USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Wenham > Wenham town records 1707-1731 > Part 7
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William Rogers, Town Clerk
At a meeting of the Selectmen of Wenham November 25th 1712
Upon complaint of Daniel Maxey of said town for want of a highway to come into the new highway to come into town The said Selectmen finding that Nathaniel Waldren of said Wenham is obliged to find a highway as it stands entered in Wenham Town book bearing date December the 5th 1710 folio 51 but the way not being staked out where it shall be in order thereunto we begun at said Maxey land at a pair of bars at a stake and heap of stones and so over
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
the land of said Waldrons, the said highway runing Northeastwardly from said Stake and heap of Stones about 15 poles to a stake by a fast rock in the ground and so up along by the edge of the hill about 8 poles to another stake by a fast rock in the ground and so along about 16 poles to a stake by the end of said Waldrons Stone wall as is by the new highway that leadeth into town, which highway is layed and staked out eighteen foot wide. South Eastwardly of all the above mentioned bounds which highway is laid out for said Daniel Maxey and those that shall succeed him. in that living he now liveth in. on to come to the new highway to pass through gates or bars at time and all times as ocasion shall serve to pass back and forth with cart or sled and as ocasion may be at all times forever. and the said Maxey is to have liberty to mend said highway to make it conveinent to pass the land being hilly and uneven and said Maxey doth for himself and successors discharge the said town of and from any further charge whatsoever about mending said ways, as witness his hand for ever.
Daniel Maxey
his Samuel 7 Kimball mark Josiah Dodge John Porter William Rogers Caleb Kemball Selectmen of Wenham
Wenham December 3rd 1712.
At a meeting of the committee appointed to lay out Acres unto those of right to whom belongs an acre and have not yet had it.
We have layed out one acre unto Mrs. Ruth White widow as her due by a grant bearing date February 7th 1686 and it is laid out at the lower end of the swamp that is between Josiah Dodges land and Phineas Dodges land west- wardly bounding 8 poles wide upon Josiah Dodges land and north eastwardly upon Joshua Wallis and Samuel Kil- hams fence Eastwardly upon Phineas Dodges land 8 poles to a stake and heap of stones and then turning Westwardly straight over to a stake and heap of stones 8 poles south- ward of said Wallis and Kilhams fence.
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
Allso layed out unto Josiah Dodge in the right of Henry Haggitt and unto William Rogers in the right of Sergt John Perkins and in his own right bounded as followeth.
Westwardly upon said Josiah Dodges land sixteen poles wide from the stake and heap of stones Mrs. Whites bounds to a stake and heap of stones 19 foot southwardly or there- about of a great fast rock. Northwardly it bounds upon said Whites acre lot. Eastwardly it bounds sixteen poles wide upon Phineas Dodges land from the Stake and stone. Mrs. Whites bounds to a stake and heap of stones by said Phineas Dodges fence so turning to the stake by the fast rock within about 19 feet. Which parcel of land as it is butted and bounded that is between said Josiah and Phineas Dodges land be it more or less the said Josiah Dodge and William Rogers doeth receive in full for their acres respectfully as above mentioned.
his . Samuel 7 Kemball mark John Gott Joseph Herrick
Committe
At a meeting of the committee December 8th 1712 who are appointed by the town to lay out Acres to whom it of right is due We have laid out unto Lieut John Porter in the right of Tobias Trow and unto Thomas White in his own right bounded as followeth, Westwardly bounded upon Josiah Dodges land eight poles wide and northwardly upon the acre lots laid out unto Josiah Dodge and William Rogers and eastwardly upon Phineas Dodges land eight poles wide Southwardly bounding upon the common land it being in the swamp called Claflins Swamp which parcel of land as above bounded, which land the said John Porter and Thomas White do receive in full for their acres as above mentioned.
his Samuel 7 Kemball mark John Gott Joseph Herrick
Committee
Know all men by these presents that I Joseph Batchelder of Wenham in the county of Essex husbandman for and in
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
considerasion of the sum of twenty shillings in hand paid me by Samuel Fisk Senr of Wenham abovesaid, Taylor, before the signing hereof, have given granted Sold allen- iated engrossed and confirmed and do by these presents give, grant, bargain, sell, alleinate and convey and make over unto Samuel Fisk above said a certain parcel of swamp land Situated layeing and being within the bounds of Wen- ham above said it being the fourth part of a division of land layed out unto Thomas Kemball, Ephraim Kemball and Caleb Kemball and unto the said Joseph Batchelder as it stands entered in this book folio 5th bearing date January 5th 1698 to have and to hold the above mentioned fourth part of the said division to him the said S. Fisk his heirs and assigns forever together with all priveledges belonging thereunto and in confirmation of what is above written, I have hereunto set my hand on this 27th day of January in the year of our lord 1712/13
Joseph Batchelder
As Attest William Rogers, Town Clerk.
At a meeting of the Selectmen of Wenham September the 5th 1712.
An order to lay out a highway from the Country road unto Freeborn Balch of Beverly his land that layeth in Wenham upon the request of said Balch and we have begun at the northwest corner of Mr. Hulls land at the Country road runing eastwardly over the land of said Hulls along by the divisional fence between John Edwards and said Hulls land untill it cometh up the hill then turning a little southerly leaving the fence so on to Mr. John Porters land the northwestwardly corner and so along by the divisional fence that is between said Porter and Edwards over the end of said Porter till it cometh to said Balches land all which highway is stated 20 foot wide southward of said fence and twenty foot wide where it leaves the fence going up the hill which highway is for said Balch and those that shall suc- ceed him in that living or parcell of land the way leadeth to pass, with cart or sled or as ocasion Shall serve from time to time and at all times forever allways provided the said Balch do make due recompence and satisfaction for said way unto the propritors of the land the said highway is layed out on or over and so that he discharge the town of Wenham from any further care, cost or charge about
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
said way in what nature so ever he having the liberty of ending of said way as occasion may be to make it con- venient he passing through gates or bars.
his Samuel 7 Kemball mark Selectmen
Caleb Kimball Josiah Dodge William Rogers
August 29th 1712. At a meeting of the selectmen a pro- vince tax was made in two distincts lists viz. A list to Constable John Friend committed as above amounting to the sum of eighty and one pounds two shillings and five pence £81.02s.05ª whereof he is to pay eighty pounds to the country treasuer his due and the twenty two shillings and five pence is for allowenc for his gathering the same. Ebenezer Tarbox's head was added after to the list. Com- mitted to Constable Richard Kimball a list ammounting to sixty five pounds nineteen shillings and eight pence, £65.19$.5ª whereof he is' to pay fifty eight pounds into the country treasuer his due and unto the County treasuer the sum of two pounds Eleven Shillings and seven pence £2.11s.7ª and unto our town treasuer four pounds for the paying of our representative £4. 00s.00d the twenty eight shillings remaining unpaid is allowed to him for gathering, he allowing twelve pence upon the pound to all in gathering of the over pluss as well as for the country. |Ebenezer Symonds and Button Goldsmith heads were ad- ded to the list.|
November 25th 1712.
At a meeting of the Selectmen of Wenham, a town rate or tax on poles and estates in Wenham was made in two Lists, Viz. one committed unto John Friend Constable amounting to the Sum of forty one pound seven shillings and ten pence to be paid unto our town treasuer at or before the last day of January next after the date hereof and sixteen cords and 7 feet of wood to be paid to Rev. Mr. Gerrish at or before March the last day next after the date hereoff and a list unto Constable Richard Kemball amount- ing unto the sum of thirty three pounds six shillings and eleven pence £33.06s.11ª to be paid in unto the above said treasuer at the time above expressed and 13 cords and 5 foot of wood to be paid in as above expressed unto Mr. Ger-
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
rish for time March the last, and a warrant is anexed to each list committed unto each Constable the whole is £74.14$.8d.
August 27th 1712. At a meeting of the Selectmen of Wenham, Mr. Walter Fairfield being present at said meet- ing the said Fairfield being examined for his pr. entry of a false list unto the assessors this year 1712. for that he hath left out his pole, one negro servant, one cow, one swine, and hath not given in the full account of his lands in his bill the matter being heard and considered and by confession from his own mouth of sum of the particulars above men- tioned the said Selectmens judgment is, that the said Walter Fairfield pay a fine of twenty shillings according to the directions of the law in this case made and provided for his falsness in his bill in not giving a true and perfect list as the law directs, and the fine to be for the use of the town as the law directs.
September 19th 1712. At a meeting of the selectmen of Wenham they ordered the town Clerk to direct a warrant to Constable Kemball to collect and gather of Mr. Walter Fairfield a fine of twenty shillings for his falsness in his bill presented this year 1712 and a warrant is committed unto Constable Richard Kemball bearing even date here- with to be paid in unto our town treasuer at or before the last day of |November 1712 for the use as the law directs in such cases.
September 22th 1712. At a meeting of the Selectmen of Wenham, Mr. Nathaniel Waldron of Wenham Bricklayer being then present before the Selectmen he was examined for that he had presented a false list in this year 1712 for that he had left out his poll and one horse kind some swine and left out his trade which he gains considerable by and that he left out of his bill about 30 acres of land by an ac- count from his own mouth rateable lands therefore by con- fession from said Waldrons own mouth the judgment of the Assessors is that the said Waldron hath presented a false list in several of the above particulars and that he pay a fine of twenty shillings as the law directs in this case made and provided for that as the law directs for his falsness in his bill in |not giving in a true and perfect list as the law directs.
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
October 7th 1712. At a meeting of the Selectmen of Wenham the Selectmen ordered a warrant to be drawn and sent to Constable Richard Kemball to collect and gather of Mr. Nathaniel Waldron twenty shillings fine for his falsness presented in his bill in 1712 and to be paid in unto our town treasurer for the use as the law directs to be paid at or be- fore the sixth of January 1712/13 and accordingly it is done by their order.
November 21st 1712. At a meeting of the Selectmen John Edwards Senr then being present he being questioned con- sering his giving in a false list this year 1712 he being con- victed by legal proof in the judgment of the Selectmen and they laid a fine of twenty shillings for the use as the law directs the said Edwards gave the Selectmen to understand he would come on the 25th day of said month he then would bring his fine he accordingly come at a meeting of the se- lectmen on said 25 day and pleaded for a longer time and he would Submit to what they ordered him, they ordered him to pay it into one of the selectmen by this day fort- night and if he did not the town Clerk was ordered to draw a warrant to Constable Richard Kemball to gather the said fine and upon his neglect to pay a warrant was committed to said Constable to collect and pay in said fine into our town treasuer at or before the 6th day of January 1712/13.
Received of Richard Kemball Constable of Wenham the sum of fifty one shillings and seven pence for the County rate it being in full for said town. Ipswich January 28th 1712 John Appleton Treasurer
The above is a true coppy of the original receipt. Attest William Rogers, Town Clerk.
At a meeting of the Selectmen April 4th 1713 Landlord Joseph Dodge is appointed to keep the pound the year en- sueing, and untill another is appointed.
Boston October 16th 1713
Received of Mr. Richard Kemball Constable of Wenham sixteen pound ten shillings in full pr. Mr. Joseph Herrick for my father Mr. James Taylor Treasuer £16 10s pr. William Taylor.
The above is a true coppy of the original receipt, Attest William Rogers, T. Clerk.
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
At a legal town meeting on March 3rd 1713 legally warned of the inhabitants of Wenham to choose town officers Deacon William Fisk chosen Moderator for this meeting Lieut John Porter Ensign Samuel Kimball Josiah Dodge, Caleb Kemball and William Rogers are chosen select- men for the year ensueing.
William Rogers Chosen town Clerk for the year ensueing and Sworn by the Selectmen the day above said.
Joseph Herrick chosen treasurer for our town and sworn. Nathaniel Gott chosen Constable for the year ensueing for the west end and sworn. Ebenezer Batchelder chosen Con-
stable for the east end in our town and sworn. Thomas Tarbox chosen Surveyor for the west end of our town. Nathaniel Brown Chosen Surveyor of highways for the east end of our town and sworn in the presence of the Selectmen the same day above said
Stephen Patch, Samuel Porter, Sargt John Gott Sur- veyors of fence for the year ensueing and sworn.
Thomas Edwards Joseph Batchelder John Batchelder Chosen tithing men for the year ensueing. Mr. Walter Fair- field Chosen Sealer of Weights and measurer. Thomas Ed- wards and Joseph Batchelder have taken the oath of tithing men.
Capt. Thomas Fisk, Mr. Thomas Patch Deacon William Fisk, Mr. Walter Fairfield Sargt John Gott. are chosen a committee to treat with Ipswich Hamblet gentlemen about their proposals of disposing of right whole right in our meeting house and to make report to the town concerning the same.
Voted : to have a town meeting on this day seven night on the 10 Instant March at ten or eleven of the clock in the forenoon to do what business the town has not time to do this day.
Joseph Herrick, Nathaniel Gott, Ebenezer Batchelder, John Gott, Stephen Patch, Samuel Porter, Thomas Ed- wards & Joseph Batchelder appeared before the Selectmen on the days above said and are sworn to the respective offices for which they was chosen.
August 20th 1713. Lieut. John Porter, Ensign Samuel Kemble, and Josiah Dodge three of the present board of Selectmen approved| and have taken the oaths of assessors for the proportioning of the County tax in our town.
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
March 10th 1713. At a legal meeting by a vote passed on the 3rd March Instant at a general town meeting Deacon William Fisk chosen moderator for the meeting.
Voted. to choose a committee to go and view Claflins land and make a report to the town wether Mr. Waldrons land have reason to complain or no, which is near Josiah Dodges.
Ephraim Kemball Sargt John Gott and Joseph Herrick are chosen a committee to make a report to the town.
Voted to abate twenty shillings out of the rent that Samuel Fisk Sent and Benjamin Fisk hath given bond to pay for rent of land in the year 1712 to the town thirteen shillings whereof is for William Knowlton's horse and Aron Jones Cow goeing on the common.
Voted. that the committe that was empowered to sell the land (common) at Wenham Island to Zacheus Perkins that they give him the offer of it and if neglect or refuse they are empowered to sell in the towns name the said land to any other person that shall appear to buy it (1713 the money is recovered in full for said land by said commit- tee. )
Voted to choose a committee to call all the treasuers to account that have been chosen heretofore, examine into the matter, Deacon James Friend, Deacon William Fisk and Nathaniel Brown are chosen for a committee for said Service.
Voted to rent out all our common land (undivided land) .
Voted to rent said Common land for ten years. The question being put to the town wether they would be will- ing the diference between the Selectmen and the complain- ents conserning the complaints that are against the Select- men depending now at March Court should be made up among themselves and voted on the affirmative.|
March 30th 1713. At a meeting of the Selectmen then agreed with William Rogers to keep school in our town, to teach the youth to read and write and to keep the meeting house and ring the bell and we do allow him fifty and five shillings
his Samuel 7 Kemball mark John Porter Josiah Dodge Caleb Kemball
Selectmen
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
May 6th 1713. At a town meeting duely Warned for the choosing of a Representative to go to the great and General Court at Boston, the town agreed in having Deacon William Fisk chosen representative to serve at the great and gen- erall court at Boston the year ensueing.|
Pursuant to the province treasuer warrant At a meeting of the Selectmen August the 20th 1713 A list or tax on poles and Estates was made in Wenham, for the paying of the province tax and is committed to the Constables of Wenham a list bearing date August 20th 1713.
Committed unto Constable Nathaniel Gott whereof he is to make payment unto the province treasuer the sum of seventy three pounds, Eight shillings £73 08$ 00d. And in the same list he is to make payment unto the County treas- uer the sum of fifty one shillings and seven pence at or be- fore the first of January next coming after the date hereof our proportion of a County rate £2 11s 7ª and a list made on poles and estates in said town bearing even date herewith and is committed unto Constable Ebenezer Batchelder to collect whereof he is to make whereof he is to make pay- ment unto the province treasuer the sum of sixty four pounds twelve shillings there being twenty four shillings over pluss in said list is allowed for his gathering rates this year 1713 £1 4s 0d And in Constable Gotts List eleven |Shillings overplus which is allowed him for collecting.| £0 11s 0d.
At a meeting of the Selectmen October the 26th 1713 the Selectmen gave orders to the town Clerk to draw a warrant to the Constable to warn William Cross and Elizabeth Evans out of town. that they leave the town and go to were they come from and that the persons do not detain him nor her.
October 26th 1713. At a meeting of the selectmen they gave order for a town meeting to be warned on the fourth day of November next coming after the date hereof to con- sider what sum of money to be raised to defray the towns debts and necessary charges arising in the town and to do any other town buisness.
A warrant was drawn Oct. 27th 1713 directed to Consta- ble Ebenezer Batchelder to warn William Cross and Eliza- beth Evans out of town and to depart in fourteen days and allso to warn the persons that do entertain her or him he
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
being at Nathaniel Fairfields and she being at John Ed- wards Senr. the warrant bearing date October 27th 1713 (The persons are warned to go out of town and return made by the constable.)
Received of Mr. Joseph Herrick treasuer for the town of Wenham on account of my Salary due to me from said town for the year 1712 in receipts and bills of Credit the sum of sixty pounds 20th of August 1713, |I say received by me Joseph Gerrish|. the above is a true coppy of the original receipt.
Attest William Rogers, town clerk.
October the 28th 1713.
Received of Ann Kemball, administrator to her husbands estate the sum of forty shillings which is in full of all the sum and sums of money that Richard Kemball Constable desceased was ordered by warrant to pay into the town treasuer for Wenham I say received by me Joseph Her- rick Town T. The above is a true coppy of the original receipt. |Attest William Rogers Town Clerk.
Received of Mr. Nathaniel Gott Constable of Wenham fourteen pounds one shillings and sixpence in full for my master Jeremiah Allen Trea. pr James Gooch Jun. the above reipt is a coppy of the original Attest William Rogers T. C.
On November 22nd 1714 Received in full for my salary due from the town of Wenham for the year 1713 five pounds ten shillings from Mr. Joseph Herrick Treasuer for said town, I say received by me Joseph Gerrish. The above is a true coppy of the original. Attest William Rogers Town Clerk
At a legal Town meeting duly warned and convened to- gether of the inhabitants of Wenham on this 4th day of November 1713 to consider and agree of what sum of money shall be raised to pay the said towns debts and charges aris- ing in the same or any other buisness then to be done, Ser- gent John Gott Chosen moderator for this meeting.
Voted, to add twenty pounds to the sixty pounds which is for the paying of Mr. Gerrishs sixty pounds Salary and for the paying of town charges arising in the same and towns engagements.
Voted. to choose a committee to call Mr. Thomas Patch to an account for the money that was committed unto his
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
hands in the year 1700. he said Patch being town treauer for that year the town not having an account of what is become of the money he then received in 1700.
Joseph Herrick and John Gott and William Fairfield are chosen a committee to call Mr. Thomas Patch to an account consering the money in his hands not accounted for when he was town treasuer in the year 1700.|
At a meeting of the Selectmen November the 13th and 18th 1713 a list or tax was made on poles and estates belonging to our town for paying our towns engagements and to de- fray the charges arising in the same.
A list was commited to Nathaniel Gott bearing even date herewith with a warrant anexed thereto directing him to pay unto our town treasuer or whom shall be appointed to receive the same the sum of forty three pounds £43 3$ 11d at on or before the first day of January next coming after the date hereof and said list there is each persons propor- tion of wood amounting to 17 cords which he is to pay into Mr. Joseph Gerrish at or before the first day of March next coming after the date hereof. And a list is committed unto Constable Ebenezer Batchelder to collect and pay in the sum of thirty seven pound three shilling and four pence £37 03$ 4ª to our town treasurer or to whom the selectmen shall appoint to receive the same by the date above said first of Jan. as in his warrant he is directed and 13 cords of wood to be paid into Mr. Gerrish mentioned in his warrant at or before the first of March next after |the date hereof| ( |Said Batchelders Warrant bears even date herewith| )
December 16th 1713 At a meeting of the Selectmen then appointed,
Samuel Kilham Thomas White John Moulton Nathaniel Brown Nathaniel Gott
to be a committee to lay out a highway for Freeborn Balch of Beverly to come at his land or meadow in Wenham the said Balch not being |contented with the highway allready layed out.|
At a meeting of the Selectmen of Wenham March 27th 1700 pursuant to a vote of our town refering to their agree- ment with Benjamin Edwards to keep and maintain the widow Hobbs her whole lifetime so as to discharge the town from any further care or charge about her the afforsaid
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WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
Benjamin Edwards does hereby bind and engage himself his heirs executors and administrators to the Selectmen in behalf of the town that he will take care of and maintain the widow Hobbs her whole lifetime so that the town shall be wholly freed from any further care or cost about her and in consideration hereof to accept of the towns payment of thirty pound money according to their vote.
At a town meeting March instant the 20th Viz. fifteen pounds within six months after the date hereof and fifteen pounds more within one year after that allways provided that in case the widow Hobbs shall die within one year from the first day of January last past then the town shall be acquited from the second fifteen pounds allso for the time said Edwards hath kept her is included in the agree- ment and in confirmation thereof the above said Benjamin Edwards have hereunto set his hand and seal on the day above said in presence of us,
Benjamin Edwards O his seal Thomas Patch John Newman
The above is a coppy of the original instrument and is in a bundle of papers on file. Attest William Rogers Town Clerk
Know all men by these presents that I Benjamin Edwards of Wenham in the County of Essex in New England hus- bandman do for myself my heirs and executors and admin- istrators fully and absolutely acquit and discharge the town of Wenham from all debts dues and demands in what na- ture soever of the thirty pounds which the said town did oblidge themselves to pay unto me for keeping the widow Hobbs as above mentioned agreement hath referred unto and in confirmation hereof the said Benjamin Edwards hath set to his hand and seal on this 4th day of December 1713.
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