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 22
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1840, Sept.14. No choice ; adjourned to -
1840, Sept.21. No choice; adjourned to -
1840, Sept.28. Nelson Cutler, 174+; Leonard Barnard, 148 ; Peter Adams, 12; Hannibal Ham- lin, 5; John W. Lindley, 3.
1841, . Phillips C. Harding, 145+; Peter Adams, 5 ; Joel Adams, 2; Leonard Bump, 2; N. Bachelder, 1; John Gowen, 1.
1842, . Wm. McDowell, 179; Phillips Clark Hard- ing, 153+; Elijah Vose, 1.
1843, Sept.11. Wm. McDowell, 147; George Jones, 124; D. F. Harding, 3; Jonathan Sibley, 1.
1843, Oct. 2. Wm. McDowell,* 147+; George Babb, 69; Wm. Young, 3; Joseph Irish, 1; Moses Pelton, 1; D. F. Harding, 1.
1844, Sept. 9. Otis Hawes, 200; Steph. Carriel, 181}; D. F. Harding, 8; John Butler, 1; Stephen, 1.
* Of Washington. + Elected.
251
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1845, Sept. 8. No choice.
1845, Sept.29. Wm. Young,* 128}; Otis Hawes, 114; Moses Pelton, 4; Samuel Stone, 2.
1846, James Newhall, 183 ; Elbridge Lermond, 173+; Christopher Young, 1.
1847, Thomas Burns, 134; William Witt,* 137+; Samuel Bowker, 9; Joshua S. Green, 1.
1848, Christopher Young, 124}; Stephen S. Hawes, 181; C. Young, 5; Silas Hawes, 1; C. Y., 1.
1849, . Elias Skidmore, 175; Timothy Cunning- ham," 143+; Church Burton, 13; Ste- phen S. Hawes, 1.
1850, . James Burns, 176 ; Joseph Irish, 150t.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Oct. 6, 1781, " a commission was made out to Ma- son Wheaton, Esq., of Sterlington, to be a justice of the peace in the county of Lincoln." This was before there was any organization of the inhabitants. An early movement of the town toward procuring a com- mission for a justice of the peace was very demo- cratic. The warrant calling a town-meeting, July 8, 1793, contains three articles on the subject : one "to see if the town will vote to have a person put in the commission of the peace ;" another "to see if the town will vote for any particular person ;" and a third "to see if the town will choose a committee to petition the Governor, or act or do any thing relative thereto." The votes in connection with these articles are re- corded very distinctly and explicitly. The inhabitants " voted they will choose a man for justice of the peace. ... Voted they will have Mr. Edward Jones for a jus- tice of the peace," upon which the town-clerk makes the memorandum, -" He had thirteen votes; which were all but one that voted." " Voted that the town will choose a committee of three to petition the Gov- ernor for the peace .... Voted Messrs. Josiah Maxcy, Amariah Mero, and Samuel Hills, for this committee.
* Of Washington. + Elected.
252
POLITICAL HISTORY.
.. . Voted that the town-clerk give the committee an attested copy of the votes." This is the only record of any action by the town. on the subject. Jones, however, was not nominated, notwithstanding the movements of the town in his favor. Ebenezer Jen- nison, though objected to, probably by Jones's friends, was commissioned. In the following lists, the dates of qualifications, which were on record in the offices of the Secretaries of the States of Massachusetts and Maine, in August, 1850, are subjoined. Whether the others were ever qualified or not, does not appear. The first list is from the records of Massachusetts : -
Names.
Dates of Commissions.
Of Qualification.
Ebenezer Jennison
Oct. . . . . 1795
Edward Jones .
Feb.
10, 1802
.
Nathaniel Robbins
Feb. 14, 1806
Stephen March
Feb. 2,1809
Edward Jones
Feb. 21,1809
Nathan Blake
May 13,1811
Jonathan Sibley
June 28, 1811
Nathaniel Robbins
Jan. 28, 1813 .
. Feb. 4,1813.
Timothy Stewart
Feb. 11, 1813
April 26, 1813.
Stephen March *
Jan. 19, 1816
William Brown
Jan. 24, 1816 .. June 21, 1816.
Nathan Blake .
Feb. 16, 1818
Jonathan Sibley .
Aug. 19, 1818 . . April 24, 1819.
Nathaniel Robbins
Jan.
29, 1820 . . Feb. 8,1820.
The commissions in the office of the Secretary of the State of Maine are recorded as follows : -
Names.
Dates of Commissions.
Of Qualification.
Nathan Blake
Feb. 16, 1818 . .
John Bulfinch .
Jan. 24, 1821 . .
Nathaniel Robbins * Jan. 29,1820
Jonathan Sibley Aug. 19, 1818
William Brown
Jan. 24, 1818 . .
Nathaniel Robbins
Feb. 23, 1821 . .
Nathaniel Bachelor . . Feb.
23,1821 . .
* Justices of the peace and quorum.
253
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Names.
Dates of Commissions.
Of Qualification.
Jonathan Sibley . .
Feb. 23, 1821
Joseph H. Beckett
March 13, 1821 . .
Daniel F. Harding May 10,1821 . .
Timothy Stewart
Feb. 8, 1822 .
Walter Blake
Feb. 14, 1824 . . March27, 1824.
. Joseph H. Beckett* [Re-appointed
April 8,1825]
Henry True *
Feb. 21, 1825 . . March28, 1825.
Nathaniel Robbins
Feb. 22, 1825 .. March19, 1825.
Nathan D. Rice .
June 22, 1827 . . Jan. 15, 1828.
John W. Lindley
Oct. 19, 1827 .. Jan. 19, 1828.
Nathaniel Robbins *. . Feb.
7, 1828 . Appointed before.
Nathaniel Bachelor
Feb. 7,1828 . .
Jona. Libby [Sibley ] . Feb.
7, 1828 .
Daniel F. Harding
March 1,1828 . .
Timothy Stewart
Feb.
13, 1829
Elisha Harding
Nov.
1,1830
John Little
Jan. 31, 1831
. .
Walter Blake
March 12, 1831 . . April 4, 1831.
Joseph H. Beckett *
Feb.
3, 1832 . . Feb. 10, 1832.
Thomas Mitchell
Feb. 10,1832 .
Nathaniel Robbins * Feb. 17, 1832 . . Feb. 29, 1832.
Daniel F. Harding
. Feb. 17,1832
John S. Abbot
March 2, 1832 . . March14, 1832.
Calvin Gleason
Dec.
24, 1832 . . Jan. 30, 1833.
William Shepard
Oct. 22, 1834
William Shepard *
Dec. 31, 1834 . . Feb. 20, 1835.
John W. Lindley
Dec. 31, 1834 . . Jan. 26,1835.
Benjamin Gallop
March 19, 1835 .
William Gleason Nelson Cutler *
Jan. 21,1836
. . Feb. 6,1836.
March 30, 1837 . . April 7,1837.
Augustus C. Robbins . March 13, 1838
. . April 14. 1838.
Walter Blake **
March 24, 1838
. April 7, 1838.
Joseph H. Beckett
Feb. 7,1839 . . Feb. 26, 1839.
Nathaniel Robbins *.
. March 7, 1839 April 24, 1839
John Whiting
George Cummings
Dec. 31,1839
Calvin Gleason
Jan. 23, 1840
. . Jan. 28, 1840.
Thomas Mitchell
Feb. 13, 1840 . .
Ebenezer Cobb *
March 18, 1840
. . April 24, 1839.
* Justices of the peace and quorum.
22*
Feb. 5, 1825 .
254
POLITICAL HISTORY.
Names.
Dates of Commissions.
Of Qualification.
Elijah Vose .
Oct. 8, 1840
Ebenezer W. Adams * .
Feb. 18, 1841 . April 5,1841.
John Gowen . .
March 12, 1841 .
April 5,1841.
Nathan D. Rice
June 25, 1841
John W. Lindley * Jan. 22, 1842
Phillips C. Harding . . Feb. 24, 1842
Nathan B. Robbins
. March 3, 1842
April 9, 1842.
Nathan Bachelder *
. June 21, 1843
William Gleason Feb. 2,1843
Elisha E. Rice *
June 21, 1843 . . Oct.
6, 1843.
Daniel F. Harding
Feb.
22, 1844
.
Asa Master t.
Feb. 22, 1844 .
Willard Robbins
Feb. 22, 1844 . .
Edward Hills
Feb. 22, 1844
William Gleason
March 14, 1844
April 18, 1844.
Asa Messer
March 15, 1844
. April 3, 1844.
Hiram Dorman
Jan. 15, 1845
Nelson Cutler
Jan. 15, 1845
. . Feb. 6,1845.
M. R. Hopkins
May 2, 1846 .. May 15, 1846.
Elijah Vose *
Nov. 2, 1847 .. Nov. 11, 1847.
John Gowen
May
1,1848 . . June 10, 1848.
John Goodwin
May 26,1848
Jan. 28, 1825, Nathaniel Robbins was commissioned to qualify civil officers.
CORONER.
Dec. 18, 1809. Ebenezer Alden. May 5, 1810. Ebenezer Alden. Feb. 1, 1827. Ebenezer Alden.
POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS.
'The first post-office was established in 1810, through the influence of the Hon. Mark Langdon Hill, on con- dition that it should be without expense to the govern- ment. Accordingly, for many years, the postmasters, though they made quarterly returns to the General Post Office, were entitled to all the money received by them. At their own expense, they sent for the mail
* Justices of the peace and quorum. + Error for Asa Messer.
. Feb. 7,1842.
255
POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS.
to Waldoborough or Warren. It was generally brought in saddle-bags on horseback, once or twice a week. William White was the first postmaster, and held the office till he removed to Belfast. He was succeeded by Ebenezer Alden, whose commission was dated Jan. 19, 1813. During the greater part of Mr. Alden's administration, the business was transacted by deputies, residing on the Common. He held the office for the long period of thirty-two years. When the rates of postage were reduced in 1845, he resigned, and was succeeded, Aug. 12, by Jesse Wentworth Pay- son. Mr. Payson was removed, and succeeded by Edward Hills, Esq., May 11, 1849.
QUARTERLY STATEMENTS OF POSTAGE, From which must be deducted Dead Letters, Papers, Pamphlets, &c., which average perhaps four per cent.
Year.
First Quarter.
Second Quarter.
Third Quarter.
Fourth Quarter.
1821.
$25.20
$17.93}
$21.743
1822.
$19.04}
17.94
20.20
20.62
1823.
23.85₺
20.11}
17.62
15.99 .¿
1824.
24.63
19.59
21.96
21.87
1825.
23.70
30.34
27.67
26.63
1826.
28.58
28.50
27.85
33.01
1827.
25.83
25.93
25.95
25.91
1828.
28.82
25.71
21.46
25.99
1829.
25.83
30.42
25.59
23.08
1830.
23.30
24.74
31.22
23.86
1831.
28.84₺
35.08
36.563
30.173
1832.
29.75
37.09₫
46.55₺
36.80
1833.
39.90
43.33₺
29.074
31.60₺
1834.
39.063
38.52
33.20號
29.89₴
1835.
39.94毫
42.65
39.594
37.77
1836.
40.05₴
42.66₺
45.54
46.10%
1837. , 1838.
52.144
56.25₺
51.44
50.74
1839.
56.684
50.13
62.20₺
56.33
1840.
72.142
48:19
53.664
65.614
1841.
76.522
63.82
66.83毫
74.62
1842.
89.98
76.33星
62.26₺
60.63
1843.
70.73
73.524
66.03
68.45
1844.
73.82₺
74.15
75.34
51.32
1845.
81.07
73.41
31.54
28.15
1846.
62.59
70.80
70.50
70.25
1847.
82.13
73.18
93.40
82.73
1848.
85.53
85.94
85.18
85.00
1849.
91.47
-
41.424
46.62
47.25
42.55₺
256
FINANCIAL HISTORY.
A post-office was established at East Union, Feb. 28, 1849, and Joshua S. Greene appointed postmaster, He resigned Nov. 1, 1849, when he was succeeded by E. G. D. Beveridge, Esq.
Feb. 12, 1851, Capt. Samuel Stone was appointed postmaster of the North Union Post Office, which was opened March 3, 1851, near Fossetts' Mills.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
FINANCIAL HISTORY.
Taxes. - Early Apportionment of Taxes. - Controversy with War- ren. - Petition to the Legislature in 1780. - Petition to the Legislature in 1783. - Plantation Taxes. - Taxes since the Incor- poration. - Taxes paid in Produce. - Exemption of Philip Rob- bins, jun. - Table. - Adams's Petition to the Legislature in 1794. - State of the Finances in 1795. - Dollars and Cents. - Taking the Valuation. - Payment of Taxes.
TAXES.
EARLY APPORTIONMENT. - There is a tradition, that, soon after the settlement of the plantation, it was thought advisable to levy a tax. The population was very small. The assessor of the taxes, who it seems was also collector, not being expert in figures or pen- manship, verbally informed the tax-payers of the amount which he apportioned to each; and they readily paid him, without even the formality of taking receipts. If this be true, the golden age of tax-paying without grumbling has long since passed away. But it is to be feared that such a happy state of things never existed.
CONTROVERSY WITH WARREN. - The earliest au- thentic information which has been found is contained in a copied volume of the records of Warren. Capt. McIntyre was constable of Warren in 1779. Nov. 9, 1780, the inhabitants of that town voted, that " Capt.
257
PETITIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE.
McIntyre proceed according to law in collecting the taxes committed to him to collect." Nov. 30, 1780, Moses Copeland, William Lermond, and Robert Montgomery, were chosen a committee " to treat and agree with Mr. Philip Robbins of Union respecting the collecting of taxes ;" and they " were empowered to sign arbitration-bonds with him in behalf of the town."
PETITION TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 1780. - The next information is from a document found in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As it contains incidental information of interest, it is printed entire : -
" To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representa- tives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Dec. 1780.
" The petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of a planta- tion called Sterlingtown, in the county of Lincoln, humbly showeth, - That the said Sterlingtown is an entire new set- tlement, consisting of nine families and a few single men.
" That three1 of the said families have been settled about four years, two2 about three years, and none of the others more than one year; and several of them obliged as yet to depend on their friends at the Westward for support.
"That Sterlingtown, and the settlements therein, are situate at a great distance from any other settlement.
" That we have no other way of passing to said planta- tion from other settlements only through the woods, or up St. George's River, part of the way by water and part by land ; but the passing that way is prevented nearly six weeks every spring and fall by reason of the ice.
" That we have waited on the inhabitants of the town of Warren (by our committee chosen for that purpose), request- ing them to lay out a road through the woods from the set- tlements in their town to the line between said Warren and Sterlingtown; but they utterly refused to have any thing to do about said road, but only would consent that we might clear out a road (without the same being laid out), the length whereof would be about six miles, as it must run,
1 Philip Robbins, David Robbins, and Richard Cummings, in 1776.
2 Probably, Ezra Bowen and John Butler, in 1777.
258
FINANCIAL HISTORY.
crossing St. George's River twice in its way, which would require two large bridges.
" That, in December, A.D. 1778, a large barn belonging to Mr. Robbins, in which was stored almost all the grain raised that year by the [then] inhabitants of the place, was consumed by fire, with twenty tons of hay; which brought the inhabitants into great want, and occasioned the loss of ten head of cattle that winter.
"That we lie exposed, as a frontier settlement, to the scouting parties of the enemy from Majorbagaduce, who, often passing this way, keep us in continued alarm ; and, by order of Gen. Wadsworth, we have the summer past, and yet do keep up a watch and scouting party to discover and detect them.
" And lastly, notwithstanding all these our difficult cir- cumstances and sufferings, we were taxed by the assessors of Warren in the year 1779 ; and they seem further determined to assess us in all the taxes.
" Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray your Excellency and Honors to take our case under your wise, just, and paternal consideration, and grant that we may be exempted from paying taxes until we are in circumstances to bear the burden thereof. And, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c.
" RICHARD COMINGS. DAVID ROBBINS. EBENEZER ROBBINS.
MOSES HAWES. EZRA BOWEN. JOHN BUTLER.
JESSE ROBBINS.
MASON WHEATON.
PHINEHAS BUTLER. JOEL ADAMS.
PHILIP ROBBINS."
[Consequently ], " On the petition of the inhabitants of the town of Sterlington, in the county of Lincoln, Resolved [May 11, 1781] that the town of Warren, in the county of Lincoln, be directed to pay to the inhabitants of Sterlington such taxes as they have taxed and received of said town ; and the said town of Warren is further directed not to tax the inhabitants of Sterlington until the further order of the Gene- ral Court, any law to the contrary notwithstanding."
PETITION TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 1783.
" To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representa- tives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Sept. 1783. " The petition of the inhabitants of the plantation called Sterlingtown, in the county of Lincoln, showeth, - That
259
PETITIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE.
your petitioners feel themselves insupportably burdened by being heavily taxed, and exposed to execution, considering the smallness of our number now, being only seventeen ratable polls, though we have had twenty-seven ; the new- ness of our settlements, and being in the wilderness at a great distance from other inhabitants (though bordering on other incorporated towns, through the uninhabited parts whereof we have not as yet been able to procure any roads), our sufferings by fire and from the war, and our having been taxed as adjacent inhabitants to another town ; all which we have largely set forth in former petitions to the Honorable Court. Add to these, that we have no power or authority amongst ourselves to assess and collect a tax, though it has been requested of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace in this county.
" Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray, that our taxes may be abated until we are in circumstances of ability equal to our other brethren in the commonwealth, and then we will gladly pay our proportion; and that we then may be invested with proper authority to assess and collect the same. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c.
" PHILIP ROBBINS. EBENEZER ROBBINS.
EZRA BOWEN.
JOHN BUTLER. JOEL ADAMS.
MOSES HAWES. RICHARD COMINGS.
DAVID ROBBINS. JESSA ROBBINS.
ABIJAH HAWES. MATTHIAS HAWSE.
JASON WARE.
PHINEHAS BUTLER."
" Resolve on the petition of the inhabitants of the planta- tion called Sterlington, directing the treasurer to stay his execution, March 20, 1784 : -
" On the petition of the inhabitants of the plantation called Sterlington, in the county of Lincoln, setting forth that they have been taxed in two continental taxes, and the last [State] tax, the sum of twenty-five pounds each, and repre- senting their inability to pay the same, -
" Therefore resolved, that the prayer of the petitioners be so far granted that the treasurer of this commonwealth be, and he hereby is, directed to stay his execution upon the said inhabitants until the expiration of twelve months from the date hereof."
260
FINANCIAL HISTORY.
PLANTATION TAXES. - In accordance with an Act of the Legislature of Massachusetts, passed July 9, 1784, for apportioning and assessing a tax of £140,000, for the sole purpose of redeeming the army notes, issued pursuant to an Act, passed July 5, 1781, payable in the years 1784 and 1785; and for raising the further sum of £11,035. 6s. 6d. for the purpose of replacing the same sum, which had been paid out of the treasury to the representatives for their attendance on the five last sessions of the General Court; viz. from November, 1782, to March, 1784, - the plantation of Sterlington was taxed £17. 10s.
The next attempt at taxation seems to have been made in consequence of the tax-act of the Legislature, passed March 23, 1786. The object of this was to raise £300,439. 1s. 3d .: viz., £145,655 to meet the requisition of Congress, made Sept. 27, 1785; for £25,784. 1s. 3d. for the support of government ; £29,000 for the payment of interest on the consoli- dated notes of the State; and £100,000 for redeeming the remainder of the army notes, so called, which be- came payable in 1784 and 1785; and £1,786 not pro- vided for; and also £11,001. 18s. to replace the same sum drawn out of the treasury, to pay the members of the House of Representatives for their attendance the five last sessions of the General Court. The apportion- ment for Stirlington was £65;1 and the warrant issued May 3, 1786, by Mason Wheaton, Esq., of Thomaston, gives an additional memorandum of £2. 11s. for the county tax, and £1. 12s. 4ªd. for soldiers' bounty.
These appear to be all the recorded notices respect- ing taxes, before the incorporation of the town. The
1 By way of comparison, it may be observed, that the apportion- ment to Pittston was £285. 12s. 6d .; to Medumcook, £175. 18s. 9d .; to Belfast, £78. 8s. 9d .; to Camden, £98. 2s. 6d .; to Hallowell, £473. 2s. 6d .; these towns and plantations not being assessed for the pay- ment of representatives. The apportionment to Bristol was £715, also £67. 4s. for payment of representatives; to Warren, £223. 2s. 6d., also £25.4s .; to Thomaston, £204. 7s. 6d., also £57. 15s .; and to Bath, £498. 2s. 6d., also £39. 11s. for the payment of representa- tives.
LISHAYA OF THE UNIVERSITY
Or
TAXES SINCE INCORPORATION. 261
£65 levied by the last Act led the inhabitants to make an application to the Legislature, which resulted in the Act of Incorporation.
TAXES SINCE THE INCORPORATION. - Since the town has been incorporated, the taxes, so far as can be as- certained from obscure and imperfect records, are as follows; probably including school-money, except in the years 1787-1803, 1805, 1808, 1809, and 1814 :-
1787, £10
1803,
$250
1819, $1200
1835, $1300
1788, £10
1804,
$550
1820, $1200
1836, $1300
1789,
£15
1805,
$$350
1821, $1100
1837, $2500
1790,
£15
1806,
$800
1822, $1100
1838, $2000
1791,
£15
1807,
$800
1823, $1100
1839, $2000
1792,
£15
1808,
$400
1824, $1500
1840,
$2500
1793,
£15
1809,
$250
1825, $1200
1841, $1500
1794,
£10
1810,
$1100
1826,
$1300
1842, $1800
1795,
1811,
$1000
1827,
$1000
1843,
$2500
1796, $150
1812,
$750
1828,
$1000
1844, $2000
1797,
$$50
1813,
$600
1829,
$1100
1845, $1600
1798, $100
1814,
$250
1830,
$1000
1846, $1500
1799, $100
1815,
$775
1831,
$1250
1847, $1600
1800, $120
1816,
$900
1832,
$1000
1848, $1500
1801, $200
1817,
$900
1833, $1000
1849, $1500
1802, $150
1818, $1050
1834, $1200
1850, $1500
TAXES PAID IN PRODUCE. - The pecuniary distress of the country, and the poverty and hardships of the early settlers, compelled them to resort to all practica- ble means for relief. As for specie, it may be said, that, during many years, it was hardly seen. When it was required for taxes, the only way to get it was to trap and hunt, and send the furs to Boston for sale. The tax for 1787 was only £10. But it had not been paid July 14, 1788; for then the vote of April, 1787, was reconsidered; and it was voted that the town should have the privilege of paying "town-charges and schooling at the following prices in produce, in lieu of specie : Rye at 4s. 6d. per bushel, flax at 8d. per pound, butter at 8d. per pound, and wool at 2s." This plan, it seems, did not work well; for it was recon- sidered Sept. 13, and the town voted " to have it paid in specie."
23
262
FINANCIAL HISTORY.
When the grant for town-charges was made April 6, 1789, a vote was also passed that it might be " paid in produce at the following prices, if paid by the 15th of November; if not, must be paid in specie : Rye, 4s. 6d. per bushel; sheep's wool, 2s. per pound ; flax, 8d. per pound; butter, 8d. per pound; and boards, staves, and shingles, at market-prices." It was also voted that ten pounds should be paid in the same way " to procure schooling; to be laid out at the discretion of the selectmen." April 4, 1791, it was again voted that the taxes might be paid in produce, at the prices affixed in 1789, "the produce to be merchantable." Oct. 26, an unsuccessful effort was made to reconsider the vote of April 4, with a view to have a part of the amount paid in specie.
EXEMPTION OF PHILIP ROBBINS, JUN. - " March 7, 1791, agreeable to the request of Mr. Philip Robbins, jun., voted that Mr. Philip Robbins, jun., shall have his taxes for the year 1790, and not be assessed for the year 1791,1 as a bounty for having two children at a birth."
TABLE.
NUMBER.
1793.
1794.
1795.
1796.
1797.
1798.
1799.
1800.
1840.
1843,
Polls .
50
481
58
79
96
100}
131}
129
346
348
Houses
13
16
20
26
32
36
42
62
250
241
Barns
14
17
19
22
28
34
36
42
262
228
Saw-mills
3
3
4
4
4
1
3
3
8
8
Grist-mills.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
5*
4+
Horses and colts
12
14
19
22
25
33
37
53
255
228
Oxen
54
56
66
71
84
85
104
100
Cows
110
119
140
147
165
208
236
1459
1443
Two-year-olds
-
42
51
43
38
76
72
62
Yearlings
37
52
47
83
66
57
47
Swine
79
73
76
84
107
114
123
109
363
195
ADAMS'S PETITION.
"To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled.
" The petition of Joel Adams, of Union, in the county of Lincoln, humbly shows, - That he was appointed collector
1 The earliest tax-bill preserved is for the year 1791. The one for 1792 is probably destroyed.
* With twelve pairs of stones.
+ With ten pairs of stones.
-
263
ADAMS'S PETITION.
of State-tax, No. 5, in said town of Union, which was com- mitted to him in the year 1786. That, at that time, the inhabitants of the town were few in number, and very poor. Remote from navigation, they are destitute of the common means of procuring money on the eastern shore. That sun- dry persons were assessed in said tax who paid the same in the towns they respectively came from; and that sundry others left the town before the petitioner had opportunity of collecting their respective rates. That, owing to these and other unfortunate circumstances, he has been able to collect but a small part of said tax, though he has been at great pains and expense in attempting it; and that he has sus- tained considerable loss on what he has collected, as he was obliged to take it of the inhabitants in articles other than money ; and that, as to a great part of the residue, he utterly despairs of ever being able to collect it of the persons assessed.
" Further shows that the sheriff of the county now holds an execution against your petitioner for the sum he is defi- cient on said tax, being about forty-five pounds, which, if extended, will reduce him and his family to great inconve- nience and want.
" Your petitioner, therefore, prays your Honors to take his case into your wise and good consideration, and order such relief as your Honors in your wisdom shall think fit.
" And your petitioner, as in duty bound, shall ever pray. " JOEL ADAMS.
" Union, June 3, 1794."
The preceding application led to a -
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