USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Fitchburg > The old records of the town of Fitchburgh, Massachusetts, 1764-1769 > Part 10
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127
Town of Fitchburgh.
At a Legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Fitchburg legally warned and Afsembled July 1st 1776
1ly Voted and Chose Deacon Goodridge Moderator
2ly Voted that if the Honorable Continential Con- grefs should for the Safty of these United Colinies Declare them Independant of the Kingdom of Great Braitain that we the Inhabitants of the Town of Fitchburg will with Our lives and fortains support them in the meafure
[119] 3ly Voted that the Town Clark coppy of the second vote and Send it to the General Cort
This meeting Difolved
David Goodridge moderator Joseph Fox Town Clerk
In Congrefs July 4th 1776-
A Declaration by the Reprefentatives of the United States of America In General Congrefs Afsembled
When in the courfe of human events, it becomes necef- sary for one people to difsolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to afsume among the Powers of the earth, the Seperate and equal Station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitles them, a decent refpect to the Opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the Caufes which impel them to the separation, we hold these truths to be Self evident that all men are created equal that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, Liberty and the purfuit of Happinefs :- That to secure thefe rights, governments are inftituted among men, deriving their Just powers from the confent of the Governed, that whenever any form of Government becomes deftructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to inftitute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and Organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to Effect their Safty and Happinefs, prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long Eftablished should not be changed for light and tranfient caufes; and accordingly all Experience hath Shewn, that mankind are more dis-
128
The Old Records of the
posed to Suffer, while Evils are Sufferable, than to right themfelves by abollishing the forms to which they are accuftomed, but when a long train of Abufes and Uurpa- tions, purfuing invariably the same Object, Evinces a defign to reduce them under abfolute Difpotism, it is their right, it is their Duty to throw off such Government and to provide new gards for their future Security such has ben the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necefsity which conftrains them to alter their former Syftems of Government, the History of the prefent King of Great-Briton is a History of Repeated injuries and Ufurpations, all having in direct Object the Eftablishment of an abfolute tyranny over these States. to prove this let facts be submited to a candid world.
[120] He has refused his afsent to Laws, the most wholefome and necessary for the publick good
He has forbiden his Governors to pafs Laws of imme- diate and prefsing importance, unlefs Sufpended in their Operation untill his Affent should be Obtained and when so Sufpended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them
He has refused to pafs other Laws for the accommo- dation of Large diftricts of people, unlefs those people would relinquish the right of reprefentation in the Legif- lature, a right ineftimable to them and formidable to Ty- rants only.
He has called together legiflative bodies at places unufal, uncomfortable and distant from the depository of their publick records, for. the sole purpofe of fatiguing them into compliance with his meafures.
He has diffolved Reprefentative Houfes repeatedly for oppofing with manly Firmnefs his Invafions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such Difsolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at Large for their Exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of Invafion from with out and Convulfions within.
He has endevoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obftructing the Laws for Natu-
129
Town of Fitchburgh.
ralization of Foreigners; refusing to pafs others to encor- age their migrations hither and raising the Conditions of new appropriations of Lands.
He has Obftructed the Adminiftration of Juftice, by refusing his affent to Laws for Eftablishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependant on his will alone, for the tenure of their Offices, and the amount and payment of their Salaries. He has erected a multitude of new Officers, and sent hither swarms of Offercers to Harrafs our people, and Eat out their Subftance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace Standing Armies without the Confent of our Legiflatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of, and Superiour to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to Subject us to a Jurif- diction foreign to our Conftitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Affent to their acts of pretended Legiflation :
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us :
For protecting them, by a mock trial from punifhment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabi- tants of these States :
For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world : For impofing Taxes on us without our confent :
For depriveing us in many cafes of the benefits of Trial by Jury : For tranfporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended Offences :
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a Neighbouring province Eftablishing theirin an arbitary Government and enlarging its boundaries, so as to render it at once and Example and fit Inftrement for [121] For introducing the same absolute Rule into these Colonies.
For taking away our Charters abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the forms of our Governments :
For Sufpending our own Legiflatures and declareing themfelves invested with power to Legiflate for us in all Cafes whatfoever.
9
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The Old Records of the
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.
He has plundered our Seas ravaged our Coasts, burnt our Towns, and deftroyed the Lives of our people.
He is at this time tranfporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to compleat the works of Death Defolation and tyrany alrady begun with circumftances of Cruelty and Perfidy Scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a Civilized nation.
He has conftrained our Fellow Citizens, taken captives on the high Seas to bear arms against their Country; to become the Executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themfelves by their hands.
He has excited domeftic inferrections amongst us, and has Endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers the mercilefs Indian Savages, whose known Rule of warfare is an undiftinguished Deftruction of all Ages, Sexes, and Conditions.
In every stage of these opprefsions we have petitioned for redrefs, in the most humble terms: our repeated peti- tions have been anfwered only by repeated Injury !- A prince whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free people !
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British Brethren, we have warned them from time to time of attempts by their Legiflature to extend an unwarrantable Jurifdiction over us, we have reminded them of the Cir- cumftances of our Emigration and Settlement here, we have appealed to their native Juftice and Magnanimity and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to difavow these Ufurpations, which would inevi- tably interrupt our connexions and Correfpondence. they too have been deaf to the voice of Juftice and of Confan- guinity. we must, therefore Acquiefce in the neceffity which Denounces our Seperation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind Enemies in war; in peace, Friends.
We, therefore, the Reprefentatives of the United States of America, in General Congrefs Afsembled appealing to
122 page
un nexion, between them and the tale of Great-Britain, in and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as force and Independent Ataler, they have full power to Lay war conclude peace contract alliances, Establish commerce, and to do all other arts and things which Independent States may of right do, and for the Support of this declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to Each other our Lives our Fortunes and our Saint Honor.
Signed by onder and in behalf of the Congress John Hancock, President
attest ~. Charles Thompson, elcretary ( In Council July 1) y 6 a)
Ordered that the declaration of Independence be printed ; and a copy sent to the Minifters of Back Parish of every Denomination within this state; and that they severally be required to read the same to their reffective Congregationy, as soon as devine Service is Ended, in the afternoon on the first Lords Day after they shall have received it .. and after such publikation there of. to deliver the said decleration to the Clerks of their Several Town, or difficto; who are hereby required to record the James in their refection Towns or Deftrut Books their to remain as a perpetual memorial there of.
In the name and by order of the Council Richard Darley, Jun. Brefident
A True Copy aliest John avery. Dy. Sexy Is true Copy allest Joseph For Your Cash
131
Town of Fitchburgh.
the Supreme Judge of the world for the Rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by the Authority of the Good people of these Colonies Solemnly publish and declare that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and Independent States that they are abfolved from all Allegience to the British Crown; and that all political Connexion [122] connexion, between them and the State of Great-Britain, is, and ought to be totally difsolved; and that as free and Independent States, they have full power to Levy war conclude peace contract Alliances, Eftablish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which Independent States may of right do, and for the Support of this declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to Each other our Lives our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor.
Signed by order and in behalf of the Congrefs John Hancock, Prefident Attest - Charles Thompson, Secretary
In Council July 17th 1776-
Ordered that the declaration of Independance be printed ; and a coppy sent to the Minifters of Each Parish of every Denomination within this State; and that they Severally be required to read the same to their refpective Congregations, as soon as divine Service is Ended, in the afternoon on the first Lords Day after they shall have received it :- and after such publication thereof, to deliver the said decleration to the Clerks of their Several Towns, or diftricts; who are hereby required to record the Same in their refpective Towns or Diftrict Books their to remain as a perpetual memorial thereof.
In the name and by order of the Council
Richard Darby, Jun! Prefident
A true Coppy Attest John Avery. Dep. Sec'y A true Coppy Attest Joseph Fox Town Clerk
[123] (Seal) Worcefter: fs: To Capt William Thurlo one of the Conftables for the Town of Fitchburg . Greeting In the name of the State of the Colony of the Maffa- chufetts Bay you are required to warn all the freeholders
132
The Old Records of the
and Other Inhabitants of the Town of Fitchburg Qualli- fied by law to vote in Town meetings to Affemble and meet at the meeting house in Fitchburg on Tusday the twenty forth Day of this Inftant Sept at one O Clock in the afternoon and their being Duly meet and formed to act on the following articles to it
1ly To chuse a moderator to Govern said meeting
2ly To vote the Reverend John Payson his Salary for the year Enfuing
3ly To raise money for the school for the year En- fuing
4ly To chuse a committee to provide a School or schools for the year Enfuing
5ly To See what method the Town will come into to provide the Reverend John Payson his wood
6ly To raise money to Support Mifs Hart for the Year Enfuing
7ly To have all persons thats done service for the Town to bring in their accounts and Raise money for the same
Sly To see if the town will abate any Persons Rates in any of the Conftables Lists
gly To raise money to Defray Town charges for the Year Enfuing
10ly To see if the Town will allow of a Hofpital for the Anocalation for the Small Pox or act any thing refer- ing theirto
11ly To see if the Town will Confider the Rates in M! Afa Perry: List or act any thing refering their too as they shall think proper
12ly To see if the Town will take into confideration the prefent State of Our committee of Infpection and Safty or act any thing theirto as they shall think Proper
Hereof fail not and make return of this warrant to sum one of us at or before the Day and time above men- tioned Given under Our hands and Seal this Sixth Day of this Prefent September and in the Year of our Lord Christ 1776
David Goodride Joseph Walker Phinehas Hartwell Elijah Carter
Selectmen For Fitchburg
133
Town of Fitchburgh.
Worcefter: fs: In Obedience to the within written war- rant I have warned all ye freeholders and other Inhabi- tants Quallified by Law to vote in town meetings of the Day and time of this meeting
Willm Thurlo Conftable
[124] At a Legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Fitchburg affembld Sept 24th 1776 Then being Duly meet-
1ly Voted and Chose Deacon Goodridge Moderator to Govern sª meeting
2ly Voted The Reverend John Payson his Salury whis is £66 13 4
3ly Voted To raie twenty pound for school- ing the year Ensuing
20 0 0
4ly Voted & chose Samuel Parce Daniel Put- nam Lievt Jona Page John Bufs & Solomon Steward a Committee to pro- vide School Mafter or Mafters for the Year Enfuing
5ly Voted that the School money be Laid out as Last year
6ly Voted to impower the Schools Com- mittee to Give orders to such Mafter or Mafters as they shall imploy in said Service
7ly Voted to Give Amos Kimball £4.2.8. for Gitting thirty Cords of Good Wood for M! Payson one whole year begining the first Day of Decemb! next the wood is to be Corded up at M! Paysons house according to Law
8ly Voted to Raise the money to pay for M! Paysons wood whis is
4 2 8 pd
gly Voted to Raise money for Deacon Good- ridge for boarding Mifs Heart .
5 6 8 pd
10ly Voted to Allow Joseph Sawyers act which is .
4 8 paid
11ly Voted to Allow Levi Kimballs Account whis is 1 0 6 pd
134
The Old Records of the
12ly Voted to Allow James Pools Act whis is 7 - pc
13ly Voted to Allow Deacon Thurftins Act which is
1 1 8 pd
1 9 - pd is which 14ly Voted to Allow Afa Perrys act
15ly Voted to Allow Solomon Stewards act which is
5 8 10 pd
16ly Voted to Allow James Poole Kendol Boutell & Sam !! Parce A Committee their Act which is
6 6 -
18ly Voted to allow Kendol Boutells act for Cloth which is 1 1 pd 19ly Voted to Allow Joseph Walkers ats which is 1 - pd
20th Voted to Allow Phinehas Hartwells act which is
1
6 - paid
21st Voted to Allow Deacon Goodridge for numbering ye people
0 4 - pd
22nd Voted to Allow Joseph Walker for numbering ye people
- 4 - pd 23rd Voted to allow Isaac Gibsons act which is .
1 2 -
24th Voted to abate John Mudges Rates in Solomon Stewards List Except his head in said List
25th Voted to pay Joseph Adams for Shov- els whis is
2 - -
26th Voted to Raise money to pay the above acts
[125] 27th Voted to Raise Thirty pounds to pay Nefefary charges 30 -
28th Voted And Chose Liev! Abraham Gibson Daniel Putnam & Joseph Fox for A Committee to Confider Afa Perrys Rates or act any thing refering theirtoo as they shall think proper
David Goodridge Moderator
A true coppy of the minutes
Attest Joseph Fox Town Clerk
17ly Voted to allow Kendol Boutells act which is - 15 - pd
135
Town of Fitchburgh.
(Seal) Worcefter: fs: to Capt William Thurlo one of the Conftables of the Town of Fitchburg . . Greeting . .
In the Name of the State of the Colony of the Maffa- chufetts Bay you are hereby Required to warn all the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Fitch- burg Quallified by Law to vote in Town meetings to affemble and meet at the Meeting house in Fitchburg on Munday the Thirtyeth Day of this Inftant September at four O Clock in the afternoon being Duly meet and formed to act on the following Articles
1ly To Chuse a moderator to Govern said meeting
2ly To See if the Town will Chuse a County Register of Deeds
3ly To Chuse a County Treafury as the Law Directs
Hereof fail not to make a return of this warrant to sum one of us at or before the Day and time above men- tioned Given under our hands and Seal this Twenty Eighth Day of September In the Year of our Lord One Thoufand Seven hundred & Seventy Six
Isaac Gibson Phinehas Hartwell
Elijah Carter
David Goodridge Joseph Walker
Selectmen For Fitchburg
Worcefter: fs: in Obedience to the within written war- rant I have warned the freeholders and Other Inhabitants of the time & place of this meeting
William Thurlo Conftable
At a Legal meeting of the Inhabitents of the Town of Fitchburg afsembled Sept 30th 1776 then being Duly meet
1ly Chose Deacon David Goodridge Moderator to Govern sª Meeting
2ły Proceeded and voted for a Regifter of Deeds for the County of Worcefter
3ly Voted for a County Treasury for the County of Worcefter and Delivered S votes to the Conftable as the Law Directs
David Goodridge moderator A true coppy from the minutes attest
Joseph Fox Town Clerk
136
The Old Records of the
[126] (Seal) Worcefter: fs: To William Thurlo one of the Conftables of the Town of Fitchburgh . . Greeting
In the name of the State of the Colony of the Maffa- chufetts Bay you are hereby required to warn all the free holders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Fitchburg being free and twenty one years of age or upwards to Affemble and meet at the meeting house in Fitchburg on Thursday the Seventeenth Day of Oct! next at one O Clock in the afternoon then and their being duly meet and formed to act on the following articles to it
1ly To Chuse a moderator to Govern said meeting .
2ly To see if the Town will vote that the Reprefenta- tive House together with the Council shall make a form of Government for the State of the Maffachufetts Bay or act any thing Refering theirtoo as they shall think proper 3ly To see if the Town will send a man to Reprefent them in the great and General Cort according to a refolve of the Seventeenth Inftant and act any thing refering theirtoo as they shall think proper
Hereof fail not make due return of this warrant to sum one of us at or before the Day and time above men- tioned Given under our hands and Seal this thirteenth Day of September and in the year of our Lord 1776-
David Goodridge Isaac Gibson Selectmen
Joseph Walker
For
Phinehas Hartwell J Fitchburg
Worcefter: fs: In Obedience to the within written warrant I have warned all the free holders and other Inhabitants according to the Directions of the within writen warant
Willm Thurlo Conftable
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Fitchburg affembled Oct! Seventeenth. 1776-
1ly Chose Deacon David Goodridge Moderator .
2ly The vote being put to see if the town would vote that the Reprefentative House together with the Counfell shall make a form of Government for the State of the Maffachufetts Bay : it pafsed in the Negative
137
Town of Fitchburgh.
3ly Voted to Chuse a Committee to give the reafons why they would not Confent that the house of Reprefent- atives together with the Counfell should make a form of Government for this State
[127] 4ły Voted that the Committee confist of five
5ly Voted that M: Phinehas Hartwell be one of the Committe
6ly Voted that Liev! Kendol Boutell be one of the Committe
7ly Voted that Joseph Fox be one of the Committe
gly Voted that M. Daniel Putnam be one of the Com- mittee
gly Voted that Capt David Goodridge be one of the Committee
10ly Voted not to chuse a man to Reprefent them in the General Cort
11ly Voted that this meeting be adjurnd to friday 25th Day of Oct! Inftant three O Clock in the Afternoon
October 25th 1776 The Town meet according to ad- jornment and the Committee made the following report- to it
1st As we are Senfable that our Situation Demands a particular attention and Due Confideration in matters of the Greatest importance on so intrusting con- cern for the Publick Good and for the Good order and benifit of the community and peace of this State that as the End of Government is the happinefs of the people so the Sole power and right of forming and Eftablishing a plan theirof is. Efencially in the people
* 2ly Because a Large number of our worthy Inhabi- tants of this State are now ingaged in the Service of the United States in Oppofing our unnatiral Enemies which we apprehend ought of right to have an Eaquel voice in Eftablishing a form of Government for this State as those that are not Engaged in the Army .
3ly Becaufe that the prefent House were never Elected by the people to Eftablish a form of Government for this
* the second reafon should have ben wrote the third & the third rea- fon should have ben the Second. [Annotation on the margin. W. A. D.]
138
The Old Records of the
State but for ordering and Governing the prudential affairs of this Embarrifed State as neceffity Calls for their Strict attention theretoo
But provided the prefent House of Reprefentatives together with the Counfel should proceed to make a form of Government
Refolved that it is the Opinion of this Town that said form of Government should be made Publick for the Infpection and Perufal of the Inhabitants before the Rati- fication thereof by the Affembly
David Goodridge Phinehas Hartwell - Kendol Boutell Committee
Joseph Fox Daniel Putnam
12ly The above report was put to vote to see if the Town would Except of it and it pafs in the affirmative
[128] 13ly Voted that the Town Clerk tranfmitt a coppy of the reafons why the town will not confent that the House of Reprefentatives together with the Counfell should not Eftablish a form of Government, into the Sec- ratarys Office of this State
David Goodridge Moderator Joseph Fox Town Clerk
(Seal) Worcefter: fs: To one of the Conftables or the Town Clerk of the Town of Fitchburg Greeting-
In the name of the Government & people of the State of the Maffachufetts Bay to order and Direct you forth- with to warn all the free holders & other Inhabitants of the Town of Fitchburg quallified by law to vote in Town meetings to Affemble and meet at the meeting house in Fitchburg on Thirfday the twenty Eight Day of this Inftant Nov! at two O Clock in the after noon then & their being duly meet and formd to act on the following Articles to it
1ly To Chuse a moderator to govern said meeting
2ly For the Town to bring in their votes for a County treafury for the County of Worcefter
Here of fail not and make return of this warrant to sum one of us at or before the Day and time above men-
139
Town of Fitchburgh.
tioned given under our hands and Seal this Eighteenth Day of November and in the Year of Our Lord 1776
David Goodridge ( Selectmen Joseph Walker for
Elijah Carter [Fitchburg
Worcefter fs in Obedience to the within writen warrant I have warnd all the freeholders and other Inhabitants to meet at time & place as is within mentioned
Joseph Fox Town Clerk
At a legal meeting of the Town of Fitchburg legally warned and Affembled Nov! 28th 1776
1ly Voted & chose Deacon Goodridge moderator
2ly Votes called for . for a County Treafury
3ly Voted to adjurn this meeting to Capt Cowdins forthwith
Votes for the County treafury being Seald up the meeting was Difolved
David Goodridge Moderator Joseph Fox Town Clerk
[129] In perfuant of and agreable to an act of the Great & General Court of the State of the Maffachufetts Bay Relative to Eftimating & Stating Sertain prifes on farming Labour and all traidfmen and at certain seafons of ye year and all nefefsaries of Life that is to or may be Difpofed of in the several Towns here after mentioned that at a meeting of the Selectmen & Committee of the Town of Groton Shirley Townfhend Lunenburg & Fitchburg conveined together at the House of Co! Abijah Stears: Inholder in Lunenburg on Tufday the 18th Day of this Inftant Febr! 1777 to perfix Prifes on the following arti- cles not to be axceeded as here after mentioned in Price
1ly Made choise of Deacon Wm Stearns as moderator to Govern s meeting
2ly made chose of Capt James Horfley as Clerk for s! meeting then Perfued as follows
Farming Labor for men
That farming Labor for men from the
Twenteth Day of June to the Twentieth
140
The Old Records of the
Day of August not to Exceed 3/0 p!
Day
£0 30-
That from the middle of Nov! to the mid-
dle of march not to Exeed 1/6 p. Day 0 16 -
and the othe of the year in propotion
Carpenter or House writes Bill
That a Carpenter or House wright not to Exeed 3/0 pr Day £0 3 0 -
and other Carpenters or Joynery work in Propofial as Ufeal
Wheat Rye & Indian Corn
Good Marchantable Wheat not to Exeed 6/8 p. Bufhel £0 6 8 -
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