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 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36
The Town Treasurer having reported that the sealer of weights & measures had in his possession one complete set of avoirdupois weights-and one broken set; and that there were no standard troy weights belonging to the Town .- Voted, That the Treasurer be desired to procure a set of standard troy weights, and to deliver them to the sealer & take his receipt therefor and also for the one complete set now in his possession :- and that the sealer also give a receipt to the Town Clerk for all other weights in his hands belonging to the Town .-
The Committee of Section Nº 2 were empowered to have the necessary repairs to the pavement in Green street .-
[122.] The Committee of Section Nº. 1-were also em- powered to repair Center street, as soon as they should judge expedient .-
General Henry Dearborn having expressed his willingness to furnish flat stones to be placed across Milk street, in front of his house, it was agreed that they should be laid at the expence of the Town .-
The Committee to whom was referred Mr. Hathaways petition for auction license, reported their opinion, that it was not expe- dient to grant him such licence .- report accepted .-
Mr. Lovering reported that he had purchased two freights of gravel for Front street-he was desired to have it spread, that an estimate might be made of the quantity necessary for the whole street .-
The Committee on Charles street was desired to have one or two freights of gravel from Fox hill spread on that street, to determine the quantity necessary for the whole.
The Committee of the South schools empowered to have a range of movable forms made, to place along the front seat .-
229
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1817.
Mr. Phillips was empowered to examine into any encroachments on Brighton street, Spring street, and at the bottom of Poplar street; to employ Mr. Taylor the surveyer to ascertain the true boundaries and Town rights .- & to report .-
[123.] The following additional rules and orders were pro- posed by Mr. Silsby ; the same were considered & accepted and ordered to be recorded. ---
1st. Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the Town Clerk to record all matters & transactions that the Board of Selectmen have already determined or may have to consider; and whatever business may remain unfinished, the same shall be brought forward at each and every subsequent meeting : until said business shall be completed or otherwise disposed of .-
2d. That the said Clerk shall read said records at said Meetings, and each article shall be acted on when read : separately and in progression.
3d. That the Chairman shall put all questions to a vote.
4th. That for the purpose of preventing frequent interruptions to business by the door keeper : it shall be his duty to bring in the names of applicants for admission, on paper, & hand the same to the Chairman or Clerk .-
5th. Written notice shall be given each member whenever he may be appointed on a standing committee & the purpose for which he was elected .-
[124.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 14th. 1817 .- Present the Whole Board .-
Warrant was signed for Town meeting on the 26th. instant to transact the monied concerns, and other business applied for by petitions to be laid before the Town .-
Ward N. Boylston Esq. having presented a petition to the Town on the subject of the suit now pending between him and the town-it was voted, That the Chairman, Mr. Hunnewell & MT. Silsby be a committee to procure a gentlemen of the bar, for the purpose of making an exposition of the Towns controversy with Ward N. Boylston at the meeting of the Town on Monday the 26th. current.
The Committee on Front street reported that two freights of gravel had been spread on that street, and from the best estimate which they could make, it would require fifty freights to complete the whole street. The Committee was authorized to procure that quantity of gravel for said street .-
230
CITY DOCUMENT No. 60.
Mr. Phillips reported that he had examined into the state of Brighton street & Poplar street and found that an encroachment had been made by Mr. Andrew Townsend on Brighton street, by a shop which projects six feet [125.] into that street. And that another encroachment had been made by Mr. Ramsdell on the dock at the west end of Poplar street .- Voted, That the per- sons who have made the above mentioned encroachments be noti- fied to remove them immediately .-
On the application of David Greenough Esq. in behalf of the proprietors of stores on the north side of Cheapside .- Mr. Hun- newell was added to the Committee of District Nº. 2-to attend to and direct the regulation of Brattle street, back of their stores .-
A claim was presented by Amos Binney Esq. for land taken to widen Elm street .- to lie for consideration .-
The Committee on the Common was empowered to proceed to complete a new fence on the inside of the old mall .-
Proposals from the Clerk of the market respecting porters, to lie for consideration.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 21st. 1817- Present the Whole Board. -
Mrs. Pulsifer having lately caused a drain to be laid from her house [126.] in Back street to the sewer laid by Messrs. John & Benjamin T. Wells in street in 1813 .- and it appearing that four persons had now made use of said sewer by carrying their drains thereto, -- it was Voted that Mrs. Pulsifer should pay one fifth part of the original cost being twenty dollars to each share and become a proprietor of the common sewer, to receive a proportion of what might be paid by any one entering it in future.
The Committee on the Boylston suit reported that they had applied to William Sullivan Esq. and had delivered to him the letters & papers in that case, to enable him to form a statement to be laid before the Town at the ensuing Town meeting .-
The same Committee was desired to employ Mr. Sullivan to answer in next Saturday's Centinel, the statements which have appeared in late papers from Boylston or some person in his behalf.
On the application of Mr. Patten Hall, Mr. Hunnewell Mr. Lov- ering & Silsby were appointed a committee to view his store in Union street and the others adjoining which are to be taken down and rebuilt in order to make the line of the new buildings straight from Mr. Andrew's store-they reported that it is now
231
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1817.
€ from the inside of the edge stone, measuring from the joint between the stones seven feet and five inches to [127.] Mr. Halls store : and that he be allowed to come forward at the corner of the new building, one foot, so as to leave the side walk six feet & five inches from the front when finished .-
Agreed to the pointing & painting of the south side of the first story of Faneuil hall, to be commenced immediately.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 29th. 1817. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin, Phillips, Bass & Dorr .-
Passed the Quarterly & Monthly Accounts.
Mr. Pollock, the sealer of weights & measures having suggested some difficulties which occur in executing the law; The Chair- man was empowered to call on M'. Thacher in company with Mr. Pollock & consult him on the subject; and to take measures for such alteration of the law as will make it more easy and certain of execution .-
The following was voted for the regulations of constables on public days .- Voted, That whenever on public days, the Con- stables are employed at the expence of the Town, they shall be directed to observe the orders of the Board, conveyed to them by the Superintendent of Police; and to [128.] conform to all such regulations adopted by him, as shall be considered most con- ducive to preserve good order, and to prevent riotous & irregular conduct.
The Town having, at the late meeting directed the Selectmen to appoint a committee to consist of one person from each of the Wards on the subject of the schools .- the following names were now selected from lists offered by the petitioners & from others nominated by the board.
Ward Nº. 1 Henry J. Oliver
2 Redford Webster
3 Jacob Hall
4 James W. Burdett
5 Jonª. P. Hall
6 Isaac Winslow
7 Gideon Snow
8 John Dorr
9 Samuel May
10 David W. Child
11 Isaac Stevens
12 Joseph Field
.
1
232
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
On the application of a number of owners & residents on the easterly part of Milk street, stating the conveniences that would arise from an alteration of the name of part of that street-the subject having been considered-Voted that the easterly part of Milk street commencing at Battery March street and extending to the water be hereafter called and known by the name of Com- mercial street .-
: [129.] An application from Capt. Daniel L. Gibbins for powder, short delivered to his company at the review in Septem- ber last,-to lie for examination .-
A plan was exhibited by Mr. Hales the surveyer, of land owned by heirs of Gov. Hancock, back of the State house,-showing the manner in which they proposed to lay out the streets & lots- Mr. Hales was desired to put on the plan, the land belonging to the Town, and to lay it before the board for consideration .-
It was agreed that Mess's. E & A. Allen should hire cellar Nº 2 under Faneuil Hall at $32.81 pr. Quarter.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 3d. 1817- Present Messrs. Bulfinch Lovering, Austin, Phillips & Bass .-
Warrant was signed for a Town meeting on the 5th. instant. to adopt suitable measures to evidence the respect of the inhabitants for the President of the United States, on his expected visit to this metropolis .-
Mr. Buckingham to print the notifications .-
[130.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 4th. 1817-Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin, Phillips & Dorr.
Return was made by Mr. Sargent Smith, of the expence of opening & repairing a drain back of houses at the easterly end of Myrtle street-the account whereof being duly examined by the Selectmen was by them allowed ; they being informed at the same time that all persons concerned in said drain had been notified according to law and that no objection had been made .- Assess- ment was now made, an order of payment was passed by the Selectmen as follows, viz .-
Whereas a drain or common sewer has been made back of houses at the easterly end of Myrtle street, conformably to the directions of the Selectmen, the whole expence whereof amounts to sixty four dollars, which expence is to be borne by such per- sons whose drains enter therein & receive benefit thereby-Where- fore We the Subscribers, Selectmen of the Town of Boston certify that having considered the same expence and by whom and in
233
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1817.
what [manner] it ought to be paid Do Adjudge that the same be paid in the proportion following and by the persons hereafter named-viz
Benjamin Humphrey, Widow Larkin, Jacob Saunderson, William Homer [131.], Joseph Baxter, Matthew Lodge, $10.67 each, and We hereby authorize and empower Mr. Sargent Smith to demand & receive the same and to give discharges therefor .-
Signed CHARLES BULFINCH EBEN. OLIVER JONA. HUNNEWELL Jos. LOVERING Jos. AUSTIN TURNER PHILLIPS
Return was made by Mr. Joseph Richards of the expence of repairing a drain in Orange street, the account whereof being duly examined by the Selectmen was by them allowed; they being informed at the same time that all persons concerned in said drain had been notified according to law and that no objec- tion had been made. Assessment was now made, an order of payment was passed by the Selectmen as follows viz. Whereas a drain or common sewer has been laid in Orange Street, conform- ably to the directions of the Selectmen, the whole expence whereof amounts to two hundred dollars, which expence is to be borne by such persons whose drains enter therein and receive benefit thereby -- Wherefore We the Subscribers Selectmen of the Town of Boston certify that having considered the same expence and by whom and in what manner it ought to be paid Do Adjudge [132.] that the same be paid in the proportion following and by the persons hereafter named. viz
Widow Dix, John Parker, Joseph Richards, Charles Lovel, William Fenno, $40.00 each, and we hereby authorize and empower Mr. Timothy Tileston to demand and receive the same and to give discharges therefor .-
Signed, CHARLES BULFINCH EBENR OLIVER JONA. HUNNEWELL Jos. LOVERING Jos. AUSTIN TURNER PHILLIPS SAML. DORR
. Mess's. French & Weld applied for liberty to convey water to their distillery, across Pecks lane from a well on land of Mr. P. Wentworth and brought a paper signed by the neighbours, signifying their consent .- Voted that Mess". French & Weld have liberty to convey the water across the street as applied for. provided that no permanent roof or building be made over the water course, and that the privilege now granted be subject to
234
CITY DOCUMENT No. 60.
the regulation and entire removal by the board, should circum- stances in their opinion render it expedient. -
Messrs. Jacob & Charles Tidd apply to lease a piece of ground [133.] belonging to the Town, back of their distill house, at the corner of Portland & Ivers streets : referred to the Com- mittee of Section Nº. 2. to view & report, also to consider the proposal of some of the abutters on Portland street for liberty to dig a well in the street .-
Mr. Hunnewell was desired to confer with the committee who have the charge of building the new Universalist church in School street, to prevent the projection of steps into the street. -
An application was made for the use of the school houses for the accommodation of Sunday schools .- referred to the School Committee .-
A communication was received from Nehemiah Freeman Esq. respecting the constables conduct on public days .- to lie for consideration .-
[134.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 11th. 1817-Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Lovering, Phillips, Bass & Dorr .-
Messrs. Hall & Weld being about to take down the store at the corner of Elm street, the award was now opened of the referees to assess the damages to b paid by the town for part of their land taken to widen Elm street, being seven feet wide on Union street and in a line to Mareans brick house in Elm street .- the amount of damages were assessed at twenty five hundred dollars -by P. C. Brooks, Wm Sullivan, Thomas Dennie, Sam1. Snelling & Asher Benjamin .-
An application was received from all the owners and occupants. of stores on the new street-leading from Court street to the mar- ket, and agreeably to their request it was voted; that the said street shall in future be called and known by the name of Market street .-
[135.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 18th. 1817 .- Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lover- ing, Austin, Phillips, Bass & Dorr .-
Jurors were drawn for District Court .- Also for Boston Court of Common Pleas .-
On the application of a number of the officers of the military companies, it was agreed that the military hall over Faneuil
235
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1817.
Hall should be painted, & MT. Phillips was desired to have it done, not to exceed sixty dollars cost .-
[136.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 25th. 1817 .- Present the whole Board, except Mr. Hunnewell.
The following Persons were approved as auctioneers for the year ensuing .- viz.
Samuel L. Abbott
Caleb Hayward
James A. Allen
Richd. H. Hough
Francis Amory
Charles Head
Charles W. Apthorp
Daniel Hearsey
William Alline .
Alex". H. Gibbs
Elam Bliss
Wm. Hartwell
Stephen Brown
Thos. K. Jones
Lemuel Blake
Fredk. W. Ingraham
George Bond
Charles Lerow
James Bourguin
Philip Marett
Joseph Burdakin
David Marston
Horatio Bass
Henry Marston
Thomas Clark
John Minchin
Cornelius Coolidge
John P. Orcutt
Geo. G. Channing
Lemuel Pope Ju".
Sam1. F. Coolidge
Jacob Peabody
Gilman Collamore
Elisha Parks
William Cochran
Luther Parks
Joseph L. Cunningham
Asahel Plimpton
Samuel Cabot
Warren Pennyman
Joseph Cabot
Joseph Ripley
Martin Clap
Frink Roberts
William Dehon
Frink Stratton
Geo. L. Deblois
Benja. Seaver
Peter Dickerman
William Tucker
Richard Edwards
John Tyler
David M. Eaton
Sam'. Whitwell
David Forsaith
Nat1 H. Whittaker
Silas Field
Benja. Winslow
William Gridley Jur.
Francis Wilby
John White
Henry White
Charles Willis Jur.
[137.] Representation was received from Town Treasurer, that he had received from his honor William Phillips Esq .- Five thousand dollars-the bequest of his late father, and had paid the same to James Prince Esq. Treasurer of the Massachu- setts General Hospital Corporation-with duplicates of the receipts given & received.
236
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
On the application of Mr. Henry Marston, he was approved as an auctioneer.
A list containing the names of several persons licensed as auctioneers last year, was committed to Messrs. Dorr & Silsby, to enquire into their conduct and report on the expediency of re- newing their licenses .-
Mr. Joshua Butters was chosen measurer of wood brought in by land over Charles River Bridge.
Voted, That Mr. Buckingham shall print the 4th. July Oration .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 30th. 1817- Present a Majority of the Board.
Passed the Monthly Accounts.
The Chairman was desired to give orders for the bells to ring on the morning of the 4th. July, from half past 6. to 7. o'clock .--
[138.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen July 7th. 1817-Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Lovering, Austin, Dorr, & Bass .-
3 Jurors were drawn for Circuit Court of the United States .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen July 9th. 1817- Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Lovering, Austin, Phillips, Bass & Dorr .-
The return from the Court of Sessions, was examined, of all persons licensed the year past for [the] sale of spirits .- such of them as were known and thought to have conducted their business conformably to law, were now approved for renewal of license- lists of persons-unknown, or of whom the board were doubtful, were handed to the several members for inquiry-to report on their characters &c .-
Wednesday next was assigned for choice of constables .-
[139.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen July 16th. 1817-Present the whole Board except Mr. Dorr.
The market Committee were authorized to make the necessary repairs on the roof of the square market west of Faneuil Hall.
Messrs. Lovering & Phillips were chosen a committee to sign a draft on the Treasurer for the expenses attending the visit of
1
237
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1817.
the President of the United States; the accounts having been approved by the committee of arrangements.
It was voted that the committees of the several districts should proceed in paving the following streets.
Boylston street
Battery March street from Hamilton street to Broad street.
East end of Mill pond street.
Doane street easterly end .-
Messrs. Hunnewell & Lovering were desired to view Griffins lane to consider what was proper to be done for repair and improvement & report.
The several Committees on the Schools were requested to take measures to supply their schools with wood for the next season.
[140.] The Committee chosen by the Town in addition to the Selectmen, to settle the accounts of the Town's counsel in the suit against W. N. Boylston Esq. now attended agreeably to invitation. The accounts of Perez Morton, Sam1. Dexter & W". Prescott Esqrs. were laid before them when it was voted that James T. Austin, Arnold Welles & Enoch Silsby Esqrs. be a sub committee ; to whom those accounts and all proceedings of the board relative to engagements with counsel should be com- mitted to consider & adopt suitable measures for their adjustment.
Voted on the request of Perez Morton Esq. that the Selectmen be desired to give him an order on the Town Treasurer for five hundred dollars in part payment of his account.
The following named persons were chosen constables for the current year with the sureties annexed to their names .- viz
Thomas Stevenson Thos. Junr. & William Stevenson
Elisha Copeland John Perry & John Gibson
Solomon Twist Wm. Simonds & Amos Penniman
Wm. Tupper Josiah Dunham & Hiram Tupper
Wm Brooks
Moses Wallach.
James Perkins
James Williams & Jonas Green
Jonathan Prescott William Dinsmore
John Barnard & Frans. A. Foxcroft.
David S. Eaton & John Aiken
George Reed Francis Gareaux & Martin Burr.
George Jackson
Caleb Whiting & John Loring
Thomas Holden Augustus O. Barton & Oliver Downing
Mitchell Lincoln Bradford Lincoln & Joseph Baxter [141.]Wendell R.Barker Thomas Darling & Elijah Stedman Benja. C. Stevenson Shubael Bell & Thos. Stevenson Jur.
Andrew Sanborn Leach Harris & Jotham Barnes
Samuel Holmes James Farrar & Adam French
238
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
David Rixford Wm P. Whiting & Ephraim Whitney .- Josiah Baldwin - - Peter Mackintosh & Christoph". Lincoln. Thomas Wallace (appointed Oct". 16th. 1817)
Sureties, Hon. Daniel Sargent & Ignatius Sargent Esqrs .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen July 23ª. 1817- Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin, Silsby & Bass .-
The committee respecting the pound at South Boston reported that they had viewed a suitable place belonging to Neddy Curtis, that he had agreed to furnish the ground free of expense on a lease for twenty years, and to build a secure pound twenty feet square-the Town to pay him one hundred dollars when the same shall be completed.
The above report was accepted.
A memorial was received from Mrs. Dix, relative to the drain in Orange street lately repaired :-- it was agreed that Mrs. Dix should be informed that if she would ascertain by digging down to the drain from her house, that it does not connect with this sewer, she should be excused from the assessment .-
[142.] Mess's. Phillips & Silsby a committee on the applica- tion of Mr. Irving for liberty to occupy some part of the vacant land in Hatters square.
The new law for the better regulation of licensed houses being under consideration, Mr.Caleb Hayward was chosen Tythingman in pursuance of the powers vested in the board by the 4th section of said law, and for the purpose of carrying the regulations thereof into effect .- And it is further Ordered that said officer call upon every person licensed to deal in spirituous liquors, to deliver a printed copy of the law, and to direct each person to place a sign in front of his or her place of business, with the name painted thereon, and the following words to designate the kind of license which has been granted to any & every person.
Licensed Innholder Licensed Confectioner
Licensed Victualler Licensed to retail Spirits.
Messrs. Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Phillips & Bass a com- mittee to inspect West Boston hill to report what persons shall be licensed there for [the] sale of spirits .-
The Chairman was desired to call upon the heirs of Deacon Brown respecting the land between his house and South Boston Bridge.
239
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1817.
It was determined that it was not necessary to employ a con- stable on the Sundays at South Boston.
It was agreed that a gutter should be paved in South Pond street, as far as the abutters shall lay. side walks .-
[143.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen July 30. 1817. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Phillips, Bass & Silsby .-
Passed the Monthly Accounts.
The Committee chosen at the last meeting to view the hill at West Boston made a report in part; they were desired to con- sider the subject more fully and report at the next meeting the measures which they would recommend for correcting the abuses that exist there, and for maintaining good order .-
A memorial was received from a number of fishermen who have long supplied the market with fish, stating that they had been removed from their stalls on the dock, by order of the Board of health; & requesting that new stands should be pro- vided for them .-- it was handed to the market committee, Mr. Bass being added thereto in the absence of Mr. Dorr :- to con- sider the subject in concurrence with a committee of the Board of Health, and to report .-
Agreed that it was inexpedient to extend the enlargement of the com. sewer in Milk street, further than has already been done.
The Commee. on the hay scales reported that Mr. Phillip's account to July 1. was correct & that a bale. was due the Town of $77.92-which had been ordered to be paid to the Treasurer.
[144.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen August 6th. 1817-Present the Whole Board-except Mr. Dorr .-
.
Voted that the committee on South schools take measures to raise the ground in the yard round the south reading school, as they may find necessary, and put the pump in good order .-
Joseph Rowe Esq. having proposed to lay plank for a foot walk bordering on Rowe's pasture in Essex street : it was agreed that he might cover the walk with plank, provided he put edge stones at the usual distance from the fence and plank the whole space to the fence and keep the same in repair .-
A communication was received from the Trustees of the Massts. General hospital, proposing that parts of certain streets should be discontinued, through land which they contemplate purchasing for
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.