Town records of 1839

1839 page 146.

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 first day of April next at ten of the 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 the Town and also to settle with the Treasurer.

4th. To bring 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 and the amount to be allowed the Collector for his services.

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

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

8th. To vote a sum of money for support of schools-to determine the manner it shall be apportioned-and to see if the Town will dispense with the 10 months school provided for by law.

9th. To see if the Town will consent for Perry Hazard to build a pier in the West River opposite his wharf.

10th. 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

end of page 146.

1839 page 147.

and seals at Westport this twelfh day of March A. D., 1839.

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

By virtue of the within warrant I have notified the male Inhabitants of the Town of Westport by posting notifications, one at the store of Howland and church, one at the Town house, one at the store of Thomas W. Mayhew, and one at the store of Frederick Brownell. To meet at the time and place and for the purposes within mentioned.

March 16, 1839 signed Jireh Brownell, Constable.

At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Westport qualified agreeable to law-held in the Town house in said Town on Monday the first day of April A. D. 1839 for the purposes expressed in the foregoing warrant. The following Officers were chosen and votes passed viz.

Nathan C. Brownell Esq. chosen Moderator.

Frederick Brownell Town Clerk and sworn.

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

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

Peleg W. Peckham, Freeman Lawrence, Andrew Hicks, Committee on accounts.

Surveyors.

Jireh Brownell sworn, Joshua Wodell., Robert Lawton, Emery Macomber sworn, William White, John R. Baker sworn, Lemuel Reed jr., Philip T. Chace sworn, John Howland sworn, Benjamin Gifford sworn

end of page 147.

1839 page 148.

Surveyors of highways, continued.

Gideon W. Tripp sworn, George Gifford sworn, Adam Gifford sworn, Daniel Wing sworn, Justus Sherman sworn, David Sanford sworn, Ichabod Kirby sworn, Carmi Tripp sworn, Peter Devol sworn, Benjamin Tripp sworn, Orrin Macomber sworn, Levi Gifford sworn, Peleg Manchester sworn, Ephraim Thomson, John Gifford sworn, Restiome Potter sworn, Edmund Tripp sworn, Joseph H. Tripp sworn, John Sanford sworn, Samuel Dyer, John Potter sworn, William Gifford Jr. sworn, Jared Chase sworn, William H. Potter sworn.

Prudential committees.

1, Charles Howland, 2. George Gifford, 3. John W. Howland , 4. Russell Sowle, 5. Job Davis, 6. Varnum Macomber, 7. Christopher Palmer, 8. Gideon W. Tripp, 9. Thomas W. Wood, 10.

James H. Handy, No. 11. Obadiah Lawton, No. 12. Edmund Tripp, No. 13. Philip H.Devol, No. 14. Stephen Howland, No. 15. John Sanford, No. 16. Reuben Crapo, No. 17. Elkanah Wodell, No. 18. Ephriam L King, No. 19. Adam Gifford, No. 20. Joseph H. Tripp present and Abner Kirby chosen at may meeting.

General School Committee, John Avery Gifford, Edward S. Gifford, Daniel B. Anthony.

$1000. Voted. That the sum of one thousand 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 directed to assess said sum 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 for nine hours work of a man or yoke of oxen 33 cents for a plow and 25 cents for a cart- and in that proportion for parts of days-and that said sum of be expanded agreeable to law.

End of page 148.

1839 page 149.

$1200. Voted. That the sum of Twelve hundred dollars be raised by way of tax for the support of schools the year ensuing that twenty dollars be paid to each district that shall have School Taught therein at least four months previous to to the first day of November next-and a balance equally divided among the districts that shall have schools taught therein at least three months between said first day of November and fifteenth day of March next. That teachers in both cases to be such as the majority of the legal voters of the district shall by vote direct the Prudential Committee to employ.

And the selectmen on receiving evidence by said first day of November and fifteenth day of March that such Schools have been taught-are directed to draw orders on the Treasurer in favor of the Teachers accordingly.

Voted.–that the Selectmen be directed to cause a bridge to be built at the head of the River (so called) over the East branch of the Acoaxet River in Westport of such materials and construction as they may

think proper-and to be built the present year provided they can have the same built upon such conditions as they think reasonable.

Horatio L. Danforth had Sixteen votes, John Burrage Esq. Sixteen votes, for County Treasurer.

Voted that this meeting be adjourned to the third Monday in may next at one o’clock p.m..

Recorded by Frederick Brownell, T.Clerk.

End of page 149

1839 page 150.

Monday may 20, 1839. Agreeable to adjournment from the first day of April last the Inhabitants of the Town of Westport met accordingly and passed the following votes–.

Abner B. Gifford Moderator Pro.tem.

Nathan C. Brownell Esq. chosen Pound Keeper.

Perry Albert, Howard P. Tripp, Lemuel Reed, Willard Reed, Elkanah Wodell, Lawton H. Cory, George R. Pearse, Jacob Allen, Gideon Borden, Stephen Howland, Thomas W. Wood, Jireh Brownell, and Ephraim Briggs (who was sworn). Chosen Field Drivers.

Peleg Manchester, Adam Gifford, John Potter sworn, Humphrey A. Slocum, Nathan C. Brownell sworn, Jonathan Davis, Major Allen, Nathan Wood, and Lemuel Brownell, Fence Viewers.

Russell Gifford 2nd, Varnum Macomber., Abner B. Gifford, Stephen Howland, David Thompson, Frederick Brownell, David Sanford, and Freeman Lawrence, chosen Surveyors of Wood and Lumber.

Stephen Howland, Jeremiah T. Thomson, A.B. Gifford and Thomas Winslow-Overseers of landing at the head of the East River.

John Potter, Allen Davis and Simeon Macomber Jr., Overseers of landing at the Point.

John Howland and Isaac L.Brightman, Cullers of hoops and Staves.

Adam Gifford Town Agent.

John Avery Gifford, Edward L. Gifford and Daniel B. Anthony were excused and Nathan C. Brownell, Abner B. Gifford and Perry Davis chosen General School Committee.

End of page 150.

1839 page 151.

Voted. That the Treasurer be Collector of taxes the year ensuing to have one percent on what he receives. That the Assessors when they deliver the tax bills to him shall give notice thereof by posting up Notices six public places in the Town. That those who voluntarily pay their taxes within 60 days from the date of said Notice shall be entitled to an abatement of 5 percent from their taxes-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 West River and at the head of the East River at some convenient time which shall be named on the Assessors Notices-within the 60 days and also within the one hundred and twenty days and on other days at his store.

Jireh Brownell chosen Constable and sworn, to be paid $5.from the Treasury for doings Town business.

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 $1788.68.

It was thereupon voted to accept said report and direct the Treasurer to pay the sums found to 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 Treasurer’s account and found that he had received for Town the year past

And has paid out 2237.76

The committee further report that the Town is now indebted the sum $747.01.

All of which is humbly submitted.

Signed G. W. Peckham, Freeman Lawrence, Andrew Hicks, Committee.

End of page 151.

1839 page 152.

$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 owners 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 were 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.

Joseph H. Tripp excused and Abner Kirby chosen Prudential Committee for School District No. 20.

Recorded by Frederick Brownell Town Clerk.

To Jireh Brownell Constable of the Town of Westport. greeting.

You are hereby required in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to notify and warn the Inhabitants of said Town of Westport qualified by law to vote in Town affairs to meet at the Town house in said Town on Monday the 20th day of May current at 2 o’clock in the afternoon to act on the following articles viz.

1st. To choose A. Moderator.

2nd. To know the minds of the Town in regard to laying out an open highway from Samuel Dyer’s southerly to the Sea Shore-and to take such measures in relation to the same as may be thought expedient.

Hereof fail not and make return 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 Westport the 13th day of may A.D., 1839.

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

End of page 152

1839 page 153.

Pursuant to the foregoing warrant I have notified and warned the male inhabitants to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within mentioned by posting up notifications one at the Town house and one at the store of Frederick Brownell.

Made 13, 1839. Signed Jireh Brownell Constable.

At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Westport held at the Town house in said Town Monday the 20th of may A.D. 1839 for the purposes expressed in the foregoing warrant.

Nathan Wood chosen Moderator.

Voted. That the Selectmen make an examination of the proposed way and report at the adjournment of this meeting their opinion of the expediency of laying out an open way and the probable damage it would be to the owners of the lands.

Voted. That this meeting be adjourned to the last Monday in june next two o’clock p.m..

recorded by Frederick Brownell, Town Clerk.

June 24, 1839. Agreeable to adjournment from the 20th of may last the Inhabitants of Westport met accordingly. The selectmen made a report in writing-that in their opinion there might be an open highway laid out from Samuel Dyer’s southerly to the Sea by some alteration in the courses and width of the present way-so that the damage to the owners of land would not exceed $250.

Voted. That the Selectmen layout an open highway from Samuel Dyer’s southerly where they may think proper.

Recorded by Frederick Brownell Town Clerk.

End of page 153.

1839 page 154.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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

You are hereby required in the name of the 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 eleventh day all of November next, being the second Monday in said month, at eleven o’clock in the forenoon to give in their votes for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth and for three Senators for the District of Bristol. To determine the number of Representatives said Town will choose for the ensuing year and to choose one or more to represent them in the General Court to be held at Boston on the first Wednesday in January next. The polls to be opened at eleven oclock to vote for said officers.

Also to meet at two o’clock in the afternoon to act on the following articles

1. To choose a Moderator.

2. To see if the Town will accept of a highway laid out by the Selectmen from Samuel Dyer’s southerly to the Sea Shore.

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 the 26th day of October A.D. 1839 signed Frederick Brownell, Jonathan Davis, Daniel Gifford, Selectmen.

End of page 154

1839 page 155.

of Westport to meet at the time and place and for the purposes therein mentioned by posting up one notice on the Town house one at the store of Frederick Brownell one at the store of Howland and Church fourteen days prior to the date hereof and one at the store of T. W. Mayhew.

Signed Jireh Brownell, Constable.

At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Westport held at the Town house in said Town on Monday the eleventh day of November A.D. 1839 it 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,recorded and declaration thereof made as by the Constitution is directed.

For Governor

his excellency Edward Everett had eighty two votes 82.

His honorable Marcus Morton had two hundred and forty two votes 242.

For Lieutenant Governor.

Honorable George Hull had eighty one votes 81.

Honorable Nathan Willis had two hundred and forty two votes 242.

For Senators.

Honorable Seth Whitmarsh

honorable Horatio Pratt.

Honorable Foster Hooper had each two hundred and forty two votes 242.

Honorable Nathaniel B. Borden eighty two 82.

Honorable Pardon G. Seabury eighty one 81.

Honorable John Daggett eighty one 81.

For Representatives.

Gamaliel Church and John Avery Gifford were chosen.

Recorded by Frederick Brownell Town Clerk.

End of page 155.