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 26
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An exhibit of the amount of the principal and interest due on the Franklin Donation on the first instant was made by the Treasurer (Mr. Minot) by which it appears that two thousand dollars of the money on hand has been deposited in the Manufac- turers' and Mechanics' Bank .--
[230.] Mr. Hinckley informed the Police Officer that he contemplated erecting stores on his land in Central street in the course of two years, he therefore requested permission for the present to lay a good & sufficient plank side walk in the front of his buildings now standing there .- which was granted.
284
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
The Superintendent of Police made a return of fines received and prosecutions commenced from January third to March 30th. inclusive.
Rev. Mr. Eaton to be requested to open the meeting with prayer on Monday next .-
Bond of Mr. Phillips, hayweigher completed .-
The committee of Section Nº. 3 were requested to ascertain the quantity of land recovered from the heirs of Hancock, and also the number of loads of gravel & dirt they have taken there- from .-
James Williams aged sixteen years, with the approbation of the Board, bound himself to Sam1. Cook of Provincetown, County of Barnstable, mariner.
The committee of Section Nº 2 were requested to stake out Blossom street.
The Chairman was authorized to contract for a sufficiency of dirt or gravel at 1/- pr. load to fill Blossom street .-
[231.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 8th. 1818-Present Messrs. Phillips, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin, Dorr, Silsby & Farnam .-
The board having for some time had under consideration the price of the land applied for by Mr. Jacob Tidd Jun". agreed this day to fix it at forty cents per square foot and that he be allowed to pay for the same in five annual installments, the interest to be paid annually-payment to be secured by a mortgage .- he to be allowed sixty days to consider of the price & terms.
Ordered, That the Superintendent of Police and his assistant be directed to attend the Board on Wednesday next at half past three o'clock .-
Tomorrow being the day assigned for the meeting of the Com- missioners appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court, to set off a burial ground at South Boston, it was Voted, That this Board with such of the members of the Board of Health as may choose to attend, will meet the Commissioners at the Selectmens room at 10. o'clock A. M. to attend to said business .- And that the Chair- man be requested to have a dinner provided for the Commis- sioners the President of the Board of Health and himself .-
[232.] Ordered, That the Chairman notify Mr. David Green- ough, That the Board of Selectmen view with anxious concern
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SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1818.
the dangerous state of Court street occasioned by the sidewalk in front of stores lately erected by him & others-and that he be requested to cause the side walk to be so raised as to con- form to the street, or in some other way to secure the street, and the public from danger.
Boston ss. At a special meeting of the Selectmen April 9th. 1818-Present Messrs. Phillips, Lovering, Austin, Dorr, Silshy & Farnam .-
The Board met agreeably to yesterdays assignment, at 10. o'clock A. M .- The Commissioners appointed by the S. J. Court to set off a burial ground at Sº Boston, and were joined by the President and a majority of the members of the Board of Health. -A committee from the inhabitants of South Boston also appeared with their counsel .- Peter O. Thacher Esq the Town's counsel having read the warrant of the Supreme Judicial Court appoint- ing Ebenezer Gay Esq of Hingham, Thomas Greenleaf Esq. of Quincy & Isaac S. Gardner Esq. of Brookline commissioners, and also the Act of the Legislature to set off part of the town of Dorchester and to annex the same to the town of Boston, by which the proprietors of said tract of land were to set off to the town of Boston a lot for a burial ground .- B. Whitman Esq President of the Board of Health then [233.] read the record of a vote of that Board calling on the Board of Selectmen to procure a suitable place for a burial ground, stating that the grounds in the town were nearly full-& also a communication from C. Bulfinch Esq. late Chairman of the Selectmen on the subject of burying the dead & also produced a plan of a burial ground drawn by said Bulfinch .- The counsel in behalf of the inhabitants of South Boston was then heard .-
The Commissioners having thus heard the parties, (after con- sulting together) were of opinion, that it would be necessary for them to perambulate the ground, to enable them to decide on a suitable spot to locate for the purpose ; and as the day was very stormy & the ground very wet, it was not expedient to proceed further on the business at present, and adjourned to meet at the Selectmens Room on Thursday the twenty third day of April, instant .- at 10 o'clock A. M.
[234.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 15th. 1818 .- Present the whole Board .-
Col. Nehemiah Freeman was elected Superintendent of Police. during the pleasure of the Board, subject to all the orders, rules, · and regulations of this Board, with a salary at the rate of one thousand dollars per annum .-
Mr. Caleb Hayward was elected Deputy Police Officer, on the same conditions that the Superintendent has been chosen, with a salary at the rate of five hundred dollars per annum.
286
CITY DOCUMENT No. 60.
Mr. David Hale Jun. was approved as an auctioneer .-
The Committee for Section Nº. 4 was requested to view Beach street where there was a building erecting, and ascertain whether it was necessary to widen that part of the street, if it was to stop the workmen & report to the Board.
The Chairman reported that he had contracted with the follow- ing persons for dirt for Blossom street at one shilling per load- viz Caleb Emmerson 250 to 300 loads & with F. & J. Bowman for as much more as may be wanted to complete that street .-
[235.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 22d. 1818 .- Present Messrs. Phillips, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin, Bass, Dorr & Farnham.
The Committee appointed to designate the duties of the Super- intendent of Police and the Deputy Police Officer, Report-
1st. The Superintendent shall at all times be under the direc- tion of this Board .-
2ª. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to pass through all the streets, lanes & other high ways of the town, at least once a week, and as much oftener as circumstances may require & to traverse the streets at other times of the day, and not confine himself to one spot-necessary avocations & Sundays excepted .-
3ª-It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to enforce all the bye-laws and orders of the town, [and] of the Commonwealth relating to the town of Boston (except such as come under the jurisdiction of the Board of Health & the cognizance of the Clerk of the Market and hereafter designated for Deputy Police Officer) including the removal of incumbrances and nuisances, protect the Common, town lands and town property ; smoking cigars contrary to law, heating tar kettles on the wharves and in the streets, spouts emptying on [236.] the side walks to the annoyance of passengers :- to report to the Chairman of the Selectmen of the side walks out of order & to see that the orders respecting them are complied with.
4th_It shall be the duty of said Superintendent to attend at his office each and every day (Sunday excepted) from half past twelve, to half past one o'clock P.M .- to examine the complaints left in the box, and all other information that made [may] be mnade to him within said time .-
5th-The said Superintendent shall report to said Chairman, if any special circumstances should have occurred, forthwith, for the purpose of getting particular instructions how to act .-
.
287
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1818.
6th-In all cases where the laws have not been enforced for a length of time, and have become in a manner obsolete, it shall be the duty of said Superintendent to refer the same to said Board of Selectmen for orders .-
7th_It shall be the duty of said Superintendent to always keep open for the inspection of any member of said board, a record of all fines, prosecutions, and of all other matters and things which said Board shall direct .-
8th-All prosecutions for the breach of the laws designated for the cognizance of said Superintendent shall be brought by him. and he shall be entitled to all the fines [237.] and forfeitures accruing to him by law .- And it shall be his duty to make out a written quarterly report of the same and deliver it to the Chairman .-
9th_All letters or notices necessarily arising from the duty of the Superintendent may be delivered by the messenger of the Selectmen, who will call at his office every day (Sundays excepted) at half past one o'clock P.M. unless prevented by attending to his duty to the Selectmen or by sickness .-
The duty of the Deputy Police Officer shall be as follows
1st_He shall at all times be under the directions of the Board of Selectmen .-
2ª-It shall be his duty to keep a record of all licenses granted for hackney carriages,-of the number & owners of all trucks, carts & sleds, and to regulate their stands agreeably to such orders as he may from time to time receive from the Selectmen.
3ª-It shall be his duty to attend to all carts or sleds from the country with wood & cyder and see that they proceed to the stands allowed to them; and to [238.] attend to all other car- riages standing in the streets (except those that are immediately under the control of the Clerk of the Market) ; And it shall also be his duty to attend to the pumps and enforce the law on that subject .-
4th_It shall be his duty to report to the Chairman of the Selectmen, if any circumstances should occur in the discharge of his duty, for the purpose of getting instructions how to act.
5th-It shall be his duty to keep always for the inspection of any member of said Board a record of all prosecutions, fines & forfeitures and of all other matters & things which said Board of Selectmen shall direct .-
288
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
6th-All prosecutions for the breaches of the laws and orders which are under his cognizance shall be brought by him, and he shall be entitled to all fines & forfeitures arising from the same agreeably to law .- And it shall be his duty to make out a written quarterly report of the same and deliver it to the Chairman.
7th-It shall be his duty to assist the Clerk of the Market when necessary .-
The Committee of Section Nº. 4 appointed to view Beach street, reported that they had viewed the place and in their opinion it was not necessary [239.] to take any measures at present for widening that street.
The Chairman reported that he had agreed with Capt. Ingraham for flagging stones sufficient to pave the west end of the market at eighteen cents pr. square foot, the stones to be delivered in Boston soon as possible.
The Committee of Section Nº. 4 were requested to view Boyl- ston street, & empowered to widen it on the south side near the market house, if the expense should not exceed one hundred dollars .-
The Chairman was requested to give directions to the Superin- tendent of Police to have the barrels &c in front of the store (at the bottom of Butlers row ) owned by the heirs of Mr. Pitts, removed .-
The Chairman, Mess's. Hunnewell & Lovering were appointed a committee to meet the Commissioners tomorrow and proceed with them to South Boston to set off a burial ground, The Chairman was also requested to have a dinner provided for the Commis- sioners, the committee & the President of the Board of Health.
The committee of Section Nº. 3 were empowered to procure a new pump, to replace the one now standing in Milk street .-
[240.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 30th 1818-
Present the Whole Board .-
4 Grand Jurors & 4 Petit Jurors were drawn for the United States Circuit Court .-
Passed the monthly accounts.
Mr. William S. Brooks was approved as an Auctioneer in Company with Mr. Peabody Nº. 11 Kilby street.
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SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1818.
The Committee of Section Nº. 2 reported that they had staked out Blossom street forty feet wide.
Col Freeman made a report of all the trees, and of all the stone and wooden posts, which are on the side walks and not at the corner of streets ; and also of broken posts and stumps at the corners of streets, throughout the town .- which report was referred to the committees of the different sections of the Town. -
The Chairman was requested to send a copy of Sargent & Harts report respecting the lowering & repairing Court street to Mr. David Greenough-And the Chairman, Mr. Dorr & MT. Far- nam were appointed a committee to confer with him on that subject .-
[241.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 6th. 1818 .-
Present the Whole Board.
Warrant was signed for Town meeting for choice of Represen- tatives .- Rev. Mr. Parkman to be invited to open the meeting with prayer .-
Voted, That in consideration of Col. Thorndikes having removed the foundation of the houses erecting by him on Sum- ner street, so that the fence on that street shall stand back from the present line at least fifteen feet at the southeast end, and ten feet at the north west end, and no part without the line of those points, and thereby throwing the land into the street-The Board on the part of the Town consent to pay him three hundred dollars .-
The Committee appointed to confer with Mr. Greenough respecting Court street-reported that they could come to no agreement with him on that subject, -Whereupon Voted, That the committee of Section Nº. 2-with Mr. Hunnewell be requested to employ Sargent & Hart to repair that street in the best man- ner possible.
[242.] The committee of Section Nº. 4. reported that they could purchase land sufficient to widen Boylston street for one hundred dollars, on condition of removing the side walk & put- ting back the fence which is about thirty three feet in length- the committee was authorized to complete the business. -
Ordered, that the Superintendent of the Lamps be directed to have them taken down & stored in the upper part of the old State House-that there be allowed five cents for removing each lamp, and the same sum for cleaning and replacing them in the fall.
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CITY DOCUMENT No. 60.
The committee of Section Nº. 2 was authorized to have gutters paved in North Russell street, on condition of the abutters put- ting down flag stones & paving their sidewalks with brick.
The committee of the Old State House was authorized to allow to Mr. Rea a sum not exceeding fifty eight dollars, for fixtures in the shop lately occupied by him in that building .-
[243.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 13th. 1818-Present Messrs. Phillips, Lovering, Austin, Bass & Silsby .-
A number of citizens having complained that the firings of the military companies in the streets of the town is dangerous to the lives and property of the citizens-Voted, That the Chairman be instructed to inform Gen. Sullivan of this complaint, and request he will issue orders to prevent this practice in future .-
An application for paving Carver street, was committed to the committee of that section .-
The Chairman was requested to notify Henry Hill Esq. to repair the side walk in front of his estate in South street.
The Board came to the choice of a gentleman to deliver an oration on the 4th July next, being the anniversary of the declar- ation of American independence, & Francis C. Gray Esq. was unanimously chosen.
At a special meeting of the Selectmen May 18th. 1818- warrant was signed for town meeting on the 26th. instant .-
[244.] Boston ss. , At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 20th. 1818 .-
Present the whole Board .-
Messrs. Dorr & Silsby were appointed a committee to confer with the treasurer of the Franklin donation, and ascertain whether an alteration cannot be made in future in the bonds taken for money loaned from this source, whereby further secur- ity may be demanded, if in the opinion of the trustees it is necessary for the security of the debt.
Voted, That there be paid from the donation of Abiel Smith Esq. to James Walter instructor of the school for people of colour in Belknap street, in addition to the sum allowed him by the School Committee, at and after the rate of two hundred dollars per annum from the first day of March last during the pleasure of the Board, & it having been represented to this Board by Mr. Paul, that a female assistant was necessary to teach the children
291
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1818.
the first rudiments of education, sewing &c-and that the wife of Mr. Walter would be a suitable person for this purpose, it was further voted, that if Mrs. Walter would undertake the duty afore- said, that the Board, on condition of her employing her whole time in the school during school hours would allow for her services (from the aforementioned fund) at and after the rate of one hun- dred dollars per annum for the time she may be so employed .-
[245.] The Committee of the Market reported that from and after the first of June next the rent of the vegetable stalls shall be as follows viz .---
Stalls at the west end of the Market-
Nº. 1-$2 pr. week 2 & 5 $1.50 € 6-$3 -- "
Stalls north side of the Market-
Nº. 1. 40 & 41-$1.25 per week
Nº. 10. 11. 30. 31. 50. 51. $1.123 pr. week. Nº. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48 & 49-$1-per week.
The Chairman informed the Board that he had received a note from Francis C. Gray Esq. accepting the appointment of town Orator for 4th July next.
The Chairman informed that agreeably to the instructions of the Board he had addressed a letter to Gen. Sullivan on the subject of street firings, and that he had received a letter from the general in reply accompanying which, was a circular to the captains of the military companies, recommending their omitting this practise in future .-
[246.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 25th. 1818 .-
Present the whole Board .-
Passed the quarterly & monthly accounts .-
The application of Mr. Daniel Baxter that a committee from the Board should be appointed to view Harvard street and fix the bounds of that street, was agreed to, and the committee of that Section (Nº 4) were requested to view the street and fix the bounds. -
The committee of Section Nº. 2 were authorized to agree with Messrs. Lincoln & Benney for land to widen Green street (in
292
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
continuation of the land purchased last year of Mr. French) pro- vided the price does not exceed fifty five cents per square foot .-
The committee of Section Nº. 3 were requested to consult with Mr. Snelling and make such alteration in the forms of the center writing school as they may think necessary or expedient .-
The Application of Mr. James Weld to erect a Bakers oven or ovens in Custom House street was committed to the committee of Section Nº. 3 .-
[24%.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 3d. 1818 .-
Present Mess rs. Phillips, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin, Dorr, Bass & Silsby .-
The committee of Section Nº 3 appointed to view a stable erected by Messrs. Bullards in Bromfields lane, reported that they had examined the same, found it conformable to law and recom- mended that it be approbated-accepted.
The same committee reported that Mr. James Weld have per- mission to erect a bakers oven or ovens, in his building on Custom House street-accepted.
The Board having observed that a wooden building on Beacon street, opposite the Mansion House of Daniel Sears Esqr. was taken down and it being their opinion, that the public good [and] convenience required that a part of the land should be taken to widen that street it was Voted, That the Board will meet on the spot tomorrow at 3 o'clock P.M. and determine what portion is necessary for the purpose aforesaid.
The application of D. D. Rogers Esq" for permission to build a stable in Scotts court was committed to the committee of Section Nº 2 .-
The same committee were requested to view a building lately erected on Union street by Mr. Abraham Babcock and ascertain if it was [248.] an encroachment on that street, or on the estate adjoining now occupied by Mr. Pearce and owned by the town .-
The Chairman was authorized to agree with Major. Perkins of Newburyport to strike off sixty Franklin medals at one dollar each .-
Mr. Hunnewell was requested to contract with some person to slate the roof of Faneuil Hall, or such part of it as may be found necessary. -
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SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1818.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 10. 1818- Present the whole Board.
6 Jurors were drawn for the U. S. District Court 22 Jurors for the Boston Court of Common Pleas .-
The Board agreeably to assignment met (on Thursday the 4th instant) at the land owned by Daniel Sears or Uriah Cotting on Beacon street, and having viewed the same were of opinion, that the public good and convenience required that they should take off the land as follows, six feet 6 inches on the levelling part, five feet six inches at the north east end & three feet at the south west end for the purpose of widening said street & that the Chairman notify Messrs. Sears & Cotting of the same.
[249.] Mr. Farnam of the committee of section Nº 2 reported he had viewed the place where Dan1. D. Rogers had requested permission to build a livery stable, and was of opin- ion, the taking down the old buildings now standing there and erecting a new one, would, so far from endangering the neighbour- hood, conduce to the safety of it, and recommended, if there was no objection from the neighbours that the request should be granted-Accepted .-
Mr. Farnam also reported that he had viewed the building lately erected by Mr. Babcock on Union street and from the best information he had been able to obtain he was [of] opinion it was an encroachment on the building owned by the town.
Messrs Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering & Bass were appointed a committee to view a building now erecting on Purchase street by Mr. Jenkins & fix the boundary on that street.
The application for repairs of the school house at Sº Boston, was referred to the committee of section Nº 4 with power to do what in their opinion was necessary.
[250.] Boston ss. At a meeting of the Selectmen June 17. 1818-Present Mess's Phillips, Oliver, Hunnewell, Lovering, Aus- tin, Bass, Dorr & Farnam.
34 Jurors were drawn for the Boston Court of Common Pleas .-
The committee of Section Nº 4 reported they had staked out Harvard street .-
The Committee of Section Nº 3 were empowered to repair Pur- chase street.
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
The Committee of Section Nº 2 were empowered to repair Court and Elm streets.
A remonstrance against a livery stable built in Scotts court by Mr. Pollard being made, the committee of section Nº 2, to whom the Chairman was added, were requested to view the place & report at the next meeting of the Board : and also the propriety of granting the request of Dan1. D. Rogers for permission to build a livery stable in said court .-
Mr. Farnam of the committee of Section Nº 2, reported he had made further enquiry respecting the building erected by Mr. Bab- cock on Union street, the result of which was, that he found the deeds went as far back as 70 years, consequently it was out of the control of the Board. He therefore must now report to the Board, "it is not an encroachment."
Mr Oliver of the committee appointed at the last meeting of the Board to view a building now erecting on Purchase street by Capt. Joseph Jenkins, and fix the boundary on that street, reported-[251.] it was the opinion of the committee, Capt. Jenkins was encroaching on the street. It was therefore Voted, that the Chairman be instructed to give notice to Capt. Jenkins, that the front of his building will not be allowed to project beyond a line with the clapboards of the house occupied by Mrs. Lamb .-
.
The committee of section Nº. 4 reported, they had taken measures to make such repairs on the school house at Sº. Boston, as they thought necessary .-
The same committee were empowered to pave a part of Nassau street .-
Boston ss. At a meeting of the Selectmen Friday June 26th. 1818.
Present Messrs. Phillips, Hunnewell, Lovering, Austin, Bass, Dorr, Silsby & Farnam .-
The following report was read & accepted. -
The committee to whom was referred a complaint against Peter Ripley ; stating that said Ripley had encroached on Lynn & Prince streets, have attended to that duty & report-That the fence of said Ripley projects into said streets and it would be desirable to have it set back .- Your Committee do not positively know whether the aforesaid fence is on the Towns land or not, but recommend that a surveyor be employed to ascertain the fact-The Chairman will give notice to Capt Silas Atkins & M". Peter Ripley previous to the survey & of the time of surveying.
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SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1818.
The Chairman was instructed to [252.] apply for the use of the old South Church for the Fourth of July next, he was also desired to apply to the singers of that Society to perform on that day & to have suitable refreshments provided for them, and to give orders for the bells to ring on the morning of the same day, from half past six to seven o'clock .-
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