USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Volume of records relating to the early history of Boston : containing Boston town records, 1796 to 1813 > Part 28
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Boston July 12th. 1813. Charles Bulfinch, Chairman
The foregoing Report was read and accepted by the Town.
[542.] The Committee of Finance to whom was referred the consideration of the salaries to be paid to the Treasurer and Collector & his deputies, report as their opinion - That there be allowed to those officers for the four Months, commencing in March last & ending July 4th. at the same rate to each, as was voted to them by the Town last year viz.
To the Town Treasurer & Collector 1500 P Ann. is 500 To each Deputy Collector - 300 D° - 100
Treasurers Clerk - 600 D° -
- 200
Boston July 2ª. 1813.
P order Charles Bulfinch Chairman
The foregoing Report being read a motion was made that the same be accepted by the Town, which being put passed in the affirmative
The following proceedings of the Convention was laid before the Town -vizt.
At a meeting of the Convention composed of the Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor & Board of Health, on Wednesday June 30th. 1813- Voted, That it be recommended to the Town, as the opinion of this Convention, that the sum of twenty five hundred Dollars be allowed to the Treasurer & Collector in full compen- sation for their services for one year ensuing, & for such Clerks and deputies as they may find it necessary to employ .-
A true Copy from the proceedings of the Convention
Attest. Tho. Clark. Town Clerk.
Voted, That the sum of twenty five hundred dollars be allowed & paid unto the Treasurer & Collector for the year ensuing, agree- able to the foregoing recommendation.
Voted, That Joseph Foster, Bryant P. Tilden & Samuel Dorr Esq. be and hereby are appointed a Committee to [543] audit the Accounts of the late Town Treasurer, to receive from him the Books, records & papers belonging to the Treasury department,
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BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1813.
& those of the Collector of taxes, & to transfer the same to the new Treasurer.
Edward Tuckerman William Brown
Joshua Davis
William Hammatt
Peter O Thacher &
Thomas Dawes Esquires.
were chosen Trustees of the land on Boston Neck. --
Then the Meeting was Dissolved.
At a legal Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, assembled in Faneuil Hall on Wednesday the 20th. day of October A.D. 1813 - 10 O'Clock AM.
Warrant for calling the Meeting - read.
Hon1. Thomas Dawes Esq. chosen Moderator.
The Committee appointed on the Petition of Isaac P. Davis & others Reported,
That they have maturely considered the subject committed to them, have viewed plans of the dams and basins proposed to be connected with this Town, and the other extensive improve- ments projected by the petitioners. - They have principally con- fined themselves to the consideration of that part of the plan, which immediately relates to the interest of the Town's land, and the private abutters. The Committee publicly invited all per- sons to appear and state their objections to the proposed project. A memorial was received from a [544] number, but the Com- mittee are happy to state, that few material objections have been made, and that they can be in a great measure obviated by suit- able provisions to be inserted in the grant from the Town, and in the act of incorporation. -
The Committee have considered, that if, to the commercial advantages of this Town, permanent establishments for manu- factures of various useful kinds could be added, the interest of the Town would be greatly promoted ; large amounts of capital, which are forcing their way in distant & inconvenient situations, would be retained among us ; all classes of our citizens would find new sources of employment ; and an extensive tract of land, the property of the Town, would be rendered valuable, and in a few years be covered with the habitations of useful and industri- ous citizens, adding strength to the Town, and a permanent accumulation of its resources. The design of the petitioners appears to embrace these desirable objects in a more extensive degree, than any which has hitherto been offered for public con- sideration ; and should the plan be adapted in its full extent, by which it is contemplated to form a communication, by means of
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 115.
the Middlesex canal, of Charlestown, Cambridge, Watertown, Brighton, Brookline and Roxbury, with the great basin west of the neck, a field for improvement & enterprize would be exhibited on all the shores opposite to the western & southerly sides of the Town.
The Committee therefore propose, that the Town should express their approbation of the plan of the petitioners, on the following conditions. -
That the Town will cede or grant to the corporation when organized, the land and flatts lying about the shores of the bay west of Boston neck, as they are limited and circumscribed by streets laid down on a plan herewith [545] presented, and which are described as follows.
Beginning at a point 450 feet west of Beacon street, thence running Southerly to a point in the direction of the middle line of South Bridge street, and 550 feet distant from the west side of Orange street, thence Southwesterly to the Westerly line of Suf- folk street, as laid down in the plan of Town lands, being 350 feet from Washington street, thence Westerly at a right angle on Dedham street 350 feet, thence Southerly at a right angle on Middlesex street 500 feet, thence Westerly at a right angle on Brookline street 350 feet, thence Southerly at a right angle on Worcester street 900 feet, thence Westerly at a right angle on Concord street 350 feet, thence again Southerly at a right angle on Hampshire street 1000 feet, and lastly at a right angle westerly on Northampton street about 1000 feet to the boundary line between the Towns of Boston and Roxbury. The Town and individual proprietors to retain all the land and flats within said streets.
This Grant be upon the following conditions.
1 st. That said corporation shall, within five years from the first day of January 1815, cause to be erected, in a direction pre- scribed by the legislature, and not further North or East than South Boston bridge, a firm solid Dam from Boston to South Boston, faced with stone on the Northeasterly side at the least, well calculated to endure, and effectually to keep out the tide waters from the eastern basin, with gates, sluiceways &c proper to let the water out of said basin.
2ª. That said Corporation shall, within the said time, cause to be erected from the end of Beacon street, to some point directed by the General Court, a firm & solid Dam, well calculated to endure, and effectually to retain the tide waters within the basin formed thereby ; with gates, sluiceways, &c, proper to admit the tide waters and to retain the same; such Dam, or such part thereof as shall be necessary [546] for a Street to Roxbury or Brookline, to be at least forty two feet wide at the top, and of an height sufficient for a good and permanent road thereon, and faced on both sides with substantial Stone walls, except in those
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BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1813.
places reserved for Gates and sluices. Which road over said Dam, shall within the same time, be established and finished, in a manner to be provided for by the act of incorporation. 3d. - That the said Corporation, or other persons having a right from said Corporation, shall within five years from 1st. January 1815, erect and employ Mills, with machinery of sufficient power to turn fourteen pair of common sized Mill stones, upon sluice- ways leading across Washington street; and in case said Cor- poration shall fail to perform either of the above conditions within the time aforesaid, then the grant from the Town of Bos- ton shall be wholly void, and the land and flats shall revert to the Town .-
4th. And if at any time after the 1st January 1820, either from the insufficiency of the Dams, want of water, or other cause, there shall fail, for one year, to be kept employed a power suffi- cient to turn fourteen pair of Mill stones as aforesaid, then all said land and flats, shall revert to the Town - But should pre- vious to such failure, any of the lands or flats hereby granted under the aforegoing conditions have been sold by said Corpora- tion, conditioned to erect Mills with their necessary buildings and establishments ; then, in order to do ample justice to the parties who may be injured by the non-fulfilment of the agree- ment on the part of the Corporation, such lands shall be appraised by Commissioners to be appointed for that purpose, on the joint agreement of the Town and the parties, to appraise the value of said lands exclusive of any buildings, and their award shall be binding on such individuals and on the Town ..
5th. - That in selecting situations for building Mills on land belonging to the Town the sd. Corporation shall be first [547] restricted to the six most northerly streets, which are laid out from east to west across the Town's land on the neck; and shall have liberty to lay sluice ways in the middle of said streets, free of any expence, for the land so passed through ; provided that such sluiceways shall be substantially and well laid with stone in every part, and of suitable depth to serve as drains and common sewers to the adjacent lots. And the owners of such lots shall have liberty to convey their drains into said sluices free of expence. And all earth dug from the trenches to lay said sluiceways, shall not be carried away, but shall be spread to form the streets and raise the Town's lots, and all pavement taken up for this purpose shall be relaid at the expense of the Corporation. 6th. - That all damages or injury of whatever kind which shall arise to any individual within the Town of Boston in consequence of this agreement between the Town & said Corporation, shall be compensated & paid by said Corporation, in the manner to be provided by an Act of the General Court.
7th. - And whenever the Town or other owners abutting upon any of the streets which are designated as the boundaries of the Towns grant, shall agree to build any of such streets, the expence of building the same, when the Corporation shall abutt on the other side, shall be borne, one half by said Corporation and one
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 115.
half by the abutters. provided that the Town shall not be at any charge in maintaining any such streets, untill they shall have been completed to the approbation of the surveyors of highways .-
And it is further agreed by the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston.
8th. - That if said Corporation should think it expedient, they shall have liberty to cut a Canal in some convenient place between South Boston Bridge and Gibsons wharf, in a direction, and of dimensions, suitable to admit vessels of one hundred & twenty tons burthen, from the east harbour into the full basin on the west, provided that such canal shall be well faced with stone on both sides; and that a street shall be made on each side thereof not less than thirty feet wide : one of which streets shall border immediately upon the Canal, & the other shall not be more than one hundred feet distant from the [548] other side of said Canal. And the land through & over which said Canal & street shall pass, shall be purchased by said Corporation. and said Canal and streets shall be built and finished at the expence of said Corporation ; said Canal to be furnished with suitable gates or locks for the admission of Vessels, and also with draw bridges of the most approved construction when it shall intersect Front street and Orange street. Said Canal shall be toll free; but the maintenance of the same, for repairs, for working the gates and raising the draws, shall be at the expence of the Corporation .- 9th .- And if said Corporation should think it expedient, they shall have liberty to dig a Canal through the Town's land on the Westerly side of the Neck, from the full basin to Roxbury in a line parallel to Washington street, and at such distance therefrom, and of such depth and width as shall be regulated and approved by the Trustees for managing the Town's lands on the neck. And the earth taken out to form said Canal shall be for the use of said Corporation to build the Dam or other purposes.
And the Committee further recommend, That agents be appointed by the Town, to attend the sittings of the Committee of the General Court, to whom the petition is referred ; to have the above recited conditions inserted in the act of incorporation, or made the subject of a special instrument of agreement, between the petitioners and the Town, which shall be referred to and con- firmed by the Act of the Legislature. And that such Committee be directed to have inserted in the act of incorporation, such terms and regulations of Subscriptions for Shares as shall secure a right of subscription for a due proportion of such shares, to all persons who may wish to engage in the undertaking.
By order of the Committee
Charles Bulfinch, Chairman.
The foregoing Report, was read, considered and nearly unani- mously accepted by the Town -and Thomas Dawes, William Sullivan, Josiah Marshall, [549] Charles Davis & William Hammatt Esquires, were chosen agents agreeably to the recom- mendation in the report.
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BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1813.
The article in the Warrant "To consider the petition of a number of the Inhabitants, that the Town would take measures for establishing a work house, which may be also used as a house of correction," was taken up & committed to,
Thomas Dawes, Bryant P. Tilden, James T. Austin, Ozias Goodwin, Ephraim Eliot, Charles Bulfinch & Redford Webster, Esquires, to take the subject into consideration and report at the adjournment.
The Petition of David Greenough was committed to the Selectmen, to report thereon at the adjournment.
The Committee on the late Town Treasurers accounts made the following report - which was read & accepted - viz -
Boston August 13th. 1813 -
We the majority of the Committee appointed by the Town of Boston by a vote of said Town, of the 12th. July last to " audit the accounts of the late Town Treasurer, to receive from him the books, records and papers belonging to the treasury department, and those of the Collector of Taxes, and to transfer the same to the new Treasurer," having attended that duty, they find the annexed accounts to be correct & form a true statement of the affairs and official transactions of William Smith Esq. late Town Treasurer, and the Committee have this day delivered over to Andrew Sigourney Esq. the present Town Treasurer, all the books, papers, securities and other property belonging to the Town of Boston in the department of its treasury late in the possession of Wm. Smith Esq .- The abovenamed accounts are well & truly vouched & right cast .-
Bryant P. Tilden Samuel Dorr
Adjourned to Wednesday 10th November next 10 OClock AM .-
[550.] Wednesday November the 10th. The Town met according to adjournment.
The Committee on the Petition of David Greenough, not being ready to report, the subject was referred to the next Town Meeting .-
The Committee chosen by the Town to consider what measures should be taken for establishing a work house, which may also serve as a house of Correction, - Report the following view of the subject .-
In the year 1735 the General Court of the then Province, upon application of the Town of Boston, passed an act for employing and providing for the poor of the town of Boston; by which act
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 115.
the Town was empowered to build a workhouse, and adopt regulations for its government. - In the year 1789 a law was passed by the Legislature of this Commonwealth, entitled " An act for erecting of workhouses, for the reception and employ- ment of the idle and indigent. This law is general and empowers every town, or any number of towns who may unite for the pur- pose, to build workhouses, and directs the proceedings of the overseers therein.
The laws above recited empower towns to erect and endow workhouse, but do not compel them so to do. But we find that in 1788, an act was passed "for suppressing and punishing Rogues, vagabonds common beggars, and other idle, disorderly and lewd persons " by which act it is ordered, that there shall be erected or provided by the Court of Sessions in every County, a fit and convenient house of correction, for the keeping and cor- recting and setting to work of Rogues, Vagabands &c. the provisions of this law are effectual, and at the same time founded on the most humane principles, calculated for the suppression of vice and for the reformation of the offenders, subject to its regulations. - The practice under these laws has been as fol- lows. - Immediately after the Town of Boston had been em- powered in 1735 to build a workhouse, [551] measures were taken for that purpose; and by means of subscriptions in aid of the Town's funds, the building was erected ; and it was used principally under the orders of the Overseers of the poor; no house of correction was ever built in this county as directed by the law of 1788; but a part of the workhouse was appropriated for a Bridewell ; under the control of the Justices, untill the erec- tion of the new Almshouse, when the land and buildings of the old Almshouse and workhouse were sold.
The agents appointed by the Town to superintend the building of an Alms house, workhouse and hospital, proceeded to erect one building for an Alms house, intending to appropriate such parts thereof as could be spared, for the other objects; but con- templating that separate buildings should be devoted to those purposes, whenever the Town should be able to bear the expense. - The inconveniences of this arrangement were ex- perienced within one year after the erection of the Alms house. A large Committee raised in 1802, reported to the Town, that no division of the Alms house could be set apart for a house of cor- rection, without greatly incommoding the poor, and conclude their report by saying " that they would propose that measures should be taken immediately for the erection of a separate building, were they not sensible of the burthen the Town laboured under to dis- charge the balance due upon the almshouse. - The Overseers of the poor also, in a memorial addressed to the Town in May 1812, represented the inconveniences under which they laboured, from the necessity of appropriating rooms for a work house and bride- well ; and stated, "that they had endeavoured as much as possible to accommodate the various descriptions of persons, under all the disadvantages to which the institution must be
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BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1813.
subject; under the full hope, that the finances of the Town would soon enable it to finish the establishment according to the original plan."
With respect to the actual state of the Almshouse, your Com- mittee find, that there are at present in that house 403 persons of which 283 are old people, invalids, children &c - 50 sick persons in the hospital rooms, 20 insane persons, affected in various [552] degrees, some go at large, others are in close confine- ment, 50 persons employed at work, some well disposed & able of body, but above ten of them are subjects for a bridewell or house of correction & are locked up.
The Committee think that every human mind will be convinced of the utter impossibility of adding to this catalogue of wretched- ness, any of those debauched and profligate persons who are fit subjects for a house of correction. -
As the law directs that the County Jail shall be used by the Justices for a house of Correction untill a suitable one shall be provided ; your Committee have also enquired into the present state of the Jail. - They find that it now contains fifty-seven persons, and this number is smaller than has been usual, owing to the increased powers of the Municipal Court; which has given greater dispatch to the criminal business, by the frequent Ses- sions of that Court and by its power of sending the convicts to the State Prison. - Of the persons now in Jail 25 are confined for assaults and batteries & petty offences, who are properly sub- jects for a house of correction : it may be received as a fact, that at least 12 persons of this description are permanent tenants of the Jail; they are assembled together in rooms, not less than 6 in any room; are absolutely idle and unemployed ; and instead of their confinement effecting the purposes of refor- mation, they are vitiating and debasing each other, by their language and example. These objects are at a constant expence to the public of two dollars Per week each, whereas, if they were in a building properly constructed for seclusion, kept upon spare diet, and with work suited to their capacities, they would cer- tainly support themselves ; & might be in a measure reformed and made acquainted with some reputable means of obtaining a livelihood.
Your Committee think it would be a reflection on this intelligent community to enlarge further, or comment upon this statement .- If in the year 1735 the town required a house of this description, how much more necessary is it now? If in 1802 it was consid- ered inconvenient to the virtuous poor to mix the vicious & profli- gate with them, how much more so now, when the pressure of the times drives many persons into that house, who a few years since felt no apprehension of being under the necessity of asking public charity.
Having considered the proposed establishment necessary, The Committee have made such estimates as the time would permit, [553] and are of opinion that a building to answer the present purposes of the Town, might be erected on the land west of the
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CITY DOCUMENT No. 115.
Almshouse, for 20,000 Dollars; which sum could be borrowed of individuals, to be repaid in instalments in 5 years, without being an oppressive burthen upon the Citizens .-
They therefore propose that the Town should pass the follow- ing votes .- That the Overseers of the Poor be appointed Agents for building a work house, part of which may be used for a house of correction, on the land west of the present Almshouse ; to commence the same as soon as the season will permit.
That in constructing said building, they be directed to build such part thereof as shall appear to them necessary in the present state of the Town, and upon a plan capable of enlargement in future .-
That the said Overseers be empowered to borrow of individuals or of public institutions the sum of twenty five thousand Dollars for the purpose of erecting & furnishing the proposed building, the interest of which sum shall be paid annually by the Town Treasurer, and the principal to be paid in annual instalments of 5000 dollars each : for the payment of which, that amount shall be annually raised by taxes, & appropriated for that purpose.
Charles Bulfinch.
The foregoing Report was read, considered and unanimously accepted by the Town .-
attest Tho' Clark, Town Clerk
Voted, That the thanks of the Town be given to the Moderator for his services at this Meeting.
Then the Meeting was Dissolved.
[END OF BOOK NINE. ]
LETTER FROM S. PARKMAN BLAKE TO CITY CLERK S. F. McCLEARY (see p. 194).
Cedar Square Boston Highlands.
S. F. McCleary Esq.
City Clerk,
My dear sir.
As a good deal of public interest is taken in the valuable por- traits in Faneuil Hall and particularly in the most valuable - that of Washington by Stuart, I find in the Town Records on March 10- 1806 that my Grandfather Samuel Parkman offered to give to the Town a copy of the painting by Stuart to be placed in Fanueil Hall which offer was accepted.
As I am the oldest member of the Parkman family, I wish to have justice done to his memory and to State (as there does not appear to be any other record on the Town books) that my Grandfather did not give the copy proposed, but gave the original by Stuart, which is the same which is now in Faneuil Hall. This fact has always been known in the family and to confirm the same I herewith give a copy of a letter received from Miss Jane Stuart now living in Newport R. I. the Daughter of Gilbert Stuart (herself an Artist) She says dated July 22ª 1874 addressd to Revd John Parkman :
" The Picture of Washington now in Faneuil Hall was painted by my Father Gilbert Stuart and presented to the Town of Boston by Samuel Parkman. This circumstance is too much impressed on my mind to admit of any doubt whatever. Also that it was copied from the original head now in the Athenaeum. Now, my dear sir, if you will take the trouble to read the July number of " Scribner's Monthly " you will find an authentic history of the Washington Portraits, written by myself. You will there see that my Father never finished but two Heads of the great Patriot. Permit me to add that my Father never put his name to any Picture, he ever painted in his life."
very respectfully, Yr obt st, S Parkman Blake.
1877
INDEX.
INDEX.
A butters, 73, 131, 223. Accounts, agents for erecting new alms- house, 111, 112. Board of Health, to audit, 58, 63, 83, 93, 100, 121, 143, 163, 178, 193, 198, 210, 218, 234, 248, 253, 263, 282, 300, 306, 313, 336.
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