USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Volume of records relating to the early history of Boston : containing Boston town records, 1796 to 1813 > Part 21
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Voted That the Thanks of the Town be given to the Hon. John Phillips Esq. for his services as Moderator of this Meeting.
Then the Meeting was Dissolved.
[407.] At a Meeting of the Male Inhabitants of the Town of Boston of twenty one years of age & upwards qualified as the Constitution prescribes and Legally warned in public Town Meeting Assembled at Faneuil Hall on Monday the 2ª. Day of April Anno Domini 1810 .- 9 O'Clock A.M .-
Prayer by Rev. Doct. Eckley. -
Warrant for calling the Meeting - read. --
Paragraphs of the Constitution or Frame of Government, rela- tive to the choice of Governour Lieutenant Governour & Senators, were read. - Also, an extract from a Law of the Commonwealth, dividing the State into Districts for the choice of Counsellors & Senators - was read .-
It was then declared by the Selectmen, that no Vote shall be received, but such as are unfolded - that the Poll shall be closed at half past 2 O'Clock P.M. and that the Bells begin tolling at 2 O'Clock & continue for half an hour .-
Persons Voted for as Governour, with the Number of Votes for each Person - viz.
His Excy. Christopher Gore Esq 3076
Honbl. Elbridge Gerry Esq. 2211
Hon Theodore Sedgwick Esq 1
Persons Voted for as Lieutenant Governour, with the num- ber of Votes for each Person
[408] viz. Ilis Honour David Cobb Esq. 3079
Ilon William Gray Esq 2208
Persons Voted for as Senators for the County of Suffolk, with the number of Votes for each Person viz.
265
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1810.
Hon. Harrison G. Otis Esq.
3079
Hon. John Phillips Esq 3079
Hon. William Spooner 3077
Hon. Peter C. Brooks Esq 3078
Hon. John Welles Esq.
3079
Hon. David Tilden Esq. 2199
Samuel Brown Esq. - 2198
Edward Proctor Esq. 2199
Russell Sturgis Esq. 2200
Caleb Bingham Esq -
2199
William Sullivan Esq 1. David Townsend Esq 1
Attested Copies or return of the persons Voted for as Gover- nour, Lieutenant Governour and Senators for the County of Suffolk, sealed up in Town Meeting after the Vote had been de- clared, to be transmitted to the Secretary of the Commonwealth as prescribed by Law & directed as follows --- viz .-
To William Tudor Esq Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. - Votes of the Town of Boston for Governour, Lieut. Governour & Five Senators for the County of Suffolk, sealed up in open Town Meeting .-
Then the Meeting was Dissolved .-
[409.] At a Meeting of the Male Inhabitants of the Town of Boston of 21 years of age & upwards, qualified as the Con- stitution prescribed and legally warned in public Town Meeting Assembled at Faneuil Hall on Wednesday the 16th. Day of May A.D. 1810 - 9 O'Clock A.M .-
The Meeting opened with Prayer, by the Rev. Doct - Baldwin .-
Warrant for calling the Meeting read. -
That part of the Constitution or frame of Government which relates to the choice of Representatives -read. -
The return of the Assessors signifying that the Major & minor rateable Polls of this Town for the present year were 9557 - being also read -
The Inhabitants were directed by the Selectmen to bring in their Votes, for Representatives ; not exceeding 42-& that they propose the Poll shall be closed at 2 O'Clock -the Bells to commence tolling at half past 1 O'Clock P.M. -
The Votes being brought in, sorted & counted, it appeared at
266
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 115.
the close of the Poll, that the following Gentlemen were elected Representatives for the year ensuing - viz
William Smith
Samuel Cobb
William Brown
Jonª. Hunnewell
William Sullivan
William Philips
Francis Wright
Benja Russell
Daniel Sargent
Thoss. W. Sumner
Benjamin Whitman
Charles Davis
James Robinson
Jacob Welsh
William Hammatt
John Parker
Eben". T. Andrews
Francis D. Channing
William H. Sumner
Ephraim Thayer
Josiah Knapp
Benjamin Weld
Oliver Keating
Nathan Webb
Dan1. Messinger
Wm Walter
Warren Dutton
George G. Lee
Isaac P. Davis
Thomas Danforth
William Tudor Jun".
Elisha Sigourney
John Winslow
George Blanchard
Sam1. M. Thayer
Gamaliel Bradford
John May
William Porter
John Wells
Nathaniel Curtis
John Chandler
1
Declaration of the Choice was then made, & the Meeting was Dissolved. -
[411.] 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 Thursday the 17th. Day of May A. D. 1810-10 O'Clock A.M.
Warrant for calling the Meeting - read -
Hon. William Brown Esq.
chosen Moderator by a hand Vote. -
Thomas Dennie & Simon Elliot Esquires having resigned the office of Fire Wards-James Robinson & Samuel M. Thayer Esquires were chosen Fire Wards for the year ensuing in their Stead. -
Voted, That the Thanks of the Town be given to Thomas Dennie & Simon Elliot Esquires for their faithful services as Firewards for a number of years past.
Mr Henry Blake was chosen a surveyor of Boards & Shingles, in place of a surveyor of Lumber deceased.
[410.] John Callender
267
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1810.
The Committee appointed at a Meeting of the Town of Boston on the 2ª day of August last "to consider the expediency of encouraging the continuation of Front-Street, from its present termination at the South-Bridge, to the end of the Brush-hill Turnpike, near the Roxbury Canal, by a grant to the undertakers of part of the land on the Neck, which will border on said Street," have attended to the duty Assigned to them, & Report as follows :
[412.] They find that on the 14th day of June A.D. 1806, by an act to establish the second Brush-hill Turnpike Corpora- tion, authority was given by the Legislature, so to extend the Brush-hill Turnpike, as would effect the Junction thereof with the southern termination of Front-Street, - No measures, however, have been pursued to carry this enterprize into operation ; prob- ably on account of the heavy expences necessarily incident to the undertaking, & to the precarious prospect of remuneration to those who should make the requisite advances .-
The plan accompanying this Report will exhibit, with sufficient precision, the course of the intended road ; and the Committee are fully convinced, that such an extension of Front-Street would be very advantageous to the Town .- Besides the obvious benefit & convenience of another avenue, in that direction, it appears evident that the Town's land on the Neck, would be increased in value, and the Town would be relieved from the expence of sup- porting a dyke, which it is now necessary to maintain, between the present road & the Shore .-
The distance from the end of Front-Street to the Towns Marsh, in a direct line over the flats, is one hundred & sixty nine rods .-
The expence of making the road over this extent, according to an estimate exhibited to the Committee, which they believe to be correct, would be 42392 dollars 80 Cents. From the flats to Roxbury landing place, the distance is [413] 121 rods, and the computed expence of making the road over this distance, includ- ing bridges is $8535.20. the aggregate expence amounting to 50,928 dollars .-
This estimate has been formed from the actual expence of Front- Street
From a view of the whole subject, of the obvious benefit to the Town of Boston from the proposed improvement, of the heavy expence at which it must be accomplished ; and of the uncertainty of reimbursement to the undertakers ; or of a suitable interest for their expenditures, the Committee consider it reasonable & expe- dient for the Town, to offer the following inducements to those Gentlemen who may within a reasonable time, procure the con- templated road to be completed. -
1st. Liberty to make the road over the Towns land, free of compensation to the Town, for such portion of their land as may be necessarily occupied by said road.
2ª. A grant of the Marsh & flats belonging to the Town, eastward of the road & between the same & the Channel.
268
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 115.
3ª. A grant of one half of the Towns land on the western side of the proposed road, to the extent of 150 feet from said road, to be assigned to the undertakers, in alternate lots : the whole land comprehended between the westerly side of the road and a line parallel thereto, at 150 feet distance [414] (excepting what may be reserved for Streets) being first laid out in convenient lots by mutual arrangement between the undertakers & the Selectmen, or other Agents of the Town .-
The above grants to be gratuitous, but comprizing however, these conditions ; that the road be completed within three years from this date ; - that it be in every respect conformable to the requirements of the act above mentioned, or to the acceptance of the Selectmen ; that Streets be reserved of such number ; width & direction, on the western side of said road as are delineated on the plan accompanying this Report, or of such other description as may be satisfactory to the Town or its properly authorized officers : that the space of ten feet on each side of said road shall forever remain unincumbered with buildings, as by agreement respecting the Front Street, subject only to like exceptions as expressed in that agreement, so that the part of said road, which may fall within the Town of Boston, shall correspond in width with Front Street.
Signed, (Boston Nov. 6th. 1809) William Parsons Tristam Barnard
John Davis, John Joy, Redford Webster, William Hammatt, John Phillips - Committee.
The foregoing Report having been read, a Motion was made to accept the Report of the Committee; which after being debated, & some explanations given by the Moderator- it passed in the Affirmative. -
[415.] The Report of the Committee chosen to consider the application of the heirs of Gov. Hancock, being read & debated ; a Motion was made that the subject should subside for the present - the question being taken it passed in the negative .-
A motion was then made to refer the further consideration of this Report to the Adjournment - which passed in the affirmative
The article in the Warrant " to consider the claim of the heirs of the late W". Cooper Esq. for arrears of the grants in addition to his salary as Town Clerk"- was read together with a state- ment of facts exhibited by the Selectmen on the same subject - whereupon Voted, That the application of the heirs of the late William Cooper Esq. for the arrears of Grants &c with the Statement of the Selectmen thereon be committed to the Auditors of Accounts and the Committee on the resources of the Town ; to report at the Adjournment.
269
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1810.
On the Article in the Warrant " viz to consider the expedi- ency of appointing Agents with full powers to compromise with Ward Nicholas Boylston Esq. all the claims of the Town now in suit against him as Administrator on the Estate of Thomas Boylston Esq. deceased " was read & after some debate it was - Voted, That the Selectmen be a Committee to Adjust, settle & compromise all Claims of [416] the Town of Boston to the Estate both real and personal of Thomas Boylston, with Ward Nicholas Boylston Administrator with the Will annexed on said Estate, upon such terms & conditions as they or a majority of them shall determine to be for the best interest of the Town under all circumstances; and that they be authorized, upon receiving such compensation, or security for compensation as they may agree upon ; to make & execute to said Ward Nicholas Boylston & his Assigns, all such releases, Assignments & Con- veyances of their said claims, and all such Letters of Attorney empowering him to recover & receive the same to his use; as they may deem proper .-
Adjourned to Thursday next 10'O'Clock.
Thursday May 24th. 1810. Met according to Adjournment.
The Report of the Auditors of the Town's Accounts, was read As also the report of the Committee on the resources of the Town. -
Voted, That the Report of the Committee on the resources of the Town, be printed for the information of the Inhabitants .-
Voted, That an Exhibit of the receipts and expenditures of the Town be printed with the Report of the Committee. -
The Committee to whom was referred the claim made by the Administrator of the late William Cooper Esq. Town Clerk. [417] Report that from the lapse of time & other circum- stances attending the grant of Two hundred Pounds, which was made in the year 1783, of which one hundred & fifty pounds was never received by him. it would not be proper nor expedient to allow Interest. But in as much as in the year 1806, there was a formal liquidation of his accounts, and at that time there was due to him including all demands Twenty three hundred & fifty eight Dollars thirty two Cents, And as the equity or liberality of the Town might as relates to the services of so ancient and faithful an officer be more confidently appealed to. Your Committee therefore recommend, that the said sum of twenty three hundred & fifty-eight Dollars, thirty two cents be paid which appears to be due, with the further sum of five hundred & sixty five Dollars & ninety two cents, making in all Twenty nine hundred & twenty
270
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 115.
four Dollars twenty four cents. Provided the same be received in full for all services & of all demands by the Administrator on Estate of the late William Cooper Esq. as Town Clerk of the Town of Boston.
Boston May 21. 1810.
Signed Samuel Brown William Brown Ben ja. Austin John Welles
[418.] A motion was made & seconded, that the Report be accepted.
The question being put, it passed unanimously in the Affirmative .-
Voted, that the Report of the joint Committee be referred to the Adjournment.
Voted, that this Meeting be Adjourned to Thursday 14th day of June next .-
The Meeting was Adjourned accordingly.
Met According to Adjournment.
The Moderator being absent, The Hon. David Tilden Esq was chosen Moderator pro. tem .-
The Committee appointed to take into consideration the RE- SOURCES of the Town, and to devise a mode for speedily discharg- ing the Debts. Also to consider if any improvements can be made to secure a more prompt collection of Taxes, have attended to these Duties & Offer the following Report for the consideration of their fellow Citizens .-
The Committee in order to comply with the directions given them "to take into consideration the resources of the Town " have thought proper to ascertain the amount of their Debts, and to state particularly the several items which constitute the demands upon them - They find that the sum due from the Town amounts to 128,827 Dollars, which is taken from the following Statement, handed them by the Treasurer - viz.
[419.] On Selectmens drafts 6784.56
Board of Health
503.21
Overseers
9191.05
County of Suffolk -
36417.06
State Tax for 1809 22694.66 Due at the Banks 41000 .-
Due on other Notes
12236.58
Dollars 128827.12
271
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1810.
The Committee have also received from the Selectmen, the following Document as embracing the Resources of the Town, from whence the foregoing Arrearages are contemplated to be cancelled -
viz. Outstanding Taxes, after deducting abatement of 14000 Dollars $86,224.47 Balance due from Mr. Curtis, for land 1800 .-
Land near South Bridge, Appropriated to meet
the Expences of Faneuil Hall valued at - 6000.0
Beacon Hill at the lowest estimation 12000.
Dolls .- 106,024.47
Leaving a ballance of 22802. Dollars and 65 Cents, to be pro- vided for from other resources .-
In addition to which, the Committee are informed by a Statement made by the Selectmen, that there is about 16500 feet of land already filled up on the Mill Pond, and that 23000 feet more will be completed in October next and that the Town's proportion of land will be about 150,000 feet when the business is finished.
The lands on the Boston Neck computed [420] at 45 or 50 Acres, are also considered as a valuable and growing property, to be appropriated as occasions require, to discharge the debts, & other exigencies of the Town. -
A further estimate of resources is calculated to arise from Rents & improvements of Faneuil Hall, and the Old State House, which now produce about 10,500 dollars annually. -
The Committee having thus considered the Debts of the Town, which include the balances due on the Alms House, and the enlargement of Faneuil Hall, (expences which probably will not again take place for many years, ) do think that a small proportion of the above mentioned Resources of the Town are fully adequate for cancelling our present arrearages, in a few years, provided the expenditures should be conducted upon the principles of economy, which the Committee most earnestly recommend on all Money transactions. -
The Committee however would inform their Fellow Citizens that further Expences to the County will soon be realized from the building of a New Court House, which is contemplated to be erected this Year; but they expect, that the property of the Town as described in this report, together with the usual Annual Taxes will furnish ample Funds for all future exigencies. - The Committee would further Report "On the mode for speedily discharging the Towns Debts " that it be recommended to the Town to empower the Selectmen to sell the 39.500 feet of land which will be filled up on the Mill Pond in October next, together with such parts of the other real [421] Estates as may be thought advisable for raising Forty two Thousand five hundred & Ninety two Dollars Sixty four Cents which is the balance of the Towns debt as Stated by the Auditors of the Treasurer's Accounts.
272
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 115.
It is with regret, that the Committee are obliged to observe that a large amount of Taxes is still unpaid, they therefore think it expedient in Order to adopt " some mode for speedily discharg- ing the Town's Debts," to enjoin on the Constables the most prompt attention to the execution of all warrants delivered them by the Treasurer for the collection of Taxes, And, as it is impossible for the debts of the Town to be discharged without some efficient exertions on the Part of the Citizens, the Commit- tee are constrained to call on them to cancel their dues as speedily as possible - Though it is a most unpleasant duty to distress Indi- viduals in the Collection of Taxes, yet the demands upon the Town from its improvements and extension are so pressing, as to make it necessary for every person in arrears to discharge his quota of the Public expences without puting the Treasurer to the disagreeable task of enforcing by Law what Justice requires of the Delinquent. - In Order to which, the Committee recom- mend to the Town to prohibit the two Months indulgence which has hitherto been enjoined on the Treasurer in collecting Taxes, and leave him to do all which the law directs in the collection - Recommending at the Same time as much discretion and Lenity as the nature and urgency of the Demand will permit. -
[422.] The Committee consider the above particulars as embracing the several Subjects committed to them; they there- fore submit the above plain and concise statement of the Debts & Resources of the Town, to the candid consideration of their fellow Citizens, for the Purpose of adopting such measures as their wisdom may direct. -
Signed Joseph Russell William Brown Samuel Brown Benjamin Austin John Phillips John Welles
The foregoing Report having been read & considered. it was.
Voted, to accept the Report of the Committee with this restriction, that the lands therein recommended for sale, be not disposed of without further Orders from the Town .-
The Report of the Committee on the Subject of Beacon Hill was again taken up & after considerable debate it was Voted, that the Subject should subside .-
The Committee appointed to Audit the Town's Accounts, have attended that service & ask leave to Report, that they have examined the Town Treasurers Accounts & find them right cast and well vouched - and that the following Account comprises the Debits & Credits of the Town with him
273
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1810.
The presumtive deficiency due from the Town (after allowing for the probable abatement of Taxes) [423] will be Forty two Thousand five hundred and ninety two Dollars 64 Cents, as Appears below .-
Dr. Due on Selectmens drafts
6784.55
6 Board of Health
503.21
" Overseers
9191.5
" County of Suffolk
36417.6
6 State Tax 22694.66
" Due at Banks
41000 .-
66 Other Notes -
12236.58
Dolls. $128,827.11
Cr.
Outstanding Taxes
1803
750.55
66
- 1804 -
2916.57
66
1805
4742.16
66
1806
10536.93
66
-
1807
-
13998.48
66
1808
15304.70
66
1809
49940.91
98190.30
Cash on hand -
2034.17
Dolls. $100,224.47
From this deduct the
14,000 .-
leaves a deficiency to be
-
86,224.47
provided for -
42,592.64
Dolls. $128,827.11
The Committee Report an estimate of the expences for the present year, as follows, viz.,
School Masters & Ushers
13.800 -
Repairs of Schools Fuel &c
1.500
Town Watch
6.300
Town Treasurer & Collector
1.500
Three Assessors
2,448.
$25.548 -
[424.]
25,548 .-
Town Clerk
1,000 .--
Police Officers
1,400 .-
Constables services -
500 .-
-
probable Abatements
274
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 115.
Judge Municipal Court
750 .-
Messenger to Selectmen
350 .-
Dorr Keeper to Faneuil Hall 100 .-
Engines, Repairs &c.
Bells & Clocks -
Incidental Charges -
Overseers of the Poor
Board of Health -
6,000 .-
Lamps Oil & Lighting
Printing & Stationery
500. -
In addition to the above usual expences provision must be made for the award of 5,000 -
Referees for widening Exchange Lane
$79,148.
Arrears due the Estate of -
William Cooper Esq" abt. - -
- 3.000. -
Dolls. $82.148 .-
From the above Statement your Committee are of Opinion that a Tax of Seventy Thousand Dollars should be Assessed the present year on the Inhabitants to defray the expences of the Town -
all which is submitted. -
Signed Joseph Russell Samuel Brown William Brown
[425.] Boston 22ª. May 1810.
The foregoing Report having been read & considered -it was,
Voted to accept the report of the Committee with this Amend- ment, viz, to add Twelve Thousand Dollars to the Report, for the purpose of paying for Land purchased of Mr. Weld on Cops Hill, and other purposes. - and it was
Voted, that the Sum of Eighty Two Thousand Dollars be raised by a Tax to be Assessed on the Polls & Estates of the Inhabitants of the Town, to defray the expences the current year .-
Voted, that the sum of Seven hundred & fifty Dollars, be allowed & paid unto Hon. Thomas Dawes Esq. for his Salary as Judge of Municipal Court the present year .-
Voted, that the sum of Fifteen hund Dollars be allowed &
500 .- 500 .- 2,000 .- 20,000 .-
Paving Streets 8.000 - 7.000 .-
Dolls. $74,148 .-
275
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1810.
paid unto William Smith Esq. as Treasurer & Collector of Taxes the present year, he to pay his Clerk, Assistant, Office hire and all other expences of Office .-
Voted, that the sum of one Thousand Dollars be allowed & paid unto Thomas Clark for his salary as Town Clerk the year ensuing .-
Voted, that the sum of Eight hundred & Sixteen Dollars be allowed & paid unto each of the three Assessors for their ser- vices in that Office the year ensuing .-
Voted, that the Sum of Five hundred Dollars be allowed & paid unto the Town Advocate for his Salary the year ensuing - he to account with the Town for all fees received by him, & that he be [426] allowed to retain all fees received by him from the first of August, to the first day of March last, as his Salary.
Voted, that the Thanks of the Town be given to the Modera- tors of this Meeting, for their services.
Then the Meeting was Dissolved.
At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, at Faneuil Hall on Wednesday the 4th day of July A.D. 1810. 9 oClock A.M.
Thomas Clark, was chosen Moderator .-
The Committee Appointed the last year to make choice of a Gentleman to deliver an Oration on the Anniversary of Indepen- dence - Reported,
That they had chosen Alexander Townsend Esq. who has accepted of the appointment .-
Adjourned to the old South Church 12 ºClock - where -
AN ORATION
was delivered by Alexander Townsend Esq., to commemorate the Independence of the United States of America.
on Motion, Voted, that the Selectmen be, and hereby are appointed a Committee to wait on Alexander Townsend Esq., in the name of the Town, and thank him for the elegant and Spirited Oration, this day delivered by him [427] at the request of the Town, upon the Anniversary of American Independence, in which were considered the feelings, manners, and principles, which produced
276
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 115.
the great national event; and to request of him a Copy for the press. -
Voted that the Gentlemen, Selectmen be & hereby are appointed a Committee, to apply to some able & learned Gentleman to deliver an Oration on the 4th day of July 1811. - That day being the Anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America ; wherein the Orator is to consider, the feelings, man- ners, and principles which led to this great National Event; as well as the important & happy effects, whether General or Domestic, which have already, or will forever flow from that Auspicious Epoch. -
Then the Meeting was Dissolved.
At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston duly qualified and legally warned in public Town Meeting Assembled at Faneuil Hall on Wednesday the 1st. day of August A.D. 1810. 10 Clock A.M. -
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