USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Wenham > Wenham town records 1707-1731 > Part 5
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March 7th 1709/10
At a general town meeting of the freeholders and inhabi- tants duely warned and convened Capt. Fisk chosen Moderator.
Capt. Thomas Fisk, Sargent Benjamin Edwards Eph- raim Kimball, John Gott, and William Fairfield, chosen for Selectmen for the year ensueing .*
William Fairfield chosen Town Clerk for the year en- sueing.
William Rogers, chosen Town Treasuer.
For surveyors of highways, Samuel Kilham Chosen for
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
the town and John Berry westward of the straights, And for a constable at the west end Samuel Fisk Junr. is chosen and for the east side of the town Stephen Patch is chosen Constable for the year ensueing
For fence viewers Sargent Thomas Edwards, Samuel Porter, and Benjamin Fisk for the year ensueing.
For tithingmen Ensign Samuel Kimball, John Batchelder and Josiah Dodge are chosen for the year ensueing.
Voted. - that whereas there is a necesity of Setling of a highway over the farm formerly Capt. Smiths for the ac- commodation of the inhabitants of our town that they will choose three men as a committee to take a survey of the different ways where said way may be settled and to dis- charge the propritors of the lands where the way may be laid out for the best advantage for the neighbors and to make a report to the town at their next meeting and Lieut. John Porter, Mr. Thomas Patch & William Fairfield are chosen a committee for the above said Service.
Voted : - that whereas Samuel Porter hath recovered a judgment in the law for a right of Commonage and cast that town will and do allow him eight acres of common land adjoining to the eight acres granted. to Richard and Thomas Kimball he acquitting the aforesaid judgment against the propritors wich land shall be laid out by Sargt Benjamin Edwards John Gott, and William Fairfield and the town discharged from the aforementioned debt to be by them secured.
Voted. that the town will meet again on this day fort- night at 12 of the clock to receive the reports of the Com- mittee and act thereupon or any other business that shall then fall in|
March the 7th 1709/10
Thomas Edwards and Samuel Porter sworn to the office of fence viewers for the year ensueing allso Ensign Samuel Kimball Josiah Dodge and John Batchelder sworn to the office of tithing men, Samuel Fisk and Stephen Patch sworn to the office of Constables for the year ensueing, William Fairfield sworn to the office of town clerk, Samuel Kilham and John Berry sworn to the office of surveyors of high- ways for this year William Rogers sworn| to the office of town treasuer for this year ensueing.
March 21st 1709 - At a town meeting according to the vote passed the 7th of this instant William Fairfield, chosen Moderator.
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
Voted : that there shall be a highway laid out for the inhabitants of our town over the farm formally Capt. Smiths in the tenor that the highways are stated at the west end of the town either where it hath formally gone or some other place more convenient or considerations that particular persons will appear to bear all the charge that a new way will cost over and above what the propritors offer the old way for and what satisfaction shall be made for it shall be in common land.
Voted. - that in answer to the heirs about a right of commonage of John Salard the propritors will choose a committee to discover them and make a report to the pro- pritors of the town at their next meeting and Ensign Sam- uel Kimball John Gott and William Fairfield are chosen a committee for the service abovesaid.
Voted - the abovesaid committee shall allso receive the claims and demands of all other persons claiming common- age in our town and make return as above said.
Granted to Aron Towns an acre of land to be laid out of town common to him near Mr. Dodges and to be |to him and his wife during their natural lives.
March 21st 1709/10.
At a meeting of the Selectmen for the accounting with Nathaniel Waldron Town treasurer for the year 1709 and he is debtor to money received of Constable Brown out of his town rate £21 7$ 6ª To money received of Constable Nathaniel Fairfield out of the town rate in his hand £16 9$ 10d. Mr. Nathaniel Waldron Town treasurer
Credit to money paid to the Order of the Selectmen. To money to Mr. Gerrish toward his Salary as by receipts - £35 18$ 4d.
To money paid to Symonds £1 0$ 5d due to him for provid- ing for Henry More £0 17$ 1d.
May 11th 1710. -
At a town and freeholders meeting duely warned Sargent Thomas Patch chosen Moderator.
Voted that William Dodge hath liberty to fence across the highway that goeth to the propritors land at the East end of the town between his own land formerly bought of the town and which he hath bought last being right opper- site to his own land bought provided that he make and maintain convenient gates for the use of the town untill
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
town shall see it any damage to them and call in their vote.| For a Representative William Fisk Senr. is chosen.
June 22nd 1710 -
Received of Constable Benjamin Fisk ten shillings which is in full of the town rate committed to him together the year 1708, I say received by me William Rogers town treas- urer. the above is a true entry as attest William Fairfield| Town Clerk
At a meeting of the Selectmen the 22nd day of June 1710 then agreed with William Rogers for to keep the meeting house and ring the bell for the year ensueing and to keep a school in our town to learn the children to read and write,| and to have £2 10s 0d for his reward.|
February 27th 1707/8 received of Capt. Fisk town treas- urer one pound, six shillings and six pence by me, John Edwards,
a true entry of the original receipt William Rogers, Town Clerk.
July 13th 1710, At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of |Wenham duely warned and convened| Ensign Samuel Kimball moderator.
Augt. 24th 1710. A province rate was made and com- mited to the constables in two distinct lists, Viz. to Sam- uel Fisk Constable a list amounting to 78 pounds payable to the treasuer of the province with sufficient allowance for his collecting, and to Constable Stephen Patch 60 pounds to the province treasuer with sufficient allowance for his collecting of the same .
Sept. 10th 1710 Then received of the town of Wenham by discounting of a rate committed to me to collect amount- ing to £9 5$ 11d and £10 14$ 1d paid with Constable Brown all which is paid to my content at seventeen penny weight according to the towns agreement to make up the first pay- ment of the tweny five pounds for keeping Henry More and his wife.
|I say received by me to content| Nathaniel Fairfield
Boston February 2nd 1709
Received of Mr. Thomas White Constable of Wenham by Mr. William Fisk, fifteen pounds fourteen shillings and
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
ten pence in full, received for Mr. James Taylor treasurer per Jno. Wheelright A true entre Attest William Fairfield
Town Clerk
At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants duely warned and met together this 7th of November 1710 Capt. Thomas Fisk chosen Moderator
Voted - that there shall be twenty pounds added to the sixty which is for our ministers salary which twenty pounds the inhabitants of our town shall be assessed with the sixty and shall be paid into the treasury for the towns use.
Voted - that there shall be common land sold for the procuring money to pay Nathaniel Fairfield the twenty five pounds due to him for Henry Mores keeping
And Ensign Walter Fairfield, Lieut. John Porter, and Joseph Herrick are chosen a committee to sell the same.
December 1st 1710
A town rate was made in two distinct lists and commit- ted, Viz.
to Constable Samuel Fisk a list amounting to forty nine pounds, two shillings and eighteen cords of wood.
and to Constable Stephen Patch a list amounting to thirty eight pounds and ten shillings with 13 cords of wood, which lists have all of them a warrant annexed to them directed to each constable respectively as the law directs to collect said sums and pay the same into the town treas- uer at or before the last day| of January next for the towns use.
Received of Mr. Nathaniel Fairfield of Wenham the sum of twenty seven shillings and seven pence it being in full of his part to pay for the County rate for the town of Wenham.
Ipswich December 18th 1710. John Appleton, County treasurer. [The above is a true entry as attest William Fairfield, Town Clerk
At a meeting of the Selectmen April 7th 1710 to make sale of some common land to pay for the highway over the land of the propritors of Capt. Smiths farm and we made sale of a small piece of land to Rice Knowlton bounding upon the road going to Manchester on the Southwest and upon his own land westerly and upon the land in the pos-
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
ession of the propritors of the 9th division on the other side it being an angle reserving a pole and a half on that side of the way where it now goeth towards the road of 3 poles wide and have received of him three pounds ten shillings for the same.
We allso made sale of a small piece of common land to Mr. Daniel Dodge about two acres and one half be it more or less bounding southwesterly upon Richard Thissels line and southeasterly by a line from a great Red Oak standing by the stone wall 33 poles above the range of Mr. Dodges garden and so straight to an oak stump standing in the edge of the cleft of rocks 13 poles from the red oak which line is the southeast bounds, and northeast it boundeth upon a straight line from the aforesaid stump to the Northeast corner of said Dodges garden 13 poles from thissells line and westerly upon his own land for which we have received seven pounds money of him for.
Then allso laid out and sold to William Dodge seven acres of land by measure on the Southeasterly side of the road over against his own land leaving the road 3 poles wide which side is 46 poles long and each end twenty seven poles and one half wide and the line on the Southeasterly side is 36 poles long to stake and heap of stones at each corner for which we have received £17.10.0 of him for it.
all of which sums are to make satisfaction for the high- way we laid out over the land of Joseph Fowler and Zacheus Goldsmith Richard Fowler and Samuel Kimball Junr. from the Country road to the river as upon record may appear.
Thomas Fisk Benjamin Edwards Ephraim Kimball Selectmen John Gott William Fairfield
Know all men by these presents, that whereas the Select- men agreed with us the subscribers being propritors of the farm formerly Capt. Smiths for our damage by laying out a highway over our land for the following sums of money, Viz.
to Zacheus Goldsmith six pounds ten shillings
to Joseph Fowler seven pounds eight shillings,
to Richard Fowler six pounds nineteen shillings,
to Samuel Kemball six pounds
all of which sums we have received to satisfaction.
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
and do by these presents for ourselves and our heirs forever acquit and discharge the town of and from any further claim or demand upon the account of the above said as witness our hands this 21st day of April 1710 Signed by
Joseph Fowler Samuel Kimball Richard Fowler Zacheus Goldsmith
As Attest William Fairfield Town Clerk
We the subscribers being a committee appointed by the town to make sale of common land to pay Nathaniel Fairfield twenty five pounds in money for keeping Henry More and his wife have sold fourteen acres of Common land to William Dodge bounded as followeth, (be it more or less) beginning at the southwest corner of his land last sold him by the town and so straight down to the meadow fence and from thence turning southeastward by the meadow seventy five poles to a white oak stump with a stake in it then turn- ing northerly to a rock by the highway the poles from Rice Knowltons southwest corner bounds lines together with the line of the land formerly sold him boundeth.
the whole which land we have sold him for thirty five pounds which sum of money being paid in full unto the towns receipts whereof being herewith entered then the above said sale of the above bounded land is confirmed and to be holden good and firm to him the said William Dodge and his heirs and in confirmation of what is above written we have hereunto| set our hands this 5th day of January 1710
At the day and date above said received of William Dodge twenty and nine pounds of the above said sum the remaider to be fifteen penny weight or bills of public credit.
The three names defaced in this entry was done by them that signed because he that it was done for refused to pay the money as he pretended to do whereby the under written receipt could not be signed.
January 5th 1710/11 - Then received of ensign Walter Fairfield Lieut. John Porter and Joseph Herrick as a com- mittee the twenty five pounds being the last payment due to me for keeping Henry More and his wife which is in full of |all dues from the town upon that account|I say received by me
never signed“
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
At a meeting of the Selectmen January the eighth 1710/ 11, A highway was laid out over the land of Nathaniel Waldron from the river beginning at the great tree over against the rock in Goodman Goldsmiths land where the way laid out on the other side direct to the river and so it is three poles wide towards Josiah Dodges land beginning at the river and so it goeth three poles wide up to said dodges land leaveing an angle of goodman Waldrons land between said Dodges land and the highway at the river. and so it goeth up to the open highway above the land sold to Josiah Dodge upon the outside of said Waldrons land. which highway is three poles wide from the river to the town common and is paid for by the town to said Wal- dron on condition the town confirm the agreement made by the Selectmen with said Waldron on the 5th day of Dec- ember 1710 as may appear under said Waldrons hand signed together with the selectmen which agreement was that it be an open highway.|
Thomas Fisk Ephraim Kimball William Fairfield
Selectmen
We the subscribers being a committee empowered by the town to make sale of common land to procure money to pay Nathaniel Fairfield his due for Keeping Henry More and his wife, have sold to William Dodge fourteen acres of common land (be the same more or less) as it is hereafter butted and bounded and is adjoining to the land he bought last of the town beginning at the South west corner and so straight down to the meadow fence and from hence turn- ing South eastward by the meadow 75 poles to a white oak stump with a stake in it then turning Northerly 36 poles to a pine marked and from the pine turning Northwesterly to a rock by the highway 3 poles from Rice Knowltons south west corner bound which lines together with the lines of the land formerly sold him for £35 0s 0d money the said money he said Dodge paid us in hand and secured it to us for the towns use and in confirmation of what is above written we have set our hands this 12 day of January 1710/11
Walter Fairfield John Porter Joseph Herrick
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
At a legal town meeting of the freeholders and other in- habitants of Wenham May 10th 1711 .-
Voted and confirmed the above said sale of the above said committee to the above said Dodge upon condition he the said Dodge de pay to the above said town the full and just sum of 6 pounds money.|
January 12th 1710/11 - then received of ensign Walter Fairfield Lieut. John Porter and Joseph Herrick a com- mittee for the town twenty five pounds in money to con- tent for all that was due to me for Keeping Henry More and his wife and therefore do acquit and discharge the town of and from any further claim or demand on the account as witness my hand Nath. Fairfield.
November the 5th 1711 .- Received the above mentioned six pounds of said William Dodge above mentioned which was due for land sold to said Dodge as above mentioned, I say received by me, Joseph Herrick, Town treasurer.
At a meeting of the Selectmen of Wenham March 31st 1710 pursuant to an order of said town dated the 21st of this instant to lay out a highway from the Country road to the Neck accordingly have agreed and laid out a high- way by agreement with the several propritors of the farm formally Capt. Smiths Viz.
Joseplı Fowler Zacheus Goldsmith Samuel Kimball Junr. and Richard Fowler
Ist beginning at the Country road over the land of Sam- uel Kimball Junr. laying 3 poles wide adjoining to Joseph Dodge staked out at each end the said Kimball is to make and maintain a good and convenient cart gate at the coun- try road and not to damnify the said Joseph Dodge in respect of his division of fence and from the south corner of said Kimballs land two poles in breadth over the land of Richard Fowler straight down to the run below Mr Smiths old cellar on the southwest side of it leavin 1/2 pole space between the cellar and the northwest side of the highway then crooking east and taking a small white oak near the line between Richards land and his farthers to bound the north side of the said highway and the whole breadth of two poles to lay south west of said line and the above said Richard Fowler to make and maintain a good and sufficient cart gate, in the division between Samuel Kimballs land
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
and his own and half of another in the division between his said farthers land and his own then the highway goeth over the land of Joseph Fowler. the Northeast side of the highway is bounded by the white oak spoken of in Richard Fowlers to a birch marked near the lower side of his field by the gully then turning to a stake at the stonewall be- tween goodman Goldsmiths land and his own and so it layeth two poles wide upward towards his house, and the afore said Joseph Fowler is to make and maintain good and sufficient cart gate between his own land and Zacheus Goldsmiths and the other half of the gate in the division between his land and Richards. and over Zacheus Gold- smith to the river two poles wide beginning at a red oak by the stone wall between said Goldsmith land and Joseph Fowlers and so straight to the river by a rock at the edge of the pond over against the great tree on the other side in Goodman Waldrons land above the division between said Waldrons land and Josiah Dodges and so it is laid out two poles wide below the line aforesaid which highway afore said laid out by mutual consent.
and we the subscribers being the selectmen on the one part in behalf of the town and the above named propritors each one of us for ourselves our heirs and assigns forever do hereby agree covenant and engage to make and maintain the several gates as above expressed from time to time and at all times forever hereafter and that there shall be free liberty of passing and repassing for all our town inhabi- tants for whatsoever their ocasions shall be within the above mentioned two poles wide as it is stated and bounded and the satisfaction agreed upon to each propritor above men- tioned is as followeth Viz.
to Samuel Kimball six pounds
to Richard Fowler six pounds nineteen shillings,
to Joseph Fowler seven pounds eight shillings and
to Zacheus Goldsmith six pounds ton shillings for which he is to make and maintain a good and sufficient gate in the division between his land and Nathaniel Waldrons land at the end of the highway above mentioned at the river both he and his heirs and assigns forever which Sums above said are to be all paid in common land if the propritors do accept. or else in money by the sale of it and it is further agreed that the herbage or feeding what said highway shall produce shall belong to said propritors
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
and in confirmation of all above written we have hereunto set our hands this 31st day of March 1710.
Joseph Fowler Zacheus Goldsmith
Richard Fowler Samuel Kimball Junr.
Thomas Fisk Benjamin Edwards Ephraim Kimball William Fairfield John Gott
Selectmen
At a genaral town meeting of the inhabitants of Wen- ham duely warned and convened this 6th day of March 1711 William Fisk chosen Moderator.
For Selectmen Leiut. John Porter Ensign Samuel Kim- ball, John Gott Josiah Dodge and William Rogers are chosen for the year ensueing.
William Rogers chosen for town clerk for the year and sworn day above said.
For Constables Joseph Dodge for the east ward and Sam- uel Kimball Junr. for the west are chosen for the year ensueing, and sworn the same day above said.
Joseph Herrick chosen town treasuer.
Sargent Benjamin Edwards and Richard Leech are chosen surveyors of highways for the year ensueing. (Benjamin Edwards for the east end of the town.)
William Dodge Ebenezer Batchelder and John Berry are chosen tithing men. for the year ensueing.
Rice Knowlton Richard Fowler John Porter are chosen surveyors of fence for the year ensueing.
Richard Leech is chosen for the west end and all and each of them are sworn to their respective places of office chosen to the same day above said.
Ensign Walter Fairfield continued in the place of sealer of weights and measures for the year ensueing.|
Voted - that Nathaniel Waldron shall have the land and liberty of the town of Wenham to set up a gate to close up the lane at the north east corner of said Waldrons land and so across to Josiah Dodges land untill the last of Sep- tember next coming after the date hereof.
Voted - that Josiah Dodge and William Rogers are chosen a committee to lay out one acre of common land to Aron Goones according to a town vote.
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
Voted - upon a complaint made to the town by Mr. Thomas Edwards that Mr. Dodge sold common land to said Edwards. John Gott, Joseph Herrick are chosen a committee to examine and see wether Mr. Daniel Dodge has sold com- mon land upon rocky hill unto the said Thomas Edwards and so make report at the next town meeting.
March 12th 1711 - At a meeting of the selectmen reck- oned and accounted with Constable Nathaniel Brown for the two town rates committed to him to collect and gather & pay unto the town treasuer and have made the ballance for the year 1709.
and the said Brown is acquited from paying the twenty and seven shillings over pluss that was in the province list which is for abatement for money lost.
April 17th 1711 - We whose names are under written have met and have renewed the bounds between Manchester and Wenham Viz. Dodges stump and the white oak Stubb with the heap of stones about it and the other range bounds with mutual consent.
Josiah Dodge and \ Wenham
William Rogers 1 John Lee
Selectmen
Joseph Woodbury
For Manchester Selectmen
The above is a true copy of the original,
Attest William Rogers Town Clerk
May 10th 1711 - At a legal town meeting of the free- holders and other inhabitants Deacon William Fisk Chosen Moderator.
Deacon William Fisk chosen Representative| for to represent the town at Boston for the year ensueing|.
March 12th 1711 - We the subscribers being appointed a committee to view and see if Mr. Daniel Dodge has sold common land to Mr. Thomas Edwards upon Rocky hill, we being upon the place upon said day and we find about one acre and one half or thereabouts as near as we can judge that lays between Mr. Dodges land and Dixie's land and
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
the land that was extended by the execution to Joseph Fowler by the sheriff
John Gott Joseph Herrick
Committee
The above report of the above said committee that as it is entered is a true |coppy of the original given under their hands| Attest. William Rogers Town Clerk
Allso voted - that goodwife Merritt shall have the loan to live in the Libbell house called the town house untill the town shall see cause to call for it.
Voted - to petition to the great and general Court for abatement of the Country rate or tax Allso voted that En- sign Walter Fairfield shall join with the Selectmen to draw the petition and send it to the general Court| March 12th 1711
March 5th 1711 - Received of Mr. William Rogers town treasurer for the town of Wenham on account of my salary due for the year 1708 Mr. Thomas White being Constable for that year, the sum of two pounds twelve shillings and six pence £2 12$ 6d in full, I say received by me, Joseph Ger- rish. The above is a true copy of the original receipt. William Rogers, Town Clerk
On the 22nd of February 1710/11 Received of Mr. Wil- liam Rogers town treasuer for the town of Wenham, the sum of seven pounds thirteen shillings and one penny on account of my sallery due for the year 1709 in full, I say received by me Joseph Gerrish
The above is a true copy of the original receipt Attest. William Rogers, Town Clerk
Received of Nathaniel Brown formerly Constable of Wenham the sum of thirty shillings upon the account of the county of Essex for the town of Wenham, March the 14th 1709/10 John Appleton County treasurer.
The above is a true copy of the original receipt attest William Rogers, Town Clerk
At a meeting of the Selectmen June 13th 1709 to the town treasuer greeting, please pay to Landlord Symonds twenty shillings and five pence £0 20s 5d in full of all ac- counts and recknings between the town and him on all their deallings and take his receipt accordingly per order of the Selectmen William Fairfield Town Clerk
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