USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Medford > History of the town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1630 to 1855 > Part 35
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I
Isaac Farewell
O IO
IO
IO
IO
O
0 46
9
O
2
8
Mr. Samuel Brooks
O
IO
I
3
O
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II
Mr. Jonathan Dunster
Captain Josiah Convers
Jabesh Brooks
O
O
4
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James Tufts .
Stephen Hall
John Albery
O
IO
Jonathan Tufts
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6
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Mr. Ebenezer Brooks.
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6
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4 7 4
Captain Peter Tufts
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2
16
O
19
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John Hall, jun. .
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6
9
6
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3
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7
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Nathaniel Wilson
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Samuel Wade
John Willis
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Nathaniel Hall
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IO
5
4
0
O
2
7
Jonathan Hall
O IO
O
O
5
6
O
I
6
3
O
O
o
O
Richard Belsher
Peter Waitt
Samuel Polly, jun.
Francis Lock
Aaron Blanchard
IO
Mr. James Tufts
6
O
4
6
Mr. Thomas Tufts
IO
Joseph Wright
John Francis, jun.
Richard Rookes
Thomas Oakes
I
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o
O 12
3
Stephen Willis, sen.
IO
I
I
O
IO II
To judge accurately of taxes paid by our ancestors after
O
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ONO 2
3
O
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Ensign John Bradshoe Thomas Hall
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5
II
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o
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Nathaniel Peirce
6
8 16
2
O
12 O
Pacifall Hall .
O
I
15 3
O
O
O
9
O
3
Ebenezer Nutting
3
O
O
6 0661 6
9
O
O
I
4
O
2
7
O
4
9
Samuel Kendall .
O
I
6
Joseph Blancher
9
4
O
O
I
II 4
6
6
O
O
I
William Willis
O
Thomas Dill .
O
O
Thomas Willis, jun.
O
Mrs. Mercy Wade .
I2
I5
15
C
O
O
6
I
370
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
1710, it is needful to know the rate of depreciation in the "Province bills," which were taken in payment for taxes. In 1710 one ounce of silver was equal to 8s. of these bills ; in 1722, 14s. ; in 1732, 19s .; in 1742, 28s. ; and in 1752, 60s.
In July 20, 1720, the General Court ordered, that taxes might be paid in, live-stock and merchandise, instead of money ; and, from 1720 to 1750, live-stock in Medford was valued, on an average, as follows : Oxen, four years old, £2 each ; horses, three years old, £2; bulls and cows, three years old, £1. Ios. ; swine, above one year old, 8s. each ; sheep and goats, 3s. each.
In those towns which had vessels, a decked vessel was valued, for taxation, at £1. ios. per ton ; and undecked vessels (Medford lighters), at £1 per ton. Stock in trade was valued at one-quarter of its worth ; male Indian and negro slaves at £15 each, female at £10.
To show a list of tax-payers in 1730, and their relative rates, the following town-tax for £50-the half-yearly pay of Rev. Ebenezer Turell -is inserted : -
Heads.
Real Estate. Personal Estate.
48
S.
d.
€
S.
d.
s. d.
Captain Ebenezer Brooks Mr. John Bradshaw
O
9
O
I
I
0
O
9 9
O
6
O
12
3
O
3 9
Deacon John Whitmore . John Richerson, Esq.
O
3
3
6
O
O
9
3
3
3
Deacon Thomas Willis
O
6
3
Mr. John Whitmore O
6
3 3
O
3
Mr. William Willis
Mr. Benjamin Willis
O
3
3
3
3 6
O
18
8
O
2
O
John Bradshaw, jun.
O
3 6
O
9
4
O
2
I
Jonathan Bradshaw
o
3
O
IO
6
o
2
O
Nathaniel Hall .
O
3
O
9
4
O
O
II
O
3
0
7
O
O
I
3
Captain Samuel Brooks
O
8
4
6
4
0
8
O
3
2
8
Mr. Francis Whitmore O
Mr. William Patten O
5
IO 4
3 4
O
3 I
5 I
O
4
3
Mr. Andrew Hall
Mr. Thomas Oakes Joseph Tufts .
O
O
15
6
O
7
5 7 9 IO
Mr. John Albree
Mr. John Hall
7 8
8 2
O
I 3 4 I 2
O O II
Mr. Jonathan Hall .
O
9
12
II
O
3
O
7
4
Lieutenant Stephen Hall Deacon Thomas Hall
o
2
5 4 8
O
O
6
7
O
4
Captain Samuel Wade O Thomas Tufts, Esq. Mr. Peter Seccombe Mr. John Willis O
O
17 18
14
I6 14 12
8
2 O
I IO
O
18
8
4
3
Dr. Simon Tufts
3
14 9
3 II
3
II
7
9
II 14 16
37I
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
Heads.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
€
s.
d.
42
s.
d.
42
S.
d.
Nathaniel Francis .
O
3
O
O
9
6
O
I
3
Stephen Francis Samuel Polly
O
3
O
3
O
6
o
3
O
3
O
3
O
3
C
3
O
6
O
0
Joseph Francis
O
3
O
6
O
3
O
3
3
O
3
O
3
3
3
6
3
O
3
O
3
O
3
O
3
o
3
3
3
O
4
I
O
O
O
Samuel Bradshaw .
O
3
O
7
O
O
O
Stephen Bradshaw. William Watsen
O
3
6
O
4
9
O
O
C
0
Jonathan Polly
O
3
O
3
O
3
O
3
O
3
O
3
3
O
3
O
3
O
3
O
3
O
6
o
3
3
3
O
3
O
3
O
3
O
I
3
O
O
O
O
O
O
3
4 6
O
5 O
5
Benjamin Weber Jonathan Weber William Benford John Atwood
John Tufts
4
I
3
O
O
O 8
Stephen Greenleaf Richard Waite . Jacob Polly
Samuel Turner .
9
9
O
O
4
Joseph Weber
O
O
2
o
0 4
I
II
3
O
O
O
O
O
5
Jonathan Watsen Thomas Dill .
O
3
O
O
4
C
C
4
Jonathan Tufts
0
O
O
O
O
O
O
Edward Hall .
O
4
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Thomas Graves
6
O
I
O
O
0
O
O
O
4 4
I
O
O
5 4
Edward Oakes
0
3
I
Caleb Brooks Matthew Ellis Abner Harris
O
3
O
8
4 4 2
Aaron Blanchard
O
I
4
I
4
I
O
O
C
0
2 4
041 I
4
4
C
2
O
I
O
O
O
Oliver Atwood
O
O
o
Ebenezer Francis
o
John Fossit . Enoch Greenleaf
John Stimson
O
William Patten, jun. Ebenezer Brooks, jun. Stephen Hall, jun.
Robert Cresson.
O
o
041034020 I 3 2
o
7
O
o
5 4
Stephen Patten . Eliot Patten .
William Hall
O
2
2
4
0
4
O
Ebenezer Tufts .
O
O
Thomas Brooks
John Fillebrown
O
O I
O
O
O
12
IO
O
O
O 4 4 0
O
O
2
3
O
O
O
O
0
3
O
O
9
4
2
4
O
O
O
O
O
5
4
Daniel Paine.
Jonathan Hall, jun. Thomas Phillebrown O
O
O
O
I
5
IO
4
I
4
0
O
O
4
I
O
O
Benjamin Tufts .
O
O
I
4 4 4
O 9
3
I
000
o
C
O
O
John Elder
O
William Pelam William Waite
Deacon Jacob Parker .
3 O O
O
O O
Richard Martin . Jonathan Tomson
o
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
372
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
Heads.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
42
s.
d.
€
s.
d.
€
s. d.
Jonathan Tufts .
O
O
o
O
3
9
O
C 0
James Wright
O
O
O
O
Joseph Damon .
Jonathan Dunster
Henry Dunster
David Dunster
Jacob Wayman
O
O
O
O
John Francis
O
6
Benjamin Parker
O
Richard Sprague
5
I
O
O
IO
Joseph Tomson
O O
6
4
I
O
O
4
Samuel Brooks, jun. O
3
O
4
8
O
3
7
Total, ninety-eight persons.
As a specimen of the town expenses and tax for one year, let us take 1747. They are as follows (old tenor) : -
Balance due the town from last account £41 5 3
Whole town-tax for 1747 . 490 14 4
£531 19 7
Treasurer paid, during the year 1747, by orders from said
town
431 15 II
Balance due from treasurer
100 3 8
Errors excepted. Pr. JOSEPH TUFTS,
THOMAS BROOKS,
I
O
5
O
8
2
2
4
o
IO
O
4
O
IO
I
2
II
2
IO
6
O
0
7
Samuel Page
Widow Mary Tufts
O
O
O
O
0
II
James Tufts .
3
o
II
IO O
Joseph Wright
William Symmes
2
4
8
Samuel Francis .
O
9
IO
Committee.
June 5, 1753, the General Court laid a tax on coaches, chariots, chaises, calashes, and riding-chairs. Medford, in 1754, had I chariot, 7 chaises, and 31 chairs. Cambridge, during the same time, had 9 chaises and 36 chairs. Woburn had 2 chaises and 9 chairs. Malden had 2 - chaises and 20 chairs.
During the Revolutionary struggle, debts were accumu- lated to vast amounts ; and, on the 26th February, 1781, the Legislature stated, that £950,000, specie value, were needed to meet the annual current expenditures, £320,000 of which were to be discharged by taxes. At such a time, when parsimony would have been crime, as timidity would have been treason, our patriotic ancestors marched nobly forward, as their prompt payment of the following taxes testify. In 1781, Medford paid £1,177. IOs .; in
Mr. Alla Abigail. Brooks YourState, Town, and County Taxes, for 1796, are
Polls.
Real.Efate.
Perjonal Eftate and faculty.
Sum Total.
No.
Dols. Cents
Dois, Cents. 54 - 1. 62
Dois. Cents.
Dels. Cents.
State
63
Town and County -
4-89
12:52
Received payment
Collector.
Medford BAph.
chien - 170% Ihrer Williams
373
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
1786, £1,016. 5s. ; in 1791, £88. 6s. IId. Ratable polls in Medford (1784) were 223.
List of occupiers of houses, in 1798, who are taxed for more than $100 : -
Samuel Albree.
Asa Adams. Benjamin Hovey. Benjamin Teal. Caleb Brooks.
John Bishop.
John B. Fitch.
And. Blanchard and A. Winship.
Timothy Dexter.
Caleb and Simon Blanchard.
Nathan Wait.
Jane Hall.
Thomas Bradshaw, jun.
Nathaniel Mead.
John Blanchard and James Floyd.
Tab. Blanchard and J. Gleason.
Ebenezer Hall, 4th.
Samuel Coverly.
Richard Hall.
Parker and Watson.
Joseph Pratt.
J. Pratt and M. Tufts.
Jos. P. Hall.
Stephen Hall.
Thomas Hadley.
Thomas Bradshaw.
Andrew Blanchard.
Duncan Ingraham.
Timothy Newell.
John C. Jones.
John Walker and Jos. Tysick.
Joanna Kidder.
Samuel Kidder.
Abner Peirce.
Francis Burns.
Thomas Learned.
William Lowder.
David Bucknam.
Jude Symonds.
David Osgood.
Josiah Polly.
Jonathan Porter.
Isaac Pratt.
Thomas Hewes.
Benjamin Reed. Peter Tufts.
James Tufts.
G. Williams and Dan. Farrington. William Bucknum.
Sam. Hall and John Greenleaf.
J. Bannister and Lucy Pritchard. Jeduthan Richardson.
Joshua Symonds. John Symmes.
Josiah Symmes. Ebenezer Symonds. Thomas Savel. Daniel Symonds.
Samuel Thompson.
Benjamin Floyd, jun. Isaac Floyd. John Fowl. Gardner Greenleaf. Isaac Greenleaf. Edmund T. Gates. Ebenezer Hall. Nathl. Hall and Susan Patten. Willis Hall. Abigail Hadley.
Samuel Hadley. Benjamin Hall. Benjamin Hall, jun. Ephraim Hall. Andrew Hall.
Abigail Bishop. Samuel Swan. Ebenezer Thompson.
Zachariah Shed.
Leonard Bucknam. Spencer Bucknam.
John Bacon.
Abigail Brooks and Rufus Frost. John Brooks and Mary Patten. John Brooks. Jethro Townsend.
Caleb Brooks, jun.
Thomas Brooks.
S. Buel and Augustus Hunt.
James Convers. Jonas Dixon.
Hezekiah Blanchard, jun. Ruth Benford.
Jonathan Brooks. William Bradbury.
Marah Billings. Hezekiah Blanchard.
John Leathe.
John Chadwick. John Cutter. Miles S. Wilson.
Jonathan Dunham. Aaron Crowell. William Earl. Deborah Francis. Sarah Fulton. Henry Fowle. Benjamin Floyd.
Ebenezer Hall, jun.
374
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
Samuel Teal.
Nathaniel Watts. Ebenezer Williams.
Samuel Teal.
Samuel Tufts, jun.
Isaac Warren.
Abigail Tarbutt. Benjamin Tufts.
Joseph Wyman.
Gershom Tufts.
James Wyman. John Wade.
Jacob Tufts.
Hutchinson Tufts.
Peter Tufts.
Isaac Tufts.
- Webster. Joseph Wyman.
Daniel Tufts.
Benj. Pratt and - Brown.
Ebenezer Tufts.
Isaac Greenleaf and H. Popkins. John Wright.
James Tufts.
Jonathan Godden.
Gershom Teal.
John Hall and Joseph Tufts. Francis Wait.
Hutchinson Tufts, jun.
James Kidder.
The inhabitants occupied one hundred and thirty-six houses, which were valued at $74,032.80; making an aver- age value of $544 each. The town valuation of all other property was $160,1 16.60. Taxes were assessed on 4,603 acres of land.
We may close these tables of taxes by inserting the State valuation tables for several decades. Medford stands thus : In 1790, its State valuation was $9,441.68 ; in 1800, $15,036,08 ; in 1810, $26,311.19; in 1820, $30,507.84; in 1830, $931,050; in 1840, $1,095,195.31. In 1850, real estate, $1,212,551.50 ; personal, $915,919. We give a more detailed statement of valuation and taxes from 1861 to 1883 :-
TOWN OF MEDFORD.
YEAR.
STATE TAX.
STATE, COUN- TY, AND TOWN TAX.
VALUATION.
TOTAL. .
Personal.
Real.
I86I
$38,198.64
$1,739,670.00
$3,443,421.00
$5,183,091.00
I865
$24,957.00
75,775.65
1,933,485.00
3,161,521.00
5,095,006.00
1870.
13,275.00
84,186.00
2,230,634.00
3,741,870.00
5,972,504.00
1875 .
8,160.00
173,743.00
1,859,102.00
8,028,415.00
9,887,517.00
1.880 .
7,695.00
113,823.00
1,763,940.00
5,582,675.00
7,346,615.00
1883 .
7,020.00
131,723.00
1,708,479.00
5,882,045.00
7,590,524.00
These tables of taxes prove how Medford, from small beginnings, gradually increased in numbers and wealth. There was never any sudden development of its resources, but a steadily increasing use of its natural advantages. Its march became more and more rapid as we approach
Watts Turner.
Eleazer Usher.
Gardner Greenleaf.
Benjamin Tufts, jun.
Convers Francis. John Mead and John Williams.
Jonathan Tufts.
375%
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
the nineteenth century, when its increase and prosperity were equal to those of any town in the State.
As the records of the first forty years of the town are lost, we have hunted in every crevice and corner to find representative facts belonging to that period ; and, after availing of each fragmentary tradition, we have fixed on the taxes assessed by the General Court and county, as indicating with most precision the ability and condition of the earliest settlers ; and, having discovered their ability and condition, it is not difficult to imagine their labors, habits, and advancement. We have thus taken the taxes as our light-house, to guide us along the unmapped coast of our new settlement.
In the record of taxes, one occasionally finds strange. facts. Here is one : "June 27, 1695. As an unusual requisition, females who earned a livelihood were taxed each two shillings, being half what the males were assessed. a head, in the tax of this date."
In our town-records we find the following notices side by side : "May 5, 1750: Voted to abate Thomas Brooks, jun.'s rates (£4. 13s. 4d., old tenor), he being not of age." "Voted to abate Lieutenant Stephen Hall's rates for his head (£3. 5s., old tenor), he being very old." In our ear- liest history, when the inhabitants had raised a certain sum in advance, two men, Nathan Lyon and Roger Scott, who had contributed their share, soon after moved out of town. At the next town-meeting, it was unanimously voted to refund to these men what they had paid.
CURRENCY.
To understand the currency used by our Medford ances -. tors, is to understand much of their habits and customs ; for the mediums of exchange and barter, whatever they be, exert a magical influence over the labors, wishes, and attachments of society. Whatever has been prescribed by legislative authority, or adopted by general usage, as a medium of exchange, may be denominated currency. The substances adopted as a standard of value have been very various in different ages and countries. In ancient times, in Italy and Greece, the standard was cattle, sometimes leather ; in Europe, a silver nail, iron bars, tin plates ; in India, shells ; in Africa, bricks and beads ; in Mexico, maize and cocoa ; in the West Indies, sugar; in Newfoundland,
376
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
dried cod ; in Virginia, tobacco; and, among the Indians, wampum.
In this last article, and in peltry, our ancestors traded much with the aboriginal inhabitants. Wampum was a belt formed of shells, black and white. "The white," says Roger Williams, " were made of the stock, or stem, of the periwinkle, when all the shell is broken off ; and, of this sort, six of their small beads, which they make with holes to string their bracelets, are current with the Eng- lish for a penny. The second is black, inclining to blue, which is made of the shell of a fish, which some English call hens-poquahock; and, of this sort, three make an English penny. One fathom of this, their stringed money, is worth five shillings."
To show how this shell-currency of the natives was pre- pared for ready exchange, we quote the law of Oct. 18, 1648 :-
" It is ordered, for trial till the next court, that all passable or pay- able peage henceforth shall be entire, without breaches, both the white and black, without deforming spots, suitably strung in eight known parcels, - one penny, threepence, twelvepence, five shillings, in white; twopence, sixpence, two shillings and sixpence, and ten shillings, in black."
Medford paid its share towards the support of Rev. Messrs. Patricke and Underhill ; and, Sept. 7, 1630, "it is ordered that Mr. Patricke and Mr. Underhill shall have allowed them, for half a year's provision, two hogsheads of meal, four bushels of malt, ten pounds of powder, and lead to make shot ; also house-room provided for them, and fifteen pounds twelve shillings in money to make other provision from the time they begin to keep house." These records show how the Pilgrims managed their currency : -
" Sir Richard Saltonstall is fined four bushels of malt, for his ab- sence from court."
" Mr. Robert Saltonstall is fined five shillings, for presenting his petition on so small and bad a piece of paper."
"Chickataubott is fined a skin of a beaver, for shooting a swine of Sir Richard Saltonstall."
Silver was exceedingly scarce at the time Medford was settled ; hence the necessity of adopting some other stand- ards of value. All accounts were kept in the pounds, shillings, pence, and farthings of the mother country. For more than half a century, the law of Oct. 18, 1631, was in active operation here. That law was as follows : -
377
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
" It is ordered that corn shall pass for payment of all debts, at the usual rate it is sold for, except money or beaver be expressly named."
Oct. 3, 1633: " It is agreed that the best sort of laborers shall not take above eighteen-pence a day, if they diet themselves; and not above eightpence a day, if they have diet found them. Further, it is ordered that all workmen shall work the whole day, allowing conven- ient time for food and rest."
Nov. 8, 1633: "Ordered that no persons shall sell to any of the inhabitants within this jurisdiction any provision, clothing, tools, or other commodities, above the rate of fourpence in a shilling more than the same cost, or might be bought for ready money, in England."
Sept. 3, 1634: " No person that keeps an ordinary shall take above sixpence a meal for a person ; and not above one penny for an ale- quart of beer, out of mealtime."
March 4, 1635 : " Ordered that musket-bullets of a full bore shall pass currently for a farthing apiece, provided that no man be com- pelled to take above twelvepence at a time of them."
The legal premium allowed for the loan of currency was eight per cent, and so continued for a short time after the second charter. These facts and laws reveal to us the every-day calculations, and many of the social habits, of our Medford ancestors ; and, in the absence of town- records, serve as authentic data from which we can write the history of their cares and labors, their sacrifices and prosperity. They found it difficult to pay the wages of their workmen and servants. Even such men as Govern- or Winthrop were hard pressed in this way. He illus- trates the severities of the common lot in these words : -
"I may report a passage between one Rowley and his servant. The master being forced to sell a pair of his oxen to pay his servant his wages, told his servant he could keep him no longer, not knowing how to pay him next year. The servant answered him, he could serve him for more of his cattle. 'But what shall I do' (saith the master) ' when all my cattle are gone ?' The servant replied, 'You shall then serve me ; and so you may have your cattle again.'"
It was natural enough that such extremities as these should awaken the public mind to some modes of perma- nent relief ; and they did suggest the establishment of a mint at Boston. May 31, 1652, the General Court ordered, that, " from and after the Ist of September next, and no longer, the money hereafter appointed and ex- pressed shall be the current money of this Commonwealth, and no other, unless English (except the receivers consent thereunto)." Thus 1652 saw our fathers coining money without the consent of the king, to whom alone belonged the constitutional right of so doing.
The building erected for the mint was sixteen feet
378
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
square and ten feet high. Such an edifice surely could not deserve the sneer of that adage, "Twelve pence laid out on the purse, and only six in it."
One effect of introducing a New-England coinage was to change the custom of computing in Old-England cur- rency; for, in the London market, the American coin sank at a rate of one-quarter below theirs.
The device on the die was as follows : "A double ring on either side, with this inscription, Massachusetts, and a tree in the centre, on the one side; and New England, and the year of our Lord, on the other side." This was called the "pine-tree currency ;" and it was in use for more than a hundred years. The pine-tree was a favorite emblem with our fathers. It expressed to them some- thing un-English, and something durable. When inde- pendence was declared, Massachusetts (April 1I, 1776) put it on her State flag, and fought the battle of Bunker Hill under its ancestral encouragements. It gave place only to the thirteen stripes.
When Thomas Temple, Esq., went to London, in May, 1662, and was introduced to the King, he presented his Majesty with specimens of our coins. Seeing a tree on one of them, Charles inquired, "What sort of a tree is that ?" Mr.' Temple immediately replied, "It is the royal oak, which preserved your Majesty's life." The an- swer conciliated the unbotanical king, and induced him to grant Mr. Temple what he asked.
The mint was suppressed by James II. ; and thereupon, in 1686, our Massachusetts patriots began to move in the establishment of a bank; and, on Sept. 18 of that year, President Dudley and council granted liberty to cer- tain directors "to issue bills, on security of real and per- sonal estate." These continued but three years. Dec. 10, 1690, the General Court established a provincial bank, and issued paper-money to the amount of seven thousand pounds, in bills from five shillings to five pounds. This paper currency continued in use till 1750. These paper bills, soon after their issue, fell in value at least one-third. The government tried to remedy this evil by allowing five per cent advance on the specie and par value of the bills in all public payments. This restored them to par for about twenty years. They were called "old charter bills." June 8, 1693, the General Court changed the rate of inter- est from eight per cent to six.
*
OTHERUNITED ECONTES
XXX DOLLARS
Currency. . 30D
XXX
No.10302 Thirty Dollars.
56 FIVE STILLINGS 6
and fix-pence.
shall be paid to the Bearer
of this Bill,by
the 1, Day of
Decem,1782
agreeable foam
RISING.
act of the Gen, Court of said State.
.08
XXX
ESTINOT 30
LINDEHD
FIVESHILLINGS & fix-pence
THIRTY DOLLARS.
Five Shillings and Six Pence ..
CEMT
·
Philadelphia : Printed by Hall and Sellers.
BODYDA 1779.
FACSIMILE OF CONTINENTAL MONEY.
Continental
This BILL entitles the Bearer to receive THIRTY Spanith milled DOLLARS. for the Value thereof in Gold or Silver, ac- bording to the Refelx- tions of the Congref's het at Philadelphia,
ACHUSETTS STATA
RE
Thirty Dollars
-
379
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
So common had become the vicious habit of clipping gold and silver money, that the government issued a proc- lamation, March 3, 1705, "that no money shall pass by tale but what is of due weight." Almost every family had a pair of scales to weigh the gold and silver they took.
The two crusades against Canada, about this time, forced the colonies to issue "bills of credit," to pay the soldiers. These lost credit, and somewhat depreciated ; and here was another embarrassment suffered by our fathers. De- cember, 1724, Judge Sewall says, " The diminution of the value of the bills of public credit is the cause of much oppression in the Province." Colden says (1728), "Our paper-currency has gradually lost its credit, so as at present sixteen shillings is but sufficient to purchase an ounce of silver." Governor Belcher says (1733), "Sixteen shillings in these bills will not purchase five shillings lawful money."
Lawful money, as distinguished from old tenor, is first mentioned in the Medford records, May 17, 1750. The town voted, May 21, 1751, to give Mr. Turell, as salary for that year, £73. 6s. 8d. (lawful money), which was equal to £550 (old tenor). In 1754, voted to give him £80 (lawful money), which was equal to £600 (old tenor).
In 1761 £10 were equal to £75 old tenor, £24 to £180, and £80 to £600.
It is not easy, in our day of plenty and power, to esti- mate those perplexities and fears of our fathers which came from an empty treasury, a defenceless country, and an embarrassed trade. To show how very slowly they must have gathered money, we give a table of prices of such productions as were taken for rates at the treasury. Good merchantable beef, £3 a barrel ; do. pork, £5. 10s. ; win- ter wheat, 8s. ; summer, 7s. ; barley, 6s .; rye, 6s .; Indian corn, 4s. ; oats, 25. 6d. a bushel. Flax, Is. 4d. ; hemp, 9d. ; beeswax, 2s. 6d. a pound. Pease, clear of bugs, 9s. a bushel. Sweet firkin butter, 12d. a pound. Merchantable dry cod- fish, fI. Ios. a quintal; mackerel, £1. Ios. ; oil, £2. 10s. a barrel. Whalebone, six feet long and upward, 35. 6d. ; bayberry-wax, Is. 4d. a pound. Turpentine, full bound, I3s. ; merchantable bar-iron, 48s. ; cast-iron pots and kettles, 48s. a hundred. Well-cured tobacco, 4d. ; good tried tallow, 8d. a pound.
We can but faintly conceive the embarrassments which our ancestors here must have encountered from the fluctu- ating prices of their products ; especially when, as in 1740,
380
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
there were circulating in Massachusetts public bills of four provinces, at 29s. for an ounce of silver ; new tenor of Massachusetts at 6s. 8d., but current at 9s. 8d. oz. of sil- ver ; Connecticut new tenor at 8s., and Rhode Island new tenor at 6s. 9d. Our fathers, under these circumstances, must have been good mathematicians to understand this occult chemistry of trade.
July 30, 1781 : Medford voted " to raise £100 in specie, in lieu of the £400 raised on the 29th of June last." This would seem to imply that £100 specie was worth £400 of New-England money. Aug. 20, 1781 : "Voted to raise £450 hard money, instead of the £1,300 paper money, voted in May last."
It is not necessary to trace further the currency of the Province, or to show the effects of the issue of " Continen- tal money," or the "sword-in-hand" money of 1775, or the influence of the Stamp Act, and the subsequent oppres- sions of the Crown upon the trade, comfort, or hopes of our fathers. The currency of the country, from its settlement to the present time, pertains as much to the town of Med- ford as to any other town. It makes part and parcel of its history. It influenced every family's labor, and shaped the town's laws. May 12, 1791, the town voted to sell the "old Continental money " then in the treasury for the most they could get for it. We have given these details, that our readers may see how the fathers and mothers, the brothers and sisters, of the olden time, were obliged to think, calculate, and act, in their pecuniary intercourse with their neighbors and public functionaries. Trading and shopping then were very different operations from what they are now. The word pay was used to denote whatever was employed as currency or medium of exchange. Sup- pose a farmer went to buy a pair of oxen, how would the colloquy proceed ? Somewhat thus : Neighbor A. : "I want to buy your two-year-old steers : what do you ask for them ?" - " I will sell ; but what's your pay ?" Answer : " Flax at Is. 4d., butter at 12d., winter wheat at 8s., and the rest in paper at 17s. per ounce of silver." This is satisfactory, and so they trade. A dialogue between two merchants, in the purchase of a ship, would be something like this: Mr. S. : "What will you take for your bark 'Columbus' ?" Mr. T. : "You know that depends on the pay." Mr. S .: "My pay is, double-johns at £4. 16s., moidores at 36s., pistoles at 22s., the rest in old-tenor bills
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