Westport Town Records

Town records 1806

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TO ROGER WHITE, CONSTABLE, GREETINGS [warrant issued March 2-2,1806 by select men for town meeting for April 7, 1806 to avote for state & county officers]

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AT A MEETING [held April 7, 18061 Caleb Strong had 109 votes & James Sullivan had 44 votes for governor; Edward H. Robbins had 108 votes & William Heath had 44 votes for Lt. Governor; Josiah Dean had 41, Nathaniel Morton Jr. had 41, Samuel Fales, had 80 and Seth Spooner had 78 votes for senators & counsellors.

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AT A MEETING [held April 7, 1806 to select county officers] Samuel Crocker received 70 votes for county treasurer; James Williams had 54 votes for county register.

AT A MEETING (held April 7,1806 to choose jurors] Nathaniel Kirby, blacksmith, was drawn to serve on Grand Jury and Henry Pah-ner was drawn to serve on the Petit Jury.

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TO THE CONSTABLE, GREETINGS [warrant for town meeting, issued March 19,1806 by Wm. Almy & Jonathan Peckham, select men, to be held April 7, 1806; usual articles; new articles are: #8. to know whether the town will pass any vote or give any directions relating to innkeepers and retailers the year ensuing. #9. To act and do what shall be thought best relating to the deficient collector of taxes for the year 1804 #10. to define more particularly the limits of school districts that need it.

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AT A TOWN MEETING [held April 7,18061 Moderator: William Almy

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Town Clerk: William Alrny
Select Men: Jonathan Peckham, Roger White, William Almy
Town Treasurer: William Almy to have 1 and 1/4 %

Page 198

Assessors of rates: Elijah Gifford, Jr., William White & Thomas Woodle
Committee on Accounts: Nathaniel Kirby, John Mosher & Peleg Sisson
Pound Keeper: Nathaniel Kirby
Surveyors of highways: Peter Macomber, Abner Potter, Samuel Devol, Nathaniel Kirby,
Lemuel Milk, Barjona Devol, Jonathan Tripp, George Woodle, Stephen Cornell 2, Abner
Willcox, Major Allen, Ebenezer Baker, Jonathan Peckham, Wesson Kirby, Benjamin Brownell,
John Davis, Silvester Brownell, John Dyer, Jonathan White, George Lawton, David Sanford,
Benjamin Cory & Isaac Brownell
VOTED that for the purpose of amending and keeping in repair the highways and town ways the sum of $800 be assessed, [collected & distributed to surveyors]

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VOTED that seventy five cents be allowed for a day's work of a man or a pair of oxen, and in proportion for parts of days, and that twenty five cents be allowed for a cart or plow one day
VOTED that when any town way or highway are blocked up by snow the surveyors will assign to the several persons in his limits their proportion of days works, and team, if necessary, according to his real and personal estate, as near as he can, and shall. assign a time for the purpose of treading down the snow in the same manner as highways are repaired in towns who neglect to vote a sum of money for the purpose of repairing the highways in said towns.
VOTED that a committee of five be chosen to enquire and consider what will be the legal and most effectual means to be taken by the town to prevent the excessive use of spiritous liquors in said town and to make report to this meeting of their doing when next met by adjournment; and John Crowell, Ebenezer Baker, Nathaniel Kirby, blacksmith, Abner Potter & Silvester Brownell were chosen a committee for that purpose
VOTED to adjourn to May 12 Recorded by Wrn Almy, T. Clerk

Page 200

AT A TOWN MEETING [held May 12,1806 according to adjournment]
Elijah Gifford, Jr. was chosen assessor of rates
Jonathan White chosen surveyor of highways
Fence viewers: Thomas Cornell, Bradford Richmond, Christopher Cornell, Benjamin Brownell, Benjamin Brownell 2, Silvester Brownell, Jonathan Tripp
Field drivers: Jeremiah Willcox, Wesson Tripp, Josiah Brownell, Hiram Sowle,
Jeremiah Devol, Nathan Lyon, William White 2, Wanton Macomber, Edward Wing, George
Brownell, Edmond Tripp, John Lawrence
Surveyors of Lumber, boards, plank timber & Slit work: John Crowell, Peter Macomber, Barjona Devol & Abraham Gifford
Surveyors of Shingles & Clapboard: Peter Macomber, Barjona Devol & John Crowell

1806 82

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Corders & Measurers of wood: Barjona Devol, John Crowell, Peleg Potter, Daniel Tripp, Elijah Potter
Cullers of hoops & staves: Barjona Devol, George Brownell 2, & Jethro Howland
Sealers of leather: Peleg Wood and Preserved Sherman
Culler of dry fish: Christopher Comell
Tythingmen: John Gifford, John Crowell, Barney Cory, Wilbour Gifford, Wanton Macomber, Benjamin Cory, Jonathan Tripp, Peleg Sisson, job Sherman & Peleg Potter
The committee chosen to enquire and consider what will be the legal and most effectual means to be taken by the town to prevent the excessive use of spiritous liquors in said town reported, that in their opinion that four innholders in said town is sufficient and that no shops or stores be considered as licensed houses and that the select men be required to do their duty according to law, in regard to licensed houses & choosing tythingmen. Whereupon, VOTED, that the Select Men be hereby directed to approbate only four persons for innkeepers & retailers and that other approbations. given by them for licenses be only for retailing licenses.

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Roger White was chosen constable & collector of rates for the year ensuing and to have 3 % upon the money he shall collect into the town treasury & to be bonded
VOTED that the sum of one hundred and twenty dollars be appropriated for the suport of schools to be proportioned to each school district as heretofore....
VOTED that the manner of providing for and supporting the poor belonging to this town be by vencluing, unless in instances where the select men shall think it best to agree otherways....
VOTED that the treasurer be and is hereby directed to issue an execution against the deficient collector of taxes for the year 1804 for the ballance of the town tax for said year that remains unpaid by the said collector, within thirty days from this day.
William White 2 was appointed by select men sealer of Weights & Measures

Page 203

The committee on accounts .... allowed a sum of $791.13. VOTED to accept the report of the committee and the treasurer is hereby directed to pay the accounts allowed. The committee settled with the treasurer, who had received within the past year $856-04 and had paid out $828.27, leaving a balance in his hands of $27.77. VOTED that the sum of $900 be raised by way of tax on the polls & estates for support of the poor & schools and other expenses of said town in the year ensuing...
VOTED to adjourn to June 28,1806. Wm. Almy, T. Clerk

Page 204

AT A TOWN MEETING [held June 28,18061
VOTED that school district No. 2 include all the inhabitants with their estates laying on the east side of the east branch of Acoaxet River, from the sea shore on the south northerly as far as the south line of Ebenezer Allen's land and from the river to Dartmouth

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line. VOTED that No. 3 district include all the inhabitants and estates from the said south line of Ebenezer Allen's land north to the north line of John Howland's land & from the river to Dartmouth line and the Estates & Inhabitants laying north of said north line of John Howland's line and north as far as the south line of district No. [blank] which is one mile south of the country road, constitute a school district to be called No. [blank].
CHOSE Stephen Cornell, William White 2, Wanton Macomber, Gideon Davis, Nathan Lyon & Pardon Cornell hog reeves; CHOSE Gideon Palmer, Daniel Gifford, Jeremiah Willcox & Samuel Willcox & Perry Gifford overseers of the fishery.
VOTED to adjourn until August 30,1806.

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TO ROGER WHITE, CONSTABLE, GREETING [warrant to voters to meet May 12,1806 to vote for town representative to General Court]

Page 206

AT A TOWN MEETING warned and held at the town house in Westport on monday the twelfth day of May AD 1806, of the male inhabitants of said town, qualified agreable to the Constitution of this Commonwealth, to Vote for Representatives, for the purpose of giving in their Votes for a representative to represent them in the General Court, appointed to be conveaned & held at Boston on the last Wednesday of May inst...Upon collecting, sorting and counting the Votes, it appeared that John Mosher had forty votes and that William Almy had seventy two votes, which was recorded and declaration made thereof by the select men that William Almy was chosen a representative the year ensuing -- agreable to the Constitution of this Commonwealth. Recorded May y 12th AD 1806 by mne William Ahny, Clerk of the town of Westport

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TO ROGER WHITE, CONSTABLE, GREETING: in compliance with the request of ten of the freeholders of the town of Westport, 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 poll or polls, a sum equal to two thirds of a single poll tax) to meet at the town house in said town on saturday the 28th day of June inst at two of the clock in the afternoon to act on the following articles, namely ... To know whether the town will reconsider the Vote passed on the 12th day of may last past, directing the treasurer to issue an execution against the deficient collector of taxes for the year 1804 for the ballance of the town tax for said year that remains unpaid by said collector within thirty from said time, and to pass such other Votes relating to said deficient collector as the town shall think proper. Given under our hands & seals, this seventeenth day of June AD 1806. William Almy Jonathan Peckham, select men of Westport.
Pursuant to the above warrant, I have notified the inhabitants of said town, quallified as therein expressed to meet at the time and place and for the purposes therein expressed. Roger White, Constable, June 27, AD 1806

Page 208

1806 84

AT A TOWN MEETING [held June 28,1806, to act on foregoing warrant]
It was moved & seconded that if Benjamin Brownell 2, a deficient collector of taxes for the year 1784 [must mean 1804], will procure a bondsman, that he shall pay the sum of fifty dollars to the treasurer of this town within three months from this time, and himself promise to pay unto the said treasurer, the sum that remains uncollected on the tax bills for the years 1802 and 1803, as soon as he possibly can collect them, that the treasurer be directed to suspend issuing execution against him untill further orders from this town. It passed in the negative.
It was moved and seconded that if the said Benjamin Brownell do procure within twenty days a bondsman to the acceptance of the select men for the payment of the ballance of the town tax, due from him to the town, the town tax for the year 1804, within one year from this time with the interest thereon, that the treasurer be directed to suspend issuing an execution for said sum according to a former vote of this town, but if at the end of the said twenty days the said collector shall not procure sureties as afforesaid, then the treasurer be directed to issue his execution for the sum due on said town tax for the 1804, agreeable to a former vote of this town, and it passed in the affirmative. Recorded by me William Almy, T. Clerk

Page 209

AT A TOWN MEETING [held Aug. 30, 1806 to select petit jurors for Court of Common Pleas and one "good and lawful" man for Grand Jury] John Crowell was drawn to serve on the Grand Jury and Edmond Mosher to serve on the petit jury at the Supreme Court and Arnold Wood and Paul Kirby was drawn to serve on the Petit Jury at the Court of Common Pleas.

TO ROGER WHITE, CONSTABLE, GREETING [warrant calling to town meeting for Aug. 30, 18061 to know what measures the town will take rela' ing to the petition of Bradford Richmond and others, presented at the Court of General Sessions of the peace, held at Taunton, April term AD 1804, praying that a committee may be appointed by said Court to lay out a highway from the head of the road by Archer Manchester to the landing place known by the name of the high hill. [Warrant issued August 20,1806 by W. Almy & Jonathan Peckham. Also notice that warning was given by White, Constable.]

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AT A TOWN MEETING [held August 30, 1806 to act on foregoing warrant]
VOTED that it is the opinion of this town that the way prayed for by Bradford Richmond and others to be laid from the head of the road by Archer Manchester to the landing place known by the name of the high hill, could but very little accomodate the public and the petitioners could receive no benefit therefrom on account of the town's landing, and would cost a large sum of money when compared with the advantages that be derived therefrom. The town will therefore choose an agent to represent this town at the Court of General Sessions of the peace who is hereby directed to use his endeavours to prevent said way being laid out as prayed for in said petition and William Almy Esq was chosen agent for the purposes afforesaid.

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TO ROGER WHITE, CONSTABLE, GREETING [warrant to warn all males twenty one years of age and resident for one year and having a freehold estate with annual income of ten dollars or any estate of the value of two hundred dollars, to meet on November 3, 1806 to vote for congressional representative; to decide whether to remit to William Willcox and John Cornell their proportion of the tax assessed on them for the purpose of making up this town's deficient of the state tax for the year 1804, or whether the town will give the Committee on Accounts any directions there; also to know the town's mind whether they will give the treasurer any directions relative to the application of Benjamin Brownell 2 who stands committeted to prison by virtue of an execution against him for the deficiency of the town tax for the year 1804, and has made application for the priviledge to take the oath allowed by an Act of this Commonwealth entitled "An Act for the relief of poor prisoners who are committed by execution for debt."

Page 213

AT A MEETING [held November 3, AD 1806 to act on foregoing warrant]
Votes for the following persons were given in, sort, counted and declaration and record thereof made, as by a law of the Commonwealth entitled "An Act dividing the Commonwealth into seventeen districts for the choice of Representatives in the Congress of the United States, and prescribing the mode of elections" is directed, Namely: Josiah Dean had eighteen votes, Nicholas Tillinghast had ten votes.
Voted not to remit to William Willcox and John Cornell the tax assessed on them for the purpose as mentioned in the foregoing warrant, nor to give the Committee on Accounts any directions relative thereto.
Voted, that if it should be made to appear to William Almy Esq the treasurer of this town, that Benjamin Brownell 2 who stands committed to prison by virtue of an execution against him for the deficiency of the town tax, comn-dtted to him to collect for the year 1804, has any estate real or personal in possession or reversion, sufficient to support himself in prison or to pay prison charges, or that he has since the commencement of the suit against him, or at any other time directly or indirectly sold, leased or otherwise conveyed his estate or

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done any other act, contrary to the meaning of the act entitled "An Act for the relief of poor prisoners who are committed by execution for debt," that he appear at the time and place which is proposed to administer the oath required by said act and oppose the same.

AT A TOWN MEETING [held November 29,1806 to draw jurors] Prince Wing and Thomas Allen were drawn to serve as "two good men" for the Petit Jury at the Court of Common Pleas.

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TO ROGER WHITE, CONSTABLE, GREETING [warrant for town meeting to be held December 27, 1806 "to know whether the town will vote to set Benjamin Brownell 2, who is committed to prison by virtue of an execution issued by the Treasurer of said town for non payment of taxes committed to him to collect, at Liberty from his confinement, upon the

1807 86

condition or proposal, to be made at said meeting." Issued December 19, 18061

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AT A TOWN MEETING [held December 27,1806 to act on foregoing warrant]
George Lawton was chosen moderator of said meeting.
Capt Peleg Sisson was chosen clerk pro. tem., William Almy, town clerk, being absent.
Upon a motion made and seconded that Benjamin Brownell 2 be set at liberty from his confinement in goal on the execution against him for non-payment of taxes committed to him to collect, upon his paying all costs of commitment & prison fees and giving his note to the treasurer for the deficiency on demand with interest. Voted not to set him at liberty, agreeable to the motion made.