USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Volume of records relating to the early history of Boston : containing Boston town records, 1784 to 1796 > Part 8
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The Article in the Warrant Vizt : "To consider what improve- ment shall be made of the Building on the East End of Market Square " - was read, and after debate it was
Voted, that it be left to the Selectmen to make such improve- ment of said Building for a Market as they shall Judge to be most for the interest of the Town -
The Petition of Benjamin Sumner Jun". for an abatement of Taxes was read & after debate it was moved & Voted, that said Petition together with the request of the Collectors be referred to the Assessors, for them to Act thereon as they shall Judge proper
The Report of the Committee relative to Mr. John Ballard late Clerk of Faneuil Market 'was read & considered - whereupon
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CITY DOCUMENT.
moved & Voted, that this Report be Accepted [457.] and that the same together with the other Papers & Mr. Ballard Account in the Hands of the Selectmen be referred to them for a final Settlement, provided Mr. Ballard shall do and perform what the Selectmen may Judge necessary on his part for the receving of the Market Debts yet ' outstanding -
Moved & Voted, that
John Sweetser Edward Payne Esq".
be Added to the Committee to consider what Money is still due to David Jeffries Esqr. late Town Treasurer, they to Report at the Adjournemenent
Adjourned To Fryday the 16th Day of September Inst : 3. O'Clock Afternoon -
Fryday the 16th September 3 O'Clock P : M : Met according to Adjournment -
The Committee for revising the By Laws not being ready to Report - The Town came into the following Vote - Vizt : -
Whereas it Appears to the Town that the Committee Appointed to revise the By Laws of the Town, consist of a Number much too large and that the Gentelmen composing said Committee by reason of their Publick ingagements in addition to their necessary private avocations, will not probably be able to compleat the business in any reasonable time [458.] without injury either to the Publick or Others therefore
Voted, That the Members of said Committee be and hereby are excused from any further service relative to the said Affair also
Voted, that a Committee be appointed to revise the By Laws of the Town, and such Additions or alterations as may be Judged proper, the same to be laid before the Town as soon as may be -
Voted, that the Honble : Samuel Adams Esq". Joseph Greenleaff Esq". Honble : James Sullivan Esq". Honble : Robert T. Payne Esq". John Gardner Esqr.
be a Committee for the purpose aforesaid -
The Article in the Warrant - Vizt. " To consider whether Ap- plication shall be made to the General Court for their impowering . Benjamin Henderson to Collect the Outstanding Taxes due to Abraham Savage a late Collector " - was read - whereupon -
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BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1785.
Voted, that Application be made to the General Court to im- power Benjamin Henderson to Collect the Outstanding Debtes committed to Mr. Abraham Savage to Collect for the Year 1772 & 1773, also,
Voted, that the Selectmen be Authorised and impowered to make Application accordingly
[459.] The present Committee on the late Town Treasurers Accompts, are desired to make Report relative to the Sum due to him as soon as may be -
That Clause in the Warrt : Vizt. "Whether the Town will en- large the Premium to the first Engine at a Fire " - was read & considered - whereupon Voted, that said Premium be enlarged from thirteen shillings & 4ª. to twenty shillings lawful Money -
The Petition of Mr. Peter Edes "praying an Allowance on Paper and Printing the Proceedings of the Merchants Traders & Others of the Town of Boston " - was considered - whereupon Voted, that it be left to the Selectmen to make him such Allow- ance as for the work done as they shall Judge proper -
Voted, that all Matters & things which remain unfinished at this Meeting be & hereby are referred to the next General Town Meeting that may be called, then to be acted upon -
Voted, that the Thanks of the Town be and hereby are given to Thomas Daws Esqr. for his good services as Moderator of this Meeting.
Then the Meeting was dissolved
[460.] At a Meeting of the Freeholders and Other Inhab- itants of the Town of Boston duly qualified & legally warned in public Town Meeting Assembled at Faneuil Hall on Wednesday the 26th Day of October Anno Domini 1785. 10, O'Clock. A :M :
Warrant for calling the Meeting - read
The Inhabitants having as directed brought in their Votes for a Moderator, it Appeared, that the Honble : Samuel Adams Esqr. was chosen Moderator of this Meeting unanimously -
A Petition, that it might be made a Question, " Whether this Town shall be Incorporated with City Priviledges " - was read and a Motion made for its being dismissed - did not Obtain -
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CITY DOCUMENT.
It was then moved that a Committee be Appointed to take this Petition into consideration - And to Report a Plan for the future Goverment of the Town, to be laid before the Town for their consideration - the Question being put - Passed in the Affirma- tive -
Voted, that the Honble: Samuel Adams Esq". Dr. Charles Jarvis Esq". John Lucus Esqr. Thomas Daws Jun'. Esq". John Gardiner Esq". Joseph Barrell Esqr. [461.] William Tudor Esqr. Ezekiel Price Esqr. Thomas Crafts Esqr.
be a Committee for the purpose aforesaid
Adjourned to 3. O'Clock P : M :
3. OClock P : M : Met according to Adjournment -
The Petition of Alexander Thomas with the Papers accompany- ing it was red - whereupon
Voted, that Ezekiel Price Esq". Mr. Alexander Hill John Gardiner Esq".
be a Committee to take said Petition & Papers under considera- tion, and Report to the Town at the Adjournment -
The Article in the Warrant Vizt : "To consider whether any Measures shall be taken respecting the Granary - was read, whereupon
Voted, that Messrs : John Andrews Thomas Walley Jeremiah Belknap
be a Committee to take this matter into consideration, and to Report at the Adjournment
The Article in the Warrant Vizt. -
Whether Lynn Street and Ferry way Street shall be widned " - was read - whereupon moved, and
Voted, that a Committee be Appointed to take this matter into consideration and Report to the Town what is best to be done at the Adjournment
[462.] Voted, that the Gentelmen the Selectmen be a Com- mittee for the purpose aforesaid -
Moved & Voted, that the consideration of the Committee ap ..
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BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1785.
pointed to Revise the By Laws be referred untill the Committee Appointed in the Forenoon to take into consideration the Report of a Number of the Inhabitants, that it might be a Question - " Whether the Town shall be made a Corporation with City Priviledges shall make their Report - also
Voted, that. the Committee to make a Revision of the By Laws be desired to have a fair Draught taken at the charge of the Town -
Voted, that when this Meeting is Adjourned, it shall be to this Day fortnight being Wednesday the 9th of November next, 10' O'Clock A : M : and that the Committee to consider the Report of the Inhabitants this Day Appointed be desired to Report at the Adjournment -
Then the Meeting was accordingly Adjourned -
Wednesday 10th. O'Clock A : M : Met according to Adjourn- ment
The Committee Appointed to take into consideration the Peti- tion of a Number of the Inhabitants that it may again be made a Question, Whether the Town shall be Incorporated with City Priviledges - Reported
[463.] That the Committee having repeatedly met and con- sidered the said Petition could not agree upon any Plan for the future goverment of the Town -
It was moved, & the Question being accordingly put, Whether the Report of the Committee to make Revision of the By Laws be now read did not obtain -
The Above Question being again put Passed in the Affirmative
It was then moved & Voted, that a Committee be appointed to state the defects in the present Constitution of the Town and to Report how far the same may be remedid without having the Town Incorporated as a City, & how far and in what manner they or any of them may be cured by such Incorporation ---
Voted, that the Honble. Samuel Adams Esqr. Honble : James Sullivan Esqr. William Tudor Esqr. Dr : Charles Jarvis Joseph Barrel Esqr. (excused) John Gardiner Esq". Stephen Higginson Esqr. Thomas Crafts Esqr.
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CITY DOCUMENT.
Ezekiel Price Esqr. (excused)
Perez Morton Esq". John Sweetser Esqf. Thomas Daws Jun". Esqr. Ben ja : Hitchbourn Esqr. John Lucas Esqr. Mr. Joseph Russell
be a Committee for the purpose aforesaid
[464.] The Committee Appointed to take into consideration the Petition of Alexander Thomas Collector with the Papers Ac- companying them - Report ,
That having met and heard the Petitioners and taking the Papers accompanying the same under consideration are of Opinion that the Town cannot by Law Liberate the Petitioner from present confinement, he standing committed by force of an execution issued by the State Treasurer for the Sum of £504 ,, 2/ - part of the State Tax committed to him to Collect - The Committee are further of Opinion should the Town interfere in Matters of this kind, it might involve them in great difficulties -
The aforegoing Report having been read & considered, the Question was put whether the Same shall be Accepted - passed in the Affirmative -
Adjourned to Wednesday the 30th of November Inst: 10 - O'Clock A : M : then to meet at this Place
Wednesday November 30th-10-O'Clock A : M : Met Ac- cording to Adjournment -
The Committee Appointed to State the Defects in the present Constitution of the Town, and to report how far the same may be remedid without having the Town Incorporated as a City, and how far and in what Manner they or any of them may be cured by such Incorporation - " Reported, that having had three Meet- ings & fully considered the Matter contained in their Commis- sion, have directed me to Report as follows Vizt : - That the Committee do not Report any [465.] defects in the present Constitution of The Town " - whereupon, it was moved & Voted, that the consideration of said Report be deferred for 15 Minuetes, in expectation that the Meeting will then be fuller -
The Committee to whom was committed the several Reports of Other Committees, relative to a settlement of what was due to David Jeffries Esqr. for all his past services, have Attended that business, and After examining the Reports of the Other Commit- tees, & the Accompts settled by the last Committee, and having duly considered the same are of Opinion that there is Justly due
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BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1785.
to David Jeffries Esgr. late Town Treasurer for all his past ser- vices, "till the time he resigned, the Sum of Six hundred & eighty Pounds 8/4ª Specie, which he ought to have received in December 1783, which was the time the last Committee made their Report - and that the present Treasurer be directed to give him Negotiable Notes on Interest for the same -
All which is submitted Thomas
The aforegoing Report having been read & Amended in Meet- ing - the Question was put. Vizt. Whether the Town Accept of said Report thus Amended - Passed in the Affermative - Memº. Interest to commence the 30th November 1785
The Report Relative to Incorporation again taken up, and After debate had thereon the Question was put- Whether the Report shall be Accepted - Passed in the Affirmative
On a Motion Voted, that the Petitioners for an Incorporation of the Town have leave to withdraw their Petition -
[466.] The Committee to revise the By Laws of the Town Reported a Revision - after debate it was moved that the same be printed passed in the Negative -
Moved and Voted that when this Meeting is Adjourned it shall be to Tuesday next being the 6th of December next 9 O'Clock in the Forenoon for the consideration of the By Laws Reported - and that the reading of said Report commence precisely at 10 O'Clock -
And the Meeting was accordingly Adjourned -
Tuesday the 6th Day of December 9 O'Clock, Forenoon, Met according to Adjournment -
At 10, O'Clock the reading of the By Laws commenced, and several of them having been considered by paragraphs and ap- proved of, at 7 O : Clock in the Evening, Adjourned to to Morrow Morning 9. O'Clock before noon -
Wednesday the 7th Day of December 9 O'Clock A : M : Met According to Adjournment
The consideration of the By Laws Again taken up -
It is Voted, and Ordered that the Selectmen be and hereby are Instructed [469.] to prepare a By [law] relative to the regulation of the Market and Report the same to the Town as soon as may be -
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CITY DOCUMENT.
Adjourned to 3. O'Clock in the Afternoon
3. O'Clock P : M : Met according to Adjournment -
The By Laws still under consideration Adjourned to to Morrow Morning 9 O'Clock -
Tuesday 9 O'Clock, Forenoon met According to Adjournment -
The reading and consideration of the By Laws continued and a Number of the Laws approved of as by the Original Draught of By Laws will appear -
All the foregoing By Laws having been severally read and debated in paragraphs & passed by the Town, ORDERED, that the Selectmen together with the Honble : T. Payne Esqr. Honble. James Sullivan Esqr. be a Committee to present them to the Court of Quarter Sessions next to be holden at Boston for the County of Suffolk in order for their approbation -
It is Ordered that this Meeting be Adjourned to Wednesday the 28th of December Instant at 10 'O'Clock A : M : and that the Committee for revising and Amending the By Laws of the Town do in the mean time prepare such other Orders or By Laws to be laid before the Town as are already directed, with [468.] such Others as they shall think for their necessary for the future good goverment of the Town, & that they Report the same to the Town at such Adjourned Meeting - and that they cause such By Laws as have now passed the Town and have been so altered . as to require to be recopied fair in their Opinion to be so recopied fair in their Opinion & be so recopied at the expence of the Town -
And the Meeting was Adjourned accordingly -
Wednesday the 28th of December 10. O'Clock A: M : Met ac- cording to Adjournment -
The Committee to prepare a New Code of By Laws for the good goverment of the Town, Reported, other By Laws, which were Accepted by the Town, and the Committee chosen at the last Meeting were directed to present them to the Court of Ses- sions for their Approbation, as by Attested Copies of said By Laws on file will Appear
Moved & Voted that all Matters & things unfinished at this Meeting unfinished at this Meeting be referred over to the next General Town Meeting that may be called -
Then the Meeting was dissolved -
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BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1786.
[469.] 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 Wednesday the 25th. Day of January A : D : 1786-
Warrant for calling the Meeting - read
Requirement of two Justices of the Peace Quorum Unus Honble : Joseph Greenleaff & John Brown Esq : for convening the Inhabitants, for the choice of a County Treasurer, in the room of David Jeffries Esqr. deceased - also, read -
The Honble: Samuel Adams Esqr. was chosen Moderator of this Meeting by a Hand Vote -
Votes, for a County Treasurer were received and sealed up in Town Meeting, and then delivered to Mr. Constable Smith, to be by him returned to Joseph Greenleaf & John Brown Esqrs : at the Court House in Boston on the first Day of February next 4
The Article in the Warrant Vizt. - " To Act upon such of the By Laws as have not met with the Approbation of the Honble : the Justices of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace - was read - whereupon Moved &
Voted, that John Gardiner Esq". Joseph Greenleaff Esqr.
be a Committee to enquire of Ezekiel Price Esqr. [470.] Clark of the Sessions, which of the By Laws, if any such there be which have been presented for their Approbation, have not been Approbated by them -
Then the Meeting was Adjourned to Fryday nex -3- O'Clock P: M : before which the Town Clark was directed to give to the Assessors an Other Attested Copy of a Town Vote relative to Benja : Sumner Jur. & Other Assessors which passed the 2ª. of Septem". last
Fryday, 3, O'Clock P : M : Met according to Adjournment -
The Committee to enquire of the Clerk of the Sessions, what By Laws had been disapprobated Reported - wereupon
The By Laws relative to Carriages Drawn thro' the Town, which was disapproved of by the Sessions, being read and amended, the Committee Appointed at a former Meeting, was directed to present this Order or By Law as thus amended to the Court of Sessions for their Approbation -
The Law relative to Cart & Truck Wheels which had been dis- approved, was also read & as amended, the said Commee : were directed to present it to the Sessions for their Approbation
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CITY DOCUMENT.
It was moved & Voted, that the Committee aforesaid present again the Law relative to Strangers, and in case it should be dis- approved by the Sessions that the Law now in force be inserted in the Codes of Laws ordered to be printed -
[4]1.] Moved & Voted, that the Committee for revising & preparing a Code of By Laws for the Goverment of this Town be directed that in case it shall Appear that in case it shall Appear that any of the Laws of this Commonwealth or the former By Laws of the Town, which they may Apprehend to be Necessary for the better goverment of the Town & which they may have overlooked be by them inserted in the Code of Laws, which the Town have passed, and ordered to be Printed -
Then the Meeting was dissolved
[Pages 472 & 473 are repetitions (in original) of page 470 & 471.]
[474.] At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhab- itants of the Town of Boston duly qualified & legally warned in publick Town Meeting Assembled at Fanuiel Hall on Monday the 13th Day of March Anno Domini 1786-10 OClock Fore- noon
Prayer was made by the Revd : Mr : Stillman
Warrant for calling the Meeting - read
Sundry Laws for enjoined to be read at this Meeting were ac- cordingly - read
The Inhabitants were directed to withdraw and bring in their Votes for a Moderator of this Meeting, and the Same being brought and Sorted
It appeared, that the
Honble : Samuel Adams Esqr.
was chosen -
William Cooper Esq".
was chosen Town Clark for the Year ensuing and took the Oath for the faithful discharge of his Duty, which Oath was adminis- tered to him by Mr. Justice Price
The Town having determined by a Vote to choose nine Select- men the Inhabitants withdrew & were then directed [45.] to bring in their Votes for that Number, and the same being brought in and sorted; it Appeared that the following Gentle- men - Vizt. -
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.
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1786.
John Scollay Esq™ : Ezekiel Price Esq™ : Harbottle Dorr Esq" : John Brown Esq™ : Capt : Edward Tyler Mr. John Andrews
Mr. Moses Grant
Mr. William Cunningham
Thomas Walley Esq".
Moved & Voted, that the Thanks of the Town be and hereby are given to the Gentelmen Who served the Town the last year (as Selectmen) for their good and faithful services the last year in that Office -
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
The following Extract from the Will of the late worthy Treas- urer David Jeffries Esqr. was handed into the Moderator of the Meeting by the [476.] Executor, and being read to the Inhab- itants, it was moved & Voted that the same be entered on the Records of the Town -
The EXTRACT is- as follows - Vizt : -
" For as much as the Town of Boston has done me the honor of Electing me to the Office of Town Treasurer in constant suc- cession from the Year of our Lord 1750 to 1781 -inclusive, and whereas the said Town of Boston have also honored me with their suffrages for the Office of Treasurer for the County of Suf- folk, since the Year 1778 my Will is and I do Give Divise & Bequeath to the said Town of Boston two hundred Acres of my Lands, at Kennebeck - Vizt. - The Lot of Land in Pond Town (so called) in the County of Lincoln, being one Mile long and one hundred Poles wide, and contains two hundred Acres, more or less, and is called Lot No. 39-and was assigned by the Kennebeck Proprietors as by their Vote & Grant the 12th Day of December 1770 and their Plan dated June 11th. 1776 may more fully Appear the said Land to be wholly under the directions & care of the Overseers of the Poor for the time being, or the Major Part of them who are hereby Authorized & impowered to Sell or Let the same or otherwise improve the said Land as they shall Judge to be most for the benefit of the Town, the Monies or Profits, arrising from the Rent or the Interest of the Money or or Profits arising from the Sale of said Lands to be applied An- nually forever to purchase [447.] Tea Chocolate & Sugar for the refreshment of those Persons who in the Providence of God
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CITY DOCUMENT.
are or shall be reduced & obliged to take shelter in the Alms- house after having lived respectably, the Overseers of the Poor to be the Judges as to the Persons, but always giving the prefer- ence to the Pious Poor " -
Adjourned to 3 O'Clock P. M.
3 O'Clock P : M : Met according to Adjournment -
The Inhabitants brought in their Votes for twelve Constables, and the same being sorted, it appeared, that
Mess's : Benjamin Homans Samuel Whitney
Pool Spear
Shubael Hews
William Patten
Jacob Good
James Williams
John Cade
John Bartlet
Francis Booth
Samuel Smith
John Butterfield
were chosen Constables for the Year ensuing.
[478.] Person Voted, for as a County Register with the Number of Votes for each Person Vizt_
Votes
Joshua Henshaw Esqr.
350
Mr. Nathaniel Green
470
Thomas Crafts Esqr.
2
Samuel Ruggles Esq".
1
Mr. Jacob Cooper
13
Attested Copies of the Persons Voted for as a County Register for the County of Suffolk were committed to the Clerk of the Sessions, and the Inclosures sealed up in Town Meeting sub- scribed as follows - Vizt __
To the Clerk of the Sessions for the County of Suffolk -
The Number of Votes of the Town of Boston for a County Register for the County of Suffolk Certified within and sealed up in Town Meeting -
Votes, for a County Treasurer, were received & sealed up in Town Meeting and then delivered to Constable Smith to be by him returned to the Court of General Sessions of the Peice at their next Meeting -
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BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1786.
Voted, that John Sweetser Esq". Nath1. Appleton Esqr. Colº. Tuder Colº. Dudley Sergeant Thomas Walley Esqr.
[479.] be a Committee to Estimate what may be the Expences of the present year; as also to enquire into the services of the several Salary Men, - to Report at the intended Adjournment of this Meeting next Wednesday seven Night 10 O'Clock - A. M- and the Town Clark is directed to give Notice thereof in the Public Papers -
Selectmen
Appointed a Committee to visit the Public Schools the ensuing Year -
Mr. Josiah Torrey's Petition -read - whereupon - Voted, that the same be referred for consideration to the Committee Appointed to bring in an Estimate - to Report at the Adjourn- ment the 22d. March Inst.
The Petition relative to Sea Street read - whereupon Voted, - that
Mr. Thomas Denny Shrimpton Hutchinson Esq". Mr. William Parsons
be a Committee to enquire who are the Proprietors of the Wharff and Report what may be proper to be done thereon
Mrs : Margaret Parker's Petition - read whereupon, Voted that
Honblee James Sullivan Esqr : John Gardiner Esq". William Tudor Esq™ :
be a Committee to consider the same and to Report thereon at the Adjournment the 22 March Inst : -
[480.] Adjourned to to Morrow 9. O'Clock
Tuesday 9. O : Clock Met According
The Request of Alexander Thomas late Collector was read - whereupon -
Voted, that the Honble : James Sullivan Esq" : John Gardiner Esq" : William Tudor Esq™ :
be a Committee to consider the same & Report at the Adjourn- ment -
The Article in the Warrant, relative to the Inchroachments on
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CITY DOCUMENT.
Towns Land near Olivers Dock Together with the Petition handed in on that matter to the Selectmen for calling a Meeting - read - whereupon Voted, that, the Selectmen together with Judge Sullivan, be a Committee to take this Matter up at large and Report at the Adjournment -
The Article in the Warrant Vizt. Whether Measures shall im- mediately be come into for widening the Street leading from Charlestown Ferry to Winnesimit Ferry " - read and committed to the Selectmen - to Report at the Adjournment
The Request of the Proprietors of Land on the Neck " that their bounds on the West side of the Neck should be extended," - read, and committed for consideration to the Selectmen, they to Report at the Adjournment
[481.] The Petition of a Number of the Inhabitants, "that the Town will take into consideration the mode of letting the Hay Engine " -read & committed to the Selectmen they to Act thereon as in their Judgment they shall think meat conducive to Justice & for the benefit of the Town
The Article in the Warrant Vizt: - What measures shall be taken relative to the old Continental Bills now in the Treasurey " - read whereupon Voted that
Nath1 : Appleton Esq" : Edward Payne Esq". Stephen Higginson Esqr. a Committee to take this matter into Consideration - & Report at the Adjournment
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