1774 The Prelude to War
This date of October 3, 1774, Acton cast in its lot against the Crown and the committee sets out in relief forever those were guide the political destiny of the town in the very earliest stages of its progress along the chosen path of resistance.
History of The Town of Acton by Harold R. Phalen Middlesex Printing, Inc., Cambridge, MA., Copyright 1954 pg. 66
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The History of Acton's Crown Resistance Day
Prelude to War
The History of the Acton Minutemen and Militia Companies (Volume 1) page 5-6
Charles R. Husband
A Member of the Acton Minuteman and the Acton Historical Society
On November 3, 1772, James Otis and Samuel Adams were able to muster enough support at the Boston Town Meeting to vote in a resolution establishing a Committee of Correspondence. This committee prepared a statement of the rights of the colonists as men, and a declaration of the infringements of those rights. This communication was sent out to the towns with a request to endorse the views of their Boston neighbors.
On May 13, 1774 Major General Thomas Gage, the newly selected governor of the Province, arrived at Long Wharf in Boston. Under the King's orders he closed the port of Boston, moved the seat of government to Salem, and quartered five new regiments of troops in Boston without a major incident.
In May 1774 the British Parliament passed "An Act for better regulating the Government of the Province of Massachusetts Bay" and "An Act for the more impartial administration of justice in said province." This new laws removed from Massachusetts the right to name the Governor's Council, to elect judges, sheriffs, and justices of the peace, to summon juries, and to hold town meetings. In addition colonists accused of crimes could be carried out of Massachusetts to Admiralty Courts in Halifax for trial. This was a massive attack on the old charter and it was, of all the moves and countermoves, leading the revolution to the point of no return.
In June 1774, the Committee of Correspondence, after a hard fight at a Boston Town Meeting, pushed through a resolution calling for an agreement to boycott all British goods. The rapid compliance of most towns soon suspended all commerce between England and the province of Massachusetts, and the movement spread rapidly down the Atlantic Coast.
On September 1, 1774: General Gage sent a detachment of regulars to Cambridge, to recover two brass cannons that he feared the rebels were planning to steal. This was accomplished without a hitch. However, news of the "raid" traveled rapidly from town to town, distorted by messengers into a tale of aggression and carnage. By noon the next day, over 4,000 men from the surrounding towns had gathered on the common in Cambridge. Two judges appointed by the governor and the lieutenant governor were forced to resign. Messengers were sent out on the roads to stop the militia companies still arriving from distant towns. It was noted that 30,000 or nearly one-third of the effective manpower in all New England took arms and were on actual march for Boston.
First Provincial Congress
On September 29, 1774 the towns organized themselves in the First Provincial Congress and met in Concord. The first resolve of the Congress was the creation of the Committee of Safety, empowered to "alarm, muster and cause to be assembled" as much of the provincial militia as needed at anytime. All officers were recommended to carry out the orders of the Committee. The second resolve for the Congress was for the Committee of Supplies to provide logistical support for any muster of the militia. Other resolves covered the appointment and pay of the officers and men of the new army. The new army was created from the old militia and all militia companies were requested to elect new officers.
The formation of a provincial army from the King's loyal militia was now well underway. The Provisional Congress, of course, was completely dependent on the individual towns to carry out the resolves, to re-elect officers, to form battalions, to supply arms and ammunition, and to put their minutemen under the immediate command of the Committee of Safety. This action meant that men could be taken away from any town and. used where necessary.
The Committee of Safety functioned as an army commander and staff, responsible only to the Provincial Congress. It controlled a military organization capable of putting 14,000 men into the field against General Gage on April 19, 1775.
Acton's Involvement
On the 29th of September 1774 a sign-up sheet was passed around to acquire signatures of individuals who would be willing to volunteer in the formation of a formal militia company. These individuals agreed to meet together to chose officers, to form them selves into a Militia Company, and to meet at times set by the company. - The officer's chosen to lead this company were Joseph Robbins as Captain and Israel Heald as Lieutenant. A copy of the original sign up sheet is shown in Appendix B.
On October 3rd, 1774, a special town meeting was called in Acton. The meeting elected Josiah Hayward as representative to the General Court, if and when the governor called it into session. It elected Francis Faulkner and Ephriam Hapgood delegates to the Provincial Congress to be held in Concord the second Tuesday in October, and it elected Ephraim Hapgood, Francis Faulkner, John Hayward, Mark White, and Samuel Hayward as a committee of correspondence for the town.
This action defines the time when Acton cast in its lot against the Crown.
In November of 1774, a Company of Minutemen was raised by volunteers from the membership of the militia and elected Isaac Davis captain. By mutual agreement the company met twice each week for instruction and drill.
At a town meeting in December of 1774, the town resolved to raise 20 pounds 10 shillings 10 pence for the use of the province, but refused to pay the annual tax allotment to the governor's treasurer.
On the 18th of January, 1775, the town voted to support the Minute Company and: "Voted to pay thirty men, if so many shall enlist, Eight Pence per Day twice in a week they to spend in Exercising three Hours in Each Day until the first Day of May next."
During the winter of 1774-1775 General Gage marched his troops out of Boston as often as possible. On most of these occasions the movement of large numbers of troops would cause the provincials to muster and face down the British. General Gage thought this action was positive, and believed the colonist would soon become weary of the game. The colonist" believed their actions were restraining the troops from moving further into the countryside and they were receiving positive feedback from these encounters.
The provincial army in the spring of 1775 consisted of forty-seven regiments (over 14,000 men). General Gage, on the other hand, had only 2850 men under his command in Boston, including grenadiers, dragoons and about 460 marines under Major John Pitcairn.
It is often said that the British were at an advantage, possessing bayonets while the provincials had none. Returns from the militia and minutemen on April 14, 1775 show a total of 21,549 muskets and 10,108 bayonets. Many of the minute man companies received bayonets that had been taken from the militia to make sure that every minute man was equipped with one (the Acton, Lincoln, and Andover companies were reported fully equipped with bayonets)
Units made up in spirit what they lacked in equipment. Acton, Bedford, Concord, Lexington, and Lincoln companies had fifers, as did many of the others. The Watertown town meeting voted to pay one shilling for each minuteman meeting "to pay for fifing."
The Committee of Safety hoped to be able to train the minutemen in regimental size maneuvers, but exercises on a large scale were difficult to arrange, and paying for the joint maneuvers was a problem. However, a few field days were held, and on Sunday March 13, 1775, the militia and the minuteman companies from Concord, Acton, and surrounding towns mustered on Punkatasset Hill, overlooking the North Bridge inConcord.
Town of Acton initiated the celebration of Crown Resistance Day
The History of the Acton Minutemen and Militia Companies (Volume 2) page 74
Charles R. Husband
A Member of the Acton Minuteman and the Acton Historical Society
On the last Sunday in September 1967, the Acton Minutemen and the Town of Acton initiated the celebration of Crown Resistance Day. The name of chosen to celebrate the anniversary of the illegal Town Meeting held in Acton on October 3, 1774. As you know, much of the action associated with Massachusetts' involvement in the Revolutionary War took place during 1775, however, most of the major political action took place during 1774. The First Provincial Congress had met in Concord in late September 1774 and established a series of committees and administrative actions to provide guidance and direction to the cities and towns in western Middlesex County. At this meeting the Congress requested a specific portion of the militia, well trained, and well equipped, be set aside as a ready defense force. In response to that request the Town of Acton, asked the male members of the population who consistuted the militia to repledge their support to service. This is the initial sign up sheet dated 29th of September 1774. This sheet was passed around to acquire signatures of individuals who would be willing to serve in the formation of a militia unit.
In May of 1774 the British Parliament had passed "An Act for better regulating the Government of the Province of Massachusetts Bay", and "An Act for the more impartial administration of justice in said province." This new law removed from Massachusetts the right to name the Governor's Council, to elect judges, sheriffs, and justices of the peace, to summon juries, and to hold town meetings.
In defiance of these acts, on October 3rd, 1774, a special town meeting was held in Acton. The major purpose of meeting was to elect representatives to the General court and select delegates to the Provincial Congress to be held in Concord the second Tuesday in October. It was at this illegal meeting that Acton cast its lot against the Crown.
In November another special town meeting was held to raise by volunteers from the membership of the militia a Company of Minutemen in accordance with the wishes of the First Provincial Congress.
In December at another town meeting the town resolved to raise funds for the operation of the province, but refused to pay the annual tax allotment to the governor's treasurer.
At the January Town Meeting the town finally decided to pay for the drills of up to thirty minutemen at eight pence per day twice in a week. Note they limited this resolution of payment, indicating they would only fund this enterprise until the first day of May 1775. This was well planned because the Acton Minutemen as a military organization dissolved after the battle of 19 April 1775.
The Meaning Of Crown Resistance Day
BY CLAIRE LEGAULT
The Patriot
Supplement to the Assabet Valley Beacon
Acton, Mass. September 26, 1974
AREA - The repeal of the Stamp Act in 1765 is viewed by many historians as "the first organized resistance in America to the financial policy of Great Britain and the real beginning of the movement for separation (of the Colonies) from the Mother Country."
While this may have been the case in Colonial Political Assemblies, the average colonist in the outlying towns did not become enraged enough defy the Crown until 1774 when England closed the port of Boston. This was when each of the towns set up their Committees of Correspondence and elected representatives to attend the various Colonial Congresses in a unified effort to actively pit themselves against the regulations and restrictions laid on them by England. Boston set up the first Committee of Correspondence in the colonies as early as 1764 and fallowing Boston's lead, some of the colonies set up their own Committees of Correspondence in the following years. However, the total unified effort by all of the colonies to set up these important Committees and generally organize themselves was not seen until 1774. For instance an October 3, 1774 a Special Town Meeting was called in Acton to elect a representative to the General Court, two delegates to attend a Provincial Congress on October 11, 1774, and five members to serve as the Committee of Correspondence far the town." Now, two hundred years later, area' residents will gather on September 29, 1974 to honor the time when their ancestors voted to join in a unified effort to actively resist the English crown.
Many events led up to the colonist's decision to defy England, and it is a debatable issue whether England, by changing her attitude toward the American Colonies could have avoided the armed conflict of the Revolutionary War.
England was a rich, powerful nation with a Constitution and an established social order with laws and a governing body to I enforce those laws prior her I entering upon an experiment in Colonial Expansion in 1607. In the years following 1607, England became dependent upon her colonies to finance her, wars and the various businesses within her borders, Consequently, any group of people who wished and obtain the financing could apply to the King for a charter to migrate to one of England's colonies and set up a business or a home. In the beginning, groups of people left England to come to America for various reasons including religious freedom, economic expansion, and political dissension. As time Went on, England began to reap the benefits of the goods and natural resources of her colonies and the colonists enjoyed England's protection from interference in their affairs by other nations. During this time, England had no intention of acquiring territory for political purposes as her relations with the colonies was based on the Mercantile System of trade. This system held that trade with foreign nations was preferable over both, trade within a country and imports, and that any land which could not produce goods and natural resources to enhance England's trade with foreign nations and bring money into her treasury was a liability rather than an asset. It was a liability because if it was acquired by England, it then had to tie protected and defended with all of the expenses that incurred with no return on the investment.
The American Colonies became such a profitable asset in regard to trade that England was well aware that anything that impeded colonial trade would ruin her businesses at home and cause high unemployment among her people, and she was al ways conscious of the fact that if the colonies began to act in their own interests her country would suffergreatly. So, the colonies were expected to ship all of their goods only to England for the protection and assistance she gave them against interference by other European nations, and British officials were intent upon seeing that the colonies did nothing to hinder British Colonial trade or interfere with the activities of those merchants who were engaged in it. This is what led Parliament to pass so many laws dealing with colonial trade, which protected the British merchant at the expense of the colonists. However up until 1763 in matters other than trade, the Mother country allowed the colonies a great deal of latitude in conducting their own affairs. in the few instances where the colonists called the English Constitution into question, British law was swift and just in dealing with an appeal from the colonial courts. England wanted contented colonies that would work and produce for her own enrichment.
During these years in England's political history, her administration was constantly hindered by politics and tradition and because brains, achievement and ability were almost never considered, in selecting people for political appointments, mediocre men were often appointed to run the affairs of the colonies. These' men were interested in the monetary value of the colonies and knew little or nothing of the geography or living conditions of the American colonists. This is one period when many historians feel that if England placed good leaders and men with intelligence and ability to oversee Colonial affairs, events may have taken a different turn and the, colonists may never have challenged England to an armed conflict. .
Up until 1763 the British Empire meant an empire based on trade, but following her victory over France, England became an imperialistic nation and the problem of the colonies, which up until this time were only concerned with trade, now took on a broader meaning. English officials realized they must take on the duties of political and economic regulation of their colonies in addition to, regulating trade. By the time the Treaty of Paris was signed, the American colonists had grown in wealth and power until they were quite capable of conducting their own affairs. So the American colonists were highly resentful when England began to govern them under imperialism instead of the old mercantile policy.' British merchants were also opposed to the new policy, as they were interested in acquiring lands, which would be immediately profitable to England while the imperialistic view held that opening up new territory would provide another market for British goods when the population expanded. This last view looked for profit for England in the future, but English merchants realized the expense involved in administering to overseas territories of this nature. As long as the Mercantile System held sway England's problems with the, colonists were concerned with the' hard facts of trade, but as this system became enmeshed with those of imperialism, England's problems with the colonists grew more complex.
Following the implementation of the imperialistic policy on the colonies, England found herself in financial difficulty as her treasury had suffered a huge deficit- from the wars she had fought. Everyone in England saw the need for new taxes arid the merchants felt the best way was to increase the taxes of those who owned property, The land owners wanted the taxes to believed on, goods raised in the colonies as they felt the Colonists should be willing to: help bear the financial burden England suffered because of the wars, since they' benefited', from England's protection against foreign intervention.
At this time in England's history, many landowners had political power in the House of Commons, so the first attempt: to raise taxes for England was a renewed effort to enforce the" Molasses Act of 1733. This law was on the books, but during the war between England and France, the. colonists. Avoided paying it whenever they could, and when the Board of Trade in England reported the English territory bad received almost: no money 'from America'" English officials' amended the' Molasses Act adding further requirements to it arid passed it as the Sugar Act of 1764. Other laws concerning colonial trade were passed in 1765 and 1766
The merchants, of New England began to attack these' Acts as unjust and restrictive" and they were joined in their fight by the British merchants. No arguments were put forth by the colonists that these Acts were unconstitutional, but arguments rather centered on the fact that the cost of enforcing them would be more than the revenue received from them. Parliament finally realizing that the funds from these trade acts would not substantially increase England's treasury, then passed the Stamp Act in 1765. While this was not primarily a direct tax, it affected the day-to-day life of the colonists and caused great concern among them. Colonists whose voices were not heard in relation to the' trade acts, now voiced protest against the Stamp Act because it affected their day-to-day life. The Act required the colonies to use stamped paper bought from the British Government for their legal and official documents, and to buy British Stamps wl1ich must be placed on books, newspapers, playing cards, and other items. The colonists argued that this tax would' in effect send to Great Britain' the small amount of money in circulation in the colonies. England argued that the money from this tax would defray the cost of her military defense of the colonies. '
Hostilities were further engendered when the Townshend Acts were passed in 1767. These acts placed a tax on goods shipped from England to America. These acts, along with the Stamp Act, gave rise to the slogan "No taxation without representation" which was heard throughout the colonies, as the colonists felt that since they had no representation in Parliament a tax could not be legislated by Parliament, which they would have to pay on goods they used to conduct their day-to-day affairs. As the cost of living in the colonies rose, and there was 'no money' to purchase goods from England and Scotland, even the common man who was not directly involved in politics in the colonies began to be heard from.
English and Scottish merchants were affected directly when the colonist could no longer afford to buy their goods and so they too joined the colonists in opposing the Stamp Act Parliament received such an outcry of opposition from these groups that the Stamp Act was repealed and the Sugar and Trade Acts of! 1765 were amended.
Buoyed by the repeal of the Stamp Act which was a parliamentary statute, some of the colonists began' to talk among themselves of gaining more independence from England. However, there was a conservative element which preached restraint and meeting 'each difficulty as it arose rather than denying England's right to legislate the affairs of the colonists in all matters. Mott of the conservatives believed in legitimate legislation opposition to England's interference in their internal affairs, but strongly denied the premise of total revolt. As time went on, however, this group dwindled and the colonists 'saw the necessity of severing their ties with England and becoming an independent nation. Right up until the end many colonists tried to persuade other colonists to keep a cool head and that by their very own growth, wealth and Power, England one day would have given them their independence peacefully. This is evidenced by Sam Adams when in response to this argument he said, "When our liberty is gone, historians and civilization alike will teach us that an increase of inhabitants will be but an increase of slaves." In 1768 even the most vociferous colonist did not ask for complete Political independence, but only demanded that Parliament and the King curb their Powers regarding the internal affairs of the colonies.
In the years following, however, events leading up to the actual revolt of the colonists gained momentum as more and more of them questioned England's interference in their affairs as "unconstitutional". England held the point of view the American colonies were subordinate and had no right to demand for themselves powers, which their Constitution reserved for the King. In 1766 after the Stamp Act was repealed, Parliament passed another Act, which pointed up their opposition to the colonial position. This Act called the "Declaratory Act" gave Parliament the right to pass any acts they chose with regard to the colonies and that these acts then would be legally binding upon the colonists.
As the various Colonial assemblies progressed from arguments about trade to arguments about the civil rights of British subjects, Englishmen became more obstinate in their position as they saw colonial opposition not only destroying their monetary profits from colonial trade, but also questioning the very Constitution under which they lived.
Tensions between England and the colonies were further strained when in May 1773 Parliament allowed the East India Company, which was having financial troubles to take over the tea trade in the colonies. The Company was allowed to ship its tea in its own ships and distribute tea in the colonies through their own branch agencies which effectively cut out independent colonial importers and by cutting out the middleman, the Company could then sell its tea in the colonies cheaper than the colonial merchants and indeed cheaper even than the smugglers. Colonists immediately were aware that allowing England to set up a monopoly of this type in the tea trade could result in the same type of monopolies being set up in other colonial industries and the end result would be. England would be able to control the prices on all of the goods the colonists produced as well as on those they imported from England: With the threat of decreased profits from trade and their freedoms limited because of England's manipulation, all of the colonists joined together to fight the East India 'Company from distributing its tea.
On December, 16, 1773 New England Colonists threw 10,000 pounds of the East India Company's tea into Boston Harbor to prevent its distribution in' the colonies. Other colonists did not destroy the tea but did, prevent the unloading of the ships. This act in Boston, now dubbed the Boston Tea party, is what precipitated the crisis between England and America. England retaliated on March 31, 1774 by closing the port of Boston to commerce, abolishing Town Meetings in Massachusetts, removing the seat of government of the Massachusetts Bay Colony to Salem, and designating Marblehead as the port of entry for all ship. When Boston refused to pay for the tea it was destroyed, King George III sent British troops to occupy Boston to enforce these restrictions and to force Boston to submit to the will of the Crown. The Boston Committee of Correspondence notified the outlying towns what was taking place, and all of the towns rallied to Boston's aid by sending food and supplies.
Prior to the Boston Tea Party, many County Colonial Assemblies were held to which towns did not bother to send representatives, but following this, the colonists were so outraged that when Provincial Congresses' were called in each of the counties, most of the towns sent representatives. Individual towns quickly called Special Town meetings into session to elect representatives to the Provincial Congress and to elect Committees of Correspondence their first unified effort to keep each other aware of what the British troops were doing. This was an obvious attempt to forestall any British effort to move in and take the towns one by one.
After counties held their Provincial Congresses, the First Continental Congress was called into session in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774. This Congress voted that if England rejected their pleas to open the port of Boston all of the colonies would then boycott British import and exports trade and would forcibly resist efforts by England to impose taxes. The Committees of Inspection in each of the towns were chosen to enforce the boycott and see that all of the towns obeyed these measures. The colonists that England had rejected their pleas the boycott went into effect received the minute word,
This boycott proved to be the challenge, which erupted barely seven months later into the armed conflict between England and America known as the Revolutionary War or the War for Independence.
1774 Acton Town Warrants
Acton January ye 4th 1774
Then the Selectmen appointed a Town Meeting to be at the Meeting
House in Said Town on Monday ye 17th Day of this Instant January
at one of the Clock in the afternoon to Consider and Determine on
the following articles
1 To Chuse a Moderator for to govern Said meeting
2 To Hear the Letters and other Papers Directed to this Town from the Committe
of Correspondance at Boston with a Duty to be Paid upon it Being
Landed by an Act of the Brittish Parliment and to Act thereon as
the Town Shall think Proper when Met
3 To Se what Method the Town will Come into to Support Lydia Procter
4 To Se if the Town will agree to Rebate Part of the Rates of Daniel Sheperd
for the year 1772 for Reasons that Shall be given at the meeting
5 To Se if the Town will Abate Part of the Rates of the Son of Henry Flint
of Concord a miner for the year 1772 for Reasons that Shall be given
at the Meeting
6 To Se if the Town will agree to Build a House to Support the Poor in
that are or that Become Chargible to this Town and pass any
other vote that May be thought Proper when met
Acton January ye 17th 1774
at a General Town Meeting in Said Town of Acton it Being
Legally warned as appeared by the Returns of the Constables on
their warrants Lieut John Heald was Chosen Moderator and Proceeded
as follows
2 it was Propounded whether the Town will act on Said Article voted
in the affirmative and then it was voted that mr Josiah Hayward
mark White Deacon Brooks Francis Faulkner and Capt Daniel Fletcher
be a Committe to make a Draft of Some Resolves Relating to this
article and Report to the Town at the Next Anuel meeting
3 voted that mr John Emery have four Shillings a week to Support Lydia
Procter untill the Next March Meeting
4 the Fourth Article was Propounded and Passed in the affirmative
5 the fifth article was Propounded and Passed in the Negative
6 the Sixth article Referred to the Next Anual Meeting
Acton February ye 11th 1774
Then the Select men appointed a Town Meeting to be at the meeting House
in Said Town on the first Monday of march Next at Twelve of the
Clock on Said Day to Consider and Determine on the following articles
1 To Chuse a Moderator for to govern Said meeting
2 To Hear the Report of the Committe that was Chosen at our Last Town
meeting to form Resolves to Lay Before the Town at this meeting Relating
to the East India Company Sending their Tea to the Port of Boston Subject
to a Duty to be Paid upon it Being Landed by an Act of the Brittish
Parliament and act thereon as the Town Shall think Proper when met
3 To Chuse Town officers for the year Ensuing
4 To Se if the Town will agree to move the School House that Stands Near
mr Josiah Piper according to the Report of the Committe that was
Chosen to Agree upon the Centers for the Schools in the Town or grant
to Samuel Fitch and a Number of His Neighbours who think themselves
Injured by to[o] Remote from any School So much money yearly as they Pay
to the School to be Expended in their NeighbourHood in Schooling
5 To Se if the Town will agree to Complete the fining of the Burying
Place Excluding those Persons that live in the North East Part of this
Town from Paying any of the Charges who have been at the Expence
of fining a Burying Place in that Part of the Town and Pass any
other vote that may be thought Proper when Met Relating to that
affair
6 To Se if the Town will agree to work at the High ways by a Rate this
Present year and also to Se How much money the Town will Raise to Repair
Said ways and Pass any other votes that may be thought Proper when
met Relating to that affair
7 To Se if the Town will Discontinue the High way that is Laid out and
accepted from mr Joseph Pipers Land to the Road that Leads by Jonathan
Hosmer Jun to the Meeting House and accept of a way Laid out by the
Select men to accomidate mr Joseph Piper Joseph Piper Jun and Philly
Piper to meeting according to the Return of Said way
8 to Se if the Town will agree to Build a House to Suppor the Poor in
that are or May Become a Charge to this Town or Pass any other votes
that may be thought Proper when met Referd to the meeting
9 To Se if the Town will agree to Let the Swine Run at Large this
Present year and the Same was Committed to the Constables
Acton March ye [?] 1774
at a General Town Meeting at the Meeting House in Said Town it Being
Legally warned as appeared by the Returns of the Constables on their
warrants Capt Daniel Fletcher was Chosen Moderator and Proceeded
as follows (viz)
2 the Report of the Committe that was Chosen at the Town meeting to
form Resolves was Red [read] and accepted by [illegible] vote
3 Francis Faulkner was Chosen Town Clerk and Select man Ens John
Heywood and Ephraim Hapgood was Chosen Select men and the Select
men was Chosen Assessors Nathaniel Faulkner and John Heald was Chosen
Constables Ammi Faulkner and Joseph Brabrook was Chosen Wardens
Lieut Jonathan Billing was Chosen Town Treasurer Nehemiah Wheeler
Benjamin Brabrook John Hunt Samuel Wright David Brooks Zachariah Brown
and Simon Tuttle was Chosen Surveyers of High ways and Collectors
of the High way Rate Mark White was Chosen Sealer of waits and
Measures Roger Wheeler and Israel Heald was Chosen fence vewers Samuel
White and David Brooks was Chosen Tithing men Samuel Jones Jun
and John Heald was Chosen Cullers of Hoops and Staves Robert
Chaffin and Daniel Davies was Chosen Surveyers of Boards and Shingles
Nehemiah Wheeler was Chosen Deer Reefe John Hayward [illegible]
George Robbins and James Davies was Chosen Hog Rieves
4 on the fourth article voted that Samuel Fitch David Lamson John
Lamson William Johnson and the widow Temple Shall have So much
money yearly for a School as they Pay to the School Rate
5 it was voted to Compleat the fineing of the Burying Place Excluding
those Persons in the North Part of the Town who have fined a Burying Place
and Lieut Billing upon his Building a good Gate voted that Ens Joseph
Robbins Simon Hunt and Joseph Barker be a Committe for Said
Purpose Said Committe to Compleat Said [illegible] with a good [illegible]
by the Last Day of September Next voted that Said Committe Shall
Deliver a Bill of the Charges that Shall be Due for fineing the Burying
Place to the Assessors and the Assessors Do assess the Town for the Same
6 it was Propounded whether the Town will work at the High way
by a Rate voted in the affirmative and then it was Propounded
whether the Town will Raise Eighty Pounds to Repair Said High way
voted in the affirmative and then it was voted that the wages for
man and Team Shall be as usual and that the Assessors Do Assess
the Town for the above Sum by the Last year Invoice
7 it was Propounded whether the Town will Discontinue the Road
from Joseph Pipers Land to the Road Leading by Jonathan Hosmer Jun
and Passed in the affirmative and then it was Propounded whether
the Town will accept of a the way Laid out by the Select men
to accomidate the Pipers voted in the affirmative
8 the article Referred to the Next May Meeting
9 voted that the Swine Run at Large this Present year and the [meeting
was dismissed]
February 1774
To an order to Joseph Piper Jun for three Pounds it Being for
his Service in Keeping School 3:0:0
To an order to Ezekiel Davis for one Pound four Shillings
it Being for his Supporting Samuel Harris & family £1:4:0
To an order to John Davis for one Pound it Being for his wifes
Service in Keeping School 1:0:0
To an order to Lieut Heald for Two Pounds Nine Shillings & five Pence
it Being for time and money Spent in the Town Service 2:9:0
To an order to Lieut Heald for four Pounds it Being for the School
in his Squadron 4:0:0
To an order to Ens Hapgood for three Pounds Seven Shillings
it Being for time and money Spent in the Town Service 3:7:0
To an order to Nathaniel Faulkner for two Pounds it Being for the weoman
School in two Sociatys 2:0:0
To an order to Capt Samuel Hayward for three Pounds it Being
for their School 3:0:0
To an order to Sarah Parlin for Eight Shillings it being for Supporting
Lydia Procter 0:8:0
To an order to Lieut Billing for four Pounds it Being for a School 4:0:0
To an order to William Barker for four Pounds it Being
for his Service in Keeping School 4:0:0
To an order to Jonas Parker for ten Shillings it Being for
Supporting Lydia Procter 0:10:0
To an order to John Hunt for three Pounds it being for a School
3:0:0
To an order to Capt Samuel Hayward for one Pound one Shilling
& Eight Pence it Being for Carrying Samuel Harris and his
family to Fitchbough 1:1:8
Acton February ye 11th 1774
then wee the Subscribers Laid out a way to accomidate Joseph Piper & Joseph
Piper Jun Beginning at the Corner of Joseph Pipers Land then to the corner
of Phillip Pipers Land from thence to a walnut tree Markt then to
a Black oak Tree then to a White Pine then to a Corner of a wall
and on Said wall to the Road that Leads by mr Joseph Barkers then
as the Road goes to the Corner of the widow Catherine Brooks thirds
So[uth] on Said Third to the Road that Leads from Capt Samuel Hayward
to the meeting House also a Short Bit of a way to accomidate
Phillip Piper Beginning at a Stake at Said Phillip Pipers Land from
thence to a walnut tree then to a walnut tree then to Said white
Pine above mentioned Said ways are Bridle ways through Joseph
Barkers Land and two Rods wide and the marks are on the South
and Southeasterly Side of Said [of Said] ways Said Barker to Keep
but two Pair of Bars or Gates on Said Bridle way
John Heald Jun
Ephraim Hapgood Select men
Francis Faulkner
Acton May ye 6 1774
Then the Select men appointed a Town Meeting to be at the
Meeting House in Said Town on Fryday ye 13 Day of this Instant
May at one of the Clock in the afternoon to Consider and
Determine on the following articles (viz)
1 To Se if the Town will agree to Chuse a Representative
2 To Chuse a Moderator for to govern Said meeting
3 To Se if the Town will agree to Chuse a Committe to appear at
the Grate and General Court on the Second Thursday of the
Next Session of the Said General Court to Show Cause why
the Payer of a Petition of Jerimiah Wood of Stow may not
be granted a Copy of which will be Laid Before the Town at
the meeting
4 To Se if the Town will agree to Prosicute the Select men of the Town
of Stow for Refusing to Paramb[u]late and Renew the Bound
Between the Towns of Stow and Acton and Pass any vote that
that may be thought Proper when Met Relating to that affair
5 To Se How much money the Town will Raise to Defray the Necessary
Charges that Have arisen or may arise this Present year within
the Same
6 To Se How Much money the Town will Raise to Support a Reading
and a Writing School this Present year and Pass any other votes
that may be thought Proper when met Relating to School or
Schools
7 To Se if the Town will agree to omit the Minister Rates of John
Robbins and others for this Present year for Reasons that will be
Laid before the Town in their Petition at the meeting
8 To Se if the Town will Come into any Method to Samuel Fitch and other
[illegible] Relating to their School or Pass any vote that Shall be thought
Proper when Met
9 To Se if the Town will abate the Rate of Titus Law by Reason of
His House Being Consumed by fire
10 To Se if the Town will agree to Build a House to Support the Poor
in that are or may Become Chargible to this Town or Pass any
other vote that may be thought Proper when met
Referred to next meeting
Acton May ye 13th 1774
at a General Town Meeting at the meeting House in Said Town
it Being Legally warned as appeared by the Returns of the Constables
on their warrants Proceeded as follows
1 mr Josiah Hayward was Chosen Representative
2 Deacon Jonathan Hosmer was Chosen Moderator
3 it was Propounded whether the Town will Chuse a Committe to appear
at the general Court on the Second Thursday of the Next Session
of the Said Court to Show Cause why the Prayer of a Petition of
Jeremiah Wood of Stow Should not be granted voted in the affirmative
and Messrs Josiah Hayward and Ephraim Hapgood was Chosen for
Said Purpose
4 it was Propounded whether the Town will Prosicute the Select men of Stow
for Refusing to Perambulate the Line Between the Towns of Stow
and Acton voted in the affirmative
5 voted 25 pounds to defrey the Necessary Charges in this Town this
Present year
6 voted 28 Pounds to Support a Reading and a writing School this
Present year and that the Several Sociaties have Liberty to Expend
one quarter of the above Sum in a Weoman School
7 it was Propounded whether the Town will omit the Ministers
Rate of John Robbins and others this Present year and it Passed
in the Negative
8 it was Propounded whether Deacon Thomas Barrit Capt Jonathan
Read and mr James Barrit Jr Shall be a Committe to view the
Circumstances of the Sociaty to which mr Josiah Piper Belongs
Relating to their School and Give the Town their Judgment
at the Next Town Meeting where their School Shall be Kept
to accomidate the whole of their Sociaty voted in the affirmative
9 Propounded whether the Town will abate the Rates of mr Titus
Law this Present year and it Passed in Negative
10 Referred to the Next Annual Meeting
Acton April ye 5th 1774
we Esra Jewett Oliver Hoar Simeon Procter appointed a Committe
by the Select men of Littleton to Perambulate and Renew the
Bounds Between Littleton and Acton Ephraim Hapgood and
Robert Chaffin appointed by the Select men of Acton to Renew
the Bounds Between Acton and Littleton and we Began at
the Most Easterly Corner of Littleton adjoining on Acton
in wesford Line and there we Renewed a Stake and heap of
Stones from thence to a heap of Stones on the northeasterly Side
of Nagog Pond from thence across Said Pond to a heap of Stones
Called Neshoba Corner from thence to a Read [red] oak tree on the
Easterly Side of the Road that Leads from Littleton to Acton
meeting House which tree was Blown-up by the Roots and was
Laid up a Heap of Stones in the Plase [Place] from thence to a white
oak tree from thence to a heap of Stones on a Rock from
thence to a heap of Stones on a Ledge of Rocks from thence
to a White oak tree by a Grate Rock Northerly of Robert
Chaffins House from thence to a white oak Stump the tree
Being cut down and we Laid a Heap of Stones on the Stump
from thence to a Black oak tree from thence to a white
oak tree on the easterly Side of fort Pond Brook
we the Subscribers agreed to Renew the Bounds above Mentioned
Esra Jewett appointed by
Oliver Hoar the Select men
Simeon Procter of Littleton
Ephraim Hapgood appointed by the
Robert Chaffin Select men of
Acton
Acton April ye 25th 1774
We the Subscribers Being appointed by the Towns of Chelmsford
and Acton to Perambulate the Lines and Renew the Bounds
Between Said Towns this may Certify that we have Performed
that Service and no Despute Did arise Between us about the
Same
Joseph Warran Committe for
Zebulon Spaulden Chelmsford
John Heald Committe for Acton
John Heywood
Acton April ye 25 1774
then we the Subscribers met and Perambulated the Town
Line and Renewed the Bounds Between the Towns of Billerica
and Acton
Isaac Foster Committe for
William Pallin Billerica
Nehemiah Wheeler Committe
John Heald Jr for Acton
Acton August ye 1 1774
We the Subscribers Select men of the Towns of Stow and Acton
Met on the Day of the Above Date and Compleated the
Perambulating of the Line Between Said Towns
Jonathan Hood Select men of Stow
Jonathan Hapgood
Ephraim Hapgood
Francis Faulkner Select men of Acton
John Heywood
Concord April ye 21 1774
We the Subscribers Select men of the Towns of Concord and Acton
Did on the Day of the Above Date Perambulate the Line Between
the Said Towns and Renewed the Bounds as Discribed in the Book
of Records in each of the Towns Above Mentioned
Ephraim Wood Select men of
Nathan [illegible] Concord
Francis Faulkner Select men of
John Heywood Acton
Acton September ye 20th 1774
Then the Select men appointed a Town Meeting to be at the
Meeting House in Said Town on Monday the 3rd Day of October
Next at one of the Clock in the afternoon to Consider
and Determine on the following articles
1 To Se if the Town will agree to Chuse a Representative
2 To Chuse a Moderator for to Govern Said meeting
3 To Chuse a Deligate to Sit in the Provinteal Congress to
to Held at Concord on the Second Tuesday of October Next
4 To Se if the Town will agree to Chuse a Committe of
Correspondance
Acton October ye 3rd 1774
at a General Town Meeting at the meeting House in Said
Town it Being Legally warned as appeared by the Returns
of the Constables on their Notifications mr Josiah Hayward
was Chosen Representative
2 Capt Samuel Hayward was Chosen Moderator
3 Francis Faulkner and Ephraim Hapgood was Chosen
Deligates to attend the Provincial Congress to be Held
Sign up Sheet of Acton's Militia Company- September 29, 1774