USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Volume of records relating to the early history of Boston : containing Boston town records, 1784 to 1796 > Part 11
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
Men within the Goverment are proper Measures to Obtain a Re- dress. When we dissolved our conexion with the Empire of Britain, we then (politically speaking) had it in our election to remaine in a State of Nature or to ordain for ourselves such form of Goverment, as we chose, we were then in a State recognized by the first Article of the decleration of Rights free and equal, and nothing but our own voluntary consent, given in a Solemn Com- pact, could [529.] reduce us to a form of civil Goverment it required no great share of Wisdom however to discern, that unless we threw ourselves into that State, we could Neither defend ourselves against a foreign invasion or be preserved from the depredations of wicked and abandoned Men Amongst ourselves, therefore the People inhabiting the Territory called the Prov- ince of Massachusetts Bay by a voluntary Affection formed a Solem Compact, and in a Solem Appeal to the great Legis- lator of the universe, the whole People convenated with each Citizen and Each Citezen with the whole People to be governed by certain known and Established Laws for the common good & Security of all by the same solemn compact, the powers of Legis- lation, and the Authority for due Execution of the Laws were provided, and Established and we then did, and as yet do con- ceive that all was alone with such caution, and restrictions that no Man or body of Men, who shall Oppress or invade the rights of the smallest Individual, can express with impunity in the same compact, the People solemnly agreed, to support the Constitution for the space of fifteen years, and made Ample provision for the revision of it, at the end of that Period if it should then be thought necessary, their is no officer Either high or low within the Commonwealth [530.] who does not derive his whole Authority from the People, and who is not amenable to a proper & Adaquate tribunal for his Conduct-There are indeed evils which are common to the whole human Race, founded in the depravity an imperfections of Mankind and there are others the unhappy lot of some Countries arising from their situation, or the deep revolted habits of the people possessing them, both which are alike incapable of being cured by any Acts of Goverment, or exertions of human Power; but must be left to the Accedents and Changes of time for a remidy ; should corrupt, and dissigning Men inflame the Spirits of the People, to demand of their Rulers the removal of such evils, their own reflections would sooner or later point them to their Mistake. If greviances have arisen in the Goverment, surely the Voice of the People may be taken
128
CITY DOCUMENT.
without flying to Arms : and no one can wish to dissolve our happy Constitution unless Another is substituted in its place ; for a State of Anarchy is to be dreaded Above all other Calamities, because theire is no evil which it does not involve but to us as we shall take leave by and by to submit to your consideration conse- quences would flow from such a State; which would Cause each true American within the Commonwealth, ever to regret, that he had ever tasted the Sweets of evil freedom.
[END OF BOOK SEVEN.]
[CONTINUED IN BOOK EIGHT.]
129
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1786.
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS.
[EIGHTH BOOK.]
[1.] If the Citizens of the State Labor under Greivances which can be redressed by the Acts of the Legislature, we conceive that their Priviledges in this case, can never be enlarged, for the General Court are chosen Annually by the People & though in one Year, our Complaints are not Attended to, Yet we can in the next Election; place Men in power who will Answer our reason- able expectations, and we are constrained to say, that we are ignorant of the Time, when the Representatives of the People in this State, have not duly Attended to the Instructions of their Constituents, some Towns have Indeed, given instructions con- trary to the Sentements of the Majority in the State and they therefore have not succeeded, but is not this Always the case, where, in society the Compact is, for the Minority to submit to the Majority ? let the Majority be ever so much in the wrong. is there Any remedy within the reach of Nature, compatible with the Ideas of Society, and Goverment to say the Majority shall not Govern, is saying either, that we will reduce Ourselves to a State of Nature, reject the Ideas of civil Liberty, Establish a des- potism, and be subject to the Sovereign Pleasure of one Man. We then beg You to consider whether instructing Our Represent- atives who serve us in the Legislature is not our great remedy against any ills we Suffer; and which are within the Compass of human power to redress. As we have taken leave to hint to you the Mode in which, under the Goverment Established by our common consent, we conceive all grievances ought to be reme- died ; we will now beg your Patience and Earnestly solicit your candor while we mention some of the consequences, which we think must flow from a Continuance of the present Commotions as an Introduction [2.] to this part of our Address, we will take a restrospective view of our late situation, and compare our present, with that in which we should have been, had not the noble Exertions of America, in defence of the dearest rights of mankind prevented it. - Taxed by great Britain, unconstitution- ally, and illegally, the quantity demanded, was not the Object of the important stand then made, but the obvious intention, of
130
CITY DOCUMENT.
reducing to Absolute Slavery to a Prince on an Island, at three thousand Miles distance, the People of an whole Continent : de- manded an Opposition worthy of the blood and treasure expended in it. our public Assemblies in Towns, and elswhere, were pro- hibited : and every precaution taken to deprive us, of the enjoy- ment even of Social Pity, and joint complaint a standing Army, cruelly hostile as well from their deep rooted prejudices, as the sanguinary nature of their Errand, supported at our own Ex- pence, was employ'd, to prostitute us before each haughty Minion who chose to insult or plunder us, where then was the dignity of Man ! and where, had they succeded, could the Heaven born ideas of Civil freedom be Entertained ; even a Sigh for the sweets of Liberty, would have been treason; how reverse of this is our now happy situation ! subjected to no Laws but such as are made by a Legislature of our own election Agreeably to the form of Gov- erment Established by our own consent, taxed by our own Repre- sentatives only, and controuled by no Authority but what is de- rived from ourselves While we contended for a Jewell of this immense value, still invaded on every side by the Scourging Arm of despotism ; how solemnly did we Appeal to that Being, who sees the inmost recesses of our hearts, and how sacredly did we pledge [3.] our Lives, and fortunes to each other, and to our Congress, in the glorious Contest & shall we now Accomplish the wishes, and fulfill the prediction of our Enemies, in meanly receding from all our engagements. It is possible that any con- siderate man should suppose, that we as a people ought to, or can be Exempted from the calamities, and difficulties incident to human Life? were we not at all times aware that there is no Medium between a State of Goverment and a State of Nature, and that the latter at all times is a State of Warfare, where no man has a property in even the produce of his own Labor but only a precarious possession, maintained by force? or did any among us vainly believe, that we could enjoy the blessings of Gov- erment without an expence Attending it? as well might they Ex- pect that the Earth would yield her fruits without tillage, and that Man could subsist without Labor & pain the unalterable Laws of Nature have fixed it, that the path to political, public or private happiness is directed Alone through industry and frugality, and we surely ought to submit to the common lot of humanity, without repining because it is one of the first dictates of religion, We are very sensible that the habits of Luxury con- tracted in the Late War; from the vast quantity of Goods im- ported, and the too great profusion of Money together with receiving, and giving unlimitted Credit have involved many fami- lies in distress, and have much diminished our Ability for paying those Just debts contracted in the day of our distress, As the price of our freedom, [4.] but shall we because Many of us are now distressed Entail Ruin upon our Posterity ; let us lay aside the destructive fashions and expensive superfluities of the day, be sober, temperate and industrious, and by the blessings of
131
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1786.
propitious Heaven we shall soon retrieve our circumstances, and Establish our public Credit. When we consider the Nature of the present commotions, it presents to us the very important question whether we shall exist as a Nation upon the Earth? for we are by no means ignorant, that Congress by our Consent, and to our inexpressible Joy, & Satisfaction procured from our Allies, A loan of Specie the Interest whereof, we are Obliged Annually to discharge : the Shutting up the Courts of Justice pre- venting the due Execution of the Laws and Arresting the Collec- tion of Public Taxes Anihilates our Goverment, and loudly pro- claims to our foreign Creditors, their Total insecurity should their Patience, and Lenity supported by a hope of our reclaiming ourselves, and correcting our Error, keep their Sword in the Sheath, yet we may have an Enemy, who will Embrace the un- lucky Moment, should their ever be one, when he finds us with- out RESOURCES, without Credit and without an Ally, and deeply revenge himself, for the disgrace his Arms have sustained. Were there any among us so depraved, as to wish to return to the Domination of great Britain, they may easily perceive that the Nations of Europe, would never permit such a Union of Power ; but divide us Amongst them. Our feelings would indeed on such an Occasion point us to a remedy perhaps less disgracefull; the Establishment of a [5.] domestic, instead of a foreign Despot- ism : supported by a standing Army, maintained by our own toil to awe us into such Submission that every idea of freedom, shall be finally and totally Eradicated. When we have seen the Patriot close his Eyes in death, with gratitude, and rapture committing his posterity to the Arms of Liberty shall we see others Agonising in their last moments, at yeilding their Chil- dren to the chains of Vassalage? forbid it that Spirit of free- dom which has so long, annimated and enlightened America ! forbid it Heaven. Finding that his Excellency the Governor, pur- suant to the duties of his Office by Advice of Council, has called upon all the good People of the State to lend their Aid, in pre- venting the impending ruin we can do no less than to recognize Anew our Solemn Engagements to support the Goverment we have so lately, and deliberately Established and we feel ourselves Assured, that our Numerous well Affected fellow Citizens in every Town will shew their readiness to join in an Effort, so clearly pointed out, as the first duty in Society. - We are con- vinced that the present disturbances, arise from British Emis- saries residing Among us, whose every wish is for our Overthrow and ruin, or from the Machinations, of Wicked, and unprincipled Men who seek their own Emoluments to the destruction of their Country, or from a Combination of both : but though many of our fellow Citizens, are deceived by them; and betrayed into a dan- gerous Mistake, yet we trust that they will on recollection, Spurn from their Councils such base and infamous Men ; and that a care- ful discrimination will be made in every Town, between those who are and those who are not for the support of a Goverment
132
CITY DOCUMENT.
no less Necessary, to the happiness, than to the security, [6.] of the Lives Liberty, and properties of the people. Fellow Citizens. We now intreat you by the Mutual ties of friendship, and Affec- tion by the Sacred compact which holds us in one Society-by the blood of our Brethren Shed to Obtain our freedom - by the tender regard we feel for our rising Offspring Claiming freedom from our hands as their Inheritance, by the grant of Heaven to use your endeavours that redress of greviances be sought for in, A constitutional and Orderly way only : and we pledge ourselves to join our Exertions with yours in the same way, to Obtain redress for any such as do really exist
Then the Meeting was dissolved
At a Meeting of the Freeholders and Other Inhabitants, of the Town of Boston duly qualified & legally warned in Public Town Meeting Assembled at Faneuil Hall December 11 A. D. 1786. 10 OClock before Noon -
Warrant for calling the Meeting - - read
Isaac Smith Esq™ :
chosen Moderator by a Hand Vote -
The Meeting being Attended by very few of the Inhabitants, it was moved & Voted, that it be Adjourned to Tuesday the 12th Inst : 10 O'Clock A : M : - Met according to Adjournment
The Article in the Warrant relative to the State of the Alms house, was read & considered whereupon -
Voted, that John Lucas Esq". Josiah Waters Esqr. Colº. Bradford Capt. Soams John R. Sigorney Gibbins Sharp Deacon Simpkins Mr. John Parker Capt. Mongo Mackay
be and hereby are Appointed a Committee to procure hands to the following Subscription Vizt.
Whereas the Poor in the Almshouse are suffering for Want of Bread & the Subscribers in order for their Relief, promise to pay the Sums [8.] Affixed to our several Names, upon being served with Receipts therefor from the Town Treasurer as part of the Tax due from us to the Town --
The Article in the Warrant relative to Beacon Hill - was - read & considered - whereupon --
133
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1787.
Voted, that it be Left to the Selectmen to treat About the sd. Land & Report at March Meeting -
Then the Meeting was dissolved
[9.] At a Meeting of the Freeholders & Other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston duly qualified & legally warned in Public Town Meeting Assembled at Faneuil Hall on Monday the 12th Day of March Anno Domini 1787. 10 °Clock Forenoon
Prayer was made by the Revd. Mr : Everett
Warrant for calling the Meeting - read
Sundry Laws enjoyned to be read at this Meeting were accord- ingly - read
The Inhabitants were directed to withdraw and bring in their Votes for a Moderator of this Meeting, and the same being brought in and sorted
It Appeared that the
Honble : Samuel Adams Esq™ :
was chosen -
William Cooper Esq" :
was chosen Town Clerk for the Year ensuing and took the Oath of Office for the faithfull discharge of his duty, which Oath was Administered to him by Mr. Justice Price - & the Oath of Al- ligance which was Administered by Samuel Barrett Esq"
The Town having determined by a Vote to choose Nine Select- men the Inhabitants were then directed to withdraw & bring in their Votes for [10.] that Number, and the same being brought in and sorted it Appeared that the following Gentelmen Vizt.
John Scollay Esqr. Harbottle Dorr Esqr. Ezekiel Price Esqr. John Brown Esqr. Capt. Edward Tyler Mr. John Andrews
Mr. Moses Grant - excused
Mr. William Cunningham - excused Thomas Walley
were chosen Selectmen for ye. Year ensuing -
Adjourned to 3 O'Clock P. M -
3 O'Clock Met according to Adjournment
The Inhabitants, were directed to withdraw and bring in their
134
CITY DOCUMENT.
Votes for twelve Overseers of the Poor, and the Votes having been brought in sorted. it Appeared that
The Honble : William Phillips Esqr. excused Isaac Smith Esqr. .Jonathan Mason Esqr. Mr. Samuel Whitwell John White Esqr. Edward Proctor Esq". William Powell Esqr. John Sweetser Esqr. Mr. Henry Prentice excused
Mr. Jonathan L. Austin Mr. Samuel Parkman
Mr. Edward Edes
were chosen Overseers of the Poor for the Year ensuing
[11.] The Inhabitants were directed to withdraw and bring in their Votes for sixteen Fire Wards ; and the same having been brought in and sorted, it Appeared that-
William Cooper Esq". Honble : Caleb Davis Esqr. - (excused) Edward Proctor Esqr. Mr. John Lowell Mr. Thomas Tileston
Thomas Melvill Esq".
Mr. John Winthrop
Jabez Hatch Esqr. Capt. John Ballard Andrew Syms Esqr.
Mr. Joseph Clark
Mr. Jacob Rhodes
Samuel Brick Esqr. Mr. Henry Bass Colº. John May Paul D. Sergant Esqr.
were chosen Fire Wards for the Year ensuing.
The Article in the Warrant Vizt. To consider the Proposals to the Honourable John Hancock Esqr. that a Committee may be Appointed to confer with him, relative to an Exchange of Prop- erty claimed by him on Beacon Hill. for the House called the Granary, and the Spot of Land on which it stands" - was read - whereupon moved & Voted that
[12.] James Sullivan Esqr. Thomas Dawes Esqr. John Scollay Esqr. Edward Payne Esq". Hobble. Samuel Adams Esqr.
135
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1787.
be a Committee to confer with Mr. Hancock relative to the same, & they are directed to Report as soon as may be
The Votes being brought in for a Clerk of Fanuiel Hall Market, upon sorting them it Appeared that
Mr. Matthew Nazro was chosen Clerk of said Market
The Inhabitants withdrew and brought in their Votes for a Town Treasurer and upon sorting them it appeared that - Mr. Peter Boyer
was chosen Town Treasurer for the Year ensuing - who took the Oath of Office & the Oath of Alligance which were Admin- istered by the Town Clerk
Votes, for a Treasurer of ye. County of Suffolk brought in, and counted by the Moderator & Town Clerk when it Appeared that the whole number was three hundred seventy Nine & that they were all for Mr. Alexander Hodgdon a discreet suitable Person being a Freeholder & Resident in the same County -
On the Representation of the Overseers of the Poor. Moved that a Committee, be Appointed to confer with the Overseers, relative to the Annual Expence of the Alms House & to lay a Statement thereof before the Town also to devise ways and means for de- fraying said Expence & to Report as soon as may be
[13.]
Voted, that Honble : James Sullivan Thomas Walley Esqr. Nathaniel Appleton Esq". Thomas Dawes Esqr. Ezekiel Price Esqr.
be a Committee for the purpose aforesaid
The Article relative to the choise of Wardens read whereupon Moved, that the consideration of the choise of Wardens be refered to the Meeting of this Town that may be called next After the setting of the General Court in May next
And the Question being Accordingly put-Passed in the Affermative
Mess's : James Thompson Thomas Bayley Benjamin Henderson Charles Williams
were chose Collectors of Taxes for the Year ensuing & took & signed the Oaths prescribed by Law which Oaths were Admines- tred by the Town Clerk -
Adjourned till to Morrow Morning
136
CITY DOCUMENT.
Tuesday 10 OClock A M. Met According to Adjournment-
The Petition of William Davis read - whereupon, Voted, that the Selectmen be & hereby are instructed & impowered to Ap- point a Referre, or Refferees to meet with such Referre or Ref- ferees as may be Appointed by the Heirs of the late Dr. William Davis upon the Subject of the said Petition & to Abide by the Award or determination of the sd. Referres in behalf of the Town N B Mr. William Davis one of the Heirs aforesaid, was present in the Meeting & agreed on the Part ot the Heirs aforesaid, to abide by said determination -
[14.] Voted, that the Above Vote be reconsidered, And the Petitioner has leave to withdraw his Petition.
The Town having determined that five Assessors should be chosen the Inhabitants as directed withdrew & brought in their Votes accordingly & upon sorting them it Appeared that -
Mess's : William Lowder Gyles Harris William Fleet Moses May Samuel Ruggles were chosen Assessors for the Year ensuing - & took & signed Oaths According to Law. Oaths Administered by the Town Clerk -
Voted, that the Allowance to the Assessors be six Shillings Day for the time they may set in doing the buisness of their Office
Voted, that four per cent be Allowed and hereby is allowed to the Collectors of Taxes for the Year ensuing for all such Sums of Money & public Securities as they shall Collect and pay into the several Treasuries of the Sums committed to them to Collect within ten Months from the Receipt of the Tax Books, and three Per Cent on all such other Sums, as shall Afterward, be Col- lected, Also that such Collector shall give Bond with sufficient Sureties to the Satisfaction of the Selectmen for the faithful dis- charge of their Duty in said Office and complying with this Vote ; and that they will not receive Any Premium or Gratuity for dis- counting any Order, Note or Receipts from the Treasurer of the State or the Treasurer of the Town -
[15.] Mr. Grant & Mr. Cunningham having declined serving a Selectman the present Year 3. O'Clock P. M. Assigned for filling up the Vacancies. -
Voted, that the Thanks of the Town be and hereby are given
137
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1787.
to Mr. Moses Grant & Mr. William Cunningham for their faith- full Services, as Selectmen the last Year-
Voted, that The Honble : Samuel Adams Esq". Isaack Smith Esqr. Edward Payne Esqr. Nathaniel Appleton Esq".
Thomas Dawes Junr. Esqr.
be a Committee to Estimate what Sums will be Necessary to be raised by the Town, for the Expencies of the Current Year, As Also to consider, what Sums will be proper to Allow the Several Salary Men for their Services the present Year, Also to devise ways & Means for the discharge of ye. Arrearages due to the School Masters & the more punctual payment of their Salarys in future.
Moved & Voted, that the Election of Surveyors of Boards & Staves be by Ballot & that the choise come on After the Select- men -
Mr. William McNeil
chosen Surveyor of Hemp for the Year ensuing
Messrs : Benjamin White Edmund Ranger James Ridgway Andrew Townsande Junr. William Todd
were chose Fence Viewers for the Year ensuing
[16.] Mess's : John Fenno Jun". declines William Billings Thomas Bradley Sam1. Bangs Nathan Green
were chose Sealers of Leather for the Year ensuing
Mess's : Adam Colson Abraham Adams
were chose Informer of Deer for the Year ensuing
Mess's : John Skinner George Hamlin William Sharp William Billings
were chose Hogreeves for the Year ensuing -
Mess's : George Hamlin Samuel Curtis John Skinner for North Department were chose Haywards for the Year ensuing
138
CITY DOCUMENT.
Mess's : Thomas Green John Skinner were chose Assay Masters for the Year ensuing
Mess's : John White Esqr. John Sweetser Esqr.
were chose Surveyors of Wheat for the Year ensuing -
Voted, that Mr. Herman Brimmer Edward Payne Esqr. Joseph Russell JunT. Mr. Alexander Hill Mr. William Parsons
[17.] be and hereby are Appointed a Committee to Audit the Accompts of the Town Treasurer & also the Accompts of the Overseers of the Poor, and that they make Report at the Next March Meeting; and the said Committee are desired to Report from time to time a State of the Treasury and on Any Matters relating to the Treasurey or Overseers of the Poor, which they may think proper, and the said Committee are also desired to ex- amine the Draughts of the Selectmen, and the Vouchers for the same and it is further Voted, that Interest be Allowed to such of the Overseers of the Poor as shall Advance Money for the Use of the Poor, from the expiration of the Year untill paid -
Mr. Tilestons Petition read & committed to the Committee to prepare an Estimate & devise ways means &c. and to report as soon as may be -
Adjourned to 3 OClock P : M : 3 O'Clock P. M. Met Accord- ing to Adjournment.
The Article in the Warrant Vizt. Whether the Selectmen shall be Authorized to execute Deeds of certain Lands in order to be sold or near on the Neck - was read -
Whereupon
Voted, That whereas the Selectmen in pursuance of a Vote of this Town of the Fifth of April 1785. have made certain Agree- ments touching Lands mentioned in said Vote and have made certain Deeds of part of said Lands- and promised further Deeds of Other Parts of said Lands
[18.] Therefore Voted, that the Deeds already made as aforesaid be & hereby are confirmed and also that the Selectmen be & they are hereby Authorized to execute such further Deeds as may be necessary to convey all the Lands meant to be con- veyed in the Vote of April 5th Above Mentioned
Petition relative to the Moneys due to the Heirs of the late David Jeffries Esqr. read whereupon
139
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1787.
Voted that
Mr. Jonathan Mason Esqr. Mr. Alexander Hill Mr. Alexander Hodgdon be a committee to take the Petition into consideration & Report as soon as may be what may be proper to be done thereon -
The Inhabitants were directed to withdraw & bring in their Votes for two Selectmen and the same being brought in and sorted it Appeared that -
Deacon William Boardman Mr. Ebenezer Sever see Page 10 were chose Selectmen for the Year ensuing and took the Oath enjoined by Law which were Administred by the Town Clark to them & the Other Selectmen -
The Inhabitants brought in their Votes for twelve Constables, and the same being sorted it Appeared that
Messrs : William Cooper the 2ª. Samuel Smith John McLane Sam1. Whitney Pool Spear Shubael Hewes
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.