USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > History of the town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, with genealogical registers > Part 8
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1641-2. John Alden, J. Brewster.
1643.
W. Basset, E. Chandler, Tho. Besbeech.
1644. Capt. Standish, J. Brewster, J. Alden, W. Basset.
1645. J. Alden, Geo. Soule, W. Basset, E. Chandler.
1646. J. Alden, G. Soule.
1647. J. Alden, Constant South worth.
1648. J. Alden, W. Basset.
1649. J. Alden, C. Southworth.
1650-1. G. Soule, C. South worth.
1652. C. South worth, John Bradford.
1653. G. Soule, C. Southworth.
1654. G. Soule, C. Southworth, C. Wadsworth, William Pabodie.
1655-6. C. Southworth, Wm. Pabodie.
1657. Wm. Pabodie, John Rogers.
1658-63. C. Southworth, W. Pabodie.
1664. C. Southworth.
1665. C. Southworth, Josiah Standish.
1666-7. C. Southworth, C. Wadsworth.
1668. C. Southworth, Josiah Standish.
1669. C. Southworth.
1670. W. Pabodie.
1671-82.1 W. Pabodie, Josiah Standish.
1683-4. Josiah Standish, John Tracy.
1685. Josiah Standish, Benj. Bartlett, Sen.
* Of the thirty-three persons, who had been Assistants previous to the annexation to Massachusetts Bay, in 1692, nine were at some time inhabi- tants of Duxbury : Capt. Standish, Mr. Alden, Mr. Howland, Mr. Collier, Gov. Prence, John Brown, Edmund Freeman, Constant Southworth, and David Alden.
t In the following lists some vacancies will be noticed ; but on those years no record of the officers appear to have been made on the town's books.
# 1676. Last part of the year, Saml. Seabury.
78
REPRESENTATIVES.
1686. Francis Barker, J. Tracy.
1687-9. Edw. Southworth, Seth Arnold.
1690. Dea. J. Wadsworth, David Alden.
1691-2. Dea. J. Wadsworth, Edw. Southworth.
1693. Edw. South worth, Lt. Seth Arnold.
1694.
Ens. F. Barker, Dea. J. Wadsworth.
1700. Capt. Seth Arnold.
1701. Lt. F. Barker.
1703. Lt. F. Barker.
1704. Joshua Holmes.
1708. Joshua Holmes.
1709. Samuel Seabury.
1712-3. Capt. John Alden.
1721-2. Capt. J. Alden.
1723-4. Thomas Fish.
1728. Capt. J. Alden.
1731-9. Capt. [styled Col. 1733] J. Alden.
1740. Did not send.
1741-9. Capt. Gamaliel Bradford.
1750. Did not send.
1751-6. Col. G. Bradford.
1757. Did not send.
1758-60. Samuel Seabury.
1761-7. Capt. [Maj. 1762] Briggs Alden.
1768-70. Capt. John Wadsworth.
1771. Did not send.
1772. Capt. J. Wadsworth.
1773. Did not send.
1774-6. George Partridge.
1777. George Partridge, Dea. Peleg Wadsworth.
1778-9. George Partridge.
1780. G. Partridge, John Peterson .*
1781-2. John Peterson.
1783. Capt. Samuel Loring.
1784. Rev. Z. Sanger.
1785. Calvin Partridge.
1786. Did not send.
1787. Rev. Z. Sanger.
1788. Did not send.
1789-90. Gamaliel Bradford.
1791. Did not send.
1792. Gamaliel Bradford.
1793. Did not send.
1794-6. Maj. Judah Alden.
1797. Seth Sprague.
* Last part of the year.
1
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1
1
1
1
1
1
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79
SELECTMEN.
1798. Maj. Alden.
1799. Seth Sprague.
1800. Did not send.
1801-5. Capt. Seth Sprague. -
1806. Capt. Seth Sprague, Adam Fish.
1807. Capt. Adam Fish.
1808. Capt. Ezekiel Soule.
1809-10. Maj. Alden, Samuel Walker.
1811. Maj. Alden.
1812. Maj. Alden, G. Partridge.
1813. Maj. Alden, Samuel A. Frazar.
1814-5. G. Partridge.
1816. G. Partridge, Samuel A. Frazar.
SELECTMEN.
Selectmen may have been chosen before the first date here given, though no record can be found of them.
1666-7. Christ'r Wadsworth, Josiah Standish, Benj. Bartlett.
1668. C. Wadsworth, Wm. Pabodie, B. Bartlett, 1669-71. C. Wadsworth, Samuel Seabury, B. Bartlett.
1672. Wm. Pabodie, Saml. Seabury, J. Standish.
1673-5. Wm. Pabodie, Samuel Seabury, B. Bartlett.
1677. J. Standish, Samuel Seabury, John Tracy.
1678. J. Wadsworth, Benj. Bartlet, J. Tracy.
1680. S. Seabury, W. Pabodie, J. Tracy.
1681.
S. Seabury, B. Bartlett, J. Tracy.
1682-3. J. Standish, B. Bartlett, J. Tracy.
1684.
J. Wadsworth, B. Bartlett, J. Tracy.
1685-6. Francis Barker, B. Bartlett, J. Tracy.
1687. . Jno. Alden, J. Tracy, Dea. J. Wadsworth. 1688. Jno. Alden, F. Barker, E. South worth. 1689. 1690. 1691. Jno. Alden, J. Tracy, Dea. J. Wadsworth. B. Bartlett, J. Tracy, Dea. J. Wadsworth. B. Bartlett, J. Tracy, F. Barker. 1692. Jno. Alden, J. Tracy, Wm. Brewster.
1693.
David Alden, F. Barker, E. Southworth. Seth Arnold, F. Barker, J. Tracy.
1694.
1695. 1699.
David Alden, John Partridge, Seth Arnold. Seth Arnold, F. Barker, Abraham Sampson. S. Arnold, F. Barker, A: Sampson.
1701.
1709. 1710. Edw. Southworth, Tho. Parris, Dea. J. Wadsworth. Samuel Bartlett, David Alden, Joseph Stockbridge. 1 1714. John Alden, Tho. Loring, Dea. John Wadsworth.
1721. Dea. J. Wadsworth, Joshua Soule, Benj. Delano.
1723. Dea. J. Wadsworth, John Alden, Elisha Wadsworth.
80
SELECTMEN.
1728. Dea. J. Wadsworth, J. Alden, J. Soule.
1729. Pelatiah West, Edw. Arnold, Wm. Brewster.
1730. Pelatiah West, E. Arnold, J. Alden.
1731. Pelatiah West, Dea. J. Wadsworth, J. Alden.
1732-9. Edw. Arnold, Dea. J. Wadsworth, J. Alden.
1740-4. Gaml. Bradford, Dea. J. Wadsworth, Saml. Weston.
1745.
G. Bradford, Saml. Seabury, S. Weston.
1746. G. Bradford, S. Seabury, Dea. J. Wadsworth.
1747-50. G. Bradford, S. Seabury, Saml. Weston.
1751-2. G. Bradford, S. Seabury, Saml. Alden.
1753. Dr. John Wadsworth, Jno. Peterson, Ezra Arnold.
1754-6. G. Bradford, Saml. Seabury, Saml. Alden.
1757. G. Bradford, S. Seabury, Jno. Peterson.
1758-60. Briggs Alden, Wait Wadsworth, Dea. Nathaniel Simmons.
1761-2. Ezra Arnold, W. Wadsworth, Jno. Peterson.
1763-4. B. Alden, W. Wadsworth, Dea. Peleg Wadsworth.
1765. B. Alden, Ezra Arnold, Dr. John Wadsworth.
1766-9. Isaac Partridge, W. Wadsworth, Dea. P. Wadsworth.
1770-1. B. Alden, W. Wadsworth, Dea. P. Wadsworth.
1772-3. Jed. Simmons, W. Wadsworth, Dea. P. Wadsworth.
1774. J. Simmons, W. Wadsworth, Saml. Bradford.
1775. Isaac Partridge, W. Wadsworth, S. Bradford.
1776. Calvin Partridge, W. Wadsworth, Dea. Jas. South- worth.
1777. C. Partridge, W. Wadsworth, Micah Soule.
1778. C. Partridge, B. Alden, Reuben Delano.
1779. C. Partridge, B. Alden, James Freeman.
1780-1. Jno. Peterson, Gideon Harlow, Israel Silvester, Jr.
1783. Jno. Peterson, Elijah Baker, Abel Chandler.
1784.
C. Partridge, E. Baker, A. Chandler.
1788.
G. Bradford, G. Harlow, S. Loring. G. Bradford, Philip Chandler, S. Loring.
1790. G. Bradford, P. Chandler, John Peterson.
1791-5. G. Bradford, P. Chandler, G. Harlow.
1796. Saml. Loring, P. Chandler, Abel Chandler.
1797-8. S. Loring, P. Chandler, G. Harlow.
1799. Silvanus Sampson, P. Chandler, Ezekiel Soule.
1800. G. Harlow, P. Chandler, E. Soule.
1801. G. Harlow, Dea. Dura Wadsworth, E. Soule.
1803-7. Freeman Loring, Wm. Loring, Jr., E. Soule. 1808. F. Loring, John Winslow, Reuben Delano.
1809-10. Saml. Walker, J. Winslow, R. Delano.
1811. E. Soule, Nathl. Winsor, Jr., Wadsworth Chandler. 1812-3. Saml. Loring, Reuben Delano, Ezra Weston, Jr.
1785. 1786. 1787.
C. Partridge, Levi Loring, A. Chandler.
· Jno. Peterson, G. Harlow, Joseph Soule. C. Partridge, Abel Chandler, Saml. Loring.
1789.
CONSTABLES. 81
1814-5. Henry Chandler, R. Delano, Levi Loring, Jr. 1816. E. Soule, W. Chandler, Geo. Loring.
1817. E. Soule, W. Chandler, Studley Sampson.
CONSTABLES.
This was an office of high trust and responsibility, and none were elected to it, but men of good standing.
1633. " Christopher Wadsworth chosen Constable for the ward of Duxbury, bounded between Jones River and Greens harbour, and to serve the King in that office for the space of one whole yeare, and to enter upon the place with the Govr. elect."
1633-5. C. Wadsworth.
1667.
Samuel Hunt.
1636-7. Edmund Chandler.
1668. Joseph Wadsworth.
1638. C. Wadsworth.
1669. Alexander Standish.
1639.
Stephen Tracy.
1670. John Rogers, Jr.
1640.
Joseph Rogers.
1671.
Benj. Church.
1641.
C. Southworth.
1672.
John Wadsworth.
1642.
Edmund Hawes.
1673.
Mr. Ralph Thacher.
1643-4. Thomas Boney.
1674.
Samuel West.
1645.
John Tisdell.
1675.
Win. Brewster.
1646.
George Partridge.
1676.
David Alden.
1647.
Wm. Merritt, [Merrick ?]
1677.
Edw. Southworth.
1648. Thomas Hayward.
1678. John Simmons.
1649.
Francis Sprague.
1679.
Joseph Chandler.
1651.
John Vobes.
1680.
Wrestling Brewster.
1652. Wm. Bassett.
1681.
Benj. Bartlett, Jr.
1653.
Thomas Heyward, Jr.,
1682. John Partridge.
Abraham Sampson.
1683. Josiah Holmes.
1654.
John Aimes.
1685.
S Robert Barker,
1655. Wm. Clark.
Samuel Bartlett.
1656. Edw. Hunt.
S Isaac Barker,
1657.
C. Southworth.
Joseph Harlow.
1658.
John Tracy.
Roger Glass,
1659.
John Washburn, Jr.
Francis Barker.
1660. Francis West.
1690.
John Russell.
1662. Benj. Bartlett.
1691.
Thomas Delano.
1664. Joseph Andrews.
1692.
James Partridge, Wm. Tubbs.
1665.
Samuel Seabury, Walter Briggs.
1693. John Tracy,
John Rogers,
Samuel Barker.
1666.
Richard Dwelly, Wm. Peakes.
1694. John Sprague,
James Bishop.
11
-
1689.
S Stephen Sampson,
1661. Henry Sampson.
S Thomas Oldham,
1663. John Sprague.
1687.
Wm. Vobes.
S Stephen Bryant,
1684.
82
TOWN CLERKS - RECORDS.
TREASURERS.
The earliest Treasurer of the town was William Brewster, who was succeeded by David Alden in 1701, then by Samuel Seabury ; then by Thomas Loring, who held it until his death in 1717; and he was succeeded by Philip Delano, who, in 1758, was followed by Judah Delano, who was succeeded by Maj. G. Bradford, Jr., who resigned to Eliphas Prior in 1777.
TOWN CLERKS.
By the Court it is ordered, " That the Clarke, or some one in every towne do keepe a register of the day and yeare of every marryage, byrth, and buriall & to have 3d apeece for his paynes." - Col. Rec.
The clerks have been, as far as is known -
William Pabodie, 1666-84.
John Wadsworth, 1711-50.
Rodolphus Thacher, 1685-94.
Dr. John Wadsworth, 1751-78.
Alexander Standish, 1695-1700.
John Wadsworth, 1701-8.
Benjamin Alden, 1786.
Samuel Sprague, 1709-10.
TOWN RECORDS.
It is greatly to be regretted, that the earliest records of Dux- bury are lost. We have evidence that they were burned, as the existing records testify. But who was the clerk at that time, and where they were burned, are questions, which pro- bably cannot be answered with any great degree of certainty. As Standish's house was burned about this time, it may be possible that they were destroyed there. The house was then occupied by Alexander Standish, who may have been clerk at the time, as he was many years after. The first entry on the first leaf of the present records was made by Wmn. Pabodie, in 1666 ; but there are entries of a date prior to this about ten or more years, in other parts of the book ; and it is a matter of doubt whether they were made at the dates annexed, or copied afterwards into the new book from private records or the Col- ony records. I allude not to the births, marriages and deaths of Mr. Pabodie's children, prior to that date, which might easily have been entered by him from his own private records, but to other entries, principally deeds, &c., which are entered in different parts of the book. Russell [Guide to Plymouth,] on authority of Lewis Bradford, town clerk of Plympton, favors the supposition that they were burned in Standish's
-
Joseph Freeman, 1779-85.
83
MISCELLANEOUS - STOCKS, ETC.
1636.]
house, Alexander Standish being clerk at the time. Rev. Jo- siah Moore [Soule's Sprague Memorial, ] says, " I am inform- ed, that they [the church records] were burned together with those of the town, at a fire which occurred at Pembroke, where at the time they were deposited." * The earliest ex- isting records consist of a small square parchment-covered book, in which the records are made in very little order, and a larger parchment-covered book; and these bring them down until about the year 1778 of the Revolution. Many of the records of the war were kept on loose sheets of paper, and those of 1781, 2, 3, appear to be missing.
MISCELLANEOUS.
1636, Oct. 4th. Mr .. Jonathan Brewster and Christopher Wadsworth from Duxbury, with two from Scituate, and four from Plymouth, were appointed to revise the ordinances of the Colony.
Stocks, pound, and whipping-post. 1637 : Time was given to the town to provide themselves with a pound and a pair of Stocks, and if they should fail, then " to be fyned by the Court for their defaults." 1640: Francis West, having been cen- sured and set in the stocks at Plymouth for some misdemeanor, was also ordered to make a pair of stocks, to be set up in some convenient place in Duxbury. 1641 : The town was pre- sented for not having a pound, and in 1642, there were given them, six weeks to provide one, and if they should not in that time then they were to pay £5 fine; and again, in 1650, the town was presented for the same thing; and in 1653 and 1655, for want of pound, stocks and whipping-post.
The Stocks were a frame of wood, consisting of two posts, from six to ten feet apart, and connected by a plank; and upon this is let down from above another plank, with openings on the lower edge sufficiently large to receive a man's feet, and by being fastened together the legs of the individual are kept in one position, while his hands are held in the same manner by a third plank above. Being thus confined, and his body supported by a stool, the culprit was doomed to sit,
* This is also the account, as Mr. Kent informs me, that he always received from Dr. Allyn, his associate in the ministry, and is perhaps entitled to greater credit, though by no means substantiated. See under C. Southworth, among the "First Settlers."
1 S
1
84
MISCELLANEOUS.
[1637.
and to be the laughing-stock of the crowd around, until the term of confinement had expired. The introduction of this machine into England is believed to have been during the thirteenth century. Stocks and whipping-posts were ordinary appendages to a meeting-house until of late years. As late as 1753 we find in the town records this among the town charges : "Joseph Freeman for making stocks, 10 shillings."
1637. Mr. John Howland and Mr. Jno. Brewster were ap- pointed for the town of Duxbury, to attend to the preservation of the beaver trade.
The Court ordered the 500 acres lying between Eel River and the South River to be divided, and Jno. Brewster and Edmund Chandler were chosen on the part of Duxbury " to agree upon an equal course for the division."
1638. Ordered by the Court, " that no more land shal be granted on Duxburrow side untill there be a view taken there- of, that such lands may be graunted as shal be found fitt, not to prjudice the graunts already made to the neighbourhood there."
1639, Nov. 9. A town meeting was held "for making of such lawes and orders as should be thought good and benefi- ciall." Wears were ordered to be placed at Morton's hole, Bluefish river and Eaglenest.
For the building of the prison at Plymouth, John Barnes and George Bowers were ordered to see the lumber brought, and the Duxbury men " to place it into the leighter."
1641. The Assistants and Deputies had liberty given them to grant land of themselves.
1642. The Town was ordered to give John Rowe satisfac- tion for the water overflowing his house.
1644. Mr. Collier and " whom he pleaseth wth him," of Duxbury, with the Governor and Mr. Prence of Plymouth, and Mr. Winslow and Mr. Thomas of Marshfield, were chosen to revise the laws.
1646. This is a list of the freemen of Duxbury for this year ; those marked with an asterisk are crossed out in the original record on the Colony books. The elections and other business of the Colony were confined to the freemen, who were, on special application, admitted to those rights, church-member- ship, however, being a necessary qualification. This was a requisite until about 1664, when it began to be discontinued ; but was not, however, entirely given up until 1686. A certi- ficate from the pastor of a good moral character, was never- theless required.
Mr. Wm. Collier, Mr. John Alden, Capt. Standish,
Mr. Ralph Partridge, Jno. Brewster, *Stephen Tracy,
85
MISCELLANEOUS.
1659.]
Wm. Bassett,
*Lt. Wm. Holmes,
Edmund Chandler,
Wm. Tubbs,
Christopher Wadsworth,
Francis Sprague, Mr. Comfort Starr,
Love Brewster,
*Mr. Wm. Kemp,
Experience Mitchell, Roger Chandler,
*Job Cole,
*Joseph Rogers, Saml. Nash,
*John Tisdall, George Partridge,
Abraham Peirce,
Wm. Brett,
Moyses Symonson,
John Washburn,
Henry Sampson,
Thomas Heyward.
1659. Constant Southworth was sent by Duxbury to con- clude with the agents of the other towns, about letting out the trade at Kennebec.
1662. C. Southworth and Benj. Bartlett were appointed for the town, " to take invoice of what liquors, wine, powder and shot " should be brought into the Government.
1668, Nov. 25th. Day of Thanksgiving throughout the Colony.
1670. Freemen of Duxbury -
" Mr. John Aldin,
Mr. Constant Southworth,
*Mr. William Collyare, dec'd, Mr. John Holmes,
Edmund Weston,
William Clark,
Mr. Christopher Wadsworth,
Robert Barker,
Experience Mitchell,
*John Washburne, Jun'r, Abraham Sampson,
Phillip Delano,
Francis West,
Benjamine Bartlett,
Moses Simons, Henery Sampson,
John Tracye,
*Francis Sprague,
Ensigne Jonathan Aldin,
William Tubbs, John Rogers, Sen'r,
Joseph Wadsworth, Mr. Samuell Saberry,
Abraham Peirse, Sen'r,
John Sprague, Samuel Hunt,
Gorg Partrich, Gorge Soule, Sen'r,
John Wadsworth,
John Washburne, Sen'r,
Benjamine Church,
Mr. Allexander Standish,
Mr. Josias Standish,
John Rogers, Jun'r, Rodulphus Thacher."
1 Those marked * are crossed out on the record.
1671. The selectmen ordered to pay the Indians for dam- ages occasioned by the horses and hogs of the English.
Mr. John Aldin, Jun'r, William Paybody,
Leift. Samuell Nash,
Constant Southworth, John Paybody,
Henry Howland,
*Mr. Thomas Besbeech, George Soule,
Philip Delano,
86
MISCELLANEOUS. [1672.
June 13. Day of Public humiliation " in reference unto the sad deplored state of our native contrey."
1672. Saml. Seabury and John Tracy were ordered to pre- vent the further "transporting of plankes, boards, bolts and barke."
1683. The selectmen were ordered to make provision for the paupers in the town.
1683-4. A list of Freemen of the town presents forty names.
1688. Eighty-four individuals had died in Duxbury up to this date. - Wadsworth Records.
1690. John Wadsworth was appointed to view whales, that may be cast ashore in the town.
Rateable estates in Duxbury amount to £1500.
1711, Sept. 4th. Saml. Seabury was chosen to act as the town's attorney at Court; and, Dec. 12th, Capt. Arnold for the same duty.
1712. " Marshfield, Nov. 28 : On Tuesday, the 25th cur- rant, six men going off the Gurnet Beach in a whale boat at Duxberry after a whale, by reason of the Boisterousness of the sea, oversetting the Boat, they were all drowned, viz., William Sprague, Ebenezer Bonney, and Thomas Baker of Duxbury ; Thomas Wright, Job Cole, and Andrew Seaward of Marsh- field."- Boston Newsletter, Dec. 8, 1712.
1721, Oct. 20th. The town "voted to chuse Trustees to take out of the Treasury ye sd town's proportion of ye fifty thousand pounds ordered the last year by ye General Court to be emitted, and chose three Trustees, viz., Mr. John Par- tridge, Capt. John Alden and Mr. John Fish, and ordered that ye sd money should be hired at five pounds per cent. to such persons as shall give sufficient security for ye same, and that less than ten pounds nor more than tweenty pounds should be hired out to any one particular person." In 1728, (May 16th, ) Edward Arnold, Joshua Soule, and Pelatiah West were chosen their Trustees.
1724, Dec. 3d. A whale captured off the beach.
1732. At the launching of a sloop at Bartlett's yard, three and a half gallons of rum were drank.
1765. Dr. Harlow's house burnt at midnight. Abigail his daughter, æt. 13, and Polly Dabney, Mrs. Harlow's daughter, æt. 11, were burnt to death. Mrs. Harlow, a large woman, jumped from the chamber window into the snow without in- jury. - K.
1770. A dead whale was found a quarter of a mile from the beach, and five sharks were devouring him. One of the sharks was killed, and blubber enough taken out of him to make a full barrel of oil. The whale washed ashore and made 15 barrels.
87
MISCELLANEOUS.
1772.]
1772, Feb. 11th. " About one o'clock, P. M. the house of Mr. Richard Louden of Duxborough, inn-holder, took fire. It being considerable advanced before the discovery, though in the day time, there being a large quantity of flax in an upper chamber, where the fire appears to have begun, the weather very dry and windy, the house was consumed with nearly all the contents." - Hist. Coll.
1774, May 16th. " Voted that the Treasurer shall put to suit and prosecute for the time to come any person or all per- sons, that shall take in any person or families, belonging to any other town, as tenants or 'mates or friendship, or any straggling persons whatsoever, into their houses or shelters without certifying the Selectmen by a writing from under their hands, of their names and the places where they came from last, and the time they took them in, within the space of twenty days next after they took them in, according to law."
1778. In the months of April, May, June, July and Octo- ber, about 300 persons were inoculated with the small pox on the islands in the bay, under the treatment of Dr. Winslow of Marshfield, and not one died of the disorder. - Hist. Coll.
1780, May 19th. Very dark, between the hours of 12 and 2, in the day time, and at the same time in the night.
1793. There were living in Duxbury, sixty-three persons over 80 years of age, two of whom were nearly 90, and one male and five females past that age. - Hist. Coll.
In regard to the general health of the town of late years, it may be said, it has been good, and not a larger proportion of deaths have occurred, than in other seaport towns along the coast ; and, it is believed, that it would be found that there was not a higher average of deaths, than in most of the inland towns of the State; and the air deriving properties, from its immediate proximity to the sea, is not less conducive to health, than the dryer atmosphere of the interior.
1794, Nov. 3d. The town chose Rev. Dr. Allyn and Ben- jamin Alden to make surveys for a map of the town.
1797, Nov. 28th. " Dr. Eleazer Harlow's house took fire and was consumed with the effects in it." - Hist. Coll.
1798. An excise was laid upon all carriages for the con- veyance of passengers by the U. S. Government. This included chaises, sulkies, chariots, carryalls, etc. The list of individuals owning such, and who were taxed, is pre- served. In Halifax there were 3, Hanover 14, Duxbury 16, Kingston 23, Marshfield 26, Scituate 30,. and Pembroke 32. Those of Duxbury were Ezra Weston, William Loring, Michael Louden, Mercy Alden, Malicah Delano, John Allyn, Joshua Hall, Nathaniel Winsor, Samuel Chandler, Seth Bradford, Stephen Russell, Jotham Loring, Gamaliel Brad-
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88
MISCELLANEOUS.
[1801.
ford, Benjamin Freeman, Jonathan Loring and George Par- tridge.
1801, July 27th. " Voted (by the town) that Major Judah Alden receive communications respecting the villany com- mitted against the Rev. Mr. Allyn, and that he prosecute the same; this Town having been informed that the dwelling house of Rev. Mr. Allyn has been repeatedly broken open and sundries stolen and carried away, and other outrages committed in said house : which conduct is received by the town derogatory to their reputation and honor, and dangerous to the peace and honor of society ; especially as it has been committed on the dwelling of their minister. Therefore voted that whoever will detect and bring to legal conviction and punishment, the person or persons concerned in the above audacious villany shall receive the sincere thanks of the town, and a reward of five hundred dollars in money."
This was a time of great excitement in the town. The .. house of Dr. Allyn was at various times broken open and robbed of household utensils. Other depredations were com- mitted on the premises. Stones were heard at night to strike the roof, and to rattle down the sides of the house, yet no one was to be discovered without, although watches were sta- tioned nightly. On one Sunday, while the family were at church, the house was fired; but it was discovered and extinguished without any great damage being done. So great was the agitation among the people, that some even suspected that the days of witchcraft had returned. Finally a servant girl in Dr. Allyn's employ was suspected, and brought before a court of inquiry; but no evidence was obtained against her, and the matter was dropped.
89
PEQUOT WAR. - VOLUNTEERS.
1632.]
GENERAL HISTORY.
CIVIL AND MILITARY.
1632. Soon after the settlement of the town, the Court fearing that trouble would arise with the natives, who might take advantage of their dispersed and scattered situation, passed orders for the common safety as follows : - "In regard for our disprsion so far asunder and the inconveniency that may befall, it is further ordered that every freeman or others inhabitant of this Colony provide for himself and each under him able to beare armes a sufficient musket or other serviciable peece for war wth bandeloroes* and other apur- tenenances wth what speede may be. And that for each able prson aforesaid he be at all times after the last of May next ensueing furnished wth two pounds of powder, and two pounds of bullets, and for each default in himselfe or servt to forfeit ten shillings." -Col. Rec.
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