Case Name: The Inhabitants of Nantucket, Complainants, versus Josiah Cotton
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1817-07
Citations: 13 Tyng 243
Docket Number: 
Parties: The Inhabitants of Nantucket, Complainants, versus Josiah Cotton.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 14
Pages: 211–211

Head Matter:
The Inhabitants of Nantucket, Complainants, versus Josiah Cotton.
No appeal lies from an order of the Court of Common Pleas, for assessing the relatives of a pauper for his support, pursuant to the statute of 3793, c. 59, § 3.
This was a complaint of the inhabitants of Ncmtucket, under the provision of the statute of 1793, c. 59, § 3, to the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Plymouth, praying the said court to assess upon the respondent a reasonable sum for the support of his son, who had become chargeable to the town of Nantucket. That court, after hearing the parties, assessed a certain sum; and the respondent, conceiving that his ability had been overrated by the court, and finding himself aggrieved thereby, appealed to this Court from the order of the Common Pleas.
* Thomas, for the respondent,
prayed the Court to hear the parties, and their evidence, with a view to have the said assessment reduced.
Baylies, for the complainants,
contended that no appeal was provided in the case; and, in support of this position, he cited and relied upon the cases of Lowell vs. Spring, and Smith & Al. vs. Hubbard.
6 Mass. Rep. 398.
11 Mass. Rep 24.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The jurisdiction given to the Common Pleas by the statute, under which this process was instituted, is very special. It is plain that the legislature intended to confine the proceedings to that court, and that its orders on the subject should be final. This is a very convenient arrangement; and we see no constitutional objection to it. The appeal is dismissed.