USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Town records of Brookline, Massachusetts, 1838-1857, v. 1 > Part 3
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24
Brookline Town Records.
the county records. After repeated but unsuccessful efforts to effect a sale of the old school house your committee caused it to be offered at public Auction, but no one offering anything like its value to the town in the estimation of your committee it was bid off for the town, removed and thoroughly repaired with the best of material and workmanship. In doing this your committee were governed by a strict regard to the inter- ests of the Town, and if the amount expended in repairs should be consid- ered sufficient for the errection of an entire new building, your Committee have the satisfaction in believing the old frame superior for strength and duribility to any new one that could now be procured, and that the building as now repaired is more valuable to the town than any building of the same accommodations could have been made of materials entirely new at the same expence.
COST OF REPAIRS AS FOLLOWS.
For advertizing and offering house for sale $2 34
For removing house, underpining same, and for diging and stoning vault, per J. Russel's bill .
100
For Lumber and carting as per C. & F. A. Heath's bill . 248 00
For labour in removing brick from walls of the house, removing fence and for sundry articles of hardware, as per Mr. Haynes' bill
33 03
For masonry in lining walls, plaistering building, making chimney, & for brick, as per Mr. Carr's bill
46 75
For painting and glazing, as per Mr. Snow's bill 50 75
For carpenter work, as per Mr. Haynes' bill . 331 76
For removing stone and leveling ground around the House, as per Mr. Sanderson's bill
10
For Stove funnel and sundry house utensils 12 74
For Nails, hinges & screws, as per Mr. Newell's bill
23 71
making a total expenditure of
$859 07
which has been received as follows :
By cash received for exchange of Lots $600 00
By ditto received from orders on Town treasurer 259 07
859 07
all which is submitted for the committee,
Brookline, Marchi 2, 1840.
SAM'L PHILBRICK, Chairman.
The committee appointed by the town of Brookline at the adjournment of their annual meeting in April last to make a surrender of the Fire Engine Norfolk to the town of Roxbury, provided said town would keep the same in good repair and a voluntary company could be found to man and take proper care of it, respectfully ask leave to report : That your committee called soon after their appointment on the Selectmen of Rox- bury and made a tender of said Engine to them on the condition above named which was accepted by the said Selectmen with the proviso that said Engine should be kept housed without charge to them. But no company has yet been formed to man or take charge of said Engine and it remains unused and consequently in a condition of gradual decay, and will soon be of no value unless some disposition be made of it, All which is subscribed for the committee. Brookline, March 2, 1840.
SAM'L PHILBRICK, Chairman.
25
Meeting, March 16, 1840.
The committee appointed for the purpose for enlarging the school house in the Southwest district have attended to that duty and are pre- pared to report.
Upon examination of the old deed given to the Town, 1777, by Joseph Smith of Roxbury, your committee ascertained that all the land belong- ing to the Town for the purpose of a school house in that place was twenty by thirty feet consequently the house could not be lengthened out in rear a single foot until we had purchased more land. The house was situated so near the line of two owners that we were obliged to contract with both in order to accomplish our object. There being a small piece of land on the easterly side of the school house belonging to the town in the form of a wedge, an exchange was made with Mr. Joseph Curtis of Roxbury for eight or ten feet giving him as much in front as was taken in rear; also purchased of Mr. Samuel Hills fifteen hundred feet of land so that the house may have land sufficient to erect a new school house or out-buildings hereafter if necessary.
Account of the expences as follows :-
Paid Mr. Samuel Hills for land & deed .
$5 00
Mr. Elisha Stone for labour
112 24
Mr. Charles Heath for Lumber 67 07
66 Mr. Newell for Nails, &c.
7 44
Mr. Tufts
2 38
Mr. C. Perkins for mason work
11 26
66 Mr. Snow for painting
38 33
March 14, 1840.
$243 72
DANIEL SANDERSON, \ Committee. THOMAS TILDEN,
By a vote of the Town the Trustees of the School Fund were requested to report annually the amount of said fund and to whom loaned, with the security on the same. They have attended to the duty and made the following report :-
To Samuel Brown's note and mortgage on land and build- ings in Boston, with policy of insurance
811 11
To Charles Hastings, note and mortgage on land and build- 304 53 ings in Brighton, with policy of insurance 435 84
To Theophilas Dame's note and mortgage on house and land in Brighton, with policy of insurance.
To Edward Hall, to note and mortgage on his real estate in this town, with policy of insurance
204 53
To John Robinson, note and mortgage on house, land and -
1520 73
Tanyard in Brighton, with policy of insurance
To Daniel Kingsbury, note and mortgage on land and buildings in Newton, with policy of insurance
1225
Total sum of said fund $4501 74 We are convinced that the above security is perfectly satisfactory.
CHARLES STEARNS, JUNR., JAMES ROBINSON, DANIEL SANDERSON, A. W. GODDARD,
Trustees of School Fund.
26
Brookline Town Records.
The Law requires that the Selectmen shall report to the Inhabitants all the places in which Guide-boards are erected and maintained within the Town, and all places at which, in the opinion of the Selectmen, they ought to be erected and maintained.
They beg leave to Report: The following are where they are erected and maintained :-
Two by Mr. Newell's store, 1 to Brighton, 1 to Newton.
One " Charles Stearn's, to Cambridge.
Three " Mr. Acker's, 1 to Brighton, 1 to Newton, 1 to Dedham.
Two " Baptist Meeting house, 1 to Brighton, 1 to Cambridge.
Two " Mr. Pette's, 1 to Brighton, 1 to Newton.
Two " Mr. Perkin's corner, 1 to Newton, 1 to Dedham (& Brighton) .
One 66 Dr. Pierce's Meeting house, to Jamaica plain.
Two S. G. Perkin's, 1 to Newton, 1 to Jamaica plain.
One
Mr. Cabot's corner, to Brighton & Dedham.
Two 66 Mr. Tilden's corner, 1 to Newton, 1 to Brighton.
Two Mr. Goodnow's, 1 to Dedham, 1 to Newton.
It is the opinion of the Selectmen that there is a sufficient number erected to answer all purposes.
CHARLES STEARNS, JR., I Selectmen. JAMES ROBINSON,
The committee appointed by the town to consider whether any im- provement can be made in our district schools, convened at the House of Mr. Seth Thayer on Friday evening, March 13, 1840-present, Rev. Dr. Pierce, W. H. Shaler, S. T. Thayer, D. Coolidge, D. Sanderson, B. B. Davis, S. Hill, James Robinson, A. W. Goddard and Thomas Tilden.
After some deliberation they resolved to present to the Town the following recommendation as their Report :-
Ist. We would recommend that the school at the centre of the Town be kept hereafter six months instead of eight, commencing annually about the middle of April.
2nd. That no scholars be admitted to the Centre school under seven years of age.
3rd. That the several districts have each a school kept by a male teacher five months, commencing the first Monday in November.
4th. That the female teachers in the South and Southwest schools commence about the middle of April and continue six months.
5th. That it be the duty of the School Committee to employ all the Teachers for the several Districts in the town.
Respectfully submitted, J. PIERCE, Chairman. W. H. SHALER, Secretary.
Agreeable to the instruction of the Town at the last March meeting, the Treasurer has attended to the duty of collecting the money due to the two Parislies in Brookline, the proceeds of the Needham wood lot, and paid it to their respective treasurers. The amount, including the
27
Meeting, May 18, 1840.
Interest, was eight hundred & fifty-eight dollars and thirty-two cents, of which has been paid to James Robinson, Esq., Treasurer of the First Parish, $429.16, and to Deacon Elijah Corey, Treasurer of the Baptist Society, $429.16, making the whole amount of $859.32.
BROOKLINE, February 25, 1840.
ARTEMAS NEWELL, Treasurer. O. WHYTE, Town Clk.
1840, APRIL 6. At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Brookline legally warned and assembled to give in their votes on the proposed amendment of the Constitution, there appeared for the amendment, April 6th,-
Twenty-one votes. There appeared against the ammendment, Not one vote.
Deacon Thomas Griggs was then chosen Moderator, when it appeared there were no vacancies in town offices.
Voted, That Dr. S. Shurtleff, Ebenezer Heath, Samuel Philbrick, Thomas Tilden, Thomas Griggs, Charles Stearns, Junr., and Daniel Sanderson be a committee to examine the state of the Burial Ground and the land adjacent suitable to enlarge it, and report to an adjourned meeting on the first Monday in May at four o'clock in the afternoon.
MAY 4. At an adjournment from the 6 April the town met on the 4th day of May to hear the report of their com- mittee on the Burial Ground, &c., when it was
Voted, That the Report of the Committee be rejected.
O. WHITE, Town Clk.
MAY 18. At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Brookline legally warned and assembled on Monday, 18th day of May, to see what the town will do relative to enlarging and
28
Brookline Town Records.
improving the Cemetary of said Town, Deacon Thomas Griggs was chosen Moderator, when the following Report was made and accepted by the Town :-
WHEREAS, a committee of seven freeholders was chosen by the Town of Brookline at a legal meeting in April last to examine the land adjoin- ing our public burial ground and report if any and how much land could be purchased to enlarge tlie same and on what terms said purchase could be made, &c. And, whereas, said committee did make report at an adjournment of said meeting held on the first Monday of May instant, which adjournment being attended by very few of our Inhabitants, said Report was Rejected. Therefore,
Voted, That the men comprizing said committee be now requested to report to this meeting the result of their labours and deliberations on that subject, together with such recommendation or suggestions as they may deem expedient.
Whereupon they presented the following :-
The committee appointed by the town of Brookline at a meeting in April last to examine the land adjacent to the public burial ground and ascertain whether any suitable addition can be made by a purchase of some of the adjoining land and on what conditions such purchase can be made, having attended thereto and made report at a former adjourned meeting, would now submit the result of their labours, together with the following suggestion for the considerations of this meeting. After a full examination of the grounds above named, we have run out the lines and set up boards for an enlargment of our public burial accommoda- tions in the following manner, viz .: Beginning on an angle on the eastern side of the Public Cemetary seven rods & 3 feet back from the highway and extending about eighty-six feet southward in a straight and direct line and parrellel with the line from the highway above named to a stake and stone, thence extending in a southwestern direction about one hundred and forty-two feet to the northieastern corner of the pond lying south of our cemetary, thence on the northern border of said pond extending in a western direction thirteen rods to a stake and stone, thence extending northward fourteen rods to the Highway about one hundred and four feet west from the northwest corner of our cemetary, comprizing about three-fourths of an acre of land more or less. The consideration required for this land is five hundred dollars a price in our opinion very high considering the quality and location of the land. Yet inasmuch as an enlargement of our burial accommodations will shortly become indispensible, and it seems desirable that they should be in one enclosure rather than seperate and it is doubtful whether any place so suitable for this purpose can be obtained, we have tho' not without some hesitation and reluctance concluded to recommend the purchase of the land above described at the price required provided satisfactory bonds can be obtained to insure the perpetual protection of all the Burial ground including the proposed addition and the Fences surrounding the same against the removal of the gravel banks adjoining so as to undermine the ground or fences in any manner whatever.
29
Meeting, May 18, 1840.
And as the purchase money will not be wanted immediately a note can be given by our Town treasurer payable in the Autumn of 1841 with interest annually which will give the Town an opportunity to provide for payment in assessing the Taxes for that year. This land if pur- chased will need fencing which will probably cost but little short of two hundred dollars, and some levelling and grading for a cart-way around the western and southern borders with other improvements will be useful. We would therefore recommend the appointment of a Cemetary Committee to be authorized and empowered to compleat the purchase of the land above described receive a title on behalf of the Town, to erect a suitable fence around the grounds and make such other improvements and embellishments 'as they in connexion & with the advice of the Board of Health may deem expedient not exceeding an expenditure of four hundred dollars, and that an appropriation of that sum be now made for those purposes. And we would further recom- mend that said committee be authorized by and with the advice of the Board of Health to locate and sell at their discretion at such prices as they may judge reasonable and proper suitable lots for the erection of Tombs or for enclosures of family interments to any persons applying therefor, to whom a Deed or title should be given by the Board of Health or Selectmen, to be entered on the Records of the town. And we would further recommend that said committee be empowered to effect a sale of the lot of land owned by the town adjoining the Town House on the eastern side whenever the price of five hundred dollars can be obtained, and apply the proceeds towards the payment of the purchase herein recommended or otherwise as the town may direct-all which is sub- mitted.
BROOKLINE, May 18, 1840.
S. A. SHURTLEFF. CHAS. STEARNS, JUN. THOMAS GRIGGS. DANIEL SANDERSON. EBENR. HEATH. S. PHILBRICK.
Voted, That in accordance with the report from the Com- mittee on the Burial Ground this day presented-Samuel Philbrick, Charles Wild, S. A. Shurtleff, Isaac Cooke and Thomas Griggs be now appointed a Cemetary Committee who shall continue in office until dismissed or another com- mittee shall be appointed in their place and who with the advice and assistance of the Board of Health, are hereby authorized and empowered to execute and carry into effect each and all the provisions and recommendations contained in said report, and that the sum of four hundred dollars be hereby appropriated and placed at their disposal for the
30
Brookline Town Records.
purposes specified in said report, which sum shall he sup- plied from any money in our Treasury not otherwise appro- priated, and that our Treasurer be hereby authorized to give his note in behalf of the Town for Five hundred dollars to purchase said land in accordance with the recommendation of said report whenever a title can be obtained satisfactory to said Committee and Board of Health.
O. WHITE, Town Clk.
The following
STATEMENT OF THE CENSUS.
The number of Youths between the ages of four and six- teen years, and also a List of Men liable to be enrolled as taken by the Assessors of the Town of Brookline on the first day of May, 1840, and returned to the Adjutant-Gen- eral's office :-
The number taken as the Census was One thousand one hundred and twenty-three. 1123.
The Youth between the ages of four and sixteen years there was two hundred and forty-five. 245.
The list of men liable to be enrolled as returned to the Adjutant-General's office was one hundred and thirty-two- and were as follows :-
Luther S. Bennet
Alfred Bennet
Jacob Leavitt Herring
Wilder Wood
Ezra Hacket
Martin Casey
Charles Latham
Minot Derby
Isaac Dearborn
Geo. L. Otis
Elijah Tasker
Charles Morse
William Dearborn
Oliver Pray
Owen Gordon
Samuel Pray
John Huzzy Will'm Morton Joel D. Seaward Franklin Gibbs George James Baldwin Wait Ozias M. Page James Andem Dan'l Jordan A. H. Clapp
Gilbert Homer Chas. Coolidge Otis Withington John Hersom Cha. R. Corey James Willis Joshua Pennel John Weed
Timo'y Corey, Jun. Rawson Merrill George Hopkins
Militia List, 1840.
31
Will'm T. Dupee Jonas Humphry John Wood Saml. A. Walker Will'm Clement
Nathl. Fry Benja. Fry
Uriah Morrison
Enoch Sandburn
Algernon S. Mendall
Will'm Capen
Augus. T. Newell
Tho. C. Blanchard
John Rice
Edwin Pray J. Blanchard
David Whitney
Stephen Downs
Will'm Dolby
James Farmer
Will'm A. Hayden
William J. Griggs Danl. L. Adams
Otis Ayres
Joel Pettingill
Isaac Fogg
Miles Thurston
Benja. Jewitt
Nathl. Billings
Ephra. Raney Danl. Ranlet
Paul C. Hodgden
Samuel Page
Isaac Kenny
Geo. W. Merrell
Winfield S. Evans
Edmund Pray
Geo. Murdock
Willard A. Humphrey
Geo. W. Moulton
Tho. K. Palmer
Gardner Fuller
Moody Page
Ezra T. Cooke
George Cushing Charles Mosely James Ladd Charles Smith
Timo'y Faulkner Amasa Huntress Gilman Goodwin James Dennison
Charles Heath John Clay Wm. McIntosh Hanson Davis
James Sleeper John Savary Charles Craft
Nath. P. Johnson
Saml. Briant
T. W. Wellington Tho. Quimby
Will'm White
Will'm Wallace
Benja. Heberd Jos. L. White
Jos. Richardson Chas. Jordan
Stephen S. C. Jones Chas. Page Benja. Glidden
Alonzo Andrews
Geo. W. Goldsmith Abijah W. Goddard Eleazer Beedell
Will'm Gouch Levi Cole
Cha. H. Wilson Sewell Joy John Howe, Jun. Nelson Cotting
O. WHYTE, Town Clk.
Albert Woodsome Henry Carr Simeon Flint
Clark Haynes Gilbert Lincoln
John Dean Asa Lewis Tinkham
Edward Frost
Nathl. Patterson
Moses Davis
32
Brookline Town Records.
NOVEMBER. At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Brook- line legally warned and assembled to see if the Town will send a Representitive to the General Court, and to give in their votes for Governor, Lieut .- Governor, Senators and Counsellors, Representitives to Congress, for Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States, and for choice' of Representitive to the General Court-November 9th, 1840.
For Governor :
John Davis of Worcester had One hundred & Seventeen votes . Marcus Morton of Taunton had Sixty votes.
For Lieutenant-Governor :
Geo. Hull of Sandisfield had One hundred & Seventeen. Nathan Willis of Pittsfield had Sixty-one votes. Alexr. Everett one vote.
For Senators & Counsellors :
. Appleton Howe of Weymouth had One Meletiah M. Everett of Wrentham hundred and
James M. Robbins of Milton - Twenty votes.
Benja. P. Williams
B. L. Wales
Had Fifty-eight votes.
Lucas Pond
For Electors of President and Vice-President of U. States :
at large Isaac C. Bates of Northampton
-
Peleg Sprague of Boston
Dist. No. 1. Richard Houghton of Boston
2. Stephen C. Phillips of Salem
3. Rufus Longly of Haverhill
4. Sydney Willard of Cambridge
5. Ira M. Barton of Worcester
6. George Grinnell, Jun., of Greenfield
7. Thaddeus Pomroy of Stockbridge
twenty-one votes.
8. Saml. Mixter of New Braintree Thomas French of Canton Wilks Wood of Middleboro Joseph Tripp of Fair Haven John B. Thomas of Plymouth William P. Walker of Lenox Ebenezer Fisher of Dedham
at large
Dist. No. 1. Caleb Eddy of Boston
2. Robert Upton of Salem
3. Nathl. Stephens, Andover
4. Timothy Thompson, Charlestown
5. Samuel Q. Spurr, Worcester
6. Caleb Hubbard, Sunderland
7. John Leland, Cheshire
8. James Fowler, Westfield
9. Artemas Brown, Medway
10. Nathan C. Brownell, Westport
11. Thomas Mandell, New Bedford
12. Jesse Pierce, Stoughton
had one
hundred and
t
1
t
e
had Fifty-four
votes.
B
th
33
Meeting, February 15, 1841.
For Representative to Congress :
Dist. No. 9. William S. Hastings of Mendon had One hundred and Twenty Votes.
Alexr. H. Everett of Roxbury had Fifty-Seven Votes.
Voted, That the Town do send a Representitive to the General Court.
Henry J. Oliver had One hundred & four Votes.
Thomas Griggs had Fourteen Votes.
James Bartlet had Fifty-three Votes.
Danl. Sanderson had one vote.
O. WHYTE, Town Clk.
1841.
At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Brookline legally warned and assembled February 15, 1841,-
Deacon Thomas Griggs, Moderator.
Voted, That a committee of Seven, Viz., Samuel Phil- brick, Thomas Kendall, Dr. Samuel Shurtleff, Samuel God- dard, Isaac Cooke, A. W. Goddard & Thomas Griggs, be appointed to investigate the situation of the Petitioners in Roxbury desirous to be set off to Brookline and report on Friday afternoon next at an adjourned meeting.
Voted, That a committee of three, Viz., Samuel A. Walker, Thomas Griggs and Artemas Newell, be appointed to enquire into the expence of a compleat survey and pub- lishing a map of the town.
Voted, That the subject of naming the streets be referred to the committee of Dea. Thomas Griggs and Samuel A. Walker and report on Fridry next.
Voted, That the Report on the Cemetary be accepted.
Voted, That the Cemetary committee have liberty to expend all money received & all that may be hereafter received by them from sales of Family Lots in the Public Burial ground in defraying the expenses of Fencing said grounds and in making other improvements thereon, and said monies or proceeds of sale are hereby appropriated for that purpose.
3
34
Brookline Town Records.
Voted, That the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars be appropriated from the monies which may be raized by the Town the ensuing year, for defraying the expence of covering the front wall of the Public Burial ground with a Hammered stone capping, under the direction of the Cemetary com- mittee.
REPORT.
The committee appointed by the Town of Brookline in May, 1840, with authority to enlarge the Public burial ground by purchase of adjoining land, &c., and also to dispose of the Town's land adjoining the Town house, would now Report: That in accordance with the Authority above named, they have purchased of Caleb Clark a parcel of land situated on the Western, Southern, and Southeastern borders of the old burial ground in said Brookline, containing three-fourths of an acre & six rods of land as may appear by a plan drawn by E. F. Woodward of Newton, and also by a deed of Conveyance from Caleb Clark recorded in Norfolk Registry of Deeds, in consideration of five hundred dollars which has been duly paid him from the proceeds of the town's lot of land adjoining the town house, which has been sold by your committee to Silas Pierce for the same consideration. In the deed of sale your committee have prohibited the erection of any building within Ten feet of the Town house, and have reserved the right to enter upon the ground and erect stagings for the repairs of the town house when needed. After procuring a survey of the Burial ground and grading the principle avenue, your committee offered at public auction on 15th June last a choice of Family lots as laid down upon the plan, fixing the minimum price at twenty-five dollars. Seven lots were then sold at an aggregate advance of seventy-nine dollars & 50 cents. For six of these lots deeds have been given and the consideration received, amounting to Two hundred twenty-four dollars & 50 Cents. No further sales have since been made, but your committee confidently hope that after having compleated their contemplated improvements more lots will be taken for Family interments.
A permanent stone wall has been laid in mortar in front of the newly purchased ground and extending by a part of the old ground. The gates have been enlarged and removed to the northwestern corner, and the residue of the premisses, including the old burial ground, has been sur- rounded by a substantial Cedar post and picket fence-except a few rods at the southeastern side, where a deep cut through the gravel ridge is contemplated and already commenced to connect the southern broad avenue with that which crosses.
The Valley of the old burial ground making an entire circuit of the avenue around the hill, the removal of the gravel from this deep cut will incur but little expence, most of it being suitable for repairing road, and will soon be wanted for that purpose. About seventy ornamental trees have been planted, and your committee contemplate planting as many more in the spring. In the fencing and improvements already con- pleated the expenditures have been as follows :-
35
Meeting, February 15, 1841.
For grading the western and southern broad avenues $101 83 For Lumber & Cedar posts for fence 91 19
" Carpenter work in building fence
36 25
" Sawing and planing pickets at mill . 31 10
" Painting, including stock 40 77
" Labour in setting posts, leveling and turfing banks, ) planting trees, grading Central avenue, &c.
74 07
" surveying and drawing plan 4 00
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