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 30
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D
H. G. Otis -
1 house
10. paid
Widow Davis
1
-
10-d°.
J. Ridgway
1
10-do.
M : Heard -
1
10-do.
Watson Freeman -
1
10-
Benaijah Brigham
2
20-
Jont. L. Austin
1
10-
Loring Jacobs -
1
10
Silvanus Gray -
1
10
Benjamin Austin
3
30
George Otis Jona. Thaxter -
1
10
1
10-
And the said Mungo Mackay is hereby impowered to receive [361.] the above sums & to give discharge therefor-
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353
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES. 1807.
Several persons having made or renewed their applications for Licenses as Auchtioneer. the same was considered, & it was de- termined by vote. that it was not expedient to make any addition to the number of Auchtioneers
William Foster Esq. & Son appeared to request liberty to place a flight of plank steps in the passage way leading from Pur- chase Street by the north end of their Store for the accommoda- tion of a Sail Loft in the upper part of the store-Referred to the Chairman Mr. Wright & MT. Chapman to view & with liberty to give permission, if it should not interfere with the public use of the passage-
Mr. Peck the Agent of the Mill Corporation appeared & ex- hibited the plan of streets proposed to be made in the Mill Pond ; the same was examined & a general conversation ensued on the mode to be preferred in filling the pond-the Board agreed to examine the plan more minutely, & in the meantime authorized MI. Peck to fill Cross Street to the New Street already made, & to begin filling at the bottom of Cole Lane Gouehes lane Pitts lane & the passage by Mr. Tidds Distill-house-he taking partie- ular care to prevent any obstruction of Drains, & to lay tem- porary additions to the drains untill the ground should be sufficiently settled for laying permanent common Sewers-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of Selectmen Oetor. 7. 1807 Present Mess's : Bulfinch, Tilden. Porter, Oliver, May, Wright, Hunne- well, Kettle
MI. Wright was requested to procure powder, to have a suffi- cient number of Cartridges made for the general review of the Militia on the 22d. Inst .-
In consequence of the Salt water having flowed across the Neck at the late high tides, agreed that the new paving be extended one hundred feet farther north & be raised one foot in the centre of the Street-
The Chairman & MIT. Chapman a Commee. to have a foot walk [362.] laid out on the westerly side of Court Street, opposite Concert Hall-
The Board proceeded to the choice of a Superintendt of the Lamps for the ensuing season, the Votes being taken MI. Wright was declared to be chosen-
Henry J. Thompson applied for license to sweep Chimneys, and produced several recommendations-Agreed that MI. Vinton, the present Undertaker of that business, should be desired to
354
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 93.
appear at the next Meeting, that the Board might consider the expediency of making any new appointment-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmeut Oetobr. 14. 1807 Present Messrs : Bulfinch, Tilden, Kettle, Wright, Chapman, May, Oliver
A petition was received from a number of the Abuttors on a new Street leading from Beacon Street to Middleeott Street, & which they have named Bowdoin Strect, requesting that a cer- tain piece of land contiguous to the Estate of D : D : Rogers Esq might be added to the Easterly end of said Street, to widen the same; for which they engage to pay all the expenee that should arise-the same was referred to the Chairman Mr. Oliver & Mr. Chapman, to confer with the applicants & Mr. Rogers-to Report
Upon consideration of the difficulty there would be to convey off the water from the north end of Broad Street & the incon- venienee that would be experienced there from the ensuing winter -Agreed to have that part of Broad Street paved as far south as Doane Street, the pavers contracting to do the same for 75 Cents p yard- .
Agreed that the lamps be lighted on Monday Evening next to commenee the season & that there be allowed two Dollars to each lighter for cleaning the lamps under his eare, previous to lighting-
Information having been given that the Latin Sehool continued to be occasionally used of Evenings as a singing sehool contrary to the vote of the School Committee-the Chairman was desired to inform Mr. Bigelow, that it was the wish of the [363.] Board, that the Keys should be kept at his House & that they be delievered to no person for any use of the School-house of an evening-
Some Gentlemen of the Board having observed that a quantity of earth had been taken fram the hilly ground at the bottom of the Common & carried into Pleasant Street & the new Streets by the Ropewalks, a debate ensued upon the expediency of using the earth from that situation for any purpose whatsoever-and it was unanimously determined that no earth or gravel be taken in future from the Common for any purpose out of the limits of the Common-and agreed to meet to morrow 5 o Clock at the new street to view & determine what further should be done-absent Members to be notified-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen October 15. 1807 Present Mess : Bulfinch Tilden, Porter, Oliver, Wright, Chapman, Kettle, Hunnewell,
355
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1807.
The Board met agreeable to a vote of yesterday-they viewed the street at the bottom of the Common leading to West Boston Bridge & agreed that it was necessary that a part of it about 10 feet wide should be raised along by the side of the Rope walks to shut out the high tides-the question was then considered whether the earth from the Common should be used for that pur- pose-and it was Voted that the workmen should dig away the ridges of the Earth between the Marsh & the Hills for the above purpose & to repair the Street the vote being taken all the Gentle- men present were in favour of it except Mr. Hunnewell & MT. Wright
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen October 21. 1807. Present Bulfinch, Hunnewell. Wright, Oliver, Chapman, Kettle,
The Commee. of the Market informed the Board that the addi- tional Stalls were nearly completed at the west end of the Hall- the following resolutions were adopted-that for the future no Beef should be sold in any of the Stalls west of the Hall & that re. Comme. be authorised to lease the new stalls for one year at the rate of one Dollar p week for each Stall-the Rent to be paid quarterly to the Town Treasurer-
[364.] The Sergeant of Joseph Lorings Company & one from the company of Fusileers, applied for their proportion of powder for their review the 22d. Inst. they were informed that the Board had directed a sufficient quantity of powder for all the Troops, to be made into Cartrdges, & that the Brigade Quarter Master Majr. Phillips would deliver them to each Compy. on the field-
A precept was received from the Judge of Probates to make enquiry into the circumstances of Mr. Thomas Downey the same was handed to the Chairman to enquire & Report
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen Octor. 26. 1807. A: M Present Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Chapman, Wright Kettle-
Additional Jurors drawn for Circuit Court to fill up vacancies, drawn-the same entered on Jury Books &c
Boston ss : At a Meeting of Selectmen Octor. 26. 1807-P: MI Present. Bulfinch Tilden, Oliver, May, Wright, Chapman, Kettle-
Passed upon Accounts-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen October 28. 1807- Present Mess's : Bulfinch, Porter, Hunnewell, May, Wright, Chapman, Kettle, Oliver Tilden-
Passed upon other Accounts-
356
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 93.
In consequence of a report made of the eireumstanees of Mr. Thomas Downey-return was signed to the Judge of Probate recommending that a Guardian should be appointed for him-
A number of the Proprietors of Lands & Houses in Round Lane having agreed to remove their fenees for the purpose of straightening & widening the street previous to its being paved ; the Commee. of that quarter, with the Chairman & Mr. Chapman Reported, that they had viewed the Street & thought it highly expedient that the westerly end should also be widened, by set- ting back the fence of Mr. Hunt on the north side & the fenee of Mr. Jenks on the south side-but as neither of these Gentlemen are in Town to be applied to, they have requested Mr. Ozias Good- win & Colº. Joseph May to view the situation of the Street, & the land [365.] intended to be taken from each Abuttor, that they may be able to give a correet opinion, if any elaim for damages should hereafter be made by any of the Parties-
The Proprietors of the Candle makers on Boston Neek having applied for a lieenee to ereet a Building for trying Tallow on the rear of the lot owned by Mr. Blake the Overseer of the Works ; the situation was viewed by the Chairman & Mr. Porter, who Reported-that it would be convenient for the business ; it was agreed to lieense the same according to the 1'. seetion of the law of this Commonwealth passed June 7. 1705-entitled "an Aet for preventing Common Nuisances "-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Seleetmen Novem". 5. 1807- Present Messrs : Bulfineh, Tilden, Porter, Oliver, May, Hunnewell, Wright, Chapman, Kettle-
The Board was engaged in drawing 22. Grand Jurors and 60 Petit Jurors for the Supreme Judicial Court & four for Cireuit Court-the same is entered on the Jury Books-no other business done which was matter of Reeord-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Seleetmen Novr. 11. 1807 Present Mess : Bulfinch, Oliver, Hunnewell, May Wright, Kettle,
Upon the recommendation of a number of the Inhabitants in favor of Mr. Joshua Eaton-it was agreed to renew his license as an Auchtioneer-
A Communication was received from the Overseers of the poor to inform the Board that Mr. Leverett had in presence of witnesses entered upon part of the land on which the Almshouse stands, which he elaimed for himself & others as a highway, originally laid out by the Leverett family, & now otherwise appropriated without their consent-
357
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1807.
The Chairman was desired to hand to H. G. Otis Esq a copy of the original plan of said land & streets together with all copies relating to the division among ve. heirs of Leverett & the purchase made by the Town & to request him to defend the Towns possession-Also that Mr. Otis should be desired to appear & defend the proceedings of the Board at the Supreme Court in the case of William Welch's Store taken down in State Street-
[366.] Agreed that the Chairman should furnish the Gentlemen living in Somerset place. with a flat stone walk across said place to be laid wherever they should think most convenient & useful --
M. Thatcher the Town Advocate having investigated the title of the Town & the Abutters of the Lane called Dorsetts Alley lead- ing from Court Street to Brattle Square, gave his opinion in Writing that it was a Town way for Horses & Carriages & that the Abuttors had no right to prevent the passing of Carriages-and that the Town was obliged to keep the same in repair --
The Commee. of Brattle Street having agreed to give 100 D. towards repairing & paving said Alley with a flat walk in the Centre. it was agreed to pay one half of the remaining expence- the Abuttors agreeing to pay the other half-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen Novem. 16. 1807 Present Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Oliver, Porter, Wright, Kettle-
Jurors drawn to supply vacancies in the list drawn for Supreme Court, also 6 Jurors drawn for District Court which have been entered in Jury Book-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen Novr. 18-Present Mess : Bulfinch, Oliver, Chapman, Wright, Kettle-
The application of Perkins Nichols for a Town Meeting con- sidered, the determination thercon referred to a special Meeting to Morrow 12. o.' Clock-absent Members to be notified-
A special Meeting was called, but a sufficient number did not attend to transact business of such importance [as to be made matter of record]
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen Novem". 25. 1807 -Present Bulfinch, Tilden, Chapman, Oliver,
No business transacted .-
358
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 93.
[367.] Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Sclectmen Novr. 30 Present Mess's : Bulfinch, Chapman, Wright, Kettle, Hunne- well, Porter, Oliver,
Passed upon Accounts-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Sclectmen Decr. 2ª. Present. Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Porter, Wright, May, Kettle, Oliver, Hunnewell Chapman
Approved the Indentures of John Bellingham Palmer a Minor of the age of 18 Years to Capt. Freeman Atkins, to be in force untill the 20. of March 1810-
Mr. Samuel Cartwright was chosen Measurer of Wood coming from the Country, over West Boston Bridge
Application being received from Engine Compy. Nº. 12-for the enlargement of the Room lately added to their Engine House by the South Bridge-and another application for a Room to be made to the Engine house in Orange Street-after some discussion it was Voted to request the opinion of the Fire-wards, what dimensions would be most suitable for the use of the Engine Companies, to be added to such Engine houses as stand on land owned by the Town, or in such situations as may be considered permanent -
Mr. Porter Wright & Hunnewell a Gommee. to look out for situations for the Engine house now on Mr. Mays land in Orange Street, & for that called the Purchase Street Engine.
Liberty having been lately given to Mr. Haskins to lay a Platform from his Land at the bottom of Rainsford lane to the northerly end of Front Strect, subject to be removed whenever the Board should require it-information was given that Mr. Haskins in consequence of the above indulgence, had built a fence & inclosed for his own use that part of the Dock which he had planked over-Voted that Mr. Haskins be directed to remove the fence immediately onto his own line & leave the Platform open for public use-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen December 16. 1807 -Present Mess : Bulfinch, Chapman, Hunnewell, Wright, Tilden, Oliver,
[368.] Application was received from Mr. John Peck, Agent of the Mill Corporation, requesting that some mode might be adopted to designate the Towns proportion of certain parts of the Mill Pond to cnable him to make further progress in filling by sale & otherwise-
359
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1807.
This subject led to a discussion which occupied the principal part of the time-and it was agreed that the plans of the Pond & the proposed Streets should be handed to the several Members of the Board for examination previous to next Meeting-
The Members of the Engine Company in Atkinson Street pre- sented a request for an enlargement of their Engine-house & that it might be removed to the bottom of Summer Street-Agreed to view the situation proposed previous to coming to a decision-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen Decemr. 23ª. 1807 Present Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Porter, Hunnewell, Wright, Kettle. Oliver.
It having been observed that a number of Boys had assembled on the Frog Pond on Sunday last for skating-the Chairman was desired to employ a Constable to attend on the Common to pre- vent such practises in future & to make return of the names of such as should persist in this breach of the Sabbath, for prosecution-
MI. Porter was desired to employ workmen to make an addi- tion to the Engine house in Orange Street with a Chimney therein-provided MIT. May will consent to sell a suitable piece of his land for this purpose, or will lease the Spot on which the house now stands for ten years at the rate of ten dollars p Annum
Mr. Wright was desired to have a like addition made to the Purchase Street Engine house (so called) provided he can obtain a lease of land from the Heirs of Jeffery Richardson on High Street on which to place the said Engine house
Representation having been made of the necessity of addi- tional measurer of Wood coming over the Neck-Mr. Daniel Oliver was chosen for that purpose-Jurors to supply vacancies drawn & entered on Jury Books
[369.] Boston ss: Granted by [At a meeting of] the Selectmen Decr. 28 Present Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Chapman, Wright. Porter, May, Hunnewell, Kettle Oliver,
Passed upon Accounts-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen Decr. 30. 1807 Present Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Hunnewell, Wright, Kettle, Chapman, Porter, May,
Passed on other Accote __
360
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 93.
Boston December 30. 1807-Return was made by Dcacon Daniel Bates of the expenee attending the laying a Common Sewer in Short Street the Account thereof being duly examined by the Selectmen, is by them allowed & an Assessment was made by them & an order of payment was made & delivered Deacon [Bates ] as follows-
Whereas a drain or common shore has been laid in Short Street eonformably to the direetions of the Selectmen the whole expence whereof amounts to Three hundred & sixty one dollars & such expence is to be borne by such person or persons whose Drains enter therein and receive benefit thereby in such proportion as shall be adjudged by the Seleetmen of said town or by the major part of them who are empowered by law to apportion the same Therefore we the subscribers Seleetmen of said Town of Boston do hereby certify that having considered the same expence by whom it ought to be paid Do Adjudge that the same shall be paid in the proportion following & by the persons hereafter named-Vizt .-
Jarvis & Howland being the proportion agreed to be paid by Commee. of Short Street thro'. Wallaees Garden -
Jonathan Hunnewell 1 Share
13,, 10
David Bates
2
36,, 20
F. Tufts
1 18,, 10
S. Franeis
1 18 ,, 10
J. Trask -
1 18,, 10
Mr. Welles
1
18 ,, 10
L. Ludden
2
36 ,, 20
J. Shed
1
18 ,, 10
Callender & Jenkins 2 1 Drain
36 20 18 ,, 10
" [370.] James H. Foster
Estate of Thoms. Bradlee - 1 ditto
18 ,, 10
Estate of Hannah Row 1 ditto
18 ,, 10
Thomas Hearsay -
1 ditto
18,, 10
And we hereby appoint Thomas Hearsey to demand & receive the same from the persons above named & to give discharges therefor-
CHARLES BULFINCH
DAVID TILDEN
WILLIAM PORTER
JONA. HUNNEWELL
FR. WRIGHT
Selectmen
JONA. CHAPMAN
JOHN MAY
JOSEPH KETTLE
Boston ss: At a Meeting of the Seleetmen Jany. 4. 1808 Present Mess's : Bulfinch, Kettle, Tilden, Oliver, Hunnewell, May, Wright Chapman
71,, 69-
361
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1808.
This Meeting was called to consider the plans of Streets in Mill Pond & to adopt measures to enable the Mill corporation to proceed to till the Pond-The plans were exhibited & examined & various improvements & alterations suggested the subject was generally considered, but no decision had thereon.
The Board being informed that an English Vessell was to sail on the Morrow for Grenoch; the Chairman was desired to write to the Honble. James Bowdoin Esq. now in London to request him to secure such additional depositions in the suit of the Town against Ward. N. Boylston as appears deficient in the papers lately received from Mr. Stackpole-
Boston ss: At a Meeting of the Selectmen Jany. 6. 1808 Mess's : Bulfinch Hunnewell Kettle, Wright, Chapman, May, Oliver,
[371.] Boston ss : At a Meeting of Selectmen Jany. 13t. 1808 Present Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Porter, Hunnewell, Wright, Chapman, Kettle, Oliver May
At the last Meeting Mess" : Bulfinch Hunnewell & Chapman a Committee to examine into the state of the Town Watch and to Report to the Board-to suggest what alteration or addition may be necessary-
The Mill Pond again under consideration, various plans were examined. but nothing decided upon
An application was received signed by a number of Sailors stating their embarrassed situation in consequence of the Embargo & praying for relief & assistance-
This Petition was handed in by Mr. John White the first who had signed it, he was questioned on the subject of it & respecting the other persons whose names were on the paper-after consid- ering the said petition it appeared to the Board that a large pro- portion of the applicants were not subjects of this Town or State ; and the Chairman was desired to endorse the petition to our Representatives in the General Court to be laid before the Legislature-
The Pond Street Corporation having petitioned the Legislature for a continuance of time to complete that Street-The Chairman MI. Tilden & Mr. Wright were desired to attend the Commee. of the General Court to whom the same was committed & to lay before them the plans of the Mill Pond & to state the embarrass- ments which have arisen in consequence of the new Pond Street & in case a continuance of time should be granted to endeavour
362
CITY DOCUMENT No. 93.
to obtain a condition in the Resolve that the Street Corporation should be under obligation to complete it in the time allowed without expence to the Town
Boston ss: At a Mccting of the Selectmen Jany. 15. 1808 Present Messrs : Bulfinch Tilden Oliver Hunncwell Wright Chap- man Kettle-
This Mecting was called to meet a Commee. of the Gen1. Court upon the subject of the petition of the Sailors for relief-
[372.] By desire of the Courts Commee. a number of the Sailors attended & answered to such enquiries as were made to them ; the Commee. informed them that they would attend to their application & recommended them to conduct themselves quietly & not to assemble in great numbers in the Streets-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen Jany. 20. 1808- Present Mess : Bulfinch Tilden Oliver Wright May Chapman Kettle-
Two of the Sailors who had presented the Petition to the Board for relief appearcd & were informed that their petition had been presented to the General Court but that they had returned it without making any provision for them-
They were then advised to behave quietly & not to assemble in numbers, but in case of suffering any distress to apply to the Overseers of the Poor for relief-
The Chairman was desired to publish an abstract of the laws relating to the measuring & sale of Wood brought into town by land & the names of the measurers-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen Jany. 25. 1808- Present Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Porter, May, Wright, Kettle, Chapman,
Passed Accounts-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen Jany. 7. 1808- Present Mess : Bulfinch, Tilden, Chapman Porter, Kettle, May, Oliver, Hunnewell Wright-
Passed upon other Accounts-
Agreed to pay Mr. Edward Bell for Land taken from his lot in Fish Street for the purpose of widening the Street the sum of one hundred & ten dollars, he to give a deed of his land to the Town & an obligation to remove the Wooden Building now on the land-upon the 1st. day of May next-
363
SELECTMEN'S MINUTES, 1SOS.
MI. David Bradley appeared to request of the Board that the Scales in front of the Store owned by him at the West end of the Market should be allowed to remain having been in their present position for 13 Years & the house having been leased to the [3:3.] present occupant with that privilege-the subject was fully considered & agreed to suspend taking away those Scales for the present-
The Committee of the Market directed to make a final arange- ment of the rent of the Stalls inside Faneuil Hall, and to con- sider whether any place on the Towns land could be appropriated for a set of Scales, the income for weighing in which should be for the benefit of the Town-
Boston ss : At a Meeting of the Selectmen February 34. 1808 Present Messrs. Bulfinch, May, Kettle, Oliver,
Boston ss: At a Meeting of the Selectmen Feby. 10. 1808 Present Mess's : Bulfinch, Tilden. Porter, Oliver, May, Kettle
Return was made of the expence of paving Round Street which amounted to 782 Dollars after deducting what had been allowed by the Board-This Sum was proportioned upon the several Owners & Abutters on the Street as by papers on file of mixed papers-
Passed upon a number of Licenses for Sale of Spirits
Mr. Cotting appeared & renewed his application for compensa- tion for land taken to widen Battery March Street from the Land he purchased of David Tilden Esq .- after some conversation it was agreed to assign next Wednesday for the consideration of this subject & absent Members to be notified of the same-
Return was made by John Amory Esq. of the Expence attend- ing the opening & relaying the Common Sewer in Fitches Lane towards Sudbury Street ; the account thereof being duly exam- ined by the Selectmen an order of payment was made out & delivered to the aforesaid John Amory Esq. which is as follows-
Whereas a Drain or Common Sewer in Fitches Lane at West Boston & continued from thence towards Sudbury Street has been laid conformably to the direction of the Selectmen-
[374.] the whole expence whereof accord- ing to the accounts laid before & examined by us amounts to Four hundred & seven Dollars & thirty four cents, and as such expence is to be borne by such person or persons whose Drains enter into said Common Sewer & receive benefit thereby in such proportion as shall be adjudged by the Selectmen of said Town or the major part of them, who are empowered by law to apportion
364
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 93.
the same-The said John Amory having agreable to law notified all the concerned before he had proceeded on the business, & the objections that had been made having been considered Therefore we the Subscribers Selectmen of said Town of Boston do hereby Certifie that having considered the said Expence & by whom & in what manner it ought to be paid Do ADJUDGE that the same should be paid in the proportion following & by the Persons hercafter named vizt-
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