Town records of 1837

1837 page 124.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Bristol S. S.. To Jireh Brownell Constable of the Town of Westport. Greeting.

You are hereby required in the name of said Commonwealth to notify and warn the Inhabitants of said Town qualified by law to vote for Town officers and in other Town affairs. To meet at the town house in said Town on Monday the third day of April next at nine of the clock in the forenoon to act on the following articles viz.

1st. To choose a Moderatorfor said meeting.

2nd. To choose all necessary Town Officers for the year ensuing.

3rd. To choose a committee to receive and examine all accounts brought against said Town and also to settle with the Treasurer.

4th. To bring in in their votes for County Treasurer.

5th. To see if the Town will appoint their Treasurer Collector of taxes-to determine the rates of abatement for prompt pay-at what time the collection shall be completed in the amount to be allowed the Collector for his services.

6th. To determine the sum to be expended in the repairs of highways-and the manner it shall be appropriated.

7th. To vote a sum of money for the support of the Poor and other incidental expenses.

8th. To vote a sum of money for support of schools- the time and the manner it shall be apportioned. To see if the Town will dispense with the ten months school provided for by law. And to determine the manner of apportioning the money received from the State for the support of Schools.

9th. To see if the Town will reconsider a vote passed on the eleventh day of June A.D. 1827 in regards to Publick Schools in school district numbered eighteen.

10th. To choose such other committees or agents as circumstances may render expedient.-heroof fail not and make return of this warrant with your doings thereon to bus the subscribers at or before said time of meeting.

Given under our hands and seals this eighteenth day of March A.D. 1837. Signed Frederick Brownell, Jonathan Davis, Daniel Gifford, Selectmen of Westport.

End of page 124.

1837 page 125.

Bristol S. S. Westport. March 19, 1837. By virtue of this warrant I have notified the male Inhabitants of said Town by posting up notifications one at the store of J. W. Mayhew one at the store of Howland and Church and one at the store of Frederick Brownell to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within mentioned.

Signed Jireh Brownell, Constable.

At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Westport qualified according to law-held at the Town house in said Town on Monday the third day of April A.D. 1837 for the purposes expressed in the foregoing warrant. The following officers were chosen and votes passed viz..

Nathan C. Brownell Esq. Moderator .

Frederick Brownell Town Clerk and sworn

Frederick Brownell Treasurer.

Voted. That the Treasurer be Collector of taxes the year ensuing that he have one percent on the amount of the tax bills.-that the Assessors when they deliver the tax bills to the Collector give notice thereof by posting up notices in six publick places in the Town.-that those who voluntarily pay their tax to the collector within sixty days from the date of said notice shall be entitled to an abatement of five percent from their tax.-Those who pay as aforesaid after sixty and within one hundred and twenty days three percent.-that the Collector shall meet the Inhabitants for the purpose of receiving taxes-at the Point-at the head of the Rivers East and West-at some convenient time which shall been named on the Assessors Notices-within sixty days first mentioned-and also at the same places within the one hundre and twenty days-and shall receive taxes on other days at his store.

Signed Frederick Brownell, Jonathan Davis, Daniel Gifford, Selectmen and sworn.

Signed Frederick Brownell, Jonathan Davis, Daniel Gifford, Assessors and sworn.

End of page 125.

1837 page 126.

Peleg W. Peckham, John Macomber, Freeman Lawrence, Committee on accounts.

Surveyors of highways.

Jireh Brownell sworn, Gershom Wodell sworn, Robert Lawton sworn, Ellery E. Macomber sworn, John R. Baker sworn, Lemuel Reed sworn, Joseph Brightman sworn, William Smith sworn, Isaac Gifford sworn, George Lawton sworn, Peleg Manchester sworn, John Avery Gifford sworn, William G. Sowle, Peleg W. Peckham sworn, John Macomber Sloan, Christopher Palmer sworn, John W. Holman sworn, Joseph H. Tripp sworn, John Sanford sworn, Carmi Tripp sworn, Peter Devol sworn, John Potter sworn, William Gifford Jr. sworn, Orrin Macomber sworn, Jared Chase sworn, William White, William Allen Jr., Daniel Wing sworn, George Wood, John Crossman, Thomas Records, Benjamin Tripp, David Davis, William Tripp captain.

School districts.

No. 1 Thomas records, no.2. Joshua W. Gifford, No. 3 Joseph Brightman, No. 4 Solomon Wilbour, No. 5 Pardon Davis, No. 6 Stephen Allen, No. 7 Godfrey Cornell, No. 8 Daniel Tripp, No. 9 Jireh Brownell, No. 10 Restiome Case, No. 11 Jacob Allen, No. 12 George R. Pearse, No.13 Israel Chase, No. 14 Thomas Richmond, No. 15 John Sanford, No. 16 George Crapo, No. 17 Benjamin Gifford, No. 18 James Reed, No. 19 Adam Gifford, no.20 Abner Kirby.

Jonathan Tripp, Pound keeper, sworn.

Surveyors of Wood and lumber.

Russell Gifford 2nd, Varnum Macomber, Abner B. Gifford, Stephen Howland, David Thompson, Frederick Brownell, David Sanford, Freeman Lawrence.

End of page 126.

1837 page 127.

Overseers of landing head of East River.

Stephen Howland, Jeremiah Thompson, Abner B. Gifford.

Overseers of landing at the Point.

Isaac Cory, Varnum Mac comer, T. W. Mayhew.

$1400. Voted. That the sum of fourteen hundred dollars be raised by way of tax on the polls and estates of the Inhabitants and nonresident proprietors of the Town of Westport for repairing the highways the year ensuing. And the Assessors are hereby directed to assess the same as soon as may be and deliver a list of the persons names and of the sums they are assessed to each Surveyor with his limits according to law. That one dollar be allowed by the Surveyors for nine hours work of a man or yoke of oxen tjirty three cents for a plow and twenty five cents for a cart–and in that proportion for parts of days. And that the aforesaid sum be expended according to law.

Horatio L. Danforth had thitty six votes for County Treasurer.

Voted. In the ninth article in the warrant that the vote therein mentioned be repealed.

Voted that this meeting be adjourned to the second Monday in may next at one o’clock P. M..

Recorded by Frederick Brownell, Town Clerk.

May 8, 1837. Agreeable to adjournment from the first Monday in April last the Inhabitants of the Town of Westport met accordingly and passed the following votes.

John Howland and Isaac L. Brightman were chosen, Cullers of hoops and staves.

Peleg Manchester, Wilbour Gifford, Lemuel L. Brownell, Humphrey A. Slocum, Nathan C. Brownell sworn, Adam Gifford sworn, Jonathan Davis sworn, John Potter sworn, and Nathan Wood sworn were severally chosen, Fence Viewers.

Philip Davis sworn ,Perry Albert sworn Ezra T. Gifford, Howard T. Tripp, Lemuel Reed, Willard Reed, Elkanah Wodell, Joseph Wood, Lawton H. Cory, were severally chosen Field Drivers.

Adam Gifford Town Agent.

End of page 127.

1837 page 128.

John Avery Gifford, John Avery Potter, Perry Davis, General School Committee.

Jireh Brownell chosen Constable and sworn.

To be paid five dollars by the Treasurer for doing Town’s business.

$1000. Voted. That the sum of one thousand dollars be raised by way of tax for the support of Schools the year ensuing. That $3.50 per month be paid to the several school Districts that shall have schools taught therein five months or less previous to the first day of November next. That the remainder with the addition of $160.63 received from the State School Fund, be apportioned to the several districts that shall have school taught therein by male teachers recommended by the General School Committee. Four months or less prior to the fifteenth day of March next. That the Selectmen in both cases apportion by the time the school is taugth–for summer school by the first day of November and for the winter by fifteenth day of March next. And draw orders on the Treasurer in favor or of the Prudential Committee, if he or any other Inhabitants of the The district in which a school may be taught make returns of the time to the satisfaction of the Selectmen by said first day of November or fifteenth day of March.

Voted. That the ten months school provided for by law be dispensed with this year.

The committee on accounts made a report in writing that they had attended to the duty assigned them and found due to the several persons named in the list presented by them the sums set against their names respectively, amounting to $2318.64.

It was thereupon voted to accept said report and direct the Treasurer to pay the sums found by the Committee to the several persons therein named and charge the same to the Town.

The committee also made a report that agreeable to their appointment they had examined the accounts of the Treasurer and found that he had received for the Town the year past. 2429.85

and had paid out 3245.92

leaving a balance against the Town of $ 816.07.

End of page 128.

1837 page 129.

The committee further reported that the Town is indebted for orders now allowed 102.91.

To Adam Bennett on note 250.00.

Balance due to Treasurer 816.07.

$1168.98.

Balance due from Collector $409.05.

From L. Clifford and others 146.82. 555.87.

Leaving a balance against Town of $613.11.

Which is humbly submitted P. W. Peckham, John Macomber, Freeman Lawrence, Committee.

$1200. Voted. That the sum of twelve hundred dollars be raised by way of tax on the polls and estates of the Inhabitants and nonresident proprietors of the Town of Westport for the support of Paupers and other incidental expenses to be assessed collected and paid into the treasury by the first day of March next. And the Assessors are hereby directed to assess the same in the way and manner provided by law and deliver lists thereof to the Collector as soon as may be.

Voted. To adjourn this meeting to the first Monday in June next at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

Recorded by Frederick Brownell town Clerk.

To the Town clerk of Westport.

The subscribers Assessors of said Town have to determined that the real estate of Pardon Gifford and Robert A. Gifford both of New Bedford, taxable in this Town–shall be taxed in school district number 14-of which you will make record.

Westport August 19, 1837 signed Jonathan Davis, Daniel Gifford, Assessors.

Recorded by Frederick Brownell Town Clerk.

End of page 129

1837

page 130.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Bristol S. S. to Jireh Brownell Constable of the Town of Westport. Greeting.

You are hereby required in the name of said Commonwealth to notify and warn the Inhabitants of said Town qualified by law to vote in Town Affairs. To meet at the Town house in said Town on Monday the eighth day of may instant-at two of the clock in the afternoon to act on the following articles.

1st. To choose a Moderator.

2nd. To appoint an agent, to receive this Town’s proportion of the surplus revenue, and to make such disposition of the same as shall be thought best or most expedient.

Hereof fail not and make returns of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at or before said time of meeting.

Given under our hands and seals this first day of may A. D. 1837. Signed Frederick Brownell, Jonathan Davis, Daniel Gifford, Selectmen.

Bristol S. S.. May 8, 1837. By virtue of the above warrant I have notified and warned the Inhabitants of the Town of Westport qualified as therein expressed to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within mentioned.

Signed Jireh Brownell, Constable.

At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Westport duly notified according to law, and holden in said Town on the eighth day of may in the year 1837, for the purpose of considering and determining whether said Town would agree to receive its proportion of the monies received and to be received by the Treasurer and Receiver General of this Commonwealth, from the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, for deposit with this Commonwealth, in pursuance of an act of Congress, entitled an act to regulate the deposit of the public money, approved on the 23rd of June 1836 and will comply with the terms and provisions contained

end of page 130.

1837 page 131.

in the several acts of this Commonwealth concerning the deposit of the Surplus Revenue.

It was voted. That this Town agree to receive from the Treasurer and Receiver General of this Commonwealth its proportion of the Surplus Revenue of the United States in deposite, and will comply with the terms and provisions of the several acts, passed by the Legislature of said Commonwealth, concerning the deposite of the surplus revenue.

Voted. That Frederick Brownell be the agent of this Town for the purpose of receiving from the Treasurer and Receiver General of this Commonwealth this Town’s proportion of the said revenue in deposite.

Voted. That Frederick Brownell agent as aforesaid be and he hereby is authorizeed to sign a Certificate of deposite for the sums of money he may receive from time to time from the said Treasurer and Receiver General of this Commonwealth, binding the Town, in its corporate capacity, for the repayment to said Treasurer of the of the money so deposited with this Town in any and every part therof whenever the same shall be required by said Treasurer and Receiver General to be by him refunded to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States.

Jonathan Davis was chosen Moderator for the aforesaid meeting.

Voted. That there be a committee of two chosen who together with the Agent, shall loan said money from time to time when the Agent shall receive it, as they may think best for the interest of the Town.

Nathan C. Brownell Esq. and Adam Gifford were accordingly chosen for said committee.

Recorded by Frederick Brownell Town Clerk.

End of page 131.

1837 page 132.

To the Town clerk of Westport.

The subscribers Assessors of said Town have determined that the real estate belonging to Nathaniel Lovell of the state of New York situated in said Westport shall be taxed in school district number 20. Of which you will make record. Westport Aug. 12, 1837 signed Frederick Brownell, Jonathan Davis, Daniel Gifford, Assessors.

Recorded by Frederick Brownell, Town Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Bristol S. S.. To Jireh Brownell Constable of the Town of Westport. Greeting.

You are hereby required in the name of said Commonwealth to notify and warn the Inhabitants of said Town of Westport qualified by law to vote for Representatives to the General Court. To meet at the Town house in said Town on Monday the fifth day of June next at two o’clock in the afternoon to act on the following articles viz:.

1st. To choose a Moderator for said meeting.

2nd. To bring in their votes for a Register of Deeds for the towns of Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford and fairhaven in said County of Bristol.

3rd. to take such measures as may be thought expedient in regard to laying out or opening a highway from Samuel Dyer’s southerly to the Sea Shore and also to the River where there is now drift ways.

Hereof fail not and make returns of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Town clerk at or before said time of meeting.

Given under our hands and seals at a Westport this twentyeth day of may A. D. 1837.

Signed Frederick Brownell, Jonathan Davis, Daniel Gifford, Selectmen.

End of page 132

1837 page 133.

Bristol S. S.. Westport June 5, 1837. By virtue of the within warrant I have notified and warned the Inhabitants of the Town of Westport to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within mentioned by posting up notices at the Point at the head of the East River and at the Bridge fourteen days prior to the date hereof.

Signed Jireh Brownell, constable.

At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Westport held on the fifth day of June 1837, for the purposes expressed in the foregoing warrant.

Nathan C. Brownell Esq. chosen Moderator.

Votes for the following person were given in sorted counted. Record and declaration thereof made according to law, viz.:

Benjamin Congdon had 17 votes for Register of Deeds.

Recorded by Frederick Brownell Town Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Bristol S. S.. To Jireh Brownell Constable of the Town of Westport. Greeting.

You are hereby required to in the name of said Commonwealth to notify and warn the Inhabitants of said Town of Westport qualified by law to vote in Elections. To meet at the Town house in said Town on Monday the thirteenth day of November next at ten o’clock in the forenoon to act on the following articles viz.:

1st.. To give in their votes for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Senators and Counsellors.

2nd. To determine the number of Representatives they will choose to represent them in the General Court.

3rd. To choose one or more Representatives to represent them in the General Court appointed to be convened and held at Boston on the first Wednesday in January next.

End of page 133.

1837 page 134.

Hereof fail not and make return of this warrant with your doings thereon at or before said time of meeting.

Given under our hands and seals at Westport this ninth day of October A. D. 1837.

Signed Frederick Brownell, Daniel Gifford, Selectmen of Westport.

Bristol S. S.. Oct. 23, 1837. By virtue of the within warrant I have notified and warned the male Inhabitants of said Town of Westport to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within mentioned by posting up notifications-one at Holland and Church’s store one at F. W. Mayhew’s store, and one at the store of Frederick Brownell.

Signed Jireh Brownell, Constable of Westport.

At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Westport held at the Town house in said Town on Monday the thirteenth day of November 1837, being the second Monday in said month-for the purposes named in the foregoing warrant–. Votes for the following persons were given in sorted, counted, record and declaration thereof made as by the Constitution is directed.

For Governor

his excellency Edward Everett fifty five votes 55.

Honorable Marcus Morton one hundred and forty one votes 141.

For Lieutenant Governor

honorable George Hull fifty five votes 55.

Honorable William Foster one hundred and forty one votes 141.

For Senators

honorable Seth Whitmarsh one hundred and forty two votes 142

Honorable Henry Williams one hundred and forty two votes 142.

Honorable Thomas Mandell one hundred and forty one votes 141.

Honorable Charles H. Warren fifty four votes 54.

End of page 134.

1837 page 135.

Honorable Lemuel May fifty four votes 54.

Honorable John Eddy fifty four votes 54.

Honorable James H. Handy one vote 1.

Nathan C. Brownell Esq. and Jonathan Davis were chosen Representatives to the next General Court.

Recorded by Frederick Brownell, Town Clerk.

End of page 135.

838 page 136.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Bristol S. S.. To Jireh Brownell Constable of the Town of Westport. Greeting.

You are hereby required in the name of said Commonwealth. To notify and warn the Inhabitants of said Town of Westport duly qualified to vote for Town officers and in other Town affairs to meet at the Town house in said Town on Monday the second day of April next at ten o’clock in the forenoon to act on the following articles viz.

1st. to choose a Moderator for said meeting.

2nd. to choose all necessary Town Officers for the year ensuing.

3rd .to choose a Committee to receive and examine all accounts brought against said Town and also to settle with the treasurer.

4th.to bring in their votes for a County Treasurer .

5th. to see if the Town will appoint theirTreasurer , Collector of Taxes. To determine the rates of abatement for prompt pay–at what time the collection shall be completed and the amount to be

allowed the Collector for his services.

6th. to determine the sum to be expended in the repairs of Highways-and the manner in shall be appropriated.

7th.To vote a sum of money for the support of schools-to determine the manner in shall be apportioned. To see if the Town will dispense with the ten months school provided for by law-and to determine the manner of apportioning the money received from the State for support of Schools.

8th.To vote a sum of money for the support of the Poor and other incidental expenses.

9th. To choose such other Committees or Agents as circumstances may render expedient.

Hereof fail not and make return of this warrant with your doings thereon onto us the subscribers at or before said time of meeting.

Given under our hands and seals this thirteenth day of March A. D. 1838.

Signed Frederick Brownell, Jonathan Davis, Daniel Gifford, Selectmen of Westport.

End of page 136.