USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Volume of records relating to the early history of Boston : containing Boston town records, 1814 to 1822 > Part 2
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All which is submitted. By order of the Trustees Chs. Bulfinch, Chairman.
Boston May 24th. 1814.
The foregoing report on the petition of Joseph Field Esqr. was read and accepted.
Voted, that the sum of two hundred dollars be appropriated for the African school the present year.
Voted, that the sum of Seven hundred and fifty dollars be allowed and paid unto Honble. Thomas Dawes Esq. for his Salary as Judge of the Municipal Court the ensuing year.
Voted -that the sum of One thousand dollars be allowed & paid unto Thomas Clark, Town Clerk, as his salary for the year ensuing.
14
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 128.
Voted - that the sum of Eight hundred & sixteen dollars be allowed & paid to each of three assessors for their services the present year.
Voted - that
Stephen Codman Thomas W. Sumner William Sullivan Abraham W. Fuller and Wm. H. Sumner Esqrs.
be a Committee to take into consideration the subject of the delinquincy of the late Treasurer & Collector of Boston and re- port on the expediency of commencing a prosecution against said Collector or his Bondsmen.
[20.] Upon the representation and exhibition of the doings and proceedings of Andrew Sigourney Esqr. Treasurer and Col- lector of taxes of the Town of Boston the last year.
Voted - that the Town of Boston highly approve of the con- duct of said Andrew Sigourney Esq. in the said offices of Treas- urer & Collector, and that he has faithfully and fully as was in his power completed the execution of his duty in said offices to which he has been appointed as aforesaid, and that he be excused from all delinquincy or default in not having effected the full and complete settlement of the Taxes by him to have been received or collected according to law.
The following Bye law was passed by the Town and ordered to be laid before the Court of Sessions for confirmation.
It is hereby ordered that no person shall hereafter saw any fire wood, or pile the same, upon the foot walks of any of the Streets, or lanes of this Town; and that no person shall stand on any such footwalk, with wood saw or horse, to the hindrance or obstruction of any foot passenger, under a penalty of one dollar for each and every of said offences.
And it is hereby ordered, that no person shall throw or cause to be thrown, any snow from the top of any house into the street, after the hour of nine O'Clock in the forenoon ; and every person who shall throw or cause to be thrown any snow from the roof of any building, shall have the same removed from the footwalk and spread evenly in the [21] Street. And every person who shall offend in either of these respects shall forfeit and pay the sum of two dollars for each and every offence.
Adjourned to Monday the first day of August next - 10 O'Clock A.M.
15
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1814.
At a Convention of the Boards of Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, and Board of Health, of the Town of Boston, held in Faneuil Hall on the 22ª day of June A D 1814-5 O'Clock P.M.
Charles Bulfinch Esq". Chairman.
The Law of the Commonwealth requiring a Majority of each Board to be present at the Election of Town Treasurer & Col- lector of taxes ; and their not being a Majority of the Members of the Overseers & Board of Health present - The Convention was adjourned to Monday next the 27 Instant -to meet at 4 O'Clock P. M.
Monday June 27th. 1814. -
The Convention met according to adjournment.
Present a Majority of each Board .-
Voted to proceed to the choice of a Town Treasurer for the year ensuing & that Major Tilden and Colº. Robinson be a Com- mittee to collect sort & count the votes.
The Committee reported that the whole [22] number of votes were 23 and that Andrew Sigourney Esq". was unanimously chosen.
The Convention then proceeded to the choice of a Collector of taxes - and Andrew Sigourney Esquire was declared to be unanimously elected.
Mr. Sigourney appeared before the Convention - declared his acceptance of the offices of Town Treasurer & Collector of taxes for the year ensuing - and proposed George Blanchard & Benja- min Weld Esquires as his Bondsmen.
Messrs. Hunnewell, Webster & Whitman, were appointed a Committee to consider the responsibility of the Gentlemen offered by Mr. Sigourney as his Bondsmen.
The Committee reported as their opinion, that the sureties offered by Mr. Sigourney were ample & sufficient - which report was accepted - And the same Committee were directed to take bonds of Mr. Sigourney in the sum of twenty thousand dol- lars as Treasurer, and the further sum of twenty thousand dollars as Collector of taxes for the year ensuing.
Then the Convention was Dissolved.
[23.] At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabit- ants of the Town of Boston at Faneuil Hall on Monday the 4th day of July A. D. 1814 - 9 O'Clock A. M.
16
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 128.
Warrant for calling the Meeting - read.
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 Benjamin Whitwell Esquire - who has accepted the appointment.
Adjourned to meet at the old South Church - 12 O'Clock .-
Met at the Old South Church where the Oration was delivered by Benjamin Whitwell Esquire to commemorate the Independence of the United States of America.
Voted - That the Selectmen be, and hereby are appointed a Committee to wait on Benjamin Whitwell, Esq. in the name of the Town, & thank him for the elegant and spirited Oration this day delivered by him at the request of the Town, upon the anni- versary of American Independence, in which were considered the feelings, manners and principles, which produced the great national event, and the important & happy effects, general and domestic, which have already, or will forever flow from that auspicious epoch ; and to request of him a copy for the press. -
[24.] Voted -That the Gentlemen Selectmen be, and hereby are appointed a Committee to apply to some able & learned Gen- tleman to deliver an Oration on the 4th. day of July 1815 - That day being the Anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America ; wherein the Orator is to consider, the feel- ings, manners, and principles which led to this great national event, as well as the important and happy effects, whether general or domestic, which have already, or will forever flow from that auspicious Epoch.
At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston on Monday the 1st. day of August A D 1814, held by Adjournment from the 24th. day of May - At Faneuil Hall - 10 O'Clock A M. -
Stephen Codman, Esqr. Moderator.
On motion-Voted, that this Meeting be Adjourned to Monday the fifth day of September next-then to meet at this place 10 O'Clock, A M .-
Adjourned accordingly .-
[25.] At a legal Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston at Faneuil Hall on Saturday the 3d. day of September A D) 1814-10 O'Clock A.M.
17
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1814.
Honble. Thomas Dawes, Esquire was chosen Moderator.
This Meeting was called by William Wetmore, Esquire, a Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk in consequence of the following petition-viz-
To the Honourable William Wetmore a Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk.
Respectfully represent-The Subscribers being more than Ten of the Freeholders of the Town of Boston, that the Selectmen of the Town of Boston have been requested in writing by Ten or more of the Freeholders of said Town to call a Town meeting for the purpose of taking into consideration the expediency of pro- viding means of defence in the present exposed and dangerous situation of this Town and that the Selectmen have unreasonably denied to call a meeting upon this public occasion; Whereupon your petitioners request your honour by Warrant under your hand & Seal directed to a Constable or Constables of said Town directing him or them to notify & warn the Inhabitants qualified to vote in Town affairs to assemble at such time & place in said Town as your Honour shall in said Warrant direct and for the Purpose in said warrant expressed .-
Monday Augt. 29. 1814-signed Winslow Lewis & sixty-two other Citizens .-
[26.] Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk ss
}
To the Constables of the Town of Boston in the said County and to any of them - Greeting
Whereas it has been represented in writing to me, one
[SEAL ] of the Justices of the peace in & for the said County, that the Selectmen of Boston aforesaid, unreasonably deny to call a meeting of the Inhabitants of said town being upon a publick occasion, to take into consideration " the expediency of provid- ing means of defence in the present exposed & dangerous situa- tion of the said town "; which representation is signed by more than Ten of the Inhabitants & freeholders of said town, and is hereunto annexed.
Now you the said Constables are hereby required in the name of the said Commonwealth, to notify and warn the Inhabitants of the said town, qualified to vote in town affairs to assemble at Faneuil Hall in said town on Saturday the third day of Septem- ber next, at ten o'Clock in the forenoon then & there to take into consideration the subject of said representation & petition, and to adopt such measures as they may deem expedient in the premises. Given under my hand & seal at Boston aforesaid the twenty ninth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred & fourteen.
Wm. Wetmore.
The Inhabitants were legally warned by
Walter Crosby Constable .-
18
CITY DOCUMENT No. 128.
[27.] The proceedings of the Selectmen upon the above petition, taken from the minutes is as follows. viz.
Town of Boston
At a Meeting of the Selectmen, August 24th. 1814,
A Petition was presented, signed by a number of the Inhabit- ants, requesting that a Town meeting should be called forthwith, to take into consideration the expediency of providing for the immediate defence of the Town and Harbour .-
The subject having been considered, it was voted, that we do not think it expedient to call a meeting of the town for the pur- poses expressed in the Petition ; and Ordered, that the following reasons of our opinions be entered on the Records of the Board, viz.
In the present unhappy circumstances of our country, the Selectmen of the Town of Boston feel the fullest confidence in the wisdom, patriotism and prudence of his Excellency the Com- mander in Chief, and in the watchful care & attention of the Commissioners appointed by him for the defences of the State.
Especially we are sensible of the correctness of their views in the dispositions made for the defence of this Town; which have been communicated to the Board by said Commissioners in sev- eral conferences with them, & in their letter to the Board of 30 June [28] last ; under the conviction we feel it our duty to rely, with perfect confidence, on our Rulers; and not by calling a meeting of the Inhabitants, to excite alarm; and in the presence of the Governour and Council, and of the Commissioners of known military experience, to interfere with their duties, or imply any doubt of the wisdom of their measures.
By order of the Selectmen
Charles Bulfinch Chairman.
The Petition and Warrant for calling the Meeting having been read
The following Resolutions were ( nearly) unanimously adopted by the Town, viz .-
Whereas, in the progress of the present unhappy war, it has become manifest, that the destruction of the public Ships & naval arsenals in the various ports in the United States is a principal object of the enemy, & therefore this Town notwithstanding its uniform disapprobation of the measures which led to this calam- ity, & its endeavours to avert it, may be exposed to danger from an enterprise against the ships of War, which are now lying in our port, without any adequate means of protection & defence furnished by the National Government ; and,
Whereas, we entertain a full confidence that the Executive Government of this Commonwealth has been & still is occupied in preparing all the means & resources, which are at its disposal, for defending this port & Town, from an invasion; [29] and we moreover believe that the brave & disciplined militia of this and the neighbouring Counties which are ready at the shortest
19
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1814.
notice to repair to any point of attack, will present to an invad- ing foe a superiority in number to any force, which is yet known to be upon our coast ; yet as in times of great & eminent danger, extraordinary exertion & alacrity become the duty of the Citizen, & it may be acceptable to his Excellency the Governour to receive the assurance that the Citizens of Boston, "in the times which try mens souls," are as they have been ready to aid, by their manual labour & pecuniary contributions, and by all the ways & means in their power, in promoting and making effectual any measures of defence, which may be devised by the proper authority ;
Therefore Resolved, that the Citizens of this Town cherish an undiminished confidence in the disposition of the Governour & Council to organize and hold in readiness, for the defence of this town & its vicinity, a competent portion of the force under his com- mand, and are persuaded that such measures have been and will be adopted, to prepare for any great emergency, as will justify the reliance placed by their fellow Citizens upon their vigilance & solicitude, for the safety & honour of the Commonwealth .-
Resolved, that we will cheerfully and cordially co-operate with his Excellency, in any measures, that may be devised, for the defence of the Capital, in which our services may be useful ; and, that we will whenever [30] in his opinion the occasion may require, make prompt and effective arrangements for the employ- ment of all clases of our Citizens, in the construction of fortifica- tions or other means of defence, and for obtaining from patriotic individuals voluntary loans and contributions of money to be applied to these objects.
Resolved, that while we deplore the evils and calamities of a war, in the production of which, we were in no wise instrumental, we are not dismayed by the aspect of the force, which is employed against us, nor do we despair of our Country. "United we stand divided we fall" and we are strong in the assurance, that the courage, resources, experience, and patriotism of our Country, will yet surmount the Evils and the Perils which surround us, and transmit to posterity, our Union and Liberties strengthened by a recollection of Errors and dangers and a disposition to learn Wisdom from misfortune .-
Resolved, that the Moderator of this meeting be requested to transmit a copy of these resolutions, certified by the Town Clerk, to his Excellency the Governour .-
Then the Meeting was Dissolved.
[31.] At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Bos- ton held (by adjournment ) at Faneuil Hall on Monday the 5th day of September A. D. 1814 - 10 O'Clock A M.
Stephen Codman, Esq".
Moderator .-
20
CITY DOCUMENT No. 128.
The Committee to whom was referred the Petition of M". William Biglow, late Master of the latin School in Boston, requesting the Town of Boston to make him a grant, on account of his services and extra labours in his said employment as mas- ter of the latin School in said Town - as by the vote of said Town, at their meeting on the 24th. of May last appears .-
Have attended that service and ask leave to report.
That in consideration of the high price of almost all the articles of living for several years past, and at the time said Bigelow has been employed a schoolmaster by the said Town -The great inconveniences said Bigelow suffered for nearly one year, while the New School house was building in School street, at which period he was obliged to keep his said School in places extremely inconvenient, and also was deprived of any advantages from his private school, which came in aid of his support - the great exertions made by said Biglow, to accomplish the wishes of the Town, in perfecting his said latin School as appeared to this Committee, from the Certificates of many of his Ushers in said School - And the great [32] disappointment to said Biglow, in not being continued in his said employment in said School, by the School Committee of said town, and also the low compensa- tion to said Biglow for his services in said employment, by the said Town for several years past -The said Committee recom- mend to the said town of Boston, that they should pass the following votes & order -- viz, Ordered that there be paid out of the Treasury of the Town of Boston, to Mr. Wm. Biglow, late master of the latin School in said Town, The sum of five hundred dollars, which sum, with what he has heretofore received, is to be in full for all his services, as master of the latin School in said Town of Boston, and inconveniences he may have suffered while in said employment .- and the Treasurer of said Town is hereby directed to pay the same accordingly. -
All which is respectfully submitted
Benj. Whitman, per Order.
Boston July 15th. 1814.
The foregoing Report was read and accepted by the Town.
The Committee appointed by the Town of Boston at a legal Meeting on the 24th. of May 1814 to take into consideration the subject of the delinquincy of their late Treasurer and Collector William Smith Esqr. and report on the expediency of Commencing a prosecution against said Collector or his bondsmen, [33] have considered the important business assigned them, & make the following report .-
The system adopted by the town for the collection of their taxes during the first seven years that Mr. Smith was in office, was found to be so defective, that a considerable loss, was, an- nually, inevitable. - That system was in part corrected in 1810 and by the report of a respectable Committee it appears, that
21
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1814.
they attributed the delinquency then, to the imperfection of the system and not to the negligence or misconduct of the Collec- tor. - In that report although the Committee recommended the enjoining of a more prompt collection of the taxes, yet they also recommended, that the Collectors duties should be performed with as much discretion and lenity, as the nature & urgency of the demands would permit. The Town accepted that report, and by so doing, as your Committee believe, discharged their Collector, at least from the duty of distraining or prosecuting, unless in cases where there was a reasonable expectation of obtaining the sums due. -
Your Committee are satisfied that the Collector conformed, according to the best of his judgement to the spirit of the report.
By the report of the Committee of finance in May 1814 it ap- pears, that there was over from outstanding taxes from the year 1804 to 1813 - - $86,361.74 [34] of which sum Mr. Smith ) collected before he left the of- $6,765.81
fice, viz, from May to July 1813
And the present Collector had col-
lected of that sum previous to May 1814
$8,535.93
The assessors had abated for causes unknown to your Committee -
$52,479.82
which left a balance outstanding May 1814
& unabated in 18,580.18 of this sum a part has been, & probably more will be collected ; but what proportion will be ultimately lost by the Town, cannot be now known to the Committee.
A considerable part of this sum was, in the opinion of the Committee assessed on persons who ought not to have been taxed ; or on persons who could not be found when the tax bills were given to the Collector; and although some loss may be sus- tained in consequence of the lenity of the Collector, exercised in virtue of the aforesaid accepted report, the Committee do not be- lieve that it will be very great. - If the Collector did the best in his power to collect the taxes, & honestly used the discretion delegated to him by the Town, whatever loss may have happened ought to be borne by the town and not by the Collector or his bondsmen.
It appears by the reports of the annual Committees (which re- ports have been accepted by the town) that the late Treasurer and Collector [35] has faithfully paid over all the money he had collected ; and as the situation of the outstanding taxes was always stated in those reports, your Committee think that the annual re-election of the same officer, was an implied approbation of his conduct. - Upon consideration of all these circumstances, and also that the tax books at the time of the appointment of a new Collector were taken out of the hands of the late Collector,
22
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 128.
whereby he was deprived of all controul over the taxes, it is the opinion of the Committee that the loss sustained by the town cannot be imputed to the personal negligence or misconduct of the Collector, and that it is not expedient to institute any pros- ecution against the said Smith or his sureties upon the bonds given to the Town. - The Committee have not taken into view the amount of taxes which have been abated by the assessors, viz., $52,479.82, because in abating this amount the assessors exercised a power vested in them, and not subject to the control of the late Collector. - And the Committee suppose that abate- ments would not have been made excepting where taxes had been assessed on persons not liable to taxation, or on persons who were unable to pay. And the Committee have therefore limited their investigation to the sum not outstanding and unabated viz. $18,580.18 - All which is respectfully submitted. Boston August 1814.
Step. Codman Wm. Sullivan W. H. Sumner Abm. W. Fuller Tho. W. Sumner
[36.] The foregoing Report was read, considered and accepted by the Town.
Voted, that in order to carry into effect the recommendations of the report of the Committee of finance, accepted by the Town, at the meeting on the 24th. day of May last, That the Treasurer be empowered to borrow of individuals or of public institutions, a sum not exceeding Seventy thousand Dollars, to discharge the outstanding debts of the Town.
Voted, that William Smith, William Phillips, Redford Web- ster, Thomas Perkins, Samuel Snelling Ozias Goodwin, William Mackay, Joseph Coolidge, j' Joseph Richards, Bryant P. Til- den, Ephraim Eliot and Jonathan Phillips Esquires, chosen by the Town Overseers of the Poor in March last, be empowered to Act as Overseers of the work house & house of Correction in this Town ; with all the power conferred on Overseers by the laws of this Commonwealth passed March 1788, entitled "an Act for suppressing and punishing Rogues, Vagabonds, common Begars, and other idle, disorderly & lewd persons " and also by another law passed January 1789, entitled an Act for erecting work houses, for the reception and employment of the idle and indigent.
Voted, That the thanks of the Town be given to the Mod- erator, for his services at this Meeting
Then the Meeting was Dissolved.
23
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1815.
[37.] At a legal Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston duly qualified to vote for Representatives in the Gen- eral Court of this Commonwealth, at Faneuil Hall on Monday the 7th. day of November A D 1814-10 O'Clock A.M.
Prayer by Revd. Doctr. Lathrop.
Warrant for calling the Meeting - read.
Paragraphs of a Resolve of the General Court for choosing one Representative in the Congress of the United States for the District of Suffolk - read
The Inhabitants were informed that the Poll would be closed at half past 10 O'Clock.
Persons voted for as Representative for the Suffolk District in this Commonwealth in the next Congress of the United States, viz,
Hon1. Artemus Ward Esqr. 1112
Daniel Sargent Esqr. 1
Andrew Richie Esqr. 2
Joseph P. Bradlee - 1
James T. Austin 1
Wm. H. Sumner Esq8 .. 1
1118 .-
And declaration made thereof by the Selectmen in Publick Town Meeting
A return of the doings of this Meeting was made out (con- formable to the printed direction of the General Court) and forwarded by the Town Clerk to the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, as the Law directs. -
Then the Meeting was Dissolved.
1815.
[38.] At a Meeting of the Male Citizens of the Town of Boston qualified as the law directs, held at Faneuil Hall on Mon- day the 13th. day of March A D 1815 - 10 O'Clock A. M.
Prayer by the Revd. Doctr. Baldwin -
Warrant for calling the Meeting - read
Law respecting the Election of Town officers -read. -
24
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 128.
Hon1. John Phillips Esqr. was chosen Moderator.
Thomas Clark was chosen Town Clerk for the year ensuing and the oath of office was administered to him by the Moderator.
Jonathan Hunnewell
Robert Williams
Joseph Foster
Elisha Ticknor
Joseph Lovering Josiah Bachelder
Joseph Austin Joseph Tilden and
Jacob Hiler Esqrs.
were chosen Selectmen for the year ensuing.
Adjourned to Thursday next 10 O'Clock A M.
[39.] Thursday March 16th. 1815. The Town met according to adjournment.
The Gentlemen chosen Selectmen on Monday last having declined accepting the appointment -
The following Gentlemen were appointed a Committee, at the request of the Moderator, to assist him in receiving, sorting & counting the Votes for Selectmen - viz -
Arnold Welles Joseph Coolidge jun".
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