Westport Town Records

Town records 1804

AT A TOWN MEETING [held April 2,1804, to select jury men] Edward Burden was drawn to serve on the Grand Jury at the General Sessions of the Peace & Nathaniel Brownell was drawn to serve on the Petty Jury at the next Court of Common Pleas & General Sessions of the Peace.
AT A MEETING [held April 2, 1804, to give votes for state & county officers] Caleb Strong

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had 112 votes and James Sullivan had 21 votes for governor; Edward H. Robbins had 112 votes & William Heath had 21 votes for Lt. Governor;

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Alden Spooner had 99 votes & Stephen Bullock had 101 votes and Josiah Dean had 27 votes & Nathaniel Morton Jr had 27 votes for counsellors & Senators.

TO ABNER BROWNELL one of the Inhabitants of the town of Westport in the County of Bristol GREETING You are hereby required in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to notify and warn the freeholders, and other Inhabitants of said town qualified by law to vote in town meetings, namely such as pay to one single tax beside the pool, or polls, a sum equal to two thirds, of a single poll tax to meet and assemble at the town house on monday the 2nd day of April next, at nine of the clock in the fore noon to act on the following articles.... Namely, to choose town officers, to vote for county treasurer, to choose a committee to examine & allow all just accounts and to settle with the treasurer, to conclude in what method to support the poor, to determine what sum is necessary to support the poor and other necessary expenses, to conclude in regard to amendment and repair of highways and drift ways, to receive or reject returns of highways and driftways, to examine the list of jurors, to do what is best in having the towns land put in better repairs and regulating by those who use the same, to transact all and any prudential and legal affairs that may appear necessary and expedient for the interest of the town .... John Moser & Silvester Brownell, select men, Mary 12,1804

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AT A TOWN MEETING [held April 2,18041 chose following officers:
Moderator: William Ah-ny
Town Clerk: William Almy
Town Treasurer: William Almy to have 1 1/4%
Select men: Abner Brownell, Silvester Brownell
Assessors of Rates: Silvester Brownell, Gideon Tallman, Wesson Tripp
Committee on Accounts: George Lawton, John Mosher & Lemuel Milk
Pound keeper: Nathaniel Kirby ,
County treasurer: Samuel Crocker Esq had 50 votes
Surveyors of highways: Bradford Richmond, Peter Macomber, Benjamin Cory,
Nathaniel Kirby, Wesson Kirby, Arnold Wood, Peleg Sisson, Daniel Devol, Ephraim Gifford,
George Lawton, Charles Baker, Barjona Devol, David Sanford, George Woodle, William
White 2 Prince Howland, William Gifford, Peleg Cornell, Ebenezer Baker, Thomas Woodle
Fence viewers: Thomas Cornell, Bradford Richmond, Silvester Brownell, Jonathan
Tripp, Christopher Cornell, Benjamin Brownell, Benjamin Brownell 2
Field drivers: Jeremiah Willcox, Jonathan Tripp, Wanton Macomber, Josiah Brownell,
Edward Wing 2, Jonathan Peckham, George Brownell 2, Wesson Sowle, Edmond Tripp
Surveyors of lumber, shingles & clapboards: Barjona Devol, Humphry Howland,
George Brownell 2
Corders and measurers of wood: Elijah Potter, Peleg Potter and Barjona Devol
Culler of hoops and staves: Barjona Devol, George Brownell 2

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Sealers of leather: Thomas Briggs, Preserved Sherman
Cullers of dry fish: Christopher Cornell, Wanton Macomber
Tythingmen: Prince Howland, Wanton Macomber

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Hog reeves: Wanton Macomber, Nathan Lyon, George Brownell
Voted that $1000 be assessed on polls and estates and delivered to each surveyor for
his limits ... for the purposes of amending and keeping in repair the highways and towns
ways....
Voted that twenty five cents be allowed for one day's work of a man or a pair of oxen on the highways and that twenty five cents be allowed for the use of a cart or plow one day.
On the ninth artle respecting repairing the town's landing, Voted that a committee of three be chosen who are requested to view said landings and report to this town at the next meeting the best method to be taken for repairing said landings, and Lemuel Milk, George Lawton and Isaac Cory was chosen a committee accordingly, and also to report what regulations was best for the town to adopt respecting the same....
Voted that this town accept the return of the highway and landing laid out by the select men through Jonathan Gifford's land, at the high hill so called, at the head of the west branch of Accoaxet River, on condition that Little Compton compleat an open highway from the north end of this to the highway near said Gifford's dwelling house, that then said Gifford to receive of this town fifty dollars in full satisfaction for all damages that he is or may be entitled to therefore, with this provision that if it can hereafter be

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found out, that there was land left at that place for publick use that then said Gifford or his heirs or assigns shall refund back the Value of what land was thus left for pubhck use.
Voted that the resurvey of the highway leading from Abner Brownell's house northerly to the Country road near George Lawton's be accepted by this town and recorded.
Voted that the resurvey of the highway that leads from the head of the east branch of Acoaxet River northerly by Roache's Mills to the highway that divides the town of Westport and Dartmouth be accepted and recorded. [upper Reed Road]
Voted that the resurvey of the part of the drift that leads easterly by Lovat Tripp's into the highway that leads from the town house to the Center Meeting house, so called, be accepted and recorded. [Drift south of Hixbridgel
Voted to adjourn to Saturday, May 12th next.... Wm. Almy, T. Clerk

MET ACCORDING TO ADJOURNMENT
Jeremiah Devol and Nathan Lyon chosen field drivers
Voted that the providing for and getting the poor supported be by Venduing, unless in instances, where the select men shall think it best to agree otherways, having regard to their comfortable support and maintainance.
Voted to excuse Nathaniel Kirby from being survey or highways the year ensuing & that Benjamin Brownell be chosen in his stead.

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The Committee on Landings met to view the town's landings at the head of the East branch of Acoaxet River (so called) and report their opinion of the best manner to have the same repaired, made their report, which was accepted by the town, and ordered to be recorded, which is as follows.... Where as it is necessary that there should be considerable repairs on the town's landings on both sides of the east branch of the head of Acoaxet River so called in Westport, and it being equitable to be paid by those persons occupying the same, therefore, Voted that there be paid on every cord of wood that shall be brought on either of said landings the sum of four cents, on every ton of timber, four cents, on every thousand feet of boards, four cents, on every thousand feet of two inch plank, e;ight cents, and on other plank at the same rate in proportion, to the thickness of the plank, which sums are to be paid by the persons having the same surveyed, but if there should be any of the above named articles of wood, timber, boards, and plank brought on said landings, and taken off without being surveyed, then to be paid by the person or persons who owned the same, and brought or caused the same to be brought on said landings. And for the purpose of collecting the several sums as aforesaid, the town of Westport shall at the town meeting to be holden in the month of March or April annually for the purpose of choosing two officrs, also choose an age, or agents, who shall have full power and authority to sue for an recover for the use of the town of any person or persons, who neglect or refuses, when demanded, to pay any of the sums, due from him, or them, for the use of the landings as aforesaid.. and the said agent or agents shall pay the ballance into the hands of the comn-dttee appointed by the town to repair said landings, which committee are to expend

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such sums of money as they shall so receive in repairs on said landings in such way and manner as the town shall direct. And it shall be the duty of the measurers and corders of wood and surveyors of lumber who shal measure or survey any wood, timer, boards, or plank on either of said landings to render an account thereof to the agent or agents appointed by the town as afforesaid, for collecting the sums as afforesaid, when requested thereto by the agent or agents and also to give to the agents or agent an account according to the best of their knowledge, of all wood, timber, boards and plank that shall have been brought on said landi-ngs,m and taken off without being measured or surveyed, by the measurers of wood or surveyors of lumber, chosen by said town .... VOTED that the beforegoing laws and regulations respecting the town's landings, at the head of the east branch of Acoaxet River, so called, be recorded and that William Almy, Esq, be chosen an agent in behalf of the town who is requested to present a copy of the same to the court of General Sessions of the Peace for the County of Bristol and endeavour to obtain their approbation of the same in order that it may become a law.

Voted that if the same landings are repaired to the satisfaction of the committee
appointed by the town to view the same, before the next session of the Court of the General

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thereof to said gent, then said Agent is requested not to present the aforesaid laws and regulations to the said court for their approbation, as afforesaid.
The Committee on Accounts [met at house of Abner Brownell, Innholder, to examine accounts] allowed the sum

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of $877.60.2. Voted to accept the report ...and directed the treasurer to pay the accounts.... After exan-dning accounts of treasurer, found he had received $679.85.4 and paid out $698.82.5, leaving debt of $18.97.1 But town had balance from last year of $332.2.2 and tax collected of $786-21, making $1118.23.2. Thus, taking away the $877.60.2 on accounts payable, the town has $240.63.0 balance.
Voted to raise by tax for support of poor and other expenses $700....

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Benjamin Brownell 2 chosen constable and collector to have 3%
John Palmer, George Brownell, cooper, William Gifford, Job Almy, Samuel Willcox, John Kirby, Jeremiah Willcox chosen committee to oversee fishery
Voted to adjourn to the third monday of August... Wrn Almy, T. Clerk

MET ACCORDING TO ADJOURNMENT [August the 20th A.D. 18041
The select men presented a list of jurors, which was accepted, and one fourth part of the number selected, and VOTED to be put in the Box to serve at the Supreme Judicial Court and the remaining part of said list was VOTED to be put in the other Box to serve as jurors at the Courts of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the peace. Having completed the business of the warrant this meeting was dissolved. Wm. Almy, T. Clerk

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AT A TOWN MEETING held May 12,1804 to act on the following articles 1. To know the town's mind in regard to joining with Dartmouth to petition the Court of General Sessions of the peace to have as much of the highway (which is the dividing line between this town and Dartmouth) discontinued as the select men of both towns shall adjudge expedient 2. To know the town's mind in regard to authorising the select men of this town to make an exchange with Dartmouth of part of said way, which is the former division of said way was for Dartmouth to amend and keep in repair, provided that Dartmouth wishes to do it on equitable ten-ns. 3. To know the town's mind in regard to granting to the proprietors of the Horseneck, so called, the priviledge of enclosing all the Beach or land belonging to this town, that lays south of Capt Job Almy's homestead farm, on condition that, the proprietors make no expence to this town in fencing, or otherwise, nor prevent none of the inhabitants of this town from passing and repassing thereon, or of taking of taking of sea weed. 4. To take into consideration the expedience of lessening the number of licensed houses & grog shops, and determine the number of places, that the select men shall recommend.

William Almy was chosen moderator of said meeting.

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Voted that the select men in behalf of this town join with the town of Dartmouth, to petition the Court of General of the peace, to have as much of the highway, (which is the dividing line between this town and Dartmouth) discontinued as the select men of both towns shall judge expedient.

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Voted, that the select men be and they are hereby authorised to make an exchange with Dartmouth of such part of the highway which is the dividing line between this town and Dartmouth which fell to Westport to keep in repair in the division of said way, for such part thereof as fell to the town of Dartmouth in said division to keep in repair as the select of this town and the select men or agents of the town of Dartmouth shall think expedient and shall agree upon.
Voted, to grant to the proprietors of Horseneck, so called, the priviledge of enclosing all the beach, or land belonging to this town, that lays south of Capt. Job Almy's homestead farm, and west of the highway which is the dividing line between this town and Dartmouth, on condition that this town is to be at no expence in fencing or otherways, and that none of the inhabitants of this town be prevented, from passing and repassing thereone, nor prevented from taking of sea weed.
Voted not to give the select men directions respecting approbations for licenses.

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AT A TOWN MEETING [held May 12,1804 to choose a representative to General Court] William Almy had 30 votes, Abner BrowneU had 20 votes and Robert Earl had I vote; therefore declared that William Almy was chosen ...

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AT A MEETING [held August 20, 18041 to act on following articles.... 1. To know whether the town will reconsider the Vote passed at a town meeting held April 2 and continued to May 12 for raising money for the repair of the towws landings at the head of the East Branch of Acoaxet River so called in Westport by laying a tax on all wood, lumber & that shall be laid on said landing. 2. To know the town's mind whether they will take any further measures for repairing said landings.
William Almy was chosen moderator.
VOTED to repeal the afforesaid vote for laying a tax on articles therein mentioned for the purpose of repairing said landings, and that the same be null and void.
Ebenezer Baker and Henry Tibbits were chosen a committee to superintend the repairing of said landings, and, to direct in what manner the money is to be laid out thereon that is raised by subscription for repairing said landings.
Adjourned without day. Wm. Almy, T. Clerk

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AT A TOWN MEETING [held November 5,18041 to know the town's mind in regard to discontinuing a piece of highway in the fork of the river, so called, layed out March 8, 1785,

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beginning opposite where the widow Macomber now lives and extending northerly about two hundred & ninety four rods.
Wrn Almy was chosen moderator of said meeting. VOTED to discontinue a part of said highway beginning opposite the widow Macomber's house thence northerly until said highway is intersected by the highway leading northerly from the [illegible] and that this much of said highway be from this time discontinued.

AT A TOWN MEETING [held November 5,1804 to draw jurors] Daniel Cornell and Thomas Sherman was drawn out of the Box to serve at the Court of Common Pleas. Also selection of electors for presidential election & state senators.

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AT A MEETING [held November 5, 1804 to vote for electors & congressional representative, nineteen electors voted for]

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