Westport Town Records

Town records 1797

AT A MEETING [to elect congressional representative held Monday the 16th day of January 17971 votes for Elisha May Esq 12
Also at said meeting voted that the Select Men be and hereby are requested, to provide for the support of Elizabeth Devol, in the way they shall think for the interest of the town and for her comfort and support.

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BRISTOL SS [injunction to Thomas Woodle, constable, to call inhabitants to town meeting for Monday, April 3, 1797 to act on the usual articles:]

AT A TOWN MEETING [held Monday the 3rd day of April 1797]

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William Almy Esq chosen moderator and town clerk; William Davis, Wesson Kirby and Roger White chosen Select Men; William Almy chosen town treasurer having 1 1/4 %; Thomas Woodle chosen constable and collector having 3 3/4%; Nathaniel Kirby chosen pound keeper; Peris Richmond, Christopher Cornell, Thomas Cornell, Thomas Tripp, Benjamin Brownell, Benjamin Brownell 2, Silvester Brownell, and Abner Wilcox chosen fence viewers; Benjamin Brownell 2, Abraham Cornell, Joseph Gifford, Henry Tibbits, Stephen Davis, carpenter, Eseck Taber & Williams Allen chosen field drivers; John Anthony, Barjona Devol, Stephen Davis, carpenter, Daniel Tripp 2, & Peleg Potter chosen corders and measurers of

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wood; Barjona Devol and George Brownell, cooper, chosen cullers of hoops & staves; Preserved Shearman and Thomas Briggs and Christopher Cornell chosen cullers of dry fish; Wanton Macomber and Wesson Macomber chosen tything men; Benjamin Brownell chosen sealer of weights and measures.
VOTED to amend the highways and town ways within the town for the year ensuing by way of tax.
Apollas Leonard had 26 votes for county treasurer

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Benjamin Devol, Humphry Macomber, Benjamin Cory, Lemuel Sowle, Abner Brownell, Wesson Kirby, Abner Potter, Holder White, John Mosheri Benjamin Willcox William White 2, Robert Kirby, Jonathan Tripp, Barjona Devol, John Gifford, Philip Sanford, Henry Tibbits and Isaiah Burden chosen surveyor of highways; Christopher Cornell, Philip Cornell and Humphry Howland chosen Assessors of rates; George Lawton, Silvester Brownell and Lemuel Milk chosen a committee to examine accounts and settle with the treasurer.
VOTED to raise a sum of money by way of tax for the year ensuing to amend the highways.
VOTED to adjourn this meeting to the Monday, the first day of May next at ten of the clock in the forenoon then to meet at this place and it is adjourned accordingly.

AT A MEETING [to elect state officers held April 3,17971 Increase Sumner had 12 votes for govemor,Moses Gill had 3 votes for governor, James Sullivan had 3 votes for governor; Moses Gill had 15 votes, Edward H. Robbins had 2 votes, Samuel Philips had 1 vote for Lt. Governor; Elisha May had 27 votes, Seth Smith had 26 votes, Samuel Toby had I vote for Senators & Counsellors.

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AT A MEETING [to select a congressional representative, held April 3, 17971
Stephen Bullock Esq had 12 votes & Laban Wheaton had 5 votes.

AT A MEETING [to select jurors, held April 3,17971
Thomas Tripp drawn grand juror and Wesson Macomber, petit juror

AT A MEETING [to select a state representative, held April 3, 17971
William Almy had 17 votes and Thomas Tripp had 2 votes.

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AT A TOWN MEETING [continuation of adjourned April 3,1797 town meeting to May 1,
17971
1. Abner Brownell chosen select men
2. Silvester Brownell, George Brownell, cooper, Joseph Gifford, Lemuel Sowle, Job Almy,
Samuel Willcox, & John Kirby chosen a committee to oversee fishery.
3. Roger White, Philip Cornell, Robert Kirby, George Lawton, Robert Earl, Thomas
Briggs, chosen Hog reeves

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4. Wesson Macomber excused from being tything man and William Wood 2 chosen in
his sted.
5. Humphrey Macomber, Benjamin Cory, Lemuel Sowle, Holder White, Benjamin Willcox,
Philip Sanford, & Phineas Woodley chosen surveyors of highways.
6.The committee appointed by the town to examine and allow accounts [found) $656.35
owed by town; also found treasurer's account had received $417.88 and paid out $427.31,
leaving it owned $9.34.

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The committee further reported, that there was a ballance in favour of the town one year ago of $79.93, and adding the amount assessed in previous year, $505.09, meant the town had $585-02. Against this the accounts presented are $656.35, leaving the town owing $71.33. But the treasurer has received of Thomas Davis, treasurer of state, for keeping Dinah White, the sum of $50, leaving the town owning $21.33. And, John Gifford, has $22.41 and Thomas Woodel has $876.73., Thus the town has $899.14.
Voted to accept the report and to direct the treasurer to pay the accounts.
Voted to raise by tax for the poor and other charges the sum of $800

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Voted to raise by tax for amending and repairing highways, from polls & estates, real and personal property of residents and non residents, the sum of $700.
Voted that fifty cents be allowed for a day's work for a man on the highway or a pair of oxen and that seventeen cents be allowed for a cart or plow one day.
Voted that the hiring of a school master be left to the descretion of the select men
Voted that providing for and supporting the poor be left to the select men
Voted that there be chosen a committe to examine the records of the highway recorded in the town of Dartmouth and to take such measures for copying such of them belonging to the town of Westport, as he shall think necessary. Abner Brownell chosen to do SO.
Voted to adjourn to Saturday the 20th of May at three of the clock.