Town records of 1843

1843 page 205.

Given under our hands and seals at Westport this twentyeth day of March in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty three.

Signed Frederick Brownell, Obadiah Lawton, Edwin S. Gifford, Selectmen.

Westport March 23, 1843.

Pursuant to the within warrant I have notified the Inhabitants of said Town qualified as therein expressed to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within mentioned.

Jireh Brownell Constable.

At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of Westport qualified agreeable to law held at the Town house in said Town on Monday the third day of April A.D. 1843. 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 sworn.

Frederick Brownell, Obadiah Lawton, Freeman Lawrence, Selectmen sworn.

Freeman Lawrence, Andrew Hicks, William G. Slade, Committee on accounts.

Frederick Brownell, Obadiah Lawton, Freeman Lawrence, Assessors.

Azel P. Ladd, Edwin S. Gifford, William G. Slade, Stephen A. Gifford, and George F. S. White. General School Committee.

End of page 205.

1843 page 206.

The General School Committee presented a Report in writing and it was voted to accept said report and that 700 copies be printed under the direction of the Committee if they can get it done at an expense not exceeding fifteen dollars. Votes given in for County Treasurer were as follows

for Foster Hooper of fall River two hundred votes 200

and for Julius C. Anthony of Taunton thirty three votes 33

for Peleg W. Peckham one vote 1

Peleg W. Peckham was chosen Treasurer and Collector of taxes-his compensation to be one percent on what he collects and pays into the Treasury.

Voted. That when the assessors deliver the Tax bills to the Collector they shall give notice thereof by posting up notices at six publick places in the Town-that those who voluntarily pay their tax to the Collector within 60 days from the date of said notice shall be entitled to an abatement of

five percent from their tax-after 60 and within one hundred and twenty days three percent. And that the Collector shall meet the Inhabitants for the purpose of receiving taxes, -at the Point,at

he head of the West River and at the Bridge at some convenient time which shall be named by the Collector on the Assessors notice within the 60 days, and also within the one hundred and twenty days-and on other days at the place he shall designate.

Voted. That this meeting be adjourned to Monday the 10th instant at 10 o’clock A.M..

Recorded by Frederick Brownell Town Clerk.

End of page 206.

1843 page 207.

Monday April 10, 1843. Agreeable to adjournment from the first Monday in said month the Inhabitants of said Town of Westport met accordingly and the following Officers were chosen and votes passed viz..

Freeman Lawrence chosen moderator pro tem.

Voted. That the Selectmen be Overseers of the Poor.

Voted. That the Treasurer and other Officers of the Town be forbidden to loan any money on account of the Town hereafter without direction and authority of the Inhabitants thereof declared in town meeting.

$1400. Voted. That the sum of fourteen hundred dollars be raised by tax in addition to what may be received from the State School Fund for the support of Schools the year ensuing-that the summer schools receive six dollars per month in proportion to the time the schools are kept not exceeding five months-and that the balance be divided to the winter schools in proportion to the time kept not exceeding four months. Provided. That if there be any surplus in the summer Schools it shall be appropriated towards paying the expenses of the winter Schools and if any surplus remain to the winter Schools it shall remain in the town Treasury.

Prudential committee Committees.

No.1.Wanton Manchester, No. 2 Thomas Allen Jr., No. 3 Peleg Sherman, No. 4 William Smith, No. 5 David S. Bradley, No. 6 Isaac L. Brightman, No. 7 Justus Sherman, No. 8 Gideon W. Tripp, No. 9 Nathan C. Brownell, No. 10 Jeremiah Devol, No. 11 Ruben Wait , No. 12 Edmund Davis, No. 13 James Brownell, No. 14 Stephen Howland, No. 15 Holdre Earl., No. 16 George D. Crapo, No. 17 Peleg T. Wodell., No. 18 James Reed, No. 19 Isaac Francis, No. 20 George W. Wing.

End of page 207.

1843 page 208.

Voted. That the several Prudential Committees be authorized to Select and Contract with School Teachers for their own Districts.

$1000. Voted. That the sum of one housand dollars be raised by way of tax on the polls and estates of the Inhabitants and nonresident proprietors of the Town for repairing the highways the year ensuing. And the Assessors are directed to assess said sum as soon as may be and deliver lists thereof with the persons names and the sums they are assessed the each Surveyor with his limits. According to law. That one dollar be allowed for nine hours labor of a Man or yoke of oxen-33 cents for a plow-25 cents for a cart and in that proportion for more or less time.

And that said sum be expended according to law.

Surveyors of highway.

Thomas W. Wood, Elkanah Wodell, David Lawton sworn, Abner F. Tripp, Abraham C. White, John R. Baker,Lemuel Reed, Philip T. Chase, John B. Lawton, Peleg Dennis, Green Allen sworn, Abraham Manchester, George Gifford, Peleg W. Peckham sworn, Isaac Francis sworn, Jeptha Gifford sworn, Daniel Wing sworn, Jacob Allen , Isaac Hicks, George Wood, Peleg S. Sanford, George White, Ichabod Kirby, John Sanford, Nathan C. Brownell, Samuel L. Dyer, Benjamin Seabury, Andrew Hicks, Benjamin Tripp, Godfrey Cornell, William P. Howland, Jared Chase, Levi Gifford, Ephraim Kirby sworn.

Pound Keeper-Nathan Wood.

End of page 208.

1843 page 209.

Field Drivers.

James Whalon, Willard Reed, Eben Baker, Joseph Wood, Caleb Sherman, George Gifford, Abraham C. White, Joseph Thompson, Charles Gifford, James Cornell, James Brownell, Solomon Wilbur,

Fence Viewers.

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

Surveyors of Lumber and Measurers of Wood.

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

Overseers of the Landings.

Frederick Brownell, Obadiah Lawton, Freeman Lawrence, Andrew Hicks, Stephen Howland 2nd.

Constable.

Jared Brownell, to receive from the Town Treasury, five dollars for his services sworn.

Voted. That the ninth article in the warrant be left, not acted on.

End of page 209.

1843 page 210.

The Committee on accounts presented 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 the sum of $2968.20.

The committee also reported that they had examined the treasurer’s accounts and found in the hands of Frederick Brownell $1033.90.

In the hands of Christopher A. Church 844.78

Due from the State for Paupers 63.94.

$1942.62

1025.58

Also allow John Sanford’s afc. As Assessor 6.00.

Leaving a balance against the town of $1031.58

Voted. That the Committee’s report be accepted and recorded.

Voted. That the copies of the report of the School Committee-directed to be printed at the last meeting be distributed as follows.

To the Prudential Committees in sufficient numbers to furnish each Family in their respective Districts with a copy-one to each school Teacher in the Town for present year, and one in the desk of each school house-and that the remainder if any be disposed of in such manner as the school committee think proper- if any of them can be sold the proceeds of the sale shall be paid to the Treasurer.

$1500.voted. That the sum of firteen 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 Town Treasury on or before the first day of March next. And the Assessors are directed to assess said sum in the way and manner provided.

end of page 210.

1843 page 211.

By law and deliver lists thereof to Collector as soon as may be.

Recorded by Frederick Brownell Town Clerk.

To the Town Clerk of Westport-the following is a list of the names of persons liable to be enrolled in the militia viz:

Frederick Allen, Israel H. Allen,Elihu Allen, William G. Allen, Thomas Allen Jr., Samuel Allen, Timothy G. Allen, James Allen, John Allen, Humphrey B. Allen, George S. Allen, John L. Anthony, Charles Allen, Abner Allen, Cornelius T. Allen, Perry Albert, John Ayers, Alexander Brownell, Frederick W. Brownell, Edwin Brownell, James H. Brownell, George Brownell, John Brightman, Willard Besse, Peter S. Besse, Gideon Brightman, David S. Bradley, John H. Brightman, Elias P. Brightman, Leander Brightman, Andrew Brownell, Ephraim Briggs, Ezra P. Brownell, Isaac Brownell, William Brownell, Frederick A. Brownell, Holder Borden, Abraham Brownell, Richard B. Bedon, Elihu Borden, John R. Baker, Jaber Brownell, Daniel Brownell, George Briggs, James Brownell, Oliver Bailey, Henry Brightman, Isaac L. Brightman, Wanton Brightman, Charles Brightman, Peleg Brownell,Uriah Brownell, William H. Cornell, Peleg Cory, Alexander Cory, William W. Cornell, Godfrey Cornell, Stephen K. Cornell, Stephen Cornell, Job Cornell, Peleg Cornell, John A. Cornell, Jonathan Chace, Jonathan Crossman, George D. Crapo, Frederick Chace, Horace Collamore, Weston Cornell, George Chadwick, Christopher A. Church, Jared Chase,Eseck Carr, ThomasCarr, Alexander Devol, Pardon Davis, William Dyer, Abraham Dyer, Alfred C. Davis, Thomas W. Davis, Benjamin Devol, William A. Davis, George L. Dyer, Warren Dyer, Allen Davis, Edmund Davis, David Davenport, John Devol, David Devol, Philip H. Devol, Perry Davis, Jonathan Devol, John S. Dennis, David Davis, Charles Dana, Philip Eltz, Holder Earl, Benjamin Fuller, George Farnum, Paul Fisher, Clark Freelove, George Freelove, Hiram Francis, Thomas Faunce,

End of page 211.

1843 page 212.

Isaac Francis, Christopher R. Gifford, George Gifford, John Gifford, Henry Gifford, Christopher Gifford, Anthony A. Gifford,Elijah Gifford 2nd, Richard S. Gifford, Russell Gifford, Caanan Gifford, Philip Grinnell, William Gifford, Asa Grinnell, Alexander Gifford, Charles Gifford, Peleg H. Gifford, Gideon Gifford, John Gifford 2nd, Elihu B. Gifford, Jonathan P. Gifford, George H. Gifford, Weston Gifford, Charles Gifford, Barney Hicks, Ruben Hicks, Alexander Hicks, Andrew Hicks, Isaac Hicks, William Hicks, Oliver T. Hazard, Gilbert Howard, Edward B. Hazard,Loeth Howland, William P. Howland, Stephen K. Howland, Alexander Howland, Charles Howland, David S. Howland, William H. Handy, Hiram Handy, Charles B. Hayden, Gideon Jennings, Benjamin F. Joseph, Perry Kirby, Nicolas W. Kirby, Alfred King, Nathaniel Kirby, Tilinghast Kirby, Edmund Kirby, Stephen P. Kirby, Harvey W. Kirby, Abner Kirby, Godfrey King, Godfrey B. King, Abraham Lawton, John Lawton, Isaac Lawton, David Lawton, Edwin Lawton, Robert Lawton, Gideon Lawton, Azel P.Ladd, George Lawton, George B. Lawton, Lorenzo D. Mosher, Henry Macomber, Abraham Manchester, Barton D. Manchester, Beriah Manchester, Wilbur Manchester, Borden Manchester, Alexander Macomber, Simeon Macomber Jr., Israel Macomber, John Macomber., Alexander Macomber 2nd., Restiome Macomber, William G. Manchester, Wanton Manchester,Luthon Mosher, Daniel Mosher, Obadiah Mosher, John Mosher, Robert Mosher, Ezra MacomberEllery Macomber, Pardon Macomber, Weston Macomber., Andrew Macomber, George Macomber, Zebedee S. Macomber, Orrin Macomber, Richard Macomber, William W. Manchester, Otis Macomber, Thurston Macomber, Edwin L. Mayhew, Jeremiah Mayhew, Benjamin Mayhew, James Manchester, Leonard Macomber, Abraham Macomber,Levi Macomber, Perry Pike, Charles Potter, Nathaniel Potter Jr., Frederick Potter, Abner Potter, Warren Potter, Pardon C.Potter, Potter Pettey, Isaac Pettey, Abner T. Pettey, Holder T. Pettey, Pardon Pettey 2nd., Jonathan Pearse, Jacob Peckham, Edward Pettey, Willard Reed, Caleb S. Reed, Ellery W. Reed,

end of page 212.

1843 page 213.

Israel Sowle, Gideon Sowle, Edward G. Sowle, Oliver Sowle, Charles Sowle, Benjamin Sowle, Harvey Sherman, Justus Sherman, Peleg Sherman, Ebenezer Sherman, Frederick Slade, Andrew Slocum, David E. Slocum, Russell Sowle, Silas B. Sanford, K. them Sanford, Abner Sisson,Urial Sisson, Charles Sisson, Gideon Sisson, Isaac Snell, Humphrey W. Snell, Wilson Sherman, Pardon Sowle, Daniel H. Sisson, David Sanford Jr., Peleg Sanford, Thomas Sanford, William Sabins Jr., Gideon B.Sabins, KemptonSherman, Lemuel. Sowle, Philip Sanford, Caleb Sherman, Anthony Sherman, Peter Sherman, Thomas Sherman, Ruben Simmons, Eben Simmons, Thomas C. Smith, Daniel Tripp, Clark Tripp, Gilbert Tripp, Benjamin F. Tripp, Wilkinson Tripp, Nathaniel Tripp, Osborne Tilton, Isaac Tripp Jr., Samuel Tripp, Benjamin P. Tripp, Nathaniel Tripp 2nd, Frederick P. Tripp, Holder Tripp, David Tripp 2nd,Lyman Tripp,Ivory Tripp, Stephen Tripp Jr., Daniel Tripp 2nd, William taber,Ellery Taber, Howland Tripp, Francis Tripp Jr., Abner B. Tripp, John G. Tripp, Jeremiah B. Tripp, Joseph H. Tripp,Uriah Tripp, William R. Tripp, Joseph Tompson David Tompson Jeremiah P. Tompson, Joseph Taber, Alexander Tripp, David Tripp 2nd, AldenTripp, Howard P.Tripp, Otis Tripp Jr., Andrew M. Tripp, Weston S. Tripp, John M.Tripp, William Vickery, Ephraim H. Wade, Jeptha Wilkey, Abraham C. White, George F. S. White, Jeremiah Wilcox, Thomas B. Wilcox, Frederick A. Wing, Perry Wing, Joseph Wood, George W. Wing, Henry Wait, George B. White, James White, George F. Wood, Alexander Wood, Nathan W. Wood, Thomas W. Wood, Lawton Wood, Henry Wilbour, Solomon Wilbour, Bradford Wodell., Gersham Wodell, Allen Wodell ,Elkanah Wodell John R. Whalon, James M. Whalon, Ruben Wait, Daniel Wait.

Westport may 1843 signed Frederick Brownell, Obadiah Lawton, Assessors.

Recorded by Frederick Brownell Town Clerk.

End of page 213.

1843 page 214.

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 in Elections-to meet at the Town house in said town on Monday the the thirteenth day of November next, being the second Monday in said month ,at ten o’clock in the forenoon to act on the following articles viz.:

1st. To bring in their votes for a Governor and Lieutenant Governor of said Commonwealth and for three Senators for Bristol District ,all on one ballot.

2nd. To choose one Representative to represent them in the General Court to be convened and held at Boston on the first Wednesday in January next.

The Poll will be opened for receiving votes for the foregoing Officers at ten o’clock in the forenoon.

3 rd. To choose a Moderator.

4th. To see if the town will make an alteration in the line between School Districts No. 12 and no. 13.

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 thirtieth day of October A.D. 1843.

Signed Frederick Brownell,Obadiah Lawton, Freeman Lawrence, Selectmen.

End of page 214.

1843 page 215.

Bristol S. S.. November 8, 1843. Pursuant to 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-one at F. Brownell’s store, one on the Town house, one at the head of the river and one at the Point. 14 days previous to the time of meeting.

Signed Jireh Brownell, Constable.

At a legal meeting of the qualified voters of the Town of Westport held at the Town house in said town on Monday the Thirteenth day of November A.D. 1842, being the second Monday in said month, for the purposes expressed in the foregoing warrant. Votes for the following persons were given in, sorted, counted, record and declaration made as by the Constitution is directed-whole number of ballots three hundred and seventy.

For Governor.

Marcus Morton two hundred and seventy votes 270.

George A. Briggs ninety five votes 95.

Samuel E Sewall nine votes 9.

George H. Adams one vote 1.

For Lieutenant Governor.

Henry H. Childs two hundred and seventy one votes 271.

John Reed ninety five votes 95.

William Jackson nine votes 9.

End of page 215.

1843 page 216

for Senators.

Johnson Gardner two hundred and seventy one votes 271.

Elnathan P. Hathaway two hundred and seventy one votes 271.

Cyrus E. Clark two hundred and seventy one votes 271.

Thomas A. Green ninety five votes 95.

Joseph Hathaway ninety five votes 95

Samuel Bullock ninety five votes 95.

Jonathan Pratt nine votes 9.

James Hathaway nine votes 9

Curtis C. Nichols nine votes 9

For Representative to General Court.

William G. Slade one hundred and thirty nine votes 139.

James H. Handy one hundred and fourteen votes 114.

Andrew Hicks ninety four votes. 94

Ezra Macomber 2 votes 2.

Job Davis One Vote 1.

A C. Brownell one vote 1.

Recorded by Frederick Brownell Town Clerk.

End of page 216.

1843 page 217.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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

In the name of said Commonwealth you are hereby required to notify and warn the Inhabitants of said Town of Westport qualified by law to vote in Elections and in Town Affairs-to meet at the Town house in said town on Monday the twenty seventh day of November instant at ten o’clock in the forenoon to act on the following articles viz.:

1st. To see if the town will be represented in the next General Court.

2nd. To bring in their votes to the Selectmen for one Representative to represent them in the General

court to be convened and held at Boston on the first Wednesday in January next.

3rd. To choose a Moderator.

4th. To see if the town will make an alteration in the line between School Districts No. 12 and No. 13.

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 16th day of November A.D. 1843.

Signed Frederick Brownell, Obadiah Lawton, Freeman Lawrence, Selectmen.

Bristol S. S.. Pursuant to the within warrant I have notified and warned the Inhabitants of said Town of Westport to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within mentioned by posting up notices, one at the Town house one at the store of F. W. Mayhew, one at the head of the river and one at the store of Frederick Brownell.

Westport November 20, 1843 signed Jireh Brownell Constable.

end of page 217.

1843 page 218.

At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Westport qualified by law to vote in Elections and in Town affairs held at the Town house in said town on Monday the twenty seventh day of November 1843, being the fourth Monday in said month, for the purposes expressed in the foregoing warrant-votes for the following named persons were given in sorted, counted, record and declaration thereof made as by the Constitution is directed.

1st. Balloting whole number of ballots 272.

Necessary for choice 137.

William G. Slade at one hundred and twenty votes 120.

Andrew Hicks had seventy nine votes 79.

James H. Handy had seventy one votes 71

Micah Dean had one vote 1

Robert Wait had one vote 1

no choice.

2nd balloting, whole number of ballots 262.

Necessary for choice 132.

William G. Slade had one hundred and twenty four votes 124.

Andrew Hicks had seventy three votes 73.

James H. Handy had sixty votes 60.

Micah Dean had four votes 4.

Varnum Macomber had one vote 1.

No choice.

3rd balloting-whole number 261.

Necessary for a choice 131.

William G. Slade had one hundred and eighteen votes 118.

Andrew Hicks seventy six votes 76.

James H. Handy fifty nine votes 59.

Micah Dean six votes 6.

Capt. Job Davis one vote 1.

No choice.

Polls closed at sunset.

End of page 218.

1843 page 219.

Nathan Wood chosen Moderator agreeable to the third article in the warrant.

Voted. That Pardon Pettey, Benjamin Pettey, John Cornell, Stephen Pettey and George L. Pearse be set off from school district No. 12 and annexed to school district No. 13 together with

their polls and estates.

Recorded by Frederick Brownell Town Clerk.

End of page 219.

page 219.

Nathan Wood chosen Moderator agreeable to the 3rd. article in the warrant.

Voted.-That Pardon Pettey, Benjamin Pettey, John Cornell, Stephen Pettey and George L. Pearse be set off from school district No. 12 and annexed to district No. 13 together with their Polls and Estates.

Recorded by Frederick Brownell town clerk.