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 7
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The trucks numbered from one to twenty, to have the privilege of that stand for one week; those [146.] numbered from twenty one to forty, to stand there the second week; & those numbered from forty one to sixty, to stand there the third week in succession-after which they shall begin again the rotation .--
68
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
1
Such trucks as have usually stood in the street at the east end of Faneuil Hall, shall be permitted to continue there for the present, under the directions of the officers of police.
All other trucks, not accommodated as above, shall stand in Broad street, from Central street southerly ; to be arranged in one line near the foot walk, on the east side for one week; & in the same manner on the west side on the second week ; & shall change their stands on the east & west sides of the street weekly. All sleds drawn by two horses, owned by any inhabitant of this Town, shall be registered & numbered ; & shall take their stands, in the season when they shall be in use, under the same regula- tions as are above pointed out for trucks.
No truck nor sled with one horse, shall be permitted to stand in State street.
All carts with horses, shall stand in Central street, in one line, on the north, for one week, & in the same manner on the south side, on the second week ; & shall change their stands weekly.
The Hand Carts shall stand on the easterly side of Liberty square & Battery March street, & all carts of every description, shall be marked with the owners name, legibly printed thereon with paint.
Of Boylston Market.
No cart, wagon, nor sled, with beef or mutton for sale, shall be allowed to stand in Orange, Newbury, Boylston, nor Essex streets.
No carriages containing provisions of any kind, nor any empty _ carriage shall be allowed to stand in Boylston street.
[147.] Carriages containing provisions, except beef or mut- ton, shall be allowed to stand in Orange street, in front of the Market house, in one line on the west side of the street, leaving two spaces for entrances to the Market house, to be designated & limited by the Clerk of the Market.
Of West Boston Market.
No person shall be allowed to stand in Cambridge street or either of the streets branching therefrom with their waggons, carts, sleds or horses, having meat, vegetables, or other articles of provisions for sale ; nor shall any person be allowed to place any stall, bench or block in said streets to exhibit any such pro- visions for sale &
It is hereby ordered in pursuance of the authority above named, that if any person shall offend against either of the above rules & orders, he shall forfeit & pay the sum of Five Dollars, upon con- viction of every such breach of said rules and orders.
By order of the Selectmen.
Sign'd, CHARLES BULFINCH, Chairman.
Attest, Tho. Clark, Town Clerk .-
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1812. 69
Boston ss: At a meeting of the Selectmen July 27. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Webb, Weld and Lovering.
The Board passed the monthly accounts.
[148.] Boston Ss : At a meeting of the Selectmen July 29. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Webb, Weld & Lovering.
Completed the Accounts.
On the representation from Mr. Matignon, that great incon- venience is experienced from the passing of trucks through the narrow passage west of the Catholic Church, and also of the hazard frequently attending it-Agreed that he have liberty to put up a post in that passage way.
The Clerk of the Market is directed to lease the vacant beef stalls in Ann street, on Saturday the 8th. August-& to advertize them previously in the papers.
Boston Ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen August 4th 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Webb, Weld & Lovering.
This meeting was called on the application for a Town Meeting, and warrant was signed accordingly for Thursday the 6th. Instant.
Boston Ss : At a Meeting of the Select-Men August 5. 1812. Present Messrs Bulfinch, Oliver, Webb, Weld & Lovering.
Whereas Messrs. John Amory & Elisha Ticknor [149.] upon application to the Selectmen, obtained liberty to lay a common sewer in Hawley street, & it having been made to appear to the Board that the said work has been properly executed & the expense of the same being ascertained to amount to two hundred & sixty six dollars sixty seven cents.
It is hereby ordered & adjudged by the Selectmen that the several persons who have laid their cross drains into said com- mon sewer or main drain or receive benefit there-from shall be assessed their proportion of the above expense as follows. vizt.
John Amory
2 Shares $76.20
Elisha Ticknor
1 do
38.10
Relief Vincent 1
d° -
38.10
Gottlieb Graupner
1
1 do - 38.10
Oliver Everett
do 38.10 - - Jona. Amory -
1 do
- 38.10
-
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
And we hereby authorize & empower Messrs. Rupp & Hynes to demand & receive the same & give discharges therefor.
Sign'd CHARLES BULFINCH
EBENR OLIVER
NATHAN WEBB
BENJ WELD
JOSEPH LOVERING
Selectmen
[150.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen August 12th. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Webb, Weld & Lovering.
The following persons were chosen Constables to complete the number for the present year .- viz
Benja. Horton Jun" Sureties Benja. Horton & W™ Lovering
Walter Crosby Israel Munroe & Jnº. French
Joseph W. Brown 66 Gideon Snow & Benja. Rich
Andrew Sanborn 66 Horace Dupee & Jas. Burchsted
Joseph Tucker 60 Samuel Harris & Jos. Newhall
The following was received from the committee lately chosen at the Town Meeting for taking measures to secure the good order & safety of the Town-& the following votes were passed & ordered to be printed.
Boston Aug. 11, 1812.
To the Selectmen of the Town of Boston.
Gentlemen,
The committee appointed by the Resolve of the inhabitants of the town convened on the 6th instant, are fully aware that the town has always been distinguished for the peaceable and orderly conduct of all classes of its citizens. And although there is no reason to suppose that the peace of the town will be disturbed, yet as evils may arise when wholly [151.] unexpected, the com- mittee conceive that it would be universally acceptable to have due precautions taken against them.
In behalf of the inhabitants, therefore, we beg leave to recom- mend to the Selectmen that one hundred discreet, able-bodied citizens should be immediately engaged to perform the duty of Watchmen and of special Constables of the town : That these cit- izens should be provided with the customary equipment of Watch- men, and required to patrole the town at such hours and in such numbers and under such regulations as the Selectmen may think fit : That in case of any riot or tumult it shall be the duty of the Watchmen to cause the bells to be tolled.
The committee further recommend that in case of any alarm in the night time, all citizens, who are well disposed toward the preservation of the peace, and order of the town, should imme- diately place lights in all their windows which front towards the street, and keep their lights so placed untill tranquillity is restored.
71
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1812.
That provision be immediately made, to the end, that all mil- itary companies instantly assemble, in case of alarm, at their respective places of rendezvous, ready to do duty, & there to await the orders of those civil & military officers, who have a law- ful right to command their services in support of the laws, and of the public peace and order.
That when any alarm is given, all magistrates, peace officers, and constables, and watchmen [152.] be requested immediately to proceed to the place of riot, and there pursue the steps of the law to suppress the same, and to seize upon and secure for trial, and condign punishment, the leaders and abettors thereof : - And in such cases, that all children or boys, and apprentices, servants and other persons, not holden, or associated, to do military duty, and who do not mean to be considered as part of a riotous assem- bly, and dealt with accordingly, be required instantly to retire to, and remain at, their respective places of abode; and that parents, masters, and heads of families be enjoined to cause a due obser- vance of this recommendation by all who are subject to their orders.
By order of the Committee
JOHN C. JONES.
attest,
Wm Sullivan, Secy of the Committee.
The above communication from the committee, chosen at the Town Meeting of the 6th. instant, having been read, it was Voted. That this Board will use all the powers vested in them by law to carry the proposed regulations into effect ; and will exert all their influence in the support of measures so obviously calculated to secure that peaceable and orderly conduct for which the town has been long distinguished .-
All classes of citizens are accordingly requested to conform to the recommendation for placing lights in their windows should any occasion of alarm or riot occur in the night time; and to be particularly careful to restrain all [153.] minors, children, or others under their control, from joining any tumultuous assembly in the streets .-
The military officers are desired to attend to that part of the regulations respecting the prompt appearance of the companies under their command, to aid the civil authority, in support of the laws, and of the public peace and order .-
And notice is hereby given .-
That the Selectmen wish to engage the services of a number of ablebodied, discreet citizens, as a patrole-watch. They invite such persons to apply to the committee of the board, any day, at noon, in the next week at Faneuil Hall ;- good recommenda- tions will be required, and such persons as are householders will be preferred .-
By Order of the Selectmen Signed, CHARLES BULFINCH, Chairman.
72
CITY DOCUMENT No. 60.
Boston Ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen August 19. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Hunnewell, Webb Weld & Lovering.
The proprietors of stores on Central street and the short street next parallel to it having agreed to pay one half the expense of paving those streets, it was voted to complete them immediately.
The recommendations for the persons who apply for employ- ment in the new watch were read-and a number of selections made [154.] the business postponed to a special meeting on Monday next .-
The Chairman was impower'd to employ workmen to pave the northerly end of Chambers street, as far as to cross Green street.
Boston Ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen August 24. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Webb, Foster, Weld & Lovering.
Further examination was made into the recommendations of the persons applying to be admitted into the new watch.
The general arrangement of the watch was considered and persons nominated for Captain and constables the Chairman was desired to inform them, to know whether they would accept the trust.
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen Augt. 31. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Hunnewell, Weld & Lovering.
Capt". Purkitt, Mr. Austin & Mr. Grant, waited on the board, as a committee from the Washington Benevolent Society, to request the use of a room for the purpose of depositing the standards of the Society.
Voted. That the Selectmen will appropriate the room Nº. 4. on the North side of the [155.] Military hall, for the use of the Washington Benevolent Society, agreeably to their request .-
Passed the Monthly Accounts .-
Boston Ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen Septem". 2. 1812. Present Messrs . Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Webb, Weld, and Lovering.
The following have been proposed and examined at former meetings, is adopted for the regulation of the new watch.
The watch to consist of 100 men .-
That there be one Captain and commander of the whole; that the watch be divided into three divisions, one division for the
73
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1812.
north, one for the south and one for the center of the Town, the center to be the main watch.
That these divisions be subdivided each into two sections and one section of each watch to be on duty every other night under the direction of a constable for each section.
The Watch of the night will be as follows.
One Captain 1
Three Constables of Sections
3
Men at Centre Watch
18
Men at South Watch
14
Men at North Watch
14
50-
' The Captain shall call every day for his orders on the Chair- man of the Selectmen at 12 o'clock-It shall be his duty to be present every night at the main watch house at [156.] 10 o'clock in winter and at 11 in summer, to call the roll & set the watch and give the constables their orders for the night .-
The constables to make their report to the captain every morning of the events of the night, and the captain to lay the same before the Chairman of the Selectmen at 12 o'clock when he goes to receive his orders for the following night. The watch- men shall patrole in such parties and in the way that the con- stables shall direct, after receiving their orders from the captain. At no time shall they suffer more than half their number to be in the house together after the watch is set except called in upon special business. It shall be the duty of one section of the north watch to visit the main watch house at least once every night, & the south watch shall do the same; & it shall be the duty of the main watch to visit the north and south watch in the same man- ner which time, as well as all others the greatest civility & deco- rum shall be observed. The watch-men are not to talk loud or make any noise when going their rounds. They are not to suffer any men or body of men to enter their watch house except they first show a certificate from the Chairman of the Selectmen & then it shall be their duty to let them in and give them such information as may be in their power respecting the occurrences of the night.
The north watch to visit all that section of the Town north of the mill creek paying particular attention to the back streets & bye places.
[157.] The South Watch to visit all that section south of Summer & Winter streets paying attention to back streets & bye places-The Centre & main watch to visit from Summer and Winter streets to the Mill Bridge including West Boston, paying attention as before express'd-In case of any disturbance or riot in either section, and it should be thought necessary for the aid of more men than belongs to that section where it may happen, the constable of such section shall send one of his men to the
74
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
main watch whose duty it shall be to give all the assistance in their power by bringing foward the whole watch-And in case of such necessity the Captain of the whole to be immediately called -and until he arrives the highest constable present to take the command, and should it be thought necessary for more aid than the watch of the night it shall be the duty of those watchmen who are not on duty that night to repair immediately to the main watch house and take their orders from the highest officer present and when thus engaged they shall receive pay as tho' it was their night of duty-No watchman to leave his duty until day light. The constables of the several sections to be numbered from one to six and consider Nº. 1. the highest number & when the Captain is not present the highest in office to command.
The Selectmen will be the judges of the conduct of all the watchmen and remove them as they think the good of the Town may require ; when the watchmen leave the watch house for their homes the constable shall see their implements [158.] filed away in the watch house. The Captain to be on duty every night and receive one dollar for every night's service.
The several constables to be on duty every other night and receive seventy five cents per night when on duty.
The watchmen to do duty every other night and receive fifty cents per night when on duty.
The Board then made choice of the following Officers of the Watch
Nathaniel Brewer, Captain
Sam1 Green Nº 1 }
Andrew Sanborn " 2
Constables of Centre division
John Spear C
of South division
Sam1 Champney
Phillip Burrill
of North division
Ansell Fobes " 65
Boston Ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen Septem" 9, 1812. Present Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Webb, Weld & Lovering.
Jurors were drawn to serve at the Com : Pleas : in October term.
The committee of the Neck were desired to proceed to com- plete the repairs of the east side of Washington street & such pieces of the westerly side as were the most out of order.
[159.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen Septem- ber 16th. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Foster, Webb, Weld & Lovering.
Jurors were drawn to supply vacancies in Common Pleas list .-
-
75
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1812.
Agreed to repair High street leading up Fort. Hill with gravel -not to exceed two hundred loads .-
Also to pave the upper part of Oliver street to the line of R. Williams' side walk.
The application of the Commercial Insurance office for reduc- tion of rent, referred to Messrs. Hunnewell & Weld-to inquire the present rents of such rooms & to act as they shall think expedient.
The Chairman, Mr. Hunnewell, Weld & Webb a committee to view Union street where it joins upon the Mill Pond, to consider what, measures can be taken to widen that part of the street.
The Chairman was desired to give Major Burbeck an order on the keeper of the Magazine for powder sufficient for fifteen thou- sand cartridges, and to employ him to make them immediately.
[160.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen Sep- tember 23ª. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Webb, Weld & Lovering.
Mr. Benjamin Tucker having renewed his application for an Auction licence, in which he engages to conform to such restric- tions as the Board think proper .-
It was agreed to renew his licence, to transact business at his office in State street.
On the application of Mr. Enoch Patterson, it was agreed to license a new brick building which he is now erecting for a livery stable-the same being situated in a court leading north from Elm street.
Boston ss. At a meeting of the Selectmen September 30th. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, Webb, Weld & Lovering.
Passed the Monthly Accounts.
Issued warrant for Town Meeting to supply vacancies and other business.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen October 12th. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Weld, Lovering, Austin & Williams.
Mess's. Austin & Williams having [161.] been chosen mem- bers of the board of Selectmen at the town meeting on the 7th. instant, the oath required by law was administered to them by the Chairman .-
76
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 60.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen October 15th. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Webb, Weld, Austin & Williams.
6 grand jurors & 8 petit jurors were drawn to serve at the Circuit Court.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen October 21st. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Webb, Weld, Lovering & Will- iams .-
A communication was received from the clerk of the Mill Pond Corporation, informing that they had chosen Messrs. Otis, Paine & S. Spear to settle with the town the partition of all the land intended for the next dividend .- whereupon the Board made choice of the Chairman, Mess Hunnewell & Weld to confer & agree with the above committee on this subject.
Mr. Frink Stratton was approved as an Auctioneer upon the conditions lately adopted respecting the Market Square .-
Signed a Certificate, approving of Mr. Snelling Powell & his associates-to act and carry on stage plays interludes & other theatrical entertainments, at the theatre in Federal street.
[162.] Return was made by Gardner Green Esq. of the expence of repairing the common sewer 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 per- sons concerned in said drain had been notified according to law & that no objection 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 conformably to the directions of the Selectmen, the whole expence whereof amounts to four hundred & forty eight dollars eight cents, which expence is to be borne by such persons whose drains enter therein & receive benefit, thereby-Wherefore We the subscribers Selectmen of the said Town of Boston certify, that having consid- ered the same expence, and by whom & in 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 .-
Samuel Hastings, Joel Crosby, Geo. Longley & others, Robert Hewes, Widow Everett (Dorchester), John Jarvis, each 2 shares.
Andrew Brimmer, [163. ] Jeremiah Bumstead, John Amory, each 4 shares.
Wm. Wyman & Fowle, Josiah Fowle's Estate, Daniel Messin- ger, Widow Avery, Samuel Appleton, Col. Aaron Ames, David E. Mosely, Mrs. Lowder, Mrs. Callahan, John Haskins, Joseph Rowe & others, John Lucas's Estate, Nath1. Hurd, John Ross, Josiah Vose, Edward Gray, Thomas Hill, David Greenough, James Freeman, EbenT. Parker, Silas P. Tarbell, Capt. Gorham,
77
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1812.
John Welles, Mrs. Lowell, Wm. Shimmin, Capt. Higgins, George Bethune, Widow Smith or Isaac P. Davis, Doct Erving, [164.] Joel Hager, William Wetmore, Mr. Lowell, Matthew M. Hunt, Mrs. Langdon, John Roulstone, Jonathan Loring, each 1 share.
Mrs. Durivage, Stephen Thayer, Proprietors of Boylston Market, Thomas Williams, Benjamin Greene, Mrs. Harrison, Doct. Hayward, each 3 shares.
And we do hereby authorize and empower Mr. Charles Row to demand & receive the same & to give discharges therefor.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen October 26th. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Webb, Weld, Foster & Williams.
Passed on Accounts.
Warrant was signed for a Town Meeting for choice of Member of Congress for the Suffolk District .-
Rev. Dr. Baldwin to be requested to open the meeting with prayer-
Mr. Eliot to print the notifications .-
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen October 28th. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Foster, Webb & Williams
Closed the Monthly Accounts & Voted. That the Treasurer be desired in making payments to the watchmen, to deduct the taxes that may be due from any [165.] one of them in a proportion not to exceed the one half of their monthly pay .-
Mr. Bradlee having presented his account for oil, adjusted to the present time ; it appeared that the sum of $13346 .. 73-was now due to him of which amount the sum of one hundred & eighty dollars was drawn for in 1810, & five thousand & sixty five dollars, sixty cents in November last .- an order was now passed on the Treasurer for the balance & Voted, that the Treas- urer be requested to give to Mr. Josiah Bradlee his note for the whole sum due ; that the same may be discounted at the bank.
Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen, November 2d. 1812.
Present the whole Board.
Warrant was signed for a Town Meeting for choice of Elec- tors of President and Vice President of the United States, for the District of Suffolk, Essex & Middlesex.
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CITY DOCUMENT No. 60.
Rev. Mr. Gardiner to be requested to open the meeting with prayer .-
Mr. Eliot to print notifications.
[166.] Boston Ss: At a Meeting of the Selectmen Nov". 4. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Foster, Webb, Weld, Lovering & Williams.
Grand jurors and traverse jurors were drawn for the Supreme J. Court.
A complaint was presented from a number of inhabitants of the north part of the Town against riotous assemblies of appren- tice boys and others, who distress and insult passengers & injure fences and other property.
The chairman was desired to employ one or more constables to · prevent the evil complained of more particularly on the Sunday evenings.
Information being given that a building was now erecting on the west side of the Neck, intended for a soap and candle manu- factory : The Chairman was desired to notify the proprietors that the law requires that all such buildings should be licensed by the Selectmen : & of the penalty for neglect of such application.
[167.] Boston ss. At a Meeting of the Selectmen Novem- ber 19th. 1812. Present Messrs. Bulfinch, Oliver, Foster, Webb, Weld, Austin & Williams.
Jurors were drawn for the district Court.
A plan was exhibited by the Chairman of that part of Union street lying west of Hanover street, & which leads to the market place & great streets on the Mill Pond .- the plan was consid- ered with relation to the improvement which might be made by widening that passage; and it was agreed that Mr. Weld should apply to the proprietor of the old building at the corner of Han- over street, late Frobishers, and to ascertain the probable expence of obtaining as much of it as should be wanted : and the Chairman was authorized to apply to the heirs of the late Mr. Devens respecting the small house next to Frobishers, and to request the proprietors of the Green Dragon tavern to appoint a committee to confer and act with this board on the subject of the proposed improvement .-
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