USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1743-1783 (vol. 3) > Part 24
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3dly That it is an affront to the common sense & under- standing of mankind & to the Majesty of the people, who are under God the Source from whence is derived all powers & magistracy in Every community to assert that any meet- ing of the people to consult measures for their common Se- curity & hapiness on very Extreordinary & alarming occa- sions, is Either Unlawfull or Irregular
[315.] Since no legislature could be supposed to Estab- lish rules of conduct in such cases as no man could even Suppose would take place in a free & Good Government.
4thly That the late meetings of a verry large & respect- full body of the Inhabitants of Boston & the ajacent towns, & their conduct & determination at sd meetings relative to the Importation & reshiping of any teas that have or may be sent here Subject to a Duty on Importation was both necessary & laudable & highly deserving the Gratitude of all who are Interested in or with the prosperity of America; & that whoever have attempted (by any means whatever )to Interrupt their proceedings & prevent the full operation of their determinations have in that Instance shown them- selves Inimical to the freedom & Interest of the Country.
5thly That we are in duty & Gratitude bound not only to acknowledge our obligations to the body who composd that meeting for their noble, Generous & spirited Conduct in the common cause, but allso to aid & Support them in carrying their votes & resolves into Execution & that we will not only aid & support them in Executing the said Votes & resolves, but at the hazard of our lives & fortunes will Exert our whole force to defend them against the violence & wickedness of our Common Enemies.
6thly That the town clerk immediately record these votes & resolutions & deliver a fair copy of them to the Committe of Correspondence of this town to be by them Transmitted to the Committe of correspondence for the town of Boston.
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Then a vote was called to know if the town would accept sd report it passed in the Affirmative Unanimously.
At said meeting Voted to choose a Committee to view the road in Eellriver between the house that was Mr. Joseph Warrens deceasd & the house of Mr. Joshu Swift & report what they think best for the town to do Either to repair the road as it now Gos or turn it some other way & accordingly made choice of Capt Theophilus Cotton Deacn Elisha Holmes Mr Benjamin Rider James Warren Esqr & Mr Ben- jamin Cornish for that purpose.
Then a voat wos Called to know if this meeting Should be Adjourned to next Monday ye 13th Currant to 2 a Clock P M in order to receive the report of their committe respecting the road. It passed in the Affirmative.
[316.] At a Meeting of the town of Plimouth Legally assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth on Mon day the 13th day of Decembr Anno Domini 1773 by Ad- journment from the 6th Instant.
The committe apointed to view the road between the house that Mr Joseph Warren deceasd lived in & the house of Mr. Joshua Swift Reported they had attended that Ser- vice.
After viewing the road &c they are of opinion that it is best for the town to purchase a new road through the land that was Mr Joseph Warrens deceasd & come out at the foot of the Mill lane, & that if the town conclude to purchase the land proposed for a new road that in that case the town Should make Satisfaction to Ezekiel Morton for cutting him of from a road to his land, or Enable him to come to the sd new road from his land. They Estemate the Expence in making the sd new road to be about thirty five pounds Law- full money.
Then voted that the further consideration of the report be put of till next March meeting & in the mean time the Surveyor is Directed to repair the Road & put it in as Good order as this Season of the year will admitt off.
Then a vote was Called to know if the town would recon- sider the votes & resolves they came into last town meeting it passed in the negative 20 for it & 52 against it.
Then Edward Winslow Esqr Informed the town he had in his hand a protest against the resolves of the last town meeting, Signed by himself & a number of others, the In-
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habitants of this town, which he Desired to read, a vote was Called to know if sd Protest Should be read, it passed in the Negative
At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth Legally Assem- bled & held in the Court house in Plimouth on Monday ye 7th March Anno Domini 1774.
James Warren Esq Chosen Moderator.
Ephraim Spooner Chosen town Clerk & Sworn pr Thomas Mayhew Esqr.
Mr Benjamin Rider Deacn John Torrey Mr Nathaniel Morton Junr Capt Theophilus Cotton Ephraim Spooner Were Chosen Selectmen
John Cotton Esqr Deacn John Torrey Mr John Blackmer Were Chosen Assessors & Sworn pr Thomas Mayhew Esqr.
[317.] At Said meeting John Cotton Esqr was Chosen town Treasurer. Then the votes for a County Treasurer were brought in & sealed up in town meeting by Mr. Bartlett Lebaron Constable & delivd to his care.
Then voted to have as many Schools this year & under the Same regulations as the last year viz Besides the Gram- mer School in the Center of the town to have the following Schools Set up at the Ends of the Town.
One at Manument ponds six months
One at Eellriver four months
One at Willingsle four months
One at the North pt ye Town three months.
And then voted to Add
One neere Isaac Jacksons one month.
Then made Choice of James Warren Esqr Deacn John Torrey Capt Elkanah Watson a committe to supply the Grammer School with a Suteable Schoolmaster ye year
And Messrs Benjamin Cornish Junr John Blackmer Israel Clark a committee to supply the Manument School with a Suteable Schoolmaster
And Messrs Ezekiel Morton Ebenezr Bartlett & Phillip Leonard a committee to Supply the School at Eellriver with a Suteable Schoolmaster
And Messrs Ichabod Holmes Nathaniel Morton Junr & Samuel Bartlett a Committe to Supply the School at Wel- lingsle with a Suteable Schoolmaster
And Messrs Capt Theophilus Cotton Ebenezr Nellson & Elijah Dammon a Committee to Supply the School at. the north end of the Town with a Suteable Schoolmaster
PLYMOUTH RECORDS. 283
And Messrs Isaac Jackson & Benjamin Lucas a commit- te to Supply the School at the Westward with a Suteable Schoolmaster
Then voted to allow the Collectors for the presant year the same premium & on the Same Conditions as the last year, viz 12d on the pound for Collecting & paying in the towns money they Giveing bonds with Good Suretys to Save the town harmless on their account. And allso they to pay in the whole of the money they may be ordered to Collect & finish their accounts with the Treasurer within two years from the Date of the tax bill that may be delivered them. It was not Intended by this vote to prevent the Treasurer's Issuing their Executions against those persons that Shall not pay in the money they may be ordered to Collect by the time mentioned in their Respective Warrents.
Then made Choice of Deacn John Torrey Mr Ephm Cobb & William Watson Esqr a Committee to hire a Collector or Collectors for the town Excepting Manument ponds Pre- cinct on the best terms they Can.
[318.] At said meeting voted to Excuse Manument ponds Precinct from payg any part of the Extreordinary Charge of hireing a Collector the presant year. Then made Choice of Lothrop Clarke Constable for Manument ponds Precinct.
Then made Choice of
Capt Theophilus Cotton Mr Thomas Lothrop
Mr StephenChurchell Mr Nathaniel Morton Junr
Mr Benjamin Rider & Mr Benjamin Cornish Were Chosen Surveyors of the Highways.
Then voted not to take any alewives for Sail in the town brook for the presant year and not more than 200 barrills in halfway pond brook & herring pond brook.
Messrs Ezekiel Morton William Warren & Seth Morton Were Chosen to take care of the herring brook at Eellriver.
& Deacn John Torrey Mr Stephen Churchell & Ephraim Spooner Were Chosen to take care of the Town brook Agreeable to the law.
Then the act respecting the observation of the Lords day & the Choice & duty of Wardens was read after which
Messrs Nathaniel Torrey Jesse Harlow David Lothrop Thaddeus Churchell William Warren & Joseph Sylvester Were Chosen Wardens
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Messrs James Drew Benjamin Churchell & Stephen Churchell Were Chosen Gaugers of Cask & Packers of Fish.
Messrs Ebenezr Nellson Samuel Sherman & Stephen Doten Were Chosen Tytheingmen.
Messrs Benjamin Drew & Thomas Spooner
Messrs Timothy Goodwin Amaziah Harlow William Morton Levi Drew Abraham Howland Jesse Churchell Thomas Foster tertius Nathaniel Lewis Thomas Morton & Phillip Leonard Were Chosen Hogreeves
[319.] Messrs Samuel Cole & William Watson Esqr Were Chosen Clerks of the markit.
Messrs Ebenezr Samson Robert Bartlett Thomas Davie Lemuel Jackson Amaziah Churchell Ichabod Holmes Elea- zer Churchill Samuel Bartlett & Thomas Southworth How- land Were Chosen Cullers of Fish.
Messrs Ebenezer Nellson Samuel Cole John Bartlett Junr John Watson Capt Nathl Bartlett Phillip Leonard Were Chosen fence viewers & field drivers
Messrs James Warren Esqr Thomas Jackson Junr Deacn John Torrey Elkanah Watson Ichabod Holmes & Benjamin Cornish Junr Were Chosen firewards
Messrs John Kempton David Lothrop David Turner Lemuel Drew Abial Shurtleff & William Savory Were Chosen Surveyors of Lumber.
Messrs Benjamin Churchell James Drew & Thomas Jackson Junr Were Chosen Surveyors of Clapboards & Shingle & viewers & Cullers of Staves & hoops
Messrs Benjamin Lucas Samuel Donham & James Holmes were Chosen Deere Reeves.
Messrs George Ellis James Warren Esqr & Josiah Mor- ton Junr Were Chosen to take care of Plimouth beach.
& William Watson Esqr Doctr Nathaniel Lothrop & Ephraim Spooner Were Chosen to Examine the Schollers that Shall be admited into the Grammer School.
Stevens Mason Chosen Sexton & to allow him 8 £ for his Sallery the Presant year.
Messrs Stephen Samson Thomas Jackson Junr Isaac Jackson Joseph Rider Ichabod Holmes Benjamin Cornish & Seth Morton Were Chosen to fire the woods in this town at a proper time & prevent the fires burning the Wood Lotts in this Town.
[320.] At sd meeting Voted to Choose a Committe of
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Five persons to Consider that paregraph in the Warrant respecting the treasury & the Moneys due to the Town they to report to the town what they think proper for the Town to do in the affair at the Adjournment of this meeting.
And then made Choice of Deacn John Torrey Thomas Mayhew Esqr William Watson Esqr Capt Theophilus Cot- ton & Ephraim Spooner to be said Committe.
Then Voted to Choose a Committe to take delivery of the lands Given by the late Doctr Francis Lebaron Deceased to this town & to Petition the Generall Court for Liberty to Sell the same & then made Choice of John Cotton Esqr & Deacn John Torrey to be said Committe
Then Voted the Selectment Shall procure a Keeper of the Almes house & Agree what Allowance he shall have for his trouble &c.
Then Voted to Give a bounty of three coppers a head for blackbirds
& six coppers a head for Crows
two coppers a head for Squarrells & Wood Chuck.
& one copper a head for rats the presant year
Then made Choice of Mr. Isaac Symmes Deacn John Torrey Mr Seth Morton & Capt Zacheus Bartlett a Com- mittee to receive sd heads & pay the bounty they to draw the money out ye Treasury.
Then Voted to Choose a Committe of Seven persons to look out a more Convenient place for the pest house in this town & report their opinion to the town at the Adjourn- ment of this meeting.
Accordingly Capt Thomas Jackson Doctr Nathaniel Lothrop Mr Eleazer Stephens Deacn John Torrey Mr Stephen Samson Deacn Jonathan Diman & Doctr William Thomas to be sd Committe.
Then voted the Selectmen be a Committe to answer the Petition from the County of Barnestable respecting the new road they request in this town through the woods from Phineas Swifts & to come out against the Training Green agreeable to the Citation from the Court of Generall Ses- sions of the peace for the County of Plimo & Indeavour to prevent the Courts ordering a road there.
Then voted to raise the Sum of Sixty pounds for Defray- ing the Expence of repairing the roads the presant year.
*Then voted the town will Choose a Minister to preach a
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Sermon in this town the Next anniversary of ou# fore- fathers first landing here viz the 22nd of Decembr next, And then unanimously made Choice of the Revd Mr Gad Hitchcock to preach the Same. And made Choice of the Selectmen a Committe to present the Revd Mr Hitchcock with sd Vote & Desire his complyance therewith.
[321.] At sd meeting Voted to add two persons to the Committe of Correspondence & Communication in this town & accordingly made Choice of Capt Theophilus Cot- ton & Mr Nathaniel Morton to be sd Addition.
Then this meeting was Adjourned to thursday the 24th Currant to 2 a clock in the afternoon.
At a Meeting of the Town of Plimouth assembled & held in the Court house in Plimouth the 24th of March Anno Domini 1774.
James Warren Esqr was Chosen Moderator.
Then the Petition for Calling this meeting was read & is as follows viz-
To the Selectmen of the town of Plimouth. Gentlemen.
The Comitte of Correspondence &c for the town of Plim- outh having received intelligence that India tea is frequently brought into & sold in this town & having done Every thing in their power to put a Stop to practice which they conceive to be repugnant to the sense & Inclination of their Consti- tuents, & the principles on which they apprehend their se- curity rests, without the success they could wish for: Do think it their duty (agreeable to the Instructions of the town) to request you to call a meeting as soon as may be that the inhabitants when met may take such resolutions as they shall think proper on the occasion we are your Humble Servts
William Thomas John Torrey
Nathaniel Torrey James Warren
Stephen Samson
Thomas Mahew
Thomas Lothrop Ephraim Cobb
Theophilus Cotton
William Watson
Nathaniel Morton Junr
Then voted to Choose a Comitte to take into Considera- tion the matter Containd in the aforesaid petition & warrant Calling this meeting respecting the Selling India tea in this town for the future, & accordingly made Choice of Deacn
PLYMOUTH
RECORDS. 287
John Torrey William Watson Esqr & Mr Isaac Lothrop to be a Comitte for that purpose.
Then the meeting was adjourned for half an hour, After which the Comitte reported in the words following viz-
Whereas the Selling of India tea under the present Cir- cumstances of this Country has a tendency not only to en- courage the use of them but to embarrass that opposition which is now made to the tyranny & oppression Exercised over us and to render abortive those attempts to secure our rights and liberties which are made in an Easy & gentle way & thereby to reduce us to the disagreeable Alternative Either to renounce, or to be obliged to defend them in way that Every good man could wish there should be no occasion for; and whereas the Comitte of Correspondence of this town attentive to the Public good & the originall design of their appointment have with a laudable zeal taken into Considera- tion the danger of Such a practice; And exerted
[322.] themselves to put a stop to it without the Suc- cess we Could wish for as Capt Gideon White who is one of the three of the Inhabitants of this town who have for Severall months past been in the practice of Selling tea has refused to give any Satisfaction that he will not Continue the Same practice for the future Contrary to the Sense of his fellow townsmen to the remonstrances of our Said Com- itte & the good Example of the other two gentlemen who had been in the Same practice & whereas the dangerous Consequences of such a. Conduct are not to be the Less dreaded by the Sale of the Said teas being Confined to one person we do therefore in order to discontenance & put a Stop to such a pernicious Practice Resolve.
Ist That whoever Continues to Sell or shall for the fu- ture expose for Sale in this town any India tea is & ought to be Considered as an Enemy to the rights of America & the Constitution of his Country.
2ly That we will have no intercourse or dealings with Such as Shall Sell India teas till there be a change in the measures of Administration that may produce a Change in the Circumstances of this Country which will justify Such a Conduct in them & that we will Consider as Inimicall to this Country all those who shall have any dealings with them.
John Torrey William Watson Isaac Lothrop
Plimouth 24 March 1774.
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Then voted to accept Sd report & ordered it to be recorded & that the Town Clerk Send a Copy thereof to be published in the Boston Newsletter.
At a Meeting of the Town of Plimouth Legally assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth ye 24th of March 1774 by Adjournment from the 7th Currant. The Com- mitte appointed to look out a proper place for removing the pest house to or building another in, Reported they had at- tended that Service & were of opinion that a peace of land belonging to Mr Ebenezer Churchell neere Billington Sea was a Suteable place to sett Said house, And allso a Place Called Donham Neck is a Suteable place to Sett a pest house on. Then voted Sd Committe be directed to make Enquiry whether Either of sd places can be purchased for sd purpose & at what rate, Allso they to make an Estemate of what the Expence of building a pest house will be & allso what they think the old Pesthouse will fetch and report to the town at the next town meeting.
Then voted the Surplusage of the tax for repairing the roads &c in the town the Currant year Shall not Exceed 20 pounds & the Assessors Shall conduct accordingly.
Then voted the Committe appointed at this meeting to Consider & report what is best for the town to do to Collect the money due to the Town be Directed to report to the next town meeting.
[323.] At Sd Meeting the Committe appointed to hire Collectors reported they had hired Mr. Thomas Morton to Collect the Town, County & Province taxes for the whole of this town the presant year Except Manument ponds Precinct for thirteen pounds Lawfull money more than the Premium of 12d pr pound.
Then made Choice of Thomas Morton a Constable, Allso made Choice of Bartlett Lebarron Constable.
Then voted to put of the Consideration of Alltering the road in Eellriver neer the house that was Mr Joseph War- rens to next town meeting.
Then this meeting was Adjourned to Monday ye 28th Instant to 3 a clock P M-then mett & adjourned to ye 1 1th of April-then mett & adjourned to ye 18th of April 3 a clock P M
At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth reguarly assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth ye 24th of March I774
PLYMOUTH RECORDS. 289
James Warren Esqr was Chosen Moderator
Messrs Ephraim Cobb & John Waterman were Chosen Grand Jurymen for the year Ensuing
And Messrs Benjamin Cornish Junr Richard Cooper William Bartlett & Josiah Morton Junr were Chosen Petit Jurors for the next Court of Generall Sessions of the peace & to be holden at Pimouth ye 2nd tuesday of April next.
At a meeting of the Town of Plymouth Legally assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth May 6th 1774
Messrs Thomas Jackson Junr Thomas Lothrop & Stephen Samson were Chosen to Serve on the Grand Jury And
Messrs Nathaniel Bartlett Benjamin Churchell Silvanus Bartlett Thomas Jackson Senr Daniel Diman Elisha Holmes were Chosen to serve on the Petit Jury. All at next Supe- rior Court of Judicature &c to be holden at Plimouth on the third Tuesday of May Instant.
[324.] At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth Legally assembled & Held at the Couht house in Plimouth on Mon- day ye 16th day of May Anno Domini 1774.
Voted to Choose two Representatives the presant year, they both to draw the pay of one Representative. Then made Choice of James Warren Esqr & Mr Isaac Lothrop to Serve as Representatives for this town at the Great & Gen- erall Court or Assembly of this Province to be Convened & held at Boston upon the last Wednesday of May Instant.
Then James Warren Esqr was Chosen Moderator.
Then voted they would not Enlarge the Garden at the Alms house as mentioned in the Warrent.
Then voted that the Committe who were Chosen to look out a Convenient Place for a pest house in this town & Estemate the Expence of building Sd house & allso to En- quire what the old pest house in this town will fetch be De- sired to sett again & report to the town at the Adjournment of this meeting.
Then the Committe Chosen to take into Consideration the matter of the money due to the town from Severall Col- lectors Reported it was their opinion it would be best for the town to Direct their Treasurer to Prosecute the bonds the Severall Collectors have Given the town for the taxes they were to Collect for the year 1772 & before, within six months from this day if not paid before.
Then voted to accept sd Report.
19
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Then this meeting was adjourned for 4 weeks viz to Mon- day the 13th day of June next to three a Clock in the after- noon.
At a Meeting of the town of Plimouth Legally assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth the 13th day of June Anno Domini 1774 by adjournment from ye 16th day of May last, James Warren Esqr the Moderator of this meet- ing being absent Deacn John Torrey was Chosen Moderator.
Then voted that inasmuch as the Committe who were Chosen to procure a place for building a pest house &c are not ready to report they are Directed to report at the Adjournment of this meeting.
Then this meeting was adjourned to Monday the 11th day of July next.
[325.] At a meeting of the town of Plimouth legally assembled and held at the Court house in Plimouth the 28th day of June Anno Domini 1774
Messrs Zacheus Barnes and David Turner 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 on the first tuesday of July next.
At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth Legally assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth on Monday the 15th day of Augst 1774 by virtue of a Warrent from the Selectmen Dated July 28th last past.
At Sd Meeting John Cotton Esqr was Chosen Moderator Then voted to raise the sum of three hundred & thirty pounds for defraying the needfull Charges of the Currant year. Allso voted that the Assessors be directed not to lett the Surplusage in the tax bills Exceed Twenty pounds.
Allso voted to raise the Sum of one hundred & twenty pounds for repairing the roads in the town the Currant year. And then voted & Directed the Assessors not to lett Sd tax Exceed (Viz the Surplusage thereof) twenty pounds.
Then voted that the Assessors Should make the County & town tax together as Usual.
Then voted to Choose a Committe to purchase for the town a peace of land at a Place Called Donham's neck to Sett a pest house on & accordingly made choice of Capt Thomas Jackson Mr. Isaac Lothrop & Mr Samuel Battles to be Said Committe.
Then voted to return our Sincere & hearty thanks to the
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town of Boston for their patience & virtue under their pres- ant Sufferings in the Common Cause of America. And allso voted to Choose a Committe to Collect all such Sums of money &c that any person will Give in this town for the Support of the Suffering Poor of Sd town of Boston to Enable them Still to persevere with firmness & fortitude. And accordingly made Choice of Capt Theophilus Cotton Mr. Silvanus Bramhall Mr Nathaniel Morton Deacn John Torrey Mr Ezekiel Morton William Watson Esqr & Ephraim Spooner to be Sd Committe.
Then Voted That Whereas a Certain Publication in the Massachusetts Gazette of July ye 14th last purporting to be the Cordial Congratulations of the Justices of the Courts of Generall Sessions of the peace & Inferiour Courts of Com- mon pleas of the County of Plimouth To His Excelency Thomas Gauge on his appointment to the High office of First Magistrate of this Province &c Contains
[326.] Injurious reflections on & Illiberal Insinuations Concerning the body of the Clergy and the Committees of Correspondents in the Several towns in this Province as If the Said Committees had assumed a Title & business with- out the appointment of their Severall towns & had been Encouraged & Supported by the Clergy in an Unjustifiable Influence on the People-We the inhabitants of the town of Plimouth the Capetall & Shire town of Sd County conceive it our duty to bear our testimony against Said Publication its aiders & abetters & therefore vote & resolve.
Ist, That we ourselves & we conceive by farr the Great- est part of the country have a Great respect for the Clergy in this province & the conduct of the Majority of them rel- ative to the Political Circumstances of the country.
2dly That the Committee of Correspondents of this town & we conceive those of the other towns where they sub- sist are regularly appointed by their Severall towns, for Very valuable purposes & have answered the Expectations of their Constituents & and are therefore Intitled to Con- tenance & respect from all men & body's of men.
3dly. That the Solemn Leagues & Covenants Entering into appear to us calculated to Increase the Honour & dig- nity of our Sovereign, to Promote the true Interest of our Parent Country & to restore the Harmony of Society.
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