USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Amherst > The history of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, pt 2 > Part 54
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Attest. A. P. HowE, Town Clerk Pro. Tem.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Annual Meeting. March z. IS57.
Balloted and chose S. C. Carter. Town Clerk and Treasurer.
Balloted and chose Baxter Eastman. R. T. Wheelock and David Pomroy,. Selectmen.
Balloted and chose F. A. Palmer, Willard M. Kellogg and Salem Hammond,. Assessors.
Balloted and chose M. N. Spear, S. M. Warren and Henry Clark, Constables.
Voted That the Town will allow the Hampshire Agricultural Society to use the Common for the purpose of Cattle Show on the days of their Annual Fair,. and also the use of the highway so far as will not interfere with public travel.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Representative, November 3, 1857. George Warner had two hundred and thirty eight votes. Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting. November 3, 1857. Held at Agricultural Hall.
Voted That the town grant to the " Amherst Ornamental Tree Association " the use and control of the public common in the center of the town, subject to the approval of the Selectmen of the town.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting, December 24, 1857, held at Agricultural Hall.
On the Amherst and Belchertown Railroad. James W. Boyden was chosen Moderator.
A motion " that the town petition the Legislature, at its coming session, in con- nection with the town of Belchertown, for leave to afford material aid to the- Amherst and Belchertown Rail Road Company, for any sum for the town of Amherst: not exceeding sixteen thousand dollars, to enable said company to keep their road in operation ; the Company paying the expenses attending the petition,"" was discussed and rejected by a Vote of 138 nays and 86 yeas.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting, March 1, IS5S. Agricultural Hall.
S. C. Carter was chosen Town Clerk and Treasurer.
Voted and chose R. T. Wheelock, Alfred Baker and Austin Eastman,. Selectmen.
Voted and chose F. A. Palmer, Ebenezer P. Spear, James E. Merrick, Assessors.
Voted and chose M. N. Spear, Marquis F. Dickinson, Henry A. Howe, Constables.
Voted that Treasurer be appointed Collector of taxes and that he allow a discount of ten percent on all taxes voluntarily paid to him on or before the first. of September next and of five per cent on all taxes voluntarily paid him between the first day of September and the first day of January next, and he make no. farther discount, and that the Collector receive seventy five dollars for his services ..
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Representative, November 2. IS5S. Lorenzo S. Nash had two hundred and twenty-three votes.
Attest. S. C .. CARTER, Town Clerk.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
Town Meeting, December 6. IS5S. Agricultural Hall.
Voted That the Selectmen be authorized to contract for a place, for holding town Meetings, for the term of five years.
Voted That the Selectmen be instructed to procure a place for confining dis- orderly persons, at a reasonable expense. Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting, March 7, 1859. Agricultural Hall.
Samuel C. Carter was chosen Town Clerk and Town Treasurer.
Voted and chose Ezra Ingram, Willard M. Kellogg and Daniel Converse as 'Selectmen.
Voted and chose Asa Adams. A. P. Howe and Daniel Paine as Assessors.
Voted and chose M. N. Spear, Henry A. Howe and Marquis F. Dickinson. for ·Constables. .
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
· Representative to the General Court, November S, 1859. Josiah Ayres had two hundred and sixty seven votes.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting, March 5. 1Soo. Agricultural Hall.
S. C. Carter was chosen Town Clerk and Treasurer.
Voted and chose Ezra Ingram, Daniel Converse and Bela U. Dickinson as ·Selectmen.
Voted and chose Albin P. Howe, Ebenezer P. Spear and James E. Merrick as Assessors.
Voted and chose Henry A. Howe, M. N. Spear and A. R. Cushman as Constables.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Adjourned Town Meeting, March 26, IS60.
The Committee on High and Grammar Schools made their Report and it was Voted to accept the same.
Voted To adopt the Committees Report by Sections.
Voted To adopt Section first as follows, " That one High School be established in some central location where it will accommodate the greatest number of persons and also one Grammar School, each to be kept 10 months in each year, and that two Grammar schools be established, one at North Amherst and the other at South Amherst to be kept six months in each year, Fall and Winter terms.
Voted. To adopt Section second as follows, "That three union districts be :formed for the above contemplated schools, one in the centre of the town composed of districts No. 1, 2 and 7, one at North Amherst composed of districts No. 4 and 5 and one at South Amherst composed of 'districts No. 3. 6 and S; the scholars of the North and South union districts having the privilege of going to the High School at any time if properly qualified, and to the Centre grammar school when- ever their schools are not in session.
Voted, That the same committee make a report at an adjourned meeting. on locations, plans of buildings, an estimates, of land and School houses.
Voted To adjourn to Tuesday April 10th at two o'clock r. M.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Town Meeting, Continued, April 10, 1860.
Met according to adjournment April 10. IS60. at two o'clock P. M. I. F. Con- key as Moderator, called the meeting to order, when the Committee appointed at the last meeting made a report and the following votes were passed, viz.
Voted That a committee of five be appointed by the chair, to purchase lands, select locations, secure proposals and erect buildings, for the schools, voted by the town; in the most economical manner, at an expense not exceeding ten thousand dollars, and that the Selectmen of the town are hereby directed to issue from time to time (as the said committee may need for the same), orders of the town, for such sums, not exceeding five hundred dollars on each, as shall not exceed in the whole $10,000, said orders payable, one in each year for the twenty years following. with interest annually.
Voted That M. B. Green, J. R. Cushman, L. M. Hills, H. B. Prince and A. P. Howe constitute that Committee.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
High School Building Meeting, held at Agricultural Hall, June 15, 1860.
Voted That the sum of Two Thousand Dollars in addition to the sum already appropriated be now appropriated, to enable the Committee to fulfil the contract, already made, by them, and that the committee erect a building. after such plan as they shall approve, for the High and Grammar schools in the centre of the town, provided, that the whole expense of finishing, and furnishing the house and grounds and lands shall not exceed twelve thousand dollars, and that the Selectmen are hereby directed to issue new bonds for the additional two thousand dollars payable five hundred a year in 21, 22, 23 and 24 years with interest annually from the first day of September next.
Voted. That the Selectmen be authorized to purchase or rent and fit up a building for the Engine and Hook and Ladder companies at a sum not exceeding six hundred dollars.
'Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Representative, Hampshire District No. 5, November 7, IS60. Marcus C. Grout of Pelham had three hundred and thirty votes in Amherst. Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting, March 4, 1861, at Agricultural Hall.
Samuel C. Carter was chosen Town Clerk and Treasurer.
Voted and chose Ezra Ingram, Eleazer Kellogg and Harlan L. Pomeroy as Selectmen.
Voted and chose Frederick A. Palmer, James E. Merrick and George W. Hobart as Assessors.
Voted and chose Henry A. Howe, A. R. Cushman and Enos Baker as Constables.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting, May 1, ISGI, for the Military. Agricultural Hall.
Voted That the Selectmen be authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding five thousand dollars for the following purposes, to wit.
In case any of our citizens shall enlist into the military service, and shall actually be called out and mustered into the service of the United States Govern-
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
ment, the Selectmen may apply any portion of such money, which they may think necessary for to provide an outfit and for the support or the comfort of such soldiers while actually engaged in such service and such sums as may be thought proper and necessary for the support of their families in their absence, so long as they continue in the Public Service.
Voted. That the Selectmen be authorized at their discretion, to expend a por- tion of the above sum in paying expenses of the Soldiers, for drilling, etc. before called in to actual service.
· Attest.
S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting. May 23, 1861. Agricultural Hall.
Voted To instruct the Selectmen to reimburse the town of Belchertown for what they have expended for soldiers belonging to this town.
Voted That the Selectmen be authorized to pay the families of the volunteers in the Army the amount contemplated by the law now before the Legislature.
Voted That the Selectmen be authorized to borrow money to pay town debts, and the Assessors be instructed not to assess the $4,500 voted in March 11 for Town Debts.
Attest.
S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Soldiers Meeting, Sept. 23, 1861. Agricultural Hall.
Voted and chose Ezra Ingram, John Cushman, Henry F. Hills, R. B. Bridg- man and Jairus Skinner to act as a Committee to ascertain the wants of the Vol- unteers from this town in the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia and supply them by voluntary subscriptions.
Voted That the Selectmen be instructed to pay to the families of Volunteers the amount not exceeding twelve dollars per month, according to the tenor of the law.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Statistics of the Town of Amherst in IS61 by Assessors.
Polls 757. No. - of Houses 534, Horses 510, Cows 832, Sheep 1,122 Acres of Land 16,090, Valuation Personal Property $585,34S.oo, Real Estate $1,079,750.00, Total $1,665,09S.co.
Representative to the General Court. John R. Cushman had two hundred and forty six votes. Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting, March 3, 1862. Agricultural Hall.
Samuel C. Carter was chosen Town Clerk and Treasurer.
Voted and chose Ezra Ingram, Eleazer Kellogg and Daniel Converse as Selectmen.
Voted and chose Frederick A. Palmer, A. P. Howe and George W. Hobart, Assessors.
Voted and chose Henry A. Howe, Enos Baker, and Ephraim Cushman Jr. as Constables.
Voted That the Treasurer act as Collector of Taxes, * * * and that he be allowed one per cent on all tax collections for his services.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
249
RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Town Meeting. July 21, 1862. For Soldiers.
George Cutler was chosen Clerk pro tempore.
Voted. That the town offer and pay to each volunteer from this town, called for under the General order of the Governor, No. 26, One Hundred Dollars to be paid to him or his order upon being mustered into the service of the U. States provided such enlistment shall be made within twenty days from this date.
Voted. That the Selectmen be instructed to pay to any person who is a foreigner and enlists to fill up the quota from Amherst, and is mustered into the U. States service the bounty offered to citizens who volunteer.
Voted. That the Selectmen be requested to borrow upon town orders the money necessary to pay the bounty this day voted.
Voted. That it is the wish of this town, that the volunteers of this town, associate with the volunteers from Hadley, Hatfield, Leverett, Pelham, Sunder- land and Granby in forming a company.
Voted. That the town express their thanks to Mr. William Stearns for the generous assistance which he has offered to all volunteers from Amherst.
GEORGE CUTLER, Town Clerk Pro Tem.
- Town Meeting on Soldiers' Bounty, August 25. 1862. Agricultural Hall.
Voted That the Town offer and pay to each volunteer from this " town, under the last call of the Government for 300.000 men for the Military service of the United States," One hundred dollars to be paid to him or his order upon his being mustered into the service aforesaid. Provided however that the whole number required from this town shall be enlisted on or before the first day of September next.
Voted. That the Selectmen be authorized to borrow upon Town orders the money necessary to pay the bounty this day voted.
The enlisting Committee reported that 43 persons had been examined and enlisted and seventeen more were ready for examination.
Voted That the thanks of the town be presented to the enlisting committee for their energy and promptness.
Voted That the first names on the enlisting rolls shall have the first prefer- ence to go into the army.
S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting on Soldiers' Bounty, October 11, 1862.
Voted That the Selectmen of Amherst be authorized to borrow the money and pay one hundred dollars bounty, to each of those who have enlisted and have been or may be mustered into the U. S. Service, from this town, under the last call for 300,000 nine months men.
Voted That the Selectmen be authorized to make an arrangement, with any other town or city, for our surplus of enlisted men which they may think for the interest of the town, reserving to the town, the benefit of such surplus men in a future call of the Government.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Representative to the General Court, November 4, 1862.
Samuel Smith Jr. of Granby, had thee hundred and eleven votes.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
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HISTORY OF . THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
Town Meeting, December 30, 1862.
Voted To refer the subject of the Draft and the quota of 29 men to the Selectmen, to investigate the subject act according to their discretion and if neces- sary call another town meeting.
Voted To authorize the Selectmen to act upon the supplies to our Soldiers, as they think it will require and if necessary act in concert with other towns in appointing an agent.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting, March 2, 1863.
Samuel C. Carter was chosen Town Clerk and Treasurer.
Voted and chose Ezra Ingram, Eleazer Kellogg and Daniel Converse as Selectmen.
Voted and chose Albin P. Howe, Ebenezer P. Spear and Enos D). Williams as Assessors.
Voted and chose Henry A. Howe, A. R. Cushman and Noah Dickinson as Constables.
Voted That the Selectmen be authorized and directed to issue town bonds to the amount of eleven hundred dollars, payable five hundred dollars a year and at a rate of interest not exceeding five per cent per annum payable semi-annually if required.
Voted. Not to abolish the School Districts.
Voted. To raise and allow the Clerk and Treasurer one hundred dollars for the past year's services and one hundred dollars for the present year.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
On Bounties and Town Way by High School, June 29, 1863.
Voted That the Treasurer of the town, notify the State Treasurer, that the town desires to be credited with the amount paid for bounties to Soldiers and to be charged with the amount of her proportion, and in case the charges exceeds the credits the Selectmen are authorized to borrow and liquidate the same.
Voted That the Selectmen be authorized to build the road by the High School House South to G. Cutler's road if it will not exceed five hundred dollars, and also to borrow the money to pay the same and if it cannot be substantial done for that sum, to report at a future meeting what will be the actual expense and cost. Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
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Representative to the General Court, November 3, 1863. William S. Clark had two hundred and eighteen votes. Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
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Meeting on School House Road, November 18, 1863. Voted That the Selectmen be authorized to build the road forthwith. Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Meeting, December 9. 1863. On Enlistment of Soldiers.
Voted That the town appoint an Agent to represent them, before the Legis- lative Committee on the Petition of the Trustees of Amherst Academy.
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251
-RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
Voted by ballot and chose I. F. Conkey as their Agent.
Voted and chose I. F. Conkey, Enos F. Cook and Edward Dickinson to act with the Selectmen as a committee to make a bargain with Mr. Marsh or any other person to aid in filling our quota.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Meeting, January 25, 1864, on the Agricultural College.
Voted That the town appropriate the sum of Fifty Thousand dollars as a donation to the State Agricultural College, provided the same shall be located in this town.
Voted That the Selectmen be instructed to offer the Trustees of the State Agricultural College the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars, provided they will locate the College within this town.
Voted That the Selectmen be a committee of the town instructed to forth- with petition the present Legislature for leave to raise said sum of Fifty thousand dollars and donate the same to the State Agricultural College, said sum to be raised either by an issue of bonds or by direct taxation, as the Town shall here- after determine.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting, March 7, 1864. Agricultural Hall.
Samuel C. Carter was chosen Town Clerk and Town Treasurer.
Voted and Chose Ezra Ingram, Daniel Converse and Avery R. Cushman as Selectmen.
Voted and Chose F. A. Palmer, Guy C. Munsell and Asa Adams as Assessors.
Voted and Chose Noah Dickinson, George A. Whipple and Enos Baker as Constables.
Voted To abolish the School Districts of this town.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting, May 24, 1864. Soldiers and School Houses.
Voted That the town raise by tax in the next annual assessment and appro- priate two thousand Dollars to refund the sums paid by individuals of the town to the volunteer fund, raised under the call of Oct. 17, 1863 and that any excess there may be, shall be paid into the Town Treasury. Yeas Go. Nays 43.
Voted To raise and appropriate one hundred and twenty five dollars to be paid to Edwin H. Pierce who has re-enlisted for this town.
Voted That the sum of twelve hundred and fifty dollars be assessed at the next annual assessment and appropriated for the purpose of procuring ten men to fill the deficiency in the quota of the town.
Voted That the Selectmen be authorized to expend the Twelve Hundred and fifty dollars with the State Bounty, to fill our present quota.
Voted That sixty two hundred and fifty dollars be raised for the purpose of raising fifty men to apply on the quota of this town under future calls during the year ending March 1, 1965.
Voted and chose by nomination one from each School District, * * * to appraise the School House Lands and property belonging to the various School Districts.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
Voted That the town appoint Oliver Watson and twenty other petitioners as · a committee to carry out their views in regard to the fencing and ornamenting the Common in East Street.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting, July 22, 1864. Agricultural College.
The Selectmen made a verbal report on the subscription for the Agricultural College, which report was accepted by vote.
Prof. W. S. Clark offered some resolutions which after discussion, was voted to be laid upon the table.
Voted That the Moderator appoint a Committee of three persons to report the time and places of holding District Meetings for the purpose of raising contri- butions for the Agricultural College.
L. M. Hills, L. Sweetser and A. Dutton were appointed the Committee who subsequently reported to hold the meetings as follows viz.
North Amherst Hall on Monday evening at 75 o'clock.
South . Amherst Vestry on Tuesday evening at 73 o'clock.
East Amherst Vestry on Wednesday evening at 7& o'clock.
Voted to accept the Report.
Voted That the Selectmen give public notice of these meetings by having printed handbills circulated, and that the resolutions offered by Prof. Clark be read at each meeting, and public Speakers be provided.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Adjourned Town Meeting, July 28, 1864.
Col. Wm. S. Clark made a verbal report on the progress made by the com- mittee since last meeting, and submitted the following resolves viz.
Whereas at a town meeting held January 25, 1864, it was voted to appropriate as a donation to the Massachusetts Agricultural College the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars, and the Selectmen were instructed to offer the same, to the Trustees of said College, on condition it be located in Amherst, and
Whereas by a unanimous vote the said Trustees have decided to locate in Amherst, provided the sum of seventy five thousand dollars be secured to them, for the erection of buildings, and the sum of $25.000 has been offered the town pro- vided the additional Fifty thousand dollars be raised by subscription or otherwise, and
Whereas it is believed the valuation of the town will be greatly increased by . the establishment of said College, within its limits and that a large majority of the tax payers prefer, that the entire amount of Fifty Thousand be assessed upon their property in annual instalments, for a series of years, rather than to pay the same at once by subscription, therefore,
Voted That a Committee of two be appointed, for each school district to circulate the following pledge, among the tax payers of the town for their signatures.
" We the Undersigned tax payers of Amherst desiring that the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars be paid by the town to the Massachusetts Agricultural College, to secure its location in Amherst, and being willing to pay our proportion of said sum, provided the town issue bonds for the amount extending through a series of years, hereby solemnly promise that our influence and votes shall be given in favor of all efforts, to obtain from the Legislature of the Commonwealth authority
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RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
to raise said sum by taxation in the town of Amherst; and we do further promise that if the money required to secure the location of the College in town be sub- scribed so that the Trustees actually locate here, we will in good faith use all our influence to have the Town assume the entire sum of Fifty Thousand dollars, and refund to all subscribers the amount which they may have paid for the above named object, as well, as to pay the sums, which they may have subscribed but not paid.
Voted That the above named Committee solicit subscriptions from every tax payer in their respective districts, for the full amount of his or her assessment and return the books to the Chairman of the Selectmen on Saturday the 30 instant.".
Voted To accept the first resolve above.
Voted To accept the second resolve.
Voted That the Moderator appoint a Committee of three to nominate Dis- trict Committees.
The Moderator appointed Wm. A. Dickinson, Simeon Clark and E. D. Wil- liams as a nominating Committee.
The committee reported the following as District Committees, viz. No. 1, L. Sweetser and G. A. Whipple. No. 2, Henry Hills and J. T. Westcott. No. 3, E. P. Pomroy and R. B. Bridgman. No. 4, G. W. Hobart and Asa Adams. No. 5, Harrison Ingram and A. C. Marshall. No. 6, E. D. Williams and Orin Johnson. No. 7, F. Gaylord and S. Clark. No. S, H. Pomroy and Chas. F. Hayward.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Adjourned Meeting, August 1, 1864.
The committee reported that 428 names had been obtained to the Pledge and that the subscription amounted to $25.802.90.
On motion of Mr. Hills it was
Voted That a new subscription in addition to what has already been sub- scribed be now opened and subscriptions received.
Between nine and ten thousand dollars was immediately subscribed when it was Voted That the District Committees should circulate the books and receive additional subscriptions to-morrow.
Voted That Mr. G. Burnham, E. Lovett and Edmund Hobart take the place of Mr. Hills, Mr. Westcott and Mr. Marshall on the committee and that Mr. Charles Adams be added to Dist. No. one.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Representative for Hampshire District No. 5, November 8, 1861.
W'm. S. Clark had five hundred and fifteen votes.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
Town Meeting, November 19, 1864.
Voted That the town assume the payment of the $1.250, as now in the State Treasury, deposited there by the Military Committee, and advise the said Commit- tec not to withdraw it at present.
Voted To accept and adopt the Report of the Committee on the valuation of the District School Houses.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
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`Voted That the Selectmen be a committee of the town and instructed to petition the Legislature for leave to raise the sum of fifty thousand dollars and donate the same to the State Agricultural College, said sum to be raised either by an issue of bonds or by direct taxation as the town shall hereafter determine.
Voted That our Representative be requested to see that every effort is made to carry through the Legislature an Act for the above petition and that the Select- 'men may employ help to further the object.
Attest. S. C. CARTER, Town Clerk.
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