Scope and Contents This document and the two following (MSN/COL 2718-45 and MSN/COL 2718-46) are undated survey records detailing the laying out of lots and roads during Swansea's formative years, in the early 1670s. The present record describes the adjacent lots of Samuel Luther and Thomas Estabrooke (of 40 and 20 acres, respectively). The document bears two signatures of John Buterworth—one of five persons given responsibility for the disposal of land in the new town— as well as those of Luther, Estabrook,...

Scope and Contents This document, and the ones preceding and following (MSN/COL 2718-44 and MSN/COL 2718-46), are undated survey records detailing the laying out of lots and roads during Swansea's formative years, in the early 1670s. The present document, copied from the town record book by clerk Joseph Mason, is a survey for highways at Metapoiset, made by order of James Brown, John Allen, and Nicholas Tanner, Swansea's three selectmen in 1670-71. Mason writes that the roads were laid out "in the 12 mounth...

Scope and Contents

This document and the two preceding (MSN/COL 2718-44 and MSN/COL 2718-45), are undated survey records detailing the laying out of lots and roads during Swansea's formative years, in the early 1670s. The present document is a survey of the "House Lott" of Thomas Eastabrook (or Estabrook), on the Mattapoisett River; this particular copy was made from the town land records, probably by clerk Joseph Mason in the early eighteenth century

Scope and Contents This document and the one following (MSN/COL 2718-48) each contains a variant of a committee report on the re-routing of a highway dividing lots owned by William Cohoon and Richard Sharp. The activities described in the report were undertaken in response to a petition made by "Several of the Inhabitance of Swanzey" to the town selectmen, claiming that the original highway route was impassable. On the reverse of the sheet is an unrelated note, lacking signature and date, acknowledging a debt...

Scope and Contents This document and the one preceding (MSN/COL 2718-47) each contains a variant of a committee report on the re-routing of a highway dividing lots owned by William Cohoon and Richard Sharp. The activities described in the report were undertaken in response to a petition made by "Several of the Inhabitance of Swanzey" to the town selectmen, claiming that the original highway route was impassable. On the reverse of the sheet is a warrant directing the constables of Swansey to collect a tax from...

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An unsigned fragment from a warrant directing Hezekiah Luther, constable, to collect taxes from the residents of Swansea, and authorizing him to attach the property of any who refuse to make payment, to the value of the taxes owed. 

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A document written and signed by Andrew Cole, petitioning the Swansea board of selectmen for aid in caring for Elisabeth Bushe, a poor woman staying at Cole's house. Cole reports that Bushe is sick "and not likely to Gitt well in any little time if Ever. Although she hath been Docktered a burdane which hath Been a great charg." 

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A memorandum recording loans made from the Swansea treasury to Edward Slaid, Elisha Mason, and Nicholas Thomas, totaling £12 16s. 

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A memorandum signed by Elnathan Walker and Ephraim Atwood, selectmen of Dighton, and Elisha Mason, Nicholas Thomas, and John Anthony, selectmen of Swansea, recording a joint survey or perambulation of the boundary between the two towns. The verso of the document contains two drafts of a Swansea selectmen's ruling on a complaint by several townspeople regarding a "high way Laid out in the ten acre Division" of the town; the second of the drafts is dated 11 March 1755. 

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An unsigned document directing Edward Luther, constable, to levy a tax on the residents of Swansea, and authorizing him to attach the property of any who refuse to make payment, to the value of the taxes owed. 

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A "True Coppy" of an inventory of the estate of the late Joseph Cole, of Swansea. The appraisers, whose signatures are appended, are Hezekiah Luther, Jr., Levi Wheaten, and William Buffinton. Twenty-five lots are appraised, including Cole's house and 50 acres of land, valued at £250. 

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A document written and signed by Hezekiah Luther, Jr., town clerk, giving public notice of intended marriages between Enoch Chase and Deliverance Mason, both of Swansea, and between Daniel Barney, of Rehoboth, and Rachil Boomy, of Swansea. 

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A document issued by the Swansea board of selectmen giving public notice of a town meeting for the purpose of raising a company to "Guard the Shores for the Saftey and Defence of the good people of the Town. . .at this time [of] Eminent Danger." An endorsement over the names of the same three selectmen appears on the reverse. 

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A warrant issued by the Swansea board of selectmen (Edward Stead, Charles Stead, and William Brown) directing the constables to give public notice of a town meeting for the purpose of settling town accounts. The endorsement of Daniel Barney, constable, appears on the reverse. 

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A warrant issued by the Swansea board of selectmen (Edward Stead, Charles Stead, and Jonathan Wood) directing the constable to give public notice of a town meeting at the house of Caleb Hill, for the purpose of electing a special representative to the General Court to rectify a 'misstake in the Last tax bill." The endorsement of Daniel Barney, constable, appears on the reverse. 

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A document signed by Constant Smith, professing that "the Times have Turned hard against me in the Buisness that I have Carried on for Upwards of two Years," and petitioning the Swansea board of selectmen for a tax abatement. The petition bears the signatures of nine witnesses, all residents of Swansea. 

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A document issued by the selectmen of Swansea, directing the constable to warn out James Simmons, "a blak man" of Somerset, lately arrived with the intention of "abiding therein not having obtaining the towns consent." Constable Amos Kingsley's endorsement appears on the reverse. 

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A committee report, signed by Samuel Buffinton and Hezekiah Kingsley, settling the Swansea treasury accounts for the period 1791-1795, showing a total of £615 15s 9 3/4p in taxes due. 

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A committee report, signed by James Luther and David Brown, settling the Swansea treasury accounts for the period 1793-1797, showing $1.23 owed to the town treasurer, a total of $1,766.75 in taxes owed to the town, and taxes paid to the treasurer in the form of notes totaling £97 19s 5p. 

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A document issued by the Swansea board of selectmen, directing the constables to give public notice of town meeting for the purpose of choosing a committee to survey landing sites and highways in Swansea. The endorsement of Royal Chase, constable, appears on the reverse. 

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A committee report, signed by Christopher Mason and Reuben Chase, settling the Swansea treasury accounts with Amos Kingsley, town treasurer, for the period 1800-1803, showing $.47 owed to Kingsley, and a total of $991.95 in taxes owed to the town. 

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A document issued by the Swansea selectmen, directing constable Royal Chase to give public notice of a town meeting for the purpose of electing a representative to the U. S. Congress from the district of Bristol. Chase's endorsement appears on the reverse. 

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A document issued by the Swansea selectmen, directing the constables to give public notice of a town meeting for the purpose of electing town officers, and casting votes for governor, lieutenant governor, and two U. S. senators. Constable Royal Chase's endorsement appears on the reverse. 

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A document, signed by ten Swansea residents, petitioning the board of selectmen to convene a town meeting for the purpose of drawing up school districts. 

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A memorandum recording the proceedings of a Swansea town meeting on 5 December 1684 or 1694, at which the townsmen unanimously voted to retain a Mr. Barnett (Barnet) as minister. 

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A memorandum documenting a survey of land purchased by Swansea from the town of Taunton, conducted jointly by committees from each town. The document bears the signatures of John Richman and John Hathaway. 

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A document signed by Israell Harding, indicating the receipt of ten shillings in town money from Hezekiah Luther, Swansea town treasurer. 

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A document signed by Nathaniel Luther, John Thomas, and Richard Harding, all residents of Swansea, petitioning the town selectmen on the church's behalf to convene a town meeting to ratify the choice of Elder Ephraim Whetton as minister. 

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A document written and signed by William Anthony, proprietors' clerk, recording the selection of William Chase, Joseph Winslow, and Hezekiah Luther as agents to manage a gore of land belonging to the proprietors, by "setling or emproving the same." Each agent is to receive twenty acres of the land—situated between Taunton and Rehoboth in Bristol County—for his trouble. 

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A document signed by Hugh Cole, acknowledging receipt of 24 shillings from the Swansea trustees for "Service Done for the town." On the reverse is what may be a Swansea treasurer's memorandum, including one column of figures headed "use money of our proportionable part of the Loan money 442 pound," with amounts for the years 1722 to 1726.