 1702-3 empowering the selectmen to levy upon the inhabitants money for defray- ing necessary town charges be - (torn)
0425
24 May 1703 voted that the minutes of our town meeting shall hereafter be entered in our new tom book.
Voted and passed that a handsome piece of black broadcloth be bought for a funeral cloth for the towns use and the payment be made for it out of the town money.
At a lawful town meeting on the 30th day of November 1703, Lt. John Chandler was chosen moderator for sd meeting.
The return of the committee was then read and the settling of the bounds of such lands as could not be found on record, and their return was accepted and justified and ordered to be recorded in our new book of records of land for Andover.
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0426
Confirmed to the present selectmen for this present year.
At a legal tom meeting Monday March 5th 1704-5, Lt. John Osgood was chosen moderator for this meeting.
Copl. Christopher Osgood is chosen town clerk for the year ensuing.
Voted that the selectmen for the year 1704 shall give in their (?) ac- counts to the Town of their disposing of the money put into their hands.
Capt. James Frye, Capt. Christopher Osgood, Lt. George Abbott, Ensign Lovejoy, Nehemiah Abbott are chosen selectmen for the year ensuing.
John Maston and William Foster are chosen constables for the ensuing year.
Lt. John Aslbee is chosen Town treasurer for the year ensuing.
Capt. James Frye, Ens. Ephraim Stevens, Lt. George Abbott, Lt. Tho. Johnson, Ephraim Foster, Sgt. Francis Dane, William Abbott, Daniel Poor, Corpll. Benjamin Barker are chosen surveyers for the ensuing year.
Ens. Ephraim Stevens is chosen clerk of the market for the ensuing year. Lt. George Abbott is chosen leather sealer for the ensuing year.
Corpll. Benjamin Barker is chosen pound keeper for the ensuing year.
John Farnum Jr., John Johnson Jr., William Chandler, Thomas Russ are chosen tithing men for the year ensuing.
Nathaniel Lovejoy and Joshuah Stevens are chosen fence viewers for the ensuing year.
Voted and passed that the 2nd Monday inst. March be appointed for a general town meeting to consult of, and act about, several things that ap- pear to be of concernment for the towns interests as to encroachments of land and other things.
Voted and passed that the vote of the Town on the 1st of March 1702-3 impowering the selectmen to levy upon the inhabitants money for the defray- ing necessary Town charges.
0427
Att a lawfull town meeting the 12th day of March 1704 Capt. John Chandler was chosen Moderator for said meeting.
It was voted and passed that Mr. Barnard in answer to his request to the town in that regard shall have eight pounds in money given him of the town in the lieu of the wood the town was to provide for him which is to be understood for this ensuing year and the payment thereoff to be made the next winter.
Voted and passed that Sgt. John Aslebee and Walter Write, Ensign Ephraim Stevens, John Abbott: Ensign Joseph Ballard be a committee to view and take notice of any incroachments that is made by any person upon the town comon and the return of any three (?) of the five be accounted authentic. They are to take notice of any comon land they find taken in by any particular person and to warne them to remove their prices straight to their proper line forthwith and to make their returne of whate they so find to the town the next General Town Meeting.
Voted and passed that Ensign Joseph Ballard shall have the liberty of the land which his son Hesekiahs shop now stands upon so long as he shall have occassion for a smith's shop to stand there: and after that: the land remaine the towns again.
Granted liberty to Ensign Ephraim Stevens to take in so much of the town's land adjoyning to his own: as to set up a leantow at the end of his Barne: of ten foot wide and liberty therewith to make his yard square with his leantow.
Voted and passed that no rams shall be suffered to go upon the comon with the ewes from the first day of August to the last day of October and whatsoever rams are found contrary to this order within the time abovesaid, the owners of said rams shall pay two shillings per week for every ram so found which shall be payable one halfe to the informers and the other halfe to the Town Treasurer for the use of the Towne.
Granted to Samuel Farnum a stripp of land from the horsbridge on this side his house to the Brooke on the east side of the Brooke: not to damnifye the Roade as it now is nor the privilege of watering at the Brooke for cattle.
Granted liberty to Joseph Robbinson to exchange an acre and a half or nor exceeding two acres of land: he laying it down on Bushill the northwest corner of his land running eastward and to take it up on the outside of our bounds, next to Rowly Line adjoyning to Left John Peabody's land.
0429
Att a lawfull Town Meeting Legally warned by order from the selectmen on the 15 day of October 1705 to consult and agree about the building a New Meeting house.
Left John Aslebee was chosen moderator said meeting - Voted & passed that there shall be one meetinghouse built as may be sufficient and convenient for the whole town as may be.
At a lawfull Town meeting legally warned by order from the selectmen on the 12 day of November 1705. To consult and agree about a New Meeting house and the place where it shall be sett for the best conveniency of the inhab- itants. Capt. John Chandler was chosen Moderator for said meeting.
A vote proposed by the moderator that those that were minded the meeting- house should be set by the Widow Allins should go out at the North Door and those that were minded to have the meetinghouse to be sett in the center of the inhabitants should go out at the South Door.
Accordingly it was voted and passed that the New Meetinghouse that was voted the 15th of October to be built in Andover should be sett for the con- veniency of the Town as near as any place can be found convenient in the center of the inhabitants. Ens. Joseph Ballard, Henry Holt: Sergt. Francis Dane, Quartermaster Moses Tiler, Timothy Osgood: James Bridges are a committee chosen by the Town to compute and find out by measure and number of the inhabitants. The center of the Town, according to the Town vote to set the new Meetinghouse as may be convenient for the inhabitants, and to bring in their report of their doings to the Town at their meeting this day fourthright.
Att a lawfull Town meeting legally warned by order from the selectmen on the 26th of November 1705 to consult and agree of the place & methods for the building a New meetinghouse in Andover. Leiftenant John Osgood was chosen moderator for said meeting and no town business effected but to take in the return of the committee which was that they could not agree.
Att a lawful Town Meeting legally warned by warrant from the selectmen on the 19th of January, 1706/7 farther to consult about the building of a meetinghouse for the inhabitants of Andover according to our former vote. Ensign Ephraim Stevens was chosen moderator for said meeting and no other Tom business effected.
0430
Att a lawful Town Meeting Monday March the 4th 1705/6 Ensign Ephraim Stevens is chosen Moderator for said meeting. Capt. Christopher Osgood was chosen Town Clerk for the insuing year. Capt. James Frye, Capt. Christopher Osgood, Left. John Aslebee, Left. George Abbot, Sergt. Samuel Frye are chosen Selectmen for the year ensuing.
John Farnum Junr. and John Johnson Senr. are chosen constables for the ensuing year: John Johnson for the South end: and John Farnum for the Northend.
Lieft. John Aslebee is chosen Town Treasurer for the year ensuing.
Capt. John Chandler, Capt. James Frye: Ensign Ephraim Stevens: Leift. George Abbott; Sergt. Francis Dane, Sergt. Samuel Osgood; John Carleton; Daniel Poor, Ephraim Foster, James Bridges, are chosen surveyors for the year ensuing.
Joseph Osgood, John Ballard; Ephraim Farnum; Oliver Holt; Srgt. Samuel Osgood are chosen tithing men for the year ensuing.
Joseph Parker Senr. and Nathaniel Lovejoy are chosen fenceviewers for the year ensuing.
Ens. Ephraim Stevens chosen Clerk of the Market for the year ensuing.
Left. George Abbot is chosen Leather Sealer for the year ensuing.
Sergt. Benjamin Barber is chosen pound keeper for the year ensuing.
Voted and passed that the Reverend Mr. Thomas Barnard shall have the usual. sum of money as we have upon his request allowed him a year or two past in the liew of his wood that he shall have the same allowance for this ensuing year.
Voted and passed that John Perkins shall have liberty of exchange of his land that lyes on the right hand of Salem Road about 10 or 12 acres or there- abouts and to be layd out to him again on the east side of the Brook not to prejudice his neighbors.
Sold to Joseph Osgood Ten rods of ground to set a Barn upon to run from his pasture bars towards his other Bars next to his house.
Lieft. John Aslebee: Timothy Osgood; Capt. James Frye are chosen a com- mittee and impowered to settle the line between our bounds and Goodman Willkins his farme and what is thereabouts unsettled.
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0431
Att a lawfull town meeting legally warned and convened together the 17th day of May 1706. Lieft John Aslebe was chosen Moderator for said meeting.
Voted and passed that the selectmen shall have power to agree with a schoolmaster for the year ensuing and go assess upon the inhabitants as the law directs to raise moneys to defray our minister's rates, a schoolmaster's salary and what other necessary charges shall arise for the maintenance of the poor and other necessary charges.
Voted and passed that the twenty-cight acres of land sold to Leift. Joseph Chandler to Ensign William Lovejoy taken out of Benjamin Abbott's land by ex- change with the town for the benefit of the committee and the Iron Works. The said Joseph Chandler shall have that six acres which Ensign Lovejoy hath broken up and cleared laying down all the rest of the twenty-eight acres to the use of the Tom in common for ever. The town adding to his six acres eight acres more of land to joyn on the northerly end. Thereof running down the river, which will make the whole fourteen acres and this shall be ratified and confirmed to the Iron Works and Chandler the ommer thereoff: forever and to be a finall con- clusion, of all controversy that might arise from any grants formerly to said Works and this land to be layd out by the Lolayers: Lieft. George Abbott and Deacon Joseph Stevens, and they to take a quitt claims of Lieft. Chandler of the land granted to the Works excepting the abovesaid six acres brought into improvement.
Att a lawfull Town meeting anually apointed on Monday the 3d day of March 1706/7.
Leift John Aslebe was chosen moderator for said meeting. Capt. Christopher Osgood was chosen Town Clerk for the ensuing year. Capt. Christopher Osgood: Capt. James Frye, Leift John Aslebee, Leift. George Abbott: Sergt. James Frye are chosen selectmen for the year ensuing.
Corpll. John Frye: and Joseph Lovejoy are chosen Constables for the year ensuing. Mr. Andrew Peeters is chosen Town Treasurer for the year ensuing.
Capt. John Chandler: Quartermaster Moses Tiler: Lieft. George Abbott, Sergt. Francis Dane, Sergt. Samuel Osgood: John Carleton: Sergt. William Chandler, John Maston, Jonathan Blanchard, James Ingalls, Daniell Poor: are chosen sur- veyors for the year ensuing.
Nathan Abbott: William Blunt Junr: Henry Holt, Junr .: Sergt. Samuel Osgood, Corpll. John Chandler: George Abbott Junr., are chosen tithing men for the year ensuing.
Joseph Parker Senr., Nathaniel Lovejoy are chosen fenceviewers for the year ensuing.
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0432
Ensign Ephraim Stevens is chosen Clerke of the Market for the year ensuing.
Leift. George Abbott is chosen Leather Sealer for the year ensuing. Sargt. Benjamin Barker is chosen pound keeper for the ensuing year.
Voted that the Reverend Mr. Thomas Barnard shall have eight pounds in money payed him out of ye Town Treasury in the lieu of his wood.
Sold to Joseph Parker thirty rods of Land not exceeding forty: Lying on the southwest side of his own meadow below Ephraim Maston's house not damifying any way he paying to the town in money at our usuall price.
Granted Liberty to Capt. John Chandler to exchange two acres not exceeding three: he laying it down at the west end of his land at his son Zebedians: and taking it up again part of it between the swamp and his house: and part at the east end of his land: To be done by the lottlayers.
This Grant
and entered on the other side those being men- tioned in it
( Granted to Leift. John Aslebe a slip of land not exceeding an acre and (a quarter at the most, he not to prejudice the high way that is to be al- is allowed (lowed through it forever. The said Leift. Aslebe to maintain convenient (gates or draw bars to said way which land is to be in full satisfaction for (his service as Town Treasurer for 3 years, he served he also promiseth that (if the neighborhood will not comply hearwith to revoke said land again re- ( turning to the Town: the land is on the Northside of Samuel Hutchison's land (joining to the mill River.
Granted liberty to Richard Barker Senr. to exchange with the Town six acres of land he laying it down at the upper end of ye woolfe swamp the land that was formerly improved, he taking it up again between his pond ground and Jacob Marstons on ye (?) and of ye way. Done by the lottlayers.
0433
Granted to Leift. John Aslebe a slipp of land about one acre or not ex- ceeding an acre and a quarter lying on ye northside of Samuel Hutchisons barn on ye westerly side of ye land of Sergt Benjamine Barker down to ye old sluice. Leaving to Sargt Barker and his heirs forever, a liberty of a way through said land by gates or draw bars for to cart his hay from his meadow.
Att a lawfull town meeting legally warned by order of ye selectmen on Mon- day the 12th of May 1707 Leift John Osgood was chosen moderator for said meet- ing.
Voted and passed that the vote passed in a town meeting in March the 1st 1702/3 for the impowering the selectmen to assess on the inhabitants moneys for the defraying the ministers rates, a schoolmasters sallary and other nec- essary charges in ye tom. That siad vote is now revived for the ensuing year and also the selectmen are chosen assessors for collection of the country tax.
Att a lawfull town meeting legally warned by order from the selectmen the 26th day of May 1707. Capt. John Chandler was chosen moderator for said meet- ing.
Voted and passed that the return made of the line run by the artist Leift Burnett of Reading by which he found by measure that the center of the inhab- itants was in Abraham Fosters Junr; Lott near his house that this place is ac- cepted as the center or near thereabouts .
Voted and passed that meeting house be built for the inhabitants of Andover of these following dimensions viz. of sixty foot long and fourty two foot wide and twenty foot studd and with a flatt roofe.
Voted and passed that Capt. John Chandler, Leift George Abbott: Sargt Samuel Frye, Ensign William Lovejoy, Quartermaster Moses Tilor be a committee to agree with.
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0434
Voted and passed that ye selectmen shall be hereby impowered from the Town: to take care for the Reverend Mr. Barnards: settlement in some con- venient house for the present supply till a house can be built for him.
Att a lawfull tom meeting legally warned by order from the selectmen the 2d day of July 1707.
Leift John Osgood was chosen Moderator for said meeting.
Voted and passed that there shall be some convenient fortification made with boards and timber about the house where the Reverend Mr. Barnard is for the present shrowded - and that the said stuffe used about said worke. Shall be taken away againe for the Towne use as they shall after (?) see ocasion and that a committee be chosen ande appointed to see the said matter speedily effected for Mr. Barnard security and convenience. The committee chosen to see the above said worke effected are Timothy Osgood, Coronett Stevens, Richard Barker; The committee are also to take care in procuring boards that they may be such. That may be suitable to improve afterwards in the building of a house for Mr. Barnard.
Att a lawfull town meeting legally warned by order of the select men the 9th day of September 1707. Capt. John Chandler was chosen moderator for said meeting.
Voted and passed that the New Meeting House that was voted to be built for the whole town of Andover that it shall be sett upon the spott of ground near the tree called Holts free, where the cross paths meet as the southwest corner of George Abbotts ground.
Voted & passed that the tom will be at the expense of 40 or 50 shillings if it be needfull to the repayring and mending the roofe and walls of the house Mr. Barnard is now resident in and that there may be (?) improved to prepayr the wall of said house.
Ensign Lovejoy and Walter Write are chosen to be added to the former committee chosen and appointed to take care for the making a fortification about the house where Mr. Barnard is at present settled according what was voted in our former meeting on July the 2nd, 1707:
Voted Liberty that Mr. Barnard may take so many of the brickes that be- longed to his former house to make a chimney in ye Brick house belonging to ye house where he now liveth.
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0435
Att a lawfull Town meeting Legally warned by order from the selectmen on the 27th day of February 1707/3 in obedience to and according to order of the gen'l court to chose a commissioner and trustees to take in the valuation of the state of the Town and to procuring therein as said act directs: Capt. John Chandler was chosen moderator for said meeting.
Capt. Christopher Osgood was chosen commissioner: Capt. John Chandler, Mr. Andrew Peeters, John Abbott, Corpll Nehemiah Abbott, Ephraim Foster are chosen for Trustees for the management of said affair.
By warrant from the selectmen in warning of said meeting there was also orders given in said warrant thatt tryall might be made in ye town meeting to recondite our long diserened if it be possible by a regular vote of such persons as are quallified for voting as the Law directs accordingly. The matter was offered to the Town and an- other wote past in upon the former spot viz - that the new meeting house should be set at that place commonly called Holts free, for which vote there was in number (?)
Att our annuall Town meeting for the choyce of town offices on the 1st day of March in the year 1707/8 M(?) Ephraim Stevens was chosen moderator for said meeting.
Capt. Christopher Osgood was chosen Town Clerk for the year ensuing.
Capt. Christopher Osgood, Capt. John Chandler, Srgt. Samuel Frye, Leift. George Abbott, Sargt Francis Dane are chosen selectmen for the ensuing year.
Steven Barker and Nathaniel Abbott are chosen constables for the ensuing year.
James Ingalls, Abraham Foster, Sergt John Ballard, Stephen Osgood, Sargt Hooker Osgood, Quartermaster Moses Tiler, Richard Barker Senr., Sargt Samuel Osgood, Sargt. William Chandler, Ephraim Foster are chosen surveyors for highways for the year en- suing.
Mr. Andrew Peters is chosen Town Treasurer for the year ensuing.
Thomas Austin, Timothy Johnson, Christopher Lovejoy, James Russ, John Marston, are chosen tything men for the year ensuing.
Ensign Ephraim Stevens is chosen clerk of the market for the year ensuing.
Joseph Parker and Nathaniel Lovejoy are chosen fenceviewers for the ensuing year.
Leift George Abbott is chosen Leather Sealer for the year ensuing.
Sargt. Benjamin Barker is chosen pound keeper for the insuing year.
Voted to give Mr. Barnett upon his desire eight pounds money in ye lieu of his wood for ye year ensuing.
Granted an exchange of two acres of land to Samuel Smith of some land he is willing to Lay down to accommodate the conveniency of the road to Salem which land he is to take up on the end of his land cross the Brook.
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0436
Sold to William Barker Senr. two acres of land joyning to Rowley Line on the west side of his land he bought of Sampson how he paying to the form thirty shillings per acre for said land the next Michlemas said land is for his conveniency of building and in case he build not upon it he is to return it to the Town again.
Sold to Sargt Samuel Frye half an acre of land on the east side of his land by his son Ebenezer's house, he paying to the Town after the rate of thirty shillings an acre for said land, Exchanged with Joseph Parker Senr. two acres of land he laying down tro acres of his land at the place called Fosters Hedg(?) as hedg(?) goe to the great pond and he is to take it up by the old Claymitts on the right hand of the way to Timothy Johnsons by the side of Wier hill.
Sold to Thomas Abbott Junr. half an acre of land for his conveniency to sett a dwelling house upon which land is to be layd out to him at the East end of his barne joyning to his pasture: for which he is to pay to the Town fifteen shillings in money the next Michlemas ensuing.
Att a lawfull Town Meeting of the regular Voters in town affairs, Legally warned by order & warrant from the selectmen in order to determine our long difference about the spott to sett our new Meeting House, convened on the 12 day of October 1708. Capt. John Chandler was chosen moderator for said meeting.
It was voted and passed that the New Meeting house which shall be built for the inhabitants of Andover shall be sett att the spott commonly called Holt's tree where it was formerly voted where the cross paths meet on the southwest corner of Leift George Abbottsland. The number of votes was eighty eight: and the lossing vote was number 29.
Voted and passed that the New Meeting house shall be built according to these dimensions following viz. fifty-six foot long and fifty-foot wide and twenty-two foot studds and with a square roofe without Dormers with two Lucoms on each side.
The Town meeting was then by the Moderator adjourned to the next Friday at noon which will be the 15th day current that then the Town might chose a committee to carry on the measure of the work of ye new Meeting house and also to consult about raising money for said work, and to impower same to take care to repayr our present meetinghouse for our present comfort (?) and also to impower the selectmen to raise money for to de- fray our necessary town charges.
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0437
Therefore to Capt. Christopher Osgood, Clerk for our Town of Andover: We doo desire that you would enter this our decent in our Town book of records as it is written as it is with our names hereunto subscribed-
John Osgood
Samuel Austin Daniel Poore
Richard Barker Senr.
Benjamin Barker
Joseph Emery
Ephraim Stevens Senr.
John Farnum Senr.
Joseph Stevens
Samuel Osgood
Nathan Stevens Senr.
Joseph Parker Junr.
Benjamin Stevens
Timothy Osgood
Moses Tilor
Samuel Marble
Hester Stevens Widow
James Bridges
John Faulkner John Martin Daniel Faulkner
Lawrence Lacy
Ebenezer Stevens
William Barker Senr.
Nathaniel Dane Samuel Ingalls
John Parker Joseph Robbinson John Barker (?) William Barker Junr. John Aslebe John Johnson Junr. Samuel Hutchinson Timothy Johnson Stephen Barker Thomas Abbott
John Farnum Edward Farrington
Dane Robbinson
Samuel Farnum
Joseph Maston
Abraham Foster Senr.
Samuel Stevens John Granger
This is truly entered act of ye original. Delivered to me to enter (Christopher Osgood, Clerk)
(What other business was effected at said (meeting is entered on the other side off (this leaf with this character pointing (to it =
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