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History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

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438 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1780.<br />

November, it was voted to raise £12,000 by taxation for this<br />

purpose, and tlie committee was <strong>in</strong>structed to buy the beef<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>Northampton</strong> people, "if it can be obta<strong>in</strong>ed reason-<br />

ably," and the town voted that those who sold the beef<br />

should not be distra<strong>in</strong>ed upon for their last town rate, until<br />

they should have been paid for the beef. The purchas<strong>in</strong>g<br />

committee brought <strong>in</strong> bills aga<strong>in</strong>st the town, <strong>in</strong> which they<br />

charged $40 per day for their time, and the same amount<br />

for the use <strong>of</strong> a horse. But the town amended these bills<br />

deduct<strong>in</strong>g $10 a day <strong>from</strong> the wage account. Two <strong>of</strong> the<br />

three persons compos<strong>in</strong>g the committee were paid £89.3,<br />

and the third a trifle less. Some <strong>of</strong> the cattle were purchased<br />

<strong>in</strong> Conway and cost 27s. per pound <strong>in</strong> Cont<strong>in</strong>ental<br />

money.<br />

New Constitution The uew constitutiou, reported <strong>from</strong> the<br />

Adopted. First convention which framed it, was adopted<br />

Town Vote for-,,^-.,. ,<br />

State Officers. oy the Legislature, and measures were immediately<br />

taken to establish the new form<br />

<strong>of</strong> government. In September, the warrant for townmeet<strong>in</strong>g<br />

ordered the constable "to warn and notify every<br />

male Inhabitant <strong>of</strong> the s'd town <strong>of</strong> <strong>Northampton</strong> <strong>of</strong> 21<br />

years <strong>of</strong> age & upwards, hav<strong>in</strong>g a Freehold estate <strong>of</strong> the<br />

value <strong>of</strong> sixty pounds," to give their votes for Governor<br />

and Lieutenant-Governor, Senators and Councillors. The<br />

first vote for Governor under the new constitution given <strong>in</strong><br />

this town stood : For John Hancock 46 ; James Bowdo<strong>in</strong>,<br />

32. For Lieut. -Governor, James Bowdo<strong>in</strong> 40 ; John Hancock<br />

15. For Councillors, Joseph Hawley 45 ; Caleb Strong<br />

53 ; Samuel Mather 49 ; Timothy Danielson 31 ; Timothy<br />

Rob<strong>in</strong>son 12 ; Capt. Jonathan Judd 8 ; John Bliss 7 ; Jonathan<br />

Hast<strong>in</strong>gs 5 ; Major Selah Barnard 3 ; Moses Bliss 2 ;<br />

Ephraim Wright 2 ; Elijah Hunt and Just<strong>in</strong> Ely 1 each.<br />

:<br />

Result <strong>of</strong> the Election "I John Haucock was clioscu Govemor,<br />

and Choice <strong>of</strong> Rep- Jamcs Bowdoiu Lieut.-Governor, and Caleb<br />

Strong and Timothy Danielson, Councillors.<br />

On the 13'"' <strong>of</strong> October a meet<strong>in</strong>g was held for the<br />

choice <strong>of</strong> Representatives, and Ephraim Wright and Quar-<br />

tus Pomeroy were elected.

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