USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > The History of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, 1836 > Part 19
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" SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That Elkanah French, Esq. be, and he is hereby authorized to issue his warrant, directed to some suitable inhabitant of Seekonk, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants thereof, qualified to vote for town officers, to meet at such convenient time and place as shall be expressed in said warrant, to choose all such officers as towns are by law authorized to choose in the months of March or April annually. And that the said Elkanah French, Esq. be, and he is hereby authorized and empowered to preside at said meeting during the election of a moderator, to exercise all the powers, and to do all the duties which town clerks by law have and do perform in the election of moderators of town meetings."
This act passed 26th February, 1812.
A warrant was issued, and, pursuant thereunto, a meeting of the legal voters of Seekonk was holden in the old meeting house, on Monday March 16, 1812, at ten o'clock A. M. for organizing the town and choosing town officers. Caleb Abell was chosen moderator of the meeting, and town clerk for the ensuing year ; and Capt. Allen Cole, town treasurer for the year. The meeting then adjourned to the 23d instant, at the same hour and place as the foregoing.
March 23, 1812. At the adjourned meeting of the town, it was voted " to choose three selectmen for the ensuing year, one
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of them to be in each of the three militia companies." Messrs. Peter Hunt, Worcester Carpenter, and Allen Munroe were chosen selectmen.
" Voted to choose a committee of three, to join a committee chosen by the town of Rehoboth, to make a settlement with the late town treasurer ; and, by vote, Messrs. Calvin Martin, James Ellis, and Benjamin Ormsbee were said committee."
" By vote, chose Messrs. Lewis Wade and James Bliss con- stables for the ensuing year."
" Voted that the town meetings in Seekonk be notified in the usual mode and manner that town meetings were notified before the division of the town of Rehoboth, till further order be taken thereon."
" Meeting adjourned till the sixth day of April next."
April 6, 1812. " The town voted to choose two constables in addition to the two chosen at a former meeting ; and, by vote, Messrs Amos Read and Nathaniel Viall were said constables."
At the same meeting were chosen, " surveyors of highways," " fence viewers," " surveyors of plank and timber, and corders of wood and bark," and " field drivers."
" Voted that the present selectmen be overseers of the poor, and assessors for the year ensuing."
Monday, Oct. 5, 1812. " Voted to put up the collection of taxes to be bid off by those that would collect the lowest, they giving bonds to said town agreeable to a vote."
Nov. 2, 1812. In town meeting, " voted to choose by nomina- tion a committee of three, to divide all public personal property that belongs to the towns of Seekonk and Rehoboth, and poor persons, agreeable to the act of General Court of this Com- monwealth, incorporating said town of Seekonk ;- and chose James Ellis, Esq. and Deacon Joseph Bucklin on said com- mittee."
Sept. 7, 1812. In town meeting, " motion being made and seconded to give to each detached non-commissioned officer and soldier belonging to Seekonk, five dollars per month in addition to what the general government allows, as wages ;- vote taken thereon declared in the negative."
" Voted to choose a committee to report to the town, what sum will be necessary for a town grant for schooling, and for the expenses of said town for the year ensuing ; and also on tlie mode of collecting taxes ;- and by vote chose Messrs. Caleb
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HISTORY OF SEEKONK.
Abell, Thomas Kennicutt, Peter Hunt, Elkanah French, and Oliver Starkweather, said committee.
This committee reported, Oct. 1, 1812, " the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars for the support of schools, to be appor-" tioned by the assessors to the several school districts, according to rateable polls and estates ; for the purchase of the town stock of powder, and support of the poor, and the necessary expenses arising in said town, the sum of twelve hundred and fifty dollars."
Voted in town meeting, the same day, " that the sum of six- teen hundred dollars be assessed on the polls and estates imme- diately."
March 15, 1813. At a meeting of the town, the following town officers were elected for the ensuing year :- Oliver Stark- weather, moderator ; Caleb Abell, town clerk ; Otis Carpenter, town treasurer; Messrs. Peter Hunt, Worcester Carpenter, and Allen Munro, selectmen.
April 5, 1813. " Voted to put out the poor persons belong- ing to the town of Seekonk, at auction, to the lowest bidder."
May 10, 1813. Chose Messrs. Amos Read, James Bliss, and John Barns, constables for the ensuing year.
June 7, 1813. " Voted unanimously to grant the sum of one thousand dollars for the purpose of building the town house."
This year the town voted to raise the sum of 350 dollars for the support of schools.
March 21, 1814. In a town meeting holden at the house of Jamcs Bliss, innholder, the following town officers were chosen : Oliver Starkweather, moderator; Caleb Abell, town clerk ; Otis Carpenter, town treasurer; Messrs. Robert Daggett, Worcester Carpenter, and Allen Munro, selectmen.
Monday, Oct. 3, 1814. "Messrs. Tristram Burgess, William church, and Richmond Bullock, a committee from the town of Providence, in behalf of said town of Providence, requested liberty to build a breastwork on land belonging to the town of Seekonk and Rehoboth, at a place called Kettle Point; and to solicit the citizens of Seekonk to assist in building said fortifica- tion. By vote, granted the request of said committee so far as related to Seekonk, and chose a committee of seven to request the citizens to assist in raising the fortification."
This year the town raised for the support of schools 350 dol- lars ; to replace military stores that might be drawn out, 200 dollars. The whole sum raised for town expenses was $2400.
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HISTORY OF SEEKONK.
The old meeting-house was this year torn down, the timber, &c. sold, and the proceeds devoted to defraying the expenses of erecting the town house. The old meeting house brought the town about 120 dollars.
The first meeting in the new town house was holden Monday Nov. 7, 1814.
Monday, March 20, 1815. At the annual town meeting the fol- lowing town officers were chosen : Deacon Joseph Bucklin, mod- erator ; Caleb Abel, town clerk ; Otis Carpenter, town treasurer ; Messrs. Lemuel Carpenter, Samuel Allen, and Caleb Mason, selectmen.
Raised for the support of schools, this year, $400; for the support of the poor and incidental expenses, $900.
March 18, 1816. At the annual meeting for the choice of town officers, the following were elected :- Capt. Lemuel Car- penter, moderator ; Caleb Abell, town clerk ; Otis Carpenter, Town Treasurer ; Messrs. Lemuel Carpenter, Samuel Allen, and Caleb Mason, selectmen.
Raised, this year for the support of schools $400; for sup- port of the poor, and incidental expenses, $1200.
March 17, 1817. At the annual meeting for the choice of officers the following were elected; Capt. Lemuel Carpenter, moderator; Caleb Abell, town clerk; Otis Carpenter, town treasurer; Messrs. Lemuel Carpenter, Samuel Allen, and Caleb Mason, selectmen.
Raised, this year, $400 for the support of schools; for the support of the poor, and incidental expenses, $1100; and for a county tax, $400.
March 16, 1818. At the annual meeting the following choice of town officers was made, viz : Caleb Abell, town clerk; Otis Carpenter, town treasurer ; Messrs. Lemuel Carpenter, Samuel Allen, and Caleb Mason, selectmen.
April 6, 1818. A petition of some of the inhabitants for " straightening the highway to Pawtucket," was granted by the town, provided the town " be put to no expense on account of said straightening or alteration in said highway." The old highway to be discontinued where it is not wanting. The following sums of money were raised by the town this year, viz : for the sup- port of schools, $400; for the support of the poor, $900; for the county tax, $400; for town officers and other expenses of the town, $200.
March 15, 1819. The following town officers were chosen,
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HISTORY OF SEEKONK.
viz: Caleb Abell, town clerk ; Willian Hammond, town treas- urer ; Messrs. Lemuel Carpenter, Samuel Allen, and George W. Walker selectmen.
May 10, 1819. Messrs. Eliphalet Slack, Benjamin I. Wal- cott, Oliver Starkweather, David Bucklin, Elijah Ingraham, and Ebenezer Taylor were chosen fire-wardens.
The following sums of money were raised by the town this year, viz : for support of schools, $400; for county tax, $554,80; for support of the poor and other town expenses, 1045,20 ; expenses of work on the town house, $100.
March 20, 1820. The following town officers were chosen, viz: Caleb Abell, town clerk ; William Hammond, town treas- urer ; Messrs. David Bucklin, Samuel Allen, and George W. Walker, selectmen.
April 3, 1820. " Voted to choose a committee of three persons, to make examination, to know what privilege the in- habitants of Seekonk have to pass and repass to and from the shore, at or near Bullock's point, so called, in Seekonk."
This committee reported, " that, on examination of the rec- ords, they could not find that the inhabitants of Seekonk had any right to pass or repass to the shore near said point."
Raised, this year, for the support of the poor, and other expenses, $1300; for the support of common schools, $400 "including money the school lands rent for the present year."
July 3, 1820. " Voted to choose a committee of three per- sons, to examine the records, to know what authority the pro- prietors have, as proprietors, to sell lands ; and by vote chose Messrs. Tristram Burgess, Robert Daggett, and Lemuel Carpen- ter, said committee." " Voted that said committee be instruct- ed to ascertain whether said proprietors have sold, or are about to sell, any lands, rights, or privileges, which belong to the town; and report to the town at the next adjournment of the meeting." This committee reported at the next March meeting: their report, which is an able one, is recorded, Seekonk Records, vol. I. 226.
July 31, 1820. " Voted to choose a health officer; and, by vote, chose Uriah Benedict said health officer."
Oct. 16, 1820. Joseph Sisson, jr. and Robert Daggett were chosen delegates to meet in convention with the delegates from the other towns, at Boston on the third Wednesday of Nov. next, for the purpose of revising the constitution of the State.
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HISTORY OF SEEKONK.
March 19, 1821. Chose Caleb Abell, town clerk ; William Hammond, town treasurer ; Messrs. David Bucklin, Nathaniel Read, jr. and George W. Walker, selectmen.
June 4, 1821. Messrs. Uriah Benedict and Edward Wal- cott were chosen health officers for the village of Pawtucket.
Raised this year for the support of the poor and town expen- ses, $1400; for the support of schools, $400, "including money school lands rent for the present year."
March 25, 1822. Caleb Abell chosen town clerk ; William Hammond, town treasurer ; Messrs. David Bucklin, Nathaniel Read, jr., and Samuel Allen, selectmen.
Raised this year, $1500 for town expenses; and $400 for the support of schools.
March 17, 1823. At the annual meeting for the choice of town officers the following were elected : Caleb Abell, town clerk ; William Hammond, town treasurer ; Messrs. Robert Daggett, Nathaniel Read, jr., and Samuel Allen, selectmen. Chose ten persons fire-wardens for the village of Pawtucket.
This year, the town raised $1600 for town expenses, and 500 for the support of schools.
March 2, 1824. The following town officers were chosen, viz : Caleb Abell town clerk; William Hammond, town treasu- rer ; Messrs. Robert Daggett, Simeon Walker, and Samuel Allen, selectmen.
May 10, 1824. " Voted to purchase a hearse and harness, a large and small pall, and a suitable house to keep them in."
August 28, 1824. Voted to raise $500 for the support of schools, and $ 1600 for the support of the poor and other neces- sary expenses.
January 3, 1825. " Voted to choose three persons, as a com- mittee to petition the General Court to revise the act of incor- poration, so as to put the town of Seekonk on equal standing with the town of Rehoboth, respecting the undivided real estate belonging between the two towns." " Elkanah French, Esq. Thomas Kennicutt, Esq. and George W. Walker, were chosen said committee."
March 21, 1825. Caleb Abell chosen town clerk ; William Hammond, town treasurer ; Messrs. Robert Daggett, Simeon Walker, and Seth Whitmarsh, selectmen.
April 4, 1825. Voted the sum of $17,00 for the support of the poor and other town expenses, and $600 for the support of schools.
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HISTORY OF SEEKONK.
March 7, 1826. The town chose Caleb Abell town clerk ; William Hammond, town treasurer ; Messrs. Robert Daggett, Simeon Walker, and Seth Whitmarsh, selectmen.
" Voted to raise $1700 for the support of the poor and other town expenses, and $700 for schooling."
April 17, 1826. Voted $2000 for the repairing of highways and bridges.
June 15, 1826. " Voted that it is not expedient to have a jail built in the town of New Bedford, at the expense of the county ; and appointed a committee of three, viz. Messrs. Caleb Abell, Seth Whitmarsh, and Simeon Walker, to draft a remon- strance to the General Court, against building a jail in the town of New Bedford, at the county expense."
March 5, 1827. At the annual meeting, the town chose Caleb Abell town clerk; William Hammond, town treasurer ; Messrs. Robert Daggett, Simeon Walker, and Seth Whitmarsh, selectmen.
May 14, 1827. Voted to raise $1700 for the support of the poor and other town expenses, and $700 for the support of schools.
May 14, 1827. Voted to raise $2000 for the repairs of highways and bridges.
Oct. 22, 1827. A petition was presented, at the town meet- ing, by the inhabitants of Pawtucket village, for a division of the town, that they might be incorporated into a separate town- ship ; but a vote being taken, it was passed in the negative by a large majority ; and a committee was chosen to draft a remon- strance to the General Court against the proposed division. Messrs. Seth Whitmarsh, Simeon Walker, and John Newell were chosen said committee.
March 3, 1828. The town chose Caleb Abell town clerk ; William Hammond, town treasurer; Messrs. William Ide, Sim- eon Walker, and Seth Whitmarsh, selectmen. Afterwards chose Church Gray selectman, in place of William Ide, who declined.
May 5, 1828. Voted the sum of $500 for schooling, and $$1500 for the support of the poor and other expenses. At a subsequent meeting a part of this vote was reconsidered, and the sum of $1100 for the support of the poor was substituted instead of $1500.
March 2, 1829. The town chose Caleb Abell, town clerk ;
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HISTORY OF SEEKONK.
William Hammond, town treasurer ; Messrs. Church Gray, Simeon Walker, and Jesse Medbury, selectmen.
Voted $1300 for the repairs of highways and bridges. At a subsequent meeting, Sethi Whitmarsh was chosen selectman, in place of Jesse Medbury, who declined serving.
June 29, 1829. The town voted to raise $500 for the sup- port of schools, and $1750 for support of the poor and other town expenses.
August 31, 1829. " Voted to choose a school committee, to consist of three persons to serve in said town the present year, provided they will serve in said office without any expense to said town of Seekonk; and, by vote, chose Messrs. James O. Barney, Henry H. Brown, and Benjamin C. Grafton said com- mittee."
March 1, 1830. At the annual meeting, the town chose Caleb Abell town clerk; William Hammond, town treasurer ; Messrs. Church Gray, Simeon Walker, and Jesse Medbury, selectmen.
The town raised this year $1300 for the repair of highways and bridges.
Voted to dispense with the school committee this year.
August 10, 1830. " Voted to grant the sum of $1000 for the necessary expenses of the town, and $500 for schooling, including the rents of school lands."
Nov. 1, 1830. " Voted that the selectmen of the town be a committee in behalf of said town, to agree with some suitable person, to make a survey of said town, agreeable to the act of this Commonwealth, on the best terms they can have said sur- vey made."
This survey was made by Joseph Capron, Esq. of Attle- borough.
March 7, 1831. The town chose Caleb Abell town clerk; William Hammond, town treasurer ; Messrs. Church Gray, Simeon Walker and Jesse Medbury selectmen.
Voted to raise the sum of $1300 for the repair of highways and bridges.
April 4, 1831. Voted to raise the sum of $1200 for town expenses, and $500 for the support of schools.
May 11, 1831. In favor of the amendment of the constitu- tion of the State 52 votes were cast, and opposed to the amend- ment, 16 votes.
March 5, 1832. The town chose Caleb Abell town clerk ;
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HISTORY OF SEEKONK.
William Hammond, town treasurer ; Messrs. Lewis Walker, Caleb Peck, and Jesse Medbury selectmen.
" Voted that the committee, chosen by the town to purchase a farm, to keep the poor of said town upon, be requested to pro- cure a farm agreeable to the vote of said town." Church Gray, Samuel Allen, and Simeon Walker, were the committee who made the purchase.
Voted to raise the sum of $1300 for repairing highways and bridges.
April 2, 1832. " Toted to raise the sum $500 for the sup- port of schools ; for the support of the poor, and to pay the interest on the money hired on account of the town farm, and other current expenses, $1200; and for money to be paid towards the principal of the sum hired on account of the town farm, the sum of $600.
March 19, 1832. " Voted that when the deed of the town farm is received, that has been agreed for, that the treasurer be authorized to hire a sum of money not exceeding six hundred dollars, to pay for the repairs of the buildings and purchasing stock and materials to be put on the town farm, and for in-door moveables for the house on said farm."
Oct. 13, 1832. "Voted that the town consent that Moses Brown may straighten the road near Central Bridge, leading from said bridge to John Daggett's, by making a good road at his own expense, three rods wide, on his own land; beginning at the road leading from said bridge to William Ide's and run- ning easterly in the southerly line of Freelove Butterworth's land, until it intersects with the old road at the northerly corner of John Daggett's land." " And the town consented that Moses Brown inclose and improve the old road adjoining his land, when the new road is finished; and the town is permitted to improve and manage the same, as the other town roads."
March 4, 1833. The town chose Caleb Abell town clerk ; William Hammond, town treasurer; Messrs. Lewis Walker, Simeon Walker, and Jesse Medbury selectmen.
April 1, 1833. Voted to raise the sum of $1300 for the repairs of highways and bridges. Voted also to raise $500 for the support of schools, and $1900 for town expenses, and for paying towards the farm bought by said town.
March 3, 1834. The town chose Caleb Abell town clerk ; William Hammond, town treasurer ; and Messrs. Lewis Walker, Simeon Walker, and Jesse Medbury, selectmen.
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HISTORY OF SEEKONK.
April 7, 1834. Voted the sum of $1300 for repairing high- ways and bridges ; $500, for the support of schools ; and $1400, for town expenses.
April 7, 1834, " Voted to choose a committee to regulate the fishery in the Runin's river ; and, by vote, Messrs. Nathan x Munroe, Seth Whitmarsh, Cyrel Read, and Peter H. Wheaton, were chosen said committee."
April 28, 1834. " Voted that the public good and conveni- ence require that there should be innholders and retailers of ardent spirits in the town of Seekonk : and also by vote, passed the following resolution, namely : Resolved that the town of Seekonk approve of the doings of their selectmen, in returning innholders and retailers to the county commissioners, to be licen- sed ; also, Resolved that the town of Seekonk disapprove of the doings of the county commissioners of the county of Bristol, in refusing to grant any licenses to innholders and re- tailers, for the sale of ardent spirits in said county ; and consider it an usurpation of power, and contrary to the spirit of the law of the Commonwealth."
August 11, 1834. " Voted that the selectmen of the town, for the time being, be a committee, to see that the Boston and Providence Rail-Road Corporation make no encroachments on any property belonging to said town, and to conduct for said town as they may think proper."
Nov. 16, 1834. " Voted, that if the Boston and Providence Rail Road Company will build a bridge over the rail-road over the common, and cause all the necessary roads leading to it to be laid out at their expense, and give the town a bonus of $1000; in that case, the selectmen are authorized to make a contract with the proper agent of the rail-road."
March 2, 1835. At the annual town-meeting the following officers were elected for the ensuing year, viz : Caleb Abell, town clerk ; William Hammond, town treasurer ; Lewis Walker, Simeon Walker, and Jesse Medbury, selectmen.
REPRESENTATIVES OF SEEKONK.
1812, Oliver Starkweather. 1815, none.
1813, S Peter Hunt, 1816, Oliver Starkweather.
Oliver Starkweather. 1817, Oliver Starkweather.
1814, Oliver Starkweather. 1818, Oliver Starkweather.
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HISTORY OF SEEKONK.
1719, George W. Walker.
1820, Peter Hunt.
1830,
1821, Peter Hunt.
1831,
1822, Calvin Martin.
1823, Robert Daggett. 1832,
Nathaniel Reed, Seth Whitmarsh.
1824, Robert Daggett.
1825, Robert Daggett.
1833,
Church Gray.
1826, Robert Daggett.
1834,
Church Gray.
1827, Robert Daggett.
1835, Church Gray.
1828, Robert Daggett.
1829, Weston Carpenter.
1836,
Capt. Lewis Walker, William D. Hunt.
LIST OF SENATORS FROM SEEKONK.
1815, Hon. James Ellis.
1816, Hon. James Ellis.
1817, Hon. James Ellis.
1821, Hon. Oliver Stark- weather.
1822, Hon. Oliver Stark- weather.
1823, Hon. Oliver Stark- weather.
1833, Hon. Seth Whitmarsh. 1836, Hon. Seth Whitmarsh.
Wooster Carpenter, Seth Whitmarsh.
Wooster Carpenter, Seth Whitmarsh.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
The ecclesiastical history of Seekonk has been partly anti- cipated in our history of Rehoboth; as the Congregational church of Seekonk was the earliest, and for a long time the only, church in Rehoboth ; and the mingling of civil and eccle- siastical affairs, in the early period of our history, made it necessary, in order to give a connected view of the proceedings of the town, that the provisions made by it for the support of the gospel, and which occupy so large a space in our early town records, should be given in connection with its civil history. The ecclesiastical history of this town embraces the history of two churches, the Congregational, and the Baptist.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The existence of this church is coeval with the first perma- nent settlement of Rehoboth, and its history embraces a period of one hundred and ninety two years. It was a colony from the church of Weymouth, (Mass.) ; and as it constituted a majority of that church, including also its pastor, it might very justly claim to be considered the principal branch : if so, its history goes back into the past, considerably more than two cen- turies. But whether we consider this as the original church, mi- grating to Rehoboth, or, (as by way of courtesy to the older town, we perhaps should do,) a colony from that church; a brief notice of the churches in Weymouth, up to the time of this emigration, will not be out of place, in a sketch of this church. As the best notice we are able to give, we shall insert a part of some notes, appended to a sermon, delivered at the dedication of the North meeting house in Weymouth, Novem- ber 28, 1832, by the Rev. Josiah Bent, jun, pastor of the first church in Weymouth. These notes, to which we have had occasion before to refer, were furnished by the Hon. Christopher Webb, of Weymouth.
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HISTORY OF SEEKONK.
" A permanent settlement, at Wessagusset, afterwards called Weymouth, was made in August or September of the year 1623, by Capt. Robert Gorges, with a considerable company : among whom was Mr. William Morrill, an Episcopalian clergy- man. Some of the company went to Virginia ; some returned to England with Capt. Gorges, and some remained. Mr. Mor- rill staid about two years; the last of which, and probably some part of the first, he spent in Plymouth, and then returned to England. As one object of this settlement was to promote the Episcopal forms of worship, and as he had a superintending power, as it was called, over all the churches, it seems not too much to say that this company were Episcopalians. Some time in the next year, 1624, came from Weymouth in England, an additional number of settlers, 'who,' says Mr. Prince, 'are another sort of people than the former. They have the Rev. Mr. Barnard, their first non-conformist Minister, who dies a- mong them.' How long he ministered to them is not known. It might have been about 11 years; viz : from the time of their arrival, to the arrival of Mr. Hull in 1635. He is several times mentioned in the book of Records, and always by the name of Mr. Barnard, without any other appellation.
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