USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Volume of records relating to the early history of Boston : containing Boston town records, 1814 to 1822 > Part 9
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Richard Thayer
Edward J. Robbins
Henry Blake Joseph Tucker
Eleazer Homer Joseph Stodder Allen Bowker were chosen Surveyors of Lumber.
Moses Eayers Jr. Benjamin Harris & Oliver Mills -
Mess. Henry Purkitt Benjamin Clark were chosen Cullers of Hoops & Staves.
Nathaniel Howe &
Benjamin Owen
[153.] Joshua Davis Benjamin Smith
William Harris
95
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1818.
Mess. Thomas Barbour Nathaniel Howe Benjamin Clark Charles Pook John Bannister
were chosen Cullers of Dry Fish.
Benjamin Owen
James Brown
William J. Hammatt
Thomas Lombard & Walter Jackson
Mess. Benjamin White Nathaniel Bradlee. John Howe Jr.
William Ellison &
were chosen Fence Viewers for the year ensuing.
[155.] Mess. Barney Sloan Joseph Selaway Joseph Champney Neddy Curtis &
James Baxter were chosen Hogreeves & Haywards for the year ensuing.
Samuel Emmons and James Phillips Esqrs.
were chosen Surveyors of Hemp.
Edward Tuckerman & Josiah Snelling Esqrs.
were chosen Surveyors of Wheat.
Mess. John Wells and Nathaniel Alley
were chosen Assay Masters.
Mess. Michael Homer Francis James and Samuel Sprague were chosen Inspectors of Lime.
The Selectmen were chosen Surveyors of High Way.
Voted, That Stephen Codman, Francis J. Oliver and Robert G. Shaw Esqrs. be, and hereby are appointed a Committee to audit the Accounts of the Town Treasurer and said Committee are directed to report the Sum necessary to be raised for the services of the present year.
Voted, That the consideration of all money matters be referred to the May meeting.
The Article in the Warrant "to take into consideration the petition of David Greenough & others before [156] the Legisla- ture for a new market " was taken up and Committed to Hon. John Wells Esqr. William Sullivan
Thomas Badger James T. Austin Samuel Hubbard Joshua Davis &
Jonathan Loring Esqr.
96
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 128.
Voted That the Above Committee be instructed to consider the expediency of enlarging the Market, and also the mode of effect- ing that Object.
On the Application of Jacob Tidd Junior
Voted, That the Selectmen or a major part of them be a Com- mittee to fill and dispose of a lot of land belonging to the Town, bounded on Ivers & Portland Streets, on such terms as they shall deem to be for the interest of the Town; and to make and exe- cute a deed of the same to the purchaser according to Law.
Voted, That the thanks of the Town be given to the Moderator, and then the Meeting was
Dissolved.
[157.] At a Meeting of the Male Inhabitants of the Town of Boston of twenty one years of age and upwards, qualified as the Constitution prescribes, & legally warned & assembled at Faneuil Hall on Monday the sixth day of April A. D. 1818. 9 O'clock A. M.
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Eaton.
Warrant for calling the Meeting read.
Paragraphs of the Constitution or Frame of Government rela- tive to the choice of Governor, Lieutenant Governor & Senators read .-
Law of the Commonwealth dividing the State into Districts for the choice of Counsellors and Senators read.
It was afterwards determined that the Poll should be closed at 2 O'clock, the Bells to Commence tolling at half past one.
Persons voted for as Governor with the number of votes for each person viz.
His Excellency John Brooks 2,999
Hon. Benjamin W. Crowninshield 744
Hon. Benjamin Austin 3
Hon, Henry Dearborn 1
3,747
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1818.
Persons voted for as Lieutenant Governor, with the number of Votes for each person viz.
His Honor William Phillips - 2,984
Hon Thomas Kittredge - 760
Hon Joseph B. Varnum 1. Ch8. Callender 1 2
Josiah Quincy 3. Wm. Lawrence-2 5
John Bellows 1. Henry Homer - 1 -
3,753
[158.] Persons voted for as Counsellors & Senators for the District of Suffolk, with the number of Votes for each person, viz.
Hon John Phillips -
- 3,000
Josiah Quincy
" Jonathan Hunnewell 2,933
" James Lloyd - 2,976
Artemas Ward 2,939
Andrew Richie Eqs".
2,942
Henry Dearborn - 776
771
66 Samuel Brown
753
William Little Esq".
697
William Ingalls -
737
Thomas Badger
737
James T. Austin
76
Alex". H. Everett
38
Benjamin Russell Esq". 7 Benjamin Smith
Jeremiah Fitch
1
Joseph N. Howe -
1
John Lowell -
4 Samuel Swett - 2
Daniel Jackson
1 Simeon Gardner
1
Henry Orne -
3 Daniel Messinger
1
Amos Binney -
1 Lemuel Shaw
3
Sam1. H. Walley -
1 Benjn. Whitman
Benjamin Austin -
3 Eben Clough 3
1
Aaron Hill
3 Henry Lewis -
4
Charles Austin
5 Geo. Sullivan -
1
Samuel Hubbard -
2 Jos. F. Bordman -
1
Richard Sullivan .
1 John Fitch .
1
Nath1. P., Hunt
1 Lorenzo Knapp
1
Thomas Melvill
1 Dan1. Webster
William Tudor Jr.
1 Samuel Cobb -
1
William Lawrence
3 Benjamin Gorham
1
John Wells
1 George Cabot -
1
Joseph Head -
1 John Gray - -
1
[159.] Joseph Tilden William Sullivan -
8 Tristram Barnard
3
Daniel Parkman -
2 Henry S. Low
2
Caleb Loring -
1 Jonª. Loring -
1
George Hallet -
4 James Robinson
1
Edward Gray -
1 Peter McIntosh
1
1
Chs. P. Sumner
3 . John Brazier -
4 Charles Davis -
1
97
2,815
William Gray
98
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 128.
George Hastings -
1 Gideon Snow - 1
John Roulstone -
1 Joseph Eaton -
2
William Sturgis -
1 Nath1. Goddard
1
Attested copies of Return of the Persons voted for as Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Counsellors & Senators for the District of Suffolk, were sealed up in open town Meeting (after the vote had been declared), to be transmitted to the Secretary of the Com- monwealth as prescribed by Law, and directed as follows viz.
To Alden Bradford Esq. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Votes of the Town of Boston for Governor & Lieutenant Governor, sealed up in open Town Meeting.
Also for six Counsellors & Senators for the District of Suffolk, directed in the same manner.
Then this Meeting was Dissolved.
[160.] At a meeting of the Male Inhabitants of the Town of Boston of twenty one years of age and upwards, qualified as the Constitution prescribes held at Faneuil Hall, on Thursday the 14th day of May A.D. 1818- 10 O'Clock A.M.
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Parkman.
Warrant for calling the Meeting read.
Paragraphs of the Constitution relating to the choice of Repre- sentatives read.
The Inhabitants were requested to bring in their votes for one, or more persons to represent the Town in the next General Court.
The Poll was closed at half past One O'clock when it appeared that the whole number of votes given in was - 796 necessary to make a choice - 399
The following Gentlemen had a majority of Votes, and were declared to be duly elected Representatives for the year ensuing.
Viz.
Mess. Stephen Codman Benjamin Russell
Benjamin Whitman
Charles Davis
William H. Sumner
Nathan1. Curtis
John Howe Benjamin Gorham
Jonathan Loring
Benjamin Smith
John Cotton
Benjamin Rand
David Sears
Francis Bassett
Enoch Silsby
Then this Meeting was Dissolved.
99
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1818.
[161.] At a legal Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston held at Faneuil Hall on Monday the 25th. day of May A.D. 1818.
10 O'clock. A.M.
Warrant for calling the Meeting read.
Joseph Phillips Esqr. chosen Moderator.
Edward Tuckerman William Dall William Hammatt Peter O. Thatcher Esqr. & Joshua Davis Thomas Dawes Esqr. were
Chosen Trustees of Neck Lands.
Mess. Romanus Emerson & Abel Hewens were chosen
Fence Viewers for the District of South Boston.
The Article in the Warrant "to determine if the Town will furnish the funds necessary for erecting two additional School houses, which the School Committee at a legal Meeting on the 15th inst voted were necessary " was taken up & on Motion
Voted That the Town Treasurer be authorized to borrow on the credit of the Town a sum not exceeding twenty thousand Dollars for the express purpose of erecting two additional School houses in the Town for the use of the Town; which schools shall be called the Boylston town Schools and that the like sum of twenty thousand Dollars from the money secured to be paid to the Town [162] by Ward N. Boylston Esq". arising out of the will of the late Thomas Boylston of London Esqr. deceased, with the Interest accruing thereon, be appropriated to the discharge of this debt.
The Report of the Auditors of the Town Treasurers Accounts and of the Committee of Finance being read.
It was Voted, That the Report of the Committee on the finances of the Town be Committed to
Benjamin Austin James Savage
Benjamin Weld Joseph Adams
Alexander Townsend Esq''s.
who are authorized to print the whole or any part of said report they may think proper, and distribute the same for the informa- tion of the inhabitants, four days previous to the 4th. June next.
The Committee appointed by the Town to take into consider- ation the petition of David Greenough and others before the Legislature for a new Market, and also instructed to consider the expediency of enlarging the Market and the mode of effecting
100
CITY DOCUMENT No. 128.
that Object have attended to the Duty assigned them and with due respect for the character & enterprize of the petitioners ask leave to report.
That in the year 1633 a grant of a fair or Market was made to the Town of Boston - and that independently of this grant it is a right [163] of the Town to hold the present Market called Faneuil Hall Market in virtue of long continued usage undis- turbed by the erection of any other Market place in its vicinity. Your Committee are decided in their opinion that it would be highly inexpedient to consent to the establishment of a Market near to or (like the one proposed by the petitioners) in contact with Faneuil Hall Market as it would not only endanger the gov- ernment, regulation and control thereof, but would essentially injure the rights and property of the town, by competition and interference and a diminution of the rents & income of the Town which might be exposed to a total loss and that this effect might and probably would be produced without any corresponding benefit to the inhabitants in the reduction of the prices of provisions.
That the public convenience does not require the erection of the proposed market, as the Boylston market is far from being crowded, and alterations may be made in Faneuil Hall Market which will render it, as convenient as the inhabitants can reason- ably expect in the present state of the town, and will besides effect many important alterations in the streets which are near the Market place.
The Committee are therefore unanimously of opinion that the selectmen should be requested to oppose the petition of David Greenough Esq. and others now before the legislature for a new Market - this part of the report was accepted [164] and, Voted, Unanimously, That the petition of David Greenough Esqr. & Others to erect a new Market in the vicinity of the old Market near Faneuil Hall would if granted operate injuriously to the rights and interest of the town, and that the Selectmen be requested to use their influence to prevent the same being granted by the legislature.
The remainder of the Report was ordered to be printed and distributed for the information of the Inhabitants.
The application of a number of the Inhabitants for the estab- lishment of Schools for the instruction of children under seven years of age, was read, and Committed to
Redford Webster Samuel May
Thomas L. Winthrop John D. Williams
Elisha Ticknor James Savage
James Prince Benjamin West &
Thomas Jackson Esqr.
to consider and report thereon at the Adjournment.
Adjourned to Thursday the 4th day of June next 10 O'clock A.M.
101
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1818.
[165.] Thursday June 4th 1818 The Town met according to adjournment.
The Moderator being absent Benjamin Weld Esqr. was chosen Moderator. Pro. Tem.
The Committee appointed by the Town of Boston on the 9th. day of March last " To audit the Accounts of the Town Treas- urer & Collector " with directions also to report the sum necessary to be raised for the services of the present year, Respectfully Report, that they have so far attended the services assign'd them, by examining the Town Treasurer & Collectors Accounts of receipts and payments for the year past, and find them right cast and well vouched, and that there results a balance in the hands of Andrew Sigourney Esqr. the Treasurer, of Twenty one thou- sand, five hundred and fifty four dollars and eighty three cents belonging to the Town, this Account which is handed herewith, includes all the drafts made on the Treasurer by the Boards of Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor and the board of health, who are authorized by the Town to appropriate the Town's money for the several purposes within their respective departments, the par- ticulars of which will appear by the statements which are annu- ally made to the Town by the standing Committee of Finance, to which report your Committee also refer the Town for amount of the Sum necessary to be raised for the services of the present year - All which is respectfully submitted by order of the Com-
mittee of Auditors. Boston May 18, 1818 Stephen Codman Chairman.
[166.] The Committee to whom was submitted on the 25th. ult. the report of the Committee of Finance made the following report
The Committee to whom was referred the report of the Commit- tee of Finance having complied with the request of the Town in " printing and distributing the same for the information of the Citizens," have also taken into consideration the mode to be adopted in future, previous to granting the Annual Taxes - which will be submitted to the Town at the adjournment on Thursday next.
It is requested there may be a full meeting to consider the Subject as it is of the highest importance, that while the Citizens are so prompt in the payment of taxes, a more particular detail of such expences should in future be exhibited, in order that they may obtain the fullest information on their money concerns, before they assemble in Town Meeting to grant the supplies
Benjamin Austin Chairman.
102
CITY DOCUMENT No. 128.
Sixth annual Report of the Committee of Finance of the Town of Boston
The Committee of finance of the Town of Boston consisting of the Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, and Board of health, having attended to the duty assign'd them by the Town, have examined the books of the Treasurer and collector, and are [167] satisfied with the diligence and attention of that officer and with the accuracy of his accounts. They present the following Report.
The Amount of Warrants for taxes in 1817 given to the Treasurer and Collector, were for State Tax
$22,000.00
Town & County tax 141,643.40
$163,643.40
Amount received by the Treasurer from October 1, 1817 to
May 18. 1818 $153,669.00
Amount of abatements - 6,943.60
Balance remaining uncollected
3,030.80
$163,643.40
From which it appears, that the whole tax has been paid or settled in less than eight months, excepting about $3000 dollars, from which the Treasurer estimates nearly 1000 may be collected ; your committee cannot refrain from expressing their opinion that this promptness is honorable to the Treasurer and to the Inhab- itants ; and is an evidence of well arrang'd financial concerns.
The following is a statement of the Towns Debts and Credits. Town of Boston Dr.
On State Tax
$10,000.
County of Suffolk
8,000
Notes due to several Persons
21,500
Selectmen of Boston for Mrs. Brooker's Dona- tion, a fund, the Interest of which is paid annually to Widows & Sick Persons - - 1230.
Balances unpaid on Selectmen & Overseers Accts. - 223.44
Unliquidated Accounts - 5,046.56
46,000.00
[168.] Town of Boston Cr.
By Several Notes for land &c.
3,739.73
Due for State Poor - 7,000.
Taxes uncollected estimated to produce 1,000. Cash in Treasury 21,554.83
Balance
12,705.44
46,000.00
103
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1818.
The balance of the Account current last year was 38,601.87 - The above Statement shows it to be at present 12,705.44
And exhibits the Sum paid this year of the old debt -
25,396.43
A calculation was made in the last years report to pay off 14,000 dollars, of the old debt, this has not only been realized but a much larger sum has been paid.
The demands on the Town as before stated - $46,000 Add thereto for current expences of the year as follows :
For Selectmen's department 70,000.
For Overseers of the Poor
30,000.
For Board of Health
7,000
107,000.
Amount of State Tax
22,000.
Amount of County Tax
22,000.
Interest on Outstanding debts
2,700.
Exhibits the Amount to be paid this year = $199,700.00 To be Provided for as follows.
From Money in the Treasury
21,554.83
From Notes becoming due - 3,739.73
From Commonwealth for Poor 7,000.00
Rents of Town House &c - 15,000.00
Taxes receivable outstanding 1,000.00
Amount assessed for State Tax $22,000.
Amount assessed for County Tax 22,000.
Amount assessed for Town Tax
107,405.44= 151,405.44
$199,700,00
[169.] Brot. forward
$199,700.00
Addition for probable abatement 10,000.00
$209,700.00
The Committee recommend that the Town should vote a Tax of 107,405 Dollars and 10,000 in addition, to meet the abatements, this Amount will defray the current expences of the year and pay off the balance of the towns debt.
Respectfully submitted by order of the Committee of Finance. Turner Phillips Chairman.
The foregoing report was read and accepted by the Town - and
104
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 128.
Voted That the sum of One hundred and seventeen thousand four hundred and five Dollars, be raised by a Tax to be assessed upon the Polls and Estates of the Inhabitants of the Town to de- fray the expences of the Town the present year.
Upon the representation and exhibition of the doings and pro- ceedings of Andrew Sigourney Esq. Treasurer and Collector of Taxes of the Town of Boston the last year.
Voted That the Town of Boston highly approve of the conduct of said Andrew Sigourney Esq. in the said Offices of Treasurer & 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 de- linquency [170] 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.
Voted That the Treasurer be authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding Seventy thousand Dollars if the same should be found necessary for the Service of the Town.
The proposition of the Committee of which the Hon. Benjamin Austin was chairman were committed to
Mess. H. G. Otis James Prince
James T. Austin S. A. Wells
S. Swett
to consider and report at a future meeting.
Voted That the report of the Committee of which the Hon. John Wells is Chairman subside for the present and the com- munication of David Grecnough Esq". & others committed to
Mess. H. G. Otis J. Wells
J. Prince B. Austin J. Savage B. Weld
R. Webster Esqrs.
Voted there be allowed and paid unto the Hon. Thomas Dawes the sum of Seven hundred and fifty Dollars as his Salary as Judge of the Municipal Court for this present year.
[171.] Voted That there be allowed and paid unto Thomas Clark, Town Clerk, the sum of One thousand Dollars as his Salary for the present year.
Voted, That there be allowed and paid out of the Treasury of the Town of Boston the Sum of One thousand Dollars to each of the permanent Assessors of the Town of Boston for the present year.
105
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1818.
Voted That the consideration of the Salary of Andrew Sigourney Esqr. be deferred to the Adjournment.
Adjourned to Thursday June 11th
Thursday June 11th 1818 -
The Town met agreeable to adjournment.
The Moderator pro-Tempore, inform'd the Inhabitants that the Town Clerk was unable to attend at this meeting, being confined at his house by sickness, whereupon it was moved and voted to choose a Clerk pro. tempore a nomination being called for, and the question taken, Turner Phillips was declared to be chosen.
The following report of the Committee of which Redford Webster Esqr. was Chairman was then read.
The Committee appointed at the Town Meeting on the 25th. ultimo to consider the subject of the petition of a number of the inhabitants for the establishment by the Town, of schools for children under Seven years of [172] age, having attentively considered it, ask leave respectfully to Report
That in their opinion the opening of such schools for children under the age of seven years is highly expedient and necessary ; that several hundred children of that age do not attend any school, because the charity schools are in most instances provided only for female children being under the inspection of ladies, their founders, and the private schools are so expensive, that many parents find it difficult to defray that expense; that the examination of the circumstances of the several parts of the Town in this respect made last July, presented a return by which it is found, that two hundred and eighty three children between the age of four & seven years did not attend any school, but from enquiry of some of the Gentlemen who made the return, the committee are satisfied, that many children of that age were omitted, their parents or guardians being unwilling to acknowl- edge that they were sent to no school ; that the Committee with greater confidence recommend the the adoption of such a course, because most of the towns in this Commonwealth provide Schools for Children of four years old equally with others, and [173] particularly is this adhered to in the large Towns of Salem, Newbury Port and Portland; that the best mode of providing such schools seems to them to be by the guidance and direction of three Gentlemen from each Ward, of sufficient activity, firmness, discretion and energy, to be nominated by the School Committee; Wherefore they conclude by submitting the following resolutions to introduce the proposed experiment.
Voted That the School Committee be instructed in the month of June annually to nominate and appoint three Gentlemen in each ward, whose duty collectively, shall be to provide instruc-
106
CITY DOCUMENT No. 128.
tion for children between four & seven years of age, and appor- tion the expences among the several schools.
Voted, that five thousand dollars be appropriated out of the Town Treasury for the purpose in the foregoing vote expressed, to be paid by the Treasurer on warrants drawn on him in the same manner as warrants are for the expences of the other Town Schools
By Order of the Committee Redford Webster
June 3rd 1818.
[174.] The foregoing report of the Committee to consider the petition of a number of the inhabitants for the establishment by the town, of schools for children under seven years of age was accepted and five thousand dollars added to the estimate of the expenses of the ensuing year to carry the same into effect.
Voted That the Committee who have under consideration the propositions made to the town by the Committee to whom was referred the report of the Committee of finance be requested to report at the adjournment.
The consideration of the report of the Committee to whom was referred the proposals of David Greenough & others was post- poned to the adjournment.
Adjourned to Thursday 25th. inst.
[175.] Thursday June 25th 1818.
The Town met according to adjournment.
The Committee to whom was referred the proposals of David Greenough & others of the 4th inst. made a report, which was read & considered, & the subject referred to the next March meeting.
The printed report of the Committee on subject of the Market was indefinitely postponed.
The Committee to whom was referred sundry Motions referred by a former Committee for the consideration of the Town, beg leave to report the same as taken into a new draft as follows.
Voted, That the annual report and estimate of the Committee of finance on the subject of Taxes and supplies for the current year shall in future be printed under the direction of the Select- men and distributed by the Constables among the Inhabitants
107
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1818.
four days at least previously to the meeting of the Town to act upon those subjects ; and that said report be accompanied by statements of the receipts and expenditures of the Town for the past year as far as the same can be ascertained, distinguishing as nearly as may be the expenses incurred for paving, laying out and improving the streets, for compensations made to individuals, for land taken for public uses ; for the purchase of oil and light- ing the lamps ; for the pay of Watchmen, salaries for police & Municipal Officers, For [1 96] Public Schools and salaries to the preceptors & assistants, For Printing and Stationery ; for the improvement and repairs of the Common. Also-a statement of the receipts arising from the Franklin, Boylston and other donations and their appropriations, from licenses to hackney coachmen and others, from the market house, stalls and public buildings, from fines and forfeitures paid into the Treasury of the Town, and generally of all other receipts and expenditures, so as to afford a clear & succinct view of the same. Also a statement of the real estate and other property belonging to the Town, with the respective rents and incomes thereof.
Voted, That a Committee of three persons be appointed by the Town at their annual meeting to examine the report of receipts and expenditures made by the Committee of Finance, in order to ascertain whether any savings or retrenchments may be made in the public expences.
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