Town records of Brookline, Massachusetts, 1838-1857, v. 1, Part 8

Author: Brookline (Mass.)
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Brookline, Mass. : Published by vote of the town
Number of Pages: 680


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Town records of Brookline, Massachusetts, 1838-1857, v. 1 > Part 8


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53


Voted, That the Selectmen be a committee to mature some plan relative to the 7th article in the warrant and report at the adjournment of this meeting.


Voted, That Samuel Philbrick, Charles Stearns, Jr., and David Coolidge be a committee to make inquiry & ascertain


·


84


Brookline Town Records.


whether any land can be purchased adjoining the district School Lot in School Street, for the use of said school & for the Town ; and also on what terms such purchase can be made-and make report to the adjournment of this meeting.


Whereas, The Legislature of Massachusetts has granted from the general School fund an appropriation of fifteen dollars to each school district within this commonwealth, conditioned that each district shall first raise an additional sum of fifteen dols. for the purpose of procuring School Libraries for such districts,


And Whereas, The School districts in this Town are small in teritory & numbers-It is therefore deemed most advisable to unite them together for a general School Library. Whereupon it is


Voted, That the sum of fifteen dollars each be now appro- priated to our three school districts, to be united with the grant made by the Legislature, for the purpose of procuring a School Library for the benefit of the children of each School district-and that a 'committee of one person from each district be now chosen, who shall be authorized to receive the above appropriation from our Treasurer and also the grant from the commonwealth, and therewith to procure such a Library, as they by and with the advice of the gen- eral School Committee shall deem most suitable for the advancement of the children in Literary and Scientific knowledge. Also, to appoint a Librarian to take charge of the same, and to institute such regulations as they shall deem necessary for the convenience and benefit of all the children ; and for the preservation and equal circulation of the books-And that Samuel Philbrick, Daniel Sanderson & Samuel Hills shall constitute said Committee.


Voted, That Messrs. Timothy Corey, Marshal Stearns, and Harrison Fay be a committee to act on the 11th Article in the warrant, and that the alleged grievances be presented to the Committee in writing.


Voted, That fifty dollars per year be paid to the Chairman and Secretary of the General School Committee for their services for the two years last past.


85


Meeting, March 6, 1843.


Voted, To raise four thousand five hundred dollars the present year, and that it be appropriated according to the recommendation of the auditing committee.


Voted, That the sum of one thousand dollars appro- priated for repairs of highways the ensuing year, shall be assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants, resi- dents & non-residents, as other Town charges are assessed ; and shall be collected as other Town Taxes are collected ; and divided between the several highway districts as here- tofore :- and no surveyor shall receive any money from the Treasurer until he shall have expended the same according to the requisitions of law, and had his account approved by the Selectmen.


Voted, That this meeting be adjourned to first Monday of April next at 2 o'clock P. M.


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 respectively chosen, Daniel Sanderson and Thomas Griggs as selectmen and surveyors of High- ways, David Coolidge as selectman, Charles Stearns, Jr., and Timothy Corey as assessors, Abijah W. Goddard as assessor and Fence Viewer, Artemas Newell as Treasurer and Collector, Elisha Stone as constable and surveyor of Wood and Lumber, Stephen S. C. Jones as surveyor of Wood and Lumber ; Martin Morse, Samuel Philbrick, George Craft, George W. Goldsmith, John W. Warren, Hugh M. Sanborn and T. W. Wellington as surveyors of Highways, George Cushing as surveyor of Highways, Field driver & Pound Keeper, Clark L. Haynes, Wm. W. Clement, Frank- lin Stone, Thomas Quimby, John Kenrick and Elijah Corey, Jr., as Field drivers, Caleb Clark as Fence Viewer.


86


Brookline Town Records.


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 Seventh day of March, 1843.


OTIS WITHINGTON, Town Clerk. [L.s. ]


NORFOLK, SS.


BROOKLINE, March 13, 1843.


By virtue of the within warrant I have notified the within mentioned persons as within directed.


ELISHA STONE, Constable of Brookline.


NORFOLK, SS. BROOKLINE, March 6, 1843.


Then personally appeared and took the Oath prescribed by law to the offices to which they had been respectively chosen, the following persons on the day of the date set against their names :


March 6. Samuel A. Walker as Field driver.


8. David Coolidge as Selectman.


Thomas Griggs as Selectman and Highway surveyor.


10. George W. Goldsmith as surveyor of Highways.


66 11. George Craft as Surveyor of Highways.


11. Hugh M. Sanborn as surveyor of Highways.


66 George S. Cushing as surveyor of Highways, Field driver & Pound Keeper.


Daniel Sanderson as surveyor of Highways and Selectman.


66


13. Stephen S. C. Jones as surveyor of wood & lumber


66 T. W. Wellington as surveyor of Highways.


66 66 Elisha Stone as Constable and surveyor of Wood & Lumber.


14. Clark L. Haynes as Field driver.


John Kenrick as Field driver.


66


66 John W. Warren as surveyor of Highways.


17. Artemas Newell as Treasurer and Collector.


66


21. Elijah Corey, Junr., as Field driver.


66


24. Wm. W. Clement as Field driver.


66 Samuel Philbrick as. Surveyor of Highways.


66 28. Martin Morse as Surveyor of Highways.


April 3. Charles Stearns, Jr., as Assessor.


66


66 Abijah W. Goddard as Assessor and Fence Viewer.


66


66 Marshal Stearns as Fence Viewer.


May


10. Timothy Corey as Assessor.


OTIS WITHINGTON, Town Clerk.


87


Meeting, April 3, 1843.


APRIL 3d, 1843. At an adjourned meeting of the Inhab- itants of Brookline from March 6th, at 2 o'clock,-


Abijah W. Goddard, Moderator.


The Town Clerk being absent, David R. Griggs was chosen and duly qualified to act as Town clerk, Pro-tem.


Marshal Stearns was elected Fence Viewer.


The following report was presented and accepted :


The Committee appointed at the last meeting to take into consideration the expediency of procuring a place for the purpose of a more systematic and economical maintenance of the Poor, would Report,-


That the committee find on examining that there are now ten persons on the Town's expence, nine of them which they entirely support, and one in part, at an expence of not less than thirteen dollars per week, or an annual expence of six hundred and seventy-five dollars or more.


Your committee are of opinion that if some suitable place could be procured and all of said persons supported in one establishment, it might be done at less expence to the Town; inasmuch as some of them, if they had suitable employment provided, might do considerable towards earn- ing their living, but as there is one of our number for which we pay three dollars & fifty cents per week, would not probably be removed to such an establishment were it now in operation, and three others we hope will soon be able to take care of themselves,


Under these circumstances we do not consider the call for such an establishment so immediately pressing.


Nevertheless, we believe that according to the course of things, every year the number of our dependents will be multiplied, and ere long such an establishment must be had, we believe also that such a place as would be suitable in Brookline is every year increasing in value, and with more difficulty would be obtained.


With these considerations before us, we should consider it a mark of wisdom in the Town to appoint a committee whose duty it shall be to have this subject before them and make enquiry relative to the same, so that when any suitable place shall be offered for sale for a fair compen- sation this committee may receive the proposals and lay the same before the Town for their acceptance or otherwise.


Your committee would therefore recommend to the Town to appoint a committee of three, whose duty shall be as above named, and report when they shall be prepared, whether that time shall be soon or more remote.


All of which is respectfully submitted.


DANIEL SANDERSON, Chairman.


Voted, That the Selectmen be a Committee [to carry] the foregoing into effect.


88


Brookline Town Records.


The Chairman of committee on grievances stated that they were not prepared to make their report, and asked further time, which was granted.


After considerable discussion by Samuel A. Walker and others,-


Voted, To add four to the above named committee.


Samuel A. Walker, Dea. Thomas Kendal, Moses Jones, and James Bartlett were chosen.


Voted, That the financial year shall end with the first of February each year.


On motion of Samuel A. Walker,-


Voted, That the committee on the grievances of certain individuals, examine the accounts of the Cemetery Commit- tee and report,-also in relation to the inovations made by individuals composing the cemetery committee in removing gravel from the cemetery for individual purposes. Also in removing stones from the Tombs, and using the same for building purposes in which they were interested. Also the taking of Tomb stones for the purpose of covering up drains, and in relation to the old fence that has been removed, and if any and what compensation has been paid for the same, and to whom, in regard to the grave stones of the Inhabit- ants of Brookline being used to fill up the highways.


On motion of Samuel A. Walker,-


Voted, That a committee of five be chosen for the ensuing year, and that said committee be hereafter chosen at the annual March meeting and for the term of one year only.


Voted, To choose the committee by ballot.


Doc. Charles Wild, Thomas Griggs and Isaac Cook had each fifty four votes, and were unanimously elected. Moses Jones and James Bartlett each had fifty-three votes, and were also elected. Samuel Philbrick and Doc. Samuel Shurtleff had each one vote.


At the request of Samuel Philbrick,-


Voted, That Dea. Thomas Kendall, Samual A. Walker and Marshall Stearns be an investigating committee on the accounts and doings of the Cemetery Committee.


The Committee appointed at our Annual Meeting in March


89


Meeting, April 3, 1843.


to ascertain whether any land could be obtained adjoining the School House lot in School Street, having reported verb- ally that the owners of the land are not ready to sell any at this time, but they probably will be prepared to accom- modate the Town with whatever quantity they may want within a few weeks ; therefore,-


Voted, That said committee be continued, and that they be authorized to purchase, on behalf and for the use of the Town, any quantity of land adjoining said school lot, which in their judgment it will be for the interest of the Town to own, not exceeding in. expenditure of Four hundred dollars, and the sum of Four hundred dollars is hereby appropriated for that purpose.


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


Believing that our public schools cannot be greatly improved without more permanency on the part of the teachers, therefore,-


Resolved, That hereafter female teachers be employed in each of the three schools districted in this Town, during the whole year.


Resolved, That we establish a school in the centre of the Town which shall be taught during the year by a male teacher, qualified to give instruction in such branches as the General School Committee may deem it advisable to have taught in said school.


Should such a school go into operation it will of necessity take some time and experience to mature fully a plan whose adoption would render the school of the greatest possible benefit to the town. There will be many difficulties to meet and overcome before it can be made to meet the expectations of some of its advocates, yet these difficulties will not be less at any future time, and the earlier we commence such a school the sooner will the Inhabitants of this Town enjoy the benefits of its maturer influence.


There are but few points connected with this subject which have been fully deliberated by your committee, but these few being somewhat important, they would wish to present them at this meeting to ascertain whether the opinion of the committee will meet the approbation of the Town.


Ist. Your committee are of the opinion that none should be admitted into the proposed school under ten years of age, and that this is the only limitation that it is advisable to make at present.


2d. That the school shall be so arranged and conducted that each scholar shall have about his proportion of the time and attention of the teacher and no more, without regard to his attainments.


3d. That the scholars while members of the school shall be required to attend punctually and constantly. Your Committee apprehend that


+


90


Brookline Town Records.


without some efficient measures in respect to this last named subject the school will be embarressed and greatly impeded in its progress ; one of the greatest hindrances to success we anticipate from a want of attention to this very thing, if those who were irregular injured only themselves there would be less cause for complaint, but they do a serious injury to the whole school.


The class cannot proceed unless they understand the principles con- tained in their studies they have gone over. If when these principles are explained, some are habitually absent, when they come in the Teacher must detain the whole class until he can explain again what most of the class fully understand. As a matter of justice, therefore, we ought to demand that those who send to our public schools, send punctually and constantly. In view of this evil your Committee would recommend the adoption of the following Resolutions :


Ist. Every scholar while a member of the school, who is absent or tardy from'whatever cause, shall be restored to former standing only on condition of producing a written excuse for such absence or tardiness from a parent or guardian, and also on preparing within a reasonable time for reciting to the satisfaction of the teacher all the lessons recited by the class during such absence.


2d. Scholars dismissed before the regular hour for closing the school, by request of their Parents or guardians, shall be considered absent for the half day on which such dismission is requested and noted accordingly.


3d. Any scholar absent from school more than one half day during any month shall not be admitted into the school again that session except by a written order from the School Committee, unless such absence be occasioned by the sickness of the scholar or by sickness or death in the family.


Voted, To adopt the two first resolutions. Voted, To adopt the whole of the Report.


Voted, To Adjourn without day.


DAVID R. GRIGGS, Town Clerk, Pro-tem.


The following list of persons liable to be enrolled in the Militia were returned by the Assessors, May 23, 1843. Whole No. 137.


Charles Coolidge Leonard Lord


George Otis


Calvin Smith


Charles Stewart Lucius De Coster


Benjamin Owen


Luther Seaverns


Amos Whittemore


Charles York Isaac Burrows


Samuel Briant


Francis Downes Alonso Holbrook Mark Nickerson


Samuel Ladd


Robert Boody


William Andrews


91


Militia List, 1843.


Uriah Blasdale John T. Sınith George Stoddard George B. Rich Thomas Trull Isaac L. Adams Edward Hall, Jr. John Kenrick Ebenezer Loomer Moses Grace Thomas Blanchard William Griggs Oliver G. Pray Nathaniel Frye Elkanah Foss Timothy Dame Joel Wait


George Bartlett


George Gibbs


Thomas Britton


John W. Warren Simon Warren Charles Warren


Leonard White


James S. Amory


Charles T. Thurlow


William Springer


William W. Clement · Lucius Lessley


John Rogers Roswell Fairbanks


William R. Lawrence


George


Dexter Johnson


Daniel S. Kendall


Augustus T. Newell


Charles Robinson


Clark L. Haynes


David Whitney


Henry Whitney


Peleg Gulliver


George Craft


Fredrick Fairbanks


Charles Craft


Thomas N. Woodward


George W. Stearns


Joel Pettingale


Benjamine Woodsom


Stephen Hide


William A. Hayden


Hugh M. Sanborn


Charles Reed


David Marble


Stephen Heatlı


Willard A. Humphrey


George W. Merrill


Moody Page


William P. Brewer


William Bird


Daniel Gilpatrick


George Taplin


Samuel Clark


Francis McKenny Charles Smith James M. Randall


Charles Pulsifer Joseph Richards Henry Young


Samuel Hills


William Wallace


Simon W. Clifford


Hiram R. Bean'


Chancey Woodward


Thaxter Prouty


Isaac Townsend


Enock Flanders Caleb Craft, Jun. Edwin Richards William Hastings James Willey John Cobey George W. Goldsmith


Samuel Townsend, Jun.


Thomas Townsend William W. Cloud George Cushing Josiah Quimby Eli D. Sanderson Charles Heath Isaac Hooper Morris Boynton John Boynton George A. Brewer James W. Felkar


Edmund Pray


Vitam


John Dudley


George W. Colbeth


92


Brookline Town Records.


Henry W. Carr Lakeman Frye


Sawer Holden Ebenezer C. Haskell James L. Oliver Asacl Lovejoy Hugh R. Kendall


Francis Flanders David K. Smith


John A. Bird


William Rowe


Samuel Sutton, Jun.


William Hutchinson


Thomas C. Quimby Alfred Cioutman Daniel Kimball


Zemri Worcester


Francis Haws


Joseph L. White


William White 137


OTIS WITHINGTON, Town Clerk.


WARRANT FOR AUGUST [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 citisen 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 Thursday, the Seventeenth instant, at three o'clock in the afternoon, to act on the fol- lowing articles, viz. :


1st. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.


2d. To hear and act upon the report of the School Committee relative to the necessity of providing better accommodations of the High School. 3d. To hear the report of any other committee.


Given under our hands & seals this 8th day of August, 1843.


DANIEL SANDERSON, L


DAVID COOLIDGE,


L.S. L.s.]


Selectmen.


THOMAS GRIGGS, L.S.7


93


Meeting, August 17, 1843.


NORFOLK, SS.


BROOKLINE, August 14th, 1843.


By virtue of the within warrant I have notified and warned the within named persons to appear at the time & place for the purposes within mentioned.


ELISHA STONE.


Agreeably to the foregoing warrant a meeting was held at the Town Hall, Augt. 17, 1843.


Mr. James Robinson was chosen Moderator.


The following Report of the School Committee was read by the Secretary, Rev. William H. Shailer :


SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT.


The School Committee would most respectfully Submit the following considerations upon the subject of Schools to the citizens of this town. In accordance with the suggestion of the committee on Public Schools, which was read in town meeting in the month of March last, and which was laid over for action thereon until the adjourned meeting in April, a school was established in the center of this town, and opened to scholars from every part of the town who were more than ten years of age. At the opening of that school, in May, it was found that the number in attendance was much larger than we had anticipated. Children from several families attended who never before had been connected with our public schools, and these with others increased the school to such an extent, that our accommodations were found to be too limited. The first week there were several who were provided with no seat but a settee, without any desk or shelf on which to place their books, or rest their slates, maps, &c. A meeting of the Committee was immediately called, and a consultation was had in respect to the best method of remedying the existing evil. It was found, on examination of room, that a few more desks might be placed there, not however without infringing upon a space which appeared to be needed for recitations. But as this seemed to be the only alternative, it was thought advisable by the Com. to have this space occupied with new seats and desks corresponding with those previously in the room.


Having agreed upon this, it was, as soon as practicable, carried into effect, and accommodations were thus made for ten more scholars. But this did not fully meet the wants and necessities of the school, and through the whole term some have been obliged to take up with accom- modations which, for his own children, every parent would wish to have improved. Under these disadvantages, however, the school has been prosperous to a degree which has surpassed the expectations of its warmest advocates. So far as your com. have been able to discover from a constant oversight, from their monthly visits, and from a quarterly examination, they are of the opinion that the school has been of great utility to the town. We believe that the teachers and scholars have exerted themselves in their endeavors to secure the end for which the


94


Brookline Town Records.


school was established. Great credit is also due to the parents and guardians of the scholars for the disposition which they have manifested to carry out the resolutions you adopted in respect to punctuality in attendance. But as limited as have been the accommodations for the school the past term, your com. are of opinion that they would be still more so for ensuing term. From information on which we can rely, and from observations made in regard to the number attending school at the differ- ent seasons of the year, we have reason to believe that it would be impos- sible to accommodate those who would attend unless some other provis- ion be made. We dare not take the responsibility of attempting to crowd more into that small room. We have power as a committee to reduce the number, by placing the age suitable for admission at twelve or fourteen instead of ten, or of restricting the scholars by requiring certain literary qualifications, but this power we are unwilling to exercise without first laying the subject fairly before the town. It is therefore, for this purpose, so far as we are concerned, that this meeting was called. We wish not to dictate you, but to have you direct us. Shall we adopt some other terms of admission into this school, shutting out some of its finest scholars, who are under the age upon which we might fix, or shall we say those who enter must have made certain attainments in study, and thus shut out many of the largest scholars, whose opportuni- ties hitherto have been limited and who greatly need the benefit of this school, or will the town make some more ample accommodations, for the benefit of all who may wish to attend ? We submit it to the town for decision, and as your servants we will endeavor to carry out the instructions which you may give us. Should the town think it advisable to enlarge the accommodation, which it is the opinion of the com. will be most decidedly for their advantage, and adopt the course which to us appears the least objectionable of the three proposed, we would respect- fully suggest whether it would not be advisable to have this room con- verted into a neatly finished room for the school. We think this may be done, at no very great expence to the town, in accordance with a plan which we herewith submit, and to which we invite the attention of the town. The law makes provision for an assistant in every school whose average is as great as that of this school for the last term. And unless we reduce the number of scholars we shall be under the necessity of pro- curing an assistant immediately for this school. And should the town vote to have this room devoted to the purposes of the school, it is the opinion of the com. that it would be advisable to have two departments to the school, both under the general supervision of the same teacher, but one of a higher order in regard to qualifications than the other. This would afford an opportunity to classify the school to much greater advantage than we can at present. With such an arrangement, whenever scholars were found to be prepared in the one department to enter the other, they could be removed, and this would act as a kind of stimulus to those whose advantages had been limited, or who had not applied themselves as diligently as they ought. With these suggestions we submit this whole subject to the serious consideration of the town. If the town shall see fit to follow out the suggestions, and with that willing-


95


Meeting, August 17, 1843.


ness to contribute liberally for the education of their children, which has been manifested on former occasions, they will find an ample reward in the advantages and respectability that will accrue to the generation rising up around them. If they shall see fit to adopt a different policy, and deem it inexpedient to carry out the plan proposed by their com., or make any better provisions for the accommodations of the school, they will reap the reward of this also in the deformed bodies, the contracted intellects, the limited attainments of their children. With a conscious- ness they have endeavored to discharge their duty faithfully as a com. we leave this subject for the action of the town. Whatever disposition they may make of it, we shall submit to, and try to carry out their wishes according to the best of our ability.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.