USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Volume of records relating to the early history of Boston : containing Boston town records, 1814 to 1822 > Part 17
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How far it is possible to adopt any general system, in relation to these objects, may, perhaps, be questionable. The attempt, however, cannot be disadvantageous. A full knowledge of all the pauper relations of the town cannot fail to be useful, and may lead, through the means of recommendation, or by affecting public sentiment, or otherwise, to such a course of proceeding, in relation to the distribution of public bounty, as may tend to repress the mischievous effects of that weak and listless sensi- bility, miscalled benevolence, which scatters its bounty without discrimination, pampering vice, fostering indolence, encouraging audacious pretence, and thus, while it does little, or no good, and sometimes positive injury to the individual, increases, and perpetuates, and makes more troublesome and virulent, the whole mass of pauperism in the community.
Under these convictions and with these views your Committee recommend the adoption of the following votes by the town .- For the Committee.
Josiah Quincy, Chairman -
[326.] Voted, That it is expedient to establish, forthwith within this town, a House of Industry
Voted, That a Committee be appointed consisting of
persons, with full authority to select a suitable place for the erection of a House of Industry, with an extent of land, attached to it, not less than fifty acres ; and that the said Committee be authorized to take any of the unappropriated lands, belonging to the town, for that purpose ; or, in case they deem any other spot, or like extent of land, within the town, a better location for such an establishment, than any the town now possesses, that they be authorized to purchase the same; and that the said Committee be instructed to proceed forthwith to erect suitable buildings ; and to form a system for the conduct of such institution, and to report their proceedings, in the premises, from time to time to the town as they may deem expedient.
Voted, That the Committee appointed by the preceding vote,
194
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 128.
be authorized to draw on the town treasurer for such sum, or sums of money, as may from time to time be found necessary, for the carrying into effect the purposes therein expressed ; Pro- vided always that the amount of said drafts shall never exceed Twenty Thousand Dollars.
Voted, That the Report this day made to the Town on the sub- ject of Pauperism and a House of Industry, be referred to the Committee, appointed by the preceding votes, and that they be instructed to take into consideration the various subjects [327] suggested in it and particularly to inquire into the general state of the poor and also into the number & condition of the out-of- door poor assisted by Overseers within the town, and concerning the operations, effects, modes, and principles of extending relief to the poor, adopted by the various charitable institutions existing init ; and from time to time to report such measures in relation to the whole, or any, of the subjects aforesaid, as they may deem it expedient for the town to adopt .-
Appendix A.
The Sub-Committee appointed to consider what provisions are made in the nature of a Work House or Bridewell, for vagrants and dissolute persons, and to inquire into the existing establish- ments of the town in this respect, ask leave to
Report ;
That on Saturday afternoon, accompanied by several other members of the general Committee, they waited on the Overseers of the poor, at the Alms House, in Leverett Street, and were conducted thro' that building and the smaller buildings within the enclosure of its yard.
The Sub-Committee found that establishment to be totally distinct from, and by its construction incompatible with the arrangements necessary for a Bridewell or place of correction for vagrant and dissolute persons ; and that whenever any such arc received in that institution, they are placed nearly in the same situation with those unfortunate and honest members of the community, whom disease or age have rendered incapable of [328] procuring a livelihood - The Sub Committee learned that the buildings formerly belonging to the Town near the Common, consisted of two ranges; one of which was used as an Alms House, for the reception of persons whom it became a duty of charity, to relieve from distress and the other as a Work House, where disorderly and dissolute persons were restrained of their liberty, and compelled to work for their support; and that between these there was a smaller building with grated cells, called a Bridewell, which served as a place for the punishment of such as conducted [themselves] improperly while subject to the discipline of the institution .-
195
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1821.
When the new buildings were erected in Leverett Street, the whole sum appropriated to the purpose, was expended in the erection of a house exclusively designed as an Alms House, or place for the reception, of infirm, diseased, aged and children of both sexes ; and the apartments were constructed entirely with that view. Of course this large and expensive pile of buildings, which is so honorable to the liberality and benificence of the town, is incapable without great inconvenience, of being appro- priated to any other purpose ; there is but one room in which any kind of labour can be conveniently performed, and the necessity which is sometimes felt, of converting any part of it to other purposes, is an infringement on the objects for which it was origi- nally designed.
Because, however, there is within the town, no place properly designed as a Work House, and because [329] that class of vagabonds who would become the tenants of such a building, are by our laws, under the control, in some degree, of the Over- seers of the poor, they have from time to time, been sent to that place ; and many have always been there, whom it was any- thing but charity to support in idleness, and to provide with the comforts of such an institution. The Sub-Committee saw many whom they believed, under proper regulations in a suitable place, might be made to support themselves. -
From the necessity of the case, the Overseers have been obliged to enlarge a building originally designed as a bath house, and use it as a Bridewell ; in which they have constructed small cells that are occupied by such disorderly persons as seem most to require to be punished by confinement. But not only does this seem to the Sub-Committee to be objectionable, by depriving the institution of a part of its original accommodation indispensable to cleanliness and health - but because its size and construction is hardly more than is necessary as a restraint to perverse order, without any reference to profitable employment. Confinement in it must be temporary and occasional and the apprehension of its discipline, forms no part of the terrors of such a place to persons abroad.
The Sub-Committee find by a reference to the laws of this country, passed at sundry times by the colonial, provincial and state authorities, that a Work House, or place where idle and dissolute persons, should be compelled to labour for subsistence [330] was uniformly a part of the system of police. So early as 1662, authority was given magistrates to arrest "rogues and vagabonds," and confine them in the " house of correction."
In 1699, a provincial act was passed for suppressing and pun- ishing of rogues, vagabonds, common beggars, and other lewd, idle and disorderly persons, and also, for setting the poor to work, by which, among other things, provision is made for erecting and governing a house of correction in every county, and that common drunkards, common night-walkers, pilferers, wanton and and lascivious persons, either in speech or behaviour, com-
196
CITY DOCUMENT No. 128.
mon railers and brawlers, such as neglect their calling, and do not provide for their families, stubborn servants and children, fortune tellers, strollers and beggars, should be confined, and made to work.
In 1735, a special act on this subject, relative to the town of Boston, was passed by the Legislature, and confirmed by the General Court, under the present Constitution, in 1789, which confers certain privileges as to the erection and governing these buildings, suited to the condition of a growing metropolis ; and under the provisions of which, many of the powers, in this respect continue to be exercised. - And the necessity of some institution of a similar plan was so apparent, that in the year 1744, the General Court passed an act for all the province, authorising any one town, or any two or more towns, united together, to erect and govern a house of correction, for the restraining of the [331] dissolute poor, and compelling them to labour. The Statute of this Commonwealth passed 26th March, 1788, seems to be imperative on the Courts of Sessions for the several coun- ties to provide houses of correction, and declare that until such are erected, " the common prison in each county, shall be made use of for that purpose." But the common prison in Suffolk County, has long been useless for this object; and the Sub-Com- mittee do not learn that the new one erecting by the County, is planned or adapted to such purpose. - Indeed, the two establish- ments are so different as to render their union almost imprac- ticable .-
The Sub-Committee refer to these various laws to show that the wisdom of the government has always been decidedly expressed in favor of some establishment for the purpose now contemplated & which is more obviously necessary in a large sea- port town than in any other part of the state. The circumstances already stated will show as they think a satisfactory reason why at present and for many years past there has been wanting this necessary part of police within the town of Boston.
The Sub-Committee do not deem it within their province to ex- tend this report by displaying the various facts and arguments which may prove the utility of a Bridewell or house of correction under proper regulations ; but they deem their commission dis- charged by reporting to the general Committee That There is Not at Present Any Suitable Institution of This Kind Under Direction of the Town [332] or County.
James T. Austin, for the Committee.
(B.)
Schedule of the expense of the Poor of Marblehead from March 1820 to March 1821.
Amount of orders drawn on the Town Treasury Deduct amount recd. for State Paupers - 575.90
4534.17
197
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1821.
ditto paid by other towns 549.31 ditto paid for Cart, Plough, & Cows - -
98. - ditto amount paid on old account 517.69 ditto supplies furnished poor out of the house -
1,417.80 3158.70
Expense of the Poor House - $1375.47 In addition to which one thousand days' work were done by eight men on the highway.
(C.)
Report of the Overseers of the Poor of the Town of Salem, March 1, 1821.
Amount of orders drawn on the Town
Treasury -
- $11268.73
Deduct Amount received from the State
for support of State Poor - - $5504.84 ditto amount paid for repairs & improve-
ments
1467.49 6972.33
Net amount for Town Poor 4296.40
In the above sum of $4.296.40, are included all supplies to poor persons not inhabitants of the Alms House, to paupers belonging to other towns, and the amount paid the gaoler for the board of poor persons in gaol, including inhabitants of Salem, State poor, and persons belonging to other towns. A part of the expense thus incurred for other towns, is now [333] due to the Town of Salem .- Value of supplies granted to poor persons not inhabitants of the Alms House, from March 1st 1820, to March 1st 1821, including State Paupers, and persons belonging to other towns, estimated at $1090.87.
Number of Paupers in the Alms House Mar. 1, 1820 337
Entered during the year ending March 1, 1821 369
706
Discharged and died during the year 341
Whole number in the Alms House, March 1, 1821 365
Whole number in the Alms House, March 1, 1820 337
Whole number in the Alms House, March 1, 1819 273 Whole number in the Alms House, March 1, 1818 292
The average number of Paupers in the old Work House for the last twenty four years the poor resided there, viz. from 1793 to 1816, was 120 .-
Account of the Expenditure of the Town for the support of the Poor for the last ten years .-
198
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 128.
Amt. of orders All Credits to be deducted. drawn.
Net Amt. for support of Town Poor .-
Year 1811
$9659.83
$2404.75
$7255.08
1812
10237.06
2679.38
7557.68
1813
13805.86
2850.03
10955.83
1814
15795.96
3016.75
12779.21
1815
11121.52
3622.28
7499.24
1816
13090.67
5442.62
7646.05
1817
16231.44
6585.44
9646.
1818
15886.91
6724.14
9162.77
1819
15219.83
8212.36
7007.47
1820
11268.73
6972.33
4296.40
D. Alms House, April 24th. 1821
Sir,
By direction of the Board of Overseers of the [334] Poor the following statement is transmitted in answer to your last inquiry .--
I am, Sir, your very humble Servant, Redford Webster.
To the Chairman of the Committee of the Town on the subject of a House of Industry, &c.
Drafts on Town Treasurer -
26,374.12
Received of Firewards for forfeiture of Gunpowder
149.30
66 for sales Oakum
1312.83
66 for rent of Wharf -
527.00
66 this year balances of accounts settled with other towns and persons, much of which had been standing for several years -
3949.16
Amount received from the State for
$32,312.41
the support of State Poor 12,377.88
Net amount for Town Poor - Of the above sum there were paid out of the house - for paupers in gaol - board of insane poor in the Asylum and at other places - allowance to poor persons and families without the house -- and disbursments of the Overseers in the wards, &c, &c
$19,934.53
$14433.70
Hon. Josiah Quincy, Joseph Lovering, James Savage, Henry J. Oliver, Francis Welch, Ebenezer Frances, Thomas Howe, Wm. Thurston, Abram Babcock, Samuel A. Wells, James T. Austin, Benja. Rich & Joseph Woodward Esqrs., were nominated from the chair, and appointed a Committee, in conformity to the second vote .-
199
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1821.
The Town Meeting was then dissolved .-
Attest Thomas Clark, Town Clerk.
[335.] At a Meeting of the Freeholders & other Inhabi- tants of the Town of Boston, holden at Faueuil Hall, on Mon- day the 14th. day of May A.D. 1821. 10 o'clock A.M .-
Prayer by Rev. Doct. Baldwin .-
Warrant for calling the Meeting, read .-
Paragraph of the Constitution relative to the choice of Repre- sentatives - read -
A communication was received from the Assessors stating " that they have not yet completed the taking the Polls and Estates in the Town of Boston ; they find in the Wards where they have already been, that the number does not materially differ from the last year ; they therefore, are of opinion that the whole number will exceed Ten thousand Polls, the present year, which will entitle the Town to more than forty five Representatives."-
A motion was made, and seconded, to choose twenty five per- sons to represent the Town in the General Court, the year ensu- ing ; The motion being put by the Chairman of the Selectmen, it passed unanimously in the affirmative .-
Voted, That the Poll shall be closed at 1 o'clock
[336.] The Chairman of the Selectmen requested the Inhab- itants to prepare and bring in their votes for twenty five persons, to represent the Town in the General Court the year ensuing.
At the close of the Poll, it appeared that the whole number of Votes was 1610
Necessary to make a choice - 806 The following Gentlemen had the number of votes set against their respective names, and were declared to be duly elected Representatives for the ensuing year. - viz.
Hon. Josiah Quincy - - 1094 Nathan Appleton 1074
William Prescott - 1077 Lynde Walter 1561
" Peter C. Brooks - 1071
Eliphalet Williams 1483
Thomas H. Perkins 1081
John Cotton - 988
Benjamin Russell
Jonathan Phillips 981
Esq. 1070 Francis C. Gray - 1476
200
CITY DOCUMENT No. 128.
James Savage - - 1085
[33%] Theodore Ly-
William Tudor - 1089
man Jr. - 980
Gedney King - - 1088
Francis J. Oliver 979
Heman Lincoln - 1578
George W. Otis - 986
Edmund Winchester 1579
Henry Bass
882
Nathan Hale - -
1088
Benjamin West
1276
Joseph Lovering - 1080
William Shimmin
858
Enoch Silsby - - 1090
The names of persons voted for, who did not obtain a majority of votes .- viz -
Lewis Tappan 496, George Sullivan 506, David W. Child 501, Edw. Cruft 491, Jeremiah Gore 488, Robt. Fennelly 506, David Ellis 485, Sam. H. Walley 509, Isaac Stevens 502, Sam1. Hich- born Jr. 494, Jas. Loring 505, S. P. Tarbell 491, Thomas Dean 499, Geo. W. Coffin 505, Edmd. Kimball 500, Barzillia Homes 511, Eleazer Howard 495, Cyrus Alger 499, A. P. Cleveland 488 .- Scattering viz. Sam1. L. Knapp 9, James T. Austin 8, Sam1. A. Wells 7, H. Dearborn 6, H. Orne 6, Rev. Thomas Baldwin 5 .- S. Billings 5, Wm. Gray 5, Doct Wm. Ingalls 6, Wm. Gale 5, John Howe 2, David Henshaw 4, Charles Hood 4, Henry N. Rogers 2, W. D. Sohier 2, Wm. Homer 2, Ab. Wild 2, Thomas Thaxter 2, Jnº. Tappan 3, G. Bond 2, S. Hooper 2, A. Peabody 2, D. Messinger 3, R. D. Tucker 3, Sam1. Hubbard 4, Jos. Haven 2, Wm. Dehon 2, Enoch Bartlett 2, Thomas Cordis 2, Sam1. Fales 2, Tho8. Wells 2, T. K. Thomas 2, John Foxx 2, Chas. Winslow 2, Jas. Read 2, Wm. Sturgis 3, Sam1. Adams 3, John Lepean 2, D. Wild 2, Luke Eastman 2, Lem1. Shaw 2, Wm. Wyman 2, J. Sears 3, Joshua Davis 2, Enos Cobb 2, Jnº. Par- ker 2, Jona. Jewett 2, Thomas Jackson 3, Geo. Hallet 3, Jona. Mason 4, Benja. Smith 2, D. Sharp 3, P. Dean 4, T. Lewis 3, D. Baxter 3 .- T. Badger 2, R. Sturgis 3, A. Dunlap 4, W. Donnison 3 .- [338] J. Stearns 2, Abram Babcock 2, John Odin 2. Thomas Holt 2, Lewis Lerow 2, Wm. Sullivan 2, & H. Atkins, J. Winslow, J. Davis, J. W. Revere, B. Whitman, G. Fairbanks, S. Fairbanks, Jona. Loring, T. Dennie, W. H. Sum- ner, H. Codman, Benja. Winslow, S. H. Parker, Benja. Loring, M. Brimmer, H. G. Otis Jr. Ab. Wood, Azor Orne, N. M. Dearborn, Jos. Brazer, Asa Whitney, Aaron Hill, Ed. Jones, A. Binney, T. L. Winthrop, H. Fuller, Lot Wheelright, G. J. Homer, Asher Adams, J. Putnam, D. Tuttle, Wm. Little, Jas. Lloyd, Jnº. Howe, Jnº. Bellows, H. L. Cushman, S. A. Shed, Ter. Wakefield, A. O. Barton, Josh. Gray, Seth Copeland, Jnº. Drayton, Ch8. M. Domett, Ben. Porter, Eben White, Jer. Bond, Ed. Quincy, N. P. Russell, Jos. P. Bradstreet, Horace H. Good- man. F. Tufts, R. B. Callender, Wm. Plimpton, Jacob Peabody, Fras. Welch, James Davis, Jona. Carleton, Geo. J. Homer, Nat. Willis, Jos. Jones, H. J. Oliver, Jnº. C. Procter, Ab. Moore, N. Dearborn, James Brewer, Edw. Kendall, J. H. Wheeler, Jona. Whitney, D. Sears, Jona. Thaxter, Harry Oliver, Henry Emmons,
201
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1821.
Jonas Bass, Joseph Coolidge, Adam Bent, Cyrus Cyeey, Otis Everett, Jos. Sewall, C. P. Curtis, Wm. J. Spooner, Asa Whitney, one each .-
The Meeting was then Dissolved. Attest Thomas Clark, Town Clerk.
[339.] At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhab- itants of the Town of Boston, qualified to vote in town affairs, in Faneuil Hall on Monday the 28th day of May A.D. 1821 .-
The Warrant for calling the Meeting being read .-
Stephen Codman, was chosen Moderator .-
The Town Clerk being absent by reason of sickness, it was voted, that a Town Clerk pro. tem. be chosen.
Voted, That he be chosen by nomination, and that the nomina- tion proceed from the chair. Whereupon, Samuel A. Wells, was nominated, and chosen, and sworn to the faithful performance of the duties of the office, the Oath being administered by the chair- man of the Selectmen, in open town meeting .-
The Report of the Committee of Finance was then read .-
The Chairman of the Selectmen stated to the Town, that since the report of the Committee of Finance had been made out, he had been informed by the Chairman of the Board of Overseers of the poor that they should not require so large an amount as they had stated to be necessary, to the Committee of Finance, by five thousand dollars, therefore the amount required of the town would be five thousand dollars less than the amount stated in the report; it was then moved, that the sum of One hundred and thirty four thousand [340] five hundred Dollars be raised, and that Two thousand five hundred Dollars be considered as included in that sum for the purpose of lighting the Lamps during the Summer, which after debate passed in the negative - Moved and Voted, That the report of the Committee of Finance be amended, by reducing the amount required by the Overseers of the Poor. Five thousand Dollars, and that the sum of One hundred and thirty two thousand dollars be raised to pay the current expenses of the Town the ensuing year .-
Moved : That upon the representation of the doings and pro- ceedings of Turner Phillips, Treasurer and Collector of Taxes of the Town of Boston, the preceding year : Voted: That the Town of Boston approve the conduct of said Turner Phillips in the said Offices of Treasurer and Collector, and that he has faithfully and
202
CITY DOCUMENT No. 128.
fully as was in his power completed the execution of his duty in said Offiees to which he had been appointed as aforesaid and that he be exeused from all delinquency or default, in not having effeeted a full aud complete settlement of Taxes by him to have been received or collected according to law.
Voted, That the Town Treasurer and Collector be authorized to borrow with the approbation of the Committee of Finance, such sum of money, as shall be found necessary for the service of the Town the ensuing year .-
Voted, That there be allowed and paid, [341] unto Thomas Dawes, the sum of Seven hundred and fifty Dollars for his Salary as Judge of the Municipal Court the present year .-
Voted, That there be allowed and paid unto Thomas Clark, Town Clerk, the sum of One thousand dollars, for his Salary the present year .-
Voted, That there be allowed and paid unto each of the per- manent Assessors, the sum of One thousand dollars as their salary for the present year .-
Voted, That the Salary of the Town Treasurer and Collector be referred to the adjournment of this meeting .-
Voted, That there be allowed and paid unto the chairman of the board of Selectmen the sum of twelve hundred dollars per year, as the Salary for services in that office. --
The Petition of John R. Child and others requesting that the Seleetmen may be authorized to appoint more than one Sealer of Weights and Measures, should they deem it expedient, where- upon Voted, That the prayer of the Petition be granted.
On the Petition of William Andrews and others praying that the town would make additional allowanee, to the Pound Keeper and Field Driver at South Boston, beyond the fees established by law.
[342.] It was Voted; That the petitioners have leave to withdraw their petition .-
On the Petition of Josiah Jones and others, praying that the Town would petition the Legislature, to alter or repeal the law restrieting the inhabitants from ereeting buildings of wood within the town to ten feet : it was Voted : That the petition be referred to a Committee, consisting of one from each Ward, in conjunc- tion with the Moderator of this meeting, who is to be chairman of the Committee. Voted : That the said Committee be selected, by a committee of Nomination, and that the three first signers of the petition, if present, be chosen.
203
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1821.
Voted : That three persons in addition be nominated from the the chair : whereupon
of the Petitioners
Nominated by the Moderator
William W. Blake Seth Copeland David C. Jacobs Francis J. Oliver James Reed Joseph Callender,
were selected and who retired, and reported the following gentle- men for Committee, all of whom were accepted by the town.
Ward Nº. 1. William Harris [343] 7. Samuel A. Wells
2. Redford Webster
8. Asa Richardson
3. Enoch Silsbee 9. Leach Harris
4. Nathaniel Alley 10. Joseph P. Bradlee
5. Joseph Coolidge 11. Thomas Jackson
6. Michael Roulstone 12. Joshua Davis
and the said Committee to report at the adjournment.
On motion made and seconded : it was Voted, that when any vacancy occurs in the Committee appointed to locate and build an House of Industry, by death, resignation, or otherwise, that the remaining members of the Committee be authorized to fill such vacancy.
On the Petition of Benjamin French and others for the removal of Hackney Coaches from the streets -it was voted to refer it to a Committee of three, whereupon, Samuel Adams
Heman Fay Samuel L. Knapp,
were chosen for that purpose .-
On the Petition of Lewis Tappan and others requesting the Town to consider the expediency of assessing the Town and County Taxes, or either of them at some season of the year, other than the first day of May .-
Whereupon - Voted, That the Assessors be directed to take the valuation of personal property for the Town and County taxes on the first [344] Tuesday of February annually.
John Cleasby was nominated and chosen a Hog Reeve and Field Driver [for] the year ensuing.
On the Petition of Joseph Willett and others for two additional Surveyors of Lumber. Voted; that it is inexpedient to appoint any additional Surveyors of Lumber .-
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