Voted, that the farther Sum of Seventy pounds be allowed & paid out of the Treasury unto David Jeffries Esq. [130.] In Consideration of the present high Price of the Necessaries of Life. On a Motion made, Voted, that it be left to the Gentlemen, the Selectmen, to make such an Addition to Mr. Cooper's Allowance as Town Clerk, in Consideration of the high Price of Provisions, as they shall judge to be a suitable Living. The Town having brought in their Votes for four Wardens, upon sorting them it appeared, that Capt William Bell Mr. William Crafts were chosen Wardens for the Year ensuing. Then the Meeting was dissolved. At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, duely qualified and legally warned, in public Town Meeting assembled at Faneuil Hall, on Monday the 7th. day of July, Anno Domini 1777. Warrant for calling the Meeting read. Voted, to come to the Choice of a Moderator by a Hand Vote Mr. Jonathan Mason was accordingly chosen Moderator of this Meeting. The Article in the Warrant, Vizt. "To consider whether any Alteration shall be made with respect to the Collectors Premiums & Bonds" was read-Whereupon the Question was put "Whether any Alterations shall be made with respect to said Bonds and Premiums - Passed in the Negative. [131.] The Inhabitants were directed to withdraw and bring in their Votes for a Collector of Taxes in the Room of Mr. Oliver Greenleaff who has declined serving, & upon the Votes being brought in & sorted, it appeared, that Francis Shaw Esq. was chosen a Collector of Taxes for the Year ensuing. The Article in the Warrant, Vizt. "To consider of the Request of the Schoolmasters, that Ushers may be allowed them in Consideration of the great Encrease of Schollars was read-whereupon Voted, That the Gentlemen the Selectmen be and hereby are directed to appoint Ushers for One, or all the Schools if they shall apprehend that Assistance is wanted. The Article in the Warrant, Vizt. "To consider what is proper to be done, relative to impounding Horses that may be found going at large on the Common Lands; was read—whereupon, Voted, that the Hayward be directed to do his Duty with respect to the impounding Horses &c as the Law points out the same. The Article in the Warrant Viz. "To consider what Measures shall be taken relative to weighing Hay - and the allowance to be made the Hay-Weigherwas read whereupon Voted, that this Matter be left to the Gentlemen the Selectmen, for them to act therein, as they shall judge proper. The Article in the warrant Viz. "To consider whether any farther Steps shall be taken for Collecting the Accounts from the Inhabitants of the Losses sustained by the ministerial Troops was read whereupon Voted, that the Chairman of the Committee for the several Wards for collecting an Account of the Damages sustain'd by the British Troops &c. since the Boston Port Bill, be desired to call immediately upon the Inhabitants in their respective Ward. [132.] For an Account of said Damages, agreable to the Hand Bills lately published & deliver'd them; & that said Comittee report to the Gentlemen the Selectmen their doings therein as soon as may be that the same may be laid before the Town also Voted, that the Selectmen, agreable to a former Vote, be desired to fill up said Committees in Case of the Absence or Sickness of any of them. On a Motion made, Voted, that this Meeting be adjourned to Wednesday next, being the 9th. of July 3 'Clock P. M. And the Meeting was accordingly adjourned. Wednesday July 9th. 3'Clock P. M. Met according to adjournment. On a Motion made, Voted, that Joseph Greenleaff & Henry Jackson Esq. be excused from serving on Comittee for Collecting Damages sustained in Ward, N°. 6. Voted, that Mess'. Daniel Bell & Isaac Peirce be added to the Comittee of Ward No. 6, for collecting the Damages sustain'd from the Enemy by the Inhabitants of said Ward. Voted, that Mess. John Rogers & Benjamin Richardson be added to the Committee of Ward No. 8 for collecting the Damages sustained from the Enemy by the Inhabitants of said Ward; in the Room of Capt John Bradford & Capt Charles Williams, who have been excused from serving. Voted, that Newmen Greenough Esq be added to the Committee of Ward No. 1. for collecting Accounts of the Damages sustained from the Enemy by the Inhabitants of said Ward, in the room of Capt Fortesque Vernon, who declines serving. Voted that the thanks of the Town be given to Mr. Jonathan Mason for his Services, as Moderator of this Meeting. Voted, that this Meeting be dissolved. And the Meeting was accordingly dissolved [133.] At a Meeting of the Freeholders & other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, duly qualified & legally warned in public Town Meeting assembled, at Faneuil Hall, on Wednesday the 23. Day of July Anno Domini 1777 Warrant for calling the Meeting - read On a Motion made, the Question was put-Whether a Moderator should be chosen by a Hand Vote- Passed in the Affirmative Honble. Thomas Cushing Esq. was chosen Moderator of this Meeting An Objection have been made to the proceeding on Business, on a Suggestion, that the Inhabitants had not been fully warned the Matter was taken up, & after some Debate the Question was put" Whether the Town will now proceed upon Business Passed in the Affirmative · The Clause in the Warrant Viz. "To consider and determine, whether, agreable to the Proposal & Desire of a number of the Inhabitants a Comittee shall be appointed, & supplied with such sums of Money, as shall be tho't sufficient to procure such of the Necessaries of Life, as may serve to alleviate the Distresses of the poor Inhabitants of this Town; or to agree & determine upon such other Measures, as may be judged necessary to answer the salutary Purpose aforesaid was read Whereupon Voted that Mess'. Ellis Gray Joseph Barrel Ezekiel Price be a Committee, to consider this Article at large, & report at the Adjournment, what they think necessary to be done, to aleviate the present, and prevent the future Distresses of the poor Inhabitants of this Town. [134.] Mess'. Thomas Tileston Sam'. Dashwood were chosen Jurors for a Maritime Court, to be held at Boston the 29th of July next, 10 'Clock Forenoon. Voted, that this Meeting be adjourned to Thursday next, 3 'Clock P. M. Thursday 3 'Clock P. M. met according to Adjournment The Committee appointed to consider the Article in the Warrant, relative to the Distress of the poor Inhabitants, Report That a Committee be appointed to procure Subscriptions from such Persons as are willing to lend the Town, without Interest, a Sum not exceeding £8000 to be paid into the hands of the Town Treasurer, to be appropriated to the Purchase of such Articles as the Inhabitants stand in need of - The Treasurer to give Receipts for the Money so lent, to be paid on Demand. That a Committee of Persons be appointed to purchase on the best Terms, such Quantities of the Necessary Articles, as they shall judge proper, not exceeding the Amount of Money so subscribed, & that the said Comittee be impowered to draw upon, & shall be accountable to the Town Treasurer for the same; and that the said Comittee be impower'd to deliver out the said Goods to such persons in each Ward, as they shall appoint, whose Busi ness it shall be to retail and the several Articles deliver'd him to the respective Inhabitants of his Ward only, at such Price, as the Committee for purchasing shall direct, & which shall not exceed the first Purchase, & the Necessary Charges - And the said Comittee shall make such Allowance for Waste & Retail, as they shall think just - And the persons appointed to retail shall sell for ready Money only, & shall pay to the Comittee the Money, so (& so fast as) received, after the abovesaid Allowance is deducted. [135.] And the said appointed Retailers shall set down the Names of the Persons they supply, recommending to them the utmost Frugality in the Use of the several Articles during Scarcity. And no Person, or Family shall receive a second Supply, 'till all the Articles first received by him or them, is by them consumed. The Committee are also allowed to supply such Coasters as bring Wood to Town from time to time, with as many of the necessary Articles they have on Hand, as they can conveniently spare the Wharfinger engaging to dispose of the said Wood for Cash only in small Parcels & at the Rates purchased of the Coaster, with the customary Allowance for Carting & Wharfage. The Money raised by the proposed Subscriptions, to be appropriated & improved for the purpose aforesaid only, & for so long a time as the Distresses of the people may make this Mode of Trade necessary, & the Lenders are willing to continue their Money in this public Service. And it is earnestly recommended to all persons in Trade (notwithstanding the Appointment of the aforesaid Committee) who are possess'd of the necessary Articles of Life, that they would immediately open their Stores, & sell indiscriminately to all that apply, & thereby convince their Fellow Citizens, that it is their Intention, so far as is in their power, to alleviate the Distresses of the present Day. Which Report having been read & considered the Question was put - "Whether the same shall be accepted? Passed in the Affirmative Whereupon Mess. Ellis Gray Ezekiel Price [136.] Be a Committee to procure Subscriptions agreable to the aforesaid Report - And Mess. Peter Boyer Thomas Walley Joseph Henderson Joseph Callender Ebenezer Sever Habijah Savage were appointed a Committee to purchase necessary Articles, and dispose of the same for the Relief of the poor Inhabitants, as pointed out in said Report. Voted, that the Thanks of the Town be given to the honble. Thomas Cushing Esq, for his good Services, as Moderator. Then the Meeting was dissolved. At a Meeting of the Freeholders & other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, duely qualified & legally warned in public Town Meeting assembled, at Faneuil Hall, Tuesday the 28th. day of October 10 O'Clock A. M. Anno Domini 1777. Warrant for Calling the Meeting - read Benjamin Kent Esq. was chosen Moderator of this Meeting. The Town Clerk having acquainted the Town, that being just recover'd from a Fever, the stormy Weather would not permit his attending the Meeting. Mr. Harbottle Dorr was chosen Town Clerk Pro Tempore The Article in the Warrant relative to the providing [137.] For the Non-Commissioned Officers & Soldiers Families, as have engaged in the Continental Service for this Town was read and considered Whereupon Voted, that a Comittee be now chosen, pursuant to the Directions of a Resolve of the Great & General Court or Assembly of this State, relative to making Provision for the Families of such Non commissioned Officers & Soldiers, as have engaged in the Continental Service for this Town &c Voted, that Capt John Ballard Mr. Edward Green Mr. Joseph Callender Mr. Joseph Hall Mr. Nicholas Bowes be a Committee for the Purpose aforesaid. Ward No. 2 9 excused 6 excused Voted, that Application be made to the Several Churches & Congregations in this Town, that on next Lord's Day, a Contribution be made, in order to purchase the Necessaries of Life of the Families of such of the Inhabitants, as are Non-commissioned Officers & Privates, in the Army of the United States, & that the Monies so collected be paid into the Hands of the Committee appointed pursuant to the Resolve of the General Court, to be by them disposed of for the Use aforesaid. Voted, that Ellis Gray Esq. Mr. Ezekiel Price Oliver Wendell Esq. be a Committee for the purpose aforesaid Voted, that this Meeting be adjourned to Tuesday next, being the 4th of November, 10 O'Clock Forenoon. Tuesday the 4th of November 1777 Met according to Adjournment, 10 O'Clock Forenoon [138.] Benjamin Kent Esq, the Moderator, being out of Town the Inhabitants assembled proceeded to the Choice of a Moderator Pro. Tem. by a Hand Vote, when The Honble James Pitts Esq. was chosen Moderator of this Meeting Pro Temp |