The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-13
OLD BOSTON RECORD.
MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF THE
TOWN FATHERS.

Namcs Familiar to Every American-Tho
Common Was Then, Now, e Source OF
Anxiety-Cows Pasturod on It-Rulcs
For Faneuil Hall Market.
Tho ancient record library has been en-
larged by the addition of tho twenty fifth
report Of the record commissioners, which
contains tho proceedings of the Boston &c.
sectmen from May 90, 1776, to Dec 81,
i7S6, covering the period of the Revolution.
City Registrar Whitmore explains that
"thcre are no entries on the selectmen's
minutes from April 10, 1916, to May 90,
1776, the control Of affairs, of course, be-
ing in the hands of the British general
On March 13, 1878, the town chose seven
sclectmen-viz, John Scollay, John Han
cock, Timothy Newell, Thomas Marshall,
Samuel Austin, Oliver Wendell and John
Pitts. The same seven were reelected
March 90, 1776. Contemporaneous papers
show that tho selcctmen were of much
service in making representations to the
military authorities and rs Intermediates
In tho dealings with the American forces
surrounding Boston"
This latest volume contains 877 pages,
Including Al pages of index to places, OBJ
jects and names, and 1t is bound In black
cloth, uniformly with tho previously pub
lishcd volumes.
1t Is interesting to note TINT the select
men simply recorded the Declaration of
Independence In this brief and tersc style:
July 4, 1916. Tho united American
Colonies arc declared to be Free and indie
pendent States, by the United States OF
America in General Congress assembled ut
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 Mt different times
Deer island in 1878 WIS leased to Joseph
and Moses Voso of A1illbury at rental of
Gl5O per annum, but two years later one
Andrew Tukcsbury leased it for $50. In
1880 the barracks on Long Island were
moved to Rainsford island.
Tho Common, it seems was In those DAYS
source of anxiety equally rs 1t Is today
10 be sure, COWS were pasturcd on it, but
on July - 1856, the sclectmcn empower
ed Mr.. George Hamlin Hayward TO collect
of such persons us had cows going ut largo
on tho Common 81 for each cow etc., and
he was nlso empowered to tako care that
no damage was done the ''trccs."
In the summer of 1777 complaints were
made by citizens that chaiscs, carts and
other carriages were frequently crossing
tho Common ito the detrimcnt Of tho land
Tho selectmen rose to the occasion and
informed Thomas Crafts, Esq.," they
would esteem it favor, and that no
would be serving the town If he would use
his endcavors to prevent loaded carriages
passing I'm future"
Later on provision was made for run
ming fence from the South burying
ground to prevent carriages, etc. from
crossing the Common.
Still later, in 1888, action was taken
for the making of such addition to the
fence rs to prevent carriages passing over
the Common, and the town clerk was d.
rcctcd "to publish an advertisement to
prevent persons going over the Common
| with carriages"
Tho citizens two years afterward, in
| 1888, again moved against encroachment
| on the Common, SO the sclcctmcn appoint-
cd committee " to view the Common and
| report what further fencing may BIO noccs-
sary for the better security of tho same"
His Excellency John Hancock, Esq"
| 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 committee was appointed "to view
| tho 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 "libcrty"
This was in 1880, and in 1884 DR. Smith
and Others were accorded q like liberty to
| plant on the Common "anothcr Row of
| Trees
AT another date DR.. Price was appoint
| cd to confer with DR.. Warren relative to
encroachmcnt made on tho Common by
those who had buried the persons dying in
the Continental hospital
The ancient minutes in relation to Fan
euil Hall market arc especially interesting.
| Tho regulations were more stringent in
| some particulars than arc those of today
When Mr.. Lindsey q. Wallace was appoint
| Ell to the care of the stalls in and out of
the market, the sclcctmcn impressed upon
him tho duty "to soc that tho butchers
who hire them strictly comply with the
orders of the town. Our directions to YOU
are that, comfortable to said orders, you
eee that they do not let their stalls to any
enc without the consent of the sclectmeI,
and that they bring and offer to sale to its
inhabitants oil hides, skins and tallow of
oil such creatures as they shall kill while
they hold the same, and bring to tho
| market for sale, and that they constantly
Keep said stalls clean, and do not pack any
meat In tho market or suffer any to be left
| In 1t at the shutting up of the market {"
| etc.
Tho hall over tho 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-
terly charities, etc
Tho purchase of suitable bell to be
| hung In the cupola was authorized an July
| "a, 17s6.-Bostoll Herald