USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Town records of Brookline, Massachusetts, 1838-1857, v. 1 > Part 4
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" Sundry small Items attending sale of Lots, &c. 5 33
" Nails, &c., per Mr. Jones' bill .
62
building front wall & finding materials . 93 27
" enlarging Iron gates, per Safford & Co.'s bill . 19 61
112 88
Making a total expense of $505 04
exclusive of the cost of trees, which will probably be about forty dollars more.
When the appropriation of four hundred dollars was granted by the town in May last for fencing and improvements, it was not contemplated to build the front wall at present, nor was the expence of building this wall included in the estimates made by your committee when they recom- mended this appropriation, as the removal of the front gravel bank was then considered a preliminary measure. But on further consultation after your committee had matured their other plans for improvement, it was their unanimous opinion that the natural beauty of the grounds would be greatly impaired by the removal of the front gravel Bank, and by retaining it the front wall could be built without delay, which being very desirable was accordingly done. The expence of this wall, with the removal and enlargement of the gates, exclusive of levelling and turfing the banks on both sides, amounts to $112.88, which taken from the total expenditure reduces the sum to $392.16 below the estimate and below the grant made by the Town. This extra expenditure in building the front wall and gates has been paid from the sale of Family lots, and as your committee are desirous of making some further improvements after compleating those already commenced, They would now respectfully request the Town to grant them by vote whatever monies have been received from sales of Family lots, and which may hereafter be received from such sales, to be expended in compleating the fence and improving the grounds and avenues. The front wall would be more permanently durable and present a much better appearance if covered with a ham- mered stone capping. Your committee would therefore recommend an appropriation for that purpose of a sum not exceeding two hundred & fifty dollars.
When it is considered that the fencing and improvements already made have cost the Town only 400 dollars, and that the expence of all other contemplated improvements will be paid from sales of family lots, Your committee cannot doubt the liberality of the Town in promptly meeting their views by a grant of this sum. All which is submitted-on behalf of the Committee,
S. PHILBRICK, Chairman.
BROOKLINE, Feby. 8, 1841.
1128040
36
Brookline Town Records.
FEBRUARY 19, 1841, at an adjourned meeting from the 15th Instant,-
Dea. Thomas Griggs, Moderator.
Voted, That the report on the subject of annexing a part of Roxbury be accepted, as follows :-
ANNEXING A PART OF ROXBURY.
The committee appointed by the Town of Brookline on the order of Notice from the Legislature in relation to the Petition of Jeremiah Lyon and others of Roxbury, having attended to the duties assigned them, would now report : That the petitioners, only seven in number, Viz., Jere. Lyon, J. Davenport, W. H. Brown, Lemuel Foster, Mrs. Phippin, William Barnard, and Silas Snow, having confined their Petition to themselves in praying to be annexed to Brookline, and the order of notice from the Legislature having embraced nothing beyond their peti- tion, your committee can see no possible objection on the part of Brook- line to the granting their prayer, excepting that of making a crooked boundary line. They would therefore recommend that the town should by Vote instruct their Representitive to give the Legislature information to this effect. Agreeable to instructions, your committee have also extended their enquiries into the circumstances connected with a pro- spective application for the annexation to Brookline of the whole Village, including the land and meadow on this side the Brook, according to a survey and plan recently made by A. F. Woodward of Newton, and they find the whole number of inhabitants in said Village to be One hundred and seven, of which number fourteen are children of suitable age to attend public schools. That there is now one person among them deriving support from the Town, and that the amount of Taxes they now pay to the Town of Roxbury is about Three hundred and seven dollars, all which is submitted. In behalf of the committee,
S. PHILBRICK, Chairman.
BROOKLINE, 19 Feb., 1841.
Voted, That in accordance with the report of our commit- tee appointed in pursuance of the order of Notice from the Legislature respecting the petitions of Jeremiah· Lyon and others, our representitive be requested to inform the Legis- lature that the Town has no objection to the granting the prayer of said petitioners, inasmuch as their prayer does not extend further than to embrace the dwellings of the petitioners and their Estates attached thereto, and that the Clerk furnish our Representitive with a copy of this Vote.
37
Meeting, March 1, 1841.
Voted, That the report of the committee on naming Streets and avenues, &c., be accepted, as follows :-
Road from Roxbury to Brighton
" Baptist meeting House towards Cam- bridge Cambridge Road to Milldam Road .
Cambridge Road to the Marsh . Sewell Avenue.
Cambridge Road to Hall's corner . School Street.
66 Washington Street to Mr. Fisher's corner Worcester Turnpike
from Boylston Street to Brighton, by Capt. Sanderson's
66 Post Office by Dr. Pierce's Church to Boylston Street .
66 Dr. Pierce's Church to Perkins' Corner . Goddard's corner by Capt. Cooke's to Roxbury line
66 Cabot's corner by Mr. Tilden's
Roxbury line to Newton by Mr. Hill's . Goodenough's corner by Caleb Craft's to Spring Street in Roxbury .
Worcester turnpike or Boylston Street by Mr. Heath's to Newton line
Heath Street to Boylston Street by Mrs. Penniman's
Entrance near Capt. Cooke's to Capt. Joseph Goddard's
Washington street by J. W. Smith's ) to Spring Grove 1 place.
66 Cypress Street to S. A. Walker's house .
Named. Washington Street.
Harvard Street. .
Pleasant Street.
Cypress Street. Boylston Street.
Brighton Street.
Walnut Street. Warren Street.
Cottage Street. Clyde Street. Newton Street.
South Street.
Heath Street.
Pound Street. Goddard Avenue.
Washington
Cottage Avenue.
Voted, That Selectmen be instructed to have as many as may be necessary for each street of at least two names on each street and one on each place, the same to be put up at the expence of the town, as soon as practicable, and in con- formity with the names of said streets and places as adopted at an adjourned meeting of the Inhabitants of the town.
O. WHYTE, Town Clk.
MARCH 1, 1841. At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Brookline legally warned and assembled for the purpose of choosing Town Officers, Give in their Votes for County treasurer and Register of Deeds, & receive reports of committee,-
38
Brookline Town Records.
Deacon Thomas Griggs was chosen Moderator.
Oliver Whyte, Town Clerk.
Charles Stearns, Jun.,
James Robinson,
{ selectmen & Assessors.
Artemas Newell, Colector & treasurer.
Doct. John Pierce, - General School
Rev. Wm. H. Shaler,
Sam'l Goddard, committee.
David Coolidge, North
Prudential
Geo. W. Stearns, South Thomas Woodward, Southwest' school Committee.
Artemas Newel, 2
Elisha Stone, Surveyors of Wood & Lumber.
James Bartlet, Sam'l A. Robinson, C. Clark, - Field
Geo. Cushing, Jos. L. White, Chas. Pulsifer, drivers.
P. Goodenow, Sam'l Hills, Simon Warren,
Marshal Stearns, James Bartlet,
Seth T. Thayer, Firewards.
Marshal Stearns, Fence viewers.
A. W. Goddard,
George Cushing, Pound Keeper.
Doct. Charles Wild,
Ebenezer Heath, Auditors of Accounts.
Elijah Corey,
Elisha Stone, Constable.
Charles Stearns, Jun., 1st North
7
Dea. Timo'y Corey, 2
Samuel Philbrick, 3
Charles Pulsifer, 1 Middle
Surveyors
Thomas Quimby, 2
Joseph White, 3
of
Phineas Goodenow, 1 South
2
Highways.
John W. Warren, 3 Eastern turnpike
Hugh M. Sandburn,
Daniel Pierce, Western Do.
John Bullard had seventy-five Votes for County treasurer.
Enos Ford had Sixty-eight Votes for Register of Deeds, &c.
E. G. Robinson had Seven Votes for County treasurer. Erastus Wales had ten voted for Register of Deeds.
Voted, That the Report of the School Committee be ac- cepted.
Voted, That the Report on Town Accounts be accepted.
Voted, That Four thousand five hundred dollars be raized for the current expences of the town for the purposes expressed in the estimate.
Voted, That the One thousand dollars to be raized by the Town of Brookline the ensuing year for repairing the high- ways within said town shall be assessed upon the Polls and
Benja. B. Davis,
39
Meeting, March 1, 1841.
Estates of the Inhabitants, residents and non-residents, as other town charges are assessed, and the same shall be col- lected and shall be divided between the several highway districts in the same proportion as such divisions have been made the two past years, but the several portions shall not be paid over to the several surveyors untill the Selectmen shall be satisfied that the same shall have been expended according to the requirements of our statutes.
Voted, That in future the Trustees of the school fund Report annually the Income of said fund.
Voted, That the prudential committeeman provide Miss Catharine Stearns with an assistant.
Voted, That the Selectmen be Authorized to Borrow five hundred dollars, agreable to the recommendation of the Committee on Town Accounts.
Voted, That this meeting be adjourned to Monday, 5th April, at three o'clock P. M.
The committee chosen at the last March meeting to examine the accounts of the town Treasurer, Report as the result of their investiga- tion that He has Received
Two years' income of the School Fund from theSchool Treasurer 600 93
A loan from the Bank of Brighton 484 75
Income of hay scales 88 00
of Commonwealth for paupers & school bounty
103 49
Am't of tax levied by vote of the town, all of which except necessary abatements has been fully paid in
4044 93
which, with the Balance in his hands at last Audit of Acc'ts 469 55
making his whole Amount of Responsibilities $5791 65
He has exhibited to your committee Vouchers and requisite orders from the Selectmen for their payment to the Amount of
5142 03
leaving in his hands
$649 62
a balance promptly tendered to the Committee.
The expenditures were for the following purposes, Viz. :-
For the Support of the Poor
516 57
Repairs of Town Hall & School houses
203 88
Guide boards
12 00
Repairs of Highways
1308 33
Direct expences of Education
1190 92
Fire engine, &c.
98 18
County and Needham taxes
464 98
Repairs of Burial ground 407 35
Abatements of Taxes 43 76
Sallaries of Town Officers, assessing & collecting taxes, &c. 297 25
Brighton Bank for Cash borrowed . 500 -
Stationary, legal advice, & other contingences 98 81
$5142 03
40
Brookline Town Records.
The balance in the treasury, say 650$, will not be sufficient to meet the demands which will probably be presented before the next collection of taxes, as they will amount to 1000 dollars or more, and it will therefore again be necessary to borrow a sufficient sum to maintain the Credit of the treasury till that time.
A vigilant regard to economy and the best interests of the town is strikingly [shown?] in the passing of accounts and Issue of orders by the selectmen upon the treasurer, and there has been in the past year a diminution of the ordinary and current expences.
But an unusual amount of Repairs of school houses, the Town Hall, and the Highways, together with the grant of 400 dollars for the improve- ment of the Burial Ground, amounting in all to over 800 dollars, for no part of which any appropriation was made, have consumed all the sur- plus that would otherwise have been found in the treasury. The Books of the Treasurer should present a faithful picture of the whole expendi- tures of the town as it were in one view, and with all the items so arranged as to constitute almost a record of pecuniary events, so that in . future time a reference to them might afford a satisfactory solution of any question of finance that could arise, and with the exact and well- arranged method of the present Treasurer this would be the case, were it not that within the last few years monies have been raised from unus- ual sources by committees chosen to perform especial duties and by them appropriated in the performance of those duties without any distinct reference to the board of Selectmen or any connection with the Town treasury.
Doubtless those duties have been well performed and the money judi- ciously appropriated, but if, after the lapse of a few years, it should become necessary to depend upon the evidence of all this, that evidence may not be found, or, at least, where it should be, namely, in the archives of your regually qualified town officers.
To Ensure therefore a desirable unity in the management of financial concerns, your committee recommend the Passage of the following Resolve, Viz. :-
That hereafter all monies received in behalf of the Town by any com- mittee or Individual shall at a convenient and proper season pass into the hands of the Town Treasurer, by him to be disbursed only to the written order of the Selectmen, issued on the application of the commit- tee or individual authorized by vote of the Town to make such appro- priation.
In conclusion, we would cheerfully express our satisfaction with the compleatness of the collection of the taxes, with the order and exactness of the accounts of the Treasurer, and particularly with the arrangement by which he is enabled to present the true state of the finances at a view, and thereby greatly facilitate the investigations of the Auditors. Under the existing State of affairs we would, as the basis of next tax to be levied, present the following Estimate :-
41
Meeting, March 1, 1841.
For payment of back debts and demands
500
Support of the poor
600
Repairs of buildings
200
Roads
300
Amending highway
1000
Education
1200
Burial ground (as voted)
250
Fire department 150, County & Needham taxes 650
800
Assessing & collecting taxes .
150
Sallaries of Town Officers, Stationary, &c.
250
Other contingences .
200
5450
From this may be deducted :
Ballance in the Treasury 650
Income of School Fund
300
Hay scale & other sources
100
1050
Leaving a necessary amount of tax . $4400
All which is respectfully submitted by
CHARLES WILD,
ELIJAH COREY, Auditing
EBENR. HEATH,
Committee.
By a vote of the Town, the Trustees of the school fund were requested to report to the Town annually the amount of said fund and to whom loaned and the security of the same. They have attended to their duty, and make the following Report :-
To Theophilus Dame's note & mortgage on house & land in ? Brighton, with Policy of Insurance 435 84 Edward Hall's note & mortgage on house & land in this ) town 204 33
Samuel Brown's note & mortgage on house and land in ? Boston, with Policy of insurance 811 11
Charles Hastings' note & mortgage on house and land ) in Brighton, with Policy of insurance . . Daniel Kingsbury's note & mortgage on house & land ? in Newton, with Policy of Insurance 1225
304 53
Deacon John Robinson has paid into the Treasury the amount of his mortgage, which was 1520.73; the committee thought best to add to that sum 29.27 of the interest, which makes 1550$, which they have loaned to Reuben Hastings, with note & mortgage on house & land in Brighton, with Policy of Insurance 1550
Total sum of said fund .
$4531 01
JAMES ROBINSON, - Trustees DANIEL SANDERSON,
of
A. W. GODDARD,
School Fund.
42
Brookline Town Records.
1841, APRIL. At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Brookline legally warned and assembled April 5, 1841, for the choice of County Commissioners, there appeared for
Samuel P. Loud of Dorchester, Fifty-two votes.
County
Seth Mann 66 Randolph, Forty-nine
Joseph Hawes 66 Walpole, Forty-nine
Benja. V. French " Braintree,
Eighteen
William Ellis
" Dedham,
Eighteen
Lewis Fisher, three votes
Three
Shubael Bills, three
John C. Scammell of Bellingham, Forty-nine votes.
Shubael Bills
" Roxbury, Forty-nine
Benja. P. Williams " Roxbury,
Eighteen
Nathan Jones
Medway, Eighteen
Seth Mann
Randolph, Three
Joseph Hawes
Walpole, Three
At an adjourned meeting from March-
Phineas Goodenow was chosen surveyor for the first South district instead of Caleb Craft who paid his fine.
Deacon Thomas Griggs was then chosen Moderator, it was Voted, That the second article in the warrant should be indeffinitely postponed.
Voted, That [it?] is expedient for the Town to have a high school.
Voted, That a committee of seven freeholders be appointed to investigate the subject of Establishing a Classical School in this town and that they be instructed to take into consid- eration every circumstance connected therewith and report in detail the result of their investigation at an adjournment of this meeting.
Voted, That this Committee consist of Samuel Goddard, Daniel Sanderson, Dr. Samuel A. Shurtliff, Deacon Thomas Griggs, Charles Stearns, Junr., Abijah W. Goddard, Samuel Philbrick, to which were added Capt. Isaac Cooke and David R. Griggs.
Voted, That Fifty dollars be paid to Doctor Pierce and the Rev. Mr. Shaler for their passed services as general School Committee.
Voted, That the employment of a schoolmaster for the Middle School be dispensed with for the present.
Adjourned for one fortnight, at 4 o'clock P. M.
Commissioners
Martin Torry
Roxbury,
Eighteen
Special Commissioners
43
Meeting, November 8, 1841.
APRIL 19th. At an adjourned meeting from the 5th April, 1841, The Inhabitants of the town met on the 19th April to hear the Report of their committee on the High school.
Voted, That the Report be recommitted with the addition of four, Viz., Samuel Craft, David Coolidge, Seth T. Thayer and Samuel Hills.
Voted, That the school committee shall provide such In- structor, or Instructress, for the Middle School as they shall think proper.
The meeting was then dissolved.
O. WHYTE, Town Clerk.
MAY 3. At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Brookline legally warned and assembled to give in their Votes for Two county Commissioners and one special commissioner on the 3d day of May, 1841. When the whole number of Votes given in was forty-nine, of which
Seth Mann of Randolph had forty. Samuel P. Lowd of Dorchester, forty-one. William Ellis of Dedham, Eight. Martin Torrey of Foxborough, Eight. Shubell Bills, One.
For Special Commissioners :- John C. Scammel had forty-one. Nathan Jones, Eight.
Samuel Philbrick was chosen Moderator.
The committee not being ready to report on the High School it was Voted that the committee make the Report at the November Meeting.
Nov. At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Brookline legally warned and assembled on Monday the 8th of November to give in their Votes for Governor, Lt .- Governor, Senators and Representitive to the General Court if approved of by the
44
Brookline Town Records.
Town, and also to choose a Moderator, and receive the Report of the Committee on a High School.
Voted, That the town do not send a Representitive to the next General Court.
For Governor, John Davis had One hundred & four Votes. Marcus Morton had Seventy votes.
For Leiutenant-Governor :-
George Hull had One hundred & four Votes.
Henry H. Childs had Seventy-one votes.
For Senators :-
Appleton Howe had one hundred & four votes.
Meletiah Everett had One hundred & four.
James M. Robins had One hundred & four. Benja. P. Williams had Seventy-one.
Bradford L. Wales had Seventy-one.
Lucas Pond had Seventy-one.
A. W. Goddard was then Chosen Moderator,-
When it was found the Committee on the High School were not ready to make a report at this time in consequence of the Indisposition of the Chairman.
O. WHYTE, Town Clk.
1842.
WARRANT FOR MARCH MEETING.
To Elisha Stone, Constable of the Town of Brookline, GREETING :
You are required in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Notify and warn the Male Inhabitants of said town, being twenty-one years of age : and who having resided in the Commonwealth one year, and within the town six months, next preceeding ; and having paid any State or County tax, which has been assessed upon them within the Commonwealth within two years last past, and also every citizen who shall by law be exempt from taxation and in all other respects qualified as above mentioned, To meet at the Town hall in said town on the first Monday of March next,
45
Meeting, March 7, 1842.
being the seventh day of said month, at one O'clock in the afternoon, at which time the Polls will be opened to act on the following Articles :-
1st, to choose a Moderator.
2d, to choose Town Officers, as the law directs.
3d, to give in their Votes for County Treasurer.
4th, to receive the reports of Committees.
5th, to see what the Town will do respecting a high school.
6th, to raise money for the expences of the Town the current year.
Given under our hands & seals this twenty-first day of February, eighteen hundred and forty-two.
CHARLES STEARNS, JR., [L.S. ] r JAMES ROBINSON, L.S. Selectmen.
BENJN. B. DAVIS, L.S.
لالالا
NORFOLK, SS. BROOKLINE, March 4, 1842.
By virtue of the within warrant I have notified and warned the within named persons to appear at the time and place for the purposes within mentioned.
ELISIIA STONE, Constable.
MARCH.
At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Brookline legally warned and assembled on the seventh day of March, eighteen hundred and forty-two, for the purpose of choosing Town Officers, receiving reports of Committees, giving in their votes for County Treasurer, see what the Town will do respecting a High School, and vote money for the expences of the Town the current year. The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. John Pierce, D. D. After reading the warrant and return, A. W. Goddard was chosen Moderator and Otis Withington Town Clerk, 55 Votes out of 96.
The Oath to the Town Clerk was administered by the Moderator.
Daniel Sanderson had 84 Votes out of 88 ) were David Coolidge had 85 Votes out of 88 chosen
Thomas Griggs had 84 Votes out of 88 Selectmen.
Charles Stearns, Jr., had 88 Votes out of 93 Samuel Philbrick had 70 Votes out of 93 were chosen Assessors.
Seth T. Thayer had 44 Votes out of 62
46
Brookline Town Records.
Voted, To hear the report of the Auditing Committee. The following report was read and accepted.
AUDITORS' REPORT.
The Committee appointed to investigate the accounts of the Treasurer of the Town of Brookline for the year ending the first day of March, 1842, find that the receipts for which he was accountable have been-
A balance in the Treasury at the last audit 649 62
A loan from the Bank of Brighton . 484 75
Amount pd by Treasurer of Commonwealth, school fund 43 71 Paupers 37 78
81 49
Proceeds of Hay Scales
76 75
Sundry other Receipts
157 40
Interest of School fund
281 61
1731 62
Amount of Town Tax levied for the year and coll'cted in full
4589 98
Making total of his Liabilities to town
$6321 60
Of which there has been paid
For support of the Poor
624 78
Street & Guide posts & signs
108 96
Repairs of Highways
1082 72
Education, expences of
1246 30
Repairs of Engine & Hose & other expences
235 88
County & Needham Taxes
495 89
Old debts and contingencies
707 29
Cash paid to the Cemetary Committee
250
Remissions & Abatments of Taxes
76 22
Town Officers & Collecting & Assessing Taxes
· 350 04
$5178 06
$1143 54
.
Leaving a ballance in the Treasury duly tendered to com- mittee and which is sufficient to pay the amount of out- standing demands.
The Committee have thus the satisfaction of reporting pecuniary con- clition of the town to be as favorable as they have ever known it; and cannot but express their concern that Officers who have so faithfully consulted its interests and conducted it affairs with such econemy and precision should have resolved to relinquish their duties. In particular the committee deem it incumbent on them to express the high sense they feel of the perfect promptness and accuracy which have charatised the management of the present Treasurer from his first accession to the office, and leaves room for no suggestion of improvement, and have only to hope that his successor whoever he may be, will be equally emulous of these high qualities.
47
Meeting, March 7, 1842.
It is believed that all accounts actually due appear upon his books, and with exception of expenditure made by the Cemetary Committee, who have failed to comply with the requirements of the Vote of the last March Meeting, they present an entire view of the expences & resources of the town.
In the view of the actual expences of past years the Auditors, according to the custom, would offer as a basis for the next tax the following :
ESTIMATE, VIS.
Immature & back debts
500
Support of the Poor
700
Repairs of fences, bridges &c., on roads
200
" Buildings
250
66
" Highways
1000
Education
1300
Engine .
150
County, State & Needham taxes
700
Assessing & Collecting taxes
150
Town Officers, Stationary, &c.
250
Contingencies
350
$5650
From this may be deducted
ballance in treasury
1143
Interest of School Fund .
280
1420
or in round number
$4500
Respectfully submitted by
CHARLES WILD, ELIJAH COREY, Committee.
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