USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Medford > History of the town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1630 to 1855 > Part 11
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We pray, that, in case the before-described lands are laid to said Medford, it may not be subjected to any cost or charges on account of the before-mentioned part of said bridge and the Causey adjoining.
Which petition we humbly conceive will appear reasonable by what follows : -
First, The contents of the said town of Medford are exceedingly small, amounting to but about two thousand acres, the inhabitants very few, and consequently its charges very great, compared with other towns. Besides, as to brick-making, upon which our trading and a great part of our other business depends, it very much fails.
Secondly, The said town of Charlestown almost encompasses the town of Medford, and therefore (notwithstanding the great necessity) it cannot receive large addition from any other town.
Thirdly, Those that now dwell on the said tracts of land, and those who heretofore dwelt on them, have from time to time enjoyed the liberty of attending the public worship in Medford without paying any thing to the taxes there. Neither is there any probability that any of the inhabitants of said lands, or any other persons that may settle on them, can with any conveniency attend the public worship in any other town. Moreover, the inhabitants of the said southerly tract are within about half a mile of said Medford meeting-house, - the greatest part of them, - and the rest within a mile.
And the inhabitants of the northerly tract before mentioned are, the farthest of them, but about two miles from said meeting-house. And great part of the lands in both the said tracts are now owned and possessed by those who are with us in this petition, and some of the inhabitants of said Medford.
Besides, we apprehend it to be a very great hardship for the inhab- itants of said tracts of land to be obliged to go, almost all of them, more than four miles, and others more than seven miles, to town-meetings, trainings, etc.
Furthermore, we would humbly move that some of the honorable members of the General Assembly may be appointed to view the premises petitioned for, etc.
In consideration of what is before mentioned, and other moving arguments that might be used in this affair, we hope your Excellency and Honors, in your great wisdom and goodness, will grant our petition. Although the inhabitants of said Charlestown have not been pleased to be so free (when petitioned) as to let us know whether they would gratify us herein or not.
So shall your petitioners, as in duty bound, ever pray.
CALEB BROOKS. JONATHAN TUFTS.
BENJAMIN PARKER. JOHN JENKS.
BENJAMIN TEAL. ROBERT CRANE.
JAMES TUFTS. JOHN DEGRUSHY.
EBENEZER MARROW.
MEDFORD, Dec. 13, 1753.
III
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
We the subscribers, being owners of a considerable part of the said lands, and having dwelling-houses thereon, do hereby signify that we heartily join with the inhabitants of Medford in the foregoing petition.
SAMUEL BROOKS, EBENEZER BROOKS, Z. POOL, JOSEPH TUFTS, STEPHEN HALL,
Committee for Medford.
This petition was granted April 17, 1754, giving to the town all its territory south of the Mystic.
Although Medford greatly needed and desired to have more inhabitants, she did not allow strangers to take up their residence without careful inquisition touching their character. The right of citizenship was something to be jealously guarded, and it was the custom to warn every new-comer out of town. It was a strange manifestation of hospitality, but it was a legal method by which to prevent persons liable to become town-charges from gaining a set- tlement. The notification was also sent to the Court of Sessions, and there recorded under the name of "Caution." This habit continued till the time of the Revolution. Pau- pers were kept out by the most stringent prohibitions. The town voted, that if any person, male or female, omitted to comply with the law respecting admission, such person should be fined forty shillings.
From the start, the people were jealous of any invasion of the rights secured to them by the charter, and gave some of the earliest expressions of enlightened patriotism, and presented a firm attitude of resistance to the encroachments of royal authority. An instance of this kind is recorded as follows :-
"Jan. 31, 1732: Voted, that it was declared by the inhabitants that it was their desire that their representative should at all times act with the greatest caution, and stand for the defence of the privileges granted us by his Majesty in the royal Charter."
" Aug. 5, 1754: Voted, that the part of the Excise Bill of his Majesty which relates to the private consumption of wine and spirits shall not be in full force."
This seems to smack of rebellion, but it was not so intended. The people stood by their rights under the charter, and gave to every provision therein such a con- struction as the spirit of the whole instrument seemed to justify.
II2
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
Progress was made from year to year in all formal pro- ceedings, and we give here another record of a town-meet- ing
At a town-meeting legally convened at Medford, March 7, 1748, Mr. Andrew Hall was chosen Moderator.
Dea. Benj. Willis,
Samuel Brooks, jun, William Tufts, Fence-viewers.
Capt. Samuel Brooks, Selectmen.
Lieut. Stephen Hall,
John Hall,
Thomas Seccomb, Town-clerk.
Stephen Greenleaf, )
Benj. Parker, Town-treasurer.
John Bishop, Hog-reeves.
Joseph Tufts, )
Thos. Brooks, & Assessors. Edward Hall,
John Tufts,
Jacob Polly, Wood-corders.
Stephen Willis, chosen Constable, refused to serve, and paid {10, old tenor.
Thomas Brooks, Jonathan Watson, / Surveyors of Boards and
Francis Whitmore, 2d Constable, but refused to serve, and paid {10, old tenor.
Capt. Saml. Brooks, § Timber. Samuel Reeves, Pound-keeper.
Samuel Reeves, 3d Constable. He refused to serve, and paid £10, old tenor.
Samuel Francis, Benjamin Tufts, { Haywards, or Field-drivers.
Samuel Page, hired to serve as Constable, for £25, old tenor.
Simon Bradshaw, Joseph Tufts,
Deer-reeves.
Henry Fowle,
Stephen Bradshaw,
Lieut. John Francis,
Stephen Greenleaf,
Andrew Hall, Esq., Capt. Samuel Brooks, Lieut. Stephen Hall, jun., Zechariah Poole,
A Committee to manage the affair of obtaining some part of the lands now belonging to Charlestown, with the inhabitants thereon.
Ebenezer Brooks, Joseph Tufts,
Lieut. Stephen Hall, jun .. ( A Committee to audit the Town-treasurer's accounts for the year past, 1747, and the town's accounts likewise.
Thomas Brooks,
In 1768, it was "voted that a committee be chosen to draw up and lay before the town some salutary method or plan for discouraging extravagance, and promoting indus- try and frugality amongst us." The committee made the following report :-
We the subscribers, being chosen a committee to consider of some method to discourage extravagance, idleness, vice, etc., and pro- mote industry and frugality, do present the following resolves, passed in the House of Representatives Feb. 26, 1768, for an example to this town.
In the House of Representatives, Feb. 26, 1768. Whereas the happiness and well-being of civil communities depend upon industry, economy, and good morals ; and this House taking into serious con- sideration the great decay of the trade of the Province, the scarcity of money, the heavy debt contracted in the late war still remaining on the people, and the great difficulties by which they are by these means reduced : therefore
Resolved, That this House will use their utmost endeavors, by example, in suppressing extravagances, idleness, and vice, and pro- moting industry, economy, and good morals, in their respective towns. And in order to prevent the unnecessary exportation of money, of which this Province has been of late years so much drained, it is further resolved, that this House will, by all prudent means, endeavor
Jonathan Hall, Tithing-men.
Dea. Thomas Hall, Sealer of Leather,
Benjamin Parker, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Surveyors of Highways.
Stephen Bradshaw, Grand juror.
Ebenezer Francis,
II3;
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
to discountenance the use of foreign superfluities, and encourage the manufactures of this Province.
THOMAS SECCOMB. SAMUEL ANGIER.
BENJAMIN HALL. JOHN BISHOP.
JOSHUA SIMONDS.
WILLIS HALL.
THOMAS BROOKS.
MEDFORD, April 1, 1768.
THE TOWN-MEETING was from earliest days a marked occasion for the boys. The school had the day as a vaca- tion. The gallery of the meeting-house was ornamented with urchins from six years old to half-men of fifteen, who had come there to learn unconsciously the science of republicanism. The front seats were all filled, and each boy was eagerly watching the progress of events below. If a new road, wharf, grist-mill, engine, schoolhouse, or candidate was to be brought forward for discussion, the. boys had already taken sides on the question, and waited impatiently for its introduction to the meeting. When the long-delayed debate ensued, each gallery politician swelled with joy and hope as a favorite speaker rose. This ebbing and flowing of youthful emotions were the republican edu- cational influences brought to bear on the boys of every village ; and the lad of twelve years felt an interest in poli- tics, while he of twenty had settled his choice of party and men, and was ready to vote understandingly. The absence of this republican pupilage in Europe makes a proper repub- lic there almost an impossibility.
All town-meetings were warned in "his Majesty's name " until 1776, after which our fathers ceased to recognize roy- alty as a power among them. The form first substituted was, " In the name of the government and people of Massa- chusetts Bay."
By comparing the officers in Medford, as seen in the years. 1748 and 1782, it will appear that the separation from Eng- land made not the slightest difference in the municipal organization or modes of elections. The only change dis -- coverable is, that, before the " Declaration of Independ- ence," the town-meetings were warned "in his Majesty's name," but after 1776 they were warned "in the name and by the authority of the people," and, after the adoption of the Constitution, "in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." The need of no change in their politi- cal system shows that the first plan of town-officers and municipal elections was based upon the idea of republi-
II4
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
can equality, and submission to popular majorities. True democracy grew up as a necessity among our fathers ; and from these town organizations resulted a true republican education, out of which "independence " grew. Enlarged and Christian patriotism is the result of wise and liberal town administrations. We cannot too highly prize our separate town municipalities. They are the primary schools of the republic, and do for the state what indi- viduals do for the family.
By comparing the result of the town-meeting held in 1748 with that of another held in 1782, the reader will see an increase in the number of town-officers. The record of the election runs as follows : -
At a town-meeting legally convened in Medford, March 4, 1782, Benjamin Hall, Esq., chosen Moderator; Richard Hall, Town-clerk.
Benjamin Hall, Esq., )
John Bishop,
Joshua Simonds,
Selectmen.
Benjamin Floyd, jun , )
Capt. Ebenezer Hall, |
William Bradshaw, Pound-keeper.
Richard Hall,
Timothy, Newhall, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Jonathan Patten, Treasurer.
Joshua Simonds,
Samuel Reeves,
Willis Hall,
James Wyman,
Assessors.
John Fulton, Wood-corders.
Moses Billings,
Moses Hall,
Capt. Samuel Brooks, J
Sergt. Blanchard,
Jonathan Foster,
John Wade, Deer-reeve.
James Tufts, jun., S
Gardner Greenleaf, !
Isaac Tufts,
Jonathan Foster,
Jonathan Patten, Bread-weighers.
Capt. Caleb Brooks,
Gershom Williams,
Timothy Newhall, Noah Floyd,
Fence-viewers.
James Wyman, S
Moses Hall, Salt-measurer.
James Willey,
Capt. Caleb Brooks, Grand juror.
Hutcherson Tufts,
Field-drivers.
Simon Tufts, Esq., Capt. Ebenezer Hall,
Ebenezer Thompson, Noah Floyd,
Nathan Tufts,
Hog-reeves.
Ebenezer Thompson,
Capt. Isaac Hall,
Hutchinson Tufts,
Moses Hall, Surveyor of Hoops.
Benjamin Tufts, Collector; fees, five pence per pound.
Fire-wardens.
Willis Hall, Richard Hall,
To the Treasurer's
Accounts
Hezekiah Blanchard, Surveyors of High- Thomas Bradshaw, ways.
Ebenezer Hall, jun , )
Aaron Hall, Richard Hall,
John Leathe, ( Sealer of Leather.
Moses Hall, { Tithing-men.
Constables.
Thomas Bradshaw,
Samuel Kidder, William Burditt, Surveyors of Lumber.
There are some offices named in the town-records up to this time which were once common in all New-England towns, but which are now unknown. The office of tithing- man is one of them. It was a title given to a parish offi- cer who was annually elected to keep order in the church during divine service, and to make complaint of any inde- corum. The writer can recollect such an officer ; and one duty which he performed was that of rousing up the sleepy ones during a long sermon, by a gentle touch with his long cane, or tithing-rod. Disorderly boys and girls also received
115
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
his attention, and sometimes the touch with his rod was not very light.
The reader may desire to know why such an officer should have been elected by the town, and not by the churches ; and the answer is significant. In the early days of the New-England townships, there was usually but one church in the town; and everybody had t ) contribute to its support. When the town became so populous that two churches were needed to accommodate the worshippers, they were both of the same denomination ; and the people had to pay towards the support of one or the other : there- fore the town looked after the good order of its church or churches. It should be remembered too, that, for a long time, only church-members were voters ; so that the church and parish were identical.
Hog-reeves also are officers unknown in our day. They were appointed by the town in open town-meeting, and were to have in charge the hogs which were allowed to run at large. If the owners did not properly restrain them, they were liable to do mischief to the lands and crops, and it became important that the town should see to them. Hog-reeves, therefore, had to keep them out of poorly fenced enclosures by putting a yoke on their necks ; and to prevent the hogs from rooting up grass, vegetables, yards, and paths, wire rings were put in their noses.
Indeed, at town-meetings, the people in their corporate capacity endeavored to regulate every thing ; and some of their regulations seem almost ludicrous to those holding present ideas. We give in this place an example of a sumptuary law passed by the town Aug. 29, 1779, -only a little more than a hundred years ago, -by which the prices of certain things were fixed. The prices may seem extravagant; but they are set down in a depreciated cur- rency, the value of which we shall explain in another place. The established rates were as follows : -
Tailors, for making a suit of clothes for a man £15. os.
Blacksmith, shoeing a horse all round . £4. IOS.
West-India toddy, one bowl 18s.
West-India flipp, one mug . 18s.
New-England toddy, per bowl.
125.
New-England flipp, a mug I2S.
Breakfast
18s.
Common meat supper
20s.
It is evident that the products of the still played an important part in the dietary system of our fathers.
116
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
The method of collecting taxes from unwilling debtors was peculiar, and sometimes severely effectual. When a person would not pay, the constable was commanded to take his goods, and sell them "at an outcry for payment," - public auction. There were instances where this matter was carried to an extreme, especially in the collection of the religious tax; for in the early colonial times many a man had his only cow taken, and sold at "an outcry for pay- ment" to cancel his parish tax. But this action was not the result of any partiality to clergymen, as will be seen by the following item of the Medford town-records.
May 13, 1773 : The new question arose, whether a cler- gyman not settled, nor ministering to any parish, should be freed from taxation. After much reflection, the town "voted not to abate Rev. Mr. Edward Brooks's poll-tax." Many other votes of the town show progress in the regu- lation of town business.
March 7, 1796: Voted to pay assessors two dollars per day while making taxes. This is the first record of the kind.
March 6, 1797 : For the first time the town voted to pay the town-clerk for his services ; and they gave him twenty dollars.
1828 : Heretofore the selectmen had met at times agreed upon by themselves ; but now the town voted, "that it shall henceforth be the duty of the selectmen to meet on the first Monday of every month for business ; " and no busi- ness shall be done by them at other times.
"May 7, 1836 : Voted, that in future the practice or cus- tom of allowing the town-officers an annual supper at the town's expense be dispensed with.
April 6, 1840: The town adopted the following by- laws : -
" I. If any one deface a building, fence, etc., he shall be fined not more than twenty dollars.
"2. If any one neglect to keep in repair any cellar-door which projects into the street, he shall be fined twenty dollars.
"3. If any cellar-door be left open in the night, without a light to reveal it, the owner shall be fined twenty dollars.
"4. No awnings to project more than eight feet from the front wall.
" 5. No gate swing across the street, and no coal left on sidewalk ; penalty, five dollars.
"6. Notice to build shall be given ; penalty, five dollars.
"7. No post put up in the street without permission from the selectmen ; penalty, ten dollars.
OLD SWAN HOUSE, HIGH STREET.
II7
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
" 8. No obstructions of the street; penalty, five dollars.
" 9. No dirt, ashes, etc., put in the streets ; penalty, ten dollars.
" IO. No wheelbarrow or cart on sidewalks; penalty, five dollars.
" II. Snowballing, throwing stones, etc., whereby persons may be annoyed in the streets ; penalty, five dollars.
" 12. No bathing in exposed places ; penalty, five dollars.
" 13. Fast driving forbidden ; penalty, ten dollars.
" 14. Clerk of the market shall be appointed annually.
" 15. Dogs without a collar, between May I and Oct. I, to be killed by the police.
"16. No dog shall disturb any neighborhood, and after being warned, penalty one dollar for each day after notice is served.
" 17. Police shall see to the peace of the town, and complain of all disorderly boys.
" 18. All fines to be paid into the treasury."
While these by-laws show the care of the inhabitants of Medford for externals, the following votes show a deeper care for moral interests : -
" Feb. 13, 1843: Voted, that all good citizens should cease using spirituous and intoxicating liquors, and should unite to prosecute those who sell them."
" March 8, 1847: Voted, that a committee of twelve be chosen to enforce the License Law.
" Voted, that the selectmen be instructed to oppose the granting of licenses for the sale of intoxicating drinks in this town, and draw on the treasury for all necessary expenses in this duty.
"Voted, that said committee prosecute without lenity in all cases of the breach of the License Law.
"Voted, that the overseers of the poor be instructed not to purchase any thing for the poor and almshouse, where intoxicating drinks are sold."
July 19, 1852 :-
" Whereas the Legislature of this Commonwealth passed, at the last session, a law for the suppression of places for the sale of intoxicating drinks : therefore
" Resolved, That the officers of this town be instructed to execute the law in every instance of its violation."
Feb. 15, 1855 :-
" The town-agency for the sale of spirituous liquors [say the selectmen] has been in existence two and a half years. The agent has given general satisfaction. The experiment thus far has been satisfactory, and the agency is sufficient to meet all the reasonable demands of the inhabitants for spirituous liquors."
The next record of a town-meeting which we shall insert is of that which was held March 5, 1810, when the following officers were chosen for the year ensuing : -
I18
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
Fitch Hall, Moderator. Abner Bartlett, Town-clerk. Nathan Wait,
Andrew Blanchard, } Cullers of Hoops and
William Bradbury, Staves.
Benjamin Tufts,
Fitch Hall, -
Jonathan Brooks, ₹ Luther Stearns,
Selectmen.
Jeduthan Richardson, Joseph Wyman,
Fence-viewers.
Benjamin Tufts,
Jonathan Harrington, ) Calvin Turner,
Joseph Manning, Treasurer.
Thatcher Magoon,
Surveyors of Lumber.
Caleb Brooks,
Ephraim Bailey, Assessors.
Joseph Swan,
Nathan Wait,
Constables.
Jeduthan Richardson, { Surveyors of High- Samuel Tufts, jun., ways.
Timothy Dexter, John Burrage, Ephraim Bailey, Joseph Church,
Measurers of Wood.
James T. Floyd,
Jonathan Warner,
It will be seen from the above, that the choice of a "tithing-man " was continued up to the time of this meet- ing ; but that officer was soon afterwards dispensed with.
Expenses. - The first book kept by the treasurer is lost. From the second, which begins in 1729, and others of later date, the following items of expenses are taken. The mod- ern modes of book-keeping were not known to our fathers. There were sometimes two or three rates made in a year, varying from twenty to two hundred pounds. The money collected by the constable was paid into the treasury; but the accounts of the treasurer were not examined until a new treasurer was chosen. Then a committee was appointed to examine the accounts, and transfer the books. A natural consequence of such book-keeping was, that the accounts of one year ran into those of the next ; and, thus mixed up, the items of several years were summed up in one footing. After 1775 more regularity obtained. Another fact should be noticed in the following accounts, -the bewildering depreciation in the value of money. For fluctuations in the currency, see the tables.
Old Tenor.
Samuel Brooks, treasurer from 1729 to 1732. Amount paid for town-expenses, three years . £1,446 9 1
Ebenezer Brooks, treasurer from 1735 to 1743. Amount
paid for town-expenses, eight years . 2,265 0 7
Benjamin Parker, treasurer from 1743 to 1749. Amount
paid for town-expenses, six years 4,886 10 I
Lawful Money.
Aaron Hall, treasurer from 1761 to 1767. Amount paid for town-expenses .
674 19 7
James Wyman, treasurer from 1767 to 1771. Amount
paid for town-expenses, four years. . 2,162 12 2
Gershom Teel, Tithing-men.
Timothy Dexter, John Dixen, Darius Wait, Jonathan Harrington, )
Joseph Wyman, S
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
119
In these four years (1767 to 1771) are included a por- tion of the expenses of building the meeting-house, in 1769. The pews paid the greater part of the cost.
Lawful Money.
Expenses from 1771 to 1772
£558 3 4
1777 to 1778
1,414 4 4
3,061 18
Borrowed .
2,850 O O
(Depreciated money) .
5,311 18 6
1779. Expenses (raised by tax)
8,814 0 0
Borrowed .
8,635 4 4
Extra expenses on account of the war 17,449 4 4
1780. Raised by tax
. 101,401 19 10
Borrowed .
5,383 7 0
(Depreciated money)
106,785 6 10
1786. March, to March, 1787
1,440 15 0
1800.
66
66
66
4,317 16
1820.
66 66 66
66
5,608 93
1835.
15,300 15
1840.
¥
66
20,004 26
1850.
66
15,186 18
All the public buildings now in use have been erected since 1820, such as the Town-House, schoolhouses, engine- houses, etc. ; and by the erection of them, the opening of new streets, and the building of bridges, the town expenses have been increased year by year.
It may be interesting to compare the expenses of 1818 and 1884. They are as follows. For 1818 : -
Minister's salary and grant of wood
$500 00
Poor
1,225 46
Paid Charlestown for paupers
241 00
Roads
507 63
Schools
740 00
Abatement of taxes
258 47
Town-officers
150 00
Collecting taxes
270 00
Expenses for opposing a new road
150 00
Interest on town-debt .
141 00
For injury of horse on drawbridge
50 00
Sexton .
25 00
Miscellaneous expenses .
94 56
Total
$4,353 12
66
66
$3,188 II
1810.
1790. Expenses of town for one year
861 5 6
1830.
66
66
5,348 78
17,314 21
1845.
1778 to 1779 (by tax)
I20
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
The expenses of the year ending Jan. 31, 1884, were as follows : -
Almshouse and outside relief .
$7,527 II
Fire-department
5,374 29
Highways and new streets
9,791 93
Interest
10,084 97
Police-department
4,947 03
Public schools
29,021 68
Street-lamps
3,983 06
Water-works
10,500 00
Other departments and miscellaneous expenses
37,779 15
Total
$119,009 22
Medford a Town from the Time of its Settlement. - Froth- ingham, in his excellent " History of Charlestown " (p. 92), says, "Medford was not a town : it was rather a manor, owned by one of the leading inhabitants of Charlestown."
We shall very good naturedly dissent from this statement, and show cause.
We have every reason to suppose that the town-officers in Medford were like those in the adjoining plantations. Our first records speak of selectmen, sometimes called " Sevenmen," because these seven men acted as governors of the town, assessors, and referees. They were also called "Townsmen," because they represented the whole town, and acted for the inhabitants. There was a town-clerk, who recorded the doings of the selectmen and the town, and also granted attachments in civil actions. There were surveyors of highways, whose duty it was not only to direct the laborers, but to see that every one did his share. There was the constable, who warned public meetings, and col- lected the taxes.
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