Documentary history of Chelsea : including the Boston precincts of Winnisimmet, Rumney Marsh, and Pullen Point, 1624-1824, vol 2, Part 17

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 17


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79


165


CHAP. XXV] HIGHWAYS, TOWN WAYS, AND BRIDGES


CHELSEA BRIDGES


" The Chelsea free bridge, 690 feet long, was constructed across Chelsea Creek by a company incorporated on the twenty-eighth of March, 1834. It extends from the northerly end of Chelsea street in East Boston to a point in Chelsea, formerly a part of the farm of the late Dr. Benjamin Shurtleff, who gave a road through his land for the benefit of free travel. The corporators named in the act were Messrs. Benjamin 'f. Reed, Amos Binney, and John Hen- shaw. The bridge was opened for passengers in October, 1834.192 It was rebuilt in 1818, and on the eleventh of May, 1857, its name was changed to Chelsea street bridge. It is kept in repair by the cities of Boston and Chelsea.


" The East Boston free bridge, now called Meridian street bridge, 1,515 feet long, was built by a company consisting of Messrs. Henry D. Gardiner, Morrill Cole, Watson G. Mayo, and others, who were incorporated on the fifteenth of May, 1855. It was purchased by the city and completed in December, 1856, and extends from the northwest part of East Boston to Pearl street in Chelsea.


" The Chelsea Point bridge, 570 feet in length, was built by a company incorporated on the first of April, 1835, and was opened for travel in the fall of 1839. It crosses a wide erecek which sepa- rates the easterly end of Breed's Island from Pulling Point in the town of Winthrop. The corporators were Messrs. Joseph Burrill, Joseph Belcher, and John W. Tewksbury. The city was authorized, by an act passed on the seventeenth of April, 18-19, to purchase this bridge, and on the first of July, 1850, it was laid out as a highway." 103


102 1835. Letter of Franklin Dexter and others to the Secretary of the Treasury, asking that the Winnisimmet Company might, at its expense, make a continuation of its marginal road, not less than thirty nor more than fifty feet wide, over the beach belonging to the United States [ between Pearl and Shurtleff streets]. This request was accompanied by a plan showing the proposed extension, and the site of the old Shurtleff house and barn, which stood on the Enstis farm. The Secretary, Levi Woodbury, thought that the request should be laid before Congress, and it may have been. 24 Cong. U. S., 1 Sess, House Doe. 18. [Au aet authorizing this road was passed by Congress, and approved by the President July 1, 1836. House Journal, 24 Cong. 1 Sess., p. 1182. This road, the present Marginal Street, extended northward to Chelsea Street bridge. 1


103 Shurtleff, Description of Boston (3d ed.), 427.


166


HISTORY OF CHELSEA


[CHAP. XXV


APPENDIX


[A Gate at Winnisimmet 1


SUFFOLK SS.


To the Honoble the Justices of Her Majties Court of General Sessions of the Peace to be holden at Boston for the sd County by Adjournm! on the last Monday of April Anno Dom 1713 -


The Petition of Edward Watts of Winnissimet within the Town- ship of Boston Jnholder


Sheweth That Whereas there is great Occasion for a Gate upon that part of the Common highway or Road between Your petiti!s house & the Dwelling house of his Neighbour John Brentnal, & there having been One there for above these ffifty years last past, & of great convenience & indeed necessity to your petitioner & no Disservice to the Publick


Your Petitioner therefore prays that he may have leave from this Honoble Court to Erect a Convenient Gate at the usual place of that Road And your Pet! shall ever pray &c


Edward Watts


Suff. ss. At an Adjournmt of a Court of General Sessions of the Peace holden at Boston on the Last Monday of April 1713.


Ordered That the abovenamed John Brentnal be Notifyed to At- tend the Court now sitting this day to shew Cause (if any he have) why the prayer of the Petition should not be granted


Attest! A Davenport Cler.


Suffolk ss : -


At an Adjournment of a Court of Gen! Sessions of the peace holden at Boston April 27 . 1713 . The Honoble Penn Townsend Thomas Palmer Nicholas Paige and Samuel Lynde Esqrs are appointed a Comittee on the within peti- tion to repair to the place within mentioned to consider what is reasonable to be done in answer thereto, and to make report thereof unto this Court at their next Sessions.


Att! Addington Davenport Cler.


1 Mass. Archives, cxxi. 155.


167


APPENDIX


CHAP. XXV]


Boston 5th May 1713


Persuant to the within Order of the Generall Sessions of ye Peace We the Subscribers met at the House of ME Edward Watts at Winnasimitt, And Upon hearing the Pleas & Aligations of the s! Watts and ME John Brintnell, it was mutually agreed between them that said Watts should make and mentaine a Gate between him & said Brintnell on the Road where it was formerly. And s! Brintnell is to make & mentaine Six Lengths of good Raile ffence from sd Gate to the Scaward And also from s! Gate upward to the Cross ffence which is abone halfe a Rails Length. And the s! Watts is to make & Mentaine Six Lengths more of Good Raile ffence below the sª Brintnells Part to the Seaward. And if here- after it shall be Necessary and Convenient for their Mutuall benifit to make any more ffence to the Seaward, it is agreed the Charge to be born Equally between them, not Exceeding two Lengths of Railes Each. Approved by Us


Suff ss. approved by the Court


and Ordered to be recorded.2


Penn Townsend


Nicho : Paige Tho: Palmer Samuel Lynde


Bills for Repairing the Highways at Rumney Marsh 3


1710


9 ber. Acompt of work don on the Contrey Roade att Rumli


20 to a teme and man


£ - 6-


to 4 men same day att 2s 1 day - 8-


21 to a teme and man : 6s and 4 men 8 - 14 -


to 4d a day for the men a pese for diner - 3- 4


Eres Excepted


£ 1-11 - 4


# Elisha Bennett


1711 The towne of boston is for mending the Contrey Roade att Rumlimars to Elis : Bennett Dr


Agust : 4 to a teme and : 4 men £. . 11


7 br : 4 to a teme and 4 men


11 -


8 br : 9 to a teme and 4 meu


11


: 10 to a teme and 4 men - 11


: 31 to : 5 men and a teme to get the logs that ware drane away by hy tide and mending


- holes 13


9 br : 1 to 2 men laying parte of the briges nen that ) ware roton and drane away by hi tide . 04


to a grote a day for the mens diners 07 08


-


2 Endorsed on side: May 11, 1713.


8 Town Papers at the office of the City Registrar, Boston.


168


HISTORY OF CHELSEA [CHAP. XXV


to timber yoused aboute the briges 12


to my owne time lueking after it Erers excepted Elisha : Bennett


12 -


£04 12 08


Acompt of worke don on the Contry Road betwene Brids Bruck [and] winisimet in the yeare 1712


July the : 4 : to 2 men a day att 2s } day


04


-


the : 24 Febrey 17 13 Erers excepted = Elisha Bennett


April : 1713


Acompt of work don one the Contrey Roade belonging to Boston : att rumlimarsh


the : 9 : a man mending a brig a day : and diner £ - 2- 6 5


May : 4 : 2 men after a greate flod a day


June the : 22 : to 2 men att Brids brok : a day 5


Agust the : 14 : 2 men a day


5


-


8 br : 24 : 2 men a day . 5


: 28 a teme and 5 men : a man with the teme 16 - 6


the : 30 : 6 : men a teme and mnan with it 19


to timber and Plank to mend : 4 briges 16


12


to my Care aboute it Erers excepted £4-06


febry : the : 27 : 1714 Elisha Bennett


Gentelmen J Charge no more by day worke then J giue for my owne labor when J hire men and liekwise for my teme


To the Seleetmen of the town of boostown genttelmen hear is An A true a Compt of what woreke j haue dun in mending of the hywayes nere the meetting hous


P


August 16 1715. to mending of the Caseway and maeking of S p


a new brig and for the timber for the brig in all eoms to 2 - 18 - 0


ditto mor worek dun to mending of the wayes in Cornoll Paige farme by Clap gate along that rode for maeking a Caseway in all Coms to 1- 9- 0


october 3 1715 and for prouishons for the men 0- 5- 0


and for own quart of rum for them 0- 2- 0


4- 14 - 0


And j prey you to alow me this Compt for j haue Charged you the least that j ean so no mor but yours to Command Desember 24, 1715. John Floyd


..


16


10br : 12 : 13 : 2 men a teme and man one of the dayes


. . 14


to : 10 : yong trees split to mend the briges Carting downe to diners of the men : 4d : a day


15


08


to my owne troble . 10


£05 03


Agust the : 7 : to 3 mnen a day 06


7br : 9 : to 2 inen a day 04


the : 10: a teme and man and 2 men 10


Obr : 24 : after the grete tids : 5 men a teme and man ..


16


the 25 : 5 men a teme and man


-


--


CHAP. XXVI


APPENDIX


109


£ & d


the town of booston is dd nuto hugh floyd for worek dun in mending of The by ways for Thnber and carting of the


same for macking of a new brige neer the metting house To thre hand own day for the macking of the brige


00-16 - 0 0- 9- 0


to Tu teems own day to Carting of stoons and grueall for to mend the ways 0-12- 0)


to Seuen hands own day


1- 1- 0


mor worcke dun for the mending in Colonuol paige farm neere Clapt gate for timber there 0- 2 - 0


to a teeme own day


0- 6- 0


and for fife hands own day ()-15 - (


to 'I'n hands own day to dig stons ont of the hjways


0- 7- 0


more for pronishons for the worekmen and a quarte of Rnm This is a trn acommpt of all the peticklers what j hue dun ginen # me


4- 11 - 0


janarey 13 - 1715/16. Hugh Floyd


1716 The towne of Boston is for worke don one the Contrey Road att Rumli marsh


Dr


May : 16 to a tome and man . to 3 men same day att 2/6 07 0G


to timber yoused at the Brig 03 Agust : 15 a man a day . 02


0G


Januy : 16 : a day att the brig


02


-


March : 17 a day the briges the : 30 a day 02


02


06


Aprill : 18 a man a day 02


02


06


. May the : 12 a man a day to my troble abonte it 05 -


£01 16


Agust : 7 : 1716 to 7 men Clearing the beach going downe to pulin pint att 3s a day being moing time


a botle of Rum one them


01


0G


Erers excepted = Elisha Bennett


01 02 06


October . 1717


An acount of work don upon the hy ways in rumnymach betwen the meating hous and mr. cheuers as followeth mr. John tuttel team too days : 12s. to ten days work too shilings pur day 1-12 - 0


elisha initel too days half a . day 0- 5- 0


nathen chener . 4 . days with a . team six shiling pur day nnd . 5 .days work 1-14 - 0 Jolin floyd . 5 . days with . a . team and ten days work nl at . 2-10 - 0 lace lues . 2 . days half a . day too shiling pur day 0- 5- 0 iacob hacy too day work . 0- 4- 0


willum hacy . a . teame one day 5 days work al at


0-16 - 0


-


£01 01


OG


OG


£- 06


170


HISTORY OF CHELSEA [CHAP. XXV


Jonathan tuttel . a . teame one day one hand one day al at . 0- 8- 0 abraham luis too days half . a . day 0- 5- 0 John Floyd iuner one day . 0- 2- 0


For plank and tember to mak too bridges 0-15 - 0


For one galen rum 0- 4- 0


January : 27 : 1718. by me John Floyd 9- 0- 0


The Town of Boston to Nath! Oliver Dr for work done on the high Ways pr order of ye Selectmn Anno . 1731


June 3₫ On my farm 5 hands . 1 "10".


One teem . -" 3"


4th Six hands £1 " 16. Two Teems 6 . 2" 2"


To digging & earting 21 Load of Stons


5. Five hands 1"10.2 teems 6/ 1"16 "


7. To 6 hands 1" 16. 2 teems 6/ 2" 2"


8. To 7 hands 2 "2.2 teems 6/ 2" 8 "


12" .1 " -


10. On Leivtn Pratts farm


To 7 hands 2 "2.3 teem 9/ . 2 " 11 ".


11. To 7 hands 2 "2 3 teem 9/ 2 " 11 "


5" 2"-


12 On ye Road leading from Leivt Pratts farm to Rumney Marish To 6 hands 1 " 16. 1 teem 3 " 1“.9"-


14. Att Bulls Bridge To 5 hands 1" 10. 1 teem 3/ 1 " 13 "-


15. Att Cow Bridge To 4 hands 1 "4. 1 teem 3/


16. To 5 hands 1" 10. 1 teem 3/ 1 " 13 "-


July . To Sinking 2 Roeks at Danl Watts . -"14"-


To my contriving and superintending ) sd work 7 Days


2" 2"-


26" .1"-


By Cash reed of ye Town Treas! . . -


Ballanee due to N. O. . 6" 1"- -26 ".1"-


The Town of Boston Debtor to me Jacob Hasey for mending the highways in Rumny Marsh. Anno Domini 1733.


£ SD


Novem 27th nine Hands at 4s pr Day and a team at 4 . pr Day . 2.0.0 Deeem. 4th Four Hands at 4 pr . Day and a Team at 4 pr Day . 1.0.0


Sum 3.0.0


my self three Days work at 7/6 1.2.6


£4.2.6


1734 The Town of Boston Dr


Nov : 19 To 17 & 1/2 Dayes a mending the High wayes at Rumney marsh at 4s/ . £ 3:10 :- To a Teem & one hand 16 Dayes & a halfe at 8s/ ₹ Day 6 :12 -


*


CHAP. XXV]


APPENDIX 171


To Digging up two Large Rocks


10 -


To Timber .


£10 :18 :-


To my Selfe 5 Dayes . 8/. 2 :


Nov : ye 25th 1734


£12 : 18


Errors Excepd @ Jacob Hasey


December the 25 1734 The Town of Boston Deter to me for mending the hiways in Rumny-march in Capt oleuers Farm


To : Three hands, with their Teems, at : 88 : pr day 1- 4-0


To five days work and a half at : 48 : pr day 1- 2-0


2 - 6-0


my self three day : at 8/ 1 - 4 - -


Jacob Hasey 3:10


1735 The Town of Boston Dr-


To Tho: Pratt for mending the high wayes in Rumney marsh . Viz


April 4 1 To 40 Dayes work at 7/


£14 : 00:0


to Angt 125 To men & teems 17 Dayes at 12/ £10:04:0


Sep 22 To 20 Dayes at 6/ £ 6:00:0


to ye 27 To men & teems 6 Dayes at 10s/ £ 3:00:0


Oct 3d To 36 Dayes at 5/ £ 9:00:0


to Nov : 24 To men & terms 20 Dayes at. 10s/ £10:00 :-


To a 112 feet of Timber for the Bridges at /5d ₹ foot £ 2:06:8


Boston Feby ye 17th


£54 : 10:8


Errors Excepted Thomas Pratt Surveyor


1737.


The Town of Boston to N. Oliver Dr Sundy pieces of Work pr order of GentIn the Select Men &ca .


April Mended ye Bridge near Grovers 2 hands & a Team)


1 Day


Mended 'ye County Bridge with [ ?] of oak plank 13] feet & 2 hands abt half a Day a Team


13 "-


Nov!


" 12 "


Bulls Bridge a pss of Timber 12 feet Diging of it 6/ putting it Down 4 hands & a Team bettr yn half Day


" 6"


18"-


reps County Bridge 24 feet 134 plank putting a Cross pss & Labour -"12 "


30 Days work from Grovers Gate to Daniel Watt's filling ye Gullies making trenches, diging many rocks


9 "00 "-


A Team to attend us all ye Time i. c. 6 Days .


- 18 "-


Allowd 14" .5" -


Rumney-Marsh 1737


The Town of Boston Debtor to Jacob Hasey for mending Highways -


& d


October . 26th For two men at 5s pr Day, half a day 0- 5-0


- For a Team 12 Day 0. 2.6


.


" 16 "-


10"


172


HISTORY OF CHELSEA


[CHAP. XXV


28th For four men and two Teams 1.10.0


29th For four men and two Teams ·1.10.0


31st For three men and one Team 1.00.0


November. Ist For four men and a Team 1.05.0


2d For thre men and a Team


1.00.0


4th For two men and a Team


0.15.0


10rh For two men and a Team


0.15.0


November. 21st For seven hands and a Team


2.00.0


22d For three men and two Teams the Teams at 3s/ # each Or Day 1.01.0


-


23d


For Three men . 0.15.0


24th For nine hands & two Teams 2.11.0


25 For Four hands and two Teams 1 .. 6.0


For timber


1. 0.0


Sum Total 16.15.6


For my own labour. 712 Days at 10/


3.15.0


Allowd


Jacob Hasey £20 10 6


Rumny-marsh noubr the 27 : 1737 : The Town of Boston : Dr to Jacob Hasey for mending Highways


Noubr 27th for four men and a Team allow'd Jacob Hasey


01-05-00


1735 The Town of Boston for Sundry Expences on the perambulation Dr Aprill 8 To Expenees in ye morning £1 To Dineing twenty men 6


To 5 Horses at 10/ 2:10


To Oats 8


To Hay


4 :6


To Cash to my Breedean who attended the Seleet ) men as a pilott on the Line 12


To Wine & Expence . 13 : 2


To Pipes & tobaek 3s/ 3 :0


To the Ferrey men 14 :


18 To two Horses & a Chase for ye Seleet men to View 15 :


the Highwayes 2 :


18 To ye ferrey men


Errors Exeeptd


£14: 1:8


John Rachell


Capt. Oliver's Contract 4


.


Boston June, 4th 1735.


Capt Nathanael Olivers proposal to the Select Men of Boston, respecting the Highway thro' his Farm in Rumney Marsh, near the great Bridge, formerly called the County Bridge, is as follows vizt


To make a New Road near the said Bridge, a little to the left hand of the Old Road going to Lynn. The stonework whereof


4 Files of the City Clerk, City Hall, Boston.


-


173


APPENDIX


CHAP. XXV ]


is to be Twelve foot Wide - And to Mend the Old Way Ten or Twelve Rods to the Northward of the said Bridge, and so From the said Bridge to the Upland Southward -to be at least of the heighth of the highest natural upland in the said Road - And the whole to be made workman like, to the satisfaction of the Select Men, The said Work to be performed at or before the 318! Day of Angust next ensuing - For the Sum of - Eighty pounds, - And to maintain the same in good Repair for the space of five years next coming after the sd work is finished, And that his Son Nathanael Oliver jun? shall acknowlege his consent to the Alteration of the said Highway, and Confirm the same to the Town for a High Way forever - pr Nathan! Oliver Teste Samuel Gerrish/


These may Certify, That I the Subscriber Do hereby signify my Consent to the Alteration of the Road or High Way, as above proposed by my Hond Father, And do Accordingly confirm the same to the Town of Boston for a Highway forever; And do also Promise for me, my heirs Executors & Administr's that we will at any time hereafter, when thereto required, give such other Instrument or writing for the further security and confirmation thereof as afores! as shall be to the Satisfaction of the Select Men of Boston for the time being. Witness my hand Inne. 13, 1235. Witnesses Nath" Oliver Jun! 5


Samuel Gerrish.


Richard Cotta


Capt. Oliver's Letter 1736 6 Rumney ye last fehr


Gentle


I am heartily sorry had not the Opportunity of waiting on you ye last Week př Appointment; hope shall not ys Day miss of a Draught in my Favour; I doc assure You Gentle I have been at 130€ charge ab! y! Way, exclusive of ye Diteh's wch I at first in- tended to debit ye Ace? withall amounts to 120 rods at 2/6 is 15 pounds and exclusive my Extraordinary Time in contriving laying ont & superintends the Same - I am assured Gentle I can convince yon by judicions persons y! I have done Double what was first proposed part in Breadth part in height and part in Length and nothing but what is absolutely necessary. (as the late Freshetts


" A copy of this paper by Samuel Gerrish has appended to it an extract from the will of Nicholas and Anna Paige, April 14, 1703, creating the entail.


" The endorsement on the paper. Files of the City Clerk.


·


174


HISTORY OF CHELSEA


[CHAP. XXV


will demonstrate to you if present) wch I think hath ye Approbacon of all Indifferent persons in Favour of


Gentl! Your needy Friend &cª N. Oliver


J intend to wait on you with ye Acc. next Wednes[ day ] which I was in hope you would have seen and Scan'd on ye Spot, when I had Sev !! honest Labour's to declare my Fidelity in ye Work, pray you to Suspend Your Resentments till ye Favour of a per- sonall Conversacon is granted.


To - Yrs ut Supra.


(Addressed) To The Honble Gentl? Select Men For Boston


Capt. Oliver's Petition for further Allowance 1737 7


To the Gentle Select Men for ye Town of Boston


The humble petition of Nathan! Oliver of Rumney Marish in ye Township afores!


SHEWETH


That Whereas Your petitioner hath made an high Way in his Farm for ye Town and hath been at an extraordinary Charge therein which he suppos'd for ye Service of ye Town, in ye making sª Way higher y? contractd for weh he thott absolutely necessary for ye Security of ye Same and also altered ye way on ye northside of ye bridge at least 4 feet to conform in some measure to ye new road and was at an extraordinary charge in carrying at least 150 load of Stones & 100 load of gravell to doe ye Same and made it Sev !! Rods longer yn agreed for, humbly


Prays your farther Consideracon and Allowance for ye Same.


Petition of Chelsea in opposition to Malden Bridge, 1786 8


To the honorable Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled


The Petition and Remonstrance of the Town of Chelsea respect- fully sheweth


7 The endorsement on the paper.


8 Mass. Archives, filed with chap. 69 of Acts of 1786. With it was filed a paper to show that the distance from the "N. House " to Winnisimmet was 4 miles 93 rods ; to Penny Ferry 5 miles 46 (or 37) rods. In April, 1796, a new road was laid out that shortened the distance to Malden Bridge. An unsigned petition from Medford pointed out that Newbury, Salem, and Marblehead had not supported the petition for the bridge, " And perhaps


-


175


APPENDIX


CHAP. XXV]


That having been informed by a Committee from the Town of Med- ford that a Petition is before your Honors for Liberty to build a Bridge over the North River at a Place called Penny-Ferry, which they say would be of ruinous Consequences to their Town and we think would do us an irrepairable Injury by depriving us of the Advantages from Winnisimet Ferry; we therefore assure ourselves of your Honors deliberate and impartial Attention to the Subject. Perceiving the present Humor for Bridge building, we had in Contemplation to petition for a Bridge from Chelsea to Molton's Point; which would prove to be of less Detriment to the Town of Medford; of umch greater Advantage to the Public, and insure much higher Profits to the Undertakers than a Bridge at Penny Ferry ; as every impartial person acquainted with the local Situa- tion and the Travelling on the eastern Road must be sensible. But upon a careful Estimate; we found, a Bridge, tho' in a Situation so much preferable, would promise a great Loss to the Proprietors ; and therefore we declined it.


As the proposed Bridge over Penny Ferry is much a Novelty in this Neighbourhood, and appears to us to be pushed with much zcal by a few interested Persons, and apprehending from it the inestimable Injuries to the Towns of Medford and Chelsea would vastly over balance any pretended Prospects of public Utility, and the Nature of the Thing being vastly too important and interesting to admit of a sudden Decision ; so, for these weighty Reasons we most earnestly beg your Honors to defer the Matter, for this Ses- sion at least, that the Subject may be better investigated and un- derstood. But if your Honors in Wisdom should think otherwise we must in justice to ourselves further observe,


That as we already suffer a Loss of three thousand Dollars in Consequence of an unhappy Mistake in the Valuation of 1781, so if your Honors should direct the bridge to be created at Penny Ferry and thereby entirely strip us of the Advantages that acerne from our Ferry and consequently of all Traveling thro' the Town, we rest assured that you will do us the Justice, which cannot be denied us. of transferring, by the same Act that shall convey our Right and Priviledge to the Town of Malden, au adequate Proportion of our public Taxes.


for this reason, because they had rather put up at Winnisimet, & pass over that ferry than to travel two or three miles ont of their way, pay the tolls of two bridges, and put up their horses in Boston, where horsekeeping is much dearer." They added that "eleven years since the British troops burnt the ferry house on Malden side, & destroyed the ferry." which had not been re-established, as the hope of profit was slight. Dr. Samuel Dan- forth signed the petition for Malden bridge.


176


HISTORY OF CHELSEA


[CHAP. XXV


And your Petitioners as in Duty bound will ever pray &cª Chelsea June 19 1786 John Sale Town Clerk in Behalf of the Town 9


Report respecting the Roads in Chelsea, 1824 10


Agreeable to vote of the Town the 3d of May last The Selectmen have attended to the direction of what they consider the Town Roads, and would represent the same for their acceptance Viz First Beginning at Chelsea Bridge, running Southerly & Easterly of Salem Turnpike to nearly opposite Samuel Chittendens house, there turning into said Turnpike, till nearly opposite Mr Jeffery Williams house, thence turning South, round the Old Tavern house to sd Turnpike, from thence to Doc' Surtleffs Gate, thence Northerly crossing sd Turnpike to Danforths Farm, so call'd, thenee running Westerly to Hurds to Malden line. Beginning again at Danforths Farm Northerly thro' the Pratt neighbourhood to Sergent Copland over the Causeway to Malden line, beginning again at Olivers Barn to Olivers Bridge, then from Malden line near Tufts house to Brides Brook. Beginning again at Coplands running Easterly to Halls lane, thence Southerly to Bulls Gate, so calld, thence Easterly crossing Salem Turnpike, thence South- erly by Belchers & Gays, to the School-house thence Easterly to the Beach, thence on sd Beach Southerly over Sales hill, short Beach to Winthrops farm thence Easterly to Point Shirley Gate, thenee Southerly round the West side of the Great head to Point Shirley Wharf. Again from Winthrop Gate near his Barn West- crly to Bill Tewksburys Gate thence Southerly to Samuel Belchers land, thro sd Belehers land to the Point School-house Beginning . at the Town landing near the Mills Northerly, Westerly & North- erly to the Schoolhouse. Beginning at Joseph Greens running Westerly by James Green Samuel Green & Others thro Harris & Others to the Road leading to the School-house Again begin- ning at Pratts Corner & running Easterly by Chcevers hill so call'd, erossing the Turnpike to the Corner of the road leading to the Mills. Also two cross roads leading Southerly from Saugus to Malden, one beginning ncar Newbury Turnpike by Browns running by Peals house to Malden line. The other beginning at Abijah Boardmans house, thence by William Boardmans to Malden


Only the date and signature are in the handwriting of John Sale. The petition was read in the House and Senate, June 20, and referred to the joint committee on the petition for the bridge. It is endorsed " Petition Cl.elsea Mr Brooks."


10 Chelsea Town Rec. (MSS.), 1812-1828, pp. 152, 153.


CHAP. XXV]


APPENDIX


177


line. All Roads not heretofore fenced out, to be two Rods wide, all Gates standing on said roads, where from length of time the Individual proprietor has obtain'd a prescriptive right, to con- tinue the same, to remain till the public interest require their removal. Joseph Stowers Selectmen




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