USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1743-1783 (vol. 3) > Part 25
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At a meeting of the town of Plimouth assembled & held
292
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
at the Court house in Plimouth the 19th day of Septembr Anno Domini 1774 voted to Choose Two Representatives they both to draw the pay of one. Then made Choice of James Warren Esqr & Mr Isaac Lothrop on the conditions abovesd to Serve for & represent them at a Great & Generall Court appointed to be convened, held & kept for his Maj- esty's Service at the Court house in Salem on the fifth day of Octobr next.
Then made Choice of John Cotton Esqr Moderator.
Then voted to give our Representatives Instructions as to their Conduct at the Generall Court.
Then Voted to Choose a Committe to draw up said In- structions & accordingly made Choice of Deacn John Torrey William Watson Esqr Capt Theophilus Cotton John Cot- ton Esqr Mr Thomas Lothrop to be said Committe, they to report to the town at the Adjournment of this meeting.
[327.] At Sd meeting made Choice of our two repre- sentatives viz-
James Warren Esqr & Mr. Isaac Lothrop to serve for the town as members at the Provincal Congress In Case there Should be one.
Then voted the above Committe be a Committe to draw up Instructions for the above members of the Congress, they to make report to the town at the Adjournment of this meet- ing.
Then voted to Choose a Committee of nine persons to Enquire into the Importation & Selling tea in this town, they to make report to the Committee of Correspondence for this town of any Discoverys they may make of the Importation & Selling tea as aforesd. Then made Choice of Messrs Stephen Samson, Ichabod Holmes, Samuel Jackson, Abial Shurtleff, Thomas Lothrop, John Cotton Junr James Doten, Nathaniel Morton Junr & William Thomas to be said Com- mitte.
Then this meeting was Adjourned to Fryday the 30th In- stant to 2 a clock P M.
At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth ye 19th day of Septr 1774 for the Choice of Jurors Messrs Solomon Sylvester John Harlow Junr Ebenezer Bartlett & Zadock Barrows were Chosen to Serve on the Petit Jury at the next Court of Gen- erall Sessions of the peace & Inferiour Court of Common
293
PLYMOUTH RECORDS. .
Pleas to be holden at Plimouth on the first Tuesday of Octobr next.
At a meeting of the town of Plimouth Assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth ye 30th day of Septembr Anno Domini 1774 by Adjournment from ye 19th Instant.
The Committee appointed to Draw up Instructions for our Representatives reported as follows.
Being apprehensive that the Chief Design of Convening the Generall Assembly at this unusual Season of the year is to make tryal Whether they will in Whole or in part Submit to the late Acts of Parliment respecting this Prov- ince, And it being our fixed Sentiment that Said Acts are Cruel, unjust & oppressive, Subversive of our most Sacred Rights, we Cannot in Conscience advise to the least sub- mission, but on the Contrary expect & Desire our said Rep- resentatives to oppose them to the utmost in all proper ways & methods, strictly Adhearing to our Charter rights & Privilidges. More Particularly we enjoin them by no means to Cooperate or act in concert with the new sett of Mandamus Councillors
[328.] whose appointment is founded on the Destruc- tion of our Charter, which we hold sacred & Inviolable in all its parts and no Power on Earth has a right to Disannull it and God forbid that we should Give up the Inheritance of our Fathers or tamely submit to the efforts of Despotism & the loss of Freedom.
And Gentlemen If in consequence of such opposition from you and others the Generall Assembly should be disolved or otherwise hindered from acting we expect a Provincial Con- gress will be Immediately formed and that you will act as members of it, concocting such measures with our brethren of other towns as will have the most effectual tendency to shake of the yoak of oppression & prevent the operation of those acts of which we so justly complain-which said Re- port was accepted by a unanimous vote.
Then voted the selectmen be directed to take care that the town landing Place at the Waterside be now cleared of all Incumbrances & that it be kept so in future & if they think needfull, To Insert a Clause in the Warrent for Calling the next town meeting to know if the town will choose a Committee for that purpose. Then Voted to have Watch Kept in this town Called a Constables Watch.
294
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Then Voted to add ten persons to the Committe respecting bringing & selling tea in this town & that any five of the Committe shall be a Quorum, And accordingly made Choice of Messrs Nathl Goodwin, Timothy Goodwin, William Hall Jackson, Nathl Lewis, Benjamin Warren, Nathl Jackson, Stephen Churchill, John Otis, Thomas Jackson Junr & James Drew to be sd addition to sd Committe.
[329.] At a meeting of the town of Plimouth Regularly Assembled and held at the court house in Plimouth on Mon- day November 21st Anno Domini 1774.
John Cotton Esqr was chosen Moderator.
Then Voted & directed the Constables, Collectors & others in this town to pay in the moneys they have, or may have belonging to this Province to Henry Gardener Esqr of Stow who is appointed by the Congress of this Province Receiver Generall and we do Expressly Engage to Such Constables, Collectors & others in this town that they paying the same to Henry Gardner Esqr aforesaid and Producing his Re- ceipt therefor shall Ever hereafter operate as an effectual discharge to such person for the same.
Then made choice of the Committe of Communication & Correspondance in this town a Committe to see that the Resolves of the Continential & Provincial Congress be duly executed herein.
Then Voted & raised the sum of thirty pounds Lawful money for paying our Representatives the present year.
Then voted & Directed the town Clerk to Enter on the town records the names of such persons as shall by the Province be considered & published as rebels against the state & that he be Advised by the Committe of Correspond- ance for this town as to his conduct in that matter.
Then Voted that the Assessors of this town be directed to send a certificate of the taxes they may make this year to Henry Gardner Esqr of Stow, and that the town will In- demnify them for so doing.
At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth Assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth on Thursday ye 29th day of Decembr A D 1774, Deacn John Torrey was chosen Moder- ator.
Then voted that Collo Theophilus Cotton, Mr. Issac Lo- throp & Ephraim Spooner be a Committe to Wait on the Revd Gad Hitchcock with the thanks of this town for his
ยท
295
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Ingenious & Learned discourse delivered ye 22d Instant being the Anniversary of the landing of our Fathers in this Place & request a Copy for the Press.
Then this meeting was Adjourned to tuesday ye 3d day of Janry next to ten a clock in the forenoon.
[330.] At a meeting of the town of Plimouth Assembled & held at the Court house in Plimouth on Tuesday ye 3d day of Janry 1775 by Adjournment from the 29th of De- cembr last. Voted to choose two members to represent this town at the next Provinciall Congress.
Accordingly made Choice of
The Honourbl James Warren Esqr & Mr. Isaac Lothrop to represent this town at the next Provincial Congress to be holden at Cambridge or Elsewhere.
Then Voted to pay sd members the Expense they shall be at, while on the business above mentioned.
Then Voted the town will make Provision for the per- sons Called minute men in this Town as recommended by the late Provincial Congress.
Then Voted & chose
Collo Theophilus Cotton, William Watson Esqr, Mr. Wil- liam Crombie, Mr. Benjamin Rider & Ephraim Spooner a Committe to take that matter under Consideration viz: how & in what manner said men shall be provided for, & report to the town at the Adjournment of this meeting.
Then Voted the Assessors be directed to make the Prov- ince Tax this year with the town tax.
Then Voted that the Selectmen & Town Treasurer here, or otherways procure a sum of money equal to sd tax & Allso so much money as is now Due from this town to the province, that is in any constables hands to Collect & pay the same Directly into Henry Gardner Esqr, the Presant Treasurer, or his successor.
Then this meeting was Adjourned to 3 o'clock in the af- ternoon.
At a meeting of the town of Plimouth at the time abovesd The Committe appointed to Consider what allowance or Provision is Proper to be made for the minnet men, so Call- ed in this town, reported that it is our opinion, the town ought to allow each of those men four pence for Each of the times they meet for Exercise, which makes one shilling per week, for those persons that attend the service, to be paid by
296
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
the town treasurer, the role to be made up by the officers of Each Company & Examined by the selectmen & they to draw on the Treasurer for the payment thereof, sd pay to com- mence the first of January Instant & to Continue to the first day of April next, If the town don't see cause to alter it be- fore that time. All which is submitted.
Plimouth Janry 3d 1775.
Theophilus Cotton
Benjamin Rider
William Watson William Crombie
Ephraim Spooner
Then Voted to accept sd report.
By Virtue of the above vote Jno Cotton Esqr, Jno Tor- rey, Collo Cotton, Nathl Morton Junr, & Ephm Spooner hired of William Sever Esqr cash 100, 0, 0, & Gave their bond on Intrest payable in I year from ye sd Day.
[331.] At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth Assem- bled & held at the Court house in Plimouth on the 27th day of January A D 1775. Deacn John Torrey chosen modera- tor.
Then Voted this town will Give Instructions to their Dele- gates for the next Provincial Congress to be holden at Cam- bridge or Elsewhere.
Then Voted the following Instructions unanimously viz : To the Honourable James Warren Esqr and Mr. Isaac Lo- throp.
Gentlemen-As by the vote of this Town you are again chosen to Represent us in a Provincial Congress at a time when we not only suffer in Common with our Sister Colo- nies the Evil Effects of the tyranny of the British Govern- ment, but when we have to struggle with additional diffi- cultys & embarrassments peculiar to our Scituation. here op- pression has taken her principal residence, & is exerting her most strenuous efforts, aided & supported by such a band of villains & traitors in the character of Mandamus Councillors Commissioners of the customs &c with all their tools & de- pendants, as perhaps are not to be parrelled in any other country under Heaven, & these backed by a large Naval & land force from Brittain for the purpose of effectually sub- dueing this Province, reducing us to a state of vassalage & abject slavery, while we Embarassed with difficultys arise- ing from a want of the exercise of the powers of Govern- ment & by a suspension of Executive Justice, are unable to
297
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
make any vigorous opposition, we are sensible of the many Difficultys the Congress have to Encounter & the Important business they have to transact, & among the rest that verry Important one of Assuming the Exercise & administration of Civill Government, this we presume to be a part of their business, because Important, and as we think Absolutely necessary to be done & therefore Instruct you to use your Endeavours to Effect it, we admire the pudence, the Patience and In short the remarkable virtue of the people of this province which alone for many months has supported that Justice, peace & Good order which has so Generally pre- vailed; but we dare not Hazard the remaining any longer in such a Scituation, feeble must be our efforts & precarious our happiness while the first rests only in recommendation, without the sanction & penaltys of Laws to Enforce them, & the last is Exposed to the Intrested malice & Collective strength of our enemies, encouraged by the weakness & tim- idity of some of our friends we therefore have thought it was our Duty under there many & peculairly difficult circum- stances to aid & assist you by our advice & Intructions, & we do repeatedly Enjoin it upon
[332.] you that (unless you have when you meet certain & undoubted Intelligence that our Grievances are or will Im- mediately be Redressed) you without delay unite your Votes & Influence for Establishing in this Province a form of Gov- ernment as free, as stable & vigorous & in all respects as ad- vantageous to the Good people of this province as possible, that we may be able to Defeat the designs of our enemies & again sett down in peace & safely under our own vines & Figtrees, leaving it nevertheless to your prudence & discres- sion if any unforeseen circumstances should take place to act in such a way & manner as you shall think most beneficial to the intrest of this Province.
That the divine direction may attend you & the Blessings of Heaven rest on our Country is the hearty & unremitted prayer of your constituents.
Then voted to procure fifty Good Guns & Bayonets for the towns use & then voted that the selectmen & town treasurer be directed to procure the same, & in order therefor voted that they hire the money or otherways procure it & pur- chase sd arms as soon as may be.
Then voted the town will procure two drums for their use
298
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
at Presant to be lent to the Minnet Companys in this town.
Then voted that whereas the foes to American Liberty have been Endeavouring to amuse the Inhabitants of this Province with forms of Inlistments & Association papers, to Establish in America dispotism & popery & thereby to coun- teract the most prudent plans of the Grand continental & Provincial Congresses, & whereas their is in this town, as we think, a few so lost to Justice & virtue, as to subserve these Iniquitous Designs, Therefore made Choice of Doctr William Thomas William Watson Esqr
Mr. Silvanus Harlow
Mr. Samuel Jackson
Mr. Andrew Crosswell
Mr. William Weston
Mr. Thomas Mayhew Junr
Mr. Ephraim Cobb
Mr. Stephen Samson
Mr. Joseph Rider
Mr. Stephen Churchill
Mr. James Drew &
Mr. Jesse Harlow a committe of observation to attend the conduct of ministerial tools and Jacobites in this town & re- port their names to the town from time to time, that it may take effectual measures for either silenceing or expelling them from this community.
(N. B. All the above votes were unanimous).
[333.] At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth assem- bled & held at the Court house in Plimouth on Monday ye 6th of March A Domini 1775. Deacn John Torrey was Chosen Moderator .
Ephraim Spooner chosen Town Clerk.
Mr. Benjamin Rider, Collo Theophilus Cotton, Deacn John Torrey, Mr. Nathaniel Morton Junr & Ephraim Spooner chosen selectmen.
John Cotton Esqr, Deacn John Torrey, Mr. John Black- mer chosen Assessors said Jno Cotton Esqr & Deacon Tor- rey were sworn in town meeting by Thomas Mayhew Esqr.
John Cotton Esqr chosen Town Treasurer & sworn by Thomas Mayhew Esqr.
Then the votes for a County Treasurer were brought in & sealed up in town meeting by Mr. Bartlett Lebaron Con- stable & deliverd to him to keep.
Then voted to have the following schools kept in town the Presant year (over & above the Grammer School in the Cen- ter of the town) viz :
Six months in Manument pond viz 4 mo in the Center of the precinct & 2 months in the neighborhood of Thomas El- lis's.
299
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Four months in Wellingsley
Four months in Eellriver
Three months in the Northerly part of the town.
One month in the neighborhood of Isaac Jacksons.
Then made choice of the following Committes for supplyg the sd schools with suteable Schoolmasters viz : James War- renEsqr, Deacn John Torrey & Capt. Elkanah Watson for the Grammer school.
Messrs Benjamin Cornish Junr, John Blackmer, Israel Clark for the school at the Center of Manument ponds.
Messrs Eleazer Ellis & Seth Mendall for the southermost part of sd Precinct.
Messrs Ezekiel Morton, Ebenezer Bartlett & Phillip Leon- ard for the school at Eellriver.
Messrs Ichabod Holmes, Nathaniel Morton Junr, & Sam- uel Bartlett for the school at Wellingslee.
[334.] Messrs Collo Theophilus Cotton, Ebenezr Nell- son, Elijah Dammon for the school at the North End of the Town.
Messrs Isaac Jackson & Benjamin Lucas for the school at the West End of the Town.
Then voted to allow the Collectors for the present year the same premium & on the same conditions viz twelve pence on the pound for collecting & paying in the towns money they Giveing bonds with 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 ac- counts with the Treasurer's within two years from the date of the tax bills that may be delivered them. It is not In- tended by this vote to Prevent the Treasurers 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. Ephraim Cobb & William Watson Esqr a committe to hire a Collector or Collectors for the town (Excepting Manument Ponds Precinct) on the best terms they can, & report to the town at the Adjournment of this meeting.
William Bartlett chosen constable.
Then voted to Excuse Manument Ponds Precinct from paying any part of the Extraordinary expence of hireing a Collector the Presant year.
300
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Messrs Collo Theophilus Cotton, Majr Thomas Lothrop, Benjamin Rider, Benjamin Cornish, Stephen Churchill, Phillip Leonard were chosen surveyors of The Highways.
Then voted not to take any Alewives for sail in the town brook the Present year & not more than two hundred barrells in the brook that runs out of halfway pond & herring pond brook.
Messrs Ezekiel Morton, William Warren were chosen to take care of the herring brook at Eellriver Deacn John Tor- rey Mr. Stephen Churchill & Ephraim Spooner were chosen to take care of the Town Brook agreeable to Law.
Then the act respecting the observation of the Sabath & the choice & Duty of Wardens was read after which Messrs Benjamin Morton John Cotton Junr
Ebenezer Bartlett & John Goodwin
James Clark Joseph Croswell Junr
were chosen Wardens.
[335.] The following Persons were chosen into the re- spective offices below mentioned.
Messrs James Drew, Stephen Churchill, Thomas Jack- son Junr Guagers of Cask & Packers fish.
Messrs Elijah Dammon, James Doten Junr, & Seth Men- dall Tytheingmen.
Messrs Benjamin Drew & Thomas Spooner Sealers of Leather.
Messrs Levi Drew, Solomon Atwood Junr, Stevens Ma- son, Zadock Barrows, Lemuel Holmes, George Bartlett, William Clark, William Donham, Zacheus Barnes, Ichabod Holmes, Samuel Sherman & James Shurtleff hogreeves.
Messrs William Watson Esqr & Samuel Cole clerks of the Market.
Messrs Amaziah Churchill, Thomas Davie, Thomas Southworth Howland, Robert Bartlett, Eleazer Churchill, Thomas Jackson Junr, Eben Nellson, Jonathan Churchill, & Ichabod Holmes cullers of Fish.
Messrs Phillip Leonard, Samuel Nick Nellson, Ichabod Holmes, Isaac Symmes, Samuel Battles, Capt. Zacheus Bart- lett fence viewers & field Drivers.
Messrs James Warren Esqr, Thomas Jackson Junr, John Torrey, Elkanah Watson, Ichabod Holmes & Benjamin Cornish Junr firewards.
Messrs Abial Shurtleff, Lemuel Drew, Nathaniel Barnes,
301
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
David Turner, William Savery, John Waterman, & David Lothrop surveyors of Lumber.
Messrs Thomas Jackson Junr, Stephen Churchill, James Drew & Lemuel Drew surveyors clapbords & shingles & viewers & cullers, staves & hoop.
Messrs Abraham Howland, Benjamin Lucas, Amaziah Churchill Deere reeves.
Messrs James Warren Esqr, Nathaniel Morton Junr, Phillip Leonard, Josiah Morton Junr, Samuel Bartlett com- mitte to take Care of Plimouth Beach.
[336.] At sd meeting The following persons were chose into the Respective offices below mentioned.
William Watson Esqr, Doctr Nathaniel Lothrop & Eph- raim Spooner a committe to examine the schollers to be ad- mitted into the Grammer School.
William Watson Esqr, Capt. Elkanah Watson & Ephraim Spooner a Committe to hire a sexton & to allow him eight pounds sallery for the Presant year.
Messrs Stephen Samson, Thomas Jackson Junr Isaac Jackson, Joseph Rider, Ichabod Holmes, Benjamin Cornish & Seth Morton were chosen a Committe* to fire the woods in this town at a Proper time & prevent the fires burning the wood lotts in this town.
Messrs Phillip Leonard, Benjamin Cornish & John Black- mer a committe to take Care of halfway pond brook agree- able to Law.
Then voted the severall Collectors In this town that owe money to this Province shall pay the same into the Town Treasurer.
Then unanimously made choice of the Revd Mr. Samuel Baldwin to preach a sermon in this town on the twenty-sec- ond of Decembr next being the anniversary of our forefath- ers first landing in this Place. And made choice of Wil- liam Watson Esqr, Deacn John Torrey & Mr. Isaac Lothrop a Committe to present sd vote to sd Gentleman.
* An Act was passed by the General Court in 1754 providing "That it shall and may be lawful for any town or proprietors of (woodlands) to give order for the setting fire in the lands to them respectively be- longing, and to choose two or more persons for that service, who shall appoint times for that purpose, and give seasonable notice thereof in the town where such lands lie, and to the selectmen of such adjacent town near the borders whereof the woods may be that are to be set on fire as aforesaid." The object was to keep the underbrush kept down so that no sweeping fire could occur.
1
302
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Then voted & made choice of Deacn John Torrey, Nathan- iel Morton Junr, Jesse Harlow, Collo Theophilus Cotton, Ephraim Spooner, Capt. Elkanah Watson, Thomas May- hew Esqr, Thomas Jackson Junr & Capt. Thomas Jackson a Committe to take into Consideration the matter of the fish- ing vessels sailing from this place the Presant spring & re- port to the town at the adjournment of this meeting what they think proper for the town, or those that are concerned in the fishery to do in that affair.
Then this meeting was Adjourned to Monday ye 20th day of March Instant to 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
[337.] At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth on Mon- day ye 20th of March 1775 by Adjournment from the 6th Instant. The committe appointed to consider the matter of the Fishing Vessells sailing from this town this spring, Reported it was their opinion that Considering the alarm- ing Circumstances of our publick affairs it is not expedient for the fishing vessels to sail now & it is Proper for this town to Recommend to the owners of the sd vessells & the men Going therein not to sail untill the first week in April next.
Then voted to receive said report & Recommended it to the town universally to comply with the proposals abovesd.
Messrs Ezekiel Morton & Jeremiah Holmes were added to the Committe for taking care of the herring in halfway pond Brook.
Then this meeting was Adjourned to Monday ye 27th Currant to 3 a clock P M
At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth at the Court house. in Plimouth on ye 27th of March 1775 by Adjournment from ye 20th Instant. Mr. Bartlett Lebaron was chosen. Constable. Then this meeting was adjourned to Monday the 8th of May Next to three of the Clock in the afternoon.
At a meeting of the Town of Plimouth at the Court house in Plimouth April 28th A D 1775 Deacn John Torrey chos- en Moderator.
Then voted to build a brest work for fireing the cannon in this town.
Then made choice of Majr Thomas Lothrop, Capt. Wil- liam Weston, Mr. Stephen Samson, Doctr William Thomas & Capt. Nathl Torrey a committe to build a brest work on Coal's hill & Barnes's Point at one or boath of said Places as: the said committe shall think Proper.
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Then Voted to procure thirteen hundred of cannon shot of various sizes for this town.
At a meeting of the town of Plimouth at the Court house in Plimouth on ye 8th day of May Anno Domini 1775 by Adjournment from ye 20th of March last. At sd meeting Voted as to the matter of a Collector or Collectors the Com- mitte that were chosen to hire them be Desired, as soon as they can to procure a Collector or Collectors as reasonable as may be and make report to the town at the adjournment of this meeting. Then this meeting was Adjourned to ye 3d day of July next to 3 of the Clock in the afternoon.
[338.] The Selectmen of the Town for 1775 & ye Treas- urer sd year.
Dr-
To Cash of Lemuel Morton
12
0 0
To Cash of Ephm Spooner of Cornelius White
he received
3
0
0
To Cash of Joseph Bartlett Junr
2
16
0
To Cash of Capt Thomas Jackson
15
0 0
To Cash of George Watson Esqr April 21st last
4 16
0
To Cash of said Watson ys Day pr Ephm Spooners Rect
45
O
0
To Cash of William Watson Esqr
60
O
0
To Cash of Collo Warren
7
IO
O
To Do of Davis & Spooner
12
O
0
To Do of Barnabs Hedge
30
O 0
Cr-
By Cash pd to Sundry people that Supplyd Money as chargd viz :
To George Watson Esqr
45
O
0
To Capt Thos Jacksons Heirs
15
0
0
To William Watson Esqr
60
0 0
To Colo Warren
7
0
To Davis & Spooner
12
O.
O
To Capt Barnabs Hedge
30
O
O
169 10 0
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