A history of the town of Union, in the county of Lincoln, Maine : to the middle of the nineteenth century, with a family register of the settlers before the year 1800, and of their descendants, Part 11

Author: Sibley, John Langdon, 1804-1885
Publication date: 1851
Publisher: Boston : B.B. Mussey and Co.
Number of Pages: 572


USA > Maine > Knox County > Union > A history of the town of Union, in the county of Lincoln, Maine : to the middle of the nineteenth century, with a family register of the settlers before the year 1800, and of their descendants > Part 11


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46


PLACES OF MEETING. - The first meeting on record was the plantation-meeting held at the log-house of Philip Robbins, June 12, 1786, in regard to an Act of Incorporation. The first meeting after the incorpo- ration was at the same place, Jan. 15, 1787, for organi- zation and for the election of town-officers for the first time. Here, too, March 5, 1787, was held the first regular March meeting. The meetings were continued at private houses till Aug. 29 and Oct. 26, 1791. On these two days, they were in the school-house which . had been recently built near Moses Hawes's, after which they were again held in private houses or barns.1 The first time the meeting-house was used for


and at the Methodist Meeting-house ; and, in 1849, at the same places as in 1848, with the addition of one at the East Union Post Office.


1 Town-meetings were also held as follows : - In Moses Hawes's house, April 2, 13, 20, March 19, May 30, Nov. 19, 1787; March 8, April 5, May 26, June 25, Oct. 4, 1790; March 7, April 4, May 23, 1791; April 1, Dec. 2, 1793; Nov. 3, 1794; March 2, 1795 ; also in his barn, May 7, 1792. Rufus Gillmor's house, Sept. 4, 1789 ; March 6, 1797 ; and in his barn, July 8, 1793 ; Feb. 1, 1799, the meet- ing was adjourned from his house to the meeting-house. Richard Cummings's house, Jan. 4, 1790. Philip Robbins's house, Nov. 5, 8, 12, 1790 ; Jan. 3, 10, 25, 1791. Jonathan Newhall's house, April 2, 1792. Capt. George West's house, Nov. 2, 1792; March 4, 1793 ; March 3, April 7, 1794 ; Jan. 16, March 7, April 4, 1796. Edward Jones's house, Sept. 1, 1794 ; April 6, 1795. Josiah Robbins's, Nov. 7, 1796 ; Feb. 6, 1797 ; March 5, 1798. John Little's, Nov. 7, 1814, where a moderator was chosen, and the meeting adjourned to a future day at the meeting-house.


116


MUNICIPAL HISTORY.


the purpose was May 6, 1795. Here the town-meet- ings were ordinarily held afterward. The inclemency of the weather, however, the house not being warmed, sometimes compelled the people to adjourn to dwell- ing-houses ; and once, March 5, 1804, to the store of Alden and Robbins. Feb. 6, 1809, Major Maxcy and Mr. Pope, who were chosen moderators, having de- clined serving, Nathaniel Robbins consented to dis- charge the duties, the town having "voted that Esq. Robbins have leave to wear his hat." March 2, 1812, an unsuccessful attempt was made to have the town- meetings held half the time at the Methodist Meeting- house. April 2, 1838, was the last day of assembling for town-business in the Old Meeting-house. The next meeting, held Sept. 10, 1838, was in the Metho- dist Meeting-house, when it was "left with the select- men to procure a suitable place." Oct. 29, 1838, it was in " Bachelder's new building, near his mill;" April 1, 1839, in "Ebenezer Cobb's new barn;" and April 16, at the Methodist Meeting-house. The first meeting in the Town House was April 6, 1840.


TOWN-OFFICERS.


OATH OF OFFICE. - April 13, 1787, a warrant was issued for a meeting, in order to swear the officers chosen at the annual meeting in the March preceding, agreeably to an Act passed March 10, 1787. The meeting was adjourned to April 20, when each of the town-officers subscribed and took the following oath of office : -


" I do truly and sincerely acknowledge, profess, testify, and declare, that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is, and of right ought to be, a free, sovereign, and independent State ; and I do swear that I will bear true faith and allegi- ance to the said Commonwealth, and I will defend the same against traitorous conspiracies and all hostile attempts what- soever ; and I do renounce and abjure all allegiance, subjec- tion, and obedience to the king, queen, or government of Great Britain (as the case may be), and every other foreign power whatsoever; and that no foreign prince, persons, pre-


117


TOWN-CLERKS AND SELECTMEN.


late, state, or potentate hath or ought to have any jurisdiction, superiority, pre-eminence, authority, dispensing or other power, in any matter, civil, ecclesiastical, or spiritual, within this Commonwealth ; except the authority and power which is or may be vested by their constituents in the Congress of the United States ; and I do further testify and declare, that no man or body of men hath or can have any right to absolve or discharge me from the obligation of this oath, declaration, or affirmation ; and that I do make this acknowledgment, profession, testimony, declaration, denial, renunciation, and abjuration, heartily and truly, according to the common meaning and acceptation of the foregoing words, without any equivocation, mental evasion, or secret reservation what- soever. So help me God."


TOWN-CLERKS.


Moses Hawes, as plantation-clerk, signed the war- rant for the plantation-meeting, June 12, 1786. At that meeting he was again elected plantation-clerk ; and, Jan. 15, 1787, town-clerk. From that time the office has been held as follows : -


1787-1793. Moses Hawes. . 1823-1828. Henry True.


1794-1802. Edward Jones. 1803-1806. Stephen March.


1829-1830. Nathl. Robbins. 1831-1836. Jno. Bachelder.


1807. Edward Jones. 1837-1846. Cyrus G. Bach- elder.


1808. Jona. Sibley.


1809-1811. Nathl. Robbins. 1812. John Little.


1846 (June 8)-1850. Zuing- lius Collins.


1813-1822. Nathl. Robbins. 1851. Andrew Libbey.


SELECTMEN.


1787. Jan. 15. Philip Robbins, Joel Adams, Jason Ware. 1787. March 5. Philip Robbins, Joel Adams (in whose place was chosen, April 13, Jason Ware), Ezra Bowen. 1788. Josiah Robbins, Jason Ware, Joel Adams.


1789. Jason Ware, Josiah Robbins, Joel Adams.


1790. Jason Ware, Josiah Robbins, Moses Hawes. 1791. Joel Adams, Joseph Guild, Samuel Daggett. 1792. Joel Adams, Amariah Mero, Joseph Maxcy.


1793. Amariah Mero, Moses Hawes, Josiah Maxcy.


1794. Amariah Mero, Josiah Maxcy, Jason Ware. 11


118


MUNICIPAL HISTORY.


1795. Edward Jones, Ebenezer Jennison, Joel Adams. 1796. Amariah Mero, Edward Jones, Joel Adams.


1797. Amariah Mero, Edward Jones, Joel Adams. 1798. Edward Jones, Rufus Gillmor, Joel Adams. 1799. Rufus Gillmor, Ebenezer Jennison, Josiah Maxcy. 1800. Edward Jones, Rufus Gillmor, Josiah Maxcy. 1801. Moses Hawes, Joseph Maxcy, Thomas Mitchell.


1802. Joseph Maxcy, Edward Jones, Rufus Gillmor.


1803. Joseph Maxcy, Rufus Gillmor, Nathan Blake. 1804. Joseph Maxcy, Rufus Gillmor, Joseph Morse. 1805. Rufus Gillmor, Joseph Morse, Nathaniel Robbins. 1806. Joseph Maxcy, Nathaniel Robbins, Joseph Morse. 1807. Joseph Morse, Matthias Hawes, Marlboro' Packard. 1808. Joseph Morse, Matthias Hawes, Marlboro' Packard. 1809. Nathaniel Bachelor, Joel Adams, William Hart. 1810. Nathaniel Bachelor, Nathan Blake, Joel Adams. 1811. Nathaniel Robbins, John Lermond, Joel Adams. 1812. John Lermond, Joseph Morse, Matthias Hawes. 1813. John Lermond, Joseph Morse, Micajah Gleason. 1814. John Lermond, Joseph Morse, Micajah Gleason. 1815. Nathl. Bachelor, Micajah Gleason, Nathan Daniels. 1816. Nathl. Bachelor, Micajah Gleason, John Lermond. 1817. Micajah Gleason, John Lermond, Thomas Mitchell. 1818. Micajah Gleason, John Lermond, John W. Lindley. 1819. Micajah Gleason, John Lermond, John W. Lindley. 1820. Micajah Gleason, John Lermond, John W. Lindley. 1821. Micajah Gleason, John Lermond, John W. Lindley. 1822. John W. Lindley, Herman Hawes, James Littlehale. 1823. John W. Lindley, John Lermond, Herman Hawcs. 1824. John Lermond, John W. Lindley, Joseph Morse. 1825. John Lermond, Nathaniel Robbins, Noah Rice. 1826. John Lermond, Nathaniel Robbins, Noah Rice. 1827. John Lermond, Nathaniel Robbins, Samuel Stone. 1828. John Lermond, Nathaniel Robbins, Samuel Stone. 1829. John Lermond, Samuel Stone, Spencer Mero.


1830. John Lermond, Samuel Stone, Herman Hawes. 1831. Herman Hawes, Samuel Stone, John Payson.


1832. Herman Hawes, John Lermond, Peter Adams. 1833. Herman Hawes, Peter Adams, James Littlehale. 1834. John Lermond, Peter Adams, John W. Lindley. 1835. John Lermond, John W. Lindley, Jonathan Carriel. 1836. J. W. Lindley, Jonathan Carriel, Phillips C. Harding. 1837. J. W. Lindley, Phillips C. Harding, Nath. Bachelder.


119


ASSESSORS.


1838. John Lermond, Peter Adams, Phillips C. Harding. 1839. Peter Adams, John W. Lindley, Willard Robbins. 1840. John W. Lindley, Willard Robbins, Wm. Coggan. 1841. John W. Lindley, John Payson, Nathan Hills. 1842. John W. Lindley, Ebenezer Blunt, Willard Robbins. 1843. Ebenezer Blunt, Phillips C. Harding, Wm. G. Hawes. 1844. Ebenezer Blunt, Phillips C. Harding, Wm. G. Hawes. 1845. P. C. Harding, George Cummings, Jo. M. Gleason. 1846. Ebenezer Blunt, Geo. Cummings, Elbridge Lermond. 1847. Ebenezer Blunt, Geo. Cummings, Elbridge Lermond. 1848. Ebenezer Blunt, Wm. G. Hawes, Elbridge Lermond. 1849. William G. Hawes, Elbridge Lermond, Wm. Coggan. 1850. Ebenezer Blunt, William G. Hawes, John Lermond. 1851. Ebenezer Blunt, William G. Hawes, John Lermond.


SELECTMEN'S COMPENSATION. - April 4, 1791, " Vo- ted the selectmen's work may be allowed as highway- work that is done in laying out roads the year ensuing." With this exception, there is no record of the compensation to the selectmen till " April 5, 1802 : allowed Thomas Mitchell, $5.50; Capt. Joseph Maxcy, $4; Moses Hawes, $12.84; all three for serving as selectmen the year .... Voted the selectmen be al- lowed one dollar a day." This compensation con- tinues to the present time, the selectmen bearing their own expenses when on duty.


ASSESSORS.


1786. Jason Ware, Josiah Robbins, Samuel Hills.


1787. Jan. 15. Samuel Hills, Josiah Robbins, Jason Ware.


1788. Jason Ware, Josiah Robbins, Moses Hawes.


1789. The Selectmen.


1790. The Selectmen.


1791. Barnard Case, Josiah Robbins, Joseph Maxcy.


1792. The Selectmen.


1793. David Robbins, Jason Ware, Josiah Robbins.


1794. Moses Hawes, Samuel Hills, Joseph Maxcy. 1795. The Selectmen.


1796. Edward Jones, Joel Adams, Moses Hawes.


1797. Matthias Hawes, Josiah Maxcy, Edward Jones.


1798. Edward Jones, Waldron Stone, Christopher Butler. 1799. The Selectmen.


120


MUNICIPAL HISTORY.


1800. The Selectmen.


1801. Ebenezer Jennison, Josiah Robbins, Henry Blunt.


1802. Josiah Maxcy, John Tobey, Nathaniel Robbins.


1803. Nathaniel Robbins, Josiah Maxcy, Samuel Daggett. 1804. Nathaniel Robbins, Josiah Maxcy, Samuel Daggett.


1805. Josiah Maxcy, Samuel Daggett, Joel Adams.


1806. Josiah Maxcy, Nathan Daniels, Joel Adams.


1807. Josiah Maxcy, Samuel Daggett, Timothy Stewart.


1808. Josiah Maxcy, Edward Jones, Joel Adams.


1809. Josiah Maxcy, Ebenezer Alden, John W. Lindley.


1810. Simeon Butters, Timothy Stewart, Nathan Daniels, Edward Jones.


1811. The Selectmen.


1812. John Little, Timothy Stewart, Spencer Walcott.


1813. Timothy Stewart, John W. Lindley, Herman Hawes.


1814. Spencer Walcott, Bailey More, Henry Blunt.


1815. Henry Blunt, Herman Hawes, John W. Lindley.


1816. Spencer Walcott, Thomas Mitchell, Nathl. Robbins. 1817. The Selectmen.


1818. Thomas Mitchell, Herman Hawes, William Boggs.


1819. Thomas Mitchell, Herman Hawes, Sterling Davis. 1820. Herman Hawes, Thomas Mitchell, John Butler 1st. 1821. Thos. Mitchell, John W. Lindley, John Butler 1st. 1822. Spencer Walcott, Samuel Stone, John Lermond.


1823. Thomas Mitchell, Spencer Mero, James Littlehale. 1824. Herman Hawes, Calvin Gleason, James Littlehale. 1825. Calvin Gleason, Ziba Simmons, James Littlehale. 1826. Calvin Gleason, James Littlehale, Ziba Simmons. 1827. James Littlehale, Calvin Gleason, Ziba Simmons. 1828. John W. Lindley, James Littlehale, Herman Hawes. 1829. James Littlehale, Calvin Gleason, Noah Bartlett.


1830. James Littlehale, Calvin Gleason, Noah Bartlett.


1831. Calvin Gleason, Sterling Davis, Ziba Simmons.


1832. Thomas Mitchell, James Littlehale, Ziba Simmons. 1833. Henry Blunt, Christopher Young, John W. Lindley. 1834. Thos. Mitchell, Phillips C. Harding, Herman Hawes. 1835. Phillips C. Harding, William Coggan, Nathan Hills. 1836. Phillips C. Harding, William Coggan, Nathan Hills. 1837. The Selectmen.


1838. William Coggan, Nathan Hills, Sterling Davis, jun.


1839. Ebenezer W. Adams, Isley Martin, Jo. Vaughan, jun. 1840. John Gowen, Joseph Vaughan, Leonard Barnard.


1841. James Littlehale, Jo. M. Gleason, Stephen S. Hawes.


121


CONSTABLES.


1842. Joseph M. Gleason, Stephen S. Hawes, Elbridge Ler- mond.


1843. Joseph M. Gleason, Stephen S. Hawes, Elbridge Ler- mond.


1844. Joseph M. Gleason, Orson Cromett, Sterling Davis, jun.


1845. Sterling Davis, jun., Cyrus Gowen, Elijah Vose.


1846. Willard Robbins, William Gleason, Nelson Cutler. 1847. The Selectmen.


1848. Moses Hawes, Sterling Davis, jun., Charles Fogler.


1849. Wm. G. Hawes, Elbridge Lermond, Wm. Coggan.


1850. Ebenezer Blunt, William G. Hawes, John Lermond. 1851. Ebenezer Blunt, William G. Hawes, John Lermond.


ASSESSORS' COMPENSATION. - The assessors have commonly been chosen by ballot; but sometimes, as March 8, 1790, the town has voted that the selectmen should be the assessors for the year.


The compensation has not been uniform. 1793, April 1, " Voted, for making taxes, to Capt. Joel Ad- ams, £1. 14s .; to Lieut. Maxcy, £1. 4s .; to Amariah Mero, £1. 12s." 1794, April 7, " Voted to allow Mr. Jason Ware £1. 14s. for taking valuation and making taxes." 1802, April 5, "Allowed the following accounts, viz .: Josiah Robbins, $10.50; Henry Blunt, $7.50; Ebenezer Jennison, $16.75; all for taking valuation and making taxes the year passed." 1796, April 4, " Voted the assessors have 83 cents a day for 1795 and 1796." In 1797 and 1798, the compensation was $1.17 a day. In 1800 it was $1 a day, and so contin- ued till 1847, when it was fixed at $1.25; but, in 1848, it was again restored to $1 a day. No extra com- pensation is allowed for board, lodging, or travel. The assessors divide such expenses by entertaining each other at their respective dwelling-houses, while making the taxes.


CONSTABLES.


1787, Jan. 15. David Robbins. 1787, March 5, 1788. Abijah Hawes. 1789-90. Samuel Hills. - 1791-1802. Amariah Mero.


11*


122


MUNICIPAL HISTORY.


1803. Moses Hawes. - 1804-6. Amariah Mero.


1807. Spencer Walcott. - 1808. Jabez N. Mitchell.


1809. John Drake. - 1810. Thomas Mitchell, jun.


1811. Thomas Mitchell, jun., Rufus Gillmor.


1812. Thos. Mitchell, jun. - 1813-17. Eben. W. Adams. 1818-19. Rufus Gillmor. - 1820. John Chapman Robbins.


1821. Herman Hawes. - 1822. Rufus Gillmor.


1823. Nathan D. Rice. - 1824. Thomas Mitchell.


1825-28. Isaac Hills. - 1829. John Chapman Robbins. 1830. Samuel Daggett, jun. - 1831. Nathan Hills.


1832-33. Nelson Cutler. - 1833, Oct. 28. Wm. Caswell. 1834. Robert Thompson, jun. - 1835-39. Nathan Hills. 1840. Christopher Young, Nathan Hills, Thomas C. Fos- sett, Elbridge Lermond, Thurston Whiting.


1841. Nathan Hills, Thos. C. Fossett, Christopher Young. 1842. Elisha E. Rice.


1843. Christopher Young, Nathan Hills, Elisha E. Rice, Thomas C. Fossett, Joseph M. Gleason, Robert Thompson, jun.


1844. Christopher Young, Nathan Hills.


1845. Christopher Young, Nathan Hills, Ebenezer Blunt.


1846. Christopher Young, Nathan Hills, Ebenezer Blunt, George Jones.


1847. Christopher Young, Ebenezer Blunt, Edward Hills, Charles Fogler.


1848. Edward Hills, Christopher Young, Ebenezer Blunt.


1849. Edward Hills, William Caswell, Christopher Young, Charles A. Hawes, Nathan Hills, J. W. Payson, Samuel Haskell, Thomas C. Fossett.


1850. Edward Hills, William Caswell, Joseph M. Gleason, Danford Blackington, Nathan Hills, William Glea- son, Nathan Whiting, Christopher Young.


1851. Edw. Hills, Christopher Young, Joseph M. Gleason.


CONSTABLES' COMPENSATION. - May 20, 1799, it was "voted to allow Amariah Mero eight dollars for eight years' service as constable." April 5, 1802, " Voted to allow the constable one dollar a year." Oct. 28, 1833, " Voted to set up the office of consta- ble to the highest bidder." It was taken by William Caswell at five dollars and seventy-five cents. April 7, 1834, it was bid off by Robert Thompson, jun. at fif- teen dollars.


123


COLLECTORS.


COLLECTORS


1786. David Robbins ..


1787. Jan. 15. David Robbins.


1787. April 2. Joel Adams,, at. .


Os. 6d. per pound.


1788. March 3. Richard Cummings . Os. 10d. per pound.


1788. April 7. Amariah Mero


, Os. 10d. per pound. Os. 11d. per pound.


1789. Ebenezer Jennison,


1790. Ebenezer Jennison


1790. Nov. 8. Joel Adams


1791. David Robbins


1s. 10d. per pound. 2s. 0d. per pound. 1s. 11d. per pound.


1792. Samuel Hills .


1s. 0d. per pound.


1793. Edward Jones


1s. 7d. per pound.


1794. Timothy Stewart1


Os. 7d. per pound.


1794. David Robbins ?


1s. 10d. per pound.


1795. Josiah Robbins ..


1s. 7d. per pound.


1796. Richard Cummings


1s. 0d. per pound.


1797. Richard Cummings


1s. 4d. per pound.


1798. Thomas Mitchell


1s. 4d. per pound.


1799. March 5. Edward Jones, who was excused 1s. 4d. per pound.


1799. April 1. Nathaniel Robbins


1800. Thomas Mitchell


1802. Spencer Walcott


1803. Spencer Walcott


Os. 8d.3 per pound. 8 cents per pound. 2c. 5m. per dollar.


1805. Spencer Walcott


8c. Om. per pound.


1806. Jabez N. Mitchell


8c. Om. per pound.


1807. Josiah Robbins


1808. Jabez N. Mitchell


7c. 5m. per pound. 8c. Om. per pound.


1809. John Drake


7c. Om. per pound. 10c. Om. per pound.


1811. Thomas Mitchell, jun. .


3c. Om. per dollar.


1812. Thomas Mitchell, jun. .


1813. Ebenezer W. Adams


1814. Ebenezer W. Adams


5c. 9m. per pound. 6c. 8m. per pound. 6c. 9m. per pound. 5c. 9m. per pound. 7c. Om. per pound.


1816. Jeremiah Mitchell


1817. Ebenezer W. Adams


1c. 9m. per dollar.


1818. Rufus Gillmor


2c. 5m. per dollar.


1819. Rufus Gillmor


2c. 5m. per dollar.


1 For the inhabitants.


2 For non-residents.


3 Lawful money.


1815. Ebenezer W. Adams


1810. Thomas Mitchell, jun. .


1s. 8d. per pound. 1s. 4d.3 per pound.


1804. Jabez N. Mitchell


124


MUNICIPAL HISTORY.


1820. John Chapman Robbins


3c. Om. per dollar.


1821. Herman Hawes .


2c. 5m. per dollar.


1822. Herman Hawes


3c. Om. per dollar.


1823. Nathan D. Rice .


2c. 8m. per dollar.


1824. Thomas Mitchell


2c. 7m. per dollar.


1825. Isaac Hills


2c. 5m. per dollar. 1c. 9m. per dollar.


1826. Isaac Hills


1827. Isaac Hills


2c. 9m. per dollar.


1828. Isaac Hills


2c. 9m. per dollar. 1c. Om. per dollar.


1829. John C. Robbins (April 6)


1829. Saml. Daggett, jun. (Sept. 14)


2c. 8m. per dollar.


1830. Samuel Daggett, jun. . . 0c. 9m. per dollar.


1831. Nathan Hills, giving for the privilege


1832. Nelson Cutler


1833. Nelson Cutler


1834. The Treasurer


1835. Nathan Hills .


Oc. 4m. per dollar.


1836. Nathan Hills .


Oc. 5m. per dollar.


1837. Nathan Hills, giving


0c. 1-1 m. per dollar.


1838. Nathan Hills .


0c. 9m. per dollar.


1839. Nathan Hills, giving


0c. 7m. per dollar.


1840. Nathan Hills .


1841. The Treasurer


0c. 1m. per dollar. (no record.) (no record.)


1842. Elisha E. Rice


1843. Ebenezer Cobb


1c. 5m. per dollar.


1c. 5m. per dollar.


1c. Om. per dollar.


1846. Ebenezer Blunt


1c. Om. per dollar.


1847. Ebenezer Blunt


1c. 5m. per dollar.


1848. Ebenezer Blunt .


1c. 5m. per dollar.


1849. Joseph M. Gleason


1c. 5m. per dollar.


1850. Joseph M. Gleason


1c. 5m. per dollar.


1851. Joseph M. Gleason .


1c. 5m. per dollar.


1844. Ebenezer Cobb


1845. Ebenezer Blunt


Oc. 4m. per dollar. 1c. Om. per dollar. Oc. 8m. per dollar. (no record.)


COLLECTORS' COMPENSATION. - Against the preced- ing names are placed the terms on which the taxes were collected in the different years. The office has generally been " set up at vendue," and undertaken by the lowest bidder. The first record of this proceeding is dated April 2, 1787; and the assessors were in- structed "to add sixpence a pound on the next tax,"


125


COLLECTORS.


this being the rate at which the collecting was under- taken. In 1846 and since, a collector has been regu- larly chosen, the terms on which he would undertake the business being understood before his election.


If a collector fails to procure satisfactory bondsmen, or to do the duty, or resigns, a substitute is chosen. Nov. 3, 1794, it was voted to allow to John Butler 1s. 6d. on the pound for collecting No. 3 tax; and an order of the same date was accordingly issued to pay him £4. 0s. 4d. The No. 3 tax was the one for the third year from the incorporation of the town, and Butler may have discharged part of the duty of col- lecting it.


The collector is held accountable for the whole amount of the taxes committed to him, whether they are against responsible persons or not. The risk he thus assumes is not great. A very poor person is sel- dom taxed, lest he should thus gain a residence in the town, and the people become liable for his support. If, after reasonable efforts, it is considered impractica- ble to collect any one's tax, the amount is remitted by an act of the town1 in town-meeting, and thus the collector's liability ceases. But it must be apparent that the collector has made reasonable exertion to ob- tain it. Jan. 4, 1790, an article was brought forward " to see if the town will allow John Butler such taxes as he cannot collect on the tax-bills committed to him to collect, for the reasons that he can produce ;" but " the town voted that they supposed he had not tried sufficiently."


The rates for collecting taxes sometimes have de- pended in part on the additional duties or privileges of the collectors. In 1839, it was voted that the person who "bid them off" should "have the constable's berth." In April, 1843, a vote was passed to choose a collector by ballot; but it was immediately recon-


1 April 6, 1829, when the subject of abatement of taxes came before the town, it was " voted that the selectmen should abate such taxes as they might think proper."


126


MUNICIPAL HISTORY.


sidered, and the selectmen were instructed to receive proposals and report at an adjourned meeting. At the adjourned meeting, it was " voted that the collection of taxes be put up at auction to the lowest bidder, he having the privilege of being constable, and doing the business of the town gratis."


TREASURERS.


1787-95. Matthias Hawes. 1795-1800. Jason Ware.


1801-10. Levi Morse.


1811-18. Spencer Walcott. 1819-28. Ebenezer Alden.


1829-31. Danl. F.Harding.


1832. Nathl. Robbins.


1833. John Little.


1834-35. Nathl. Robbins.


1836. Amos Drake.


1837. Ebenezer Cobb.


1838-43. Amos Drake.


1844. Bradley R. Mow-


ry.


1845-50. Elijah Vosc.


1851.


Spencer Walcott.


The name of the town-treasurer for 1792 and 1793 is not on record; but it was undoubtedly Matthias Hawes. He was regularly clected also in 1795, but soon declined, and was succeeded by Jason Ware, May 6, 1795.


TREASURER'S COMPENSATION. - May 20, 1799, " Vo- ted to allow Mr. Jason Ware twenty-four dollars for four years' services as treasurer." April 5, 1802, " Voted to allow the treasurer six dollars a year.", The same allowance was made in 1804 and 1805, and has been continued to the present time.


TITHINGMEN.


1787. John Butler. - 1788. Samuel Hills.


1789. Amos Lawrence. - 1790. David Woodcock.


1791. Jason Ware. - 1792. Richard Cummings.


1793. Christopher Butler, Seth Luce.


1794. George West, Bailey Grinnell.


1795. George West, Edward Jones. 1796. Jessa Robbins, Levi Morse.


1797. Bailey Grinnell, Joseph Butler.


1798. David Snell, Thomas Daggett.


1799. Christopher Butler, Matthias Hawes.


1800. Matthias Hawes, Christopher Butler.


127


TITHINGMEN.


1801. Jason Ware, Rufus Dyer.


1802. Matthias Hawes, Jason Ware.


1803. Rufus Dyer, Daniel Walker.


1804. Joel Adams, Abel Walker. - 1805. Amos Walker. 1806. Danl. Walker. - 1807. Danl. Walker, Abel Walker. 1808. Jessa Robbins, Samuel Daggett.


1809. (March) David Robbins, Wm. Boggs, Edward Jones. 1809. (April) Joel Adams, Thomas Mitchell, Samuel Hills. 1810. George Bowes, Israel Leavitt.


1811. Jason Ware, Christopher Butler, Abijah Hawes.


1812. Samuel Hills 1st, Thaddeus Luce, Jessa Robbins.


1813. Simeon Butters, Jessa Robbins.


1814. Solomon Hewes, Susman Abrams.


1815. Jonathan Carriel, Solomon Hewes, Simeon Butters, Joseph Morse, Samuel Hills, Richard Cummings, Aaron Young, George Wellington, Jacob Ring, Abel Walker, Thomas Mitchell, and Zebulon Sar- gent. The latter chosen May 8, in the place of Otis Bills, excused.


1816. Sterling Davis, Simon Fuller, Spencer Walcott, not sworn ; Abijah Hawes, Jessa Robbins, Solomon Hewes, Cornelius Irish, Amos Walker, Simeon Butters, Jeremiah Stubbs, John Butler 1st, Benja- min Walker, Samuel Hills, sworn.


1817. Cornelius Irish, Samuel Hills 1st, Simon Fuller, Jessa Robbins, Calvin Gleason, Thaddeus Luce, Abijah Hawes.


1818. Jessa Robbins, Daniel Walker, Joel Adams.


1819. Daniel Walker, Bela Robbins, Simeon Butters.


1820. Daniel Walker, John Walker, Abel Walker.


1821. Samuel Hills, Simcon Butters.


1822. John Kieff, Simeon Butters, Phinehas Butler.


1823. Daniel Walker, Simcon Butters.


1824. Daniel Walker, Simon Fuller, John Butler.


1825. Daniel F. Harding, James Maxfield, Abel Walker.


1826. Edward Brown, John Hemenway, Reuben Hills.


1827. Zaccheus Litchfield, Roland Cobb, James St. Clair.


1828. Johnson Pilsbury, James Maxfield. 1829-41. (No record.)


1842. Joseph Irish, Obadiah Harris, Prince Luce.


1843. Robt. Thompson, jun., Elisha E. Rice, Nath. Whitney.


1844. George W. Butler, David Hill, Ebenezer W. Adams.


1845. Nathan Whitney, Walter Blake, Nathan Hills, jun.


128


MUNICIPAL HISTORY.


1846. Horace Titus, Walter Blake, Nathan Hills 2d. .


1847. Abel Walker, William Shepard, Oren O. Stewart, Thaddeus Luce, Nathan Walker.




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