USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Town records of Brookline, Massachusetts, 1838-1857, v. 1 > Part 5
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EBENR. HEATH,
Stephen S. C. Jones had 48 Votes out of 89 for Treasurer and Collector, and was chosen.
S. S. C. Jones asked to be excused.
Voted to excuse him.
Artimas Newell was chosen Treasurer and Collector by a vote of 49 out of 97
Voted, To hear the report of the general School Committee.
The School Committee presented the the following report, which was accepted by vote :-
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The School Committee of the Town of Brookline would respectfully Submit the following report :
Your Com. have endeavored to discharge the duties of their office the past year strictly in accordance with the requirements of the laws of this Commonwealth. They have thoroughly examined every new teacher
$4230
48
Brookline Town Records.
who has been employed, they have visited each school once every month and had regular examinations of them all every quarter, they have given counsel to the instructors, examined and revised the list of books, and recommended such plans for the improvement of the Schools as on the whole it seemed in their judgement best for them to adopt. And in presenting our report we would say that the Schools have all been con- tinued without intermission during the past year. An assistant has been employed in the female department of the north school, according to the vote of the town at their last annual meeting. And the Com. are of the opinion that one will be needed for the year ensuing. In consequence of the advancement made by some of the scholars it has been found neces- sary to extend the course of study in one or two instances, and to meet the exigences which have thus arisen, the com, have recommended some branches which have never before been pursued in our common schools. Whether this method can be pursued still farther without doing material injury to the smaller scholars, or whether our schools must be rendered useless to many under the age of sixteen who wish to prosecute their studies farther than those who have preceeded them and add to the knowledge which they have already attained, is a question which your com. are not fully able to decide. It is evident, however, that the wants of this class should in some way be met, and that the Town should make provision for the thorough instruction of all between the ages of four and sixteen. The fact that such demands are made of the Com. is proof that the cause of education is advancing, and that our common schools are accomp- lishing more than they have hitherto done. There seems to be an increased interest among us in relation to the cause of education, parents are some of them begining to give their attention more fully to this sub- ject and to inquire what can be done and what ought to be done in order to give their children such mental training as will fit them for respecti- bility and usefulness in future life. They perceive that in respect to knowledge demands are made in every department of business of those who are now coming upon the stage of active life, which were not made in former times, and, without a thorough education, the rising genera- tion will not be able to meet these demands. To many of our citisens whose advantages in early life were of necessaty somewhat limited, " wisdom appears to be the principal thing, more precious than rubies and all things which can be desired are not to be compared unto her." Hence they are desirous of giving to their children a good education 'as the best and perhaps the only legacy which they will be able to leave them. To others the cause of education appears to be less important. and in their minds it awakens but little or no interest compaired with other subjects which engross their attention, and as a consequence they have but little anxiety respecting the condition and character of our public schools. Now it is the opinion of your committee that none of us put too high an estimate upon a good education, or feel too much the importance of having our children furnished with such means for intel- lectual culture as the exigences of the age demand. The public schools in this town ought not to be inferior to those of any other town in the Commonwealth, and we ought not to be' satisfied without the evidence
49
Meeting, March 7, 1842.
that we are every year elevating their character and improving their condition.
Perhaps the two greatest obsticles which oppose the advancement of our common schools are the irregularity of attendance on the part of the scholars, and the frequent changes in respect to teachers. There is still a great want of punctuality and regularity on the part of many of the scholars, a great many are in the habit of going to school late, of losing a part of the exercises at the opening of the school and interupting others, and in addition to that some are in the habit of leaving the school in the afternoon before they close. Now it will be seen that when six hours only out of twenty four are devoted to study that to take a portion of these at the begining and close, makes the remainder almost valueless to the scholar. And besides this many stay out of school day after day and thus fall so far behind the classes that they become dis- couraged, and they acquire a dislike for school and for study which can never be removed.
During the last year the average attendance in all our schools has been but about three quarters of the whole number connected with them. Thus about one quarter of the time and expence have been lost, yes worst than lost because habits have been acquired which can never be eradi- cated. This evil the com. have tried to remedy, but it is not in their power to do it without the cooperation of the parents. The other evil to which we alluded is the frequent change of teachers, according to our present arrangement there is but one school where a permanent teacher can be employed. The others from necessity are subject to change every autumn and spring, and not only so but frequently, perhaps we should say almost invariably, a new teacher is employed rather than the male or female teachers who had previously taught in their respective seasons. It may be we do not suffer more than other towns in this respect, but still we do suffer materially even in cases where teachers have succeeded to the entire satisfaction of the Com. and an overwhelin- ing majority of the district. Some individuals from causes which had no connection whatever with the teachers' qualifications as instructors or because in the discharge of their duties have administered some medi- cine which was not very pleasant to their children although perhaps precisely what they need to cure their evil habits have interfered and insisted upon having some teacher who has never been tried, and thus another is employed, the com. meet and examine the intellectual qualifi- cations and so far as they can the whole character and habits of the new teacher, and if those are satisfactory they give their approbation. But yet in placing a new teacher into a school they regard it as a matter of experiment. Facts plainly show us that a person who succeeds well in managing a school in one place or community may entirely fail in another. No two schools are alike and no method of governing or man- agment will answer for every school. Unless a teacher have a knowledge of human nature, and especially of human nature as developed in children unless he have some versatility of talent, in fine unless he have tact as a teacher and knows how to meet difficulties in any form he canot long succeed. Now it is difficult to find all the qualifications in one person,
4
50
Brookline Town Records.
and when a teacher is found who succeeds well in any place it seems desirable that such an one should not be exchanged without the most weighty reasons. We are not very friendly to experiments of any kinds, and especially upon those made upon the minds of immortal beings, and which are calculated to affect the intelectual and moral habits of some thirty or forty children. And we would therefore urge all to do what lies in their power to remedy this evil, and to seek a change of teachers only when such a change seems to be absolutely necessary.
In closing their report the com. would respectfully sugest to all our citisens the importance of giving still more attention to the great cause of education connected as it is with all that is dear in the weal of our common country. And the well being of our children and those growing up around us it is a cause that has strong claim upon the attention not only of every parent but every philanthropist and christian. By our combined efforts, by visiting the schools, by encouraging the scholars, and showing the necessity of being regular and punctual, by placing before them the amount of education they will need in any department of business to which they are looking forward and by providing liberally and amply the means whereby they may be thoroughly educated for the occupations they assign to follow in future life, we may effect great and beneficial changes in our community in respect to this subject.
That we may all do this in harmony and with promptness is the sincere wish of your Committee.
JOHN PIERCE, WM. H. SHAILER,
SAMUEL GODDARD, - Committee.
BROOKLINE, March 7, '42. Voted, That the General School Committee consist of five. The following gentlemen were chosen :
Rev. John Pierce, D. D., had 99 votes.
Rev. Wm. H. Shailer had 99 votes.
Mr. Samuel Goddard had 78 votes out of 99.
Mr. Samuel Philbrick had 67 votes out of 99.
Mr. Seth T. Thayer had 64 votes out of 99.
Scattering 41.
Whole number of Votes given in for County Treasurer were eighty-one.
John Bullard had eighty votes.
Seth T. Thayer had one vote.
Voted, That the thanks of the town be presented to Oliver Whyte, Esq., for his faithful service in past years as Town Clerk.
.
51
Meeting, March 7, 1842.
The following were chosen :
Prudential ( David Cooledge, first nortli District.
School H. M. Sanborn, South District. Com. Alvin Loker, South West District.
Elisha Stone,
Surveyors of wood & lumber.
Stephen S. C. Jones, L Charles Stearns, Jr., first North District.
Elijah Corey, Jr., Second North do
Oliver Whyte, third North clo
Charles Pulsifer, first Middle do
Surveyors of
Thomas Quimby, Second Middle do
Joseph White, third Middle do
Phineas Goodnough, first South do
Samuel Hills, second South do
John W. Warren, third South do
H. M. Sanborn, Eastern Section of Turnpike. Daniel Pierce, Western Section of Turnpike.
Voted, To choose twelve Field Drivers-reconsidered. Samuel A. Walker chosen (excused). Voted, To choose six Field Drivers.
Albert Woodsom,
William Clement,
Franklin Stone,
George Cushing (excused),
Field Drivers.
Joseph L. White,
Amos Snow, Edward Hall,
Marshal Stearns, James Bartlett,
Fire-Wards.
Seth T. Thayer,
Marshal Stearns,
Fence Viewers.
A. W. Goddard,
George Cushing, Pound keeper.
Charles Wild,
Elijah Corey, Committee on Town accounts.
Ebenr. Heath,
Elisha Stone, Constable.
The Cemetary Committee made the following Report which was accepted by vote :
CEMETARY COM. REPORT.
The Cemetary Committee of the Town of Brookline respectfully Report, That in accordance with a vote of the Town in Feb., 1841, they have covered the front wall of the burial ground with a hammered Granite Caping of 18 inches in width, and six inches in thickness at the centre, sloping to 4} inches in thickness 'on both sides, making a sub- stantial & durable covering to the wall.
Highways.
52
Brookline Town Records.
Since making our last annual report, about half of the gravel bank has been excavated for an avenue, and a partition wall against the bank adjoining the land of Caleb Clark has been commenced and extended 35 ft. The remainder of this gravel bank will probably be all removed to repair the highways the ensuing year, and the avenue through it and around the whole grounds be completed, provided your committee should succeed in selling a few more burial lots to defray the expence of com- pleting the partition bank wall.
About one hundred additional ornamental trees have been set the past year, of which about 30 were killed by the extremely dry season, & which your committee intend to replace the ensuing spring and also to continue the row of elms out side the front wall. Sales of two more burial lots have been made the past season, making a total of 8 lots sold, and the two high banks in front of the grounds have been covered with loam.
At the time your committee presented their last annual report, their Treasurer's accounts were not made up, by reason of the unfinished state of several contracts. An abstract will therefore be now presented embracing the whole receipts & expenditures from the begining to this date. Omitting the proceeds of the Town's land sold by your committee & the amount paid for the burial ground lot, which were particularly described in our report of last year & which amounts balanced each other. Our Treasurer's receipts are as follows :-
Recd. from Town Treasurer in 1840
$407 35
Recd. for sale of 7 burial lots .
249 50
For sale of remnants of lumber & Old fence
15 25
For trees set on private lots .
7
From Town Treasurer in 1841
250
Total amt. of receipts
$929 10
The disbursments are as follows :
Pd. Bill of carpenter work
$36 25
Pd. Millet's bill painting .
24 38
Pd. D. Whitney's bill Labour
15 32
Pd. Sawing & plaining to Pt. Floor'g Estabt.
31 10
Pd. Russell's bill for building wall .
93 27
Pd. S. Snow's bill painting
3
Pd. J. Huff's bill labour
101 83
Pd. Perrie's bill seder posts
6 50
Pd. S. Philbrick's bill paints, repairing gates
41 33
Pd. Woodward's bill surveying
4
Pd. D. Whitney's bill labour .
42 75
Pd. S. S. C. Jones' bill nails &c
7 62
$407 35
53
Meeting, March 7, 1842.
[Brought up]
407 35
Pd. bill lumber & posts
· $84 49
Pd. Kenrick's bill trees
69 67
Pd. bill stone caping.
203 75
Pd. bill laying stone
18 20
Pd. J. Huff's bill labour
28 26
Pd. D.Whitney's do. do.
29 41
Pd. bills Lead, Iron work &c.
11 02
Pd. D. Whitnes's bill in part, balance pd. by Town 16
460 80
Pd. bill of labour to D. Mahoney
$868 15 23
Total amt. of disbursements
$891 15
Leaving a bal. in Treas. of
37 95
$929 10
From the returns made to your committee by the sexton it appears that eighteen interments have been made in our burial ground during the year 1841. And three adults & one infant inhabitants of Brookline have been conveyed out of the Town for interment-as follows-viz. :
54
Time of Decease.
Time of Interment.
Names.
Age.
Disease.
Place of Residence.
How Interred.
1841.
Jan. 2.
25.
29.
31.
Jabez Hunting.
74 66
31.
Feb. 2.
Rebecca Jones.
3 ys. 11 mos.
Congestion of Lungs. Consumption.
April 28. May 6.
April 31. May 8.
Elizabeth T. A. Perry.
32 yrs.
71
Spasmodic Rheumatism. Consumption.
New York. Brookline. Roxbury. Brookline.
Entombed in Boston. Entombed.
27.
30.
Susan Davenport.
79
do. do.
July 14.
July 16.
William Ackers.
76
do. do.
15.
" 16.
George Murdock.
42
Delirium Tremens.
do.
do. clo.
Augt. 3.
Augt. 6.
Chas. E. Hanlalıan.
2 mos.
Diarrhoea.
(lo.
Buried.
105 "
do.
Roxbury. Brookline.
do. Entombed.
Sept. 22.
Sept. 23. Oct. 4.
Martha A. Snow.
14
do. do.
do.
dlo. Buried.
4 11.
13.
Arthur O. MeLellan.
15
do. do.
dlo.
19.
21.
Geo. W. Dustin.
9
do.
do.
do.
do.
Nov. 4.
Nov. 5.
Arba Hyde.
57 yrs.
Consumption.
do.
do.
Dec. 10.
Dec. 11.
Abigail Centre.
75
Accident.
Boston.
do.
66
3.
Jan. 4,'42.
Thos. N. Murdock.
7
Scarlet Fever.
Stow.
Entombed.
16.
Dec. 18.
Anne Searle.
36
Mortification.
Brookline.
Entomed at Mt. Auburn.
BROOKLINE, March 1, 1842.
Signed in behalf of the com.,
S. PHILBRICK, Chairman.
Brookline Town Records.
Newton.
Jan. 4. Jan. 28.
Mary Jackson. Eliza Goddard.
78 yrs.
34 ‹‹
Lung fever. Inflamation of bowels. Old Age.
Brookline. Boston. Brookline. do. do.
Entombed. do. Buried. Entombed. do. Entombed in Boston. Entombed.
8.
4.11.
Luther Thayer. Eliza Tappan.
18
57
Old Age.
25.
27.
Mary Scullon.
Geo. F. Barnard. Susan S. Jones.
18
Hooping Cough.
Oct. 2.
22.
23.
55
Meeting, March 7, 1842.
A discussion arose respecting the powers of the Cemetary Committee.
Voted, That the subject be indefinitely postponed.
Voted, That this meeting be adjourned one fortnight from this day at two O'clock P. M.
Attest : OTIS WITHINGTON, Town Clerk.
To Elisha Stone, Constable of the Town of Brookline, GREETING :
You are required in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, within three days of the date hereof, to notify and summon each of the persons mentioned below, to appear before me, within seven days from the time you shall give such notice, to take the Oath prescribed by law to the office to which they are respectfully chosen, Daniel Sanderson, David Coolidge & Thomas Griggs as Selectmen, Samuel Philbrick & Seth T. Thayer as assessors, Charles Stearns, Jr., as assessor & surveyor of highways, Artemas Newell as Collector & Treasurer, Elisha Stone as constable & surveyor of wood & lumber, Stephen S. C. Jones as sur- veyor of wood & Lumber. Elijah Corey, Jr., Oliver Whyte, Charles Pulsifer, Thomas Quimby, Joseph White, Phineas Goodnough, Samuel Hills, John W. Warren, Hugh M. Sanborn & Daniel Pierce as surveyors of Highways. Albert Woodsom, William Clement, Frankline Stone, Joseph L. White, Amos Snow and Edward Hall as Field Drivers. Marshal Stearns and Abijah Warren Goddard as Fence Viewers. Hereof fail not and make return of this warrant with your doings thereon within ten days from the date hereof, given under my hand and seal this eighth day of March, 1842.
OTIS WITHINGTON, Town Clerk. [L.s. ]
NORFOLK, SS.
BROOKLINE, March 15, 1842.
By virtue of the within warrant I have notified the within named per- sons as within directed.
ELISHA STONE, Constable of Brookline.
56
Brookline Town Records.
NORFOLK, SS.
BROOKLINE, March 11, 1842.
Then personally appeared and took the oath prescribed to the Office to which they had been respectively chosen the following persons on the day of the date set against their names :
March 11, 1842. Marshal Stearns, Fence Viewer.
11, Oliver Whyte, Surveyor of Highways.
11, Daniel Sanderson, Selectman.
.. 11, David Coolidge, Selectman.
11, Thomas Griggs, Selectman. .
11, Elisha Stone, Constable.
11, Elisha Stone, Surveyor of wood & lumber.
.. 12, Phineas Goodnough, Surveyor of Highways.
12, H. M. Sanborn, Surveyor of Highways.
14,
Stephen S. C. Jones, Surveyor of wood & lumber Amos Snow, Field Driver.
. . 15, Albert Woodsom, Field Driver.
16, Thomas Quimby, Surveyor of Highways.
..
16,
Daniel Pierce, Surveyor of Highways.
17, Samuel Hills, Surveyor of Highways.
18, Edward Hall, Field Driver.
. :
18, Artemas Newell, Collector and Treasurer.
19, Charles Pulsifer, Surveyor of Highways.
19, John W. Warren, Surveyor of Highways.
. . 21, Abijah W. Goddard, Fence Viewer.
29, Timothy Corey, Assessor.
..
29, Charles Stearns, Jr., Assessor.
..
29, Charles Stearns, Jr., Surveyor of Highways.
April 30, Abijah Warren Goddard, Assessor.
OTIS WITHINGTON, Town Clerk.
MARCH 21, 1842.
At an adjourned meeting of the inhabitants of Brookline from 7th inst., at 2 o'clock P. M.
Abijah Warren Goddard, Moderator.
Voted, To proceed to proceed to the business of the day. Voted, To excuse Seth T. Thayer as assessor.
. 6
14,
14, Elijah Corey, Jr., Surveyor of Highways.
57
Meeting, March 21, 1842.
Abijah W. Goddard was chosen unanimously, Assessor, in place of Mr. S. T. Thayer excused.
Voted, To excuse Mr. Sam'l Philbrick as assessor. On balloting for assessor in place of Mr. Philbrick -
Mr. James Robinson had 23 Votes.
Samuel Craft had 4
66 Sam'l Philbrick 66 1
Mr. Robinson being chosen, declined accepting.
Second trial, Dea. Timothy Corey was chosen. T. Corey had 45 Votes, Mr. David Coolidge had 3 Votes.
Voted, Not to choose Tythingmen.
Voted, That the Town Treasurer be requested to present annually a report of the receipts and expenditures of the Treasury acording to law.
Voted, To act on the appropriations.
Voted, That the sum of four thousand five hundred dollars be raised in this Town by Taxes the present year-which shall be appropriated to the various purposes enumerated in the Report of the committee appointed to audit the Treas- urer's accounts ; and which shall be applied, according to the division therein specified.
It is further ordered that the sum of one thousand Dollars appropriated to the repair of highways shall be assessed and collected into the Treasury, in the same manner that the Town expences are assessed & collected ; and the same shall be divided between the several highway districts according to the division of the last proceeding years. And that the Selectmen be authorized to draw Orders on the Treasury in payment of each Surveyor's Acct. to the amount of each District's proportion ; when they shall be satisfied that the same has been expended in repairing the roads according to the requirements of law, and not otherwise.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to expend on the highways ; at their discretion, a sum not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars.
The Committee on Sale of Fire Engine Norfolk made the following Report, which was accepted by vote,-
-
58
Brookline Town Records.
REPORT OF COM. ON SALE OF FIRE ENGINE NORFOLK.
The Committee appointed by the Town of Brookline, to unite with the Selectmen of Roxbury in disposing of the Fire Engine Norfolk would now respectfully report,-
That after making several applications to said Selectmen, your com- mittee finally succeeded in connexion with them in effecting a sale of said Engine & hose in the best manner they could accomplish though at a low price-as follows, Viz. :
Fire Engine Norfolk
$175
Old hose 97 ft. at 20c per ft.
19 40
3 hose joints @ $1 each .
3
Making a total of
$197 40
From which deduct Amt. paid over to the Selectmen of Rox- bury in proportion to the Original Subscription from Inhabitants of Roxbury in purchasing the same 50
Leaving a balance of $147 40
Which amount has been paid over to the Treasurer of this Town.
On behalf of the Committee,
BROOKLINE, 1st March, 1842. S. PHILBRICK, Chairman.
The following report was read and accepted :
The Selectmen having been chosen as a committee at the last annual meeting to cause to be erected in suitable places Posts & Boards with the name of the Streets thereon, have attended to that duty and beg leave to report the expence as follows :
Elisha Stone's bill for work on Posts & Boards finding stuff for Boards and putting up the same $51 14
S. D. Bate's bill for painting & lettering 37 Boards 37 00
C. & F. A. Heath's bill for Posts .
11 03
Silas Snow's bill for Painting Post & 2 boards helping put up the same . 6 59
Joseph Huff's bill for carting Posts from Boston . 1 00
S. S. C. Jones' bill for carting boards to & from Boston 1 00
Sum Total $107 76
GUIDE BOARDS.
They also report the Guide Boards in the Town to be up in all places necessary, as the law directs.
All of which is respectfully Submitted.
Signed CHARLES STEARNS, JR., JAMES ROBINSON, Selectmen.
B. B. DAVIS,
BROOKLINE, March 7, 1842.
59
Meeting, March 21, 1842.
The trustees of the School fund made the following report which was accepted by vote :
SCHOOL FUND.
The trustees appointed by the town to report the state of the School fund, to whom loaned, and also security of the same, have discharged that duty and report as follows :
To Theopholus Dame's note and mortgage on house and land in Brighton, with policy of insurance $435 84 . Samuel Brown's note and mortgage on house and land in Boston, with policy of insurance $811 11 Charles Hasting's Note and mortgage on land and buildings in Brighton, with policy of insurance $304 53 Edward Hall's note and mortgage on land and buildings in this town, with policy of insurance . Daniel Kingsbury's note and mortgage on land and buildings in Newton, with policy of insurance $1225 00
$204 53
. Reuben Hunting's note and mortgage on land and buildings in Brighton $1550 00
$4531 00
Total sum of said fund
We are confident that the above security is satisfactory.
CHARLES STEARNS, JR., JAMES ROBINSON, DANIEL SANDERSON, A. W. GODDARD,
Trustees.
By a vote of the town the trustees were to audit the treasurer's account, and report to the town. They have performed that duty and report as follows :
The treasurer has charged himself with money received for principal and interest for the last two years the sum of $2113 11 The treasurer has recd. of one individual 1520 73
The trustees thought advisable to add of the int. 29 27
By the direction of the trustees that sum has been loaned to Reuben Hunting with security before named. The treasurer has also paid by orders drawn by the Selectmen $581 61 Has also paid at the register's office 1 50
$2133 11
The above named sums having been drawn leaves the treasury without funds.
The trustees find the treasurer's books have been faithfully kept and all interest collected that is due.
All which is respectfully submitted by CHARLES STEARNS, JR., ) JAMES ROBINSON, DANIEL SANDERSON, A. W. GODDARD, L
Committee.
Voted, That the Assessors be allowed two dollars per day for their services.
Voted, That the subject of High school be indefinitely postponed.
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