Documentary history of Chelsea : including the Boston precincts of Winnisimmet, Rumney Marsh, and Pullen Point, 1624-1824, vol 2, Part 16

Author: Chamberlain, Mellen, 1821-1900; Watts, Jenny C. (Jenny Chamberlain); Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918; Massachusetts Historical Society
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Boston : Printed for the Massachusetts Historical Society
Number of Pages: 832


USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Chelsea > Documentary history of Chelsea : including the Boston precincts of Winnisimmet, Rumney Marsh, and Pullen Point, 1624-1824, vol 2 > Part 16


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July 28. 1735. To Capt Armitage for Money advanc'd to Capt. N. Oliver in part for Repairing the High Way


at Rumney Marsh .


20"-"


To Capt Nath . Oliver in pt towards Ditto 30 "- 66


1735 Nov 24 To Capt Oliver in part towards Ditto 20 " -


1736/7 March 9 Cash £20 20 "-


£90"- -"-]


11 Selectmen's Minutes, 1736-1742, ibid., xv. 74. [See infra, p. 171.]


72 Ibid., 75. [See infra, p. 171.]


73 Ibid., 78. [ See infra, p. 174, the petition of Captain Oliver.]


155


CHAP. XXV] HIGHWAYS, TOWN WAYS, AND BRIDGES


ing that Work, and in Enlarging the Road, on the north side of the County Bridge so Called, at least Four feet in Wedth, which is greatly for The Service and Accomodation of the Town, and without which allowance (as he says) he shall be a great Sufferer.


" The Select men having Maturely Considered Capt. Olivers Memorial, and made Enquiry into that affair and it appearing to them, that One Hundred and Twenty Pounds is not an Adequate recompence for the said Work: Therefore,


" Voted, That the further Sum of Twenty Pounds be allowed and Paid ont of the Town Treasury to Capt. Nathanael Oliver, in full for that Work Upon his performing the Conditions men- tioned in the fore recited Vote, past the 26th. of September last." 74


1737, November 7. " Voted, That the Hon. John Jeffries Esqr., Capt. Armitage, and mr. Hutchinson be a Committee to wait upon John Read Esqr. to advize with him on the Affair depending with Capt. Oliver relating to the New road or Causey in Rumney Marsh, That they inform him of the State of the Case, and desire him to prepare the Draft of a proper Instrument for Capt. Oliver and his Son to Sign, whereby to Convey and Confirm the said High Way to the Town &c. as soon as may be. And that the Town Clerk be directed to write a Letter to Capt. Oliver to Inform him that the Select men cannot get ready to Attend him on Wednesday next According to Appointment, and therefore to desire him to defer his coming to Town upon that Affair till Wednesday the 16th. instant." 75


1737, November 28. " Mr. Jacob Hasey presented an Accot. amounting to the Sum of £20. 11. 6. for mending High Ways at Rumney Marsh. 76


" Voted, That Capt. Armitage and Capt. Lyman be a Committee to go to Romney Marsh and View the said High Ways, and Report thereon before the next Draft Day." 77


14 Selectmen's Minutes, 1736-1742, Boston Rec. Com. Rep., xv. 79.


75 Ibid., 80. [In the bill of John Savell is the following item: November 28, 1737. "To eash to Capt Armitage pd Mr Boydel for Searchz Col. Paige's Will -2 sh." In the bill of Samuel Gerrish of December 20, 1737, are the items:


" To Drawing a Deed for the New Road at Rumney Marsh, for Capt Oliver to sign, # order 10s. To Copying a Deed for the same drafted by John Read Esqr 10g To Writing a Letter to Capt. Oliver, # order 3%. Other charges appear in later accounts. (Town Papers in the Office of the City Registrar, Boston. ) Read's draft of a deed is filed in the City Clerk's office; the consideration mentioned was £140.]


78 [Infra, pp. 171, 172.]


17 Selectmen's Minutes, 1736-1742, Boston Rec. Com. Rep., xv. S5.


156


HISTORY OF CHELSEA


[CHAP. XXV


1737, December 26. " Whereas Capt. Nathanael Oliver has this Day presented a Deed or Instrument in Writing to Confirm the New road or Causey which he has lately made thro' some part of his Farm, in Rumney Marsh to the Select men, for a Publick High Way &c.


" Voted, That the Sum of Fifty Pounds be drawn upon the Town Treasury payable to Capt. Nathanael Oliver, in full Con- sideration of his time and expences in making the said Causey &c. Agreeable to the Votes of the Select men, as Entred the 26th. of September and 2d. of November last past Which Sum together with ninety Pounds before paid him, Amounts to One Hundred and Forty Pounds for the whole or that Work." 18


1739, April 4. " Messrs. Brintnall, Cheever, and Pratt, three of the Select men of the Town of Chelsea, late the District of Rumney Marsh appearing - Represented that their High Ways and Bridges are much out of Repair, and that they Apprehend, as they are Obliged to pay the Rates and Taxes Assessed on them for the Year 1738. to the Town of Boston, so the Necessary Repair of their High Ways and Bridges for the year 1738 ought also to be borne by the Town of Boston, and their Poor provided for, thro' the Year - And that the Salary of their School Master ought to be paid by the Town of Boston to the 21st. of March last past.79


I am not able to state the result of the representation made above.80 There was doubtless a certain equity in such a claim, though not much legality, and that was the whole consideration upon which Boston could have voted money to repair roads for another town. The extracts I have made from the records on the subject of roads are not, I am aware, very entertaining reading; but I have not felt at liberty to withhold them. They serve to show, as nothing else will, something of the labor entailed upon the inhabitants of a new country to secure those conveniences which seem so simple to us. Nature in our cli- mate is inevitably exacting. Roads must be made ; but the soil was stubborn for being moulded into suitable road-beds, where,


18 Selectmen's Minutes, 1736-1742, ibid., xv. 91. [Sec Suff. Deeds, L. 53, f. 207, for deed, December 20, 1737, from Nathanael Oliver, gentleman, Martha his wife, and Nathanael Oliver, Jr., their eldest son and heir apparent. John Savell in a bill rendered January 30, 1737/8, charged:


" To Sending Letter & deed to Capt. Oliver Rumly marsh . . . 6sh."]


79 Selectmen's Minutes, 1736-1742, ibid., xv. 170, 171.


80 [April 11, the selectmen voted to pay the schoolmaster; apparently


they did nothing as to the highways. Ibid., 172, 173.]


157


CHAP. XXV] HIGHWAYS, TOWN WAYS, AND BRIDGES


as in Chelsea, they umst wind around the sides of the hills, above the marshes, and generally require deep excavations into them. Those who see Washington Avenue to-day, - broad, and presenting no formidable grades, -can have no exact idea of the same road as it was thirty years ago, when it was a narrow road-bed climbing the sontherly slope of Pow- der Horn Hill, or of the cost of putting it into its present condi- tion. The marsh and low lands through which the road ran to Sangus presented equal, though different, difficulties, as is scen by the town votes respecting it.


Following the plan I have adopted, I shall continue to pre- sent such items from the town and other records as best show the labor and cost to our ancestors in building and maintaining roads aud bridges. 81


1755, May 12. " Agreed. .. . That ye Surveyor at Shirley point viz! Cap1. Moses Bennett shall mend the Roads from ye North part of Winthrops Great head to Mr. John Tuttles Upland. - That Daniel Watts Surveyor shall mend ye Roads from Win- nisimit eastward thro L'. Cheevers woods to ye beach agt. Jn? Tuttles. That Daniel Pratt mend from ye parting of ye Road Northward to Brides brook, also throb Capt. Olivers Farm South- ward to ye School house including a pss of way near Deacon Duglass. . . . " 82


1760, March 10. " Voted to accept of the Select mens Report Respecting a Rhoad through ME James Bowdins Farm and s? Report to be Recorded.


" The Seleetmen have Carefully lookd over the Farm of James Bowdoin Esq! occupied by mr Hugh Floyd in Order to lay out an Highway Thro said Farm to Point Shirley and as mr Bowdoin has maid an offer to make the said way good at his own Expence Provided the Town Consents to let it go by the Farm house upon the Line the Highway formerly run to Point Shirley Gate - The Select men are of Oppinion that the Highway run npon that Line Provided m! Bowdoin Comply with his offer in makeing it a good way such as shall be approv'd of by the Select men." Signed by Thomas Goldthwait, Nathan Cheever, Benjamin Brintnall and Daniel Pratt, selectmen, March 6, 1760.83


1778, May 29. " Voted that the Town's plow be kept for the


81 [Sce infra, pp. 167-172, the cost of repairs. ]


82 Rec. of Seleetmen of Chelsea, p. 40.


83 Town Ree. of Chelsea. [Supra, vol. i., p. 266.]


158


HISTORY OF CHELSEA


[CHAP. XXV


Towns use on the highways and no other ways; and that the Sur- veyors have the Care of [it. ]" 84 October 16, 1782. "Voted to Sell the Towns plow at publick vendue this evening." It was " struck of to Capt Stowers for 228 "> 85


In connection with the highways it may be said that it was the custom, as voted March 12, 1781, and other years, " to Let Hogs go at Large till the first Day of augt then Shut up till the midle of october "; in 1782 until November 1. March 8, 1784, it was voted that hogs might go at large till August first, " they being Lawfully yoked and Ringed." But in 1802 it was voted that " the Swine shall be keept up the whole year." 86


1782, March 14. "Voted that thirty pounds be raised for mending high ways this year ; that five shillings a day for a man, & Six shillings for an able Team be allowed; that the high ways be mended by days work this year as usual, . .. that the high way rate be workt out by the Last of July, & they that dont work out the above said rate after Legal warning shall be put in the next Tax & Collected as other town Taxes." 87


1782, March 21. " Voted to allow Mr Wm: Watts 88 Liberty to hang a gate on the road between Mr. Shute & himself for one year; to allow those men, out of the high way rate, that makes the wall upon Esqr Cheever's Line by the meeting house,89 he giving two yards upon each elbow of the wall & finding the materials upon the Spot."


1782, July 22. " Voted to allow Capt Sam1 Clark to turn the road from Fevers Orchard so Called to the town road Leading to winissimet, he making a good bridge & four rods of Causeway on the Low Land at his own Charge, & Leaving the old road open till the new one is Compleated."


1784, January 15. " Voted that Pulling point and pleasant point people Shall have Liberty to work out that part of their high way Rates (that is not as yet worked out) early next Spring."


1786, May 8. " Voted to allow Messrs : Hugh Floyd Sen" Joseph Green & Joseph Hasey Liberty to work out their Highway Rate


84 Town Ree. of Chelsea.


85 Ibid.


86 Ibid., 62, 70, 89, 94, 182, 190, ete.


87 Ibid. [Unless otherwise stated the votes which follow are from the Chelsea Town Records.]


88 [Vol. i. p. 224. This gate was hung on the road between the meeting- house and the beach.]


80 [Vol. i. pp. 216-218.]


159


CHAP. XXV] HIGHWAYS, TOWN WAYS, AND BRIDGES


in the Lane Leading from sd Greens House 90 to the Town Road by ME Lows, they being under the Inspection of a Surveyor."


1786, June 19. " At a Town meeting Legally assembled at the meeting House in Chelsea on monday 19th Day of June 1786, to See what the Town will do respecting the Bridge being made from Penny ferry over to Charlestown, or wether they will do any thing to prevent it, Voted Capt Sam Sargcant moderator Voted to accept the Petition Revd Mr Payson read to send to the Court 91 Voted Revd Mr Payson Capt Sam1 Sargeant Capt James Stower as a Committee to attend the petition to the Court. Voted to adjourn without Day."


1788, August 6. " Voted Mr Jesse Upham & Capt James Stower a Committee with the Select men to wait upon the Committee of the Court of Sessions the 12 instant respecting Mr Wm Bord- mans 92 request for Laying out a Road at the upper end of the Town; that this Committee have power to employ an Attorney if they think proper to speak in the Towns behalf."


1790, May 10. " Voted that Messrs Joseph Green and Joseph Hasey be allowed to work out their highway tax on the Road leading from sd Green house to the Town Road, their being under the Direction of the Suveayer and to work out their Rate in the Time allowed the Inhabiteants of the Town."


The following entry indicates the earliest movement, so far as I have noticed, to build a bridge from Winnisimmet to Charlestown.


At a meeting of the Inhibitants of the Town of Chelsea on Feby th3 1796 to see if the Town will take any Measure to obtain a Bridge over Mistick river from Chelsea to Charlstown point . . . The form of a petition to be preferred to the General Court Being rcad which was as followeth Viz!


To the Honble the Senate and House of representatives in General Court assembled -


The Inhabitants of Chelsea in the County of Suffolk in Town meeting Leagaly assembled this third Day of Febury 1796 Re- spectfully represent that a Bridge from Chelsea to the east point of Charlstown would be of great publick Conve [n]ance and utility an [d] especially to the Inhibitants of the extreme and populous


00 [Approximately Winthrop Avenue. Vol. i. pp. 237, 239, 246; also plan of the line of the Eastern Railroad.]


01 [See infra, pp. 174-176.]


92 [Vol. i. pp. 270-275. From a vote of the town of Chelsea, October 4, 1790, it is evident that the road was laid out. ]


160


HISTORY OF CHELSEA


ICHAP. XXV


Teritories lying Northeastorly & easterly of the Metropolus. It is a fact Demonstrated by actual admeasurement that from the Great Estern road throgh Chelsea Begining near a small house Called Black Anus and passing the most Convenient rout to Mistick river and from thence by a Bridge to Charlstown point & Charles river Bridge their is a saving of two miles nearly Compared with the rout over Malden Bridge Which is of great importance when the numbers who Travail or labour on this road to go | to] & from Boston are Considered as losing so much time A Bridge at the place now proposed which is remarkeble sutable and secure as it respects nature of the Bottom was earnestly Desiered at the time of the Grant of Malden Bridge but the affair was not then pursued from an apprehension that the Travailling would not Support two Bridges These apprehensions are now removed and Con- sidering the Extensive nature of the Grant to the proprioiters of Malden Bridge and their great profit upon their undertaking which are known to have acerued already, to them it is presumed that they will not when so fully Compensated, oppose the prose- eution of the Design The Grant of Malden Bridge has taken from this Town all the Advantages they before injoyed as a princaple evenue to Boston by means of their Ferry and which the little De- mand their is for it is Very much neglected, this situation beeomes more irksome and Disagreable, as the inhibitants have oeeasion to Contemplat the Advantages which the aid of Goverment adminis- tered to other places. It being assartained to this Town that Indi- videels of Suffieernt Ablilitys are Diseirous to build at their own expense and resque a suitable Bridge to accomadate Traivlling from Chelsea to Charlstown point if leave their for may be obtained from the Legeslature with reasonable allowanee tolls and an incorpora- tion for the Security of their property - and this Town freely de- claring their Consent to any alteration of the Publick roads that be found neccessary to shorten the Distance Respectfully pray this Honble Court that an aet of incorporation under Sufficeant regula- tions and reasonable and allowanee may be grainted to Sam1 Cary Aaron Dexter Sam1 Danforth Aaron Putnam Joseph Russell Abijah Hastings Joseph Green James Floyd Jn" John Sale Jnr James Stowers Andrew Leaeh Daniel Moson and their associates and they have leave to Build a Bridge over Mistiek river from Chelsea to Charlstown point in the place that shall be found most Convenant.93 -


93 [February 11, 1796, a petition for incorporation from Samuel Dan- forth, Aaron Dexter, Daniel Mason, Joseph Russell, Jr., Thomas L. Win- throp, and Aaron Putnam was read in the House of Representatives.


161


CHAP. XXVI HIGHWAYS, TOWN WAYS, AND BRIDGES


At meeting of the Inhibatants of the Town of Chelsea Leagally assembled on Feby th3 1796 Voted and agreed to the foregoing petition then Voted to adjurn this meeting without Day


A true Copy attest


Abijah Hastings Town Clerk A


1796, April 4 .. " Mr Joseph Green & m' Eben" Butman have leave to work out their high way tax on the road leading from in" Greens to the town road Except their proportion of theirty pounds Raised for Extrodanary use."


In October, 1799, the town passed several votes respecting agreements with Malden, for the repair of the " County Bridge " between the two towns.95


1801, April 6. " Voted That the town do not object to the turnpike road from Salem to Boston, the Proprietors of said road making good to the town & individuals, all damages sustained by said turnpike road Provided also that the inhabitents of the town have Liberty to use the same within the Limitts of s? town free from Any Expence. . . . The Selectmen with Henery H Wil- liams & Sammel Cary Esq! be a Committee, to treat with; inform and enquire of, the Committee for the above turnpike road."


1801, May 13. [The town ] accepted the report of the referees, William Sherburn, Elisha Sigourney, and Joseph Barrett, on the subject of a road newly laid out. They reported that they had " heard the parties fully on the sub- jeet of dispute and after mature consideration " they were " of Opinion that the town of Chelsea ought to pay M" Ezekiel


They wished to build a " Bridge over Mystic River from the East Point of Charlestown, called Moulton's Point, to Chelsea Shore near Winisimett Ferry-Way." February 25, a hearing was appointed for the May court. The project was opposed by the proprietors of Malden Bridge, and by Ilenry Howell Williams, proprietor of Winnisimmet Ferry. June 17, 1796, the matter was referred to the second Wednesday of the next session, but was not called up on that date. Mass. Archives, Senate Doc. No. 2123.1


Chelsea Town Ree. Chelsea Bridge " was built across Mistiek river in 1803, abont a mile below Malden bridge. It is longer, but of the same width, has two draws, and is accommodated with lamps. It cost 53,000 dollars which is held in 2,400 shares, half of which are the property of the Malden Bridge Corporation. It reverts to the Commonwealth in 70 years. The President is Hon. Nathan Dane of Beverly." 2 Coll. Mass. llist. Soc., ii. 171 note. [Mass. Acts and Resolves, 1800-180], p. 355; also Mass. Archives, papers filed with chap. 63 of Aets of 1801.] 95 [ See also Corey, Malden, 455.]


VOL. II .- 11


162


HISTORY OF CHELSEA


[CHAP. XXV


Cheever " seventy dollars and Mr. Ebenezer Herring fifty dollars " in full of all damages Accrueing to [them] by the laying out the Road; " and " that the town ought to pay the charge of this Reference being fifteen Dollars."


SALEM TURNPIKE


1801, October 12. " That the Committee Chosen April 6th 1801 Respecting the Turnpike Road & Bridge Between Salem & Boston be desired to Attend on sd business at the next session of the Gen! Court, Agreeable to the Vote of the town April 6th 1801."


List of Persons whose land was taken for Salem Turnpike, as laid out by the Committee appointed by the Court of General Sessions of the Peace for Suffolk County, March 28, 1803. Said road was laid out as follows: viz, over the Rivers, four rods on each side of the staked line; over the marshes, forty-two feet on the southeast side and ninety fcet on the northwest side; and over the upland four rods wide, that is, two rods on each side of the line; and over the marsh and creek near Cheever's brickyard, eight rods wide, to wit, six rods on the southcast side, and two rods on the northwest side of the staked line. John H. Proctor, of Revere, has a copy of the plan as laid out.96


The following are the names of the proprietors in Chelsea and Reverc, whose lands were taken, and the distances through each ; [also the damages assessed].97


Harvard College 54 poles from River and County of Essex $54.00


Samuel Sargent


10 poles 9 links - a small River 20.00


Nailor Hatch 37 12 75.00


Danl Green 43 66 85.00


Daniel Pratt


1.50


Samuel Sewall 44 66


6 marsh


1.01


66 88 upland 270.00


Heirs of Rev. Phillips Payson ( Payson's Hill) and crossing the Town Road -96 Poles


900.75


Heirs of Rev. Phillips Payson 16 poles 8 links


[The plan was filed at Salem Court.]


"7 [In answer to a petition presented by Nathan Dane, agent of the proprietors of the Salem Turnpike, etc., at the July term of court, 1802, the Court of General Sessions of the Peace for Suffolk County appointed a committee of five, - four residents of Boston and Abijah Hastings of Chelsea, - to lay out the road and assess damages. Their report was accepted by the court May 9, 1803, and recorded in its book of records, now in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of Suffolk County.]


CHAP. XXV] IHIGHWAYS, TOWN WAYS, AND BRIDGES


163


James Stowers


134 poles 9 links


300.00


Abigail Low


18


2


146.00


Rev. Win. Greenough & others


16


48.75


William Cheever


21


"


10


161.37


Dea. Joshua Cheever


21


10


to the road)


352.00


Samuel Cary


125


3


Powder Horn Hill)


1000.00


Samuel Cary


70


8


Thos Dawes


53


66 20


to the road


189.00


Ilenry H. Williams


130


8


to the road


600.00


11. 11. Williams


34


6


through his stable


Dr. A. Dexter


34


6


to his gate


.10


4203.48


1803, January 17. " That a draw in the Bridge that is to be erected by the proprietors of the Salem turnpike over the river between the towns of Lynn and Chelsea would be of publick utillity," and that Mr. Jonathan P. Hall " petition the General Court to obtain said Draw." 98


1804, January 23. David Floyd and Samuel Low were chosen a committee to oppose "a road contemplated by Richard Shute of Lynn & others leading to the Westward of Boyintons Hill so eall'd." Also chose Dr. Jonathan P. Hall, Joseph Stowers and Josiah Bachelder to act for the town in any business regarding the Newbury Turnpike road, leading from Newbury to Boston, "as yet in an uncertain direction." 99


1805, June 13. Voted "not to discontinue the road leading from Mrs Williams land to Doer Dexters Gate as requested by the


08 [January 25, 1803, Bernard Green and Thomas Hunt in behalf of Malden, and Jonathan P. Hall for Chelsea petitioned for a draw in the bridge over the " large and navigable river, which divides the towns of Lynn and Chelsea." March 2, 1803, the committee to whom the petition was referred "report that the Petitioners have leave to withdraw their Petition." Mass. Archives, Senate Doe., No. 3030.]


[In January, 1804, the Newburyport Turnpike Corporation petitioned the General Court for permission to build the road to Malden instead of to Chelsea Bridge. Owing to a request for a new bridge over Charles River, action was deferred until February, 1805, when a committee was appointed to view the ground. It reported March 1, " that the difference in distance on an Air line " from the point to which the road was then completed, Rand's corner, was fourteen rods in favor of Chelsea Bridge, but " con- sidering the Nature of the Ground " they thought a better and shorter road could be built with less expense to Malden than to Chelsea Bridge. Permission was given. Mass. Archives, papers filed with chap. 86 of Aets of 1804.]


6


8


2


90


23


66


62


Sam. Cary


39


marsh


"


164


IHISTORY OF CHELSEA


[CHAP. XXV


Directors of Salem Turnpike & Chelsea Bridge." Nathaniel Hall, Samuel Low, and Joseph Stowers were chosen a committee " to act respecting a Petition of the Salem Turnpike road & Chel- sea Bridge Corporation for moving their Turnpike Gate on to said Bridge," for opposing said petition.100


1806, May 5. An article in the warrant for the meeting was: " To see if the Town will permit Wilm Hall and Others to work on the Highways near Chelsea Bridge & erect Guide Post near the same under the direction of a Surveyor free of expence to the Town."


Voted that he should not have liberty to do this.


1816, May 6. Voted to oppose Ebenezer Breed's petition to the General Court for a bridge from Hog Island to Mrs. Cary's farm in Chelsca.101


1822, March 16. The town raised the question whether the passage through " Breeds Bridge (so called) " could be " enlarged, and made more convenient for Vessels."


1824, April 5. " Voted That the Town purchase a Vessel load of wood & prosecute John Breed for all damage & cost by deten- tion in passing his Bridge, in bringing the same to the Towns landing, he first being notified of the same."


1827, May 7. " Voted, That the Towns Representative advo- cate the cause of the Charlestown free Bridge."


100 [William Gray et al., Proprietors of Salem Turnpike and Chelsea Bridge, explaining that by their act of incorporation they eould place but one toll-gate between Breed's Island in Lynn and Mystic River, and that at present teams cvaded the toll by slipping round the toll-house on the old road, petitioned the General Court for permission to move the toll- gate to the eastern draw of the bridge. By order of the Court a hearing was appointed for June 13. A joint committee of the two houses advised that the petitioners have leave to withdraw their petition, but the Sen- ate did not accept the report. Twice permission was given to bring in a bill, but in both cases consideration was postponed. (Mass. Archives, House Docs., 5642, 5643, 5829, 5858; House Journal, May 30, June 8, 1805; March 8, June 19, 20, 1806; Feb. 14, 1807; ete.) In 1827, the toll- house stood at the entrance to the bridge just south of Dr. Dexter's gate. Mass. Archives, Maps and Plans, 1826; supra, vol. i. 58, 59; infra, p. 176.] 101 [January 12, 1816, John Breed petitioned the General Court to be allowed to build this bridge, and January 20 the Court, after reference to a committee, ordered a notice of a hearing published. January 27 the selectmen of Chelsea petitioned for a postponement in order that the matter might be placed before a town meeting, as the " Bridge would be nearly a mile below the landing place on said tide waters, where a great quantity of wood is annually landed for the consumption of the inhabitants of said Town & where considerable other business is done." The petition came up a third time in June, 1816, and was granted. Mass. Archives, papers filed with chap. 31 of the Acts of 1816.]




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