USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Volume of records relating to the early history of Boston : containing minutes of the selectmen's meetings, 1799 to, and including, 1810 > Part 19
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226
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 93.
[207.] [sic] Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 25. 1804 Present Mess's : the improvement of the Street on the East side of Faneuil-Hall-
The Commee. to fix the line of Essex Street-Reported that they had examined the situation of the Street & of the Land adjacent and had agreed with Deaeon Bates that Essex Street should be 35-3 feet wide from the Corner of his House in Short Street to the opposite Corner, and that Mr. Bates had agreed to remove his Cellar Wall on the proposed line, free of expence to the Town-
The Seleetmen having visited the Towns Land in Orange Street to determine the position of the new Bridge -- the subjeet was considered with respect to the most advantageous disposal of the land-Mr. Bulfinch Tilden & Oliver were chosen a Commee. to confer with Deacon Brown & Mr. Tuekerman relative to continu- ing the eross street, westerly with Cambridge Bay-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Seleetmen April 3ª. 1804 Present Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Tileston, Oliver, Hunnewell May Wright Chapman
Passed upon Accounts-
The Referrees ehosen to estimate the value of the Towns Land in Water Street; having given in their Award-the Board pro- eeeded to execute a Deed of said Land to William Phillips Esq & received from him the sum of 2611 Dollars & an obligation to maintain the water course for ever-as on file & recorded in the Town Reeord
Agreably to law the Board proceeded to make choice of two Sealers of Weights & measures-the Votes being taken-Mr. Richard Austen & Mr .- Green, were declared to be chosen-and their Distriets to be the same as last Year
A number of the Claimants of the Doek at the bottom of Butlers Row, having signed their Quit Claims to the Doek & Wharves adjacent, so far as may be necessary to form a Street to lead from Butlers Row to Greens Wharff-the Board eame to a resolution to all[ow ] 300 Dollars towards filling up the same, provided Mr. Parkman will eonsent to effeet the objeet, & satisfy Mr. Bray for his Land, which will be taken for the Street on Greens Wharff
[208.] The Chairman M'. Tilden & Mr. Oliver a Commee. to carry the above Resolution to effeet-The same Commee. were desired to view the Land in Merchants Row belonging to Dr.
227
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1804.
Eckley. to confer with him respecting the front line of his new Building. to consider the most suitable direction for said front line & to Report-
A Warrant was signed for Town Meeting for choice of Repre- sentatives-and the Business of May Meeting
Mr. Tileston & MT. Chapman a Commee. to wait on the Rev-d. M. Baldwin to request him to open the Meeting with Prayer-
ME. Newell to have the printing of Notifications for said Meeting-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 6th. 1804 Present Mess" : Bulfinch, Tilden. Tileston, Oliver, Wright-
Rerd. M. Baldwin being absent on a Journey the Chairman & Mr. Oliver, a Comme. to request Mr. Freeman to open the ensuing Town Meeting with praver-
The Chairman was desired to insert an Advertizement in the Papers for those Persons who wish for the Office of Constables the ensuing Year to send written applications, on or before Wednesday the 16. Inst. and that time is assign d for coming to the choice of Constables --
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 16. 1804 Present Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Tileston, Oliver Hunnewell, May Wright Chapman-
A number of Persons approved as Inholders & Retailers
On the spplication of a number of the Inhabitants of Pearl Street, praving that the said Street should be paved; it was agreed that the Chairman should inform the Gentlemen who apply, that the Board could take no measures for paving that Street [209.] Untill a good & sufficient Common Sewer should be laid in that whole length of the Street, to the satisfaction of the Selectmen-
On the application of Richard Jaques, for liberty to open cleanse & repair the Common Sewer in Hanover Street Ordered, that he notify all the Proprietors of said Common Sewer or whose Drains enter therin : to appear on or before Wednesday next, to show cause why such repairs should not be undertaken and the expence assessed on them in general according to law
Proceeded to draw 4 Grand Jurors & 6 Petit Jurors for the next Circuit Court-
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 93.
The Board came to the choice of an Orator for 4t. of July next, being the Anniversary of American Independanee when Dr. Thomas Danforth was unanimously chosen, and the Chairman was desired to communicate the choice to lıim-
The Chairman informed the Board that he had eonversed with the present Owners of Copps hill, with a view to engage the refusal thereof to the Town, & had seeured the right of purchase at twenty thousand Dollars ; this subject was fully considered- the Board finding that a decision must be had immediately & a payment of $5000-must be made the next Day, which the treasurer was not able to meet-and also considering that they were not authorized by the Town to make the purchase but must do it on their own risque to be afterwards approved by the Town, it was unanimously determined to proceed no further in the business at present-Mr. Cotting who has the next right of refusal, having agreed that in ease he should purehase the Hill, the Selectmen should have the disposal of the Ground into Streets free of Expenee & might retain any part for the use of the Town at the same rate which the whole should be procured by him
S
The following Report was made by the Committee upon the more effectual execution of the By Laws-
The Committee Report that the Board of Selectmen is em- powered by law to appoint a Super Intendent of Police [210.] and as many Assistants as the Office may be found to require, and to give to each of them such pay as compensation as may be Judged Just & reasonable-
The Commee. therefore propose that the Board should make ehoiee of a Superintendent as the Law direets, with powers & duties therein speeified
That one Person of respectable eharaeter should be appointed Assistant Police Officer, whose duty it should be to notice all breaches of the By-Laws & of the State Laws made for the special regulation of this Town, & make Report Dayly in Writ- ing to the Super Intendent of all sueh trespasses
That upon complaint regularly made by the Assistant, the Super Intendent should issue his Warrant against the offender for the amount of the fine required by law, which Warrant shall be served by a Constable, who shall receive the lawful fees for sueh serviee, from the Person against whoin the warrant has issued : and in case such Person shall deny the charge against him or shall refuse to pay the fine & fee of service-the Super- intendent shall then proceed to proseeute the Offender-
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SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1804.
That the Superintendent shall keep a Record of all Warrants & prosecutions issuing from his office, & an exact account of all monies received for fines or upon Bills of costs which shall be appropriated to defrey the expence of the Office-
This Report having been repeatedly considered & corrected as above was accepted & the Board proceeded to appoint Charles Bulfinch Esq. and Mr. John W. Folsom Assistant for the Year ensuing-with a Salary of $600 to the former & $500-to the latter-
The Chairman was desired to prepare an Address to the Public, stating the above arangement-
The application for the Office of Constables was read & further proceeding thereon referred to next Wednesday-
[211.] Boston ss : At a Meeting of Selectmen May 23ª 1804 Present Mess's : Bulfinch. Tileston, Hunnewell, Wright, Chapman,
On the application of MIT. Jacob Eustis, the Proprietors of the Common Sewer in Sudbury [Street ] were ordered to be Notified to appear on Wednesday next to state their objections to the same being repaired, & the expence assessed generally according to law-
Upon the application of William Phillips Esq. it was agreed, that he should have liberty to remove the Water course from the place it now occupies in the Land lately sold him by the Town upon condition that he shall at his own expence continue another Water course from Water Street, to the passage way which leads from Kilbey Street to Congress Street, thence through the same passage way to the Common Sewer, or sufficient outset in Kilby Street. the same to be made of the dimentions or not less than the same to be removed, and that he shall contract in writing to maintain the same in repairs for ever-and also shall add three feet in width to the said Passage way thro.' the whole extent of his Land, making the passage way eighteen feet wide-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 28th. 1804 Present Mess™s : Bulfinch, Tilden, Tileston, Oliver, Wright, Chap- man. Hunnewell,
Passed upon Accounts-
A letter was received from Joseph Greenleaff Esq relating sev- eral charges against Mess's : Twist & Joy, two of the Constables they being present, were questioned respecting the subject & were allowed to Justify themselves & produced witnesses to con- firm their assertions
230
CITY DOCUMENT No. 93.
The opinion of the Board was taken respecting the By-Law which forbids the use of two Horses to a Cart-when it was determined that the law did not allow more than two Horses except on special occasions, and that the Superintendent & Office of Police be instructed to give permission for the use of a greater number when circumstances shall in their opinion require it
Mr. John Gammell was chosen to collect the Cow Tax for the present Year to be allowed 13ª. of what he shall Collect for his services
On the request of Mr. Bradlee, it was agreed [212.] that in building a new Fence on his Land in the Passage way leading from Elm Street to Brattle Square, he should have liberty to make the Southerly part of the Fence in a curve line to extend , from the North west Corner of his House so as to advance into the Street 11 Inches at the point where the present Fence makes an internal angle-
see Minutes-July 13. 1803
Boston ss: At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 6. 1804 Present Bulfinch, Tilden, Tileston Oliver, Wright, Chapman,
The following division of the Board was made into Committees for directing the paving in the several parts of the Town-
Mr. Porter Mr. Oliver & Mr. Wright for Marlborough Street Newbury, Orange & Washington Street, likewise all Streets West & East to the Southward of Liberty Tree-
Deacon Tilden and Mr. Tileston, the Streets Eastward of the above in Ward Nº. 10-
Colo. May & Mr. Chapman all the Streets below the Bridges-
The Chairman & Mr. Hunnewell, the Streets in the other part of the Town-
An Instrument was signed by the Selectmen & William Phillips Esq. by which he conditions to build & forever maintain a Water course from the Drain in Water Street, which crosses land of Jonathan Fowle through the 15th. Passage Way by his land to Kilby Street Common Sewer-and the Board allows him to remove the old Water course from the land lately sold him by the Town-Mr. Phillips also agrees to add three feet in width to the passage way as far as his land thereon stands-Memº. the Deed in Suffolk Records of this date-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 8, 1804 Present Mess's : Bulfinch Tilden, Tileston, Wright Chapman, May, Oliver, Hunnewell
231
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES. 1804.
The present Meeting being assigned for the choice of Constables, it was Agreed. that the number for the present Year [213.] should not exceed twelve-and that each one should give Bond as the Law directs in the sum of one thousand dollars with two Sureties to the satisfaction of the Board-
The Votes being taken, the following Persons were chosen & the Persons whose names are annexed were approved as Sureties
(sworn Thomas Stevenson-Sureties, Dudley Walker William Richardson
(sworn Amos Lewis
Thomas Lewis Joshua Ellis
Elisha Copeland
Abraham Gibson John Perry
Cornelius Fuller
William Jennings
Peter McIntosh
(sworn) Moses Thayer -
Nath1. Frothingham Asa Hatch- Eben". Clough
(sworn ) Samuel White
Abraham Babcock
sworn Jirah Holbrook
Edward Staples Jonathan Merry Whiting Danforth
(sworn) Henry Lane
(sworn) Solomon Twist
Jonas Twist Moses Gardner
(sworn) Levy Joy
Edward Wentworth Joseph Bennet-
(sworn) John Deverel, his Bondsmen may be seen entred June 20-Mess's : Perkins Nichols
R : G. Shaw-
Application was made by the Owners of Trucks, praying that the regulations of the weights to be carried on Trucks should be considered as to allow them to carry two hogsheads at one time- this subject was fully debated, & it was determined to adhere to the principle upon which the By Law appears to have been framed-viz .- that all Articles capable of a division should be carried in loads, not exceeding one Ton & other Articles in crates or packages as would come nearest to the Ton weight-
And to avoid uncertainty with respect to such articles & to favor the business of that class of Inhabitants [214.] as much as possible, it was agreed that the following should be considered as loads to be authorized & allowed by the Super Intendent of Police-
6 Chests of Tea 11 bbls. Flour 8 d°. Beef or Pork
40 Bushells of Salt
9 Barrels of Tar or other Naval Stores
232
CITY DOCUMENT No. 93.
6 Caskcs Pot Ashes
7 ditto Pearl Ashes
6 Boxes Sugar
2 hhds : Molasses
2 d°. Rum Wine
" " Brandy-
2 d°. Salt Fish
5 half hhds : Wine 4 Casks of Rice
252 Gallons of Oil
2 hhds : of Sugar or
2 d°. of Tobacco if not exceeding (200-eaclı
Application was made by a number of the Owners of Carts praying that they may be allowed to usc three Horses to draw their Carts with Wood & other Articles, in conformity to the By Law which empowers the Selectmen to grant such liberty upon special application -
The subject was considered & debated and it was Voted, That it was not expedient to grant a general permission as requested, but that the Super Intendent & Assistent should give special licenses on such occasion as in their Judgement should be necessary & proper-
Mr. Joseph Robinson allowed to build a Bake House in Essex Street-
Boston ss: At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 13. 1804 Present Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Tileston, Oliver Hunnewell Wright May Chapman,
A request was received from the Proprietors of the Wells & Pumps in Spring Lane that the Town would bear a proportion of the repairs that are now wanted on the Well as the Spring is of very general use in that Neighbourhood-After conversation on this subject, it was agreed that as the Town had never borne any part of such expence, it must still be considered at the charge of the Proprietors subject to ye. regulation [215.] of the By-Law- It was ordered that the Town Pump in Corn hill being now gone to decay & incommoding the public passage in that Strect should be removed, & the Street paved over the Well, removing an open- ing to be covered with flat Stone, sufficient to introduce a suction hose in case of fire-
Mr. Chapman a Commee. to confer with Mr. Goodwin the Agent of Mr. Ingersol who is the Owner of a House near the head of Moons Wharff in Fish Street, upon the terms on which part of said House may be taken down to widen the Street, & to obtain an estimate of the expence-
Mr. Morrill Guardian to the Heirs of Linel [Lendall] Pitts having objected to the filling up the Dock at the bottom of Butlers Row, a plan of said Dock & the Stores of Mr. Pitts & Heirs was exhibited & a Copy of the Deed from Butler to Bowdoin
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233
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1804.
in 1718. after considering the same it was Voted that great part of the Dock discribed in the deed having been tilled many years since by the Abuttors for their own convenience, & a major part of the Claimants for the remainder having relinquished to the Town by Deed. all right to the part proposed to be filled-that the Commee. be authorized to proceed to fill the same to form a Street from Butlers Row to Greens Wharff upon the conditions formerly offered to Mr. Parkman & which he has agreed to-
Application was received from the Proprietors of the new Brick Stores at the head of the Long Wharff requesting liberty to place gates at the east & west ends of the passage way back of their Stores to prevent the filth & dirt being brought & placed there in the night-which being considered it was determined, that the entrance of that passage way belonged to the Proprietors of the long Wharff. & that the application be referred to them-
On representation from the Board of Health that the Common Sewer in Newbury Street was clogged & required cleaning & repairs-Orders that the Proprietors be notified to appear on or before Wednesday next to enter their objections
[216.] Benjamin Sumner Esq Town Treasurer proposed for his Bondsmen Mess : Samuel Sumner Jonth. Balch Josiah Snelling Joseph Loring & Benj". Jepson-the same are approved & the Town Clerk is directed to prepare a Bond in the Sum of sixty thousand Dollars-
A Billet was received from James Bowdoin Esq Chairman of a Commee. to request the use of Faneuil Hall for a public Dinner on the 4'. of July next-It was agreed to grant the request of the Gentlemen & the Chairman was desired to return the same answer which was sent the last Year as Recorded in the proceedings of the 25. April
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 20. 1804 Present Mess : Bulfinch Tilden, Tileston, Hunnewell, Wright, May Chapman-
Upon viewing the wall of the cellar now building by Mr. Hammond on Market Square, some doubts arose respecting his compliance with the spirit of the agreement with the Board as on record March 14th. last-The Votes of that date express that the new front line shall be from the South west corner of Newells wall to a point 3 feet in advance to the northwest corner of the old Store-Upon making an accurate survey it is found that the described line would take off from Mr. Hammond & Mr. Newell 6 feet 3 Inches instead of 2 feet or thereabouts which was Mr. Hammonds proposition & what he thought to be the interest of the Board upon which his estimates & his contracts with Newell
234
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 93.
had been made-after fully considering the subject it was deter- mined by the Members present that the above bounden line would take off from Mr. Hammonds & M. Newells Land more than was expected, owing to the curve line of the Street, & that M". Hammond be allowed to build his brick wall upon the present foundation, to carry it as far back as the inside face of the Wall so that the front should be 2-4. or 2-6 inches from his Ancient line ---
[217.] M'. John Deverel proposed Mess's : Perkins Nichols & Mr. R. G. Shaw as his Bondsmen in his office of Constable which were approved-
Meeting for choice of Jurymen adjourned to Wednesday next to fill up any vacancies-Jurors chosen entred on the Jury Books-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of Selectmen June 25. 1804 Present Messrs : Bulfinch, Tilden, Tileston, Oliver, Wright Chapman, May,
Passed upon Accounts-
Warrant issued for a Town Meeting the 20th. Inst. being the 41. of July next the Anniversary of American Independence to meet at Faneuil Hall at 9 O Clock-
Bells to be rung in the Morning of the 4t. of July next from the hour of 6. untill 7. o'Clock-
Six Constables are to be appointed, for the preserving good order in the Common, -and at the Meeting House on that Day-
The Town Clerk directed to deliver up to Mr. Sumner his Bonds as Treasurer & Collector, for the Year 1803. he having fulfilled the conditions of the same-
Deacon Tilden informed the Board that Mr. Eben". Cloften had been chosen Sexton of the old Brick Church, and that the Society requested, he might be licensed as a Funeral Porter which was agreed to-
On application by Deacon Wright similar to the above Mr. Parsons Sexton to the Federal Street Society, was licensed as a Funeral Porter-
Messrs : Tilden Oliver & Hunnewell a Commee. to confer with the Proprietors of South Bridge, respecting the terms on which they may have part of the Towns Land on Orange Street to build their Bridge therefrom-
235
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1804.
Josiah Knap Esq applied that measures might be taken to con- tinue the Towns Water Course which leads from Orange Street to the Sea. further East untill it shall pass through the new Street & head wall now building a Commee. having viewed the place [21S.] & directed the course in which it should be laid, & Mr. Knap producing an estimate of the expence, it was agreed to allow 150 Dollars towards such expence, being about one half of the estimate, the remainder to be paid by Mr. Knapp the Drain to be made 4 feet by 43 in the clear to be well & substantially done to the satisfaction of the Selectmen, & to be forever after maintained in Repair by said Knapp & his heirs &c .- they to have the privilege of using the ground above the said Drain in any such way as not to prevent the Towns having free access to it should occasion require
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 27, 1804 Pres- ent Mess : Bulfinch. Tilden Tileston Oliver Wright Chapman Hunnewell.
Passed upon other Accounts
James Sumner Junt. was approved as a Deputy Collector of Taxes under the Town Treasurer & Collector-the Town Clerk is directed to prepare a Bond from him to the Inhabitants of the amount of 85000-Benjamin Sumner George Homer & Thomas How Sureties-
Mr. Hunnewell & Mr. Tilestou a Commee. to confer with Mr. Curtis on the terms on which he will relinquish the lease of whole or part of the Towns Land now in his possession the same Commee. is empower'd to settle with Capt. Curtis the terms of such release, and to inform the Commee. upon the subject of the Bridge-
The Commee. on the Bridge reported several propositions from the Proprietors of terms on which the Bridge should be brought to the Towns land-the same were read & considered, and the Comme. were impowered to grant to the Proprietors 40 feet in width of the Towns land on the South line provided a suitable agreement can be made with Capt. Curtis to release the same, & that the Bridge Proprietors will fill up the whole of the Flatts on the Towns Land-to the East side of Front Street & make a Stone head-for which it is agreed to pay them one thousand Dollars when the same shall be completed
[219.] Boston ss : At a special Meeting of the Selectmen .July 5. Present Mess : Bulfinch Tilden Tileston, Oliver Wright Chapman
The Commee. on the subject of the Bridge landing Reportd. that they had met & had conferred with the Commee. of the Proprietors
236
CITY DOCUMENT No. 93.
& offered them the terms proposed at the last Meeting which they would not consent to, but proposed the following-That the Proprietors of the Bridge should fill up the whole of the Flatts before the Towns land to the east side of Front Strect & should build a sufficient Stone head & secure the land sufficiently on the South line-that the Town should bear one half of the expence of the above, and lay out a Street 40 feet wide from Orange Street to the Bridge & give as much of the flatts belonging to the Town as may be wanted to build a Wharff upon the dimensions & in the situation required by the Act of Incorporation of the South Bridge Proprietors-
This proposal having been considered was agreed to on condition that the Town should not be called upon for its proportion of the expence untill the work should be completed to the satisfaction of Selectmen-the former Commee. was desired to communicate the above resolution, and to attend to the drawing the lines of the Street through the Towns Land-
Boston ss: At a Meeting of the Selectmen July 11. 1804 Present Mess : Bulfinch Tilden, Oliver, Hunnewell, Chapman
A special Meeting warned on the application of Mr. Silas Field-that he may be appointed an Auchtioneer of this Town- referred
Voted, that Mr. Sam1. Rogers Sexton of the North Church, be appointed to the care of the North Burying Ground, that he be enjoined to keep the Ground in good order, and to permit no Graves to be dug by any one without his directions-
Mr. Hastings having commenced the building of the Cellar wall of his Store opposite the East end of Faneuil-hall, about 4 feet in advance of the present front of his Wooden Store, the Chairman was desired to inform Mr. Hastings, that the Board considered the present [220.] line of his front as the true line of the Street on which the new Building should be erected, and to see the Cellar wall carried back accordingly-
At a special Meeting of the whole Board on the 7th. Inst. the Commee. which was appointed to fix the landing of the Sº. Bridge on the Towns land Reported-That in drawing the lines for the direction of the Bridge to the South side of the land, the Street would cross the land diagonally, and divide it to great disadvan- tage ; they had therefore suspended the work of the decision of the bounds-Deacon Brown & Capt. Curtis were present & com- municated verbally their propositions-after full consideration of the subject it was determined that it would be a great injury to the value of the Towns land to attempt to carry the Street from Orange Strect to Front Street in a perfectly straight line with the
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