USA > Vermont > Orange County > Braintree > The history of Braintree, Vermont, including a memorial of families that have resided in town > Part 2
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The numbering of the lots was certainly different on the old plan, for lots number 94, 97, and 98 of the first division were formerly 122, 125, and 126, first division, respectively, as appears by the first deeds given for them. Counting the lots in the order in which they are now numbered, the Brackett mill lot, No. 105, would be by the old method No. 133, by which it was formerly known. Nov. 7,1784, "Voted to alow Mr. James Brackett the 133 wright through out the Town according to the Drawing said Right Providing he Shall Set up or Build a Saw mill and a grist mill on said right, within the term of one Year from
12
HISTORY.
this AdJornment." It would seem by the above that any right was known by the first lot drawn in that right; Oct. 29, 1783, "Voted that the 40th Right or Lot Should Lie or be for the minister's Right." It is impossible to give any reason for the order of numbering the lots. The east line of lots No. 1, 2, 3, etc., in the first rough survey, may have been taken as the boundary between Randolph and Braintree. The surveyors finding later that it was farther east added another range of lots to the first division, which may account for its running along the east end of the second division to Brook- field. Of course this is mere supposition, there being no data to support it.
ESTABLISHING BOUNDS .- In the earliest surveys a mistake was made in running the line between Randolph and Braintree. The charter of Randolph determines its course to be South 36° West, or (since the compass now varies about 4º) S. 40° W. It was run S. 32º (now 36°) W., an error of 40. The dotted line on the plan shows the first, or old, town line. The lot lines of the first and second divisions running northwardly and southwardly are parallel to the old town line and without doubt were run with reference toit. The error began at the point of intersection of the dotted line and the line between the first and the second divisions. The surveyor-general of Vermont finally ran the line on its true course. The correction added a small gore from Randolph to Braintree and a large one from Braintree to Randolph. The latter stands on Randolph town plan as represented on the plan of Braintree, which is evi- dence that the allotments of Randolph were made with reference to the old line. The change, which gored the range of lots next to Randolph much to the discomfort of their owners, was made prior to Sept. 19, 1786, when the proprietors voted "that Samuel Herwood Shall have and hold the 93 Lot in the First Division in lue of the land Cut of (by the last Town line) From Three other Lots owned by Sd Herwood he Being obliged to Drop and Quit the 93 lot in case the First Town line Stands;" and that "Mr. Sam's Spear hold the lot, No. 101, in the First Division if the first old Town line Stands, otherwise to hold the Lot he Draws in the third Draught."
The town of Bethel cuts off about a quarter of lot No. 4, third division, as indicated by the dotted line on the plan. The line between Bethel and Braintree has never been definitely settled. No difficulty appears with any other boundary line, the western by the charter being parallel to the eastern; the northern, parallel to the southern; course N. 61º (now 57º) W.
The original form of Braintree was nearly a rectangle. . According to figures on the plan the western boundary is 28 rods longer than the eastern; the southern, 83 rods longer than the northern; owing partly if not wholly to difference of surface.
DISPOSAL OF THE RIGHTS .- The whole number of rights, including the five reserved by the charter, was seventy. Counting as lots those made gores by the change of the eastern boundary, the town originally contained 228 lots of 100 acres and 15 gores of varying size. There were then three lots to each right and a remainder of 18 lots and the gores, known as the after divis- ion, or undivided land. The proprietors voted Oct. 29, 1783, to proceed to draw the rights. The method of drawing is not known; "probably they were
13
ESTABLISHING BOUNDS, DISPOSAL OF THE RIGHTS.
drawn by lottery as was common in those days." (Samuel A. Bates, Town Clerk, Braintree;' Mass.)
The following is a list of the original proprietors with the residence of each, as far as known, and number of each lot drawn to his right. A star (*) indicates those who became residents of Braintree. In explanation 1-2 means. lot No. 1, second division; 30-3, lot No. 30, third division; 90-1, lot No. 90 first division; etc.
Proprietors.
Residence.
Ist Draught.
Draught. Draught.
1. Thomas Harback,
Sutton, Mass.,
1-2
30-3
37-3
2. Benjamin Mann,
Braintree, Mass.,
90-1
34-3
78-1
3. Isaac Spear,
Braintree, Mass.,
6-1
26-3
109-1
4. Ebenezer Weston,
40-2
3-3
48-3
5. Samuel Wales,
54-1
14-3
30-2
6. William King,
Sutton, Mass.,
8-3
52-3
39-1
7. Peter Putnam,
Sutton, Mass.,
08-1
32-3
38-2:
8. Daniel Davis,
Harvard, Mass.,
14-1
12-2
45-1
9. Edward Davis,
Oxford, Mass.,
8-1
44-2
111-1
10.
Thomas French,
Braintree, Mass.,
48-1
53-3
40-3.
11. William Ward,
102-1
25-3
72-1
12. Elijah Galusha,
Arlington, Vt.,
76-1
4-3
58-1
13. William Emerson,
Arlington, Vt.,
15-1
3-2
68-1
14. Bartholomew Hutchinson, Sutton, Mass.,
8-2
6-3
113-1
15. Richard Newcomb,
9-2
28-3
64-1
16. Ebenezer Brackett,
Braintree, Mass.,
41-1
60-3
89-1
17.
John Elliott,
Sutton, Mass.,
24-1
16-3
47-2
18.
Samuel Harwood,*
Sutton, Mass.,
99-1
29-3
35-2
19. John Putnam,
Sutton, Mass,
97-1
34-2
42-3
20. Andrew Elliott,
Sutton, Mass.,
37-1
48-2
24-2.
21. Jonathan Holman,
Sutton, Mass.,
103-1
19-2
44-3
22. Moses Holbrook,
Braintree, Mass.,
57-1
42-2
91-1
Braintree, Mass.,
18-1
20-2
87-1
24.
Ephraim Mann,
Braintree, Mass.,
5-1
26-2
45-3
25. Joseph Richards,
Stoughton, Mass.,
26-1
2-2
7-3
26. Jonathan Holbrook,
Braintree, Mass.,
80-1
22-3
11-1
27.
Daniel Holman,
Sutton, Mass.,
104-1
20-3
86-1
28.
Levi Davis,
Charlton, Mass.,
106-1
14-2
45-2
29.
John King,*
Sutton, Mass.,
10-1
4-2
1-3.
30. Jonathan Woodbury,
Sutton, Mass.,
33-1
15-2
43-1
31.
Thomas Hayden,
Braintree, Mass.,
44-1
46-2
1-1
32.
Thomas Chittenden,
Williston, Vt.,
22-1
21-3
28-2
33.
James Holbrook,
Braintree, Mass.,
29-1
7-2
38-3.
34.
James Brackett,
Braintree, Mass.,
4-1
17-2
13-1
35.
Charles Brackett,*
Braintree, Mass.,
70-1
2-3
69-1
36. Ezra Weld,
Braintree, Mass.,
47-1
39-2
36-3
37.
Benjamin Hayden,
Braintree, Mass.,
33-2
35-3
88-1
38. Edward Putnam,
Sutton, Mass.,
96-1
24-3
75-T
:
23. Nathaniel Spear,*
2d
3d
14
HISTORY.
2d
3d
Proprietors.
Residence.
Ist Draught.
. Draught. Draught.
39. Benjamin Hayden, jr.,
Braintree, Mass.,
38-1
15-3
2-1
40. Caleb Holbrook,
Braintree, Mass.,
59-1
60-1
61-1
41. Reuben Coats,
108-1
107-1
92-1
42. Isaac Niles,
Braintree, Mass.,
17-1
5-2
12-1
43. Joseph Spear,*
Braintree, Mass.,
50-1
49-1
110-1
44. Willlam Brackett,
Braintree, Mass.,
52-1
13-2
79-1
45. Zebe Hayden,
Braintree, Mass.,
34-1
5-3
56-1
46.
Samuel Brackett,
Braintree, Mass.,
19-1
23-3
58-3
47.
Henry Brackett,*
Braintree, Mass.,
42-1
35-1
29-2
48.
Nathaniel Leonard,
Shaftsbury, Vt.,
53-1
32-2
83-1
50.
Archelas Putnam,
Sutton, Mass.,
9-1
10-3
63-1
52.
Ebenezer Brackett, jr.,
Braintree, Mass.,
36-1
32-2
89-1
53. Job Brackett,
Braintree, Mass.,
31-1
27-3
77-1
54.
Joseph Hulett,
Chester, Vt.,
7-1
23-1
74-1
55. James Brackett, jr.,
Braintree, Mass.,
25-1
17-3
41-2
56.
Joseph Allen,
Braintree, Mass.,
16-1
16-2
33-3
57.
Ephraim Wales,
Braintree, Mass.,
9-3
12-3
23-2
58. Isaac Spear, jr.,
Braintree, Mass.,
21-1
43-2
51-1
59. Thomas Wales, jr.,
20-1
37-2
112-1
60. Samuel Spear, jr.,*
Braintree, Mass.,
55-1
19-3
71-1
61.
Stephen Penniman,
Braintree, Mass.,
3-1
25-2
43-3
62. Samuel Spear,
Braintree, Mass.,
62-1
18-2
41-3
63.
Reuben Davis,
Braintree, Mass.,
46-1
31-3
36-2
64.
David Holbrok,
Braintree, Mass.,
81-1
10-2
39-3
65.
Jacob Spear,*
Braintree, Mass.,
32-1
11-2
67-2
66. School lot,
30-1
54-3
82-1
67.
Support of Gospel,
27-1
6-2
21-2
68. Mill Right,
105-1
59-3
27-2
69. Minister Right,
40-1
11-3
47-3
70. College Right (voted Sept. 19, 1786.)
114-1
115-1
116-1
Several rights and lots were disposed of by vote. James Brackett was voted November, 1784, "the 133 wright Through out the Town," which was the mill right, 103-1, formerly 133-1. This was the lot on which he built his mills, and is still known as the "mill lot." It was deeded to him, Sept. 19, 1786, "in consideration of thirty pounds." On the 1st of June, 1801, Brackett sold it to Joseph Riford, of Randolph, Mass., for 150 pounds. It has since remained in the possession of the Riford family. At the same meeting, "voted to give Mr. Kimball one right of land in Sd. Town to Pitch on any right that is not taking up or Pitchd by the Proprietors Providing he Shall tarry in Said Town the term of three years and Build a house on said right." It is not known that he fulfilled these conditions.
Sept. 19, 1786, "Voted that Hiram Bass have for his own right and title the lot No. 95 in the First Division." His was the first birth in Braintree, May 31, 1785, and he lived on this lot till his death, Sept. 25, 1868.
49. Noah Chittenden,
28-1
13-3
22-2
51. Eli Hayden,
Braintree, Mass.,
94-1
18-3
66-1
15
DISPOSAL OF THE RIGHTS, HIGHWAYS.
Voted Sept. 16, 1788, "To give Mrs. Silas Flint one hundred acres of the undivided land," she being the first woman to enter Braintree.
Sept. 21, 1790, voted to Samuel Spear gore lot 101-1 in place of the lot he drew by the third draught, being the east part of the Tilson farm, occupied by Edward Maun; to Samuel Harwood gore lot 100-1, to be his share in the undivided land; and to Nehemiah Curtis 100 acres.
Elijah French was elected proprietors' clerk Sept. 19, 1786, and held the office till his death March 7, 1798. To compensate for liis services, the pro- prietors voted him a lot of land Oct. 1, 1793.
HIGHWAYS .- The first mention of highways is in the records of the meet- ing held at Westown, Mass., Oct. 29, 1783. "Voted that all Publick Roads that shall be Laid out in Twenty years in said Town shall be with out any expense for Land for Roads;" also, "voted to Cut out the Road From the mill to a Road that is now begun and to alow Six Dollars for cuting Sd. Road." The "mill" was probably Brackett's. The "Road that is now begun," was without doubt up the branchi, presumably through what was afterwards Henry Brackett's land (now Mrs. George Hutchinson's) and Maj. Ford 's (Joseph M. Tilson's), or even farther in that direction, and the road "from the mill" was an extension of the "Road that is now begun." Certain it is, the "Branch" road,[was the first one cut and laid out in Braintree, but it was done a part at a time, several years elapsing before there was a continuous track from Randolph to Kingston (Granville) line. £ We say "track," for "roads" were merely tracks or"bridle paths" at that time, and sometimes were so indist i. (t that it was necessary to blaze trees by the wayside to guide the traveler. Traveling was done on foot or horseback. After some years the
paths were widened to admit the use of vehicles. These of course were of the rudest kind, ox-sleds and ox-carts. Rufus Hutchinson claims to be the first to own and use a wagon (or buggy) in Braintree, having brought it from Sutton, Mass., in 1811, the year he was eighteen, and Dea. Zion Copeland, it is said, owned the second. Improvement in the means of public travel was very slow.
In all probability, Jacob Spear was the first to cut and lay out roads in Braintree. There is no evidence that any other Spear came to Braintree before 1785 and for some time later. Moreover, the proprietors voted Nov., 1784, "to alow Mr. Spear 2s. 6d. for Each Singal wright for cutting out Roads in to the Town." Roads were laid out at the discretion of agents appointed for that purpose, because November, 1784, "Voted to Chose a Committee to Lay out and Cut Roads through the Town where it shall be thought Nesses s- ary for the benefit of the Town." Jacob Spear and Jonathan Holman were that committee. Repairs were soon required and Nov. 29, 1785, voted "to alow five shillings pr. day for what work was Done in the year past in clearing and mending Roads in sd. Town." David Holbrook, Andrew Elliott, and Jacob Spear were made a committee, "impowered to take care of Said Roads and Do what they think is Nessessary on Sd Roads in Said Town," and 8s 3d per right was assessed to pay for "work already Done in mending Roads."
The proprietors held their first meeting in Braintree on the 19th of Sept. 1786, and elected Samuel Spear and Samson Nichols highway surveyors.
16
HISTORY.
They raised 4s. per right to repair and cut roads, one-half to be "layd out for the road on the Branch, the other half to be layd out for the Road Leeding over Quaker hill (so-called)," a man to have 4s. per day. The Quaker hill road was the second highway laid out in Braintree. It began at a log house near Brackett's mill (nearly in front of Ira Ford's), passed obliquely up and over the hill to the northeast, past John R. Williams's and Alfred Webster's, to. the south-east corner of lot 16-1 (Frederick Whitney's).
Sept. 18, 1787, Samuel Bass, Stephen Fuller and Dn. Isaac Nichols were chosen "to lay out roads," "to give Directions To the Surveyors where and when they Shall work at the roads and likewise to give each Surveyor a list of his mens names to Do the work." Elijah Spear and Ebenezer White were the surveyors. The committee had the duties of selectmen.
The proprietors proceeded in this manner with the work on highways till the. organization of the town, April 7, 1788. After that a part of the responsibility devolved upon the selectmen, and soon all of it, as will be seen by the records. of a meeting held Sept. 16, 1788. Samuel Bass and Matthew Pratt were elected highway surveyors. Voted that "the surveyors be the judges where and when to work only to work on the road laid out by the Selectmen." The first bridge was built during that year or before, because at the same meet- ing a vote was taken to "Except the last year on the Bridge over the Branch near Mr. Saml. (now George L. ) Spear's." The last business of any public interest transacted by the proprietors was the vote, Sept. 18, 1792, "to raise eight shillings on each Singal Right to be laid out on a road yet to be laid out leeding from Capt. Jacob Spear's lot No. 38, first division (Maj. Ford's place} to strike a road now leeding from Isaac Nichols Esqr's., land [Alban's hill] to Isaac Nichols Jn'rs land (Allen H. Flint's)." Jacob Spear was entrusted with this work.
It is impossible to nanie all the highways that were laid out by the pro- prietors. There is certainty of only two, the branch and the Quaker hill roads. Probably there were others, because settlements were made in the eastern even earlier than in the western part of the town. The chief interest, however, centered in these two, which formed at this time the only highway districts in Braintree. All highways were subsequently surveyed and laid ont by the selectmen and were not legally established until then. All pro- prietors' meetings held after the last date (1792) were for the transaction of business relating mainly to undivided lands, and were not of general interest. There is evidence from the record of some of them that considerable sharp maneuvering was practiced, but there is no warrant from them for drawing further conclusions. Isaac Nichols, Jr., was proprietors' clerk from 1800 to 1805 and Rev. Ammi Nichols from 1831 to 1834, when the records cease. No meetings were held from 1806 to 1831.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
It is impossible to tell the exact time when each of the early settlers became residents of Braintree, but the date of the purhase of their farms is generally correct within about a year.
In February, 1785, Silas Flint made the first settlement on lot 94-1, where Azro L. Adams lives. He bought the north half of it, July 7, 1786, for ten pounds, and the south half ten years later for seventy pounds.
17
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Dea. Samuel Bass bought the right of Ephraim Mann, Nov. 6, 1783, for thirty pounds silver, and settled on lot 5-1 of that right, now owned by Apollas Sharpe, in the latter part of May, 1785, being the second settler.
Nathaniel Hutchinson occupied, the same year, lot 8-2, which he bought May 6, 1786, now owned by William Bass.
June 26, 1790, Ebenezer White bought lot 16-1, owned by Wm. H. Nichols and Elhanan A. Fitts, but he became a resident three or four years previous. Benjamin Vesey bought lot 70-1, near the depot, Sept. 20, 1786.
Edward Bass became owner of 22-1, Pratt farm, June 18, 1788.
Lot 28-1, now owned by Dea. John S. Nichols, was sold to Samson Nich- ols, March 27, 1786.
For nine pounds, Stephen Fuller bought 76-1, now the farms of Samuel R. Batchellor and Theodore B. Kendall, Feb. 10, 1782, and settled on it about 1787.
David Smith bought 7-1, Edward Smith's farm, Nov. 19, 1785.
Sept. 25, 1786, Dea. Isaac Nichols purchased 29-1, Alban's hill lot, and moved his family there October, 1787.
Jacob Spear bought 38-1, known as Major Ford place, Oct. 8, 1788.
Lot 53-1, Allen H. Flint's farm, eastern half was sold to Isaac Nichols, Jr. June 24, 1790, and 56-1, the western half, Aug. 29, 1798.
For 53} "Spanish Milled Dollars," lot 98-1 was sold to Samuel Harwood, May 31, 1785, and by him to Zion Copeland, April 19, 1794; now owned by John Finn. Harwood bought 9-1, April 8, 1786, and lived on it.
John Hutchinson became owner of 96-1, now owned by James P. Cleve- land, Jr., Jan. 10, 1793, and occupied it that year.
Rufus Flint bought 10-2, where his son Rufus lives, Oct. 8, 1792.
April 9, 1787, John Gooch bought 23-1, the lot next south of the Jeff. Pratt farm.
Daniel Waite bought 6-1, owned by Heman A. Powers, July 22, 1791.
Nathaniel Spear drew 18-1 in his right, and settled on it in 1790; Daniel V. Page present owner.
Job Mann bought 14-2, where Ira Mann lives, Nov. 2, 1793.
Oct. 30, 1892, 8-1, where Charles E. Woodward lives, was sold to Seth Mann for thirty-two pounds sixteen shillings.
Lot 41-2, owned by William C. Holman, was sold to William Veasey, Feb. 1, 1794.
The "Berry" lot, 31-1, was bought by Caleb Nichols, Nov. 2, 1799; by Samuel Weld, April 3, 1804.
Joseph Riford, Jr., bought 106-1, lately Samuel Riford's, Oct. 24, 1801.
Henry Brackett bought 35-1, Mrs. George Hutchinson's, April 8, 1789; he settled in Braintree in 1785.
June 29, 1790, lot 16-2, now Sylvander Partridge's, was sold to Reuben Partridge.
Lot 52-1 was sold to Seth Hunt, Jan. 30, 1799, and Hope Bradley bought 45-1, both owned by Albert Fitts, Aug. 8, 1786.
June 17, 1786, the "Kidder " lot, 10-1, was sold to Jonathan King; Aug. 8, 1791, to Mary Kidder of Sutton, Mass .; Jan. 30, 1800, to John Kidder. 2
18
HISTORY.
Bartholomew Hutchinson bought 4-2, now Geo. W. Flagg's, Aug. 25, 1789; Daniel Waite bought part of it Jan. 30, 1797.
One-half of 17-1, in part the Congregational parsonage, was sold to Micah, father of Ebenezer White, Oct. 9, 1787. Elijah French, his son-in-law, lived on it.
Lot 92-1 was sold to Josiah Bagley, May 7, 1793; now of Martin B. Gooch's estate.
Phineas Flint bought part of 431, lately Joseph Flint's, July 22, 1801.
Jan. 1, 1790, Jehiel Parmly bought 102-1, where Edward Maun lives.
April 9, 1792, lot 21-1, now Henry Bass's, was sold to Samuel Bass of Brain- tree, Mass.
James Murry, with his wife, Jane Ramsey, both from Connecticut, set- tled on lot 28-3 about 1800. Harvey Martin now lives there.
About the same time Samuel Wells settled on 27-3. Elihu Ellis lived there in 1824. About 1830 Asa Howe built a saw mill on the lot.
Stephen Riford settled on 18-3 in 1819. He sold it to Stephen Mann in 1832: Peter Tredo present owner.
No. 6-3 was settled in 1821 by Abraham Sargent of Chester, N. H. The same year Zebediah Robinson from Concord, N. H., located on half of the same lot. His wife, Huldah, recently died in Bethel at the age of about 104 years.
About 1819 No. 15-3 was settled by Enoch Pratt. Charles Burridge now lives on it.
Wyman Neff settled on No. 7-3 in 1829.
Edward Elsworth settled about 1818 on No. 31-3. About 1826 Felix Brown of Sutton, Mass., located on the same lot, but returned to Sutton in 1832, when A. P. Harbach bought it and lived there till 1873.
In the spring of 1824 Henry B. Harbach settled on No. 30-3.
Soon after 1827 Abraham A. Sargent erected the first saw mill that was built on Thayer's Brook.
THE TOWN.
A NEW ERA-The organization of the town, though in itself of no special significance perhaps, was nevertheless the beginning of a new and important era in its history. The charter of incorporation did not invest the town with corporate powers till organization was legally effected; hence, the proprietary was merely a sort of interegnum by means of which the interests of the new settlement might meantime be subserved. Any vote of the proprietors therefore, while it was not illegal, that is, contrary to the law, did not at the same time sustain a legal title backed by the power of the state. They could vote taxes, but could not collect them if any one chose to stand out about it. Their enactments were to the proprietors what the Articles of Confederation were to the people of the United States, well enough if complied with, and even necessary; but they had no power to enforce compliance. It is true the proprietors voted Sept. 15, 1789, that those "delinquent in working out he r Tax at highways from the commencement of the Proprietorship to this
19
THE TOWN, A NEW ERA, THE TOWN ORGANIZED.
date, have liberty to work it out on or before the last day of October next, otherwise to be proceeded against as the Law directs;" but it was probably a mere show of authority. Such a vote might impel those most jealous of their reputation to pay up; it could not compei them to do so. Besides it was taken after the town was organized, which may have had an influence in the matter. Here were delinquents six years in arrears, and the only redress was to threaten. Later on in the history of the town whole lots and farms were sold at vendue for neglect or refusal to pay a few dollars in taxes. In 1800 the proprietors petitioned the legislature to legalize all their former votes and proceedings, which was done. Under these circumstances progress was slow and made at great disadvantage. Unable legally to enforce their own decrees, they probably did not and could not go beyond the absolute needs of the settlement. Anything like substantial improvements, even the meagre ones we may imagine they might have been in those early times, were not to be thought of. But this state of things was changed in the organization of the town, which was probably effected as soon as its condition and resources complied with terms of law.
THE TOWN ORGANIZED .- To organize the town was simply to elect the town officers required by law. A petition, signed by four or more respectable freeholders and presented to a justice of the peace of another town, author- ized him to issue a warning for town meeting and to open the same, or he could empower one of the petitioners to do so. There is no record of the petition made by Braintree freeholders nor of the warning of the first town- meeting; in fact no warning of any meeting of the town was recorded till March 29, 1798, when John French was elected town clerk and treasurer to succeed Elijah French, deceased. Asa Edgerton, Esq., Justice of the Peace of Randolph, warned the first town meeting and served as its first moderator. It was held at the house of Henry Brackett, now Mrs. George Hutchinson's. A literal copy of its records is as follows:
"Braintree April 7th 1788
"In Legal Town meeting
"Voted Elijah French Town Clerk and Treasurer
Asa Egerton Esqr. Moderator
Jacob Spear 1st
Ebenezer White 2nd
Selectmen
Stephen Fuller 3d
Edward Bass Constable and Town Collector
Selectmen to Serve as Listers
Dn. Isaac Nichols Grand Jurorman
Matthew Pratt Grand Jurorman
Elijah Spear Pound Keeper Samuel Bass Tithingman Samuel Spear Tithingman John Gooch Hayward
Asahel Flint Hayward
Henry Brackett Fence Viewer
Samson Nichols Fence Viewer
20
HISTORY.
Samuel Harwood Fence Viewer
Jonathan King Surveyor of highways
Nehemiah Curtis Surveyor of highways
Silas Flint Sealler of Weights and Measures
"The above Chosen officers were Sworn before Esqr. Egton as the Law Directs, except Eben'r White
"Voted Lastly that this meeting be Disolved
"June 7th, 1788, personally appeared Eben'r White and took the oath re- quired by Law to Quallifyhim to Serve as Selectman
"Before me Elijah French Town Clerk"
HIGHWAYS .- The matter that was foremost in demanding attention, was the highways. The first step was to survey and legally establish every one already laid out and provide for new ones. The south-east corner of No. 16, first division (Frederick Whitney's) the mill (Brackett's) near Ira Ford's, and Bass's brook, (at Peth bridge) are old land marks, and often referred to in the earlier records. At a meeting held Sept. 2, 1788, the town voted to accept roads laid out by the selectmen:
1. "From Randolph Line (on the branch) to a Brook above Mr. Fuller s;" (near Samuel R. Batchellor's.)
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