USA > Massachusetts > Journals of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts > Part 22
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And then the House Adjourn'd till to Morrow Morning Nine a Clock. [ 17 ]
Mercurit 19, Die Junii 1717. A. M.
M R. Hutchinson from the Committee appointed Yesterday, to give the Thanks of the House to Mr. Jonathan Belcher, Acquainted the House, That they had attended the Order; And that Mr. Belcher there-upon said to them, That the Honour & Respect, which the Honourable House was pleased to do him, in a greatful Acceptance of his Sincere Endeavours to Serve them, during his late Residence in Great Britain, Did increase in him the Love he bore to his Native Country, and Encouraged him to be Studious for the future how he might best Serve their Interests: And that he should always think himself happy, when he had opportunities of so doing.
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A Bill Intituled, An Act for Apportioning & Assessing a Tax of Eleven Thousand Pounds upon Polls and Estates. Read a 2d and a 3d time, and pass'd to be En- gross'd. Sent up for Concurrence.
A Draugnt of a Humble Address to His Majesty, prepared by the Committee of both Houses, appointed for that end. Sent down from the Board, pass'd upon there, viz. In Council, June 18th. 1717. Read and Accepted.
Sent down for Concurrence. Read and Concurr'd.
A Bill Intituled, An Act in further Addition to the Act for Encouraging the Killing of Wolves. Read a 3d time. And pass'd to be Engross'd.
Sent up for Concurrence.
A Bill Intituled, An Act for Reviving and further Continuing an Act Intituled, An Act for Explanation of and Supplement to the Act referring to the Poor, &c.
Read a 3d time. And pass'd to be Engross'd. Sent up for Concurrence.
Mr. Hutchinson from the Committee appointed to Examine the Impost Offi- cer's Accompts, made Report, That they had Perused the same. And find it will take up more time than can be allowed for a thorough Examination at this Ses- sion; but believe them to be just and right. And are humbly of Opinion that the Impost Officer be Directed to Settle and Ballance his Accompts with every Per- son Yearly, so that he may leave them ready to offer to this Court in their May Sessions. And that there be a standing Committee of Two Persons Annually ap- pointed to Inspect the Accompts of the said Officer as often as they see cause; and make Report of their Doings to this House every Year at their Sessions in May. Which Report was accepted by the House, and a Vote sent up accordingly for Concurrence. Edward Hutchinson Esq; and Capt. Joseph Wadsworth being ap- pointed a Committee for the said Service for the Year Currant.
A Draught of an Answer to the Complaints against this Government men- tioned in Mr. Agent Dummer's Letter, Prepared by the Committee of both Houses. Sent down from the Board, pass'd on there, viz. In Council June 18th 1717. Read and Accepted. Sent down for Concurrence.
Read and Concurr'd.
A Message sent up to the Board by Mr. Lindal, and Capt. Osgood, That the House propose to proceed to the choice of a Treasurer, Attorney General, and Impost Officer this Afternoon, and desire the Honourable Board to joyn with them therein.
A Petition of John Trask jun of Salem, presented to the House and Read, Complaining of Injury done him by a High-way being laid through his Land, whereof he has Complained to the Court of General Sessions of the Peace in the said County, and can obtain no Relief: Praying Redress from this Court.
Ordered, That the said Petition be Dismist.
Whereas it is Represented to this House, That the Colony of Connecticut, are Issu- ing out some New Settlements higher up the Country than the Line between this Gov-
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ernment, and that, has yet been Setled ; and some Persons of this Province are desirous to make some further Inland-Settlements.
To the Intent that no Errors be Committed by the Inhabitants of either Government in Setling out of their respective Bounds.
Voted, That his Excellency the Governour be Requested to Write to the Gov- ernment of Connecticut, Desiring them to Appoint and fully Impower Commis- sioners to joyn with Commissioners of the Government to Run, and continue the divisional Line between the Governments, by sufficient durable Marks, and Monuments, until they shall have Pass'd Five Miles to the Westward of Houssa- tannuck River.
That the said Commissioners be Desired and Directed to Perambulate the Line lately Setled between the Governments, and renew the Marks, and add more to them if they see it needful.
That Samuel Porter, Samuel Thaxter, and John Chandler Esqrs; be appointed and fully Impowred as Commissioners in behalf of this Province for the affairs aforesaid, who are Instructed to Govern themselves in the further Continuance of the Line by the Direction in the Royal Charter to the late Colony of the Massa- chusetts-Bay. And to make Report to this Court. [ 18 ]
A Bill Intituled, An Act for Reviving and further Continuing of an Act Intituled An Act Directing how Rates and Taxes to be Granted by the General Assembly shall be Assessed & Collected. Read and
Resolved, That the Bill do pass to be Enacted.
3 Post Meridiem.
The Petition of Elizabeth Hobert, praying as Entred the 8th Currant, Read again, and the Report of the Committee thereon, which was accepted by the House, and accordingly,
Ordered, That the Petitioner have leave to lay out Six Hundred Acres of Land in some unappropriated Province Lands, in one regular Tract, by a Skilful Sur- veyor, and Chain-men under Oath, and lay a Plat thereof before this Court for Approbation. Sent up for Concurrence.
The Petition of Ebenezer Doan, praying as entred the 18th Currant, Read again, and the Report of the Committee thereon, which was accepted by the House, and accordingly,
Resolved, That the Sum of l. 150 be allowed and paid out of the Publick Treas- ury towards the Building a Meeting-house for the Precinct at Cape Codd. And that Thomas Pain Esq; Capt. Ebenezer Doan, and Mr. John Snow be a Committee to receive and lay out the said Sum, and Build the House, of the Dimensions of 32 feet long, 28 feet wide, and 15 feet Stud, with Galleries on three sides And the Inhabitants of the said Precinct are obliged to keep the said House in Repair, and
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supply such further Sum as may be needful to finish the House, if any be, which the Assessors of the Town of Truro, for the time being, are Impowred and Di- rected to Assess, and Gather in such manner as the Law Directs for the raising Money on the said Precinct, to make up their Ministers Salary, and deliver to the said Committee.
Sent up for Concurrence.
The Petition of sundry Indian Inhabitants of the Island of Nantucket, pass'd upon in this House the 15th Currant: Sent down from the Board, pass'd upon there, viz. In Council June 19th. 1717. Read and Non-Concurr'd, and Voted, That the said Island of Nantucket be annexed to Dukes County, and that a Bill be brought in accordingly.
Sent down for Concurrence. Read and Non-Concurr'd, and
Voted, That the Honourable Board be Desired to Re-consider and Concur with the Vote of this House the 15th Currant.
A Petition of Thomas Prentis, Nathanael Jones, Ichabod Brown, and Daniel Henchman (in behalf of himself, and the Heirs of Maj. Daniel Henchman) Pre- sented to the House & Read, praying, That they may be allowed one Year more, for Building & Setling on their Lands in the Town of Worcester, the Three Years Limited, by this Court for that end under Penalty of Forfeiture of the said Lands being Laps'd.
Ordered, That the prayer of the Petition be granted.
Sent up for Concurrence.
The Petition of William Denison of Roxbury, praying as entred the 12th Cur- rant.
Sent up to the Board.
An Ingross'd Bill, Intituled, An Act for Reviving and further Continuing of an Act intituled, An Act for Explanation of and Supplement to the Act referring to the Poor, &c. Read and
Resolved, That the Bill do pass to be Enacted.
The Petition of the Innholders and Retailers of the Town of Boston, praying as entred the IIth Currant. Read again, and the Act it refer's to. And the Ques- tion being put, Whether the prayer of the Petition be Granted ?
It pass'd in the Negative.
A Message from the Board by Thomas Fitch and Elisha Cooke Esqrs; That they are now ready to joyn with the House in the choice of a Treasurer, and other Officers as proposed by the House. The House proceeded to prepare their Votes for a Treasurer.
Ordered, That Capt. Savage, and Capt. Dowse be a Committee to carry up the said Votes, and those for the other Publick Officers now to be chosen, and assist in sorting and numbring them with the Votes of the Board, and Report the choice that shall be made.
The said Committee carried up the Votes of the House for a Treasurer of this Province, And Returned, That Mr. Jeremiah Allen was chosen by a major part of the Voters.
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The House brought in their Votes for an Impost Officer.
Which were cerried up by the said Committee. Who Returned, That Mr. Dan- iel Russel was chosen by a major part of the Voters.
The House brought in their Votes for an Attorney General, which were carried up by the said Committee: Who Return'd, That Paul Dudley Esq; was chosen by a major part of the Voters.
And then the House Adjourn'd till to Morrow Morning Nine a Clock.
BOSTON: Printed and Sold by 15. Green. 1.717. [ 19 ]
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VOTES of the House of Representatives.
Tobis 20. Die Tunii, 1717. A. S.
O Rdered, That a Message be sent up to the Board, Moving that a Day of Publick Prayer with Fasting, be in a short time appointed, and Solemnized throughout the several Towns of this Province, upon the various occasions thereof, and particularly the awful Frowns of Heaven in the distressing early Drought.
Mr. Hutchinson from the Committee appointed, laid before the House a Draught of a Bill, Intituled, An Act in Addition to and Explanation of Two Acts referring to the Regulating of Fees. Which was Read.
A Petition of John Campbell Post-master of New-England, praying Allowance for Publick Letters, and towards the charge of his Weekly News-Letter, with an Accompt for the Year past Amounting to l. 57 3 s. 8 d. Sent down from the Board having been Read there. Read.
The Petition of John Lane, &c. praying as Entered the 18th. Currant, Read again, and the Report of the Committee thereon, which was accepted by the House, & accordingly,
Resolved, That the Sum of Thirty Pounds be allowed and paid out of the Pub- lick Treasury towards the Support of the Ministry at Winter Harbour, for one Year, to begin the first Day of October next; if they have a Minister, and propor- tionably for what time they shall have one. Sent up for Concurrence.
An Accompt of Bartho. Green, Printer, of work done for the Province, since June 28. 1716. amounting to the Sum of l. 54 17 s. 9 d. presented to the House for Payment. Read and
Resolved, That the Sum of l. 54 17 s. 9 d. be allowed and paid out of the Publick Treasury to the said Accomptant, to Discharge his Accompt.
Sent up for Concurrence.
A Petition of Philip English of Salem, praying Consideration, and Allowance for a great part of his Estate taken from him (as was said) by lawful Authority in the late Sorrowful time of the Witchcraft. Sent down from the Board, Read there. Read.
The Petition of Samuel Morris, &c. praying as entred the 7th Currant, further Considered, and the Report of the Committee thereon, viz. That the Petitioners be referred to the Common Law for Relief. Which was accepted by the House.
Ordered, That the Commissioners appointed by this Court to joyn in continu- ing the Line between this Province and Connecticut, be Instructed to continue and finish the Line between the Towns of Springfield and Enfield, begun by the late Commissioners, at the charge of the said Town. Sent up for Concurrence.
A Bill Intituled, An Act to enable the Commissioners for Bankrupts Estates to finish the Business of their Commissions. Read twice.
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half an hour past 3 Post Meridiem.
The Petition of Thomas Knowlton, and Jeremiah Buckman, praying as entred the 30th of May last, further considered, and the Report of the Committee thereon; which was accepted by the House, and agreeable thereto:
Ordered, That the Petitioners serve the Precinct of Chebacco with a Copy of this their Petition, That they may shew reason, if any they have, why the prayer thereof should not be granted, to this Court on the first Tuesday of their Sessions in the next Autumn.
Sent up for Concurrence.
Ordered, That the Treasurer be Directed to put in Suit, the Bonds of all such who have any part of the first l. 40000. Loan of Publick Bills that was Lent to en- able them to furnish Supplies to the Army and Fleet, that was design'd in the late War against Canada, under Command of General Hill, and Admiral Walker. If the Obligors do not Discharge their Bonds within One Month after the time Ex- pires, that the said Loan was continued to them for. Sent up for Concurrence. A Bill Intituled, An Act Granting unto His Majesty several Rates and Duties of Impost and Tonnage of Shipping. Read twice, and pass'd to be Engross'd.
Sent up for Concurrence.
Resolved, That the Treasurer be and hereby is Directed, and Impowered to Is- sue forth and Emit of the Bills of Publick Credit, received into the Treasury, the Sum of Three Thousand Pounds, for Payment of the Publick Debts of the Prov- ince already Contracted, for the Defence and Support of the Government, and the necessary Protection, and Preservation of the Inhabitants of this Province, and for the Subsisting of Forts and Garrisons, and Wages arising for their Service, for payment of Grants, Salaries and Allowances, Made or to be made by this Court, according to such Draughts, as from time to time shall be made upon him, by Warrant or Order of the Governour or Commander in Chief, for the time be- ing, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Council. And the said Bills shall pass out [ 20 ] of the Treasury at the value therein expressed equivalent to Money; and shall be taken and accepted in all Publick Payments, at the Advance and after the Rate of Five Pounds per Cent. more. And as a Fund and Security for the same, There be and hereby is Granted to His Most Excellent Majesty, to the ends, and uses as aforesaid, a Tax of Three Thousand Pounds, to be Levied on Polls and Estates, both real and personal within this Province, according to such Rules, and in such Proportion, upon the several Towns and Districts within the same, as shall be agreed on, and ordered by the Great and General Court or As- sembly of this Province at their Session in May 1720. and paid into the Treasury on or before the last day of December next after. Sent up for Concurrence. Ordered, That a Message be sent up to the Board by Col. Thaxter, Mr. Toy, and Mr. Remington, That this House being Informed that His Majesty's Ship for
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the Guard of this Coast is arrived, Desire that the Sloop taken up for that Serv- ice, may be discharged.
And then the House Adjourn'd till to Morrow Morning Nine a Clock.
Deneris 21. Die Junii. 1717. A. SĄ.
R Esolved, That the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds be allowed and paid out of the Publick Treasury to His Excellency SAMUEL SHUTE Esq; Captain General, and Governour in Chief of this His Majesty's Province, for his Support in managing the Affairs of the Government. Sent up for Concurrence. Resolved, That the Sum of Four Hundred Pounds be allowed and paid out of the Publick Treasury to the Honourable the Judges of the Superiour Court of Judicature, in Proportion to the Courts they attended the Year past.
Sent up for Concurrence.
Resolved, That the Sum of Thirty Pounds be added to the Allowance of the Reverend Mr. John Leverett, President of Harvard College, for the Year Currant, beginning in January last; and paid to him out of the Publick Treasury.
Sent up for Concurrence.
Resolved, That the Sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Pounds be allowed and paid out of Publick Treasury to Mr. Jeremiah Allen, Treasurer of this Province, for his Service the Year past, his Trouble being extraordinary in changing the Bills of Credit, and taking care for a Supply of the Garrisons, &c.
Sent up for Concurrence.
Resolved, That the Sum of Twenty Pounds, be allowed and paid out the Pub- lick Treasury to Mr. John White, Clerk of this House, in part for his Service for the Year Currant. Sent up for Concurrence.
Resolved, That the Sum of Twenty-five Pounds, be allowed and paid out of the Publick Treasury to Mr. John Flagg Door-keeper to His Excellency the Gover- nour, and this Court, for his Service half a Year, ending the 26th Currant.
Sent up for Concurrence.
A Bill Intituled, An Act to enable the Commissioners for Bankrupt Estates, to fin- ish the Business of their Commissions. Read a 3d time and pass'd to be En- gross'd. Sent up for Concurrence.
A Bill Intituled, An Act in Addition to and Explanation of Two Acts referring to the Regulating of Fees, &c. Read a 2d, and 3d time, and pass'd to be Engross'd. Sent up for Concurrence.
A Message sent up to the Board by Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Lindal, Col. Somersby, and Capt. Chambers, and Capt. Osgood, Moving, That the Business of the Session may be so Expedited, as that the Court may Rise to Morrow, if it may be Con- veniently.
Ordered, That the Representatives of the Towns of Boston, Charlstown, and
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Roxbury, with such as the Honourable Board shall Nominate be a Committee, at any time (between this Session, and the Session of this Court in May next) when the Treasurer shall have Two Thousand Pounds, or more of Bills in the Treasury, that are Defac'd and unfit for use, at his application to them, to take an account of the Number of each of the sorts of the said Bills, and the Sum the whole amounts to, and give the Treasurer Receipt for them, and Burn the said Bills to Ashes; and make Report of their Doings to this Court as often as there shall be opportunity, whose Receipt shall be a Discharge to the Treasurer equal to what the said Bills would have been if they had continued in his hands.
Sent up for Concurrence.
A Report of a Committee of the Honourable Board appointed by His Excel- lency and Council to provide an Able, Ordained Minister, to Endeavour the Con- version of the Eastern Indians, pursuant to the Votes of this Court in November last, Shewing what steps they had taken in that affair. Read, and
Voted, That it be still left with His Excellency and Council to proceed in the said Affair agreeable to the Votes of this Court. Sent up for Concurrence. [ 21 ]
A Report of Abraham Prebble, Lewis Bane, and Samuel Cane, a Committee ap- pointed by this Court the last Year, to Report how the dividing Line ought to be Setled between Wells and Kittery. Read and Accepted.
Sent up for Concurrence.
Half an hour past 3 Post Meridiem.
A Petition of Lewis Bane and William Sawyer, Presented to the House and Read, Praying, That the Town of York may be now restored to their Right and Priviledge, as the Shire Town of that County, and that the Superiour Court of Judicature, &c. and the Inferiour Court of Common Pleas, may be held there as formerly.
Ordered, That the said Petition be Referred to further Consideration, in the Session of this Court the next Autumn.
Elisha Cooke Esq; brought down the Bill, Intituled, An Act for the Granting unto His Majesty, several Rates and Duties of Impost, and Tunnage of Shipping, Con- curr'd by the Board, with Amendments, to which they desir'd the Concurrence of the House. Read and Concurr'd.
A Petition of Peleg Sloman and John Tucker of Dartmouth, in behalf of them- selves and the rest of the People of the said Town called Quakers, Praying Re- dress of the Injuries they suffer, by having their Cattel and Sheep taken from them from time to time, on account of their Ministers Rate. Sent down from the Board, Pass'd upon there, viz. In Council, June 14th. 1717. Read, and Ordered, That the Complainants serve the Adverse Party with a Copy of this . Complaint, that they may be heard thereon before this Court on the Second Wednesday in the Fall Session.
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And in the mean time all Proceedings against the said Peleg Sloman and John Tucker, relating to the Charge of the Ministry be suspended, and that the Con- stables who made Distress on the Complainants Estates, bring with them a List of the Rates. Sent down for Concurrence. Read.
Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the next Sessions, no Evidence of the Matter of Fact alledged in the Petition appearing.
A Petition of Cyprian Whipple of Ipswich, Administrator to the Estate of Wil- liam Simonds, Son and Heir of Samuel Simonds Esq; deceas'd; Presented to the House and Read, Praying Liberty to lay out 800 Acres of Land, to fulfil a Grant made to the said Samuel Simonds by the General Court in May, 1661.
Ordered, That the Petitioner have leave to lay out Eight Hundred Acres in a regular Form, in some ungranted Lands, by a Surveyor and Chain-men under Oath, and return a Plat thereof to this Court for Approbation.
Sent up for Concurrence.
The Honourable Samuel Sewall, Pen Townsend, John Leverett, and Thomas Fitch Esqrs, a Committee appointed by the Trustees for the Improvement of Mr. Hopkins's Legacy, were admitted into the House, and presented their Me- morial, Praying this Honourable Court to order a Skilful Surveyor and Chain- men under Oath, to view the uncertain Bounds of such Tracts of Land as are claimed by former Grants from the General Court, within the Township of Hop- kinston, and especially of a Grant called Whitehall Farm; and that Mr. Joseph Sherman, the Surveyor who laid out the said Farm, may be obliged under Oath, to shew the several Lines and Boundaries thereof.
Ordered, That the Prayer of the Petition be Granted. And Samuel Thaxter and John Chandler Esqrs, are appointed Surveyors to perform the Service.
And that Mr. Joseph Sherman be directed to attend them to the Place, and shew them upon Oath how, & where he protracted the Tract of Land above men- tioned. Sent up for Concurrence.
Two Engrossed Copies of the Humble Address of this Court to His Majesty, Sent down from the Board, Read and Sign'd by Mr. Speaker in the Name of the House.
The following Vote sent down from the Board, viz. In Council, June 21. 1717.
Resolved, That Eliakim Hutchinson, Addington Davenport Esqrs, and Mr. Treasurer Allen, be Directed and Impower'd to inspect the Bonds of such Per- sons, who have or may have the Payment of the Loan Money, supplyed to the Canada Expedition, Respited, or further Continued; and to take other or better Security, if they judge it needful; and in Default of giving such Security, that the Bonds be forthwith put in Suit. Sent down for Concurrence.
Read and Concurr'd.
And then the House Adjourn'd till to Morrow Morning Nine a Clock.
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Sabbati 22, Die Junii, 1717. A. M.
A N Accompt of Treasurer Allen's of Debts due from sundry Persons for Ex- ise, Annis, 1713, and 1714, which cannot be recovered &c. Amounting to the Sum of 9 l. Read, and
Ordered, That the Sums above mentioned be abated, amounting to the Sum of 9 l. And that the Treasurer be discharged of the said Sum.
Sent up for Concurrence.
A Petition of Andrew Belcher Esq; and Jonathan Belcher of Boston, Merchants, Presented to the House & Read, Praying, That Fourteen Hundred Pounds, part of the Sum Lent to them in Bills of Credit out of the Publick Treasury, Anno, 1711, to assist them to furnish Stores to General Hill and Admiral Walker, for the Army & Fleet under their Command, bound on an Expedition to Canada, may be Lent to them for one Year more, for Reasons therein given, and more especially, for that the Petitioners Goods were by the Authority taken from them for the Service aforesaid, to the Value of l. 2115 6 s. 10 d. more than they could obtain to be Lent them in Publick Bills.
Ordered, That the Prayer of the Petition be Granted. The Case of the Petition- ers being different from others concerned in the 40000 l. Loan. [ 22 ]
A Petition of Edward Hutchinson, Habijah Savage, John Ballantine Jun. Ed- ward Winslow, and Jonathan Pollard, in behalf of the Artillery Company in Bos- ton, Presented to the House and Read, Praying, That 500 Acres of Land, which are reserved to the Province in the Township of Rutland, may be Granted to the said Company, to satisfy a Grant made to them by the General Court, October 15. 1673.
Ordered, That 500 Acres of the 1000 reserved to the Province in the Township of Rutland, be Granted in Answer to this Petition: But so that John Burril Esq; to whom the other 500 Acres is Granted, have the Choice at which End to lay out his Grant. Sent up for Concurrence.
An Accompt of Robert Ellis Surgeon, of his Applications to Serj. Daniel Tucker for two Years past, for the Cure of a Gun-shot Wound he received in his Body, in the late War with the Indians. Presented to the House for Allowance.
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