USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Medford > History of the town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1630, to the present time, 1855 > Part 39
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The earliest payments were made in money ; but after- wards the Province agreed to take beaver, grain, pease, cattle, fish, lumber, &c. This was called country pay, and also called specie : this last word retained its early meaning till within seventy or eighty years of our time. After the " Pro- vince bills of credit" were introduced, country pay for Province taxes ceased in 1694.
As Charles I., by his charter of March 4, 1629, released the Pilgrims from " all taxes, subsidies, and customs, in New England," our fathers had no taxes but what were necessary in their own borders.
To show how taxes were assessed at our earliest history, the following specimens may suffice.
At the first Court of Assistants, under Winthrop, in Charlestown, Sept. 28, 1630, the following was passed : -
" It is ordered that there shall be collected and levied by distress, out of the several plantations, for the maintenance of Mr. Patricke and Mr. Vnderhill, the sum of fifty pounds ; viz., out of Charlton, seven pounds ; Boston, eleven pounds ; Dorchester, seven pounds ; Rocksbury, five pounds; Watertown, eleven pounds; Meadford, three pounds ; Salem, three pounds; Wessaguscus, two pounds ; Nantascett, one pound."
This tax was paid for instructing the colonists in military tactics ; an art quite necessary for self-defence against unknown
1
409
TAXES.
Indian tribes. In Nov. 30, 1630, the same court levied a tax of sixty pounds, to pay the two public preachers, Rev. George Phillips and Rev. John Wilson ; and the places and sums were as follow : "Boston, twenty pounds ; Charlton, ten pounds ; Rocksbury, six pounds ; Meadford, three pounds ; Winnett-semett, one pound."
Feb. 3, 1632, the same court levied a tax of sixty pounds, to make a palisade for the defence of Newton, that town having been chosen as the seat of government. To this tax, twelve towns contributed ; and Meadford paid three pounds.
In March 4, 1633, another levy was made to pay military teachers ; and here Meadford again paid three pounds. Thus our town seems to have taken its place with contiguous plan- tations in bearing its proportion of the public burdens. The levy, in each place, was made by the officers of said · planta- tion or town; and the following order, from the general government, attests to the ideas of right universally exist- ing : -
" 1634, May 14 : It is further ordered, that, in all rates and pub- lic charges, the towns shall have respect to levy every man according to his estate, and with consideration of all other his abili- ties whatsoever, and not according to the number of his persons " [or the individuals of his family ].
" 1636, March 3: For explanation of an order made at the Gene- ral Court, in May, 1634, it is ordered, that hereafter all men shall be rated, in all rates, for their whole ability, wheresoever it lies."
In a general levy of £600, in 1634, Meadford paid £26 ; Charlestown, £45. In 1635, in a levy of £200, Meadford paid £10, and Charlestown £16. Keeping about these pro- portions, Medford paid its share as follows: In 1635, £19. 15s. ; in 1636, £15; in 1637, £49. 12s .; in 1638, £59. 5s. 8d .; in 1639, '40, and '41, no record of tax; in 1642, £10; in 1643, £7.
Winthrop tells us, that, -
"Of a tax of £1,500, levied by the General Court in 1637, the proportion paid by Medford was £52. 10s .; by Boston, £233. 10s .; Ipswich, £180; Salem, £170. 10s .; Dorchester, £140; Charles- town, £138; Roxbury, £115; Watertown, £110; Newton, £106; Lynn, £105."
Mr. Savage says of this time (1637), " Property and num-
52
410
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
bers, in a very short period, appear to have been very un- equally distributed between Medford and Marblehead."
The diversity in the several years was owing to accidental occurrences, such as supporting the expedition against the Pequods; also for service-money, to prevent the effort in England to withdraw the charter of Massachusetts, and to liquidate charges in London.
The rates and prices were distinguished as follow : -
" It is ordered, that, in payment, silver plate shall pass at five shillings the ounce ; good old Indian corn, growing here, being clean and merchantable, at five shillings the bushel; summer wheat, at seven shillings the bushel ; rye, at six shillings and eightpence the bushel ; and, for horses, mares, cows, goats, and hogs, there is a committee appointed to value them under their worth, rather than above their worth."
At this time (1644), Medford began to pay its tax to Har- vard College. Each family was required to send one peck of corn annually, for the support of poor students.
Until 1646, the poll-tax of each man in Medford was one shilling and eightpence. On real estate, one penny on the pound.
The above data show how heavily or lightly Medford was taxed during the first ten years of its history. The grants of land made, in 1634, by the General Court, to Rev. Mr. Wil- son, of Boston, Mathew Cradock, Esq., of London, and Mr. J. Nowell, were exempted from taxation ; and, as some of them laid within the limits of Medford, it made this town an exception. In the records of the General Court, April 4, 1641, we find the following : -
" It is ordered, that all farms that are within the bounds of any town shall be of the town in which they lye, except Meadford." "Meadford declared a peculiar town, Oct. 15, 1684.'
While it was right in the General Court to make gifts of land, tax-free, to such distinguished benefactors of the Pro- vince, it deprived Medford of so much annual income as said districts would have paid. No complaint was made on this account ; and our fathers struggled through nobly, notwith- standing their small means, and yet smaller numbers. The above record of taxes tells a tale of deep interest. We can see how a handful of first settlers, in a wilderness district, who could only pay three pounds towards a provincial tax, must live from year to year. Fed by what they could raise from
411
TAXES.
their own lands, and clothed by what they could weave in their own looms, their cares must have been uniform, pressing, and material. Bound together in a common lot and a com- mon danger, they must have been well acquainted with each other, and must have passed much time in friendly consulta- tion for the common good. With these elements before us, it will be easy for every one to imagine what our earliest set- tlers could not do, and what they could ; and thus see their habits, actions, and hopes.
After these inferences from the taxes of Medford, during the first ten years of its history, we can proceed to gauge its growth in succeeding years by the same media.
" At a Court of Elections at Boston the 14th of the third month, 1645, the levy upon the towns of the Province was £616. 15s. ; and Medford's amount was £7."
There were three kinds of taxes, - province, county, and town. The first tax-bills of Massachusetts Colony, which were made out by counties, began October, 1659; and, in these, the tax of " Meadford " was far lower than that of any adjoining town.
In 1657, " Meadford " was taxed as one of the towns of the county of Middlesex, in a county levy, £3. 6s. 11d. ; in 1658, £3. 3s. 1d .; in 1663, £4.4s. 6d .; in 1670, £4. 12s. ; in 1674, £4. 3s. 10d .; in 1676, £4. 1s. 10d. During these years, Cambridge was paying £40; Woburn, £25 ; Malden, £16; and Charlestown, £60. A county-tax of £1. 13s. 9d., levied on Meadford, Jan. 17, 1684, was paid by the inhabi- tants as follows : -
4)
S.
€
s. d.
Capt. Jonathan Wade 0
0 8
Capt. Nathaniel Wade John Hall
0 0
6 4 3 Jonathan Tufts 0 0 10
Caleb Brooks 0 1 11 Andrew Mitchell 0 0
8
Thomas Willis
Stephen Willis 0 1 10 Edward Walker 0 0 8
Peter Tufts, jun. . 0
Stephen Francis. . 0 1 10
John Whitmore 0
3 4 Jacob Chamberlain 0 0 8
Joseph Baker . 0 0 8
£1 15 8
The excess raised in this tax, over the sum required, was to pay the collector.
The valuation of live-stock, for rates in Medford, at this time, were the following : Oxen, four years and upwards, in
-
3 3 Daniel Woodward 0 3 7 Roger Scott 1 7 Gershom Swan 0 1 5 Isaac Fox . 0 0 11 d. 4 John Bradshor 0
0 0 8
0 0 7
412
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
1677, £3 ; in 1687, £5. Horses, three years and upwards, in 1677, £3 ; in 1687, £5. Cows and bulls, four years old, in 1677, £2; in 1687, £3. Sheep, above one year old, in 1677, 5s. each ; in 1687, Ss. Swine, above one year, in 1677, 10s .; in 1687, £1.
The first session of the General Court, under the second charter, began June 8, 1692 ; and they voted that 10s. a poll, and one-quarter part of the annual income on all real and personal estate in the Province, be assessed. These taxes, assessed upon the Province by the House of Representatives from 1692 to 1702, averaged £11,000 per annum. Of this sum, Medford paid, in 1692, £32. 18s .; in 1696, £42; in 1698, £20; in 1702, £19. 1s. ; while Malden paid, in the same years, £121, £90, £45, and £48. Woburn paid £181, £144, £75, and £85. Cambridge paid £214, £189, £102, and £102.
To show a town-tax at this period, and also the names most frequently occurring in the town's records, we here in- sert "a rate made by the selectmen, May 16, 1701, for defray- ing town-charges ; namely, for the deputy, and the laying in of ammunition ; and for fetching and carrying Mr. Wood- bridge, and the entertaining of him."
£
s.
d.
Maj. Nathaniel Wade 1
6
4
Jacob Shepherd . 0 13 S.
John Whitmore
0
8
Nathaniel Peirce
0
2 6
Stephen Hall, jun.
0
5 8 Timothy Prout
0 1 6
John Bradstreet .
0
7 6 Mr. Thomas Swan 0 1
0
2
4
Lieut. Peter Tufts 1 5 10 Mr. Joseph Prout 0 0 10
Ens. Stephen Francis 0 16 8 Francis Whitmore 0 4 0
Serg. John Bradshaw 0 11 5 Benjamin Marble 0
Mr. Thomas Willis . 0 17 6 James Wright
0
2 6
Nathaniel Hall 0 5 4 William Merroe
0
2
6
John Francis
0 12 6 Thomas Miler
0
2
6
John Hall, jun. 0 8
6 Mathew Miler
0
2
5
Jonathan Tufts
0 19 10 6
8 Thomas Clark
0
2
6 6
Stephen Hall, sen. 0 6
6 Peter Seccomb 0 2
Serg. Stephen Willis Ebenezer Brooks 0 17 8
1 1 4 Eben. Brooks his man 0
2
0
Samuel Brooks
0 10 10 Samuel Stone .
0
2
0
Mr. Richard Rookes
0 7
0 William Paten 0
2 0
Mrs. Elizabeth Wade 0 18 9 Mr. Jonathan Dunster 0
Parcill Hall
0 6 6 Mr. John Hall
1 10
George Blanchard 0
3
6
William Walden
0
2
6
Stephen Willis, jun. . 0
Benjamin Peirce 0
2
d.
0
Eliezer Wier . 0
6 7 5 James Tufts
0 4 5
8
John Man .
0 1 0 John Tufts .
2
6
.
0
1 8
413
TAXES.
The warrant issued to the constable empowered that func- tionary " to distrain the goods or chattels of any person or persons who refuse to pay ; and in case there be no goods or chattels, then he is to seize the body of any person who refuses, and commit him to the county jail."
To show what taxes were assessed for, it will be interest- ing to see a record of the entire debts of the town of Med- ford, April 19, 1710. It is as follows : -
s. d. thirteen sabbaths, at 1s. 6d. per sabbath . 0 19 6 Brooks, and Samuel Wade, 5s. per man, - paid to Mrs. Bradstreet, for nursing Rachel Blanchard 1 0 0
Due to Ebenezer Brooks, for actions entered in court . For taking a copy out of the records, &c., about Jolin Man .
0 4 6
0 3 0
For pocket expenses, in tending court three days . Due to Thomas Willis, for sweeping meeting-house, 1709 0 15 0 Due to Mr. Samuel Wade, for John Man's diet eleven weeks, at 3s. per week . 1 13 0
Also boarding John Man three weeks, at 4s. per week . Also for five weeks' sickness in the eleven weeks' board aforesaid
0 4 0
Due to Thomas Hall, constable, for James Tufts's head- money .
0 10 0
Due to Stephen Willis, sen., for pocket-money at Court of Sessions, three days
0 3 0
Due to Ensign Stephen Francis, for boarding John Man ten weeks, at 4s. per week
2 0 0
Due to John Francis, for money paid to the clerk about a presentment of Mistick Bridge
0 2 6 For pocket expenses at court, three days, about John Man 0 3 0 Money paid for searching the records about John Man 0 0 9
£8 13 3
To show the relative amount and distribution of property among the inhabitants, the following record of taxes paid by each is here inserted : -
" Sept. 20, 1711 : This list is a county rate that was made and perfected by the assessors, in obedience to a warrant from James Taylor, gent., treasurer, for the levying a tax on polls and estate, both real and personal."
£
Due to Ensign John Bradstreet, for dining the ministers
Due to Captain Peter Tufts, John Francis, Ebenezer
1
0 2
0 12 0
414
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
Heads.
Real estate.
Personal estate.
£
s. d.
£
s.
d.
€
S.
d.
Lieutenant Thomas Willis
0 10
0
1 16
0
0 10 11
Ensign Stephen Francis . John Francis, sen.
0 10
0
1
4
0
0 16 11
John Whitmore
0 10
0
11
7
0
7 7
Francis Whitmore
0 10
0
0 12
9
0
8
6
John Whitmore, jun.
0 10
0
0 10
6
0
8
3
Miss Elizabeth Wade
John Hall
0 10
0
1
1
5
0 12 0 2
Seth Richardson
0 10
0
0
6
9
0
4
9
Samuel Kendall
0 10
0
0
6
9
0
1
6
Joseph Blancher
0 10
0
0
5
3
0
7
0
Nathaniel Wilson
0 10
0
0
9
4
0
1
1
Samuel Wade
0 10
0
0 19
2
0
6
9
John Tufts
0.0
0
0 15
6
0
0
0
Stephen Willis, jun.
0 10
0
1 7
0
0
9
0
John Willis
0 14
0
0 15
0
0
8
0
Thomas Dill .
0 10
0
0 11
1
0
3
9
Nathaniel Hall .
1 0
0
0
4
6
0
0
0
Thomas Willis, jun.
0 10
0
0
6
0
0
6
0
Benjamin Peirce
0 10
0
0
5
4
0
1
0
Nathaniel Peirce
0 10
0
0
6
0
0
2
7
William Willis .
0 10
0
0
1
1
0
6
4
Jonathan Hall
0 10
0
0
8
0
0
5
7
Stephen Hall
1
0
0
0 16
2
0 12
0
Pacifall Hall
0 10
0
0 15
0
0
6. 9
1 0
0
0
3
0
0
1
6
Jonathan Blanchard
0
0
0
3
0
0
0 0
Richard Belsher
0
0
0
3
9
0
0 0
Peter Seecomb .
2
0
0 15
9
0
8 3
Ebenezer Nutting
0 10
0
12
0
0
7
1
Isaac Farewell .
10
0
0
3
0
· 0
1
Peter Waitt
0 10
0
0
0.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Francis Lock
0 10
0
0
0
0
0 0
0
Aaron Blanchard
0 10
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
Mr. James Tufts
0 0
0
0
4
6
0 4 6
Mr. Thomas Tufts
0 10
0
0
6
9
0
2 8
Mr. Samuel Brooks
0 10
0
1
0
3
0 10 11
Mr. Jonathan Dunster
0
0
0
0
6
9
0 0 0
Jabesh Brooks
0 0
0
0)
1
1
0 0 0
Joseph Wright
0
0
0
1
1
0 00
John Francis, jun.
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
Richard Rookes
0 10
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
Thomas Oakes .
0 10
0
0
0 0
1
0
1
6
.
Mrs. Elizabeth Wade
0 0 0
0
0
0
9
0
1 0
0
0
Mrs. Mercy Wade
0 0
0
0
12
4
1
Captain Josiah Convers
0
0
0
0
6
0
0
1 0
Samuel Polly, jun.
0 10
0
0
0 16
6
0 10
2
1 0
0
1 13 10
0
7
4
7
,
Samuel Polly
0
0
0
0
415
TAXES.
Heads.
Real estate.
Personal estate.
€ s. d.
James Tufts .
0
0 0
0
9 0
000
Stephen Hall
0
0 0
0
2
0
0
00 0
Ensign John Bradshoe
1
0
0
Thomas IIall
0 10
0 4 11
Mr. Ebenezer Brooks
1 0
0 0
0 10 1 1 1
5
11
1 7 4
Stephen Willis, sen.
0 10
0
10 11
Captain Peter Tufts
0 10
0
2 16
0 19
1
John Hall, jun. .
) 10 0
0
0
0
0 0 0
To judge accurately of taxes paid by our ancestors after 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 10s .; swine, above one year old, Ss. each ; sheep and goats, 3s. each.
In those towns which had vessels, a decked vessel was valued, for taxation, at £1. 10s. per ton ; and undecked ves- sels [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.
4)
s. d.
€
s.
d.
£
s. d.
0
9
0
1
1
0
9 9
0
6
0
3
0
0
3
0
0
8
2
0
3
0
6
0
C 17 18
8 6 4
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 3 4 9 6 3 2
10 4 0 7 4
Mr. Peter Seccombe
0 9
Mr. John Willis
Lieutenant Stephen Hall Deacon Thomas Hall .
0 0 0
3 3 3
0 0 14 C 16 0 0 0 14 12
0 8 0 2
7 4
8
s.
d.
s. d.
3 00 0
John Albery .
Jonathan Tufts .
0 10 0 1 1 0
0
1 14 0 19
6
1 12 3
1 0 13 10
6
0 0 12 3
3 9
Captain Ebenezer Brooks Mr. John Bradshaw . Deacon John Whitmore . John Richerson, Esq.
Captain Samuel Brooks . Captain Samuel Wade Thomas Tufts, Esq.
0
0 0 0
0
0 7 0 0 0
1 3
0 18
0 0
1
416
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
Heads.
Real estate.
Personal estate.
£
s. d.
€
S.
d.
£
S.
d.
Deacon Thomas Willis
0
6
0
0 11
5
0
1
9
0
3
0 0 14
4
0
3
3
0
6
0
0 16
8
0
4 0
Mr. William Patten
0
3
3
0 0
0 12
3
3
5
Mr. William Willis
Mr. Benjamin Willis
Mr. John Albree
Mr. John Hall
0
3
0
8
0
4
3
Mr. Andrew Hall
0
3
0
0 7 0 8 0 18
2 8
0
3 11
Joseph Tufts
0
3 6
0
0
9
4
0
2 1
Jonathan Bradshaw
0
3
0
0 10
6 0)
2
0
Nathaniel Hall .
0 3
0
0
9 9
0 11 4 0 6 0 1 3
Stephen Francis
0
3
0
0 0
4 4
0 0
0 1 2
Aaron Blanchard
0
3
0
0 0
0
1
4
Benjamin Weber
0
3
0
0 0 0
0
0
0
4
John Tufts
0
6
0 0
0 0
4
1
0
0
0
Joseph Francis .
0
3
0
0 0
1 4 9
3 4
0 0
1 0
9
Samuel Turner .
0
3
0
0
3
9
0
0
0
Oliver Atwood .
0
3
0
0
1
9
0
0
4
Joseph Weber
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ebenezer Francis
0
3
0
0
0
0
0 0 0 0
0
0
William Patten, jun.
0
3
0
0
4
1
0
0
0
Ebenezer Brooks, jun.
0
3
0
0
11 0
0
0
Stephen Hall, jun. .
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Jonathan Hall, jun.
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
Thomas Phillebrown
0
3
0
0
4
1
0
0
Samuel Bradshaw .
0
3
0
0
1
7
0
0
0
Stephen Bradshaw
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
William Watsen
0
3
0
0
3
7
0
5
4 4 .
Jonathan Weber
0
3
0
William Benford
0
3
0
John Atwood
0
3
3
0 0
0
2
4
0
0 0
4
John Stimson
0
3
0
0
0
0 0 0
8: 3 0 0
0
Robert Cresson .
0
3
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 5
John Fossit
0
3
0
0
2
Enoch Greenleaf
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
Stephen Greenleaf
0
6
0
2
8
Richard Waite
Jacob Polly .
0
3
0
0 15
6
7 7
Nathaniel Francis .
0
3
0
0
0 0 4
Samuel Polly
0
3 6
0 0
0 1 5 10 1 4 4 4 0
1
0 0 0
0 0
4
Benjamin Tufts
0
3 3
0
) 11 0 14 0
4 3 9 11
0 0 0 0 0 0
0
Mr. Jonathan Hall
Dr. Simon Tufts
0
3
0
3
0
1 5
7 9
Mr. Thomas Oakes
0
6
0
2 0
John Bradshaw, jun.
0
0
0
0
0 0 5 10 0 9
4
1 0 0
1
2
0
0
4
0
0
0
Daniel Paine
0
1
Mr. Francis Whitmore Mr. John Whitmore
0
1 2 11
1 10
0 0
-
TAXES.
417
IIcads.
Real estate.
Personal estate.
£ s. d.
s. d.
£
s. d.
Jonathan Watsen
0
6 0
0
4 9
0
0
4
Thomas Dill
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
Jonathan Tufts .
0 3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Stephen Patten .
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Eliot Patten
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
William Hall
0
3
0
0
0
0 0
0 0
0 0
John Elder
0
3
0
0
2
2
4 4 0 4
0 0 0
0
0
1 3
Ebenezer Tufts
0
6
0
0
0
0
0 0
Thomas Brooks
0
3
0
0
0
0 0
0
0
John Fillebrown
0
3
0
0
0
0 1 0 0
0
0
Richard Martin
0
3
0
0 4 4
1
0
0 4
Edward Oakes
0
3
0
0 12 10 3 0 1
0 0
3 0
1 0
Caleb Brooks
0
3
0
0
3
4
0
5
8
Abner Harris
0
0
0
3
6
0
0
5
Jonathan Tufts
0
0
0
3 0
11 2
0 0 0
0
0
Henry Dunster
0
0
0
0
4
8
0 0 0 0 0
Samuel Francis
0
0
0
0
0 10
0 0 0
Widow Mary Tufts John Francis
0
0
0
1 2
0
0
0
Benjamin Parker
0
3
0
0 10
6
0
0
7
Richard Sprague
0
6
0
0
5
1 1
0 0 0 4
Samuel Brooks, jun.
0
3
0
0
4
8
0
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
0
3
0
0
- Thomas Graves
0
3
0
0
3
6 0 0
9 11 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
James Tufts .
0
0
0
Joseph Wright
0
0
0
1 0
5
0
Jonathan Dunster
0
0
0
4 2
2
0
0
0 0
0 0 0
Jacob Wayman .
0
0
0 0 10 4 0
0
6
0
0
9 11
0 2 10
Joseph Tomson .
0
6
0
0
4
0
0 0
James Wright
0
0
0 0
3 10 0
William Symmes
Joseph Damon .
0
0
0
8
David Dunster .
0
0
0
0
0
0 2
Deacon Jacob Parker
0
3
0
William Waite
0
3
0
0
2
4
0 0 4
Jonathan Polly
0 3
0
0
Edward Hall
0 3
0
0
0
0 0 0 0
0 4 . 4 0 0
Jonathan Tomson
0
3
0
0
0 5
Matthew Ellis
0
0 0
0
Samuel Page
0
0 10
£531 19 7
53
William Pelam .
0
418
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
Treasurer paid, during the year 1747, by orders from said town . £431 15 11
Balance due from treasurer Errors excepted. Pr. JOSEPH TUFTS,
100 3
Committee. THOMAS BROOKS, S
June 5, 1753, the General Court laid a tax on coaches, chariots, chaises, calashes, and riding-chairs. Medford, in 1754, had 1 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 par- simony 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. 10s .; in 1786, £1,016. 5s .; in 1791, £88. 6s. 11d. Ratable polls in Medford (1784) were 223.
List of occupiers of houses, in 1798, who are taxed for more than $100 :
Samuel Albree.
Thomas Brooks.
Asa Adams.
Benjamin Hovey.
Thomas Bradshaw.
Benjamin Teal.
Andrew Blanchard.
Caleb Brooks.
Timothy Newell.
John Bishop.
Hezekiah Blanchard, jun.
Abigail Bishop.
Ruth Benford.
Samuel Swan.
Jonathan Brooks.
William Bradbury.
Francis Burns.
Marah Billings.
Zachariah Shed. Leonard Bucknam.
John Chadwick.
Spencer Bucknam. John Bacon.
John Cutter.
Miles S. Wilson.
Jonathan Dunham.
Aaron Crowell.
William Earl.
Deborah Francis.
Caleb Brooks, jun.
Sarah Fulton.
Ebenezer Thompson.
Nathan Wait.
Thomas Bradshaw, jun.
- Nathaniel Mead.
Hezekiah Blanchard.
David Bucknam.
Abigail Brooks and Rufus Frost. John Brooks and Mary Patten. John Brooks. Jethro Townsend.
S. Buel and Augustus Hunt.
419
TAXES.
Henry Fowle. Benjamin Floyd. 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. John B. Fitch. And. Blanchard and A. Winship. Timothy Dexter. Caleb and Simon Blanchard. Jane Hall. Ebenezer Hall, jun.
John Blanchard & James Floyd. Tab. Blanchard & 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. James Convers. Jonas Dixon.
Duncan Ingraham.
John C. Jones. John Walker and Jos. Tysick. Joanna Kidder. Samuel Kidder.
Abner Peirce. Thomas Learned. William Lowder. John Leathe. Jude Symonds. David Osgood. Josiah Polly.
Jonathan Porter. Isaac Pratt. Thomas Hewes. Benjamin Reed. Peter Tufts. James Tufts. G. Williams & Dan. Farrington. William Bucknum. Sam. Hall and Jolın Greenleaf. J. Bannister & Lucy Pritchard. Jeduthan Richardson.
Joshua Symonds. John Symmes. Josiah Symmes. Ebenezer Symonds. Thomas Savel.
Daniel Symonds. Samuel Thompson.
Samuel Teal. Samuel Teal.
Samuel Tufts, jun.
Abigail Tarbutt.
Benjamin Tufts.
Gershom Tufts. Benjamin Tufts, jun.
Jacob Tufts.
Hutchinson Tufts.
Peter Tufts.
Isaac Tufts.
Daniel Tufts.
Jonathan Tufts.
Ebenezer Tufts.
James Tufts.
Gershom Teal.
Watts Turner.
Hutchinson Tufts, jun.
Eleazer Usher.
Nathaniel Watts. Ebenezer Williams.
Isaac Warren.
Gardner Greenleaf.
Joseph Wyman. James Wyman. John Wade. Convers Francis. John Mead and John Williams. Webster. Joseph Wyman.
420
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
Benj. Pratt and - Brown. John Hall and Joseph Tufts. Francis Wait.
Isaac Greenleaf and H. Popkins. John Wright.
James Kidder.
Jonathan Godden.
The inhabitants occupied one hundred and thirty-six houses, which were valued at $74,032.80 ; making an average value of $544 each. The town valuation of all other proper- ty was $160,116.60. Taxes were assessed on 4,603 acres of land.
We may close these tables of taxes by inserting the State valuation tables for seven decades, from 1790 to 1850 inclu- sive. 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. In these same years, Cambridge stands thus : In 1790, $25,291 .- 63 ; in 1800, $32,329.67 ; in 1810, $30,477.35 ; in 1820, $61,828.88 ; in 1830, $1,732,048 ; in 1840, $4,479,501 .- 43. Woburn, in 1790: $11,070.32; in 1800, $11,698.27 ; in 1810, $13,172.63 ; in 1820, $16,490.54 ; in 1830, $455,- 030; in 1840, $687,388.09. Malden, in 1790: $7,486.81; in 1800, $11,932 ; in 1810, $15,858.34; in 1820, $19,622; in 1830, $360,878 ; in 1840, $586,136.15.
These tables of taxes prove how Medford, from small be- ginnings, 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 the nineteenth century, when its increase and prosperity were equal to 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 repre- sentative facts belonging to that period ; and, after availing of each fragmentary tradition, we have fixed on the taxes as- sessed 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 lighthouse, to guide us along the unmapped coast of our new settlement.
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