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 22
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On application from the committee of fire-wards Mr. Hunne- well & Mr. Wright are desired to consider the best mode of obtaining a supply of Engine hose; also to examine the hose now on hand at Mr. Tildens Store, & to report the state & quality of it & what measure should be taken respecting it .-
The Chairman & Mr. Oliver a Commee. to examine Mr. Micah Homers Accot. of repairs on drain in White Bread Alley-
[248.] Mr. Hunnewell & Mr. Wright a Commee. to consider the best mode of obtaining a supply of paving stones for the use of the Town the approaching season-
The Board came to the choice of a Person to collect the tax upon cows the ensuing year, & chose Mr. John Gammel for that purpose-
Mr. Thomas Godfrey appeared & represented that he had now completed his house in Fish Street & that it had been set back from the street in compliance with the direction of the Selectmen, that he should find himself much injured unless the house of M". Matchet was taken down on a line with his front-After he retired it was agreed to request Mr. Godfrey to obtain some estimates of the expence of removing Mr. Matchets house & what amount he could obtain by subscription towards defraying the expence ---
Rufus G. Amory Esq & Mr. Colling exhibited a plan of the pro- posed new Street from Battery March Street to State Street to be called Broad Street, & requested the assistance of the Board, in obtaining by the mode pointed out by law, such pieces of prop-
261
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1805.
erty either of land or buildings as they had not been able to pro- cure : & which were necessary towards carrying their proposed improvement into effect-
The Chairman Mr. Tilden & Wright chosen a Commee. on this subject to confer with the applicants & to Report-
Boston ss : At Meeting of the Selectmen March 25. 1805 Pres- ent Mess : Bulfinch Porter Oliver Tileston May Wright Chapman Tilden.
Passed upon Accounts-
Boston ss: At a Meeting of the Selectmen March 27. 1805 Present Mess : Bulfinch Porter, Oliver, Wright, Hunnewell Tiles- ton, May Chapman.
Passed upon other Accounts-
[249.] Nothing further, matter of Record-
Boston ss: At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 3ª. 1805 Present Mess : Bulfinch Tileston Wright, Chapman,
8 Jurymen chosen for C. C. P. in the room of those who were absent de-to be entred & posted, in Jury Books
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 10. 1805- Present Messrs : Bulfinch, Porter, Tileston, Wright, Oliver,
On the application of Mr. B. Goddard that measures may be taken for continuing the Drain which conveys the over ground Water from Orange Street to the Sea, may be continued thro'. his land to the east side of Front Street-Mr. Porter & M. Wright are appointed a Commee. on this subject & to report
The Chairman MIT. Tileston & MIT. Wright a Commee. to con- sider what measures are most expedient relative to the Latin Schoolhouse ; whether to repair the present Building or otherwise & to Report-
The Commee. appointed to confer with the Agents of the Broad Street Corporation, reported-that to carry the new street through, it would be necessary to come to an agreement with Mr. Roby for his land & building. with the Guardians of the Heirs of Cushing for part of their land & building & with Mr. Ezra Whitney for the unexpired lease of a part of a Building in Central Wharf- that the Proprietors had made application to the above persons but could not agree upon terms with them-The ,Chairman was desired to notify the above named Gentleman to appear on Wed- nesday next, to confer upon the subject-
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 93.
Mr. Knap produced several papers to be executed relative to the Sale of a piece of the flatts & the filling up part of Kneeland Street-the same being read & examined, it was the wish of the Board that the Papers should state more particularly the whole transaction ; the subject was referred to Saturday next 12. o.'Clock-
[250.] Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 17th-Present Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Porter, Tileston, Hunne- well, Oliver, Wright Chapman
On Saturday the 13. Inst. The Board met to execute Papers with Mr. Josiah Knapp-Present Mess : Bulfinch Porter, Tileston Oliver, May, Wright & Chapman
An instrument was signed conveying to Mr. Knapp all the Flatts belonging to the Town which lie between his two Estates on Kneeland Street, & from the present abutment to the West side of Front Street ; except a space of 30 feet in width thro'. the whole length to be kept as a Highway to continue Kneeland Street from Orange Street to Front Street & Mr. Knap agrees to relinquish to the Town one half of the amount of his demand upon a former Contract, being 535 Dollars, & to give so much of his land upon the part of Kneeland Street which is already filled up as to make it 24 feet wide upon Orange Street & 30 feet wide at the present abutment-
An application from Mr. Benjamin Goddard was read with an estimate of the expence of continuing the Water Course near his land in Orange Street, to the East side of Front Street; the Chairman was desired to inform the Agents of the Front Street Corporation, that it was the opinion of the Board that the expence of such addition should be borne by said Corporation as they had rendered the same necessary in consequence of their forming their Street, and to ask their immediate attention to the same-
Mr. Tilden, Tileston, Hunnewell & Wright a Commee to ascer- tain the bounds of the bottom of South Street & Sea Street & to Report the same to be put on Record-
On a precept received from the Honble. Judge of Probate for the County of Suffolk, inquisition was made relative to Seth Harding & return was made that from intemperance & idleness he was in danger of becoming chargeable to the Town to whichi he belonged-& the Board gave their opinion that a Guardian ought to be appointed for him-
[251.] A number of Gentlemen applying for the use of Faneuil Hall on the evening next precceding the Town Meeting
263
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1805.
for the choice of Representatives-their request is granted, & is on file
MI. Roby MT. Whitney & the Guardians of the Heirs of Cush- ing appeared agreable to notice & stated their terms in which they would consent that the Broad Street Corporation should make use of their Lands & Buildings for the purpose of opening said Street-the Chairman was desired to communicate these pro- posals to the President of said Corporation-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 24. 1805 Present Mess" : Bulfinch, Tilden, Porter Tileston Ohver, Hunne- well, May Wright Chapman
Mr. Goddard again appeared & wished, that some speedy measures should be taken to continue the Water course from Orange Street thro'. Front Street. It was agreed to propose to the Directors of the Front Street Corporation, that the Town & they should submit to an impartial & competent reference, the question at whose expence such addition ought to be made ; & that upon their consent to such reference signified in writing Mr. Goddard might have liberty on the part of the Selectmen to lay the additional Drain, & keep an account of the expence to be paid him by the Parties according to the division of the Referees-
A Committee of the Proprietors of Broad Street waited upon the Board to inform them that they could not accede to the pro- posals of Mess's: Roby & Cushing respecting their Land & Buildings ; & presented Copies of the Offers of the Corporation to those Gentlemen which they were willing to renew ; & claimed the attention of the Board to proceed according to law in open- ing the Street-The Gentlemen having withdrawn, the subject was considered but no decision had thereon-
Upon complaint from Capt. Atkins, Mess's : May & Chapman are desired to view the Wall of a Brick Distill-house near Back [252.] Street, belonging to M'. Bishop of Medford which is represented dangerous to the Neighbourhood-
Four extra Jurors were drawn for the Court of Common Pleas now in Session, & are entred in Jury Book-
The Committee chosen to ascertain the bounds of Sea Street at the Easterly end-Reported-
That they had staked of the bounds of Sea Street as follows- To be forty feet wide at the House called the Point-house to continue Southerly to the distance of eighty feet from the South East Corner of said house, thence to the Southerly side of the
264
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 93.
Street to run westerly to a point in the direction of the Brick Partition Wall of Hatches & Phillips houses there being forty feet wide, thence to the East line of South Street, making the entrance to South Street Fifty seven feet wide-This Report was accepted & the same ordered to be Recorded as the bounds of the Easterly part of Sea Street
Mess's : Cutting & Lowell have liberty to dig up Chambers Street, in Belknaps Street to their Distill-house for the purpose of laying Pipes to convey the Water to their works, provided that they shall put the Streets into good order & replace the Pavement-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen April 29t. 1805- Present Messrs : Bulfineh, Tileston, Wright, Chapman, Tilden,
Passed upon Aeeounts-
On the 24t. of April Inst. Warrants were issued for two May Meetings on the 8 & 9th. Inst. at 9. & 10. o'. Cloek-A : M :
A Committee to request the Revd. [Dr. Baldwin] to open the Meeting with Prayer-
Mr. Newell to have printing of Notifications for Town Meeting
On the application of a number of Gentlemen a Warrant was issued for a Town Meeting, on Fryday 3ª. Inst. 10. o'. Cloek A : M: to consider the expediency of Augmenting the number of Representatives
Boston ss : At a Meeting of Seleetmen May 1. 1805-Present Mess's : Bulfinch, Wright, Tileston, Tilden, Oliver, Porter, Chapman,
Passed upon other Accounts-
[253.] Mr. Richard Austin & MT. Timothy Green were ehosen Sealers of Weights & Measures in this Town for one Year from this date Mr. Austin to have the inspcetion & eare of the Southern & Mr. Green of the Northern division of the Town -- as the Distriets have been particularly deseribed of late Years-
Ebenezer Sever Esq & several others of the Proprietors of the Common Sewer from Nassau Street to Kneeland Street entred their objections to having the said Common Sewer continued from the present end thereof to Front Street at their expence-and stated that the Proprietors of Front Street having occasioned the necessity of such addition, that the expence ought to be borne by that Corporation-
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265
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1805.
The Chairman was desired to communicate the above to the President of the Front Street Corporation ; and ask their immediate attention to the subject-
Complaint was made of a Bow Window now fixing in front of a Shop in Winter Street-the Board having considered the great exertion made by several Gentlemen the last Year to widen that Street, were of opinion that nothing should be allowed to project into the narrow part of the Street-& that the Proprietor should be directed to remove the same-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 15. 1805- Present MessTs : Bulfinch, Tilden. Tileston, Wright, Oliver, May,
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 22d. 1805- Present Mess : Bulfinch. Porter, Tileston, Wright, May, Chapman, Oliver.
30 Petit Jurors for S. J. Court and entred in the Jury Books
An order having been passed on the 9 Inst. on the application of James Sherman to Notify the Proprietors of the Common Sewer in Middle Street to appear at this time to state their objections to the repairs proposed to be made-a number of the Proprietors appeared & declared. that the Common Sewer was generally in good order & did not require repair, & that the obstruction therein near Mr. Shermans house must be confined to that place. & that he ought to be at the expence of removing it
[254.] The Gentlemen having withdrawn, the Chairman & M. Chapman were desired to examine the openings that had been made in the Streets & direct to snch measures as they should Jndge proper-
Mr. Gever who lately had liberty to place a Fish Box at the End of Bennets Street over the Water appeared & stated,-that somne one of the Abuttors on that Street had objected to his using the same for that purpose-Mr. Porter, Oliver & Tileston a Commee. to view the place & Report their opinion
The Board proceeded to the choice of 12 Constables & the following Persons were chosen-& the Persons offered by them as Sureties were approved-
Sureties
Thomas Stevens
Dudley Walker
Thomas Stevenson Jun".
Amos Lewis
Thomas Lewis
Joshua Ellis
Henry Lane
-- Whiting
-Danforth
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CITY DOCUMENT No. 93.
Samuel White - Abram Babcock Eben". Clough Jirah Holbrook Jonathan Merry Edward Staples Elisha Copeland Abraham Gibson I John Perry Moses Thayer - Nath1. Frothingham Asa Hateh- Levi Joy Edward Wentworth Joseph Bennett Cornelius Fuller William Jennings Peter Me. Intosh
John Deverell
Perkins Nichols
Robert G. Shaw
Farewell Brown
Benjamin Bass Leeds Jere Gore Benjn. Bass & Nath1. Tueker-
Boston ss: At a Meeting of the Selectmen May 27. 1805 Present Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Tileston, Wright Chapman-
Passed upon Aecounts-
[255.] Representation being made that the steps to the Houses now building by Mr. Skinner on Federal Street would in- cumber the foot walk-Voted, that Mr. Skinner be informed that the Board expeet that the foot walk in front of his houses be built in a regular descent from the Northerly end of that before Mr. Higginson Houses to the Southerly end of that in front of Capt. Carvers-and that the steps to Mr. Skinners houses shall not project into the Street more than those of Mr. Higginsons-
Boston ss: At a Meeting of the Seleetmen June 5. 1805 Present Messrs : Bulfinch, Tilden, Porter, Tileston Oliver, May, Chapman
Passed upon other Aeeounts-
Warrant issued for a Town Meeting Monday the 17. of June Inst. 9. 0'. Clock A : M :
Mr. Newell to have the printing of Notifications for the ensuing Town Meeting-
· Mr. Bishop having taken no measures to secure in a permanent manner the Briek Walls of his House, back of Capt. Atkins near Baek Street : The Chairman was directed to inform ME. Bishop, that unless sueh effectual repairs were made previous to the next Meeting of the Grand Jury, that a complaint would be then pre- sented against said Walls as a dangerous nuisanee.
R
267
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1805.
The Estimates of the expeuce of altering Lynn Street to con- ver the water over ground thro'. the Town slip by Lt. Governor Robins Wharff, were considered : and the Chairmau & Mr. Chap- man were empowered to take such steps to conduct the water iu future as they should find most expedient, after taking the levels & fully considering the subject .-
Approved the Indentures of Alexander Welch a Minor to John Browu Mariner to be in force untill July 4. 1809
Approved the Indentures of William Erving a Minor to Wm Cunningtou. Carver & Gilder-
Boston ss : At a special Meeting of Selectmen June 5. 1805 Present Mess : Bulfinch Tilden, Tileston, Oliver May Wright & Chapman
Mr. Otis & Lloyd a Comme. of the Proprietors [256.] of Broad Street appeared & made application that ye Board would take measures to remove the Buildings now occupied by Mr. Whitney & also Mr. Cushing & Mr. Harris which obstruct the Street : and that the compensation for damages to the Parties should be made after such removal according to law-
The Gentlemen having withdrawn, the Chairman & Mr. Chap- man, were desired to call upon the Occupants of the buildings to be removed & to inform them that the Board would soon take measures to lay open the Street-Adjourned to the next day 1 o Clock
Fryday one o : Clock Present the same number as Yesterday
The Commee. Reported that they had seen Mr. Whitney who had stated the inconveniences he should sustain by the moving of his Building ; but that he should not oppose the regular proceedings of the Board, but would endeavour to accommodate himself with another Store & to remove his Goods immediately-the Commee. had seen MIT. Cushing & Mr. Harris, who objected to the taking down of their buildings unless they were previously satisficd for the damages they should sustain-
The Board then went into the consideration of the place where the southerly end of the proposed new Street should terminate, at the north side of Cushings high wooden Store, or whether it should be carried through to the Store to the north side of Mr. Tildens Store-after considerable debate, Mr. Oliver & MT. Wright were chosen a Comme. to confer with the Corporation or their Agents upon this subject, and to Report on Wednesday next
268
CITY DOCUMENT No. 93.
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 12. 1805- Present Mess : Bulfinch Tilden, Tileston, Porter, Oliver, Chap- man, Hunnewell, May. Wright
In consequence of the appointment of a Commee. at the last Meeting to eonfer with the Agents of the Broad Street Corpora- tion upon the place where said Street should terminate; Mr. Otis & Lowell waited on the Seleetmen to inform them that the Cor- poration were unwilling to carry the new Street further than the north side of Cushings large Store-The Gentlemen having with- drawn, a full [257.] discussion of the subject took place, & a Vote being taken it was deelared to be almost the unanimous opinion of the Board that on the first proposal of the Gentlemen coneerned they had engaged to earry the Street to M'. Tildens north line-Whereupon Voted that the Chairman be desired to communicate to the Broad Street Corporation that whenever they shall give an obligation to defray the expence of removing MT. Whitneys Building, & to satisfy his claim for doekage &c. also to defray the expence of taking down & removing the Build- ings belonging to Cushings Heirs & for so much of their land as should make the Street from 65 to 70 feet wide on MI. Til- dens north line, the Board would then proeeede to remove the ob- structions in the Street-
It having been represented that a Wharff was now building at the South part of the Town which might interfere with the Towns Streets running in a southerly direction ; the Chairman Mr. Oliver & Mr. Hunnewell were ehosen a Commee. to view the same, also to eonsider what improvement eould be made in Beach Street to open the entrance into Front Street
Mr. Porter was empowered to employ a person to bring a quantity of stone ehips to the east side of the Neek-The Chair- man Mr. Porter & Mª. Hunnewell a Commee. to consider the re- pairs necessary to be done to the pavement on the Neek & to Report-
At the Meeting of the Board June 5. Warren Dutton Esq. was ehosen to deliver an Oration on the 4th. Day of July next, being the Anniversary of Ameriean Independenee
Application having been made from two setts of Young Men styling themselves by different politieal names for the use of the eentre Reading School house on the 4t. of July next to deliver an Oration therein-the same was considered, & it was unani- mously determined that it was not expedient to grant the request of either of the Applicants-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 19t. 1805- Present Messrs : Bulfinch, Tilden, Porter, Tileston, Hunnewell, May, Wright,
269
.
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1805.
Mr. Tilden is requested to view the Siuk in Liberty Square [258.] & take such measures to eleanse & repair the same as he may Judge best, after consulting the Comme. of the Board of Health-
Upon application of Mr. Campbell & Mr. Miuott. order was issued to notify the Proprietors of the Common Sewer from Spring Lane thro'. Water Street to appear on Wednesday next to show cause why the same should not be cleansed & repaired at their Joint expence
Upon application from Dr. David Townsend a like order was given to notify the Proprietors of a Water course leading from Alleus Tan Yard to Pleasant Street-
Upon representatiou made the Board respecting Levy Lane ; that from intemperate habits & his state of health there was danger of his wasting his property ;- Voted to communicate the same to the Judge of Probate of the County of Suffolk, & to recommend that a Guardian should be appointed for him-
M. George Burroughs Junt. was approved as an Auchtioneer
A Letter received from William Smith Esq accepting the Office of Town Treasurer & Collector of Taxes to which he had been chosen by the Town at the late Meeting : & proposing his Sure- ties Samuel A. Otis, H. G. Otis, Samuel Parkman, Josiah Quincy, Samuel Brown & Benj". Joy Esqrs-Mr. Smith stated that it was the wish of the Gentlemen above named, that the bond should be so drawn as to make each one answerable for his proportion of the amount, & for that only-the subject being considered it was determined that the Sureties offered were satisfactory to the Board, but that the Bond should be drawn in the usual form --
Boston ss: At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 24. 1805 Present Messrs : Bulfinch, Tilden, Porter, Tileston, Oliver, May
Passed upon Accounts-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen June 26. 1805 Pres- ent Mess : Bulfinch, Tileston, Hunnewell, Wright,
Passed upon other Accounts-
At the last Meeting the subject of Broad Street was again dis- cussed [259.] & in consideration that the Agents for the Heirs of Cushing were much opposed to carrying the Street through their great Building on Battery March Street, also that the Broad Street Association had made a representation of the great ex-
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 93.
pences which they had already incurred, & of the additional burthen which the taking down said Store would occasion, for which reason they objected to doing it ;- it was Voted, to recon- sider the former Vote respecting the southerly termination of Broad Street, & it was determined by ballot, that said Street should be laid out to the northerly side of Cushings Store .- The Chairman was desired to inform the Broad Street Association of this determination, & to desire them to execute a Bond to indem- nify the Town from all cxpence in their proceedings-
At the present Mceting the draft of said Bond was read & after determining that the amount of the penalty should be 20000 dollars-the same was approved-
Ordered that said Street be recorded as follows-Vizt
Whereas a number of Gentlemen have purchased several Stores in State Street & the greater part of the Land between those Stores & Battery March Street, & have been incorporated by the Legislature under the title of the Broad Street Association with design to carry a Street from State Street to Battery March Street, which design was approved by the Selectmen by their Vote of the 16th. January last-Be it known that the Selectmen being of opinion that the convenience of the Inhabitants of this Town requires the laying out of a spacious Street to connect State Street with the Northerly end of Battery March Street, have agreed that it should be laid out in the manner following. Vizt. Beginning in Battery March Street at a point on the Store now occupied by Samuel Harris in the direction of the Westerly side of said Battery March Street, as the same now runs from Fosters Wharff thence proceeding untill it shall meet a line drawn in the middle of Milk Street, thence running on a straight line to the Northwesterly corner of Store Nº. 36 in State Street now in the occupation of Putnam & Ingalls, said [260.] Broad Street to be 70 feet wide on State Street & to run Southerly & continue of the same width from State Street to Milk Strect; the Easterly line of said Broad Street, from Milk Street to be continued to the North side of the Wooden Store belonging to the Heirs of Ben- jamin Cushing ; said Broad Street being in Battery March Street between 60 & 70 feet wide-
The Chairman was desired to employ Workmen to stake out the Street conformable to the above description & to notify the Owners & Occupants of Wharffs & Buildings thro'. which said Street will pass that the Workmen will have orders to procccd to remove all Buildings & obstructions from said Street on Monday the 8t. of July next; & that after such removal, the Board will be ready to ascertain, in the mode pointed out by law & to com- pensate him or them accordingly
271
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1805.
Application was received for liberty to erect a Stage on the Common for the exhibition of fire works on the Morning of the 4th. of July next-Liberty was granted for the same, to be done under the direction of the Common Commee
Ordered that the Bells be rung on Thursday next from the hour of 6 to 7-in the Morning being the Anniversary of the Declara- tion of American Independence-
Boston ss: At a Meeting of the Selectmen July 3ª. 1805- Present Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Tileston, Hunnewell, Wright, May, Chapman,
Sundry Applicants for Licenses as Auchtioneers were received, but being read were postponed untill the whole list could be acted upon-
A number of applications for the Office of Constables were read, & next Wednesday assigned for filling the vacancies
Messrs : Bulfinch Hunnewell & Oliver a Commee. to view Common Street to consider with respect to paving or otherwise improving that Street & to Report-
A conference was had with some Gentlemen Abuttors in May Street. who apply that their Street may be continued in a [261.] direct line thro'. Land of M'. Taylor & others to Belknap Street ; -the same Gentlemen were requested to endeavour to ascertain the expence of the proposed continuation of the Street, & what sum could be raised from Persons interested in that Neighbour- hood.
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