Town records for 1794

AT A TOWN MEETING legally warned and held at the Town House in Westport on Saturday the 8th day of February A.D. 1794 for the purpose of choosing an agent to answer for the Town at the next court of general sessions of the peace to be holden at Taunton within and for the county of Bristol, upon a bill of indictment found against the town of Westport at the last General Sessions of the Peace holden at Taunton aforesaid, on the second tuesday of September last, for not amending and keeping in repair a certain highway within said town. Charles Devol chosen moderator, Charles Devol chosen clerk pro tempore, William Hicks, chosen agent as [?].

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BRISTOL SS [Injunction from selectmen to constable to call town meeting to vote for state officers to be held Monday, 7th of April, 1794 at ten o’clock and at eleven o’clock to vote on the following articles: lst To choose all town officers for the year ensuing. 2nd To give in their votes for a county treasurer 3rd to choose a committee to examine and allow accounts against the town. 4th To receive returns of highways that shall be laid out or altered by Selectmen. 5th To do and act regarding amending highways and vote a sum proper for the purpose. 6th To do what shall be though proper about hiring a school master. 7th To agree upon and vote a sum of money for the support of the poor and other expenses 8th To act and do what shal be thought best about building a new bridge over the Head of Acoaxet River. 9th To know whether the town will sell to John Gifford a piece of the Town’s Landing. 10th To act and do what shall be thought proper in preparing a house for the poor. 11th To act and do what shall be thought proper relating to selling the way that goes from Gershom Woodles comer across the head of the cedar swamp. 12th To act and do what shall be thought proper relating to laying out part of the town’s

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landing on the westward side and head of Acoaxet River in house lots and hiring them for a number of years. Dated 10th March, 1794. Signed Henry Howland & Wesson Kirby, Selectmen.

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AT A TOWN MEETING April 7th, 1794, the male inhabitants voted thus for state offices:

Samuel Adams had 69 votes for governor, William Cushed had 21

Samuel Adams had 6 votes for Lt. governor, Edward Robbins had 70, Thomas Durfee 43

Elisha May had 46 votes for senator and/or counsellor

George Leonard had 26 votes for senator and/or counsellor

AT A TOWN MEETING april 7th, 1794, Appolas Leonard Esq had 33 votes for County

Treasurer.

1. William Almy chosen moderator of the meeting.

2. William Almy chosen Town clerk and sworn.

3. William Davis, Wesson Kirby and Lemuel Milk chosen Selectmen.

4. William Almy chosen Town treasurer and to have 1/4 per cent for the money he shall

receive in and pay out within the year.

5. Benjamin Brownell, Wesson Tripp, Nathaniel Kirby chosen assessors of rates & sworn

6. silvester Brownell, Geor. Lawton and Lemuel Milk chosen a committee on accounts and

a committee to settle with the treasurer.

7. Benjamin Cory & Samuel Willcox chosen field drivers and sworn.

Thomas Allen and John Davis chosen field driver.

8. Nathaniel Kirby chosen pound keeper and sworn

9. Benjamin Brownell chosen sealer of weights and measures and sworn

10. Benjamin Cory & Preserved Shearman chosen sealers of Leather and sworn.

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11. Thomas Woodle chosen constable and collector of rates for the year ensuing and to have paid him two per cent for all the money he shall collect and pay into the treasury where he shall be directed by the warrants he to procure good and sufficient bondsmen for the faithful performance of the trust

12. Job Anthony and Stephen Davis chosen surveyors of lumber and sworn. Benjamin Devol chosen also and sworn. George Brownell chosen and sworn. Barjona Devol chosen and sworn and Jonathan Potter chosen cullers of hoops and staves.

13. Benjamin Brownell senior, Thomas Tripp, Christopher Cornell, Peleg White chosen fence viewers and sworn and Abner Wilcox sworn also.

14. Stephen Davis, Job Anthony chosen and sworn, Barjona Devol sworn corders of wood.

15. Henry Tibbits, and Jonathan Taber chosen surveyors of highways and sworn.

16. William Davis and Lemuel Milk chosen a committe to make inquiry into the right the town has to sell any part of the town landing and the expediency thereof and make report to this meeting when met by adjournment.

17. Upon the fifth article in the warrant to know whether the town would vote a sum of money to amend and repair the highway for the year ensuing. Voted not to raise a sum of money for the purpose mentioned.

18. Voted this meeting be adjourned to second monday of May next at ten o’clock

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AT A TOWN MEETING legally warned and held Monday the 7th day of May and continued by adjournment to Monday the 12th day of May following. Met according to adjournment. The committee on accounts made their report that they had attended that service had exan-dned and allowed accounts against the town of Westport to the amount of one hundred and thirteen pounds, seventeen shillings and nine pence agreeable thae list presented with the report, VOTED to accept the report of the committee and the treasurer directed to pay the accounts accordingly-

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VOTED to raise by way of tax on the inhabitants of the Town the sum of one hundred and ten pounds for the support of the poor and the other necessary expense of the town for the year ensuing.

John Howland, Benjamin Brownell and Barjona Devol, Robert Kirby, Thomas Briggs, Christopher Cornell, John Comell, William Records, Nathaniel Kirby, chosen surveyors of highways and swom. Paul Earl, Abiel Davis, Jr., Stephen Cornell, Phillip Cornell, William Gifford, Jr. surveyor of highways, Paul Earl, & Stephen Cornell & Phillip Cornell swom.

William Almy sworn Town Treasurer

Ebenezer Baker chosen Tythingmen

Capt. Silvester Brownell, George Brownell, Joseph Gifford, Lemuel Sowle, Bamy Devol, Job Almy, Samuel Willcox, and John Kirby chosen a committee to oversee the fishery.

George Brownell, cooper, Henry Tibbits, Prince Brownell, Benjamin Gifford, George Tripp, Elihu Kirby, Josiah Brownell, Stephen Davis chosen hog reeves

Silvester Brownell and Peris Richmond chosen fence viewers and sworn.

The select men and George Lawton chosen a committee to do what they think proper, respecting the bridge at the head of Acoaxet River.

On the article respecting providing a house for the poor, voted not to prepare one.

VOTED that the support of the poor be under the direction of the selectmen.

VOTED to sell the highway from Gershorn Woodles comer across the head of the cedar Swamp. VOTED to refer the sale of the above way to the adjournment of this meeting.

VOTED NOT to act on the article respecting laying out the landing into house lots.

The committee apointed to view the Town Landing and report the expediency of selling thereof. Reported that they had viewed the same and that there could be a store set thereon without discommoding the Landing. Thereupon VOTED that John Gifford be pem-dtted to set a store thereon under the direction of George Lawton to stand thereon during the Town’s pleasure.

Voted to adjourn to the first Monday in July then to meet at this place at town of the clock afternoon and adjourned accordingly. W. Almy, Town Clerk

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AT A MEETING legally warned and held on Monday the 7th day of April 1794 and continued by adjournment to Monday the seventh day of July following: then met and upon the 11th article in the warrant about selling the highway that goes from Graham Woodle’s comer across the head of the Cedar Swamp. VOTED that upon Thomas Woodle paying into the hands of the Treasurer of this Town the sum of ten silver dollars for the use of said Town, the Treasurer is hereby directed and impowered to give and execute in behalf of this Town a Quit Claim Deed of all the right and take the Town of Westport has to said way

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lying between the 15th and 16th forty acre lots lying in Pocasset Purchase so called and deliver it to said Woodle accordingly.

BRISTOL SS [Injunction from selectmen to constable to call meeting for 12th May, 1794 to elect state representative. Dated 1st May, 1794 from William Davis & Wesson Kirby to John Gifford, Constable.]

AT A MEETING legally warned and held 12th May, 1794 for the purpose of choosing a representative for the year ensuing, etc., it was apparent that William Almy was chosen.

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AT A MEETING legally warned and held at the town house in Westport on Friday the 29th day of August A.D. 1794 to act on the following particulars, namely:

1. to act and do what shall be thought proper relative to procuring town’s stock of powder, balls, etc.-

2. -2. to act and do what shall be thought proper relative to an action brought by the town of Portsmouth against John Gifford, Constable for carrying Daniel Weeden an infant from Westport to said Portsmouth.

3. 3. To act and do what shall be thought proper relative to Ephoraim Davenport’s bringing Mary Weeden into Town.

4. 4. For the town to act and do what shall be thought proper relative to the Town’s making an addition to the wages of the detached soldiers if they are called into service. FIRST, William Almy chosen moderator. 2nd. Noted that the selectmen be requested to procure money by hiring on interest or otherways and purchase the stock of powder, balls and other military equipment for the town agreeable to law and charge the same to the town agreeable to law…. 3rd Voted that William Ahny be the agent to defend on behalf of the Town in the action brought against John Gifford for carrying Daniel Weeden an infant, by a warrant from the Town of Westport to the Town of Portsmouth and he is requested to consult such counsell and conduct the business in all respect as he shall judge for the advantage of the town.

5. 4th On the article relative to Ephraim Davenport’s bringing Mary Weeden into this Town, voted not to act upon it for the present.

6. 5th Voted that this town will give to each soldier detached from the militia of this town agreeable to the requisitions of Congress’ a sum that shall make each soldier’s monthly pay ten dollars per month, if Congress or the Legislature of this states does not make it up that sum for the time they shall actually be in service.

7. 6th Voted this meeting be adjourned without day.

AT A MEETING held at the town house in Westport on Friday 30th day of August, 1794 to draw one petit juror for Sept Court. Wanton Case was drawn accordingly.

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AT A TOWN MEETING legally warned and held at the town house in Westport on Monday the third day of November A.D. 1794…. to act on the following articles, namely:

To give in their votes for the purpose of choosing a representative to represent the third southern district of the Commonwealth in the Congress of the U.S. The Selectmen

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presided. Upon collecting, sorting and counting, it appeared that George Leonard Esq had 13 votes and David Coob Esq had 2 votes.

The town then proceeded to other articles in said warrant. 1. William Almy was chosen Moderator. 2. Voted to choose a committee of two to take a map of this town agreeable to a resolve of the General Court of this Commonwealth proposed at their sessions June, 1794. 3. Voted that William Almy Esq and Mr. Lemuel Milk be the committee for the purposes aforesaid and they be empowered to employ such surveyor at the expense of the town and otherway conduct the said business as they shall judge for the interest of the town and for the compleating the said business. 4. Upon the articles in said warrant to act and do what shall be thought proper relative to poor negroes now expensive to said Town. Voted not to act upon it. 5. Upon the article in said warrant for the town at said meeting to conclude by vote what sum of money to raise for the use of said Town. Voted that the sum of thirty six pounds be added to the sum voted, to be raised by the Town of Westport at their last April meeting and assessors are directed to assess it accordingly, and that so much of said sum be appropriated for purchasing power, balls, and other military equipments for the Town agreeable to law as they shall cost and the Selectmen are requested to lay their accounts of the purchase of said equipment before the committee on accounts for their examination and allowance and

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And the treasurer of this town is directed to pay the said accounts thus examined and allowed out of the first money he shall receive upon said tax. 6. Voted that the selectmen be directed to deliver the said military equipment to some suitable person they shall appoint to receive and keep said stores for the town, they taking a receipt for the same, particularing of every kind the quality and number and the said receipt being produced to the committee on accounts shall authorize the committee to immediately proceed to examine and alolow what shall be found due thereon. 7. Voted to adjourn this meeting without day & it was.

AT A MEETING of the inhabitants on November 3, 1794 to select one person for the petit jury to be holden at Taunton, the Selectmen and Town Clerk being present, Isaiah Burden was drawn.