Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-27
OLD BOSTON RECORD.
MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF THE
TOWN FATHERS.
Names Familiar to Every American-The
Common Was Then, as Now, a Source Of
Anxiety-Cows Pastured on It-RuIes
For Faneuil Hall Market.

For Faneuil Hall Market.
The ancient record library has been on
largcd by the addition of the twenty-flfth
report of the record commissioners, which
contains the proceedings of the Boston Sc
lectmen from May 20, 1875, TO Dec %,
1856, covering the period of the Revolution.
City Registrar Whitmore explains that
"therc are no entries on the selectmen's
minutes from April 10, 1775, to May 90
1776, the control IF affairs, of course, be-
ing in the hands of the British general
On March ID, 1775 the town chose seven
sclcctmcn-viz, John Scollay, John Han
cock, Timothy Newell, Thomas Marshall
Samuel Austin, Oliecr Wendell and John
Pitts. The Same seven were re elcctcd
March 90, 1916. Contemporaneous papers
show that the selcctmen were of much
service in making representations to the
military authorities and as Intermediates
in the dealings with the American forces
surrounding Boston"
This latest volume contains 377 pages,
including II pages of index TO places OBJ
iccts and narcs, and it is bound in black
cloth, uniformly with the previously pub
hshcl volumes.
II is interesting to note that the select
men simply recorded the Declaration Of
1ndepcndcuv, in this brief and tcrse style:
"July 4, 1916. The united American
Colonies are declared to be Free and indie
pendent States, by the United States OF
America in General Congress assembled at
Philadelphia.
In those DAYS the town fathers, as do
now their children, the city fathers visited
Deer and Rainsford islands and also APP
pie island, on which were located smallpox
hospitals at different times
Deer island in 1878 was leased to Joseph
and Moses Vosc of Millbury at n rental of
$3.50 Per annum, but two years later ono
Andrew Tukesbury leased it for $50. In
1850 the barracks on Long Island were
moved to Ransford island.
The Common, ii seems, was in those days
q source of anxiety equally as 1t is today.
To be sure, cows We're pasturcd on it, but
on July 10, 1885, the sclectmen empower
ed Mr. George Hamlin Hayward to collect
of such persons as had cows going mt large
on tho Common 81 for each cow, etc, and
he was also empowered to take care that
no damage was done the 'trees."
In the summer of 1777 complaints were
made by citizens that chaises, carts and
other carriages were frequently crossing
the Common "to the dctriment of the land
and diminishing of the feed.
The selectmen rose TO the occasion and
informed Thomas Crafts, Esq.," they
would esteem it favor, and that he
would be serving the town if he would use
his endcavors to prevent loaded carriages
passing in future
Later on provision was made for run
ming fence from the South burying
crossing the Common.
Still later in l7S3 action was taken
for the making of such addition to the
fence as to prevent carriages passing over
the Common, and tho town clerk was d.
rected "to publish an advertisement to
prevent persons going over the Common
with carriages"
The citizens two years afterward, In
1885, again moved against encroachment
on the Common, so tho selectmen appoint
cd committee "to view the Common and
report what further fencing may be neccs-
sary for the better security of the same"
His Exccllency John Hancock, ESD"
upon his own application for liberty 'to
break ground near his Seat for the pulling
up of old Trees and putting down others
in their room, )" was granted his request,
and u committee was appointed "to view
the Bank near his House"
The trees now on the Common opposite
the Brewer brownstone mansion are said
to he some of those set out by Governor
Hancock under this "liberty."
This was in 1850, and in 1874 DR.. Smith
and others were accorded like liberty to
plant on the Common ''anothcr Row of
Trees"
At another date DIR. Price was appoint
ed to confer with DR. Warren relative TO
encroachment made on the Common by
those who had buried the persons dying In
the Continental hospital.
The ancient minutes in relation TO Fan
euil Hall market are especially interesting
The regulations were more stringent in
some particulars than are those of today.
When Mr.. Lindsey g. Wallace was appoint
ed to the care of the stalls in and out of
the market, the selcctmcn impressed upon
him the duty "to see that the butchers
who hire them strictly comply with tho
orders of the town. Our directions to you
are that comformable to said orders, you
see that they do not let their stalls to any
one without the consent of the selectmcn,
and that they bring and offer to sale to Its
inhabitants all hides, skins and tallow Of
all such creatures as they shall kill whilo
they hold the same and bring to the
market for sale, and that they constantly
keep said stalls clean, and do not pack any
meat in the market or suffer any to DO left
in it at the shutting up Of the MARKET"
etc.
Tho hall over the market was used on
election days for the drawing of the state
lottery, and also the mill lottery, for pub
lie dinners, lectures, for disposal Of quar-
tcrly charities, etc.
The purchase Of suitable bell to be
hung In the cupola was authorized on July
90, 17S6.-Boston Herald
The Umbrella.
An American, after lengthoncd study OF