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 37
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Then voted, that this meeting be adjourned, sine die.
May Meeting
May 16. [1739]. At a town's meeting, to choose a meet person to represent them in the general court, to be held for his Majestics Serviee, at Boston, on the thirtieth of this Instant, at 9 o'Clock, in the morning. To raise money for defraying the accruing charges of the present year, and also to do any other business that shall be thoughit necessary, the seleetmen being moderators.
3 See ante, p. 326.
377
CHAP. XXXIII]
CHELSEA AS A TOWN
Upon some debate, respecting the town's obligations to send a representative, it appeared by enumerating the Poles, that the town was obliged to send, and the question was put, whether the town would send a representative, and voted in the affirmative. Then voted as the town's Representative, Samuel Watts, Esq.
Voted, as moderator for the rest of the town's business Samuel Watts, Esq. Then the town voted to raise forty pounds to be expended by day's work on the highways, and that the price of a day's work for a single man be eight shillings for an able team, viz. : a cart and two pair of oxen, or a cart and one pair of oxen, and an horse, be eight shillings; and that whosoever, being taxt, as in this vote is expressed, shall refuse to work, being duly warned, shall be obliged to pay his tax into the town's treasury. Voted, also, that the highways be repaired within the months of May and August inclusively. Then voted, to raise ten pounds, to be laid out at the discretion of the seleetmen in educating the children living at those branches of the town called the rocks and Pulling Point. Voted also to raise seventy pounds for other accruing charges. Then Samuel Watts, Esq., offered the town a spot of land, to set the pound on, near Mr. Nathan Cheever's land, which the town voted to accept, and also voted their thanks to Samuel Watts, Esq., therefor.
Then, it was debated whether the town would give their repre- sentative instrnetions in his conduct; but voted in the negative.
Voted, this meeting be adjourned, sine die.4
4 Also Selectmen's Rec., i. 2, 47, for action on the subject of the pound.
378
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XXXIV
CHAPTER XXXIV
CHELSEA AS A TOWN (continued)
T WIIE foregoing transcript of the records of the first three meetings of the new town indicates the staple and methods of their municipal legislation, schools, roads, cccle- siastical affairs, together with the few and simple regula- tions for the government of a people mainly agriculturists. And as I have treated the principal of these for the period covered by their history, I shall confine myself to matters not already noticed, or of exceptional interest. These are chicfly miscellaneous, occurring irregularly, and having no necessary connection with the development of their autonomy. Never- theless some of them arc of historical value.
A town Pound was needed for stray cattle, and May 16, 1739, Samuel Watts offered a spot of land, " near Mr. Nathan Cheever's," on which to ercct one. This offer was accepted, with thanks therefor, but apparently nothing came of it; for twenty years later, August 21, 1759, Samuel Pratt, Samuel Floyd, and Samuel Sprague were a committee to look for ground on which to set a Pound. The next year a similar vote was passed. In 1762, for five shillings Nathan Chcever deedcd to the selectmen for the use of the town land near the Meeting-House for a Pound, so long as so improved; then to revert to him and his heirs, he to have all the dung.1 This Pound seems to have been built in 1763, since orders for £4. 8. 11 were given to Daniel and Samuel Pratt " for sundrys done on the pound." In 1797 and 1798 William Harris and James Stowers received $15.96 for work on it.
The General Court passed an act for the better preservation of deer, and Boston as early as 1739, and Chelsea in 1741, and both for some years after, chose "Inspectors into killing deer "; but, as the law applied to all towns, the election of such officers docs not necessarily imply that deer were running wild at that time, either in Boston or Chelsca.
1 Suff. Deeds, L. 97, f. 197.
379
CHAP. XXXIV] CHELSEA AS A TOWN
The counterfeiting of Province Paper Money began at an early period; and in the Appendix at end of this chapter will be found an interesting account by two men, one of whom, Nathaniel Hasey, was a Chelsea constable, for their expenses in pursuing and arresting several counterfeiters in 1741.
Hog and Noddle's Islands
After three years of separate town government the people of Chelsea, not finding their condition as they desired, sought to improve it by annexing Hog and Noddle's Islands. Ac- cordingly, March 1, 1742, they chose Sammel Watts, John Sale, and Nathaniel Oliver, Jr., a commitice to confer with the proprietors or agents of those islands with a view to pro- cure, if possible, their favor to the project.2
Sept. 19, 1743, they voted to petition the General Court, and chose Jacob Hasey, John Sale, and Thomas Pratt a committee.3
The project seems to have slept eight years, when, March 4, 1751, Nathaniel Oliver, Jr., Richard Watts, and Stephen Kent were chosen as a new committee,4 who prepared the following petition, which is so interesting historically, that I accord it a place in the text.
To the hon' Spencer Phips Esqr. Lient. Governor & Comander in Chief in & over his Majesties Province of the Massachu- setts Bay in New England. The hon' his Majesties Council & house of Representa- tives in gen1. Conrt assembled this 27. day of March, Anno Domini, 1751,
Most humbly shews
The Subscribers, in behalf of the Town of Chelsea, chosen by said Town the fourth Instant, legally assembled -
That, when the Inhabitants of the District of Romney Marish, then so call'd, petitioned this hon1. Court, To be erected into a distinct Township, They petitioned for all the Lands to the northwd. of Winisimett ferry, or Charles River, commonly known by the name of Number thirteen, within the Limits of the Town of Boston; Together with their proportion of the revenues of the
2 Town Ree., i. 9.
3 Ibid., 12.
4 Ibid., 34.
380
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XXXIV
then said Town of Boston; especially, as they had paid into the said Town, upwards of £2500, old ten". to the Uses of the said Town more than they had ever received by any benefitts whatever as a part of said Town.
That, when they were sett of as a township, it pleas'd that hon1 Court to sett of said Township, exclusive of two Islands, known by the names of hog Island & noddles Island, being about a sixth part in value of the petition'd for township: and had no Con- sideration for any part of the revenues of the Town of Boston ; or for what they had paid into the Town Treasury more than they had received benefitt by, in any charges for said District whatsoever, Without which aforesaid Limits or Benefices, The Inhabitants of said District had never thôt of desiring to be a Township. -
Since which, your hon". & honrs. in your known wisdom have seen meet to annex a Considerable part of said Township to the west Parish in Lynn, a Very great further weakning to the Town of Chelsea.
That, We labour under the Difficulties of a long and tedious ferry, that said Township cannot be considered nearer the markett then twelve or fifteen miles.
That, from the Northeast to the South bounds of said Town- ship they lie expos'd to the open Ocean; whereby the Rage of the Sea destroys acres of the lands, and some of the best of the Lands of said Township every year - That, many of the lands in said Township are owned by those that stile themselves Churchmen & Quakers, and Most owned by Gentn., Either living out of town, or under such Circumstances that they are uncapable of Division, and so an encrease of their Inhabitants cannot be had: all which leaves this poor Township under a low and decaying Condition. -
Now, may it please your honr. and hon's., as the aforesaid Islands lie most adjacent to said Township, and by nature seem intended to belong to said Town, especially hog Island, which lies encircled by said Township, lies, as it were, in the heart of said Town, and is so far annex'd to said Town, that a dry passage is most generally free to & from said Town to said Island every low water. Is much nearer to the meeting-house and School of said Town by miles than any other ; and the Inhabitants have to this day constantly attended publick worship there, nor can they with any convenience attend elsewhere; as our fathers, when we were of the town of Boston, tho't these were the true Circumstances of said Islands, that they always annexe'd them to us by the name Number Thirteen ; as our Military Rulers continued them to us in that order; as the Predecessor of the Proprietor of said Hog
381
CHELSEA AS A TOWN
CHAP. XXXIV]
Island, Viz., The Venerable Judg Samuel Sewall, deceas'd, of happy memory, gave largely to the building of the first meeting- house in said place, took a Pew in said house, which he kept for the uses of his said farm, and always allow'd the then minister a Sum annually more than the Tax of said Island wou'd then have been, and which his revd. son the present Dr Sewall con- tinned for some time; and were that good publick spirited Gent". now living, We doubt not, his noble Spirit wou'd exert all its efforts in promoting this very design we are now attempting; So that we can't but think it our Duty to request said Islands may now be annext to us as a township. And with regard to Noddles Island we may assure your honr & hon's. Mr. Yeomans, Deceas'd, just before he left the Country last nrg'd us to this same petition, and would have continued his desire no doubt had not his death pre- vented. If it be objected, That these Islands have been exemted from said township of Chelsea by reason the present owners or Proprietors of said Islands are unwilling said Islands shou'd be annex'd to us; We won'd answer, First, 't is impossible any In- habitants can be accommodated by any town or Parish priviledges elsewhere so well as at the Town of Chelsea, and the Inhabitants of hog Island especially time out of mind have thro this neces- sity chearfully attended the publick worship of Chelsea. - Sec- ondly, No reason possible can induse the Inhabitants or Propri- ctors of said Islands to object against this most reasonable request. But from Encouragement from the Town of Boston that their taxes shall be Low, lower, we say, than the reason or nature of things wou'd allow : and why so valuable a traet of Land sho'd be exempted from the comon Duty of us all, We can see no reason ; Nor can we suppose The Town of Boston on any generous prin- ciples whatever won'd endeavour to withhold these Islands from us, when the taxes are of so little significancy to them, in pro- portion to the very large taxes the[y] bear, That hog Island for the year 1750 paid no more than £18: 18: 6, old teur., to the Town & County Charges, and not £50, "-"- old ten"., when they have been rated to a fifth part of the greatest Province Tax we ever had; Unless it be in future time on a presumption that the general Court will not sett these Islands of, that they may have oppº : to exact greater profitts from them -
If it be further objected, that the district of Rumney Marish, at first consented to accept of the privileges of a township, exclusive of these Islands, We won'd say that as a Cominnity we did it not ; and whatever those that principally desired it and transacted that matter might do, We should never have petitioned at first with these Views. Besides, had we done it as a Coninnity, it was
382
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XXXIV
not under any presumption or supposition, that any part of the Remainder of our Lands shou'd be taken from us and annex't to another Parish, Which being very lately by the last Court for wise reasons done, Therefore, as an Equivalent, we hope this Court in their goodness will add these lands to us - Wherefore on the whole your Petitioners humbly request that a Comittee from this Honble. Court may be appointed to View our Circumstances at our Charge to consider this Petition, and if they shou'd report in favour, That these Islands may be annexd to the township of Chelsea. - And, as in Duty bound, shall ever pray, &ca.
N. OLIVER, JUNR., STEPHEN KENT, RICHARD WATTS, Commtec
In the House of Repives, April 18, 1751.
Read, and Ordered that the Petrs serve the Town of Boston and the Proprietors of the two Islands within mentioned, with copys of this Petition, that they shew cause, if any they have, on the third Wednesday of the next May Session, why the Prayer thereof should not be granted.
Sent up for Concurrence.
ROLAND COTTON, Cler. In Council, April 18th : 1751, Read and Concurred. J. WILLARD, Secry.5
It is hardly necessary to say that the result did not meet the wishes of the people of Chelsea.
Care of the Poor
October 20, 1742, the question was, whether " the town will build either in whole or in part a dwelling-house for Mr. Dispaw and family to dwell in, or for any other poor of the town ": and whether the town would accept offers of land for that purpose. But it was " voted, to raise twenty pounds for Mr. Dispaw to go on with the house he is now projecting by the assistance of his friends." 6
The town was very considerate of its own poor, who were chiefly those of good families fallen into decay; but very careful to escape supporting those having a legal settlement elsewhere, or foreigners having none.7 And in 1790 the select-
" Mass. Archives, cxv. 859-862.
6 Town Rec., i. 10.
" Selectmen's Rec .. i. 25.
-
383
CHELSEA AS A TOWN
CHAP. XXXIV]
men were directed to " prosecute those that take persons into their houses to dwell, that are not inhabitants of this town, and do not make such returns of their names to the select- men, as the law directs," by which such persons might gain legal settlement as panpers.8
March 13, 1786, Capt. Samuel Sargeant, Mr. Joseph Green, and Mr. Daniel Pratt, are a committee to procure a house for the Poor of the town to live in, and make a report as soon as they can." Meantime, May 29, " Voted to have the poor of the town set up and struck off to the lowest bidder to keep for six months or a year from this time, or till the Committee provides a house for them." 10
Lacking a Poor-House, voted to hire the barracks of Daniel Pratt, for the poor of the town, at three dollars per quarter.11 Feb. 25, 1789, paid him, £5. 0. 5. 1, for use of the barracks, from Dec. 4, 1786, to 26 April, 1788.12
The subject was before the town in 1788, 1790, and 1791, when
8 Town Ree., ii. 123. In 1765, the seleetmen informed the Governor and Council that Katherine Brown, a stranger, who came from Ireland into the town in a private manner unknown to them, " and a short time there- after was bereaved of her senses," and "became exceeding troublesome, by which the town was put to exceeding great charge "; and therefore prayed that past charges of £55. 11. 1 on her account be allowed and the town freed therefrom. The Council decided, that " the Pauper is not the . proper charge of the Province," and refused the request. Mass. Archives, exviii. 74, 76. In 1768, on a renewal of their petition, the committee of accounts reported that Katharine Brown came into the town of Chelsea about the year 1750, and was a proper inhabitant thereof, before she be- came a charge to the town. Ibid., 77. The following charges were for the burial of town pampers :
March 14, 1775. Town paid Samnel Watts, 7s. 5d. 3f .. for one gal. Rlrum, 2 1b. Sugar, Six pipes, and six papers tabaco, for Abigal Breeden's funeral.
March 11, 1776. Town paid Samnel Spragne,
To finding Sam. Tuttle, one old Shart . £0- 3- 0
1 Sheet, Cap & Muffler, to Lay Tuttle out 0- 4- 0
Rum and Shngar at his funeral 0- 4- 4
" Time Spent in taking care of Tuttle 0- 5- 6
£0-12 - 10
" Town Ree., ii. 100.
10 Ibid., 103, 104.
11 These barracks were those then standing on the late Poor House Estate, north of Union Park, used by soldiers in the winter of 1775-1776, and afterwards, it is said, removed to near Woodlawn, and the old house was standing within a few years.
12 Seleetmen's Ree., i. 133.
384
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XXXIV
the following vote and report appear. April 4, 1791. Voted to build a poor-house.13
May 11. The committee on the Poor-house affair reported : " That it is the opinion of your Committee that the poor-house shall be set on the town's land near the mills. That said house shall be thirty-four feet in length, fifteen fcet in width, seven feet posts, and a well proportioned Gambriel roof, the sides and ends to be Duble boarded, and a well-boarded and shingled roof. The inside to be seiled with boards. There shall be eight windows, consisting of twelve squares of glass each, and there shall be a cellar, fourteen feet in length, seven feet wide, 61/2 feet deep, and well stoned. There shall be one chimney with four smoakes and two ovens. It is our opinion, that a house of the above Dementions will cost fifty pounds.
WILLIAM EUSTICE, JOSIAH BATCHELOR, JOSEPH CHEEVER, SAMUEL H. PRATT, THOMAS BUTMAN."
Voted to raise fifty pounds for this purpose, and chose William Eustice, Capt. Josiah Batchelor, and Samuel H. Pratt, a com- mittee, to agree with some meet person, who will build a house of the above dementions the cheapest.14
There was some difficulty. Further proceedings were :
March 5, 1792. Dismissed the committee on the subject of a poor-house. Chose Samucl Cary, Capt. James Stowers, and Sam- uel H. Pratt a Committee to build a poor house.15
September 3, 1792. Accepted Capt. Jas. Stowers account. respecting poor-house, on his striking off 18/ out of said account.16 April 2, 1798. All the poor be put into the poor-house.17
1816, Dee. 12. Line between Malden and Chelsea is as given in Town Rec., iii. 54.
Polls and Estates, Real and Personal, in Chelsea, 1760
Polls Rateable, 78. Polls, Not Rateable, 9. Dwelling-Houses and Still Houses, 441/2. Warehouses, 3. Superficial feet of
13 Town Rec., ii. 128.
14 Ibid., 129.
15 Ibid., 135. 16 Ibid., 228. Vide Town Rec., ii. (Jan. 8, 1794), 134, and ibid., 156, April 2, 1798. 17 Ibid., 156.
385
CHAP. XXXIV]
CHELSEA AS A TOWN
Wharff, 40. Grist, Fulling, and Saw Mill, 1. Servants for life, between 14 and 45, 13. Tuns of Vessels, above 10 tans, 18. Amount of each Person's whole Trading Stock, 140. Money at interest more than any person pays interest for, 240. Horses and mares three years old and upwards, 49. Oxen, four years old and upwards, 61. Cows and Heifers of three years old and upwards, 213. Sheep, 1 year old and upwards, 1,622. Swine, 1 year old and upwards, 9. Acres of pasturage, and what number of cows it will keep yearly, 22671/2 - 591. Acres of T'illage Land, 1851/4 Bushels of Grain and Corn, of each sort, 3061, - 142. Acres of Orchard, 48. Barrels of Cyder, the produce of Orcharding, 259. Acres of Mowing Land, 396. Tuns of English and upland hay it yields in one year, 2511/2. Tuns of Fresh Meadow Hay it yields in one year, 491/2. Acres of Salt Marsh and what it yields in one year, 13603/4, -9541/4. Sum total of Rents, 93314. Rents of Estates not under their own Improvement, which lay in other Towns & this town, 70.18
18 Mass. Archives, cxxx. 1. Copy in Chamberlain MSS. V. 35.
VOL. II. - 25
386
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XXXIV
APPENDIX
Counterfeit Money 1741
1741 Province of the Massachusetts Bay Dr to John Barker & NathIl. Hasey for Charges & Expenses on the Roads in follow- ing & apprehending the following persons for Counterfiting Money and Other Services &e. . . . to Apprehending Obediah Mors and
Jany. 26 him to Rhoad island Government by Order of the Governor Counei ll
&
hors hier. £1- 5- Charges on the Road for my Selfe & Assistance & sd Mors 2 - 10 -
to my time & trouble 1 - 5
5- 0
Feby 2
to Carrying a letter to Justice Liness to aequaint him of men concernd. in Counterfiting Money - Hors hier & Expenses 0- 18 - 0- 10 -
to my Time.
1 - 8
17 to going to Salem after Boyee Verrey & others by order of the Judges of the Superior Court-hors hier & Expenses.
0-17-6
time & trouble 0- 10
1- 7-6
May 6
to going to Smithfield after two Men for Counterfiting Money by Order of the Justices & Commiting them to Newport Goall-to horses hier & Expenees on ye Roads to two officers time & trouble
3- 6-3 1- 10 -
4-16-3
1742 July 23
to going to lynend & Salem after Jon- athan Hawks took two offieers & one man to assist to the hier of three horses & Expenses to time & trouble
2 - 10
0:15
3: 5-0 £15-16-9
1742 July 25
Brought forward to Going to Salem after Boyee, Linsey, Hubbard, Plummer & Preseot; & brought them all to Boston Goall two offieers & one man to assist us from Boston, & four assistants from lyn. to help bring ye per-
CHAP. XXXIV]
APPENDIX
387
sons to boston ye four assistance 0-10
hors hier & Expences. 3- 5 to our time & trouble & Paid one as- sistan Carried 1 - 10
5 - 5-
August 19 to taking up Robbart Neall attending him whilst on Examination then going to ye Southfields in Salem where he sd Neall said he hid the Plates & Money. two hors hiers & Expences 1 - 10
to two officers time & trouble 1 - 5
2-15 -
22
to Carrying Robart neall to Sallem again by order of ye Judges where we found four Plates for Strikeing of Bills two in imita- tion of Rhoad island & two of Connectticut De . Which sd Neall brought from Ireland as he said & allso found & brought a large wigg-box full of Bills Struck of & Sum Signed. these We found Buried under ground to ye hier of three horses & Expences on ye Rods.
2- 7-6
1- 0-
3- 7-6
Novemb :
to our time & trouble in Searching . to one jorney to feeth Jolın Syas to tryall by order of the Judges of ye Superior Court two hors hiers & Expences on of Rodes . . one officers time.
1- 6-3
7-6
1- 13 - 9
Novr.
to Attending as Evidences at ye Supe- riour Court on the tryals of Neall; Boyce, Linsey & others when found gilty & punished three weeks at 3 different times by order of the Judges of said Court -to hors hiers & Charges to one Jorney to feeth Thomas Ed- garton & to Search for Some In- struments that ye Court was inform'd sd Edgerton had as Evidenecs Against ye above Men- tioned Men on tryall-two horses & Expences on ye Rods 1 - 5
7- 0 7 - 0
Novr.
Officers time & trouble. Lawfull Money Boston Febr. 27th. 1743. Errors Excepted Pr
- 10 -
1 -15 --
£37-13-9
John Barker Nathll Hasey 1
1 Mass. Archives, cii. 335, et seq.
388
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XXXV
CHAPTER XXXV
A NEW PARISH, JURYMEN, AND TAXATION
W' HILE Chelsea was seeking the enlargement of her territory by the annexation of the adjacent islands, the people in the northwesterly part of the town, whose geo- graphical relations were with that part of Lynn now part of Saugus, petitioned the town, December 30, 1745, to be set off as a parish with others of Lynn. The petition was referred to the March meeting, 1746, when Samuel Watts, John Brent- nall, and Thomas Pratt were chosen to consider and report in May. Their report, presumably adverse (though not on record), was accepted. But the petitioners, not content, appealed to the General Court, and June 15, 1747, the town chose Nathaniel Oliver, Stephen Kent, Hugh Floyd, Samuel Pratt, and Samuel Tuttle a committee to oppose their prayer. March 7, 1748, the town again refused their petition, probably a new one; and Thomas Cheever and others again went to the General Court; and again, December 18, 1749, a com- mittee, consisting of Samuel Watts, Nathaniel Oliver, Jr., and Thomas Douglass was chosen " to give reasons why said peti- tion should not be granted."1 Apparently the petitioners prevailed; and June 7, 1763, Richard More, with others, and December 21, 1763, Francis Smith and William Bordman had made similar petitions. But these persons still remained inhabitants of Chelsea, and their estates a part of its territory, taxable for all parish purposes save ecclesiastical. It was not until 1841 that this part of Chelsea known as the "Pan Handle " became part of Saugus.2
The people of Chelsea, and doubtless of other towns, found the frequent drafts upon them for jurymen and the payment of taxes troublesome, and also deemed themselves overtaxed. Consequently, March 5, 1744, the town "Voted, that Capt. Nathaniel Oliver make his interests with the Superior Judges to abate the number of Jurymen for that Court "; 3 and
1 And see Selectmen's Rec., i. 9.
2 Town Rec., i. 16, 17, 18, 21, 25, 31, 95, 96; and ii. 200; iii, 19, 20. 8 Ibid., i. 13.
-
8
1
389
A NEW PARISH
CHAP. XXXV]
thirty-four years later, 1778, when the burdens of the Revo- lution were severely felt, appears the fragment of a document given in the note.4
Taxes were specially burdensome in 1741 from lack of coin ; and hence, March 2, " Voted, the town have liberty to pay their town taxes in the Bills of the Manufactory Scheeme: 5 and the Constable of the town is hereby obliged to receive the town tax for the year past in said Bills if they be tendered him." "
In 1749 (perhaps in 1745)7 a question arose as to the right of the town to tax lands of llarvard College within its limits, and the story is best told in the following:
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