USA > Massachusetts > Journals of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts > Part 18
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Sent up for Concurrence.
An Accompt of Writing done for this House by Mr. Joseph Marion, amount- ing to the Sum of l. 8 9 s. 6 d. Presented to the House for Payment, Read and Resolved, That the Sum of Eight Pounds, Nine Shillings, and Six Pence, be al- lowed and paid out of the Publick Treasury to Mr. Joseph Marion, to Discharge the said Accompt. Sent up for Concurrence.
An Accompt of Writing done for this House by Mr. Benjamin Rolf, amounting to the Sum of Two Pounds, Seventeen Shillings, Presented to the House for Pay- ment. Read and
Resolved, That the Sum of Two Pounds and Seventeen Shillings, be allowed and paid out of the Publick Treasury to Mr. Benjamin Rolf, to discharge the said Ac- compt. Sent up for Concurrence.
Ordered, That Elisha Cooke, and Thomas Newton Esqs; be a Committee to pre- pare a Form of a Mortgage, proper for the Letting out the Hundred Thousand Pounds of Bills upon, pursuant to an Act passed by this Court, this Session, and to obtain a sufficient Number of them for the occasion, Printed at the Publick Charge, and sent to the several Counties. Sent up for Concurrence.
3. Post Meridiem.
A Memorial of Paul Dudley Esq; Attorney General, presented to the House and Read, Shewing, That it is Three Years since he had any consideration for his Service in that Office, and moving that allowance may now be made.
And the Question being put, Whether any Sum be Granted in Answer thereto ? It pass'd in the Negative.
Resolved, That the Sum of Thirty & Three Pounds be allowed and paid out of the Publick Treasury to the Executors of the last Will and Testament of Peter Sergeant Esq; deceased, to purchase the Hangings of Two Rooms, and Two large Looking Glasses, remaining in the House which this Province purchased of them.
Sent up for Concurrence.
The Vote of this House pass'd this Day, for a Committee to prepare a Form of a Mortgage, &c. Sent down from the Board, Concurr'd, And that Paul Dudley Esq; His Majesty's Attorney General be of the Committee for the Affair above- said. Sent down for Concurrence. Read and Non-Concurr'd.
A Message to His Excellency the Governour by Col. Basset, Col. Thaxter, and Major Stoddard, That the House have no Business lying before them, and desire if it may be, now to rise.
A Message from His Excellency the Governour by Samuel Sewall, Addington
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Davenport, and Thomas Fitch, Esqrs; whether he may expect any Answer this Session, to such Paragraphs in his Speech as are not yet answered.
Voted, That a Message be sent up to his Excellency the Governour, That the House have acted so far as they apprehend proper and necessary in that Affair this Session, this Court having lately made an Act for the preservation of the Pine Trees & other Timber. Sent up by Mr. Cooke, Capt. Noyes, Col. Thaxter, Mr. Anthony Stoddard, Col. Goffe, Col. Basset, and Col. Somersby.
The Petition of John How, upon which the Hon. Board, pass'd a Vote the 24th of the last Month, and this House pass'd a Vote Non-Concurring therewith, &c. the 26th of the last Month. Sent down from the Board further pass'd upon, viz. In Council, December 4. The Question being put, Whether the Council adhere to their former Vote on this Petition ? It pass'd in the Affirmative.
Sent down for Concurrence.
And the Question being put, Whether the House adhere to their former Vote ? It pass'd in the Affirmative.
The Petition of Joseph Anger, c. upon which the Hon. Board pass'd a Vote the 26th of last Month. And this House pass'd a Vote Non-Concurring therewith, &c. on the 27th of last Month, Sent down from the Board further pass'd upon, viz. In Council, December 4. The Question being put, Whether the Council adhere to their former Vote on this Petition ? It pass'd in the Affirmative.
And the Question being put, Whether this House adhere to their former Vote ?
It pass'd in the Affirmative.
A Message from His Excellency the Governour by Joseph Lynde Esq; that this House do now attend him in the Council Chamber.
Mr. Speaker and the House went up, and His Excellency Prorogu'd the Court to Wednesday the Twentieth Day of February next, Ten a Clock in the Forenoon.
BOSTON : Printed & Sold by 15. Green. 1716. [56 blank, 57 ]
Anno Regni Regis GEORGII, Magna Britannia, &c. Tertio.
JOURNAL
Of the HOUSE of Representatives.
At a Great and General Court or Assembly of His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in pem England, begun & held at 1Boston, upon Wednes- day the 30th Day of May, Anno Domini, 1716. And continued by Proro- gations to Wednesday the 10th Day of April next after, and then Met.
A Message from His Excellency the Governour by Eliakim Hutchinson Esq; That this House forthwith attend him in the Council Chamber.
Mr. Speaker and the House went up accordingly, and His Excel- lency made a Speech to the Court, and gave a Copy thereof to Mr. Speaker, who with the House returned to their own Chamber.
His Excellency's Speech Read, and is as follows, viz.
GENTLEMEN,
A T our last Meeting I was Assured by the Votes of the Lower House, That my Speech should be answered, Paragraph by Paragraph, which not having been as yet comply'd with, I was willing to give you an other Opportunity, that so I might send the Minutes of the Last Sessions to Great Britain compleat; which I am sure will be very much for the Service of this Country.
I have promised you my best endeavours to watch against every thing that may be hurtful to this Province, and therefore must acquaint you with a very Momentous Af- fair; which if we don't quickly arm against, will bring a Swarm of evils upon the Massachusetts, and must in the end point to its Destruction : I mean the Intolerable Discount upon your Paper Money, which is the more surprizing because these Bills are supported with double their value upon Land Security.
I own some part of this Community can fence against this evil, and ward it off from themselves, by advancing their Commodities : but the other part must unavoidably suf- fer. All Rents must fall of consequence, and what will your Ministers do, who are highly Worthy of their Salaries, how heavy will it fall upon them and their Families, when what they are paid in grows Low in Value; and their necessaries for Life are daily advancing ?
I do therefore earnestly Recommend this to your serious Consideration, and make no doubt but every Person who is a Lover of his Country, will set his Head at work to
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find out some expedient to stop this Deluge ; and am sure that they who are so happy to fix their Dam against it, will well deserve the Name of true Patriots.
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,
I shall conclude by Recommending Unanimity and Dispatch in this Session, be- cause I believe, the Season of the Year will require you to be at home, to attend your own Private Affairs.
3. Dost Meridiem.
Ordered, That the House now proceed to a further Consideration of His Excel- lency's Speech to this Court, at the beginning of the last Sessions. The said Speech Read, and
Ordered, That Antony Stoddard Esq; Mr. Daniel Rogers, Samuel Thaxter, and Daniel Parker Esqrs, and Mr. Thomas Turner, be a Committee to consider and re- port what they think proper for the House further to do thereon.
And then the House Adjourn'd till to Morrow Morning Nine a Clock. [ 58 ]
Tobis, 11. Die Aprilis 1717. a. M.
A Petition of 105 Persons Inhabitants of the Towns of Dorchester, Brantrey and Milton, presented to the House and Read, praying that a Hospital for the Entertainment of Infectious Persons may not be Erected on Squntum Neck in Dorchester aforesaid, as has been proposed in the Report of a Committee, for reasons therein alledg'd.
Ordcred, That Adam Winthrop, William Payne, Samuel Thaxter, and Jonathan Dowse Esqrs; be a Committee to find out and agree for a more suitable place, for the Building of a Hospital, That it may be Erected with all convenient speed.
Sent up for Concurrence.
Ordered, That Oliver Noyes, Elisha Cooke, William Payne, Charles Chambers, and Samuel Thaxter, Esqrs; with such as the Honourable Board shall join, be a Committee in the recess of this Court, to consider that part of His Excellency's Speech, which relates to the Discount upon the Bills of Publick Credit; and re- port such Expedients as they think will be most effectual to preserve and main- tain the Credit and Value of the said Bills, at the Sessions in May next.
Sent up for Concurrence.
3. Dost Meridiem.
Ordered, That Mr. William Denison be added to the Committee appointed to consider His Excellency's Speech at the last Sessions, &c.
Mr. Stoddard from the Committee appointed further to consider His Excel- .
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lency's Speech at the last Sessions, brought in their Report, which was Read and Accepted by the House, and accordingly,
Ordered, That a Message be sent up to His Excellency the Governour,
That upon a further Consideration of His Excellency's Speech to this Court at the beginning of the last Sessions, the House are humbly of Opinion.
That Considering the low Circumstances of this Province, and the heavy Debts that are upon it; that His Majesty's Subjects here are not able to come into so great a Charge, as the Rebuilding the Fort at Pemaquid would be. And that in case of a Rupture, a Fortification there, would be no great security to the Lives and Estates of His Majesty's Subjects here: as our past Experience hath abun- dantly convinced us, by reason that Pemaquid is at so great a distance from our English Settlements. But that at all times what shall be necessary for the De- fence and Preservation of the Government here, We, as Good and Loyal Sub- jects, shall readily and chearfully comply with.
That considering our Constitution, it will not be for His Majesty's Service, nor for the Good and Advantage of His Subjects here, to have fixt and stated Sala- ries; but that we shall very readily do, according to our Ability, what shall be proper and necessary for the Support of His Majesty's Government over us.
That this Court at their last Session did fully consider of what His Excellency said, relating to the Preservation of the Pine Trees. And were then, and still are, humbly of Opinion, That they are secured, both by a late Law for their Preserva- tion, as well as by the Interest of all with whom they grow; their Value being many times more, when improved for Masts, than in any other way.
A Message from the Board by Andrew Belcher and Adam Winthrop Esqrs; That the time for which Ten Soldiers were Posted at Northfield, being Expired, His Ex- cellency and Council on the 13th of March last, did upon Application made to them; That there was a necessity of their being further continued, Order their Continuance till this Session; and now Propose it to the House, to consider what is further proper to be done therein.
Voted, That Ten Soldiers be allowed and continued in the Publick Pay for the covering and encouraging of the Settlement at the Town of Northfield, until the Session of this Court in May next. Sent up for Concurrence.
A Petition of John Pickering and 217 others, Inhabitants of the Town of Salem, presented to the House and Read, praying an Explanation of the Law relating to the Division of Common Lands in Towns.
And the Question being put, Whether the Prayer of the Petition be Granted ? It pass'd in the Negative.
And then the House Adjourn'd till to Morrow Morning Nine a Clock. [ 59 ]
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Deneris 12. Die Aprilis 1717. A. S.
A Bill Intituled, An Act for the bringing forward all Writts, Pleas, and other Process which were to have been heard and tryed at the General Sessions of the Peace, and Inferiour Court of Common Pleas, respectively, at their Sessions on the first Tuesday of March, 1716, unto the Court or General Sessions of the Peace, and Inferiour Court of Common Pleas, to be holden at Plymouth on the Third Tuesday of June 1717. Read Three several Times, and pass'd to be Engross'd.
Sent up for Concurrence.
Inasmuch as His Excellency the Governour, did at the First Opening of the last Ses- sions, declare that he came with the utmost Resolution, to study the true Interest of this Province, and hath now by his reiterated Promise given us firm Assurance, That he will use his best Endeavours, to watch against any thing that may be hurtful to us. Which Promises and Assurances are very grateful and acceptable to this House.
In Consideration whereof:
Ordered, That the Sum of Three Hundred Pounds, be presented and paid out of the Publick Treasury to His Excellency the Governour.
Sent up for Concurrence.
Resolved, That the Select-Men of each Town, whose Valuation of the Estates to be Mortgaged shall be required, pursuant to an Act, Intituled, " An Act for the "making and emitting the Sum of One Hundred Thousand Pounds, in Bills of Credit "on this Province, in such Manner as in the said Act is hereafter expressed, shall be- fore their making such Valuation, be Sworn, That they will faithfully and im- partially Certify the Value of such Lands, as shall be from time to time desired of them, according to the best of their Understanding, Skill and Discretion, without any Fraud or Deceit whatsoever; which Oath may be administred by any Justice of the Peace, and by the Town-Clerk, in such Towns where there is no Justice. And the Select-Men are directed to seal up their Valuation, and so deliver it to the Party that desires it.
Sent up for Concurrence.
Mr. Payne offered to the House, his Accompt of the Charge of sending the Acts for Excise, and for the emitting the Sum of 100000 l. pursuant to Order of this House, amounting to the Sum of Ten Pounds Ten Shillings, for Allowance and Payment.
Resolved, That the Sum of Ten Pounds and Ten Shillings, be allowed and paid out of the Publick Treasury, to Mr. William Payne, to discharge the said Ac- compt. Sent up for Concurrence.
The Bill Intituled, An Act for the bringing forward all Writts, Pleas, and other Process, which were to have been heard and tryed, at the General Sessions of the Peace, and Inferior Court of Common Pleas respectively, at their Sessions on the first Tuesday of March, 1716. Unto the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, and
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Inferior Court of Common Pleas to be holden at Plymouth, on the third Tuesday of June, 1717. Sent down from the Board, Concurr'd with some Amendments; which were Read and Agreed to by the House, and sent up.
The Report of the Committee appointed the last Session, to investigate and settle the Bound-Marks between the Towns of Stow and Concord: Offered to the House and Read, being Sign'd,
Samuel Thaxter, John Gardner, Joseph Burnap.
Ordered, That the said Report be accepted, and that the Bounds between the Towns of Concord and Stow, be, and remain Settled and Established accordingly.
Sent up for Concurrence.
A Message sent up to the Board by Oliver Noyes and Daniel Parker Esqrs; De- siring that the Business of the Court may be Expedited, that the Session may end as soon as possible.
Who return'd, That His Excellency said, It should be done.
The Report of John Appleton, Benjamin Lynde, and John Burril Esqrs, a Com- mittee appointed by this Court the Tenth Day of February, 1713. to report the most convenient Place for the Erecting a Meeting-House for the Publick Worship of God in the New Precinct, in the North Part of Reading. Sent down from the Board, Pass'd on there, viz. In Council, April 12. 1717. Read and Accepted.
Sent down for Concurrence. Read and Concurr'd.
A Plat of the Lands lying between the Towns of Lancaster, Sutton, Marlborough, Worcester, Hassanamisco, and Brigham's Farm, taken by David Haynes Surveyor; Presented to the House; and a Petition of Hopestill Brown, Joshua Haynes, John Brigham, Edward Goddard, and Abiel Bush ; Presented to the House and Read, Praying, that the said Lands may be Granted to them and their Associates, and be constituted a Township. And a Petition of Peter Smith, John Smith, Ann Wil- liams, and Alice Smith, the Children and Heirs of John Smith Deceas'd, by Wig- glesworth Sweetser their Attorney, Presented to the House and Read, Praying, That a full and effectual Saving may be made for their Right and Interest in Lands contained in the said Plat, if this Court shall see meet to Grant a Township there. [ 60 ]
Ordered, That the said Petitions and Plat, be referred to the Session of this Court in May next, for further Consideration.
3. Post Meridiem.
An Engross'd Bill, Intituled, An Act for bringing forward all Writts, Pleas & other Process, which were to have been heard and tryed, at the General Sessions of the Peace and Inferiour Court of Common Pleas respectively at their Sessions on the first
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Tuesday of March 1716. Unto the Court of General Sessions of the Peace and Infe- riour Court of Common Pleas to be holden at Plymouth, on the third Tuesday of June, 1717. Read, and pass'd to be Enacted.
The Resolve of this House pass'd this Day, for Select-Men to be under Oath, &c. Sent down from the Board, Concurr'd with an Amendment; which was Read, but not Agreed; and sent up again.
A Message from His Excellency the Governour, by Adam Winthrop Esq; That this House forthwith attend him in the Council Chamber.
Mr. Speaker and the House went up accordingly; and His Excellency spake to the Court as follows, viz.
GENTLEMEN,
I Am glad my Assurances and Promises to do my utmost to serve this Province, have been Acceptable; and I do again repeat 'em.
I thank you for what was done towards my Support in the last Sessions, and for the Present you have now made me, which will help in defraying the Charge of my Trans- portation.
The Business of the Sessions being ended, the Annual Election approaching, and the Season of the Year advancing; I believe every Body, will be willing to be at home : I therefore Dismiss and Dissolve this Assembly; and hope upon your Return to your respective Counties, you will endeavour to do every thing, that may be for His Maj- esty's Service and the Good of your Country.
BOSTON : Printed & Sold by 25. Green. 17 17.
A
S P E E CH
Made unto His EXCELLENCY, Samuel Shute, Esq;
Captain General and GOVERNOUR in Chief, in and over the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England.
By the REVEREND, DR. Cotton Mather.
Attended with the MINISTERS of the Massachusetts-Province,
Rew England, May 30. 1717.
S INCE Your EXCELLENCYS Happy Arrival to us, This is the First Op- portunity of an Annual and General CONVENTION, which the Minis- ters of the Gospel in this Province could Enjoy, to Express our grateful Sense of the Happiness, which we have therein received.
An Happiness whereinto we have been indeed most agreeably Surprized, by the Providence of our Glorious LORD, who has with most Remarkable Circum- stances herein testified His Tender Care of His Flocks in the Wilderness.
But this Delay of a Duty, whereto we had the most Early as well as the most Hearty Dispositions, has only Enabled us now to Speak with Experience, what we could before have Spoken only with Expectation; and to say, The One Half has not been told us.
Your EXCELLENCY having honourably spent your Younger Years in the Armies which bravely fought for the Glorious Cause of Rescuing the Liberties of Europe and of Mankind, from the Chains which the most famous of all Tyrants designed for them, does not now wear your Laurels in an Unserviceable Retire- ment; But you have been generously Willing to devote your later Years, to the Publick Service in a Care for the Good of Others. And our Gracious GOD has ordered it, that This His People shall have the Felicity of being made the Ob- jects, whom your Care shall be employed upon.
- Felices nimium sua si bona norint.
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Most Refreshing, Most Obliging, have been the Rays of the Royal Favour, which the Best of Kings, our most Rightful and Lawful King GEORGE, has darted upon His most Loyal Subjects in these Plantations.
But with none have we been more affected, than with what His Great Wisdom and Goodness has done, in the Grant of His Royal Commission unto your EX- CELLENCY, to become our Captain-General and Governour. A GOVER- NOUR in whom we shall have a bright Image of His Own Royal Vertues, and shall see a Steady pursuit of His Interests and Intentions. [ 2 ]
Your EXCELLENCY has now the Government of a People, whom we can Recommend unto your most favourable Aspect under many considerations. But there is One Recommendation too Endearing to be left unmentioned; which is, That we know not of so much as One Man in all our Churches who is not Sin- cerely and Zealously affected unto His Majesty, and the Illustrious House of Hanover.
And indeed, What other can be Expected from Churches, which have the True Protestant Religion in the proper Points of it, whereof GOD has made our King such a Glorious Defender, So Entirely Embraced, so constantly Maintained, and after such an Exemplary manner flourishing in them!
While our Churches are not built on any Foundations, but the Maxims of the Everlasting Gospel Plainly Exhibited in the SACRED SCRIPTURES, and know no Terms of Communion, but the Indisputable Points of that Solid PIETY, wherein all Good Men are United, We assure our selves, That your Excellency, who have no Partiality for Little Parties in Religion, will count them worthy of your Protection, and will commend them unto the Royal Favour on all Occa- sions.
The Ministers of the Gospel, whose whole Business it is, to instil the Principles of Piety, of Honesty, of Charity, and of Loyalty into their People, are deeply sensible of the Obligations they have unto your Excellency, in that they feel the Effects of your Concern to have them duely Encouraged in faithfully prosecuting the Glorious ENDS of their Ministry.
And we promise our selves, that while your Incomparable BROTHER is a Patron of so much consequence unto our United Brethren on the other side of the Atlantick, Your EXCELLENCY will vouchsafe us our part in your most auspi- cious Patronage.
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We shall make it our Prayer to our GOD, that He who formerly carried you thro' the Hardships and Hazards of the Camp, and Covered your Head in the Days of Battel, will now grant you all the Quiet and Comfort of an Easy Govern- ment; and at Last the Endless Joy, which will be the End of a Faithful Steward- ship.
His Excellency's ANSWER.
Gentlemen,
I Take this Address very kindly, and especially because it comes from a Great and Good Body of Men for whom I have always had a great Esteem, and this will in- crease it. You may be always assur'd of My Friendship and Protection, and I shall take Care that the KING My Master may be Acquainted how Entirely Loyal the Ministers of the Gospel in New-England are, and how deserving of His Majesty's favours.
BOSTON: Printed and sold by 23. Green in Newbury-Street. 1717.
-
Anno Regni Regis GEORGII, nunc Magna Britannia, &t. Tertio.
J 0 URNAL
Of the HOUSE of Representatives.
At a Great and General Court or Assembly of His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in pri England, begun & held at 2Boston, upon Wednes- day the 29th Day of Day, Anno Domini, 1717.
E Liakim Hutchinson & Edward Bromfield Esqrs; came down from the Coun- cil Chamber, and acquainted the House, That they were Appointed and Authorized by His Excellency the Governour, that this House should take the Oaths, Make, Repeat and Subscribe the Declaration, Take and Sub- scribe the Oath of Abjuration (as by the Royal Charter of this Province is di- rected) before them; which being done by all the Members present, they withdrew.
The Names of the Persons Returned to Serve for, and Represent the several Towns, are as follows, Viz.
L Edw. Hutchinson Esq ; Boston, Capt. Jos. Wadsworth Mr. Isaiah Toy Capt Habijah Savage Roxbury, William Denison Esq; Dorchester, Mr. Hopestil Clap Hingham, Samuel Thaxter Esq; Brantrey, Maj. John Quincey Dedham, Mr. John Fuller Medfield, Mr. Henry Adams Weymouth, Capt. John Hunt Milton, Mr. John Wadsworth Wrentham, Mr. Ebenezer Fisher Mendon, Josiah Chapin Esq; Brooklin, Mr. Josiah Winchester Woodstock, John Chandler, Esq; Needham,
Salem, Mr. Timothy Lindal Capt. Peter Osgood
Ipswich S John Dennison Esq ; Mr. John Appleton Lynn, John Burril Esq ; Speaker S Lt. C. Hen. Somersby Newbury, \ Mr. James Noyes Marblehead, Mr. Rich. Trivet Andover, Mr. Nehemiah Abbot Beverly, Capt. Joseph Herrick Rowley, Capt. Ezekiel Northen Salisbury, Mr. William True Haver hill, Mr. Amos Singleterry Glocester, John Newman Esq ; Topsfield, Mr. Samuel Howlet Boxford, Mr. Joseph Hale
Wenham, Mr. William Rogers Amesbury, Capt. John Foot Bradford, Mr. Tho. Kemball Manchester,
Charls- [ Cha. Chambers Esq ;
town, { Jona. Dows Esq ; Cambridge, Jona. Remington Esq ; Watertown, Capt. Benj. Gearfield Concord, Mr. William Wilson Woburn, Mr. John Peirce Reading, Mr. Joshua Eaton Sudbury, Capt. Hopestil Brown Marlborough, Thomas How Esq ; Newton, Mr. John Ward Maldon, Mr. John Greenland Chelmesford, Mr. Stephen Peirce Billerica, Mr. George Browne Sherburn, Mr. Wil. Rider Groton, Mr. John Shepley Lancaster, Mr. John Houghton Framingham, Mr. J. Hemmenway Medford,
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