Westport Town Records

Town record of 1826

AT A LEGAL MEETING [held at the Town House on the seventh day of March, 1826 for the

1826 69

purpose of drawing jurors] Wilson Wing was drawn grand juror & Luthan Wing and Shearman Slade were drawn traverse jurors for the C.C.Pleas in Taunton in March.

Page 530

TO GEORGE C. BROWNELL, CONSTABLE, GREETING. [warrant for special town.meeting on February 18, 1826* "to know the Town's mind in regard to making a new school district by setting off a part of district No 10, 11, & 12 for the better accomodation of some of the inhabitants of each district."]

Page 531

AT A LEGAL MEETING [held at Town House February 18,1826 pursuant to foregoing warrant]
Abner B. Gifford chosen moderator
VOTED that there be a new school district formed to be numbered twenty to include Ephraim Kirby, Job Lawton, Edmund Tripp, Benjamin Tripp, Jr., John Wait & John Macomber on the West, David Kirby on the South, Peleg Brownell & Obadial Lawton on the East & Benjamin Tripp on the North.

TO GEORGE C. BROWNELL, CONSTABLE, GREETING. [warrant for a special town meeting on March 7,18261
to choose a moderator
to know the Town's mind in regard to reconsidering a vote passed at the last meeting forming a new school district in said Town.
to act on all matters and things that may regularly come before said meeting respecting school districts.

Page 532

AT A LEGAL MEETING [held March 7,1826 pursuant to foregoing warrant]
Nathan C. Brownell chosen moderator
VOTED to reconsider the vote passed at the last meeting forming a new school district in said Town...
VOTED that there be a committee of three chosen, whose duty shall be, to view the school district Numbered 10, 11 & 12, and report to the annual town meeting to be holden on the first monday in April next whether, in their opinion, there ought to be any alterations made in said district and if any, what & how such alterations ought to be made. Tillinghast Almy, Barney Hicks & Sylvester Brownell was chosen a committee for that purpose.
VOTED to adjourn till the first monday in April next at two oclock in the afternoon.

Page 533

TO GEORGE C. BROWNELL, CONSTABLE, GREETING. [warrant for special town meeting March 7,1826 "to know the mind of the Town in regard to repairing the highway which is the dividing line between this Town and the Town of Dartmouth, and also in regard to laying out an highway in this Town in lieu of a part of the aforesaid Highway."]

Page 534

1826 70

AT A LEGAL MEETING [held March 7,1826 to address previous warrant]
Nathan C. Brownell chosen moderator
VOTED that the Selectmen of this Town divide the division road between this Town and Dartmouth with the Selectmen of Dartmouth, from Pettey's old House (so called) northerly to the road that leads over Bread and Cheese Brook, and cause this Town's part, thereof to be repaired.

AT A LEGAL MEETING [held at the house of Frederick Brownell April 19,18261 Jireh Brownell was drawn grand juror & Weston Potter and Pardon Shearman traverse jurors for Supreme Judicial Court to be holden at Taunton in April

AT A LEGAL MEETING [held at Store of Frederick Browell May [no date] 1826] Pardon Case & Nathan Wood were drawn traverse jurors for C.C.Pleas in Taunton in June.

Page 535

TO GEORGE C. BROWNELL, CONSTABLE, GREETING. [warrant for special meeting to elect state officials on April 3, 18261

AT A LEGAL MEETING [held April 4, (sic, really April 3) 18261 Votes for the following persons were given in, sorted, counted, record and declaration thereof made as by the Constitution is directed, viz.

Page 536

For Governor, Levi Lincoln, 68 votes; Samuel Hubbard, 3 votes
For Lt. Gov., Thomas L. Winthrop, 69 votes; Leverett Saltonstall, 2 votes
For Senators, John Mason, 66 votes; Joseph Tripp 68 votes; Solomon Pratt 9 votes; John A. Parker, 60 votes; Charles Russell, 2 votes; Luthan Kirby, 2 votes; Daniel Wing, 2 votes.

TO GEORGE C. BROWNELL, CONSTABLE, GREETING. [warrant for annual town meeting; usual articles; new is...

Page 537

#10 "to know the Town's mind in regard to regulating the Alewive Fishery in said Town."

Page 538

BY VIRTUE OF THIS WARRANT I have notified the inhabitants of the Town of Westport to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within mentioned by posting up one notice at Peckham & Howland's Store, one at Frederick Brownells and one at Isaac Cory & Sons....

AT A LEGAL MEETING [held April 3,18261
Nathan C. Brownell chosen moderator
Frederick Brownell chosen Town Clerk and Town Treasurer
Selectmen: Daniel Wing, Frederick Brownell, Jonathan Davis
Assessors: Daniel Wing, Frederick Brownell, Jonathan Davis

1826 71

Committee on Accounts: William White, Jr., John Macomber, -StephenHowland
Surveyors of Highways: Gilbert Macomber, William Tripp, Capt. Ebenezer Baker, Isaac Gifford, Weston Allen, Canaan G. Dyer, Sylvester Brownell, George C. Brownell, David Sanford, Peleg Brownell, Major Allen, Ezekiel Brownell, Peleg W. Peckham, John Potter, John Gifford, Thomas Sheannan, Benjamin Tripp, Sr. William T. Davis,

Page 539

Jonathan Wordell, Daniel Devol, Stephen Cornell, Jr., David Sisson, Henry Wilcox, Thomas Richmond, George Kirby, Ephraim Macomber, Lemuel Brownell
$1000. VOTED that the sum of one thousand dollars be raised for the repairs of highways and town ways in said Town and that the same amounts be provided for road work as in the past....
VOTED that whenever the Surveyor of any district shall make known to the Selectmen
that he has faithfully expended all the tax assessed on his district, and the highways is not
sufficiently repaired, the Selectmen shall say how much more he may expend on said highway
and he may draw orders on the Treasurer for the amount determined by the Se ' lectmen.
VOTED that there be a committee of three persons to prepare rules and regulations for the Oyster Fishery in said Town and report the same to the adjournment of this meeting. William White, Jr., Abner B. Gifford & Daniel Wing were chosen a committee for the above purpose.

Page 540

William White, Jr., John Macomber, Nathan C. Brownell, Thomas Richmond, Sylvester Brownell, Thomas W. Mayhew, Barney Hicks, Jonathan Davis, Daniel Wing, Abner B. Gifford were chosen a School Committee.
Alfred Williams had 45 votes for Register of Deeds
James L. Hodges had 29 votes for County Treasurer
VOTED that this meeting be adjourned to the second monday in May next

AGREEABLE TO ADJOURNMENT from the seventh day of March ... the Committee that was then chosen to view school districts 10, 11 & 12 made a report in writing. It was VOTED not to accept the report of said Committee.

AT A LEGAL MEETING [held in store of Frederick Brownell June [no date] 18261 John Lawrence was drawn grand juror, Humphrey Slocum & Jonathan Records traverse jurors for Supreme Judicial, Court at Taunton in June.

Page 541

MONDAY, MAY 9,1826: AGREEABLE TO ADJOURNMENT
Nathan C. Brownell was chosen Pound Keeper
Abner B. Gifford, Frederick Brownell, Stephen Howland, Abraham Anthony, David M. Brownell, Thomas W. Mayhew, Jethro Howland & Perry Wilcox chosen Surveyors of Lumber
Tythingmen: Micah Dean, Peleg Sisson & Elijah Blossom
Overseers of Landing at Head of River: Adam Gifford, Abraham Anthony, Jonathan Peckham & David M. Brownell

1826 72

Fence Viewers: Peleg Manchester, Nathan C. Brownell, Wilbur Gifford, Adam Gifford, Gershorn Wordell, John Potter, John Macomber, Jonathan Records, Major Allen & Humphrey Slocum
Cullers of Hoops & Staves: Jethro Howland, Micah Dean, John Howland, Jr., Stephen Howland
Cullers of Fisli: Jethro Howland, Gideon Davis
Field Drivers: Stephen Cornell, Jr., Wilbur Gifford, George Kirby, Ressell Gifford, John Milk, Charles Little, Elijah Blossom, Nathaniel Tripp, Jr., Silas Pettey, Abraham B. Davis, William G. Sowle
Hog Reeves: Ephraim Macomber, Wilbur Gifford, Wing Howland, Phillip Davis, Elijah Blossom, Samuel Wilcox, Abraham Anthony, Wanton Macomber, Barney Hicks, Gideon Davis, Abner Wilcox, William Tripp & Arnold Wood

Page 542

Overseers of Fishery: Warren Gifford, Pardon Allen, Perry Brightman, David Wing, Perry Hazard
Constable and Collector of Taxes: George C. Brownell to have two & one half per cent....
VOTED that one poll tax, assessed in 1825, be not collected of Joshua Potter.
$3000. VOTED that the sum of three thousand dollars be raised .... for the support of the poor, for publick schools, for paying debts against the Town, and other incidental charges....
VOTED that Greek and Latin Schools be dispensed with
VOTED that schools be provided by the Selectmen agreeable to law, & that they draw orders on the Treasurer for the expenses.
VOTED that the tax assessed on Peleg Sisson in 1825 be not collected.
VOTED that Simeon Potter's 1825 tax be not collected.
VOTED that Ruffis Tripp be paid twenty dollars out of the Treasury for keeping his mother, Elizabeth Tripp
VOTED that Samuel Slade have three dollars out of the Treasury for Coffin for Elizabeth Tripp

Page 543

The Committee on Accounts reported-they found due $1394.25. It was voted to accept their report and direct the Treasurer to pay the charges. The Committee also report that the Treasurer had received $4152.39 and paid out $4290.33, making a ballance against the Town of $145-96. The Town last year had a ballance of $1127.42; that assessments were $3036.19, making a sum of $4163.61; that the accounts allowed were $2849.37, leaving a ballance to credit of Town of $1314.24.

Page 544

VOTED that four dollars fifty cents be paid to Richard Lawton for Coffin & Grave Clothes for George Allen
William White, Jr., & Frederick Brownell were chosen a Committee to examine the Oyster Beds & report when they think them fit to be taken.
VOTED that there be a committee chosen whose duty shall be to view school districts and report to the next legal Town Meeting (if called upon for that purpose). William White, Jr.

1826 73

and- Stephen Howland were accordingly chosen for that purpose.
The Committee chosen on the first Monday in April last for the purpose of regulating the Oyster Fishery made a report in writing, that their opinion was there ought not to be any oysters taken from the beds within the Town of Westport the year ensuing, and it was accordingly VOTED that there should be no oysters taken from the beds the year ensuing unless by a permit from a majority of the Selectmen, upon special occasions of sickness and the quantity in such permit to be' specified.

AUGUST, 1826: Levi Gifford & Easton Howland drawn travers jurors for C.C.C.Pleas at Taunton in September.

OCTOBER, 1826: Nathan C. Brownell drawn grand jurors & John Cornell, Jr., & Phillip Potter traverse jurors for SJC at Taunton in October

Page 545

TO GEORGE C. BROWNELL, CONSTABLE, GREETING. [warrant for special meeting on May 8, 1826 to elect representatives to General Court]

AT A LEGAL MEETING [pursuant to foregoing warrant]
It was voted that this Town send no representative.

NOVEMBER, 1826: Jonathan Davis & Benjamin Tripp were drawn traverse jurors for C.C.C.Pleas at Taunton in December

Page 546

TO GEORGE C. BROWNELL, CONSTABLE, GREETING. [warrant for meeting on November 6, 1826 to elect congressional representatives]

AT A LEGAL MEETING [pursuant to foregoing warrant]
The following persons were voted for, viz. Francis Baylies had 1 vote; James L. Hodges had 5 votes; James Arnold had 7 votes; Hercules Cushman had 1 vote; Rufus Bacon had 1 vote; Cornelius Grinnell had 1 vote, which were sorted, counted, record & declaration thereof made....

Page 547

TO GEORGE C. BROWNELL, CONSTABLE, GREETING. [warrant for special town meeting on November 6, 1826 "to know the mind of the Town in regard to an indictment found by the Grand jury against this Town for not keeping the road and bridges in.repair from the dwelling house where Robert Wilson formerly lived to the dwelling of James Reed; also to choose an
agent or agents to answer to said indictment if thought necessary and expedient I

AT A LEGAL MEETING [to act on foregoing warrant] Capt. Jonathan Davis was chosen agent to answer to the indictment mentioned in the foregoing warrant in behalf of the Town.