USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1743-1783 (vol. 3) > Part 23
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Messrs Ichabod Shaw, Thomas Jackson Junr, William Crombie, Ezekiel Morton & James Clark were chosen fence viewers & field Drivers.
Messrs James Warren Esqr, George Watson Esqr, John Torrey, Elkanah Watson, Ichabod Holmes & Zacheus Bart- lett were chosen firewards.
Messrs John Kempton, David Lothrop, David Turner,
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Lemuel Drew & Abial Shurtleff were chosen Surveyors of Lumber.
Messrs Benjamin Churchill, James Drew & Thomas Jack- son Junr were chosen Surveyors of Clapboards & Shingles & Viewers & Cullers of Staves & Hoops.
Messrs Isaac Jackson, Joseph Trask & William Clarke were chosen Deere reeves.
[305.] At said meeting Messrs John Shareman, Na- thaniel Morton Junr & Josiah Morton were chosen to take care of Plimo beach according to Law.
Messrs Thomas Foster Esqr, John Torrey & William Watson Esqr were chosen to examine the schoolers that may be admitted into the Grammer school.
Then voted to allow the sexton eight pounds Lawfull money for his sallery the Currant year.
Then this meeting was adjourned to next Monday ye 15th Currant to 2 a clock p. m.
At a meeting of the town of Plimouth assembled & held in the Court house in Plimouth on Monday the 15th day of March Anno Domini 1773 by Adjournment from the 8th currant.
At said meeting the Committe for hiring a Collector re- ported they had hired Mr. Bartlett Lebaron to be Collector for the four northern districts this year, for the sum of three pounds ten shillings Lawfull money over & above the prem- ium of twelve pence on the pound, voted at first holding this meeting; he to comply with the sd vote respectg Giving bonds to save the town harmless on his account.
Said Lebaron came into meeting and manufested his ac- ceptance to serve in sd office for sd consideration & on sd Conditions.
Then made choice of sd Bartlett Lebaron constable, who together with Seth Mendall the other Constable was sworn in town meeting pr Thomas Foster Esqr.
Then voted to choose a committe of three men to clear ye passage for Alewives from Eellriver to South pond, Allso to Carry up in hogsheads one Cart load of Alewives the first that came in the town brook this year & put them into said South pond and Thomas Foster Esqr, Deacn John Torrey & Mr. William Warren were chosen a committe for that pur- pose.
Then a vote was Called to know if the town would choose
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a committe to dig down Sparrows hill & make the rode wider, it passed in the negative.
Then voted to choose a committe to make answer to the citation from the Superiour Court respecting the rodes in this town being in a ruinous situation, from the Court house to Plimton line which is to be heard & Determined at the next Superiour Court of Judicature &c to be holden at Pli- mouth within & for the said county of Plimouth on the third tuesday of May next & accordingly made choice of Mr. Thos Jackson, Deacon John Torrey & Doctr William Thomas a Committe for that purpose.
[306.] At said meeting Voted to choose a Committe to run the lines & take a survey of the sheep pasture so called belonging to this town & return a plan thereof and of the particular lotts allready laid out within said lines, to the town as soon as may be and allso to Prosecute all persons that may trespass on said land, accordingly made choice of Thomas Foster Esqr, Capt. Theophilus Cotton & Deacn John Torrey a committe for that purpose.
Then voted to continue the Consideration of the Petition of Deacn Jonathan Diman & Doctr William Thomas Desire- ing about one hundred acres of sd sheep pasture land untill the Committe for taking a survey of the sheep pasture re- port to the town.
Then voted to choose a number of persons to fire the woods in the Differant parts of this town & prevent the burning the wood lotts in this town for the future & accord- ingly made choice of
Messrs Eleazr Ellis, Benjamin Cornish Junr, William Warren, Ebenezer Samson, Deacn John Torrey & Lemuel Jackson a committe for that purpose. They to Get needfull help to Do sd business at the Expence of the town.
Then voted to Give a bounty for killing rats, Crows & black birds in this town viz : one copper a head for rats, six coppers a head for crows & one copper a head for black birds, none to receive the bounty but those that are fledged. Then made choice of Mr. Silvanus Bartlett, Mr. Seth Mor- ton & Ephraim Spooner a committe to receive the heads & pay the bounty & draw the money out of the Treasury to De- frey the Expence.
Then voted to continue the consideration of building a work house untill next May meeting.
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At a meeting of the town of Plimouth Regularly assem- bled & held at the Court house in Plimouth on the day abovesd being March 15th A D 1773, James Warren Esqr chosen Moderator.
Messrs John Waterman & Ephraim Cobb were chosen to serve on the Grand Jury for the Presant year & Messrs Wil- liam Ellis, Josiah Bradford, Lemuel Barnes & Phinneas Swift were chosen to serve on the Petit Jury at the next Court of Generall Sessions of the peace & Inferiour Court of Common Pleas to be holden at Plimouth within & for the County of Plimouth on the second Tuesday of April next.
[307.] At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth Regular- ly assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth on Mon- day the 3rd day of May Anno Domini 1773.
George Watson Esqr was Chosen Moderator.
Messrs Jeremiah Howes, Thomas Jackson Junr & Wil- liam Weston were chosen to serve on the Grand Jury.
& Messrs Lemuel Morton, Nehemiah Ripley, Eleazer Stephens, Elkanah Watson, Ichabod Holmes & Jonathan Diman were chosen to serve on the Petit Jury all at the next Superiour Court of Judicature &c to be holden at Plimouth within & for the County of Plimouth on the third tuesday of May Instant.
At a meeting of the town of Plimouth Regularly Assem- bled & held at the Court house in Plimouth on Monday the 17th day of May A D 1773 a vote was Called to know if the town would send two Representatives the presant year. Before that vote was put a vote was Called to know whether the vote to see if the town would send two Representatives or but one should be put by holding up the hand or written Votes yeas & nays, it passed that it should be Determined by holding up the hand.
Then voted they would send two Representatives the presant year. And accordingly made choice of James War- ren Esqr &
Mr. Isaac Lothrop to serve for & Represent them at the Great & Generall Court to be convened & held at Boston on the third Wednesday of May Instant, both which Repre- sentatives to draw the pay of but one.
Then Deacon John Torrey was chosen Moderator. Then made choice of James Warren Esqr & Mr. Isaac Lothrop agents to prefer a petition to the Great & Generall Court as
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soon as may be praying them to Enable this town to recover the money due to the town from the County of Barnestable for the repairs of Eellriver bridge.
Then Voted to raise the bounty on blackbirds heads & to Give three coppers a head from this time.
Then made choice of Mr. Ichabod Holmes to receive the heads of birds & ratts & to pay the bounty accordingly.
Then voted that the Committe who were chosen in March last to take a Survey of the Sheep pasture defer taking a Survey of the lands layd out within the bounds of sd land Calld the Sheep pasture untill next town meeting.
[308.] At said meeting voted to Grant to the County of Plimouth a rode thirty foot wide on the Southerly side of their land neere Capt Nicholsons from the street to the per- sonage lot if they build a Prisson on sd Personage.
Then voted to put of the Consideration of the report of the Committee respecting the rodes or highways till the Town Meeting for Raising money.
Allso voted the Consideration of building a work house be put of to said meeting.
At a meeting of the town of Plimouth Assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth the 22nd day of June A D I773
Messrs Abial Shurtleff & Lemuel Cobb were Chosen to Serve on the petit jury at the Next Inferiour Court of Com- mon Pleas &c to be holden at Plimouth on the first tuesday of July next.
At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth Assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth the 14th day of Septembr Anno Domini 1773 Messrs Ichabod Shaw John Bartlett William Weston Joseph Lucas were Chosen to Serve on the petit Jury at the Next Inferiour Court of Common Pleas to be holden at Plimouth on the first tuesday of Octobr next.
At a Meeting of the Town of Plimouth legally assembled & held in the Court house in Plimouth on Wednesday the 3rd day of Novembr A D 1773 Thomas Foster Esqr was Chosen Moderator.
Then made choice of Thomas Foster Esqr Capt Theophi- lus Cotton & Deacn John Torrey a Committe in the name & behalf of sd town to prosecute all persons whatsoever that have or shall commit any trespass upon the lands Commonly Called & Known by the name of the Sheep pasture lands,
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by Cutting or Carrying of any wood or timber from said land, or Erecting any building or fence on the same sd Com- mittee to have full power of Substitution, the whole to be done at the Charge of the Town of Plimouth
Then Voted to Raise the Sum of three hundred & fifty pounds to Defray the necessary Charges of the Current year.
Then Voted to Choose a Committe of three persons to make a Demand on the executors to the last will & Testa- ment of Doctr Lazarus *Lebarron Deceased of the donation made to this town by his father Doctr Francis Lebarron Deceased of ninety acres of woodland as appears by his said [309.] Francis's last will & Testament. And accordingly
[309.] Francis's last will & Testament. And accordingly made Choice of Thomas Foster Esqr John Cotton Esqr & Deacn John Torrey a committe for that purpose Said Com- mitte in case those lotts that sd Francis Died Seazed of that layed next to this town are Since his Decease Sold by his heirs in that Case, they Shall receive sd Quantity of land for this town of Equal Value of those lotts that may be sold out of those of sd Francis's lands that have not been disposed of by his heirs.
The report of the committe respecting the School houses in Manument ponds & Eellriver was read which is in the Words following viz-
We The Subscribers being appointed a Committee to take a View of the Manument ponds Parish & of the neighbour- hood of Eellriver & Consider & report to the town with re- spect to the most Convenient places to Sett their School houses &c have attended that Service & beg leave to report as follows, viz-that if the Neighborhood of Eellriver de- termin to have but one School house for the whole, the place where it now stands we think is the most Convenient for the whole, notwithstanding your Committe would report it as our opinion that it would be for the Interest of the whole, if there were two houses for the keeping of School there & if the town be of that opinion & that neighborhood Shall build another house, & remove the old School house
* The land given by Dr. LeBaron to the town was in Carver not far from the Middleboro line, and contained about ninety acres in two lots of about equal size, separated from each other by lands of I. At- wood and Deacon Lucas.
18
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free from charge to the town, we are of opinion that the new school house be Sett Somewhere between William War- rens & the roade that goes up the woods by Ebenezr Bart- letts, and the town School be kept one half the time in that, and the old School house removed & Sett up between Josiah Morton Junrs & William Clarks, & the other half of the time Said School be kept in that house. And your Committe are of opinion it would Shorten the travell of the whole, and Considering the Scituation of that neighborhood be much more beneficial to that community than to have only one School house.
And we would further report that it is the opinion of your Committe after fully Viewing & Considering that there be two School houses in the Manument ponds Precinct, pro- vided they will biuld them free from Cost to the Town, the one to be placed on the roade some where Between Capt Nathaniel Bartletts and the foot of the hill northward neere the Stump of a large tree lately Cut down, & that two thirds of the time the town votes to keep a School in that precinct, it be kept there. And the other School house to be placed on the rode neere where Eleazer Ellis's barn stands, & the other third of the time the Town allow the School to be kept at their charge in sd precinct, to be kept in the last men- tioned house & their being no School house as vet built if those Neighbourhoods or either of them Can't Get a house built this winter, to hire room or rooms as neere those places as they can, the Neighbourhood about Ellis's to come as
[310.] farr northward as to Include Vallers farm, & Southward to Sandwich line, each neighborhood to build their own Schoolhouses, and your Committe beg leave to re- port it as their opinion that considering the Growth of that precinct & the number of Children in Each of those Neigh- bourhoods it would be just & reasonable that two months more be Allowed and Added to the four months heretofore Voted them to Keep a School at the towns Charge, all which is Submitted.
Ephraim Cobb
Thomas Foster John Torrey
Plimouth Novembr 3rd 1773.
Then voted to receive the report of the committe respect- ing the Eellriver School. And allso to receive the report of the committee respecting the School at Manument ponds.
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Then voted the Surplusage in the taxes this year Shall not Exceed twenty pounds.
Allso voted the Assessors shall make the town & County tax this year both together.
Then this meeting was Adjourned to Monday ye 8th of November Instant, to three of the clock in the afternoon.
At a meeting of the town of Plimouth Legally assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth ye 8th of Novr A D 1773 by Adjournment from ye 3rd Currant-
Voted to put of the Consideration of the report of the Committe respecting repairing the roads & highways in this town for the future & the draft of the by law they had pre- pared, untill the next town meeting.
Then this meeting was Adjourned to Monday ye 22rd Currant to 3 a clock in the afternoon.
At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth Legally Assembled & held at the Court house in Plimo ye 22nd day of Novembr at Eleven a Clock A M Messrs Seth Harlow Silvanus Har- low Zacheus Morton Thomas Mather were Chosen to serve on the Petit Jury at the next court of Generall Sessions of the peace &c to be holden at Plimouth on the Second tues- day of Decembr next.
[311.] At a meeting of the town of Plimouth Legally Assembled and held in the Court house in Plimouth on Monday ye 22nd day of Novembr Anno Domini 1773 by Adjournment from the 8th Currant.
Voted to reconsider the vote of the town ye 8th Currant (which was to put of the Consideration of the report of the Committee respecting the repairing the roads in this town & the Draft of a by Law they have prepared for that purpose untill the next town meeting) and to Go upon the Consid- eration thereof at this time. Then sd Draft of a Town Act or by law was read & is as follows viz-
Plimouth Novembr 22nd 1773
We the Subscribers being appointed a Committee by the town of Plimouth at their town meeting on Monday the ninth day of March last past To Consider what method the town Shall Come into respecting repairing (and amending) the highways in this town for the future and report what we think best for the town to do in that affair. Having fully and maturely weighed and considered the same, beg leave to report; that we think it best and most expedient for the
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town, that the following order rule or by law should be voted and passed by the town and presented to the next Court of General Sessions of the peace for the County of Plimouth for their Approbation & allowance viz Plimouth Sc. At a meeting of the town of Plimouth legally warn'd and held at the Court house in Plimouth on Monday the ninth day of march last past, and from thence adjourned to monday 22nd Novr 1773 instant, and then met at said Court house, The following rule order or by law for the equitable easy and Convenient maintainance support & re- pair of the highways in said town was agreed upon voted & passed viz, That a certain sum of money (as the town shall Judge Sufficient for maintaining and supporting the high- ways in sd town) be annually voted to be taxed and assessed by the Assessors of the town (in a separate bill or Column )and collected and paid into the town treasury in the Same way & manner as other town taxes are.
That the Surveyor or Surveyors that Shall from time to time be chosen and appointed by the town whenever the highways want repairing shall Give publick notice to all per- sons in their respective districts,liable to work on the high- ways of the time and place. when and where he or they intend to repair the same; that Every person may (if he pleases) pay his proportional part of said tax by his labour in such way and manner and according to the rates & prices hereafter mentioned.
[312.] That the Surveyor or Surveyors Shal keep an exact account of all such persons as Shall attend and do their duty either by themselves or other Sufficient persons in their stead to the acceptance of the Surveyor and of all carts, oxen, horses & horsecarts that shall from time to time be employed in repairing the highways and at the experation of his or their year and before the Choice of other Surveyor or Surveyors Shall on oath render in a list or Certificate thereof to the town treasurer; and the town treasurer is hereby impowered and ordered to pay or discount with the respective persons mentioned in said list or certificate out of the money to be raised by this rule, order or by law, for their Several works, labours and services on the highways, according to the rates and prices for labour &c hereafter mentioned.
That the Surveyor or Surveyors shall provide and pro-
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cure all necessary materials for repairing the highways as has been usual & Customary heretofore; but shall not build erect or make any new bridge or causeways without the advice and Consent of the Selectmen of the town.
That upon the Surveyor or Surveyors, giving notice of the time and place for repairing the highways, the people within his or their districts Shall refuse or neglect giving their attendance and doing their duty; the Surveyor or Sur- veyors may hire and employ other persons out of their dis- trict (but within the town) to perform the same at the rates & prices hereafter mentioned.
That the rate & price for labour and Services on the high- way may be as follows. viz-
To the Surveyor three Shillings & four pence pr day.
To every other person two Shillings pr day they to find themselves victuals and suitable tools for working on the highways.
For every yoke of oxen two shillings pr day
For every ox cart one Shilling & six pence pr day.
For every horse two Shillings pr day.
For every horse cart one shilling & four pence pr day.
That in case any extraordinary casualty accident or occa- sion by which the bridges may be greatly Injured or de- stroyed or the roads greatly broken up or damnafied if the provision or sum of money annually raised should not be sufficient to the repair the same, then the people of the re- spective districts within the town, shall be liable to be Called upon by their respective surveyors to do duty on the high- ways in manner and form heretofore.
That if the Surveyor or Surveyors Shall Judge it necessary to Call upon the people in his or their respective districts to clear the highways of Snowdrifts &c and make the Same passable for sleds &c in the winter Season the people in their respective districts Shall attend and do duty accordingly under the same rules and regulations as hereto- fore, without receiving any pay or allowance for the same or by virtue of this rule order or by law.
That the Surveyor or Surveyors in their respective districts shall not admit boys or any other persons in the room or stead of any person or persons liable to do duty on the highway and in case of any dispute the Surveyors in their respective districts shall Judge & determine of the suf-
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ficiency or unsufficiency of such boys or persons & certify accordingly.
[313.] That the respective Surveyors at the experation of their respective years and before the Choice of other Sur- veyors shall render an account on oath to the Selectmen of the town of the times and Seasons they have attended and done their duty on the highways as Surveyors together with the Charge and expence they have been at in providing and procuring materials and necessarys for maintaining and keeping the highways in repair; and the Selectmen Shall examine the same and draw an order on the town treasurer for so much money as shall appear to them to be reasonably due to said Surveyors, and the said town treasurer is hereby impower'd and ordered to pay and discount the same to the respective Surveyors.
Lastly that this rule, order or by law be and remain in full force and virtue untill the town shall think proper to alter or repeal the same.
Thomas Foster Theo Cotton John Torrey Pelham Winslow William Watson
Then voted to accept the Said report of an Act or by law for this town, And made Choice of Thomas Foster Esqr to prefer the Same to the next court of Generall Sessions of the peace to be holden at Plimouth within & for the County of Plimouth on the Second tuesday of Decembr next for their approbation & Allowance.
At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth Legally assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth on tuesday the 7th day of Decembr A D 1773.
John Cotton Esqr was Chosen Moderator.
Then voted to Choose a committee to take into considera- tion the circumstances of our Publick affairs & in particular the East India company's Import of tea into America Sub- ject to a duty payable here for raising a revenue against our consent & to report what they think proper for the Town to do respecting sd Matters. & accordingly made Choice of Deacn John Torrey James Warren Esqr & William Watson Esqr the Committee for that purpose, they to report to the Town as soon as may be. they accordingly withdrew from
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the meeting & after Considering of said affair, reported as follows.
The Inhabitants of this town ever attentive to the rights & Interest of their country, having been repeatedly alarmed with the measures of late years, adopted & pursued by the Brittish Administration under various forms Evidently re- pugnant to Every principall of our Constitution, & after flattering ourselves from time to time with hopes that from a Change of men or some other happy Circumstance
[314.] Such new measures might be adopted as would put an End to the unhappy contest between Britain and the colonies & leave us in the full enjoyment of those rights, which no power on Earth can reasonably dispute; much less pretend to deprive us off, have yet the misfortune to find the British ministry so far from relaxing, that they are still pursueing with assiduity the Same destructive measures, a recent Instance of which we see in Their attempt by virtue of an Act of the last Session of Parliament, to Enable the east India company in London to Export their tea to America in Such Quantity as the Lords of the Treasury shall think proper subject to the same unconstitutional Tax or tribute, which we have upon other occasions & Under dif- ferant appearances with firmness & resolution oppos'd as daingerous to that liberty which our fathers claimed & En- joyed which we have a right to Enjoy & which our posterity may Expect we transmit to them Inviolate, do think it our duty on this as on Severall other Similar occasions to Ex- press our firm resolution not only to oppose this step as dain- gerous to the liberty & commerce of this country, but allso to Aid & Support all our brethren in their opposition to this & Every Violation of our rights; and Therefore resolve.
I That the dangerous nature & tendency of Importing teas here by any person or persons Especially the India company as proposd subject to a tax upon us without our consent, & the Steps Incumbent on Every one Concerned for the true Interest of America to take on the occasion, as well as the sentiments & conduct they should observe with re- gard to all aiders & abetters of that measure are Extremely well Expressed by the late Judicious resolves of the Worthy Citizens of Philadelphia.
2dly That the persons to whom the sd India company have consigned the tea they propose to send to Boston, have
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by their wickedness & obstinacy in Endeavoring to accept of & Execute their Commission contrary to the almost univer- sall sense & desire of the whole province, & in still continue- ing to refuse to gratify the reasonable request of their coun- trymen forfeited that protection Every Good Citizen is Intitled to & Expos'd themselves & their abettors to the Indignation & resentment of all Good men.
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