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any thing for the poor and alms-house, where intoxicating drinks are sold.
July 19, 1852:
Whereas the Legislature of this Commonwealth passed at the last session a law for the suppression of places for the sale of intoxicating drinks, therefore--
Resolved, that the officers of this town be instructed to execute the law in every instance of its violation.
These votes and resolutions contrast strongly with the vote of 1831, when the town voted not to restrain retailers.
Feb. 15, 1855: “The town-agency for the sale of spirituous liquors,” say the Selectmen, “has been in existence two and a half years. The agent has given general satisfaction.
The experiment thus far has been satisfactory, and the agency is sufficient to meet all the reasonable demands of the inhabitants for spirituous liquors.”
March 13, 1848: “Voted to give the Selectmen one hundred dollars per annum for their services.”
The petition of certain inhabitants of
Medford,
Woburn, and
West Cambridge, to be set off from their several towns, and to be united in a new town, named
Winchester, called forth the following vote of the town of
Medford:--
March 4, 1850: “Voted that the Selectmen be instructed to oppose the petition of E. S. Parker and others of South Woburn, to set off a part of Medford to a proposed new town.”
Strenuous efforts were made to defeat the petition, but without success.
Some inhabitants of
Medford, who would be included in the new town, opposed this separation from their old friends.
The act of separation and the act for the incorporation of
Winchester were passed together, April 30, 1850.
The act defines the bounds of
Winchester, but does not state what territory was taken from each of the old towns, out of which the new town is made.
The regulations and conditions respecting debts, paupers, congressional districts, &c., were made, which usually accompany such acts.
Thus
Medford lost a large tract of excellent land, and became separated territorially from many long-cherished and valuable friends.
The last record of town-officers, elected at the annual
March meeting, which we can insert, is that of 1850; and it is as follows:--
| John Sparrell, Moderator. |
| Jos. P. Hall, Town-clerk. |
| James O. Curtis, | Selectmen. |
| Chas. Caldwell, |
| Timothy Cotting, |
| George W. Porter, Treasurer. |
| Horatio A. Smith, | Assessors. |
| Samuel Joyce, |
| Henry Withington, |
| John T. White, | Overseers of the Poor. |
| Benj. R. Teel, |
| Alex. Gregg, |
| Timothy Cotting, | School Committee. |
| Horatio A. Smith, |
| Benj. R. Teel, |
| Hosea Ballou, 2d, |
| Henry Withington, |
| J. M. Sanford, |
| Chas. S. Jacobs, |
| Alex. Gregg, Surveyor of Highways. |
| John T. White, | Constables. |
| Elisha Tolman, |
| Amos Hemphill, |
| John T. White, Collector of Taxes. |
| Eleazer Davis, | Field Drivers. |
| Willard Butters, |
| Thos. Gillard, |
| Pyam Cushing, | Fence Viewers. |
| Peter C. Hall, |
| Nathan W. Wait, |
| John T. White, | Fish Committee. |
| Amos Hemphill, |
| Elbridge Teel, |
| Henry H. Jacquith, Pound Keeper. |
| John Sparrell, | Surveyors of Lumber. |
| Jas. O. Curtis, |
| J. T. Foster, |
| E. Stetson, |
| J. Loring, |
| S. Lapham, |
| O. Joyce, |
| J. Stetson, |
| J. Taylor, |
| P. Curtis, |
| P. Cushing, |
| E. Hayden, |
| G. T. Goodwin, |
| A. Hutchens, |
| R. E. Ells, |
| H. Taylor, |
| C. S. Jacobs, |
| B. R. Teel, |
| E. Waterman, |
| J. Sanborn, |
| T. T. Fowler, |
| J. Clapp, |
| B. H. Samson, |
