USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Volume of records relating to the early history of Boston : containing minutes of the Selectmen's meetings, from 1811 to 1817 and part of 1818 > Part 16
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The Town Clerk shall attend at every meeting of the board, and shall make a record of all the proceedings, and enter the names
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SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1816.
of the members present .- In case of the necessary absence of the Town Clerk, a member shall be appointed to take the minutes pro. tempore.
At the opening of each meeting, the Town Clerk shall read the records of the proceedings of the last meeting .-
The monthly drafts of accounts drawn upon the Treasurer shall be examined by a committee of the board, & shall be signed by the Town Clerk and the committee before it is sent to the Treasurer ; and no addition shall be made to the draft while in the hands of the Treasurer, unless the same be signed by a majority of the board, in form of an order .-
There shall be standing Committees of the board for the fol- lowing purposes.
[6.] 1st. a Committee of two members to each school ; whose duty it shall be, to direct all necessary repairs ; to provide the schools with wood, and to certify all bills for work &c .-
2ª. A Committee of one to each Watch house, for the same purposes.
3ª. A Committee of one to inspect the Hay scales, to attend to repairs and the accounts of the hay weigher .-
4th. A Committee of three, to attend to the Town house ; to direct repairs, and report respecting rents.
5th. A Committee of three on the Market; to direct repairs and to attend to the proceedings and accounts of the Clerk of the market .-
6th. A Committee of three to have the care and superintend- ence of the Neck .-
7th. A Committee of three to have the care of the Common .-
Each member of the Board shall have a portion of the Town assigned to him as his district, in which he shall have the direc- tion and oversight of the streets, and of the repairs necessary to them ;- and shall have liberty to undertake and order any work, the expence of which shall not exceed twenty dollars .- but no undertaking which shall exceed that sum, shall be begun or contracted for, without being first laid before the board, [.] and agreed to by vote. And the bills for all work in any district shall be examined and certified by the member superintending the district, before they shall be allowed for payment.
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
For any work that may be done in the streets which divide the districts, the gentlemen having the care of the districts bordering thereon, shall confer together, and agree upon the same .-
Each gentleman is particularly desired to pay attention in his district to all drains that may be opened, to see that they be laid of proper dimensions ; to observe all encroachments and incum- brances of the streets, and to inform the Superintendent of the same, that measures may be taken for their speedy removal ; and to suggest such improvements of the streets or foot walks, as are practicable, by a right disposition of the common resources of the Town; and generally to pay attention to the Town slips and lands in his district.
Voted, That the Board be divided into committees as follows.
All West of Middle & North Streets, from Winnesimit ferry to the Mill Creek, to be assigned to Mr. Bray.
All east of the same streets to the Creek-to Mr. Austin.
[8.] Wards Nº. 5 & 6 to Mr. Phillips
Wards Nº. 4 & 7 to Mr. Bulfinch
Ward Nº. 8 to Mr. Hunnewell
Ward Nº. 9 to Mr. Williams
Ward Nº. 10 to Mr. Lee
Ward Nº. 11 to Mr. Oliver
Ward Nº. 12 to Mr. Lovering.
That Messrs. Oliver, Lovering & Lee Committee of Neck .- Messrs. Bulfinch, Hunnewell & Lee Committee of Common .- Messrs. Lovering, Bray & Phillips Committee of Market .- Messrs. Austin & Bray Committee on North schools & Watch .- Messrs. Bulfinch & Phillips-West Schools.
Messrs. Hunnewell & Lee, Center schools & Watch.
Messrs. Oliver & Lovering, South schools & Watch.
Mr. Oliver Committee on Hay scales.
Mess's. Oliver, Hunnewell & Lovering, Committee on Town house .-
Voted, That the Town Clerk notify the masters of the schoois of the names of the gentlemen composing the Committee of each
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school; that they may know to whom to apply for necessary repairs, wood &c .-
[9.] On the application of Mr. Abel Wheelock, liberty is allowed him of standing with one Hackney Carriage in School street, opposite to the house lately occupied by Dr. Warren ;- until the further order of the board .-
Application was received from Mrs. Ridgway, for compensation for land taken to form part of Derne street .-
This subject was considered, and it appeared that Derne street had been laid out about fifteen years-that part of it passed over an open piece of land at the west end of a passageway called Ridgeway's lane, which had been left open more than forty years for the use of the abutters on said passageway .- Voted unanimously, that the opening of Derne street at the west end of this passageway, altho' it passed over the said open land, was a benefit rather than a damage to the estate of Ridgeway, and that the present applicant had no claim upon the Town.
Mr. Ryan applying to hire several pieces of land on the Neck was referred to the Neck Committee who were desired to attend to the subject.
The Committee on the Town house made a statement of the rents of several [10.]-apartments of that house; it was voted, that after the expiration of the present leases, the rents should be as follows .-
for the part occupied by Mr. Barry $800 pr. Annm.
Ditto by Mr. Rea - 800- Do. by Gilbert & Dean 200- D° by Beal & Hobart 150-
and that the Town Clerk inform each of the above occupants of the vote relating to his apartment.
Messrs. Lovering & Bray were desired to make inquiry respect- ing Deer Island, of its value compared with other farms, and to report their opinion of the rent to be required in future.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen March 27th. 1816 .- Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin, Williams, Bray & Phillips.
Passed the Monthly Accounts.
Messrs. William Andrews and Turell Tuttle to be notified to secure their cellars, by a fence on Fish street. -
The Chairman, Mr. Hunnewell and Mr. Lovering a Committee to superintend the work on the new school house .-
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
[11.] The Committee on the memorial of David Townsend & others made the following Report.
The Committee appointed in conjunction with a Committee of the Fire Wards, have attended the duty assigned them-& report that they have met the proprietor of the rope walk & made him fully acquainted with the subject-that his factory is considered in every respect a rope walk, and that he must conform to the laws, provided for the safety of the Town from fire & having lights in ropewalks-and that every offence will be prosecuted by the Firewards.
J. HUNNEWELL pr. Order.
The foregoing Report was read & accepted.
Return was made to the Hon. Judge of Probate for the County of Suffolk, that Daniel T. Lewis is a person non compos mentis, and requesting that a guardian may be appointed for him .-
Messrs. Oliver, Hunnewell & Lovering Committee on Accounts for the present draft.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 3ª. 1816- Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin, Bray & Phillips .-
Voted, That no person shall be allowed to take sand, gravel or ballast from Deer Island-and that the Chairman be requested to have an advertisement inserted in the news papers, offering a reward for the discovery of any person who shall trespass on the premises.
[12.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 8th. 1816. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Williams & Phillips .-
This was a special meeting for the purpose of receiving the return of the award of referees on the estate of Belknap & Jackson and others-the Chairman presented two executions against the Town-one for the amount awarded to Messrs. Norton & Jackson for the house on Dorsets Alley-being ten thousand & costs .- the other to Norton & others for the house on Cornhill for twenty three thousand five hundred dollars & costs .- Voted, That the Town Clerk draw a warrant on the town treasurer in the form directed by Mr. Thacher, in favour of each of the proprietors of said estates, and for their respective proportions-and that the Chairman & Mr. Phillips be a Committee to inspect the draft and certify the same .-
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SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1816.
[13.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 10th. 1816-Present the whole Board .- (except Mr. Lee.)
Mr. Thomas Welsh's application respecting land in Court street, was committed to Messrs. Hunnewell & Lovering.
Mr. Phillips a Committee to settle with Mr. Foster respecting Mr. Brookers donation & to receive the papers of him-Also to settle with Mr. Weld respecting land sold Odin & to receive all monies in his hands for rent of house & land in Union street.
Mr. Selfridge to be informed that the Board consider him no longer a tenant, and wish him to remove his books &c from the office lately occupied by him, in [the ] Town house .-
The Neck Committee report-That they have let the two circular malls on the Neck to Mr. Ryan at twelve dollars each per annum .- that Mr. Bridge having occupied the same for three years past at ten dollars each, the Treasurer is desired to collect the same, amounting to sixty dollars .-
The next weekly meeting assigned for coming to the choice of such officers annually chosen, as the board shall be disposed to proceed upon.
[14.] Mr. Messinger having been notified that the rent of the rooms occupied by him in the old State House would be $300 -per annum, & he having declined acceding to the terms pro- posed, he is to be notified to quit the premises at the expiration of the present quarter.
- (N. B. Mr. Messenger was notified .-
Voted, That the money raised by subscription in the different wards for the defence of the Town, & remaining in the hands of the Treasurer, be appropriated for repairs on the Common .-
Pursuant to a precept from [the] Hon. Judge of Probate for the County of Suffolk, inquisition was made into the circumstances of Mrs. Jemima Mc. Mellon, widow, & return was made that she was a person non. compos mentis, and recommended that a guardian be appointed for her .--
Boston, ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 17th. 1816. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin, Williams & Phillips .-
Benjamin Whitwell Esq. agent of the Kennebeck Bridge informed the board, that an assessment of ten dollars on each share, had been laid, for rebuilding that bridge; and applied for the assess- ment on sixteen shares & one half, the property of the Town ;
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
being part of the donation [15.] of the late Abiel Smith Esq .- On considering the subject, the board being of opinion, that the property in this bridge could never be productive to the Town, Voted, that Mr. Whitwell be informed that we do not think it expedient to pay the assessment .-
Henry Codman Esq. appeared in behalf of Mrs. Scollay, to confer with the board on the measures to be adopted for ascer- taining her damages for her land & building taken to make an opening into the new street; after some conversation on the subject, it was proposed that the damages should be determined by five referees, & in selecting them two persons should be taken from a list of twelve to be presented by Mrs. Scollay, two from a list of twelve to be presented by the Cornhill Corporation, and one person chosen at large by the Selectmen.
Application was received from Mr. L. Tappan in behalf of the occupants of stores in Broad street, requesting an additional watch at their expence for the protection of that street & those adjacent. Voted, that the board will take measures to organize, such addition to the watch, and give them the powers of watch- men ; the same being under the direction of Capt, Brewer and to be paid by the gentlemen applying for them.
The Committee of the Town house reported that they had leased the office lately occupied by Mr. Selfridge, to Mr. William Parker at one hundred & fifty dollars per annum to commence from the 13th. instant.
[16.] The Committee to consider the application of T. Welsh Esq. respecting land in Court street, opposite Concert hall, reported as follows,-The Committee appointed on the applica- tion of Mr. Welsh to erect a building more than nine feet high as stipulated in the deed of said land having viewed the premises, give as our opinion that the prayer of the petitioner cannot be granted without interfering with the rights of others already. established ;- which report was accepted .-
John Welles Esgr. having been notified to repair [the] side walk in front of his land by Boylston market, stated in writing his intention of building on that land, and that any expence on the side walk at present would be lost to him, Voted, That Mr. Welles be allowed to the 1st. July before the repair of the said walk should be required of him .-
The Chairman reported the hayweighers account, examined & found correct for the quarter ending April 1st .-
This time being assigned for choice of officers-the following persons were chosen by ballot to serve one year .-
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SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1816.
Mr. Samuel Phillips-hay weigher-Messrs. John Parker & Joseph Lovering, sureties .-
Mr. Nath1. Merriam-Clerk of Market.
Mr. Richard Austin-Sealer of weights & measures.
Mr. Caleb Loring Jur .- Sealer of Lighters, for sand, gravel & ballast.
[19.] The Chairman was desired to publish an advertisement to prevent the defacing and injuring of fences, &c .-
The application of the Company of Sargents that the armoury formerly used by them and appropriated during the war to the Cadets might be restored to them-was committed to Mr. Lover- ing, to enquire of the Commander of the Cadets the circumstances attending this armoury, & whether it was now necessary for them .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 18th. 1816 .- Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin, Williams, Bray & Phillips .-
This special meeting was called to consider the representation made by the workmen engaged in digging a well at the north east corner of Faneuil Hall .- They stated that the ground having been boxed last fall and the well sunk to the depth of about 30 feet had been left full of salt water during the winter ;- that a few days since they had commenced pumping out the water, to resume the work-that when the water was nearly all taken out, it was followed by a large quantity of quick sand, mixed with the water contained in the ground outside of the boxing, which flowed [18.] in as fast as they attempted to take it out : and they were apprehensive as this sand came from under the bed of clay on which the boxing was placed, that the tide would soon find admit- tance to the cellars of Faneuil Hall, or even that the north east corner of the building would be endangered .- Voted unanimously that altho the obtaining a good well in this situation would be very desirable, that under the present discouragements, the workmen be directed to fill the well as speedily as possible with solid earth or gravel .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 24th. 1816. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin, Williams, Bray & Phillips .-
4 Grand Jurors & 4 Petit Jurors were drawn for Circuit Court .-
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CITY DOCUMENT No. 60.
Mr. Charles Cleveland approved as an Auctioneer.
George Sullivan Esq. was unanimously chosen to deliver an Oration on the 4th. July next .-
On the application for the repair of Lynn street, Mr. Austin & Mr. Bray were appointed a Committee to confer with Samuel Brown Esq. proprietor of the water lots on said street .-
Mr. Phillips reported that he [19.] had received from Mr. Foster the papers respecting Mrs. Brookers donation and the bal- ance in his hands & had given him a discharge therefor.
Mr. Lovering one of the Committee for the Common in place of Mr. Lee.
A draft of a letter to the President & directors of New Corn- hill Corporation was presented by the Chairman, on the subject of the engagements entered into by the board on the 5th. March last, relative to Mrs. Scollays building-the same having been repeatedly read, and amended, the Town Clerk was desired to prepare a copy thereof and send to the directors to-morrow .- The draft is on file of mixed papers.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 29th. 1816- Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Hunnewell, Austin, Williams, Bray & Phillips.
Passed the Monthly accounts. 5
The Committee on Lynn street-reported-That they had con- ferred with Samuel Brown Esq. on the subject of repairing that street-and that he consented that gravel might be taken from the hill, and stones from the inner wall to repair the said street in front of his land-the report is on file.
[20.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 1st. 1816 .- Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Lovering, Austin, Wil- liams, Bray & Phillips .-
Closed the Monthly draft.
Messrs. Frink Roberts, Elam Bliss, and Benjamin Seaver (of the house of Whitwell & Bond) were appointed auctioneers. -
Messrs. Hunnewell, Lovering & Austin a Committee to consider what measures should be taken to deepen the well at the corner of Kilby street, or otherwise to make it useful to the inhabitants .-
Whereas a sum of money is now deposited in the hands of the Town Treasurer; being the unexpended balance of the money
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SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1816.
raised by subscription in 1814, for the defence of the Town :- and, Whereas the necessity of using such money for the purpose for which it was subscribed has happily been removed, by the return of Peace, and the Selectmen are desirous of appropriating the balance to some object of general utility .- Voted, That in the opinion of the Selectmen, no appropriation of such remaining balance could be made, which would be more conducive to the general convenience of the inhabitants, more gratifying to the subscribers, or better calculated to recall to the recollections of our fellow citizens, the patriotic exertions made in the time of alarm and danger, than to dispose of the same for the improve- ment of the Common, to beautify and adorn which, would pro- mote the general comfort [21.] health and convenience and add greatly to the ornament of the Town. --
Voted, That Messrs. Bulfinch, Hunnewell & Lovering be a Committee to superintend the improvements and ornament of the Common; that they be empowered to expend for this purpose, the above mentioned balance now in the hands of the Town Treasurer.
Voted, That the Committee be empowered to make drafts upon the Treasurer to the amount of the above balance, in payment to workmen-and that the Treasurer be desired to pay the said orders, and pass the same to an account distinct from other Town charges.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 8th. 1816- Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin, Williams, Bray & Phillips .-
Warrant was signed for Town Meeting on the 16th. instant, for choice of Representatives to the next General Court.
Mr. Bray was requested to call on Rev. Mr. Winchel & desire him to open the meeting with prayer.
Mr. Eliot to print the notifications.
Voted, That no person be allowed to take sand or any kind of ballast from Deer Island until the further order of the board.
[22.] Mr. Benjamin Winslow was approved as an auction- eer in company with Mr. George G. Channing.
An application from a number of the gentlemen of the bar was received, recommending that a copy should be obtained of the first volume of Town Records-Committed to Messrs. Oliver, Hunnewell & Phillips .-
A Conference was had with a Committee from the Board of Health, to advise respecting a place to deposit the day dirt-
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
Committed to Messrs. Lovering, Bray and Phillips, to consider the subject in conjunction with the Board of Health Committee & report.
A Communication was received from Ward N. Boylston Esq .- requesting that measures might be taken by the board or the Town to bring to a close the town's claims upon him-Committed to Messrs. Bulfinch & Phillips, who were desired to advise with Mr. Prescott on this subject & report.
Application was received from a number of persons residing in Leverett street and its neighbourhood, requesting that a new street should be laid out to connect Wiltshire street with Leverett street, through land late of Joseph Russell Esq. and which is now for sale .-
Messrs. Hunnewell, Phillips and Williams a Committee thereon to view & report .-
[23.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 15th. 1816-Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin, Williams, Bray & Phillips .-
Whereas the care and control of the Common has ever been confided to the Selectmen by votes of the Town; The Board now think proper that whatever arrangements are made with the Board of Health respecting the disposal of dirt or any substance on any part of the Common should be under regulations in writing mutually understood and agreed upon by both boards; The Selectmen accordingly appoint-The Committee of the Common in conjunction with a Committee from the board of health to con- sider the regulations and restrictions necessary & to report the same to be consented to by both boards .-
Messrs. Austin, Lovering & Hunnewell a Committee to attend to the representation of Mr. Hatch respecting the drain in Cross street, which now admits the sea water into his cellar, also to the passageway between land of said Hatch & Mr. Barnes .- the same Committee was desired to view a suitable place for a bridge from Cross street to Union street-to consider what width of bridge was necessary & report.
[24.] A letter was received from [the] President and Direc- tors of New Cornhill Corporation, in answer to the letter of the board of 24 ultimo the same having been considered, it was agreed to send in reply a letter, proposing several modes of adjusting the present subject of difference-this letter is as follows .-
Gentlemen
We have received your letter of the 13th instant, but forbear from answering the arguments and statements therein
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contained, because we would avoid unpleasant discussion with gentlemen whom we personally respect, and to whose projects of improvement we wish the fullest success.
We still indulge the hope, that by an amicable adjustment of the present difference, we may in future proceed with mutual satisfaction, in advancing yours and the public interest-We must however refer you to our former letter for the determination which we have adopted; it was made deliberately, and nothing in your communication has led us to consider it incorrect .- One thing only we would remark upon, that you persist in valuing Mrs. Scollays property at 5000 dollars at the time your operations commenced ;- now it is well known that the rents of the wooden building have been about 800 dollars pr annum during the war, which will give some idea of the value of the capital .-
In hopes to adjust the business, we now offer to your choice some other modes of settlement.
[25.] 1st. That the new street should be reduced two feet in width, which will leave it of ample dimensions, and will give you 900 feet of land for sale ; which at the rate you have already sold will produce 20,000 dollars, or even at half price will give 10,000. which will go far toward paying for Mrs. Scollays land.
2ª. We will agree that the referees who shall be chosen to estimate the damages to Mrs. Scollay, shall consider the advan- tages which the Corporation and the Town will derive from taking down her building, and adding her land to the street; and shall decide what proportion of the expence the Town shall pay; for we are fully of opinion, that the Town and its officers ought to be content to leave such a question to the persons to whom individuals are compelled to refer their claims for property forcibly taken for public use.
3ª. That you should make application to the Town, at the next Town meeting, to take measures for removing Mrs. Scollays buildings, and connecting Tremont street with your new street. -.
If you adopt this mode, we must have your application for the purpose before Monday next, when the warrant for the Town meeting will be prepared. But we beg leave to state that we con- sider by thus referring the subject to the Town, all our votes and proceedings relative to Mrs. Scollays property will be cancelled : for after that, we can act only as we are ordered .--
[26.] or 4th .- as there are gentlemen in your Corporation of great & deserved influence in the Legislature, that they should have the law so amended, that power may be given to proper persons, to assess on neighbors who are benefited, their propor- tion of the expense of such improvements; this is the case in New York, and is the most equitable mode that can be devised .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 20th. 1816 -- Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin & Phillips .-
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
The Selectmen having agreed that an experiment on trial should be made, of putting the day dirt of the Town at the bottom of the Common ; the following regulations concerning the same are adopted.
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