The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-12
OLD BOSTON RECORD.
MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF THE
TOWN FATHERS.

Names Familiar to Every Americnn-Thc
Common Was Then, Now, u Source of
Anxiety-Cows Pastured on rt.-RuIes
For Fancuil Hall Market.
Tho ancient record library has been en-
! larged by the addition of the twenty fifth
report of the record commissioners, which
| contains the proceedings of the Boston se-
lcctncn from May 90 1776, to Dec. 27,
l7S6, covering the period of the Revolution.
City Registrar Whitmorc explains that
"therc are no entries on the sclectmcn's
minutes from April 10, 1875, to May 90,
lI16, the control of affairs, of course, be-
ing in the hands OF the British general.
On March IS, 1875, the town chose seven
sclcctmcn-viz, John Scollay, John Han
| cock, Timothy Newell, Thomas Marshall,
Samuel Austin, Oliver Wendell and John
Pitts. The same seven wcro reelected
March 30, 171G. Contelnpor,hneous papers
show that the sclectmcn were Of much
service in making representations to the
military authorities and as Intermediates
i'll the dealings with the American forces
surrounding Boston"
This latest volume contains 377 pages,
including II pages of index to places. OBJ
jccts and names, and it is bound in black
cloth, uniformly with the previously pub
lishcd volumes.
1t is interesting to note that the select
men simply recorded the Declaration of
Independence in this brief and tcrse style:
July i, 1916. The united American
Colonies are declared to he FREQ and indie
pendent States, by tho United States of
America in General Congress assembled at
Philadelphia"
In those days the town fathers, rs 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 ITS was leased to Joseph
and Moses Nosc Of Millbury ut Il rental o:
$50 per annum, but two years latSr one
Andrew Tullesbury leased it for e50. In
1850 the barracks on Long Island were
moved to Rainsfort island.
The Common, it seems, was in those DAYS
source of anxiety equally as 1t is today
To Inc sure, cows were pasturcd on it, but
on July -, 17S6, the sclectmen empower
ed Mr.. George Hamlin Hayward to collect
of such persons as had cows going Mt large
on the 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 chaiscs, carts and
other carriages were frequently crossing
the Common Ito the detrmcnt of the land
and diminishing of the fecd.''
The sclcctmen rose to the occasion and
Informed Thomas Crafts, Esq.," they
would esteem it n favor, and thnt he
would be serving the town if he would use
his cndcavors to prevent loaded carriages
passing in 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 us to prevent carriages passing over
the Common, and the town clerk was di-
rcctcd Ito publish an advertisement to
prevent persons going over the Common
with carriages
The citizens two years af,crward, in
l1So again moved against cncroachmcnt
on tho Common, so the sclcctnen appoint
| ed Il committee 'to view the Common and
report what further fencing may be ncccs-
sary for the better security of the same"
His EXccllcncy John Hancock, ESQ 4"
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 IL committee was appointed "to view
the Bank near his House"
The trees now on the Common opposite
tic Brewer brownstonc mansion are said
to be some of those set out by Governor
Hancock under this liberty"
This WIS in 1850, and in 1854 DR. Smith
and others We're accorded a like liberty TO
plant on tie Common "anothcr Row of
Trees"
AT another date DR.. Price was appoint
cd TO confer with DR.. Warren relative to
cncroachmcnt made on the Common by
.,1,,, u
the Continental hospital.
The ancient minutes in relation to Fan
euil Hall market are especially interesting
The regulations We're moro stringent in
some particulars than are those Of today
When Mr.. Lindsey &. Wallace was appoint
ed To the care of the stalls in and ont of
the market, the sclcctmcn impressed upon
him the duty ito see that the butchers
who hire them strictly; comply with the
orders of the town. Our directions TO YOU
are that, comfortable to said orders YOU
sec that they do not let their stalls to any
one without the consent of the Sclcctncn.
and that they bring and offer to sale to its
inhabitants all hides, skins and talloN of
all such creatures as they shall kill while
| they hold the same, and bring to the
| market for sale, and that they constantly
! Keep said stalls clean, ana do not pack any
| meat III the market or suffer any to be left
| IN it at the shutting UP Of the market, .
| etc.
| The hall ovcp 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 n suitable bell to he
| hung in the cupoln was authorized on July
| 26, 1855. Boston Herald