[113] dise, to a large amount, was carried by water to and from Boston; and it was supposed that our bricks especially could be carried by teams with less cost and breakage. But the friends of the measure outnumbered its opposers, and, on the 7th of February, 1785, we have these two important records: Voted to oppose Mr. Cabot's petition for building a bridge from Leachmere's Point over Charles River; and to petition the General Court that “the petition of Thomas Russell, Esq., and others be granted for building a bridge over Charles River where the ferry now is.” June 12, 1786: “Voted to petition the General Court to prevent the building of a bridge across Mystic River at Penny Ferry.” It was thought that this bridge from Malden to Charlestown would almost ruin the navigation of Mystic River. For the same reason, the town voted, May 9, 1796, to oppose the building of Chelsea Bridge. 1795: A revision of the Constitution is proposed to the people. Medford gives fifty-three votes against it, and one for it. 1795: Voted £ 500 for town-expenses. 1797: Two thousand three hundred dollars for the same. March 7, 1796: Voted to pay assessors two dollars per day while making taxes. This is the first record of the kind. March 6, 1797: For the first time, the town voted to pay the town-clerk for his services; and they gave him twenty dollars. March 6, 1809: “Voted that the Moderator be desired to read the address from the Legislature to the people. The town thereupon passed a unanimous vote of approbation.” At the town-meeting, held March 5, 1810, the following officers were chosen for the year ensuing:--
| Fitch Hall, Moderator. | |
| Abner Bartlett, Town-clerk. | |
| Nathan Wait, | Selectmen. |
| Fitch Hall, | |
| Jonathan Brooks, | |
| Luther Stearns, | |
| Benjamin Tufts, | |
| Joseph Manning, Treasurer. | |
| Caleb Brooks, | Assessors. |
| Ephraim Bailey, | |
| Joseph Swan, | |
| Nathan Wait, | Constables. |
| Joseph Wyman, | |
| Jeduthan Richardson, | Surveyors of Highways. |
| Samuel Tufts, jun., | |
| Gersham Teel, | Tything-men. |
| James T. Floyd, | |
| Andrew Blanchard, | Cullers of Hoops and Staves. |
| William Bradbury, | |
| Benjamin Tufts, | Fence-viewers. |
| Jeduthan Richardson, | |
| Joseph Wyman, | |
| Jonathan Harrington, | Surveyors of Lumber. |
| Calvin Turner, | |
| Thatcher Magoon, | |
| Timothy Dexter, | |
| John Dixen, | |
| Darius Wait, | |
| Jonathan Harrington, | Measurers of Wood. |
| Timothy Dexter, | |
| John Burrage, | |
| Ephraim Bailey, | |
| Joseph Church, | |
| Jonathan Warner, | |
| David Willis, Clerk of the Market. | |
| Fitch Hall, | Fire-wards. |
| John Hosmer, | |
| Jeduthan Richardson, | |
| Andrew Blanchard, | |
| Abner Bartlett, | |
| Richard Hall, | To audit the Treasurer's Accounts. |
| Fitch Hall, | |
| Nathaniel Hall, | |
| Hezekiah Blanchard, | To execute the Fish Act. |
| Nathan Wait, | |
| Andrew Blanchard, | |
| Seth Tufts, | Field-drivers and Hog-reeves. |
| Joseph Blodgett, | |
| Joseph Church, | |
| Joseph Wyman, | |
| Ebenezer Symonds, | |
| Gershom Tufts, | |
| Daniel Tufts, | |
| Andrew Blanchard, | To sell the right of taking Fish. |
| Samuel Buel, | |
| Fitch Hall, | |
| Joseph Bucknam, Pound-keeper. | |
