USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Norton > History of the town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 1669 to 1859 > Part 28
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William Eustis . 65
1830.
1822.
William Eustis .
63
John Brooks .
90
William Phillips
2
1831.
1823.
Levi Lincoln 77
William Eustis .
. 105
Marcus Morton . 41
Harrison G. Otis
. 96
William Baylies 10
Scattering
4
1824.
William Eustis . . 111
Samuel Lothrop
. 123
Levi Lincoln 61
Samuel Lothrop
. 139
1825.
Levi Lincoln
78
Marcus Morton .
1
1833.
1826.
Levi Lincoln 38
Samuel Lothrop
126
Samuel Hubbard
20
Thomas Winthrop 8
Joseph Tripp
1
John Davis* . 25
John Q. Adams . 97
Marcus Morton . 17
Levi Lincoln 61
William C. Jarvis 14
1835.
William Baylies 12
John Davis 35
Scattering
7
John Bailey . 104
1 In 1831, the Constitution was amended, so that the Governor should be chosen in November, instead of April; and take his seat the first Wednesday of January, instead of the last of May. Hence it will be understood, that, from 1832, the Governor was chosen the November previous to the year under which we have recorded his name.
1 S
Levi Lincoln 31
William Baylies 34
Marcus Morton . 27
Levi Lincoln 13
Marcus Morton . 66
William Baylies 14
Scattering
3
1832.1
Marcus Morton . 17
Levi Lincoln 52
Marcus Morton . 10
1834.
1827.
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
311
Votes.
Marcus Morton . 11
Samuel C. Allen 6
1836.
Edward Everett
40
Marcus Morton . 64
Samuel T. Armstrong .
2
1837.
Edward Everett. 32
Marcus Morton . 99
1838.
Edward Everett 68
Marcus Morton .
. 114
1839.
Edward Everett 65
Marcus Morton .
. 161
1840.
Marcus Morton . . 178
Edward Everett 81
Wendell Phillips 1
1841.
John Davis . 122
Marcus Morton . 202
1842.
John Davis 80
Marcus Morton .
183
Lucius Boltwood
15
1843.
Marcus Morton*
.
197
John Davis 65
Samuel E. Sewall 30
1844.
George N. Briggs* 64
Marcus Morton .
.
183
Samuel E. Sewall
60
1845.
George N. Briggs
.
70
George Bancroft
160
Samuel E. Sewall .
64
1846.
Votes.
George N. Briggs 60
Isaac Davis
.
114
Samuel E. Sewall
52
1847.
George N. Briggs 72
Isaac Davis .
94
Samuel E. Sewall
44
Scattering
9
1848.
George N. Briggs 65
Caleb Cushing
91
Samuel E. Sewall
. . 59
1849.
George N. Briggs* 86
Stephen C. Phillips
155
Caleb Cushing
33
1850.
George N. Briggs* 58
Stephen C. Phillips
. 114
George S. Boutwell
.
59
1851.
George S. Boutwell* . 95
George N. Briggs .
74
Stephen C. Phillips
74
1852.
George S. Boutwell*
77
John G. Palfrey
. 112
Robert C. Winthrop
. 109
1853.
John H. Clifford*
. 105
Horace Mann
112
Henry W. Bishop
53
1854.
Emory Washburn*
88
117
Henry Wilson
58
.
Henry W. Bishop
.
Bradford L. Wales .
4
312
TAXES, AND OTHER FINANCIAL HISTORY.
Votes.
Votes.
1855.
Henry J. Gardner . . 149
Emory Washburn . 50
Henry Wilson 30
Henry W. Bishop 19
Charles Allen 3
1856.
Henry J. Gardner . . 117
Julius Rockwell . . 71
Erasmus D. Beach . 49 Samuel H. Walley . . 18
1857. Henry J. Gardner . . 238
51 Erasmus D. Beach . William L. Garrison . 9 Luther V. Bell . 4 Scattering 2
1
CHAPTER XXI.
TAXES, AND OTHER FINANCIAL HISTORY.
" Render unto Cæsar the things which are Caesar's." - CHRIST.
FOR some years after the incorporation of the town, it was customary to meet in the autumn ; and all who had any charges against the town brought in their bills, and a tax sufficient to pay them was then levied upon the polls and estates. The practice of voting money in the autumn, to meet the current expenses of the town, continued till 1790. Since then, it has been voted at the annual meeting for the choice of town-officers in the spring. For some years, the town paid the representative to the General Court for his ser- vices ; and hence a rate was made for that purpose. Some years, it is uncertain from the records how much money was raised. We give the sums in round num- bers, instead of the fractions of a pound that some- times occurred ; and therefore, in some cases, the rate was a few shillings more or less than we have recorded.
Oct. 31, 1720. - " At a Town-meeting to mack a by-law conserning our town-Rats, [it was] voted that one-half of our Rates shold be Raised on the polls, and the other half on our Estats."
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1
-
1 1 1 1
TAXES, AND OTHER FINANCIAL HISTORY. 313
The next day, Anna Leonard and her son George entered a " Protest against being Rated by any other Rule than that which is in the law."
Years.
Town- Charges.
Schools.
Represen- tative.
Years.
Town- Charges.
Schools:
1715
£2
£8
1751
£27
1716
8
1752
50
1717
11
1753
30
1718
2
63
1754
50
1719
9
1755
27
1720
20
£30
14
1756
80
1721
14
30
15
1757
100
1722
6
1758
110
1723
9
14
1759
110
1724
29
12
16
1760
110
1725
12
341
10
1761
110
1726
24
10
15
1762
120
1727
31
20
1763
70
1728
33
40
1764
70
1729
31
20
1765
40
1730
57
19
1766
120
1731
20
25
1767
100
1732
25
20
1768
130
1733
16
302
1769
80
1734
14
302
1770
60
1735
22
302
1771
70
1736
20
1772
100
1737
37
37
1773
80
1738
64
30
1774
75
1739
90
20
1775
90
1740
70
20
1776
120
1741
60
1777
180
1742
36
1778
1400
1743
1503
1779
1180
1744
1223
1780
6000
1745
808
40
1781
5005
1746
1703
1782
100
1748
3003
1783
300
£60
1749
4003
1784
150
60
1750
404
1785
250
60
1 Including £8} of interest-money from bank.
2 Poor and schools.
3 Old tenor.
4 Lawful money.
5 Silver money.
27
314
TAXES, AND OTHER FINANCIAL HISTORY.
Years.
Town- Charges.
Schools.
Iligh- ways.
Years.
Town- Charges.
Schools.
High- ways.
1786
£200
£60
1822
$1000
$550
$1000
1787
150
60
£1201
1823
1000
550
1000
1788
1502
122
1824,
1000
550
1000
1789
180
40
122
1825
1000
550
1000
1790
120
60
122
1826
1100
600
1200
1791
1953
120
1827
1100
600
1200
1792
252
120
1828
1100
700
1200
1793
300
120
1829
1100
600
1200
1794
300
120
1830
1100
500
1200
1795
300
100
1831
1100
500
1500
1796
$1200
$1000
1832
1200
500
1200
1797
1000
1200
1833
1200
500
1200
1798
800
1000
1834
1300
600
1200
1799
1000
1000
1835
1200
600
1200
1800
1200
1000
1836
1600
700
1400
1801
1200
1000
1837
1600
700
1200
1802
1200
1200
1838
1400
700
1000
1803
1400
1200
1839
1400
700
1000
1804
1000
1000
1840
1200
700
1000
1805
1200
1200
1841
1000
800
1000
1806
1800
1200
1842
1000
800
1000
1807
1300
1500
1843
1000
800
1500
1808
1300
1500
1844
2000
600
1000
1809
1200
1500
1845
1500
800
1200
1810
1400
1500
1846
1500
800
1500
1811
1200
1200
1847
1500
1199
1200
1812
1200
1200
1848
1500
1200
1500
1813
1200
1200
1849
1200
1000
1500
1814
1500
1200
1850
1500
1200
1500
1815
1800
1000
1851
1500
1200
1500
1816
1384
$416
1000
1852
1500
1200
2000
1817
1400
450
1000
1853
1500
1200
2000
1818
1400
450
1000
1854
1000
1500
2000
1819
1400
450
1000
1855
1000
1500
2000
1820
1000
450
700
1856
15004
1500
1500
1821
1000
450
800
1857
2000
1500
1500
1 This was the first rate for raising a highway-tax that we find on record.
2 " To be appropriated for the sole purpose of redeeming the notes of hand that now are against sd. town."
3 From 1791 to 1816, the school-money is included in the amount for town-charges.
4 Three hundred and fifty dollars were also appropriated to pay "out- standing bills."
315
TAXES, AND OTHER FINANCIAL HISTORY.
There being a great scarcity of money, both of bills of credit and specie, a year or two previous to 1720, the people found it very difficult to transact ordinary business-matters, and especially to pay their taxes ; and therefore, May 13, 1720, it was ordered, -
" That all our Town-Rates, that are to be payed this year by the Inhabitants for the defraying the contengant charges of sd. town for the year 1719 and 1720, shall be payed the one-half in Good shingles, at forteen shilinds pur thousand ; Clabords, at three pounds pur thousand ; white-pine bords, at three pounds per thousand, - and delivered at the landing- place at Taunton, near John Staples's ; or in Good Indin Corn, at three and sixpence pur busshill ; Rey, at five shilinds pur bushill; wheat, at seven shilinds pur bushill ; oats, at two shillinds pur bushill ; beaf, at three d. pur pound ; pork, at four d. pur pound ; butter, at sevenpence pur pound ; Good dry chese, at five d. pur pound ; beans, at Six Shilinds pur busshil; and that, out of the money part, the treasurer Is derected, and hereby ordered, to pay the Minister the one- half of his sallary, and to pay the Representative In the money part."
The paying of the rates in produce, &c., did not seem to better the deranged state and scarcity of the currency. " Shingles, Clabords, pine-bords, Rey, In- din Corn, wheat, oats, beaf, pork, butter, and chese," to say the least, would not be very convenient change for a man to carry in his pocket ; and therefore, this state of things becoming almost intolerable, the town, Sept. 19, 1720, -
" Voted that John Briggs, Sen., shall preepare a petition to Request the Grate and General Cort Respecting the want of money ; and offer said petition, the next town-meeting day, to the town for their approbation ; and the town-Clark to sign it in thare behalf, If the town licks it."
Whether the town "licked " the petition or not, we do not know ; but the Legislature soon after, as will be seen, took some measures to better the condition of the currency by the establishment of the fifty-thousand- pound bank.
316
TAXES, AND OTHER FINANCIAL HISTORY.
Probably the emission of these bills did not at once relieve the embarrassed state of the finances.
Nov. 11, 1723, it was ordered, -
"That the Rate for Mr. Avery's salery for this year shall be Paid in the same specia as he agreed with sd. town for it ; and the Rest of the towne-rate shall be Paid in the Produce of the towne, at the curant market-price."
FIFTY-THOUSAND-POUND BANK.
The reason for emitting this loan of money is stated, in the preamble of the bill, to be because "the Publick Bills of Credit on this Province (which, for want of Silver) have answered the Charge of His Majesty's Goverment, [and] served as a Medium of Exchange . . . in the Trade and Business of the Province, are grown Scarce, in Proportion to the great demand for the same." These bills were to be distributed by the Province Treasurer " to the several towns within this Province, according to each Town's respective proportion of the last Province-Tax." Three or five trustees who were freeholders, and each possessed of a real estate worth at least five hundred pounds, were to be appointed in the several towns to let out this money at interest, on good real estates or personal security. These trustees were to be sworn " to the faithful discharge of their trust," and were to be paid for their "Pains and Trouble " "what the several towns, in their good Discretion, shall think meet and convenient." No person was allowed to vote for trustees who had not "an Estate of Freehold worth at least Forty shillings per Annum." A tax of fifty thousand pounds was ordered to be levied upon the towns of the Province in proportion to the amount of bills they received, as a fund and security for the drawing-in and repayment of said bills to the public treasury ; ten thousand pounds of which were to be paid yearly, commencing with the last day of May, 1726, and ending, of course, with the last day of May, 1730.
0 f
317
TAXES, AND OTHER FINANCIAL HISTORY.
All the interest, profit, or income, arising to the several towns from these bills of credit, was to be used by the several towns towards "defraying the Town-Charges."
Norton, with the North Purchase, received, as their proportion of this loan, two hundred and forty-seven pounds. The freeholders of Norton and the North Pur- chase meet, Oct. 16, 1721, and vote that every freehold- er of the town of Norton, with the North Purchase, having an estate of freehold of forty pounds per an- num, shall have his proportion ". . . of ye Bills of Credit, . .. giving good security to the Trustees, with Lawful Interest, to be Paid yearly in ye Produce of ye town, at ye then current marcet-price ; " and the trustees were to take bondsmen or not, as they saw fit.
As soon as the trustees received the money, they were to give eight days' notice to the frecholders ; and "if there be aney Percone yt shall neglect or Refuse to come for theyr Part of ye sd. Bills, twenty days after ye sd. 8 days of notice be given," then the trustees were empowered to let out the money "to any of the freeholders," &c.
The trustees were required to render a yearly ac- count to the town and North Purchase of their doings, and were to " be allowed out of the Town treasury for theyr Reasonable Charges in the Premices."
The following persons were then chosen trustees : John Hodges, George Leonard, and Benjamin Wil- liams.
On the 1st of November following, another meeting was held relative to the matter, and the following vote passed : -
"Notwithstanding the act that was passed in a towne- meeting, on ye 16th day of October, 1721, for the Leting- out of our Part of the fifty thousand Pounds of Bills of Credit, it is now Enacted and voted, that the trustees that are chosen to Lett out sd. Bill shall Lett out sd. money to the freeholders in sd. towne and North Purchase to no Percon above teen Pounds, nor any Percon under five Pounds, as
27*
318
TAXES, AND OTHER FINANCIAL HISTORY.
far as it 'twill Go; they Giving Good securety to ye trustees for ye Payment of sd. money, with the Interest for one year."
SIXTY-THOUSAND-POUND BANK.
In 1728, the General Court passed an Act for another loan of sixty thousand pounds, because "the Publick Bills of Credit, which have for a great length of time happily served this Government, are now become very scarce." This loan was distributed to the towns on a plan similar to that of the fifty-thousand-pound loan of 1721. The qualification of the trustees, and of those who voted for them, was the same as in 1721. The trustees were to let out the money at six per cent interest ; four of which was to be paid annually into the public treasury, the other two per cent to go to the several towns "to enable them to pay the cost and charge attending this affair."
A tax on the real and personal property of the towns was the fund for the redemption of the loan ; twelve thousand pounds to be paid annually from May 31, 1734.
Norton's part of this loan was two hundred and seventy pounds, ten shillings.
April 19, 1728, the freeholders of Norton properly qualified, in public meeting duly notified for the pur- pose, chose several persons trustees to receive and let out the town's proportion of the money; who refused to accept the office.
It was then "voted, that the trustees shall Let out sd. Bills to no Person above ten Pounds, nor to no Person less than five Pounds, within one fortnight's time " after the money was received, and due notice given to the town. Then, "if there is not Persons enoff appear in sd. time to take it," the trustees were to "Lett it out in sd. town as they see cause ; taking Good security for sd. money, together with the In- terest." It was also voted, " that the trustees shall have six Pounds for the whole of their troubell " in taking care of the money.
319
TAXES, AND OTHER FINANCIAL HISTORY.
" March 2nd, 1743-4. - Voted that the selectmen - Simeon Wetherell, William Stone, and Josiah Pratt - shall Recon with the trustees which were chose to Let out the said town's Part of the sixty-thousand-Pounds Bank, or the survivers of them, and to Receive the said town's Part of the Interest; and also to sew them for it, if need be ; and also to sew the said surviving trustees for that. part of the Princepell which they have neglected to Pay to the Province treasury ; so that thare is a Rate made on said town for it already. and they are also Impowered to carry on any action or actions in the Law against them, till they Git the said town's Part of the Interest, and ye Prinsepell sume of said Bank, which said town is rated for; and also all the charge sd. towne have already Bin Put to about it."
In a warrant for a town-meeting, Sept. 24, 1744, one article was as follows : -
"To act and Proceed in that way that they shall then think most Propper consarning the trustees of the sixty- thousand-Pound Bank; either to discharge them, and accuit the towne's Part of the Interest, or to agree otherwise; or to take some other method, so as to Bring that matter to a dispatch. Likewise to Hear what the selectmen have done consarning that matter already."
The only recorded action at the meeting relative to the bank is this : -
" Voted to Capt. Simeon Witheral and Mr. William Stone, for what they Paid Coll. Church towards his fees for sarving ye Executions for ye Bank-money, £01-13."
The town-records throw no further light upon the matter; and therefore we must let the curtain fall, and leave it for each reader to decide for himself how the matter was finally settled up. These are the only two banking schemes that the town, as a town, are known to have been connected with.
LAND-BANK.
After the drawing-in of the bills of the sixty-thou- sand-pound loan in 1738, the currency of the country became again somewhat deranged. Therefore, in the
320
TAXES, AND OTHER FINANCIAL HISTORY.
beginning of the year 1740, with the professed design of providing a remedy for the inconveniences expected to arise from the withdrawing from circulation, in 1741, of all the various emissions of paper currency, with- out substituting any other medium of trade than gold and silver, a company was formed for the purpose of issuing bills of credit, on land security, to an amount not exceeding a hundred and fifty thousand pounds.
There were eight hundred and sixty-three partners in this scheme, about four hundred of whom belonged in Boston, the rest in various parts of the Province. This scheme was very obnoxious to Gov. Belcher, who vigorously sought to crush it out.
In July, 1740, he issued his proclamation, cautioning the people not to receive or pass the notes of the com- pany, because they would tend "to defraud men of their estates, and disturb the peace and order of the people."
In November of the same year, he issued another proclamation, forbidding all military officers from dealing in this currency, under penalty of dismission from office. In fact, nearly all officers of the govern- ment were forbidden to pass these bills. The opposi- tion to this bank entered largely into the election of representatives to the General Court for May, 1741. But a majority of the members elect seem to have been in favor of the bank; for one of the bank-directors (Samuel Watts, Esq. ) was chosen Speaker of the House. Thirteen new councillors were chosen, supposed to be favorable to the bank scheme. Gov. Belcher, how- ever, vetoed the election of councillors ; and, the next day, sent in a message dissolving the Legislature. He also removed from office those favorable to the bank ; and, among others, George Leonard of Norton, of whom I have spoken elsewhere.
The town, however, seem to have been in favor of the bank. Mr. Leonard - who was a member of the Legislature dissolved by Gov. Belcher - was, on the 29th of June following, re-elected representative to the new General Court, which was to meet on the 8th
of fa in
321
TAXES, AND OTHER FINANCIAL HISTORY.
of July. And a further evidence that the town was favorably disposed towards the matter is to be found in the vote passed Nov. 23, 1741; viz., " voted, that the maneyfactery-bills shall pay ye town's charge for this year." 1
BILLS OF OTHER GOVERNMENTS.
" Prior to 1750, the Massachusetts Legislature had enacted that the Provincial bills should be redeemed this year [1750] with hard money paid them by the parent government for charges of warfare against the French in the Canadas, &c. But the Legislatures of other Provinces had not so wisely determined : their bills were still circulating at great depre- ciation, as were those of Mass. While the commissioners of Mass. were receiving the bills of their own Province, they were allowed to redeem from its inhabitants bills of N.H., R.I., and Conn. [and these were called ' the bills of the other Govermentts '], provided they would take oath that they had such money before April of 1750, and had not bought them of persons belonging to those Provinces, with silver, since March 30th of the same year." 2
It appears from the town-records that the principal town-officers in Massachusetts were, in addition to the oath of office, required to take the oath respecting the bills of other governments. Hence, at the annual meeting for choice of officers, held March 26, 1751, a moderator and town-clerk were chosen, who took the requisite oath relative to the other government bills. Then they proceeded to choose more than twenty persons for selectmen, who all, with but one exception, refused to take this extra oath; but this one was not sworn. Finding it impossible to get a board of select- men who would take this oath, the meeting adjourned to May 15.
Immediately after the adjournment, an informal meeting of some of the citizens was held ; and a com- mittee was appointed "To petition the Great and
1 For further account of the Land-Bank scheme, see Hobart's Sketch of Abington, p. 154, &c.
2 Letter of Rev. J. B. Felt.
322
TAXES, AND OTHER FINANCIAL HISTORY.
General Court, that the Oath respecting the Receiving and passing the [other Government] bills may not be imposed upon the inhabitants of this town, or that they Inforce that Petition that is already Prefered to sd. Court." We do not find any action of the Legis- lature relative to the extra oath; but they passed an Act, April 8, 1751, enabling the town to complete the choice of their town-officers, " the expiration of the month of March notwithstanding:" and finally, in July, the list of officers was completed of those willing to take the oath. The oath continued to be admini- stered to the principal town-officers till the year 1773.
In consequence of the calling-in of the Province bills in 1750, and the law against receiving and pass- ing the bills of other governments, the people again experienced great difficulties in the payment of their debts, and especially their taxes.
No doubt with a view to remedy the trouble, so far as they could, the town, -
"Jan. 21st, 1750-1, chose a Comtee to consider and re- port to the sd. town in what specias and at what Prises sd. Rates shall be paid.
"The abovesd. Comttee made report, and the sd. towne voted, that, in Paying the above-mentioned rates, they may be paid in good marchentable Rey, at 3s. 4d. a Bushell; In- dian Corne, at 2s. 8d. a Bushell; Oats, at 1s. 4d. a Bushell ; Wheat, at 4s. Sd. a Bushell; flax, from the swingele, at 18d. a pound; Bar Iron, at 18s. 8d. a hundred; Beans, 4s. 8d. a Bushell ; Sheep's wool, at 1s. 2d. a pound; Barley, at 2s. 8d. a Bushell."
" Sept. 2nd, 1751. - Voted, that those persons, that should pay their Rates in the species hereafter mentioned, shall pay them at ye prices hereafter sett : viz., Reye, at 2s. 6d. per Bushell; Corn, at 1s. 9d. per Bushill; Oats, at Os. 10d. per Bushell; Wheat, at 3s. 0d .; Beens, at 2s. 6d. per bushill ; Barley, at 2s. 4d. per Bushell; Iron, at 16s. Od. per hundred ; Flax, at Os. 6d. per pound ; and wool, at Os. 8d. per pound."
During the latter part of the Revolutionary war, the finances became very much disordered; the bills of
a P e S t
CI
323
TAXES, AND OTHER FINANCIAL HISTORY.
credit became almost valueless ; gold and silver money was very scarce; and a general bankruptcy seemed almost inevitable. It was probably the most severe pecuniary crisis ever experienced by our fathers. As early as Nov. 10, 1777, the town "voted to Remon- strate and Pertition to the great and general Court of this state, that the Late act, with Regard to calling in the Bills of Credit Issued by said state, be Repealed ; " and a committee was chosen to " Draw a Remonstrance and Pertition." This remonstrance was probably sent, and a communication from the General Court soon after received; for, Jan. 1, 1778, there was a town- meeting, among other things, "to hear the address from the General Court, setting forth the reasons which induced said Court to pass a late act for calling in the bills of credit Emitted by this Government." It does not appear, however, that any action was taken upon the matter.
A town-meeting was warned to be on the 5th of July, 1779, " To take under consideration the votes and Resolves of the town of Boston, sent to this town (to be communicated) with regard to the depreciation of our currency, and the methods proposed for re- dressing the present grievances that so much affect us." About this time, a convention had been called to meet at Concord; we should judge, to consider, among other matters, the state of the finances. Ac- cordingly, at the town-meeting, July 5, it was " voted, that one of the committee of Correspondence should go to the convention to be holden at Concord on the fourteenth day of this Instant."
At an adjourned meeting, July 26, " voted to ac- cept of the Proceedings and Resolves of the convention held at Concord on the fourteenth day of July instant, and do every thing in their power to carry the same into execution." - " Voted, that a committee be chosen to Regulate the Price of articles in this town, agreeable to the articles afixt by the sd. Convention."
At an adjourned meeting, Aug. 16, the report of this committee was " excepted by a Large Majority."
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