USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1869-1879 > Part 28
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1707. Vote to recognize the right of the congregation to worship God in the new meeting-house and other matters settled in " peace and sat- isfaction."
1708. Precinct lines established.
1710 Six pounds per annum allowed for the "Keeping of Bulls," and each boy attending winter school was required to bring " a load of wood."
1713. Town acts with reference to liaving the 6,000 acre grant recon- firmed, "if the time had lapsed."
1714. Voted, To sell land granted by " the Honorable Court," the same having been reconfirmed to the town.
1715. Committee appointed to report on laying out " 6,000 acre grant."
1716. Voted, Not to sell 6,000 acre grant. 1
1718. A committee of seven chosen to determine proprietorship of 6,000 acre grant. Committee report that the grant "belongs to persons who were freeholders at the time."
1719. The report of committee on 6,000 acre grant was defeated. Vote passed not to sell or lease. This vote was reconsidered, and voted to sell, " proceeds to go to the town."
1720. Action on "Grant," but nothing decided. At later meeting, voted " half proceeds of the land go to the town use."
1721. As a "peacable settlement" the inhabitants paying charges in 1715 were to have property in the "Grant." Town takes its share of " Bills of Credit." This year the movement against the dam and forge for obstructing the Monatiquot commenced.
1723. Town forbids rebuilding of the dam.
1725. Vote to petition General Court for the " demolishment of dam."
1725. Town acts, with reference to leasing the "Common," in the negative.
1727. For the "more peaceful settlement" of the "Grant," Voted, " That the lands be divided between the two precincts " equally, each to dispose of its share.
1728. New precinct made by order of General Court. Town refuses to allow new precinct to have school part of the year, or to abate taxes in case the precinct maintain its own schools. Trouble from trespassers on Common with regard to stones. Town assented to prayer of new precinct for separation.
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1730. Money voted to new precinct for school purposes.
1732. Committee appointed to protect fish in the river. V'oted, That North and Middle Precinct should have two selectmen each, and South one.
1735. Petition to General Court for consideration for loss of 4,000 acres to Milton. More action for free passage of fislı.
1736. Voted that town meetings be held half in North and Middle Precincts. Owner of dam refuses to sell; town votes to pull down dam and " defend in law." Voted three hundred pounds to owner.
1738 Price of stones per load fixed at twelve pence. Voted, pay con- stables five pounds per annum. · Vote to divide Suffolk into two counties.
1753. Voted to divide the "town commons " by polls. Price of stones doubled to those carrying off the same.
1754. Committee appointed with power to lease " Commons."
1761. Town votes to license innholders.
1762. Lessees of " South Common " petition " to throw up lease."
1762. A committee was appointed, John Adams chairman, to consider the question of the "Commons." They report in favor of selling lands, and town votes to sell, and finally votes to ratify sales to "use of min- istry." Subsequently, by vote, the " North Commons" were sold.
1765. Committee appointed on the Stamp Act. Report referred to in text.
1766. Town denies its obligations to compensate for "Late Riots.' Afterwards votes to approve "Compensation Bill."
1768. Passes patriotic resolutions, and votes to do without foreign articles and to join a convention of towns.
1773. Committee report resolutions on "Rights and Privileges."
1774. Town repudiates the charge of persecuting Tories, believing in the right of "private judgment." Report of the committee on correspond- ence adopted. Delegates appointed to Provincial Congress.
1775. Covenant of agreement reported.
RESOLUTIONS.
March 5, 1773. Voted, The committee appointed to take under consid- eration the pamphlet referred to, relative to our rights and privileges, etc., made report to the town as follows, viz : -
"1. That we apprehend the state of the rights of the colonists, and OI this Province in particular, together with a list of the Infringements and violations of those rights as stated in the Pamplilet committed to us, are in general fairly represented, and that the town of Boston be hereby thanked for this instance of their extraordinary care of the publick welfare.
"2. That all taxations, by what name soever called, imposed upon us without our consent by any earthly power, are unconstitutional, oppress- ive, & tend to enslave us.
"3. That as our Fathers left their native country & Friends in order
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that they & their Posterity might enjoy that civil and religious Liberty here which they could not enjoy there, we, their descendants, are deter- mined by the grace of God that our consciences shall not accuse us with having acted unworthy such pious & venerable Heroes, and that we will by all lawful ways & means preserve at all events all our civil and religious rights and privileges.
"4. That by the divine constitution of things there is such a connection between civil and religious liberty that in whatsoever nation or govern- ment the one is crushed the other seldom, if ever, survives long after. Of this History furnishes abundant evidence.
" 5. That all civil officers are or ought to be servants to the people and dependent upon them for their official support, and every instance to the contrary, from the Governor downwards, tends to crush and destroy civil liberty.
"6. That we bear true loyalty to our lawful King George the 3d and unfeigned affection to our brethren in Great Britain & Ireland to all our sister colonies, and so long as our mother Country protects us in our charter rights and privileges, so long will we by divine assistance exert our utmost to promote the welfare of the whole British Empire, which we earnestly pray may flourish uninterruptedly in the paths of righteous- ness till time shall be no more.
"7. That Mr. Thayer, our Representative, be directed, & he hereby is directed, to urge his utmost endeavors that a Day of Fasting & Prayer be appointed throughout the Province for humbling ourselves before God in this day of darkness, and imploring divine direction & assistance.
"8. That an attested Copy of the Town's proceedings in this matter be transmitted as soon as may be by tlie Town Clerk to the Boston Committee.
" All which is humbly submitted by the Town's Committee & humble servants,
"JOSEPH PALMER. BENJ. BEALE. JONATHAN WILD."
Jan. 23, 1775. Voted, That a committee of seven take under considera- tion the resolve of the Congress respecting encouragement of the militia.
Then, Deacon Palmer, Mr. J. P. Adams, Mr. Edmund Soper, Capt. Hayden, Mr. Sawen, Capt. Penniman, and Mr. Azariah Faxon were appointed a committee for that purpose. Said committee offered their report to the town as follows : --
That, whereas much time is generally spent by the militia of this town in perfecting themselves in necessary military exercises, many of whom cannot well afford it, and it being wisdom at all times, especially at this, to put ourselves into a good state of defence, and being desirous to encourage a military spirit in the most equitable manner, do Vote, That from and after the last day of this month until the last day of March next, every person in the militia who shall attend said exercises shall be paid out of the town treasury for every half-day's attendance. Provided, Such person shall be
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paid for no more than one half day in a week, and provided, also, that the captain and clerk of each and every military company do certify to the selectmen for the time being that such person has faithfully attended his duty at said exercises from three o'clock to six o'clock in the afternoon of such days at which hours the roll shall be called, and no person paid who has not attended and answered to both calls on each and every such day, and the parents, masters, or guardians of such as are under age shall be paid for such minors ; and provided, also, that all such as may not be suf- ficiently equipt with arms and ammunition in the judgment of the field offi- cers shall have his said wages laid out for such equipment, and such as are sufficiently equipt shall receive their said wages in money when the said treasury is in cash.
Voted, That the town allow the militia that attend exercises agreeable to the above report one shilling for each and every half-day.
March 13, 1775. Voted, A committee consisting of nine be raised to consider what encouragement may be proper to be given to such as may enlist and form themselves into companies of minute-men.
Then, Jolin Adams, Esquire, Edmund Billings, John Hall, Jr., Colonel Thayer, Edward Soper, John Vinton, Licut. Joshua Haywood, Jona. Bass, and Capt. Penniman were chosen a committee for that purpose.
March 15, 1775. The committee appointed the sixth of March, inst., to prepare a covenant agreeable to the association of the Continental Con- gress, to be adopted by this town, offered the same to the town, as follows, viz. :
1. That we will not import from Great Britain or Ireland or from any other place any such goods, wares, or merchandise as shall have been imported from Great Britain or Ireland nor will we from this Day import any East India [tea?] from any part of the world nor any molasses, syrups, panaly, coffee or peimento from the British Plantations or Domin- ions or wines from Madeira or the Western Islands or foreign indigo.
2. That we will neither employ or purchase any slave imported since the first day of December last; and will wholly discontinue the slave trade and will neither be concerned in it ourselves nor will we hire our vessels nor sell our commodities or manufactures to those who are con- cerned in it.
3. As a non-consumption agreement strictly adhered to will be an effectual security for the observation of the non-importation, we as above, solemnly agree and associate that from this day we will not purchase or use any East India tea whatever; nor will we nor any person by or under us, purchase or use any of those goods, wares or merchandise we have agreed not to import which we shall know or have any cause to suspect were imported since the first day of December last except such as come under the rules and directions of the tenth article of the association of the Continental Congress.
The foregoing association being determined upon by the town of Brain- tree, very unanimously, at a full meeting of the inhabitants, March 15, 1775, was ordered to be recorded in the town book, and that every house-
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holder within said town be supplied with a printed copy thereof by Elisha Niles, town clerk.
The committee appointed to consider relating to minute-men offered their report as follows : "The committee, etc., report as their opinion that it is proper for this town to make provision for three companies of minute- men, each to consist of Forty-one men including officers, one company to be raised in each Precinct & that each man in these companies be allowed by the Town one shilling and four pence per day for one day in every week during the pleasure of the Town : Provided that he shall attend the exercises under arms from two to six o'clock and the clerk of the company & the captain shall certify that he was present at the calling of the roll at two o'clock & at six o'clock in the afternoon of the exercising days : and upon this condition also that he shall be completely provided with arms & ammunition according to the recommendations of the Provincial Congress. Signed by order of the Committee, John Adams, Chairman."
Voted, That the Selectmen in the several precincts in this Town be desired & directed to supply the officers of the minute-men in their respec- tive precincts with money to pay off' said men day by day : And in case there shall be no publick monies which may without prejudice be applied to said purpose, that they borrow money on the Town's credit to effect it.
March 11, 1776. Voted, To choose a committee of safety to take under their inspection & care the publick affairs relative to the unhappy struggle & war we are involved in, agreeable to the resolves of the Genl. Courts, said Committee to consist of nine and to serve the Town without any demands therefor.
March 25, 1776. Voted, That Col. Joseph Palmer, Sam1. Niles, Esqr. & Thos. Penniman Esqr. be a Committee to engage some suitable Gentleman to deliver at our meeting for the choice of a Representative in May next a Political Discourse relative to our national rights, civil & religious.
June 5, 1776. Voted, That Dean. Daniel Arnold, Samuel Niles Esqr. & Thomas Penniman be a Committee to return the thanks of this Town to Revd. Wm. Anthony Wiburt for the suitable discourse delivered by him at our meeting in May last.
July 15, 1776. Voted, To give to each non-commission officer & soldier that shall inlist in the present expedition to Canada, six pounds, six shil- lings & eight pence in addition to the bounty allowed by the Court, to be paid to them on their receiving orders to march out of this Colony.
Aug. 19, 1776. Voted, That one hundred & Twenty-six pounds, thirteen shillings & fourpence be assessed on the Polls & Rateable Estates within said Town for the purpose hereafter mentioned.
Voted, To reimburse the money to those persons that imbursted it to forward the troops on the present expedition to Canada for the north & middle precincts in said Town.
Voted, That the south precinct be allowed -& I'g out of the above sum which is equal to forty pounds, for the use & expence of hireing mien to go on the aforesaid expedition to Canada, out of the said south precinct in said town.
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Voted, That the Selectmen be a Committee to settle with those persons that have imburseted the moneys to pay the Troops aforesaid.
Voted, To raise a Committee to procure the first Levy of every twenty- fifth man in this town, agreeable to a Resolve of the General Court, when call(ed) for, upon the Reasonablest Tearms they can & lay their acct. before the Town.
Voted, that this committee consist of three, vlz : Capt. Edmond Billing, Deacon James Penniman & Decn. Peter Thayer.
Voted, to exempt those persons from their Poll Tax that are in the Con- tenantel army that marched out of this town before the first day of June last.
Sept. 23, 1776. Voted, that each soldier that shall engage to go to New York in Complyance with the Requisition of the Continantel Congress shall have six pounds per month, including what is allowed by the Congress during the time of his being in the service.
Voted, to advance to each soldier that shall engage as above Two Pounds, to be paid him previous to his marching.
NOTE. - At this point in the records the Declaration of Independence is written out in full.
May 22, 1777. Voted, To allow those persons that was in the Continen- tal Army last May and marched out of New England, who are not engaged in said Army at this time, the sum of Ten Pounds for the sufferings the last year, provided they will now engage in said Continental Army for three years.
Sept. 8, 1777. Voted, That the Town now raise another Committee to use their utmost endeavors in this Town or elsewhere to procure a suffi- cient number of men to make up their quota for the Continental Army, if possible, and likewise to indemnify Colo. Ebenezer Thayer, Junr., from any Time that may be laid on him in omiting to draft the men agreeable to a Resolve passd the 15th day of August last past. The aforegoing vote being read several times in the Town meeting was accepted.
Voted, The aforesaid Committee consist of six men. Then, Dean. Eben- ezer Adams, Messrs. Joseph Baxter, William Penniman, Capn. Silas Wild, Majr. Seth Turner, & Lieut. Ephraim Thayer be a Committee for the afore- said purpose.
Voted, To supply the families of those persons belonging to this Town who shall enlist into the Continental Army with necessarys of Life at the stipulated price during the Time they are in actual service.
Voted, The Selectmen furnish the said Committee with money to hire the men.
Dec. 22, 1777. Voted, That the men that shall be, called for from this Town for the future for a Reinforcement for the Army & for Guards shall be paid by the Town a Bounty that shall encourage them to inlist, and that there be a Committee appointed to procure the men whenever there may be orders for any.
March 10, 1778. Voted, The Selectmen provide for the families of those in the Continental Army, & also settle with the Committee who was appointed for that purpose.
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March 20, 1773. Voted, To pay the men that marchd with Capt. Penni- man last fall as a Reinforcement for the northern Army from the Time they marched to the last day of November, provided they were in the service at that time.
Voted, To supply the families of those in the Continental Army, agreea- ble to a Resolve of the General Court.
June 22, 1778. Voted, To make up the subaltern's wages equal to a Pri- vate Soldier.
Voted, To pay each soldier from the time they march to the time they gitt home, allowing them a day's pay for every twenty miles' travel they shall be from home when they leave the service or are discharged.
Voted, To consider those Persons that was from this Town in the Con- tinental service in the year 1776 who marchd out of this State, & that there be a Committee chosen to take the matter into consideration & to report to the Town at their next annual meeting of what sum those persons are worthy off for their sufferings. Then, Colo. Thayer, Maj. Penniman, Captn. French, Captn. Arnold, & Captn. Sawin, was chosen a Committee for that purpose.
Voted, To allow those persons that was in the Continental Army from this Town in the year 1776, who are now in sd army, that engaged for before the twenty-second day of May, 1777, ten pounds being the same sum that was voted to those that engaged after said 22d day of May.
June 5, 1780. Then, it was moved and seconded that the Town should choose a Delegate to meet in convention on Wednesday next for the pur- pose of compleating the Constitution or Form of Government.
Voted, To choose a delegate by written vote.
Then, the Honble. Joseph Palmer, Esqr., was chosen for that purpose.
June 27, 1780. The Familys of such men as shall engage for the Term of six months shall be suppyd by the selectmen with corn, wood or such other articles as they stand in need off, which is to be charged & Reducted from the wages of that Person, which is to be paid him in corn upon his returning home.
June 30, 1780. The Committee reported that they had inlisted thirty- one men, & that there was a prospect of inlisting the other 5 men which is wanting to compleat the first 36 men called for, & likewise a part or all of the nine men required by the aforesaid Resolve of June 23d. General Palmer generously made the same offer to the nine men as he did to the 36 men, - that was thirty dollars each, for which the thanks of the Town was again voted him.
July 17, 1780. The Town being assembled again, the Committee reported a proposal that was agreed to & signed by a number of men, which was as follows, viz. : We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, agree to go into the publick service for Three months, upon the following conditions, pro- vided the Town agree thereto, viz. : We to receive Five hundred Dollars Currency in hand, half a bushel of corn per Day, or the value thereof in cur- rent money at six months from the date hereof, & also Five hundred Dollars more on our return, provided we serve the sd three months, or in propor- tion to the Time of service, the said last 500 Dollars to be increased or
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diminished, according as Depreciation or Appreciation shall take place. Witness our hands this 17th day of July, 1780. N. B. We to receive the State's pay & mileage, to be paid as usual for travel home.
The Town by a large majority voted to agree to the above proposals.
Voted, the Selectmen supply the familys of such soldiers who are now gone & going into the Publick service, with money as they may want for the support of their families.
Voted, such Persons as will lend the Town money may receive Receipts therefor from the Selectmen, which receipts shall answer for Taxes on the next town tax.
Sept. 4, 1780. The Freeholders and other inhabitants of the Town of Braintree qualified to vote in the choice of a Governor, Lt. Governor, Council and senators, being assembled at the meeting house in the middle precinct in said Town agreeable to the Resolves of the convention June 16, 1780, Proceeded to bring in their votes which are as follows, viz : -
For Governor.
Hon. John Hancock, Esqr. .95
Hon. James Bowdoin, Esqr. . . 11
Hon. John Lowel, Esq. · 35 Hon. Benja. White, Esqr. . 34
For Lt. Governor.
Hon. Joseph Palmer, Esqr. 25
Hon. James Bowdoin, Esqr. . 27
Hon. Joseph Palmer, Esq. . . 1
Hon. James Bowdoin, Esq. 1
Hon. Samuel Adams, Esq. 1
Hon. John Pitts, Esqr. .
9
Hon. Richard Cranch, Esqr. 7
For Council and Senators.
Hon. Solomon Lovel, Esqr. 4
Hon. Thomas Cushing, Esqr. . 45
Hon. Jabez Fisher, Esqr. . 65
Hon. Samuel Niles, Esqr. . 39
Hon. William Cooper, Esqr. 2
April 2, 1781. The Freeholders and other inhabitants of the Town of Braintree qualified to vote in the choice of a Governor, Lieut. Governor, Councillors and Senators, agreeable to the Constitution of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts, being by a Legal warrant for that Purpose assembled at the meeting House in the middle Precinct in said Town, Proceeded to bring in their votes which are as followeth, viz : -
Votes for Governor.
His Excellency John Hancock . . 35
The Hon. James Bowdoin . . 27
For Lieut. Governor.
The Hon. Thomas Cushing . 25
The Hon. Benjn. Lincoln 14
Collo. Azor Orrin . 5
The Hon. James Warren 4
For Councillors and Senators.
The Hon. Samuel Niles .37
The Hon. Jabcz Fisher 46
Cotton Tufts, Esqr. 37
Caleb Davis, Esqr. 37
The Hon. Samuel Adams 34
The Hon. John Pitts 30
The Hon. Joseph Palmer 17
The Hon. Jeremiah Powel 14
The Hon. Increase Sumner 15
John Lowel, Esqr. .12
Richard Cranch, Esqr. 9
The Hon. Benjn. Lincoln 7
Ebenzr. Wales, Esqr. . 3
April 2, 1781. Then, Captn. Joseph Baxter, one of the Town Committee to hire soldiers for the Continental Army, reported to the town that one
Hon. Cotton Tufts, Esqr. 36
Hon. Caleb Davis, Esqr. 36
Hon. James Warren, Esq. 80
Hon. Increase Sumner, Esqr. . 10 Hon. Jeremiah Powel, Esqr. 17
Hon. Benja. Austin, Esqr. 6 Hon. Norton Quincy, Esqr. 2
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John Williams had engaged as a soldier to serve in the army for three years, or during the War, and that he had engaged to serve for the Town of Boston, to be reckoned one of their quota of men for the army, and that said Jolin Williams did by Law belong to the Town of Braintree, and that he, the said Joseplı, in behalf of the Town of Braintree, laid in his clame for the Priviledge of said Williams that he should answer as a soldier for the Town of Braintree, and was opposed by the Committee of the Town of Boston, and by said Comm. was drove to every extremity to prove the justice of his clame to said Williams, but finally obtained him. Then, the Committee of Boston Requested of said Baxter fifteen guinies, which tliey had given sd Jolin Williams as a bounty. Said Baxter reports that he denyed complying with said Request, but told the Committee that he wanted to lay the afare before his Town to act upon as they should think Proper, said Baxter desiring to Know the minds of the minds of the Town upon that afare. The Vote was Put whether the Town would order that tlie said Boston Committee should have their Fifteen Guinies Refunded back to them by the Town of Braintree, and passed in the negative.
Sept. 10, 1781. Voted, That the sum of Four Hundred Pounds be assessed upon the Polls and Estates within this Town for the Purpose of procuring the Town's quota of Beef required for the army.
April 1, 1782. The Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Braintree, qualified agreeable to the Constitution of this Commonwealth of Massachusetts to vote in the choice of Governor, Lieut. Governor, Coun- cillors, & Senators, being by a Legal Warrant for that purpose assembled at the Meeting House in the Middle Precinct in said Town, Proceeded to Bring in their Votes, which are as followeth, viz .: -
Votes for Governor.
His Excellency John Hancock . .47
The Hon. James Bowdoin . . 47
For Lieut. Governor.
The Hon. Thomas Cushing . 20
The Hon. Joseph Palmer . 24
For Councillors Senators.
The Hon. Samuel Niles 20
The Hon. Jabez Fisher 23
The HIon. Cotton Tufts 23
The Hon. Jeremh. Powel 9
The Hon. John Pitts . 9
The Hon. Samuel Adams 15
The Hon. Increase Sumner 12
Samuel Austin, Esqr. .12
Thomas Penniman, Esqr. . 14
1808. Town votes to pay those who inlist under President's call for one hundred thousand.
1814. Town votes to pay soldiers in actual service.
APPENDIX D. - PART II. - NOTE 1.
1783. Town appoints Committee upon the Act of the General Court, regulating tlie time "included in the Lord's Day."
1784. Selectmen authorized to make the "Best Market of the certifi- cate money of the town in their hands."
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