USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Wenham > Wenham town records 1696-1706 > Part 3
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Att the adjournment of the Towne meeting on the 2ª Jan'y 1698 - -
Ensigne Walter Fayrfield who was the moderator be- ing taken sick & not able to attend the meeting
Captt Thomas Fiske is now chosen Moderator in his stead to Cary on this meeting --
Voated that who ever shall presume to speak disor- derly |in the towne meeting| without leave of the Mod- erator shall pay a fine of six pence to the use of the towne -
(*page 140)
Moderator
Adjournment
Moderator
Disorderly speaking in Town Meets
164
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
Preservation of Timber on the Common
(*page 144)
Voated that for the preservation of the townes Inter- est in the Comon land & improveing the wood & timber That all the wood & Timber upon all our Comon land Eastward of the great pond brooke so called to John- Coys fence as now it standeth & then takeing the brooke that runeth out of the pond adjoyning till it cometh to Ipswich lyne, & from John Coys hous to Rack coone marsh so called shall belong to the *Comoners who live Eastward of the great pond brooke aforesaid and that all the wood & Timber on all our Comon land West- ward of said great pond brooke, except a peice of Comon land leying at the westwardley end of our Towne near Lords Hill so called shall belong to the Comoners. whoe dwell westwardley from said brooke & that each part or devision of Comoners shall have full power to agree & make such orderes as they and each of them shall so meet from time to time for preserveing and useing of the wood & Timber upon each of the devitions aforesaid
Commoners
Voated that Rice Knoulton is accepted as an Inhabi- tant & to have Towne priveledges as a Coñon" on ye account of the liveing which his father bought -
Thomas Patch Jun" is accepted as a Comoner in our towne.
Samuel Kemball Jun™ is accepted to have priveledge as a Comoner in our towne on the account of the liveing which his father bought of Sam11 Moulton -
Samuel Porter is accepted as a Coñon" in our towne on the account of that liveing which his father bought of Sam" Fiske.
Samuel Fiske is accepted as a Comoner in the right of his brother Joseph Fiske: who was accepted and is removed to Ipswich
Benjamin Fiske is accepted as a Comoner in our towne -
William Rogers is accepted as a Coñoner in the towne on the account of the liveing which he has bought of Lt Gott.
Voated that all the Comon land leying Eastwardley of Turnup bridge swamp so called, & of a lyne from John Coys hous to Rackoone marsh together with a peice of Comon land that leyeth at the westwardley end of our
Common to be divided
165
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
towne near Lords hill so called shall be equally devided & proportioned to every Comoner in our towne an equall share both for quantitey & qualytey as neare as may be.
Voated that there shall be thre men chosen for a Comittey to devide & proportion the land abovesaid and Sergt Thomas Patch William Fayrfield & John Newman are chosen and appointed for the said Comittey.
Att a meeting of the Select men Jan'y ye 18th 1698/9 -
A list was made on the Poles and Estates in & belong- ing to the towne of Wenham for our proportion to the Tax of the province with an addition for paying the Representative for his service att Generall Court which list amounted to Thyrtey nine pounds seven-
teen shillings & 10ª money £39.17.10 and said List was Comitted to Constable Thomas Patch to Collect with a warrant upon it - and said Constable was ordered to make payment out of said Rate as fol- loweth Viz.
To M' James Taylor Treashur" of the prov- ince or his successor in said office according to his warrant Thyrtey five pounds To M' John Newman for service att Gen- erall Court as Representative the last Ses- tions Thre pounds seventeen
£35.0.0
3.17.0
To M' Thomas Fiske Jun" for the Select mens Exspenses in making the list & some- thing which he disburst for the Releife of Goodwife Hobbs nineteen shillings 3ª
0.19.3
Att a meeting of the Select men January: ye 30th 1698/9
Then Agreed with Wm Knoulton & his wife to take care of Goodwife Hobbs the widdow she being sick att theire hous: & said Goodwife Knoulton to be allowed for her care & pains two shillings per week in or as mony for her attendance & looking after her: for two weeks next coming, & to be allowed two shillings more per weeke for two weeks either in mony or such things as may be sutable for said Goodwife Hobbses releife, also
(*page 142) Rate
Widow Hobbs
166
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
agreed to allow said Goodwife Knoulton four shillings more as mony or in mony for her pains in looking after & attending said Goodwife Hobbs for two weeks last past: She being sick & weake & not able to help her selfe, the whole to be paid in mony or as mony Viz. in fatt porke at 4ª per 1b
butter 6ª per 1b Indian Corne at 28 6ª per bushell-barly or bary mault at 38 per bush11
(*page 143) Constables & Collectors Accounts
* Att a meeting of the Select men Feb. 27th 1698/9
Appointed for reconing with ye Constables & Collectors for the Towne Rates Comitted to them to Collect - Constable Joseph Herricke had made payment of the rate Comitted to him to Collect dated Novb 6th 1696 - To M' Gerrish: in pay £21.10.0: £11.0.0 mony - To Ensigne Batchelder for keeping ye meeting hous 01.4.5
To Goodwife Woodward in money-0.5.0 Said Constable brought a Certificate under Mr Ger- rishes hand entered on his rate & also a Certificate for his part of the wood rate entered on said rate
Samuel Kemball one of the Collector's for the towne rate for ye yeare 1697 brought a Certificate from Mr. Gerrish entered on his rate for pay £21.4.9 and in £10.11.3 also a Certificate of his part of the woodrate Comitted to him to Collect.
(*page 144) An. Town Meeting Moderator Selectmen Constables
* Att a Generall Towne meeting of the Fre-
holders & other Inhabitants of Wenham Assembled March 7th 1698/9 -
Captt Thomas Fiske Chosen moderator.
Sergt James Freind Ensigne John Porter William Fayrfield Thomas Kemball & John Newman Chosen Select men for ye yeare Ensuing
Voated that ther shall be two Constables chosen for ye yeare Ensuing -
Thomas Kellum Chosen Constable for that part of ye towne westward of the Countrey Roade for ye yeare Ensuing -
167
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
John Coy Chosen Constable for that part of ye towne Eastward of the Countrey Roade for the year Ensuing
Mr. John Newman chosen to continue in the office of Towne Clearke for ye yeare Ensuing -
Voated that ther shall be only one Surveyor for the highways Eastwardly of the Straites for ye year Ensu- ing - Benja Edwards Chosen Survey" of highways for ye towne Eastward of ye Straits - John Gott is chosen Survey" of highways Westward of the Straits for ye yeare Ensuing
Sergt. John Batcheler Wm Rogers & Joshuah Wallis chosen for vew's of fences for ye yeare Ensuing -.
Joseph Batcheler & Nathan" Walderne chosen Tything- men for ye year Ensuing.
John Berrey & Sam" Kemball Jun" chosen for feild drivers for ye yeare Ensuing.
Richard Dodge Chosen Collector for the ministers rate for that part of the towne Eastward of ye Country Roade, and John Pirkins for that part of the towne Westward of ye Country Road for ye year Ensuing
Voated that the severall voates which past att the adjournment of a Towne meeting on the seconday of Jan'y last past for the devition & improvement of the wood & timber on our towne Comons & also for devid- ing of ye Comon land that leyeth Eastwardley of Turnup bridge swamp so called & a peice of Comon land that leyeth at the westwardley end of our towne near Lords hill so called are hearby repealed & declared to be utterly void & of none efect -
The Above&d Towne meeting is refered or adjourned to the next seconday or Munday being ye 13th day of this Instant March to meet at the meeting hous at twelve of ye Clock at noon to Compleat what buisness is yet remaining
Att the Adjournment of the Generall Towne meeting on the 13th Day of March 1698/9
Voated that noe person or persons in our Towne shall fall or cary of any Green Tree or Trees either wood or Timber of of the Comon land of our Towne for the space of Twelve months from the day of the date hearof with-
Town Clerk
Surveyors
Fenceviewers Tithingmen
Field-drivers
Collectors
Repeal of the votes as to the division of the Timber on the Common &c.
Adjournmt
(*page 145) Order as to trees on the Common
168
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
out leave orderly obtained from the Select men or the major part of them att ther meeting appointed for that end & such leave entered in the Towne Booke on the penaltey of Twentey shillings per Tree for every Tree so fallen cutt or caried away being therof convicted be- fore lawfull authoritey and the Select men are appointed to see that this order be duly prosecuted against any person or persons that shall Transgress the same
And the Select men shall attend on the second Munday in March, July, October & Januarey between the ours of one of the Clocke & five in the afternoone for the granting of leave to persons, for there owne nessisarey use in the towne with as much Equitey & Justice as may be, and to meet at the hous of Lt. Thomas Fiske.
Sergt James Freind Samuel Kemball Senr. John Batch- eller Joseph Fowler Mordichai Larkum & Samuel Kel- lum are chosen & appointed to looke after the Comons to se that the above order be not transgressed and said persons or any of them or any other person or persons that shall enforme and produce evidence of the breach of said order shall be allowed for there care & pains in the matter Twenty shillings for each tree that they shall so enforme of & produce evi- dence for, to be paid them by the Towne -
Att a meeting of the Select men March 13th 1698/9 for
Granting libertey for gitting of Timber on the Comon
To Joseph Fowler to gett timber to make fiveteen hun- dred or Clabbords: & a few small Trees for Ribbs for his hous
To Mordichai Larkum hemlock Timber to make four Thousand of shingles to shingle his hous
To Sergt. Freind liberty for a hundred of Rayles.
To Goodman Trow liberty to gitt Timber for fivety posts
(*page 146) Widow Hobbs
Att a meeting of the Select men April ye 12th 1699
Then agreed with Mr. John Porter one of the present Select men to keep Goodwife Hobbs the widdow for one
Liberty to get timber on the Common
169
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
months time & he to be allowed & paid by the towne two shillings & 6ª per week as money: for what time she remaineth there: & she was brought from William Knoul- tons hous on the 14th day of this Instant April & carried the same day to sd. Porters Also agreed att the same time that who ever shall take the sd. Hobbs next to keep shall be allowed after the same rate per weeke -
Att a meeting of the Select men May ye 2ª 1699
Then Agreed that having received a notification from the Select men of Manchester to appoint some persons to meet with them to perambulate the line & renew the bounds betwene our towne & sd. Manchester on the 8th Day of this Instant May :
Mr. John Porter Mr. Thomas Kemball two of the present Selectmen & Mr Thos. Fiske Junr. Josiah Dodge Benja Edwards & John Coy or any three of them or so many of them as shall appeare are deseired & appointed to meet with such Gentlemen of Manchester as shall be appointed by the Select men of sd. Manchester: to Joyne with our men to perambulate the lyne & renew the bobunds between our townes: on the 8th day of this Instant May att about ten of the clock in the forenoon & to meet at the white oake tree with ye broken top: & marked with W & M if said day prove fair weather if not then the next fair day att ye time aforsaid
Then agreed that the lyne be perambulated & the bounds renewed betwene our towne & Topsfield on Tuse- day the Twenty third day of this Instant May att about Ten of ye clock in the forenoon to meet at the north wardley end of Wenham Causway if fair weather if not then the next fair day & Sergt. James Frend & Wm Fayr- field two of the present Select men & John Batcheler Junr. John Gott & John Moulton or any thre of them for so many of them as shall appeare| are appointed for said service to Joyne with such Gentlemen of Topsfield as |shall| appeare appointed for said service.
Which was accordingly performed on the said 23th Day of May -
Manchester perambu- lation
Topsfield perambu- lation
170
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
(*page 147)
Warrant for Town meets as to Representve
* A warrant was Granted to the Constables to warne a towne meeting to be attended, att the meeting hous on Fryday ye twelfth day of this Instant May to make choyce of a Representative for the next Generall Court or Assembley to be held & kept for his Magisties service one the Thyrtey first day of this Instant May: and the Constables made returne of the warrant that they had warned the freholdrs. & Inhabitants accordingly
Att a Towne meeting of the Freholders & Inhabitants of Wenham assembled May ve 12th 1699 for choyce of a Representative for the next Generall Court or Assem- bley to be held & kept for his Majesties service & also for choyce of Jurors for the next Superior Court to be holden at Ipswich
Representve
John Newman Chosen for Representative for the next Generall Court
Jurors
Lt. Wm Fiske & Thomas Patch Senr. Chosen to serve on the Grand Jurey att the next Superior Court.
Lt. Thos. Fiske & Sam11 Kemball Sent chosen to serve on the Jurey of Tryalls att the next Superior Court
Att a Towne meeting of the freholders & Inhabitants of Wenham assembled for to make Choyce of Assessors August ye 7th 1699 according to a warrant directed to ye Constable
Assessors
It being putt to the voat whether the Towne would make Choyce of Assessors for makeing ye list of asses- ment : it past on ye negative & it was left to the Select men there being other towne Charges to be added -
Att a meeting of ve Select men August ye 7th 1699 -
Libertey was granted to Benja Edwards to gett so much timber on the Coñon as is nessisary for sleepers for his now dwelling hous: he being now in great nessesitey of them
Also agreed that if Sergt. Thomas Patch will lett Goodwife Hobbs ye widdow have four pounds of sheeps woole for to improve for makeing her some Cloathing he shall be allowed for ye same out of the next Rate. -
Liberty to get *imber
Widow Hobbs
171
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
Also agreed with Ebenezer Batcheler to Ring ye bell & sweep ye meeting hous for ye yeare Ensuing, begining ye 1st day of July last past & hel to be allowed as money £1.6.0
Sexton
* Att a meeting of the Select men August ye 23th 1699 (*page 148)
Rate
Then a Towne| Rate was made on the poles & estates in & belonging to the Towne of Wenham: for our pro- portion to the Countrey Tax & paying ye representative for service att ye Generall Court & some other |nessi- sary| towne Charges which rate was made in two destinct Lists and Comitted to ye two Constables to Collect with a warrant on each List to be paid in mony
Constable Thomas Kellums List amounted to seventeen pounds two shilling 3ª . 17.2.3
and said Constable was by his warrant to make payment to the severall persons hearafter named the Towne being Indebted to them Viz.
To Ensigne Porter for keeping Goodwifel Hobbs one month 0.10.0
To Sergt Freind for money he paid the Glatier & corne & meal to Goodwife Hobbs 0.5.6
To William Fayrfield for mony disburst by him for the Townes use 0.4.6
To Thomas Kemball Sen" 0.2.0
To M' John Newman in part of his service as Representative out of ye first mony he Collects
1.10.0
To M' James Taylor Treashur of ye province according to his warrant - fourteen pound six shillings
14.6.0
The Remaind' being 48 3ª was allowed him for Collecting 0.4.3
£17.2.3
Constable John Coys List amounted to thir-) teen pounds sixteen shillings 8ª £13.16.8 said Constable was ordered by his warrant to make pay- ment as followeth
172
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
To M' John Newman of ye first mony he Collects of this rate in part for his service as Representative five pounds eight shillings and more for the townes use one pound two shillings 1.2.0|
£5.8.0
To L' Tho8 Fiske for ye Select mens - Exspences in makeing said list 0.8.4
To M' James Taylor Treashur" of ye Province six pounds fourteen shillings ac- cording to his warrant 6.14.0
The remaind' of said list being 48 4ª was allowed him for Collecting 0.4.4.
£13.16.8
Said Constables ware ordered to Isue - ther accots with the Select men by 1st Dech next -
(*page 149) Receipt
Thes may Certify whome it may Concerne that William Fayrfield Collect" hath Collected the rate Comitted to him for my self made for 1698. and I doe hearby give him discharge as Wittness my hand this 26th 7th 1699.
Joseph Gerrish -
Att a meeting of the Select men October ye 9th 1699
for Granting libertey to persons to gitt timber on the Townes Comon for their owne particular use in the towne according to towne order
To Samuel Kemball Sent to gitt Timber for one hundred of Posts and Thre hundred of Rayles & four pine or hemlock trees for Boards
Theopilus Rix Libertey for so much Timber as is nessisarey for ye frame of a barne of Twenty foott long & eighteen foott wide & Timber Trees for bords for Cov- ering of it
To Rice Knoulton Timber for ye frame of a barne: of Thyrtey fott long & Twentey foott wide with Lean- towes to it & Timber Trees for boards for the Covering & Inclosing of it & Timber for two hundred of Rayles -
Liberty to get timber
173
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
To Samuell Kemball Jun" Timber for ye building of ye frame of a barne of Twenty foott long & Twentey foott wide & Timber for boards for ye Covering & in- closing it -
To Sergt James Freind Timber for Thre hundred of Rayles & one hundred of posts & for Eight Thousand of Shingle - -
To Thomas Kemball Timber fivetey posts & one hun- dred of Rayles one hemlock tree for Planke & a tree for Geoyce
To William Fayrfield one hundred & half of Rayles & fivetey posts & two Trees of pine or hemlock for planke
To John Newman Thre Trees for shingle -
Att a Towne meeting of ye freholdrs & Inhabitants of Wenham assembled November ye 1st 1699 - for to make Choyce of Jurors for the next Superior Court of Judicature to be holden att Salem on the second Tuse- day of this Instant Novem"
Sergt Thomas Patch Chosen to serve on the Grand Jurey
Lt Wm Fiske & Samuel Kemball Sen" Chosen to serve on the Jurey of Tryalls att said Court -
* Att a meeting of the Select men November ye 27th 1699
Then a rate was made on the poles & estates in & be- longing to the Towne of Wenham in two destinct Lists for the paying of the Reverend M' Joseph Gerrish his Sallerey for this Instant yeare 1699: & for Ringing the bell and keeping the meeting hous which lists ware Comitted to the two Collectors to gather with a warrant on each List which rate was to be paid on third part in money the other two thirds according to agremt-also ther was cach persons proportion of wood was sett down in a distinct Collum, in each list
John Pirkins Collectors list Amounted to - £34.9.8 & the proportion of wood on his list was? sixteen cords & seven foott 5
Jurors
(*page 150)
Rate
174
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
he was ordered to pay to the Reverend M'
Joseph Gerrish
£32.17.0
To Ebenezer Batcheler for keeping the meet-
ing hous & Ringing the bell - 01.6.0 To John Newman for service done for thel Towne 0.3.0
the Remainder of said list being 38 8ª was allowed him for Collecting 0.3.8
Richª Dodge Collector's list amounted to and the proportion of wood on his list which - he was to Collect was Thyrteen Cords & thre foott ---
£34.9.8 27.17.1
said Collector was ordered to pay out of his list to the Reverend M' Joseph Gerrish in part of his Sallerey for this Inst yeare and to L' Thomas Fiske for the Select mens Exspences 78 & for the Townes use 48 00.11.0
£27.3.0
The Remainder of said list being 38 1ª was allowed him for Collecting 00.3.1
£27.17.1
The said Rate was to be Collected & paid in to the per- sons to whome it was due att or before the first second day or Munday in Januarey next and the wood on each list was to be Collected & paid in to the Reverend M' Joseph Gerrish att or before the first day of April next ensuing-
* Att a meeting of the freholders & Inhabitants of Wenham Assembled December ye 19th 1699 for Choycce of Jurors for the next Enferiour Court of Pleas to be holden att Salem on the last Tuseday of this Instant December -
Ephraim Kemball Chosen to serve on the Grand Jurey
Lt. Thomas Fiske Joseph Batcheler & Samuel Kellum Chosen to serve on the Jurey of Tryalls att said Court -
(*page 151) Jurors
175
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
Att a meeting of the Select men Januarey ye 1st 1699 -
Then Agreed with Benjamin Edwards to take the Widdow Hobbs & keep her & find her hous roome & fire wood from this time till the second Tuseday in March next Ensuing the date hear of, and he to be allowed for it fiveteen shillings in mony by the towne, and if in case she shall stand in need of any releife for provition the said Benjamin Edwards to releive her and keep an Exact account of what he shall supply her with all for nessesitey and present his account to the towne & to be allowed for it by the towne what he shall so nessisaryly Expend for her releife
Then a Warrant was Granted & signed by the Towne Clerke Directed to each of the Constables of this towne Viz. To Constable Thomas Kellum and Constable John Coy requireing each of ther to appeare att the hous of Lt. Thomas Fiske on Munday next being the Eight day of this Instant att about five of the Clock in the after- noon : to make up and Issue ther accounts with the Select men of the list of Assesment Comitted to each of them to Collect dated the 23th day of August last past -
* Att a meeting of the Select men the 8th of Januarey 1699 for Granting of Liberty to our Inhabi- tants for Getting of Timber on the towne Comon accord- ing to the towne order
To Ensigne Walter Fayrfield Libertey for Timber to make thre or four score Posts
To John Killum Timber for sixtey posts and two hun- dred of Railes -
To John Gott Libertey for a frame to sett up att the end of his Barne of Twentey two foott long & twentey foott wide & timber for Boards to Cover & Inclose the same -
To John Browne Timber for the frame of a Barne of Eighteen foott square to sett up to the end of his now barne: & Timber for Boards & shingle for the Covering and Inclosing of it
To Ephraim Kemball Libertey for six pine Trees for hoard & shingle
Widow Hobbs
Constables Accounts
(*page 152) Liberty to get timber on the Town Common
176
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
To Caleb Kemball five pine trees and one hemlocke: for Board & Planke -
To John Herrick Liberty for timber for an end to his Barne & a Leantow to it being a frame: of fourteen foot long & twentey two foott wide & Timber for boards & shingles for Covering & Inclosing of it - - |and a Back Leantowe for his hous.
Joseph Hacker Libertey for Timber for a dwelling hous of Twenty six foott long & Eighteen foott wide and Tim- ber for boards & Plank for the Covering Inclosing and finishing of it --
To Joseph Herrick Liberty for Timber for a frame to sett up att the end of his barne of fourteen foott long & twentey two foott wide and Timber for board for the Covering & Inclosing of it
To John Berrey Libertey for so much Timber as may make shingle anuff for the Covering of his barne: & timber for a Leantoe on the fore side of his barne
To Benjamin Edwards Libertey for so much Timber as will make two or thre Thousand of shingle to shingle a small dwelling hous of his by his now dwelling hous:
To William Rogers: Timber to make so many shingle as will shingle the East side of his barne :
To Thomas Edwards two trees for Posts & two hun- dred of Railes: and Timber to build a small shopp: of Eighteen foott long & fourteen foott wide & boards for Covering & Incloseing of it -
To Thomas Kellum Libertey for timber for the build- ing of a barne of Twentey five foott long & twentey two foott wide & timber for boards for Covering and Inclose- ing of it: & Timber for two hundred of Railes & a fourtey posts
* To Sergt. Thomas Patch Libertey for Timber for thre hundred of Railes and one hundred of Posts
To Thomas Patch Junr. Timber for two hundred of Railes & one hundred of Posts & Timber for board & Clabboards for his hous & sleepers for his hous
To the widdow Cue: libertey for fivetey posts & one hundred of Railes & two or thre Pine trees for boards --
To Mr. Joseph Gerrish Libertey for fivetey posts -
(*page 153)
177
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
To Joseph Fowler for six pine Trees for board and one hundred of Posts -
To Ebenezer Batcheler: libertey for two hundred of Railes : and five pine Trees for boards, & some timber to make up what he hath already gott for the frame of a barne: and fivety posts
To Joshua Wallis timber for thre hundred of Railes & one hundred of posts, & timber for a Leantow to his barne :
To Richard Kemball: two maple Trees & two Oake trees : for to make wheles
To Allexsandr. Maxey libertey for one hundred of Railes & thirtey posts -
To Nathaniel Walderne: Libertey for so much Timber pine or hemlock as may make shingle anuf for the shingleing ye west end of his hous which he bought of John Abbey : and one hundred & half of Railes & fivety posts
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