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THE RIGHT TO VOTE DEFINED

At the freeholders' meeting, Nov. 18, 1700, another subject was considered and disposed of. The freeholders state that they had met "to consider and do that which may be for the good and benefit of the town," by preventing "any disorder for the time to come, either at the meeting of the freeholders or [of the] commoners." They then ordered, that no person should presume to vote in any meeting of the freeholders, unless he were a freeholder in the town; that no one should presume to vote for the disposing of any land, unless he were a commoner, according to the first grant of shares in the cow-common; that is at any time the vote on any subject should not be decisive, and should be disputed, those persons at the meeting, who were not entitled to vote, should withdraw from those who were, so soon as they should be requested. For each and every violation of any one of these orders, the offender was subjected to a fine of ten shillings in money, to be levied by the selectmen, for the benefit of the poor of the town.

At the election of town officers, in November, of the following year, it was voted, to choose the selectmen by proxy; and this was accordingly done, though a considerable number of persons objected, on the ground that some votes were case by persons who were not freeholders.

Two years later, the town voted to change the time of the annual election, and that the selectmen, constable and surveyors chosen at this meeting should hold their respective offices, until the last week in December 1704, and that then and from year to year afterwards, others should be chosen in the last week in December.

THE FALLS BURYING-GROUND

The Falls people having asked the town to appropriate to them land for a Burying-Yard, in some convenient place, the town granted their request June 26, 1704, and ordered that the land should be laid out near Samuel Shaw's, by Capt. Jacob Green and Lieut. (Joseph}Swett. The land thus granted and laid out was the old Burying-ground on the southwesterly side of the Exeter road, as it leaves "The Hill." Back to previous section -- Forward to next section -- Return to Table of Contents