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 20
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217
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1817.
6th. That one suitable person be appointed a Tythingman, to execute the duties assigned to that officer by the new law ; who shall keep a book, with the names, places of residence and places of business of every person who shall carry on the employment of Innholder, Victualler, Confectioner or Retailer entered therein, in order that the conduct of such persons, in their several places of business, may be easily inspected and known. And said officer shall follow the directions of the board in inspecting said houses, and conform himself to such regulations as shall be adopted by the board from [100.] time to time, which experience shall sug- gest to be necessary and proper .-
The above is submitted by your Committee
CHS. BULFINCH EBENR. OLIVER.
an abstract of the new law was also presented by the same com- mittee which was accepted & ordered to be printed in the papers, signed by the Town Clerk .-
The Committee chosen to revise the standing rules & orders, reported the following which was read, considered and accepted .-
The Committee appointed to revise the rules & orders of the board have attended that service and ask leave to report the fol- lowing Rules and Orders for the future regulation of the board .-
A Chairman shall be chosen annually by written votes, who shall preside at the meetings of the board : the senior member present shall preside in the absence of the Chairman .-
The time of the regular meeting of the board shall be on Wednesdays at half past three o'clock P.M. from March to Octo- ber, and three o'clock from October to March; and punctual observance of these hours is requested. The Chairman is author- ized to call special meetings of the board whenever it is requisite .-
[101.] Five members shall be necessary to form a board .-
The majority of votes of members present shall be considered as the act of the Board; but any member may enter his dissent to any measure on the records : and no vote shall be reconsidered by a less number than were present when the vote was passed .-
All appointments to office, made by the board, in conformity to the laws of the State, or to the bye laws of the Town, shall be made by written votes, and at a time assigned for that purpose .-
The Town Clerk shall attend at every meeting of the board. and shall make a record of all the proceedings, and enter the names of the members present .- In case of the necessary absence of the Town Clerk the Chairman shall take the minutes.
1
218
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
At the opening of each Meeting, the Town Clerk shall read the records of the proceedings of the last meeting .-
There shall be a Monthly Committee on accounts to consist of two members of the board taken alphabetically, who in conjunc- tion with the Chairman of the board, shall meet at the Selectmens room at o'clock on [102.] the Monday preceding the day on which the monthly draft is closed, whose duty it shall be, to receive and examine all demands against the town that shall be presented for payment, to make a rough draft of the same and lay it before the board for their inspection and approbation .- The draft when completed shall be signed by the Committee and the Town Clerk before it is sent to the Treasurer; and no addition shall be made to it while in the hands of the Treasurer unless the same is signed by a majority of the board in the form of an order.
Every person who shall furnish any supplies or do any work for
1 the Town, shall, at least seven days previous to the day on which the monthly draft is closed, present his bill to the Committee (or one of them) who have the charge of that section of the town for which the supplies were furnished, or the work done. And it shall be the duty of said Committee or one of them to examine such demands, & certify they are correct previous to their being presented to the Committee on accounts for their approbation ; and no demand unless so examined and certified shall be passed by the Committee .-
The town shall be divided into four sections ; Section Nº. 1. shall consist of Wards Nº. 1. 2 & 3. Section Nº. 2. of Wards Nº. 4. 5. and all that part of Ward Nº. 6. north of Cambridge street : Section Nº. 3. of Wards 7. 8 & 9. and that [103.] part of Ward Nº. 6. south of Cambridge street ; Section Nº. 4. of Wards Nº. 10. 11 & 12. There shall be two members of the Board assigned to each of the sections who shall have the direc- tion & oversight of the streets, and of the repairs necessary to them, and shall have liberty to undertake & order any work, the expence of which shall not exceed forty dollars ; but no under- taking which shall exceed that sum shall be begun or contracted for, without being first laid before the board and agreed to by vote; and if any Committee of the board shall contract for or expend more than forty dollars on any one object without the approbation of the board being first obtained (except on some special occasion, the existence of which is to be decided by the board) such Committee shall be responsible in their private capacity for the amount exceeding the forty dollars.
For any work that may be done in the streets which divide the sections, the Committees having the sections bordering thereon, shall confer together, and agree upon the same .-
219
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1817.
Each Committee is particularly desired to pay attention in their section 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 [104.] 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 land in their districts.
Voted, that the Board be divided into Committees as follows .-
Section No. 1 to be assigned to Messrs. Austin & Silsby
Section No. 2 Messrs. Phillips & Dorr
Section No. 3 Messrs. Oliver & Bass
Section No. 4 Messrs. Hunnewell & Lovering
There shall be standing Committees of the board for the follow- ing purposes .-
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 &c .-
2d. a Committee to each watch-house for the same purposes .-
3ª. a Committee to inspect the Hay Scales, to attend to repairs and the accounts of the hay weigher .-
4th. a Committee to attend to the Town-house, to direct repairs and report respecting rents .-
5th. a Committee on the market, to direct repairs and to attend to the proceedings & accounts of the Clerk of the market.
6th. a Committee to have the care and superintendence of the Neck.
7th. a Committee to have the care of the Common.
[105.] That Messrs. Lovering & Bass [are the] Committee of the Neck .-
Messrs. Oliver, Hunewell, Lovering & Bass-Committee of the Common.
Messrs. Phillips, Dorr & Silsby, Committee of the Market .-
Messrs. Austin & Silsby, North Schools and Watch .-
Messrs. Phillips & Dorr, West Schools .-
Messrs. Oliver & Bass, Center Schools & Watch .-
Messrs. Hunnewell & Lovering South Schools & Watch.
Mr. Hunnewell-Hay Scales .-
220
CITY DOCUMENT No. 60.
Messrs. Hunnewell, Lovering & Austin Committee of the Town- house .-
In consequence of the arduous duty the Chairman of the board usually has to perform, your committee would recommend, that he be excused from serving on any of the beforementioned com- mittees ; but that he be requested, to give his advice and assistance to any of the committees that may apply to him.
Your committee taking into consideration that in the estimates of the necessary expences for the town for the year, certain [106.] sums are named to be appropriated to particular pur- poses, such as for the streets, the schools, lamps &c: And in order the board may be duly apprized of their expenditures, they are of opinion it is indispensable they be regularly posted in a Book kept for that purpose by the Chairman, under their proper heads, and the aggregate of their respective amounts laid before the board on every draft day .-
All Committees to report their doings at the next meeting of the board after their appointment, or as soon after as possible .-
Your Committee refrain from designating any further duty expected from the Chairman of the board until his salary shall be fixed, when they presume a committee will be appointed for that purpose, They avail themselves of the present occasion, to recom- mend to the Board, that a committee be appointed to ascertain whether it is in the power of this board to grant a salary to their Chairman, and if it is, what in their opinion his salary ought to be .-
All which is respectfully submitted by
JONA. HUNNEWELL TURNER PHILLIPS Jos. LOVERING
do Committee.
In consequence of the above recommendation the following gentlemen-Messrs. Oliver, Hunnewell & Dorr were chosen a com- mittee [107.] to ascertain whether it is in the power of this board to grant a salary to their Chairman, and if it is, what in their opinion his salary ought to be .-
A letter was received from James Robinson Esq. proposing himself a candidate for the office of Superintendent of Police .-
Voted, that Wednesday next be assigned as the time for com- ing to the choice of Superintendent of Police for the ensuing year .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen March 26th. 1817 -Present The Whole Board .-
221
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1817.
Several persons having applied to hire the enclosed land on the Neck, it was voted, that the Committee of the Neck be empow- ered to lease such parts of that land as they shall judge best at auction .-
Mess's. Hunnewell & Dorr a committee to see that the propri- etors of Rowe's Wharf comply with the conditions on which the Legislature granted leave to extend their wharf into the Channel.
The Chairman, Mr. Hunnewell & Mr. Phillips a committee to meet Mr. Boylston, to confer with him on the subject of the Towns claims, and [108.] to endeavour to bring the same to a settlement .-
The New Cornhill Corporation having it in contemplation to lay out a new street, northerly of Cheapside, The Chairman, MT. Oliver and Mr. Hunnewell were chosen a committee to examine the places and confer with the Corporation respecting said street and report .-
The Committee of the Common and of ward Nº. 7, were desired to meet the abutters on Beacon street, to determine, with them, the width that the foot walk shall be laid in future, and the outer line of the same.
The following officers were chosen for the year ensuing- Samuel Phillips-hay weigher- John Parker & Joseph Lovering Esq. his bondsmen.
Nath1. Merriam, Clerk of the market .-
Caleb Loring Jur. weigher of boats & lighters.
Voted to postpone tbe choice of sealer of weights & measures until Wednesday next .-
This time being assigned for choice of Police officer .- it was voted, that the salary of the Superintendent should be one thousand dollars for the year ensuing .- votes being taken, Nehemiah Freeman Esq. was declared to be unanimously chosen.
Messrs. Lovering & Phillips a Commee. to examine Mr. Bonds account of expences on Town Clocks .-
[109.] The petition of a number of the gentlemen occupy- ing stores at the bottom of State street, requesting permission to raise goods from the street into the upper stories of their stores, was committed to the committee who have such applications under consideration. Also Henderson Inches Esqr's application for the same privilege at his store on his wharf .-
222
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 2ª. 1817- Present the Whole Board.
The Committee appointed to examine Mr. Bonds bill for charge of the clocks the past year, reported the deductions proper to be made ; and that they had considered it for the towns interest to have the clocks in future taken care of for a fixed sum, to include all charges; that they had offered the contract to ME. Bond who had declined it, and that Mr. Adams was ready to agree for the sum of eighty dollars to take the care of the clock at the Old South and the clock of Second church in Middle street. & to take upon himself the risk of repairs. The report was accepted and the Committee authorized to agree with Mr. Adams for the charge of the clock of the church in Hollis street, if he would contract for the whole for, one hundred dollars .--
The monthly accounts examined & the draft closed.
Messrs. Dorr & Silsby added to the Committee on Boylstons concerns. -
[110.] A petition was received from a number of hair- dressers & barbers requesting that their shops and those of all others in their business should be closed on Sundays the same was considered, when it appeared to be the sense of the board, that it was not expedient to take any measures thereon .-
The Committee of South schools was empowered to procure materials and have them fitted for repairing the floor of the south writing school house ; also to have blinds made for the new south school house in Mason street.
Mr. Peter Dickerman was approved as an auctioneer .-
This time being assigned for choosing a Sealer of Weights & Measures-Applications were read from a number of persons- and a vote taken by ballot, when Mr. Allan Pollack was declared to be chosen.
The following named persons were allowed to raise goods &c from the passageway back of their stores into the chamber stories of the same : until further order of the board.
Messrs. Willard & Felton Nº. 50 State Street. Simon Elliot & Co 51
Rufus Ellis 52 Robert G. Shaw 53
Tarbel & Eveleth 54
Luther Ellis - 55 Also
Mr. Henderson Inches at his store on his wharf .-
223
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1817.
[111.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 9th. 1817-Present the Whole Board .-
The Chairman having represented to the board, that the suit against the heirs of Gov. Hancock for land back of Beacon hill had terminated in favour of the Town .- The Chairman, Messrs. Oliver & Phillips were chosen a committee to have the land staked out that had been recovered, and to call upon the heirs for an adjustment of the account for the gravel, earth & stones that have been dug and carted away therefrom .-
Mrs. Wells one of the proprietors of land in Lynn street, hav- ing applied for the allowance formerly awarded by referrees for land taken to widen that street; Messrs Austin & Silsby were requested to examine into the claim and report .-
A proposal was received from Benj Weld Esq. for widening the street at the south end of Pearl street in front of the estate formerly of Jonathan Harris .-
Committed to Messrs. Hunnewell & Silsby.
Application having been made by the Superintendent of Police for an assistant to enable him to execute the duties of his office. The following votes were passed .-
That the Superintendent nominate to the [112.] board, such persons as he shall think qualified for the office of assistant police officer :- that one person be chosen from those so nominated for the present year, subject to removal at the pleasure of the board .- That the salary of the assistant be five hundred dollars pr. annum .-
That besides the general duty of assisting the Superintendent in inspecting the town and enforcing the laws, under orders from him, that he shall pay special attention to the standing of hay. wood & cyder on the places assigned for those articles .-
That he shall attend at West Boston hill on the evenings of Saturday and on Sundays, to preserve good order .-
That he superintend the lamp lighters, and order and inspect the accounts of all repairs of lamps .- The list of candidates being read-Votes were taken, & Mr. Caleb Hayward was declared to be chosen .-
Voted, That the Chairman be desired to prepare an abstract of the by laws of the town, and also of the laws enacted by the Legislature of the Commonwealth for the special regulation of this town. that the same be printed and distributed for the gen- eral information of the inhabitants .-
224
CITY DOCUMENT No. 60.
[113.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 16th. 1817 .-
Present the Whole Board .-
· Mr. John Smith had liberty to extend the common sewer in Lynn street, up to his house; the expence to be borne by him and by those who may enter drains into this additional part .-
Mr. Hunnewell reported the quarterly accounts of the hay weigher examined & approved by him, and the balance ordered to be paid to the Treasurer. 1
The application of a number of the abutters on Cornhill respect- ing the widening of the side walk .- Committed to Mess's. Phillips & Dorr .-
Application for repair of South Boston streets committed to the Committee of the South district, to view and report, also to examine the state of the pound at South Boston.
A complaint against a machine for weighing erected by Mr. Dearborn in Wharf street, committed to Mr. Oliver.
The application of Mr. Hastings-occupying a building in School street-[114.] and of Mr. Davis, occupying rooms in Cornhill square for liberty to raise goods from the streets into their chambers having been considered by the gentlemen to whom they were committed .- report .was made that the request could not be granted ; which report was accepted .-
A Committee from the directors of Cornhill Corporation made a proposition, that the alley or passageway from Court street to Brattle square should be cancelled and they have liberty to extend their buildings over the same, upon their agreeing to lay out another passage way twelve feet wide, back of their buildings .- The gentlemen having retired, it was agreed that Belknaps alley should be cancelled and the land added to the lots on the north side of Cheapside, and also the land abutting on Dorsets alley in front of Blanchards house, on condition that Dorsets alley should be left twelve feet wide, and that the Corporation would contract to lay out a carriage way at least thirty feet wide, in any direction most convenient to them, to lead from Court street to Brattle square .-
A communication was received from Nehemiah Freeman Esq. respecting the trucks and carts standing east of Faneuil hall .- It was voted, that the Superintendent be desired to report the names of the owners of trucks and carts on that stand, and the number of each owned by them .-
225
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1817.
[115.] On a complaint of a house near Lyman street in a decayed and ruinous condition, the Chairman was desired to notify the owner Mr. Nickerson of the necessity of taking it down, and that if not immediately attended to, a complaint for a nuisance would be laid before the Grand Jury .-
On the application of a number of the inhabitants, warrant for a town meeting was signed, relative to a revision of the by laws respecting carts and trucks.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 18th. 1817 .- Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Lovering, Austin, Phillips, Bass & Dorr .-
6 Jurors were drawn for the Boston Court of Common Pleas .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 22d. 1817 .- Present the Whole Board. --
The Town at a meeting this day empowered the Selectmen to appoint a Committee of seven persons [116.] to take the peti- tion of the truckmen into consideration .- the Board now pro- ceeded to the choice of said Committee & selected the following gentlemen .-
William Sullivan Richard D. Tucker Isaac Winslow Benjamin Rich Ebenezer Farley Josiah Bradlee Thomas Badger
The Chairman was desired to notify the gentlemen & request them to meet on Thursday next 4 o'clock P.M .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 23d. 1817- Present-The Whole Board.
The Committee on South Boston streets, requested further time to view & make report.
Mr. Dearborn presented a petition in favour of his weighing machine being continued in Well street-which was referred to Messrs. Dorr & Silsby for further inquiry .-
Mr. Aaron Osgood having renewed his application for an auction license, principally for sale of books, at a store in Newbury street ; it was agreed that he should be licensed to transact business only at said store in Newbury street .-
226
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
[117.] The Chairman was desired to notify the Clerk of the South Boston association, to be laid before the president & directors, that it had become necessary to have a suitable piece of land assigned for a burying ground on that peninsula-and to request them to take the measures for that purpose which are directed in the act to annex part of the Town of Dorchester to the Town of Boston .-
The Chairman, Mr. Dorr & Mr. Silsby a committee to meet the gentlemen appointed to revise the by laws relative to trucks & carts .-
The Committee to whom the subject was referred, reported, that Mr. Asher Benjamin be allowed to raise goods &c into the chamber stories of his stores from the passageway leading by said stores out of Broad street : until further orders of the board ; report was accepted .---
It was determined to proceed to prepare lists for renewal of the jury box previous to the May meeting-printed lists of the inhabit- ants in each ward, and of the papers selected at the last revision of the boxes, were handed to the several members of the board, who were desired to proceed in making a careful selection of persons qualified to serve as jurors .- and for this purpose to ask the assistance of any gentlemen in their division which they might think necessary.
[118.] On the application of Mr. Fredk. Lane he has liberty to build a bakers oven in a ten foot building occupied by him in Leverett street.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 30th. 1817 .- Present-The Whole Board .-
The Committee on South Boston Streets-requested further time to view & report .-
The Committee to view the position of Mr. Dearborn's machine for weighing in Well street. reported their opinion that it should be suffered to remain there, subject to removal by order of the board whenever found to be inconvenient-the report was accepted .-
Mr. Bourguin occupying a store near the conduit pump, & M". Purkit in Doane street ask permission to raise goods, into their chamber stories .- committed to the committee on that subject .-
Mr. Batts wishing to occupy a stable in Friend street belonging to the widow Noble for a livery stable, and objection having been made by the neighbours .- the committee of Section Nº. 2 was desired to view and report .-
227
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1817.
[119.] The Committee of Section Nº. 2 was desired to take measures for paving the easterly half of Cheapside immediately, on conditions that the proprietors would advance the money, to be repaid out of the next tax, and would agree to make at their expense any repairs that should become necessary in twelve months .-
The Chairman, Mess's. Phillips, & Silsby a Committee to meet the directors of Mill pond Corporation on some proposed alteration of streets and arrangement of property in the pond .-
Mr. Warren Pennyman was approved as an auctioneer, he having served a regular apprenticeship to that business and being well recommended .- >
The petition for an auction license of Mr. Timº. Hathaway was referred for consideration to the Committee of Section Nº 1.
The Bond of Samuel Phillips, hay weigher duly executed was handed in by the Town Clerk, and placed on file .-
Grand & Petit Jurors were drawn for Circuit Court of U. States .-
The Board came to the choice of a gentleman to deliver an oration on the [120.] 4th. of July next, being the anniversary of American Independence, & Edward T. Channing Esq. was unanimously chosen.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 7th. 1817- Present the Whole Board .-
The Committee on South Boston streets-reported that the street leading to Mr. Joseph Woodwards would require about twenty loads of gravel-and that the other streets appeared in very good order .-
The Committee who had viewed the wooden stable in Friend street proposed to be used by Mr. Batts as a livery stable, reported that it was not a suitable building or situation to be used for that purpose, the building being of wood & surrounded with other wooden buildings. the report was accepted .-
A letter was received from Edward T. Channing Esq. acknowl- edging the honour done him in appointing him to deliver the 4th. July oration and accepting the appointment. -
Warrant was signed for Town meeting for choice of Repre- sentatives-Mr. Buckingham to print notifications-Rev. M. Holley to be invited to open the meeting with prayer .-
228
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
[121.] At the desire of Mr. Francis Amory, the Chairman presented for consideration a plan of Center street, where a new brick stable is now building on the estate of late John Codman Esq .- the proprietors of this estate propose to carry back the line of their building and to pay two hundred dollars provided the street can be widened by drawing a line from the westerly corner of Codman's land to the westerly corner of the estate of Swift .- This proposal was considered, and it being found that the pro- ceeding would essentially injure Swift's estate and occasion great expense, and that the street could not be widened at the entrace on Fish street ; it was agreed that it was not expedient to take any measures respecting it.
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