USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Taunton > Quarter millinnial celebration of the city of Taunton, Massachusetts, Tuesday and Wednesday, June 4 and 5, 1889 > Part 33
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-APPENDIX CC.
[Page 55.]
The act establishing Taunton as the Shire town of Bristol County passed at the session begun and held at Boston, on the sixth day of November, A. D. 1746, Ch. 15, in these words :
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APPENDIX.
"An act for making the town of Taunton the shire or County town of the County of Bristol, instead of the Town of Bristol, and for remov- ing the books of records, and papers, of the said County of Bristol, that are in the Town of Bristol, to the said Town of Taunton.
Be it enaeted by the Governor, Council and House of Representa- tives,
(Seet. 1.) That from and after the thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty-six, the town of Taunton shall be and hereby is made and established the county or shire town of the county of Bristol, instead of the town of Bristol, and that the superiour court of judicature, court of assize and general goal delivery, and the court of general sessions of the peace, and inferiour court of common pleas, which by law was heretofore to be held and kept at the said town of Bristol for the said county, shall forever hereafter be hield and kept at the said town of Taunton, within and for said county, on sueh days respectively, from time to time, as are now by law estab- lished for said county, and for the same respective ends and purposes, and with the same authority, respectively, as, lieretofore, the said courts were held and kept in the town of Bristol; and all eauses, suits and actions depending and to have ben heard in the several courts in said town of Bristol, for said county, shall be heard and tr(y) (i)ed at Taun- ton, by the said courts respectively, on the same days on which they should have been heard and tried at Bristol before the passing of this aet.
(Sect. 2.) And all writs, whether original or of execution, informa- tions, presentments, venires for jurymen, and all other writings and in- struments that by law were returnable to the several courts or offiees in Bristol, shall be and liereby are made returnable to the same courts and offices, respectively, in the town of Taunton.
(Seet. 3) And all the records and papers of the court of general sessions of the peace, inferiour court of common pleas, court of probate of wills and for granting letters of administration, and of the register of deeds, now in the said town of Bristol, shall be fortliwith delivered to George Leonard, Esq(r)., Mr. Thomas Foster and John Shephard, Esq(r)., or the major part of them, who shall eause them immediately to be eon- veyed to the said town of Taunton, and there safely deposited under the eare of the same persons as heretofore, or others, as said committee shall judge best, who shall serve in these offices with full power, and shall give the same obligations and be under the like penalties as they or others had or were under heretofore, until this court shall further order, or others shall be duly appointed in their stead.
(Sect. 4.) And the said committee are also directed to demand and receive of the treasurer of said county, now living in the town of Bristol, all money, records and papers to said county belonging, which they are
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also directed to remove and deposit at Taunton, in the same manner as is before directed concerning the records and papers to the said courts belonging; and the several clerks, treasurer, register, and all other per- sons who are possessed of any records, books, papers, money or other things belonging to said county (such person or persons living now in said town of Bristol,) are hereby impowered and required to deliver them forthwith to the said committee.
(Sect. 5.) And the sheriff of the said county is hereby directed to cause all prisioners now in his majestie's goal in the county of Bristol, to be conveyed to said town of Taunton, and there put under safe cus- tody, in some proper place to be kept for that purpose, 'till said county shall provide a proper goal in said town of Taunton, or 'till they shall be delivered by due course of law. (Passed November 13; published Nov- ember 14.
Mr. James H. Dean, in his valuable sketch of Taunton thus states the action had on the subject.
"The earliest matter receiving attention after Taunton was made the shire town of the county was the providing a county house and jail. The record is as follows:
"At his Majesty's Court of General Sessions of the Peace, begun and held at Taunton within and for the County of Bristol, on the second Tuesday of December, being the ninth day of the said month, A. D. 1746.
Justices present: Seth Williams, Thomas Terry, George Leonard, Timothy Fales, Samuel Willis, Thomas Bowen, Stephen Paine, Silvester Richmond. Jr., Ephraim Leonard, John Foster, Edward Hayward, Sam- uel Howland, Samuel Leonard, John Godfrey, Samuel White.
Timothy Fales, Esq., chosen Clerk of this Court and Sworn.
Ordered by the Court that the School House in Taunton shall be for the present impressed for a Goal and tliat Samuel Leonard, John God- frey, and Samuel White, Esqrs. be a committee to see that said School · House be made as secure as may be for the safe custody of all persons that may be committed thereto with the utmost dispatch, and that Setlı Williams the second shall take care to secure the two prisioners now in custody and all others that shall be committed in the mean time.
Ordered by the Court that Seth Williams, George Leonard, Samuel Leonard, John Godfrey, and Samuel White, Esqrs. be a committee to look out a suitable place for the standing of a Goal and County house in the Town of Taunton, & know what the land for erecting said houses on may be purchased for and make report of their doings thereon at the adjournment of this Court."
At the adjournment on the second Tuesday of January, 1747, the committee for looking out a suitable place for County house and Goal made their report as followeth to wit: "We the subscribers appointed a
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APPENDIX.
committee as within mentioned to look out a suitable place for the standing of a Goal and County house in the Town of Taunton have pur- suant to the within orders looked out a suitable place as we apprehend which is towards the upper end of the old Training Field a little below . where they used to dig gravel and is to be sixty foot square which place we look upon to be the most suitable for setting a County house upon provided the Town Proprietors' Committee give a legall conveyance thereof with a suitable and convenient way to pass to and from said place. And also that the most suitable place for setting a Goal and Goal house be on the land of Samuel White and Mr. Semeon Tisdale at a place near the spring (so-called) adjoining to the way that leads from said Tis- dale's to Mr. Crossman's grist mill provided the said White and Tisdale give a legal conveyance thereof.
Seth Williams, George Leonard, Sam'l. Leonard, John Godfrey, Samuel White,
Committee. "
Which report was approved of and accepted by the court.
"Ordered by the Court that John Foster, Silvester Richmond, Jr. and John Godfrey Esqrs. be a committee to provide materials and build a County house and Goal and Goal keeper's house with suitable dis- patch. The Goal to be thirty foot long and fourteen foot wide two story high and fourteen foot stud, to be studded with sawed stuff of six inches thick to be framed close together with a chimney in the middle suitable for a Goal. The house for prison keeper to be seventeen foot wide and twenty three foot long two story high besides the entry between the Goal and dwelling house and to be fourteen foot stud with a suitable chimney and cellar."
At an adjournment Jan. 28, 1747, Samuel White was appointed on the committee in place of Silvester Richmond, who was appointed sheriff.
"January 28, 1746-7. Ordered by the Court that George Leonard, Ephraim Leonard and John Foster, Esqrs., be a committee to receive deeds of conveyance from the committee of the Town of Taunton, and proprietors of said Town, of the lands mentioned in the committee's report (as on file) for the use of the County of Bristol."
The following appears in the records of the Court in June, 1647:
"Upon the Court's receiving a subscription of many of the inhabi- tants of the Town of Taunton, amounting in the whole to the sum of nine hundred twenty two pounds, fifteen shillings, old tenor, from the subscriber's committee, for building a Court house, ordered that the
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same shall be accepted, and that the committee appointed by this court shall be joined with the aforesaid committee of the subscribers in build- ing the Court-house as projected by the subscribers, and what further may be subscribed on the land given by the proprietors and inhabitants of the Town of Taunton, and as has been accepted by the Court of Gen- eral Sessions of the Peace, holden at Taunton, by adjournment in Jan- uary last."
History of Bristol County-Massachusetts-p. 769
APPENDIX DD.
(Page 56.)
Mittimus to the Keeper of the Goal at Taunton. You are hereby ordered and directed to take unto your Custody Edward Webb, Thomas Newman, Charles Clarke, John Wooden, John Dunster, and William Carthieu, prisoners of War, and them safely keep, in Close Confine- ment, till the further order of the Major part of the Council-Hereof fail not at your Peril.
Signed by fifteen of the Council.
(Monday, October 9th 1775. Date of Meeting. )
Return from the Keeper of the Goal at Taunton Informing the Hon. ble Council of the Escape of three prisoners-Viz Bartholomew Lan- ham a Serjant and Robert Pomeroy a Sailor both taken on Noddles Island & William Smith a Marine taken at the Light House-In Council Read and Ordered to be Entered on the files of Council.
(Wednesday, October 11th 1775. Date of Meeting.)
APPENDIX EE.
(Page 57.)
The Massachusetts Spy of Sept. 1, 1774 contains a letter from Taunton, dated Aug. 25th, in which the writer says :
-"This morning about 200 men met at the Ware Bridge, in this town, and after choosing a moderator, appointed a Committee to warn the towns of Dighton, Swansey, Raynham, Norton, Mansfield, Attle- borough and Easton to meet tomorrow, at eight oclock, when it is
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APPENDIX.
thought two or three thousand men will be assembled, from whence they are to proceed to Freetown to wait on Col. Gilbert, and desire of him not to accept of the office of high Sheriff under the present adminis- tration of the new laws, and that if he should, he must abide by the con- sequences; also to desire Brigadier Ruggles to depart this county imme- diately .- Such is the spirit of this County; they seem to be quite awake and to have awoke in a passion. It is more dangerous being a tory here, than at Boston, even if no troops were there"-
APPENDIX FF.
[Page 57.]
BRISTOL COUNTY RESOLVES. Sept., 1774.
At a niceting of the Gentlemen, Delegates from the following towns . in the county of Bristol, viz .: Taunton, Dartmouth, Rehoboth, Free- town, Dighton, Swansea, Norton, Mansfield, Raynham, Berkley, and Easton; held at the Court House, in Taunton, on the 28th and 29th days of September, 1774, to consult upon the proper measures to be taken at the present alarming crisis of our public affairs.
Zepheniah Leonard, Esq; chosen Chairman.
After having read the act of parliament for regulating the govern- ment of this province, and the resolves of the counties of Suffolk, Mid- dlesex, &c. the following resolutions were unanimously adopted.
Whereas our ancestors, of blessed memory, from a prudent care for themselves, and a tender concern for their descendants, did through a series of unparalled dangers and distresses, purchase a valuable inherit- ance in this western world, and carefully transmitted the same to us their posterity ; and whereas for many years past, we have quietly enjoyed cer- tain rights and privileges, stipulated by charter, and repeatedly con- firmed by royal engagements; which rights and privileges are now un- justly invaded by the pretended authority of a British parliament, under pretext that it is inexpedient for us any longer to enjoy them; and as the same persons which found out this inexpediency, will no doubt, in time, discover that it is inexpedient for us to enjoy any rights and even any property at all; we cannot in justice to ourselves and posterity, and in gratitude to our revered ancestors, tamely stand by and suffer everything that is valuable and dear to be wrested from us; but are resolutely deter- mined, at the risque of our fortunes and lives, to defend our natural and compacted rights; and to oppose to our utmost all illegal and unconstitu- tional measures, which have been or may be hereafter adopted by a
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British parliament, or a British ministry. And though we depricate the evils which are naturally consequent upon a breach of that mutual affec- tion and confidence which has subsisted betwixt Great Britain and her colonies; yet we think it better to suffer those evils than voluntarily sub- mit to perpetual slavery.
We are sensible that the important crisis before us demands the ex- ercise of much wisdom, prudence and fortitude, and we sincerely hope that all our deliberations and actions will be guided by the principles of sound reason, and a hearty desire to promote the true interest of the British empire. Accordingly, we resolve in the following manner, viz.
Resolved, That we fully recognize George the Third, King of Great Britain, &c. as our rightfull sovereign, and as allegiance and protection are reciprocal, we are determined faithfully to yield the former as long as we are allowed the enjoyment of the latter.
Resolved, That the late acts of the British parliament, relating to the continent in general, and this province in particular, are contrary to rea- son, and the spirit of the English constitution, and if complied with, will reduce us to the most abject state of servitude. .
Resolved, That all civil officers in this province, considered as holding their respective offices by the tenure specified in a late act of the British parliament, deserve neither obedience nor respect; but we will support all such civil authority that is agreable to the charter of the province, granted by King William and Queen Mary.
Resolved, That it is our opinion, that the several towns of this county should regulate themselves in all their public proceedings agreeable to the laws of this province.
Resolved, That we will use our utmost endeavors to discountenance and suppress, all mobs, riots and breaches of the peace, and will afford all the protection in our power to the persons and properties of our loyal fellow subjects.
Resolved, That in all things, we will regulate ourselves by the opin- ion and advice of the continental congress, now sitting at Philadelphia; and as we place great confidence in the abilities of the gentlemen, mem- bers of that Congress, we will cheerfully subscribe to their determina- tions.
Resolved, That our brethren of the town of Boston, who are now suffering under the cruel hand of power in the common cause of Amer- ica, are justly entitled to all that support and relief which we can, and are now ready to afford them.
Resolved, That whereas our brethren of the county of Suffolk have, by their spirited and noble resolutions, fully made known our sentiments, we therefore think unnecessary for us to be more particular, as we most cheerfully adopt their measures and resolutions,
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APPENDIX.
Voted, That the above proceeding be inserted in the public papers.
Voted, That the committee for the town of Taunton, be impowered to call a meeting of this body, whenever they think it necessary.
Voted, That the thanks of this body be given to the Chairman for his faithful services.
Voted, That this assembly be adjourned and it was accordingly ad- journed.
A true copy
DAVID COBB, Clerk.
[Massachusetts Spy, October 6, 1774.]
APPENDIX FF a.
[Page 58.]
The battle of Lexington took place on April 19, 1775. The news reached Taunton in the afternoon or evening of that day. By an arrangement previously made, the Committees of Safety throughout the Province dispatched messengers on horse in every direction; every town within one hundred miles being in- formed by evening that the war had begun. The news was made known through the town by the firing of guns and other signals so that people in remote sections of a town were soon aware that they were needed. We give below the rolls of the two Taunton companies :
A muster roll of James Williams, Jr's., company of minute men, which marched from Taunton to Roxbury, each one from his respective home, on the 20th day of April, 1775: Captain Jas. Williams, Jun., Lieutenant Josiah King, Ensign Abiel Macomber, Sergeant John Shaw, Sergeant John Hall, Sergeant Abra. Hathaway, Sergeant Dan Briggs, Drummer Eben Sumner, Fifer Eben Pitts, Jr., Privates Thomas An- drews, George Andrews, Jacob Burt, Richard Cobb, Rich'd Caswell, Job Caswell, John Caswell, Ashel Crossman, Job Dean, Nathan Dean, Micah Dean, Abijah Dean, Eben'r Dean 2d, Joseph Eliot, George Eliot, Jr., John Godfrey, Seth Godfrey, Elijah Gushee, Peter Hoskins, Joshua Hall, Reuben Hart, Hezekiah Hall, Wm. Johnson, George King, Job King, Nathan King, Eliab Knap, Atherton Knap, Daniel Lane, Silvester Lin-
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QUARTER MILLENNIAL CELEBRATION.
kon, James Latham, Benj. Leach, Jona. Macomber, Edw'd Paul, Zach. Padelford, Jas. Padelford, James Presho, Eben'r Robinson 2d, Josiah Robinson 2d, Gideon Shaw, Joseph Shaw, Jr., Job Smith, Jr., James Shaw, Seth Staple, Elibeus Shelly, Ashel Shaw, Shadrack Wilbore, Rich. Williams, Hamaniel Wilbore, Israel Washburn, Jr., Ephraim Wood, Seth Williams, Nath. Woodward, Thomas Williams.
These were all of Taunton, except Elijah Gushee, Joshua Hall, and Hezekiah Hall, all of Raynham, and Daniel Lane, of Nor- ton. They served twelve days, and were paid as follows: Capt. £2 Ios. Lieut., £1 16s. 8d. Sergeants, £1 16s. Privates, £1 3s. 9 d. each. Total, £76 4S.
Capt. Robert Crossman's company was also in service twelve days, as follows :
Robert Crossman, Captain, Joshua Wilbore, 1st Lieutenant, Edw. Blake, 2d Lieutenant, Sergeant Elkanah Hoskins, Sergeant Eben Babbitt, Sergeant Josiah Smith, Sergeant Lem. Hathaway, Corporal Rufus Lin- con, Corporal Elka. Smith, Corporal Rufus Barney, Corporal Simeon Palmer, Fifer Joseph Wood, James Ball, Henry Brooks, Eben Crossman, Jabez Carver, James Davis, John Dillinham, Daniel Drake, Jona. French, Ephraim Hathaway, Samuel Hoskins, Richard Hunt, Josias Hall, James Hodges, Elkana Hodges, Jona. Ingle, Silvester Jones, Elijah Leonard, Benj. Lincon, Joshua Lincon, Nat. Leonard, Jr., Stephen Long, John Pratt, Amasiah Richmond, John Richmond, John Read, Solomon Smith, James Stacey, Nat. Tower, Benoni Tisdale, George Tisdale, John Tur- ner, Nat. Williams 1st, Nat. Williams 2d, Jona. Williams, James Wood- ward, Joseph Williams, Benj. Wilbore, Isaac Washburn, Stephen Wood- ward, Daniel Wetherel, Thomas White, Stephen White, Benj. Jones, Edward White.
We are indebted to Arthur M. Alger Esqr., for the informa- tion above given.
APPENDIX GG.
[Page 58.]
The List and Proceedings of this Committee of Inspection and Correspondence is here given in full.
.
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APPENDIX.
"At a meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Taunton on Mon- day, July 3rd, 1775, said town made choice of
George Godfrey, Esq. Capt. Henry Hodges,
Maj'r. Richard Godfrey,
Lieut. Solomon Dean,
Ensign Ichabod Leonard,
Cap. Simeon Williams,
Lieut. Elisha Banney,
James Williams, Jr.
Lieut Ebenezer Cobb,
Lieut. Wm. Thayer,
Lieut. Benj. Dean, Jr.
Mr. Elijah Lincoln,
Mr. Nicholas Baylies,
Doc. David Cobb,
Benj. Williams, Esq.,
Mr. Jolın Adam,
Col. Geo. Williams,
Mr. Josiah Crocker,
Lieut. Edward Blake,
Robert Luscombe, Esq.,
Mr. John Keen,
as a Committee of inspection and correspondence for said town and any seven to make a quorum.
The Committee of Inspection, etc., of the town of Taunton met to- gether on Monday, July 10th, 1775, and made choice of James Williams, Jr. for their clerk.
Mr. Nicholas Baylies, Col. Geo. Williams and *Capt. John Read were chosen a Committee to take into their care the effects and estate of Daniel Leonard, Esq., lying in Taunton, who has fled for protection to Boston. Said Committee to improve or let the same to the best advan- tage and render a true account of the profits arising therefrom to this Committee or any other committee of correspondence of this town that shall be chosen for that purpose,
VOTED-That Geo. Godfrey, Esq., Capt. Simeon Williams and Col. Geo. Williams be a committee to take into their custody the Pork and Grain now in the store of Doc. Mckinstry and send the same to the army as soon as may be, and take an account of the same and keep an account of the cost of transportation.
Doc. David Cobb and Capt. Simeon Williams were added to the first mentioned committee to take care of the goods and estate of Daniel Leonard, Esq., and said Committee or the major part of them, to take care of the effects and estate of any other persons who have fled to Bos- ton for protection, and to let or improve the same to the best advantage, and render an account of the profits thereof. Wednesday, August 2d, 1775.
The Committee met and VOTED-That no future vote or resolve of this Committee shall be good or binding unless such vote or resolve be minuted or recorded by the Clerk.
VOTED-That Mr. Jonathan Cobb be permitted to sail out of Taunton great river, where she is now lying, to any place which is not forbid by the Continental or Prov. Congress.
*His name is probably omitted by mistake on the committee chosen, July 3d.
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QUARTER MILLENNIAL CELEBRATION.
There was delivered to James Williams Jr., one note from R. Lis- combe, Esq. £2.8; one from Robt. Caldwell for the Committee £6.0; Dean & Crocker £2.8, one from Lem. Hathaway £2.8.
The meeting adjourned to Monday next at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Monday Aug. 7th, 1775.
The Committee met and adjourned said meeting to Monday, Aug. 14, 1775. Said meeting further adjourned to the 21st instant and from that time to the 23rd of said month.
At a meeting of the Committee of inspection Aug. 23d. 1775, Re- solved, that it be earnestly recommended to the inhabitants of this town, that they refrain from killing any Lambs till the further advice of this Committee, or some future Committee of this town: agreeable to a late resolve of the Provincial Congress. The Committee being informed of divers letters from Newport to sundry Merchants and Traders in this town desiring them to collect all the Flax Seed in their power, so that it may be shipp'd, before the 10th of Sep. next, and as such conduct at this time must essentially militate against the spirit of the Association of the Continental Congress,
Therefore, Resolved, that no person in this town be guilty of trans- porting or exporting any Flax Seed so that it may go off the Continent, and that this resolve be printed in the Providence and Watertown news- papers, and a Copy sent to the Committee of each town in the county of Bristol.
Monday, Aug. 28th, 1775.
The Committee of Correspondence met and Voted that the Clerk set up one or more advertisements in the town respecting non-commissioned officers and soldiers who have absented themselves from the Continental army.
Joseph Dean, being complained of for his late conduct in transacting business for Thomas Paddock of Middleborough, the Committee put off the hearing thereof to Monday next at two o'clock in the afternoon.
Col. Godfrey, Doc. Cobb and James Williams, Jr, were chosen a Committee to write to the Committee of Providence respecting exporta- tion of Flax Seed.
Mr. Ichabod Leonard was desired to caution Jacob Leonard or any other person against carrying any Flax Seed out of this town.
Lieut. William Thayer and Lieut. Cobb were desired to do the same to Henry Burt and others.
Monday, Sep. 4th, 1775.
The Committee then met. A vote was called to see whether Joseph Dean has transgressed in his going to the General Court to transact bus- iness for Thomas Paddock. Passed in the negative.
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APPENDIX.
2d A vote was called to see whether he had transgressed in utter- ing some slanderous expressions respecting the town of Middleborough, and passed in the affirmative.
Thereupon, Voted, that said Joseph make an acknowledgment therefor-which was done in writing before this Committee.
The meeting was then dismissed.
At a meeting of the Committee of Inspection and Correspondence of the Town of Taunton, Dec. 8, 1775-
Whereas, it is of the utmost importance at this time of general dan- ger to use our power for the preservation of peace and unity in every respect; and whereas, of late some uneasiness hath arisen on account of the sale of Rum, Molasses, English Goods, and other merchandise which by the cruelty of our common enemy is very likely to become scarce amongst us-and taking under consideration the recommendation of the Grand Congress respecting the venders of goods and merchandise, we have thought proper to adjourn this meeting to the 18th of Dec. at one o'clock in the afternoon at the dwelling house of Mr. Eliphaz Harlow in Taunton. Then and there to hear all such complaints as shall be ex- hibited to us touching such venders of goods in said Taunton: and de- termine thereon, agreeable to the Association of s'd Congress.
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