xt7vq814r952 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7vq814r952/data/mets.xml Historical Records Survey (Mass.) United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Community Service Programs. Massachusetts Historical Records Survey (Mass.) United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Community Service Programs. 1941 iii, 108 p.: ill. 27 cm. UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Library Program libraries and the Federal Information Preservation Network. Call Number FW 4.14:M 382/3/no.14/v.5 books English Boston, Mass.: the Survey This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. Massachusetts Works Progress Administration Publications Public records--Massachusetts--Berlin (Town) Archival resources--Massachusetts--Bibliography Archives--Massachusetts--Bibliography Inventory of City and Town Archives of Massachusetts. No. 14, Worcester County, vol. V, town of Berlin, 1941 text Inventory of City and Town Archives of Massachusetts. No. 14, Worcester County, vol. V, town of Berlin, 1941 1941 1941 2020 true xt7vq814r952 section xt7vq814r952 INVENTORY OF

OF
MASSACHUSETTS

NO. 14 WORCESTER COUNTY

VOLY BERLIN

Ib CATII

msvmsgh a.» xiisuzaaatr“
HBRARIE?

PREPARED BY
THE HISTORICAL RECORDS SURVEY
DIVISION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS
WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION

THE HISTORICAL RECORDS SURVEY
BOSTON. MASS.
1941

INVENTGRY 1F CITY AND T T. "“W

OF MASS.QHU59TT"

No. in. Joroestur C unty

Pragareo by
The Historical Records Survey
Division of C mmunity Service Programs
Work Projects Administration

Historical Records Survey
Boston, Massachusetts

l9ul

.v—mw. Lu

The Historical Records Survev Program

Sargent B. Child, National Director

Carl J. Wennerolad, State Supervisor of Research ani
Records Programs in Massacousctts

Aron S. Gilmartin, Stats Sumervisor of the Histor'onl

l
Recoris Survev in Massachusct

Division of Community SerVice Programs

Florence Kcrr, Assistant Commissioncr
Robert Yr Phillips, Regicnal SuperVisor
Harold G. Dunnsy, State Dircctor

George F. Burrows, Aimiiistrativc Assistant

Howard 0. Hunter, “sting Commissioner
John J. ;,Donourh, RC 'onal Director
Denis W. Delanev Stats Aiministratar

’L' )

S::IS“3 “3 THE HISIQRIGAT Bi3;n;3 SULTEY PZTJZC“ 1N MASSSCHUSEIIS
:r=c:ric 0. Cook, Secretarv of the Commonwealth

PREJPAC 1;

By authority of a Presidential Letter, the Historical Records Survey
ins established in January, 1956, under the national direction of Dr.
xaher H. Evans, as a federally Sponsored project of the Work Projects
_iuinistration. Since August 31, 1989, the sponsorship oi the Massachusetts
”ii of the survey has been undertaken by Frederic W. Cook, Secretary of
Commonwealth. Since March, 1940 the individual state projects of the
:norieal Records Survey have been under the national direction of Sargent
Child, who, as field representative of Dr. Evans, had had technical
ﬁnish of the work of the survey in New England from its inception.
ent writer has been in direct charge of the project in Massachuse;.e
just 1956 to September 1940 when he was succeeded by Aron S. Gilmartin

.‘V__'\

”11'"?

01‘ ,4

She purpose of the project is to survey, preserve and render acces—
;; historical source materials of all kinds. Its work has fallen
,~. 7 into the following main divisions: public records, private
nﬂcripts, church records, early American imprints, historical portraits
new papers. Practically all historical material falls under one or
'lcr of these divisions. In bringing this material under control

i 1 techniques have been found practicable, depending on the nature
.e subject matter, and using variously the methods of the inventory,
-uide, the calendar, the check list or the index in the publication
,: result. For public records, church records and portraits, thr

of the inventory has worked best; for historical manuscripts, the

or in rare cases where the material was of unusual importance,
Iaiondar; for imprints, the check list; for newspaper and court rec—

" index; and so on.

:uc actual work of gathering information concerning historical ma—
1: at their place of storage or custody has in most cases been pre—
17 a most necessary and, for both the custodian and posterity, im-
‘: task, that of putting records in order; of cleaning, dusting, re—
and treating them; and, in short, doing everything possible to

their preservation. This function of the project, often performed
workers under almost indescribable conditions of dust, filth,

1, poor ventilation, and even vermin may well be regarded by future
ions as a most important contribution of the survey.

@carcely less important, however, are the editorial processes to

‘_N «U all field information must be subjected before publication. Here

- a; and inadequacies are spotted, inconsistencies reconciled, and order
t out of chaos. In the field of public records it has been found
ncssary not only to sketch briefly the history of the county or town

‘ its government but also to preface the inventory of each subordinate

' ice or institution with an outline of its development, based upon its

‘u records or upon statutory or other sources. In the inventories of

“My”
. gal.

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Preface

church records, similarly, the preparation of the history of each church
constitutes a task equally arduous with that of locating and listing

its records In Massachusetts two broader works have also been under»
takenc The general historical backcround, statutory origin and function—
ing of county, city, or town offices have been studied with a View to
providing satisfactory accounts of the development of county and muni~
cipal government generally These latter undertakings are now happily
nearing completion.

The inventory of the town archives of Berlin is the fifth in the
series of such inventories covering the towns of Worcester County. A
full list of publications of the survey to date appears after the index
at the end of this book

The Survey is indebted to the town officials of Berlin for their
cooperation and to the Secretary of the Colmonwealth, Frederic M Cook,
Without whose sponsorship this project would not be possible

Aron S Gilmartin
State Supervisor of Historical
Records SurVey

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TABLE OF CUNTTNTS

Preface-to.0-60.-Cltlolcoo-ooonhootuuooaoan.nyucca-IIauto-Iilolncnultqooi

Forewordt-occooolo-concoct-ou-I...ononto-snoaa-onooo-no-ooooIoconououniii

Part A. Berlin and Its Records

Map..;.........................................
Historical Sketch..............................
Chart of Aggregate of Polls. Property
and Taxes as Assessed......................
Chart of TOWn Government.....................
Governmental Organization and Records System...
housing. Care, and Accessibility of the Records
Abbreviations, Symbols, and Explanatory Notes..

Part 5. Town Offices and Their

I. Selecmen
minutes and Reports; Licenses and Permits
Financial Records; miscellaneous

II. Town Clerk.................................
Linutes and Reports; Vital Statistics;
Property Records; Licenses and Permits;
Pole Locations; Military Records;
miscellaneous

IIIe Registrars of Voterss......................

IV. Asse
xinutes and Reports; Valuations and
Assessments; Abatements; Motor Vehicle
EXcise; Deeds; Miscellaneous

V. Collector of Taxes.........................

VIa Treasurer..................................
General Accounts; Notes and Canceled.
Checks; Warrants

VII. Auditor.‘..................................

SSOI‘S..................-...............

VIII. Finance Committee..........................

IX. Trustees of Trust Fund.....................
X. School Committee...........o...............
7 Center Grammar School; South School
Jest School; East school; North School
XI. Superintendent of Schools......,...........

XIII'

XIII.
XIV.

School Physician........
Attendance Officer......
Census Enumerator.......
Library Trustees.....

. -

CUUIUIOct...

Ian-ounnoioo

canto-'9'...

nrds

...5

..l7
. .21;

..25
..28

..32

..51
..52

~51;
‘ -5h

”“6

“.61
I .6]-

..0d
C .62

XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX .

XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
XXVII.
XXVIII.
XXIX.
Y'".
'XXXI.
XXXII.
XXXIII.
XXXIV.
XXXV.
XXXVI.
Z'JNII.
XXXVIII.

XXXIX.

KLI.
XLII.
XLIII.
XLIV.
XLVo
KLVI.

Boards of Public Jelfare...............
Agent for board of Health..............
Public Health Nurse.............9......
Inspector of Animals...............u...
Inspector of Slaughtering...... .,...
Board of Health Agent to Burial Permits
”enetery Commissioners..........,..
Burial Agent...........................
Superintendent of Streets.............o
Moth Superintendent.aa.................
Constables.............................
Police Department...........,..........
Dog Officer..o......ncq.......
Fire Engineer..........
T‘ee warden........ro..b....o
Forest Warden.........
Sealer of Jeights and @easure
Public NeigherSococara
Lieasurers 100d and 3ark.............
Field Drivers.........
Fence View’ers...o....o
Moderator.......
Sommittee for Town History“.......a.9«-

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Surveyors of Lunber...................e
Hog ﬁceves....o.......................u
Tithingmcnn.........................,..
Culler of Hoops and Ltnzws.............
Sealer of Leather................,.....
Pound Keeper...c..............o.o......
Thief Detectors........u...............
Commissioner of Public muildingssc.....

Appendix
State Archives Relating to Berlin......
List
IndeXucecetoooo1auao-aanoonoo'oaooo-aoo

Publications of the Historical Records
in Massachusettsa....................

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Table Of

(Joutrnrts

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B 0LTON

$0.1“.
H1 VS‘bU . ”I,

5(3de //V THOUSAND FféT

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- t. a. -~.. ., . Ey.~--ﬁ."wﬂ!'€f;nznwkx 94 u h .
"3‘" 1‘.“~.‘ 1.: my». me 5. k :

YQWN @3‘
00V BERLIN
i \”\ WORCESTER COUNTY
5 /v MASS.
I! 1 Q :3; . ,iffl'l.‘.|\\\.w.:x\:y. ANNE/T60", 7170/7]
émed by 1* ‘33” ~ ‘ wgmgq, A m
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Q ‘ Y“',',,,‘l\-z\\‘:\\"’/7x . A
1 N é Q; U mwcxw POPULATED
i b MJM/f Q) ﬂ‘
4 g . d ”7' é/ ~~~TOWN BOUNDARY
g: \ Z I 7:.:.\3‘~2?*’*“““ ‘3 —---—COUNW BOUNDARY
l ‘ ‘w‘ - \
f“ — / \" Eff? 1W6“
L” NORTHBOROWH mga/ [7 Amgvméﬁzﬁfm
/ WAZA’f/t’ [MAM/9,41% ca,
x ar 50/325 50577244 MM)“. 430-57
1 I o l 2 3 4- l9

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I‘LIN AND ITS REJORDS SYSTEM

HISTORICAL SKETCZ

Berlin is an agricultural community lying northeast of the
city of norcester, typical of many other New England towns with
its rolling ylowed lands, scattered farmhouses, and wooden public
structures. At one time. in the middle of the nineteenth century,
there were indications that large industry might convert Berlin
into an industrial municipality like Clinton and Lecminister, but
the topography of Berlin prOVed unsuitahle and Berlin has remained
a tranquil country town.

Its early history extends hack to the days when Nashaway
Plantation, also called Lancaster, occu ied the whole northern
wart of what later became ”orcester County. In 1665 Lancaster
had possibly a dozen families within its extensive and somewhat

amorphous bounds. and was governed by a grudential committee
agpointed h; tJe General Court.1 In that ettler

Lamed John Moore built a house on the soot
{ataquadock hill.2 Lirs° Rowlandson, in the s
" her Captivitv and Resnoration, states that u
Lancaster after the massacre of 1675, the on

7 o
l ' Rig account

1 on her return

0 5 se left

ctending was a farm—house beyoni the southeast sloge oi Eataquadock.3
resumably this Was the isolated home of John hocre. It withstood

ll the Indian attacks on Lancaster, became part of bolton when

that town Was formed, and finally part of Berlin. when that section
broFe aﬁay from nolton. It was still to be seen on Kelly Hill in
Berlin, at the corner of Randall and Carr Roadsg until it was

destroyed by fire in 1888.E

Moore did not return to this section of Lancas er when the
toun‘Jas resettled; it is probable, therefore, that when one
Philip Larkin settled a little to the West of the site, consider—
ing it a good place for hunting and trapying, Larkin Was a second
solitary pioneer. His son John was born May 17, 1722 in the
house that he had erected, which throws some light on the date of
his settlement.5 But it was not long before several descendants

1. Records 2i Massachusetts bay, III, 302-3Ch; IV. part 2,
555-657 .

2. The dOSOription of his holding is found in Henry S. Nourse,
ed-s Early Records 33 Lancaster, 16h3—l725v pp. 34-35.

3° Mary Rowlandson. Captivity and Restoration, p. Tl.

d. Lilliam Houghton, History 3: the Town 2g Berlin, pg 324.

5. Henry S. Nourse, ed“, Birth, Marriage and Death Register
2E Lancaster, Massachusetts9 lﬁgﬁeléig, Fe 52.

(First entry pc'3h.) Historical Sketch

of early Lancaster settlers mOVed into this region: Jabez Fairbanks
settled on wheeler Hill about l72h.l Josiah Sawyer cleared land and
settled on Sawyer Hill about 1735.2 and the Johnsons settled on Is nd
bordering on the Assahet River about 1738. 3 Together with many more
inhabitants to the north. they SWelled t11.e list of those inhabitants
of the "South Jesterly part of Lancas oer" who in 1737 petitioned the
General Court to be set off as a separate town. The petition Set
forth "the great inconVeniences they are under by reason of their rem
mote situation and the difficulties of the way from attending publiek

worship of God. a a o"‘ The General Court on June 2a: 1738 granted the
petitio and set of“ the eastern part of Lancaster as the town 5r
Bolton.

Forty yea rs later, the southern part of this township; in a peti—
tion dated February 7, 1778, asked the General Court to be made a
separate parish. Fifty—nine inhabitants Stated that they “liV'g upon
an avera’e, ugw rd of four miles from the rm Miing House a o a which
renders it Very difficult for them to attend public worship9 with their
families, esp; iall/ in srv:rc Seasons . c . praying . a . that all the
Inhabitants South of a certain line . °/‘ together with their Estates
might be set off as a segarate parish."D The getitioners He J inted
leave to bring in a bill to this effect. and on April 13, l? "for
the greater convenience of attending the public worship of Go 1" , part
of the town of Bolton was created a separate parish and was named the
South Parisho The act described the bounds of the new parish? and
declared that all ministerial taXes assessed prior to January 1778
should be paid "in the same manner as if the town had not been din
Vided. o a ." The most important provision of the act was section
4, which stated

That the inhabitants of each parish . . . haVU full
liberty to attend publick worship in which parish they hlx’ﬁo
and to say their ministerial taXes . . . where t
providedy they return tthr names, annually, some time in the
month of September, to thc .ssors of the parish they propnsn
to atténd publick wo ors ip in; and all that shall Int thus return
their nzncs, to he toXed to DAG parish within the limits of‘
Which tiny shall liVQ, in the month of Sept -mhor, annually.

ley attend:

!
I
s

' , w.» ~....._‘-._ ..~....

l. D. Ha Hard; ed., History 35 Iorcwstcr County, I, 339°
2. DE.” 130 47A»

3. 3:13., p 1102“

he FT9JEPPO Acts and Rcsolvcso XII, ch. lhOo

5v 101d.7 II. ch. 7.

6. Ibid., V, note-s on Ch~ 30;

70 £333., ch. 30.

85 Ibid.

Historical Sketch (Firsy enirj p. 3b

. _,

Certain inhahiraLts liked this clauSQ so much thgt it grovad a
bicek, as will be sewn iatar, to the incoryorztiov of the

suumhli ,
marian as a district.

The dcuire for a new parish was inhuced Bariness
oGnoernind the Goss—Aalieﬁ co 1

churc; from 1770 to 1782.
g1; r lative gowcrs of Eh;
Lranable that the residsnts
ly “alieyiteug were actually
T01} sympathies. By forming
gonﬁrol of a minister uuﬁm the,

shim

m
:3

«onths " ; th; 30 t:
'29, 177:5», "to have

:‘Llnlfiim T .

oasisted 0? c0 :ilfas 1T was for =5.
it has u 53,ulution 0f 51;, an“ M l. a

‘“ter- its .forxu:tic31, 11.:
fl‘Om B OJEO"

Lela

Bout; Euris“ ”' ‘m 1;g a 50.4“
of

s
cantracns mauc. 4nd thi ex_
lﬂcatun in ipv turritor o
,“y_ ‘,uuu;, 1'3911 iIXEOlfVOI:;t\J1, OIKj-1 ;
tion, 4110; “@331 how: M11115 $1‘10L‘.].d. unit; in

05.0103 0

dcnurgl Court,"L As a further tokgn of its Food-

,tin\ mold Fabruarj 1:; 1782 chose x oomgitteo of

Eon;
lYJL-ljBl, g. 2L6.
34.“;23ﬁ: .!~ 31-
). Lac achusmtrs
'+

4L1 of Kasaaonx

,‘J

Lanor, ggpsug of nae

.‘ n

JL :: Bxlre:.u (‘1

4: QaS>auhusetﬁs Archim
0? wau of Solemn as a Segurut; To 3311;, Cc‘a“
tun agyendix, untry 1.

(First entry pa Sh) Historical Sketch

Meanwhile, certain inhabitants of the town of Marlboro got wind of
the affair, and persuaded the Marlboro town meeting, held January 14. 175%
to allow them and their lands to be joined with the South Parish of Boltmh
provided that they paid all outstanding taxes.1 The inhabitants of the
South Parish agreed to accept them on April 8, 1782 and voted that the nm
town be named "Norage," probaoly a phonetic transcription of "Norwich."2
The following day the dissatisfied inhabitants of Marlhoro drew up a
petition to the General Court stating that they lived nearly 5 miles frmu
the meetinghouse in Marlboro and consequently could attend divine servieg
and other public meetings only with great difficulty. They informed t1:
Court that both Marlboro and Bolton had acceded to their desire to be
annexed to and incorporated with the South Parish of bolton into a new
town, and that they desired the 00mmittee elected by the South Parish to
represent them in the proceedings.3

The separation was not to 50 entirely unopposed, however. On Fehrmr"
25, 1782 certain inhabitants of bolton protested to the General Court
against it, fearing that the sgecial privilege granted them when the
South Parish was established, of allowing them to pay their ministerial
tax to either the first or second parish, would be taken away. In additm:
they argued that the town meeting which consented to the Separation was
poorly attended; and that the South Parish, with its 60 dwelling—houses,
was too small to constitute a town. However, if the General Court
favored a Separation, they reguested that the privilege concerning the
ministerial tax be continued as before. A postscript added that, since
the drafting of the remonstrance, another meeting had been held in order
to choose a committee to present to the General Court the petition for
incorporation at which only 6 or 7 persons from the North Parish had bee;
present.4

The recalcitrance of these inhabitants of the North Parish probably
had its roots in the desire to secure from the South Parish an abatement
of the taxation to support the Rev. Mr. Puffer, pastor of the South Farah
This is indicated by a petition dated March A, 1782 in Which these
inhabitants "Who have returned our iames to the South Parish as being
agreeable to the Incorporation of said Parish, beg leave to say that y:n

taxina us in the settlement of RCVD Mr. Puffer and back salary is

“"Lj

l. Inidu, Vote to lncorjorate Part—of tie Town of Eurlboro with
the South Earish in the Town of Bolton, January IA, 1782, E29 the appends
entry 2e

2. Ibid,. Copy of Votes Taken at Town Meeting of the South Parish
in the Town of Bolton, April 8, 1762, E32 the attendix. entry 5.

3. 'igigeg Petition for Incorporation of the South Parish in the Tam
of Bolton as Separate TOWn, Agril 9, 1782, §e§_the apyendix, entry 6.

A. Ibid., Petition to Remonstrate Against the Establishment of ﬁn
South Parish in the TOWn of Bolton as a Separate Town or District,
February 25, 1872, 222 the appendix, entry 3.

.ch

of
1752,

Bolton

:hc

w na;

1 .u C
fro”

rvicm
the

«3W
U .-

th
.lrﬁénCiL

Lr‘ SE:

1, m
.116 10119.

6 I
31‘ the

WSi rioal Sketch (First entry p. 3b)

incompatible with reason and Justice and contrary to the true intent
and meaning of the privilege given in saig incorporation, therefore

13 request that our taxes be abated . . . However, concerning such
an ancient controversy it is difficult at this late date to determine

whether or not this is the true interpretation, although a connection

of some nature is obvious.

ihe affair Went ahead, neverthelcss. and on April 9, 1782 the
formal petition or the committee on behalf of the l‘own of’ Bolton was
nresented to the General Court. It state 6 that the two-g 'arish
arrangement compelled some of the inhabitants to traVel nearly 8 miles
to attend town meetings; and that the privilege of allowing the
inhabitants to pay their ministerial tax in.whatever parish they
desired to attend divine \orslw. has not proved successful and, if
continued, mi i3ht destroy the pee of both parishes. It further
set forth that there were some inhabitants of other towns who might
join the South Parish if it Jere incorporated as a town, and
grayed the Court to grant the request for a Separate township.

u
(‘30

nFetruary 19, 1783 the inhabitants of holton who had protested
mGeneral Court against the incorporation of the South Parish
‘sw their objection.3 Nine days later permission was granted
inhabitants of the South far ish and the several inhaoi ta:;ts
0 who desired ir corpora tion to m"ing in a bill to this effect.u
bill that was brought in, which suvrested the name of lo ort

Mr)

.L.

or the nev town, was rejected.5 A new bill progosing uh?
oration of the region as ”Berlin" Was dismissed on October 17.
Early the following year, a Jolton town we ti n 3—ain voted

TD
3 a
its consent to the separaiu on,7 and the oissitisii d We rlooro

la Ibid.. Petition for Abatement of TaXes, March h, 1782,
see the "141endix, entry h.

2. B;_igop Petition for Incorporation of the South Parish in the
own olton as a Secs rate Town Atril 9, 1782. see the appendixY

131g.: Agreement to Lithdraw a Remonstrance Against the
South Parish of the Town of Bolton, February 19. 1783, see the
1_endix, entry 8.
h. Ibid.. An Act of the General Court Granting Permission to
Inhabitants of the South Parish in the Town of Bolton to Submit
a bill for Establishment of Separate Town or District, February 28,
753: Egg tthe attendix. entry 9.
5- 193g., Bill of General Court to Establish Town of Northbrook
June As 1753, see the apgendix, entry 1C.
6e lpiQ.9 An Act of General Court Incorporating South Paris
of the Town of Bolton Into the Township of Berlin, October 17, 1873.
see the ap1:end.ix9 entry 11.
7o 125%.. Copy of Certificate Reparoina E
c

in ‘
LO
.

stablis imeiit of the
t, Fenruary 231 173A,

“(1
south Parish of the Town of Bolton as & DiStTi
see the appendixg entry 12“

(First entry p. 3h) Historical Sketch

residents renewed their request.1 Finally. on March 16. l78h. the General
Court incorporated the district of Berlin. Four Marlboro inhabitants.
David Taylor. Silas Carley. Job Spafford. and John Brigham with their
estates Were included in the new district. which was inVested with all

the provileges and immunities of other districts. The conditions specified
in the first petition. that of Octoher 23. 1781. in regard to outstanding
taxes, division of the ammunition. and common representation in the General
Court was made a part of the act. The Court further declared that the new
district should be considered part of dorcester County. and that the
easterly boundary be the boundary between the Gountries of MiddleSex and
Worcester. Samuel Baker. Esq.. was authorized to issue a warrant for a

meeting to elect all necessary district officers.

No certain reason can be adduced for the final choice of "Berlin“
as the name of the new district: The most plausible conjecture has it
that the name of the German capital was selected (with the pronunciation
Americanized by placing the accent on the first syllable). in hone: of
Frederick the Great. King of Prussia, who had been friendly to the struggle
of the colonies for freedom. who had denounced the use of Hessian soldiers
by the English, and who had presented General ﬂashington with a sword.3
AS Dre Edward Everett Hale once stated.rit was the first town by that name

in the United States.“

As first established. the area of the district of Berlin was approxi-
mately 6,799 acres. in which were located 63 dwellings and 54 other
buildingsoJ Two anneXations were made during the district period;

Peter Larkin’s es+ate Was set off from Lancaster and annexed to Berlin on
and part of Northborough was annexed on February 15.

February 8: 17919 _
1806 in a boundary changea/ Although the boundary lines with Marlboro.

Hudson and Clintcn Were established by Various acts. all passed on May 1.
1905, there have been no further annexations;” the preSent area is 8.138
acres, about 13 square miles. making Berlin one of the smallest towns

in area — fiftymfourth to be exact - of all the municipalities in

Morcester countya9

Town of Marlboro

lo Ibidog Petition of Certain Inhabitants of the
5 March 5,

to the General Court for Incorporation as a Separate District

178a. see the appendix. entry 13n
2° Ibidap An Act of the General Court Incorporating the South Paris
in the Town of Bolton and a Part of the Town of Marlboro Into the Distrim
Egg E;§2.Acts’

of Berlin. March 16; 1784. P22 the appendix. entry lho
1782w839 Che A7.
3a John Nelson. A Narrative History gf'Worcester County. I. 153-
h. 150th Anniversary Service 3; the First Church of Berlin. pa lb.
5a Acts. 1782-83o ch» A70
69 Ibid.. l790~913 Chg 16»
7. Ibiday 1804~59 ch. 32.
8: Ibido. 1905. chs. 357-359”

90 Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation. Aggregawii

2: Polls. Property. Taxes. etc., valuation list of 19385

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Historical Sketch (FiTSt entry Pe 3h)

Except that it joined with Bolton in electing one representative
to the General Court. Berlin. as a district, was governed in every
respect like a town. At the first meeting of the district. held
in the meetinghouse on April 12, 178h, the following officers were
elected: a moderator. a clerk. five selectmen. three assessors, a
constable, a treasurer, and wardens; by hand vote. four highway
surveyOFSo two tithingmen, two hog reeves, a culler of hoops and staves.
a surveyor of boards and shingles, and a sealer of leather Were elected.
The meeting was adjourned until April 2h, at which time another
constable was elected. At another adjourned meeting. held April 27.
178h. additional district officers Were elected by ballot, namely,
two wardens. a fence viewer, and a fire warden.

The period immediately following the Revolutionary Jar was not
particularly propitious for establishing a new district. Tax collection.
fell so far in arrears that in 1785 the General Court found it expedient
to direct the constable of Bolton to collect Berlin‘s county tax.2
In the same year the town of Bolton informed the General Court that
Berlin had failed to pay its proportionate part of the expenses for
the pear. and asked for clarificationﬁof the act of incorporation so
that Berlin might be forced to do so.) The General Court failed to
act at this time,“ but on March 16, 1786 committees repreSenting the
two towns met and concluded an agreement covering all points in
dispute. It named those indigents for whom Berlin was to be wholly
or partly responsible, gave the district of Berlin one-third of the
Continental money in the Bolton treasury. divided Bolton‘s stock of
arms and ammunition between the two communities. and prOVided that
Berlin pay Bolton L76 in addition to assessments committed to Berlin
constables prior to the incorporation. There were several other
clauses: which the district of Berlin considered at a meeting held
. r 18, 1786§ but the inhabitants, rather ambieuously. voted only to
elect a committee to meet with Bolton "respecting the poor that have
been or shall be brought to Bolton for support. and come to any
agreement with . ;-;Bolton as in their judgement shall appear jUSt

and equitable." On October 16 of the same year the district meted
ls Town Records. first yo]... l78h~1831. pp. 2-5, gig entry 13.
2- Resolves, 1781].”859 Ch. 1’16

. Massachusetts ArchiVes, Petition to General Court by Committee
in Behalf of Town of Bolton to Enforce Payment of Proportionate Share
Toward Support of Poor. September 25, 1785, Egg appendix; entry 15.

A. Ibid.

5. Ibido9 Copy of Agreement Between Committees of District of
Berlin and Town of “olton Regarding Financial Transaction, March 16,
1786. see the appendix, entry 17.

6. lbig.. Copy of Vote of Inhabitants of District of Berlin
Appointing a Committee to Confer with a Committee of the Town of Bolton
Begarding Support of Poor. and Copy of Agreement Thereto by District of
Berlin, May 18, 1786, October 16. 1786, see the appendix. entry 18.

(First entry p. 34) Historical Sketch

a step further by expressing its willingness to receive and aupport such
persons rightly belonging to Berlin according to the vote of the town of
Bolton.“

Cn Septem or 25, 1786 Bolton again presented its petition to the
General Court, which responded by ordering the petitioners to serve
the clerk or selectmen of Berlin with a copy, in order that they might
show at its next session why the prayer should not be granted.3 Berlin
elected a committee to ap ear before the Court to anSWer the petition.4
and the Court appointed a committee to consider the whole matter. The
latter reported back that both parties desired the dispute to be referred
to the nex session of the Court,3 on July 6, 1787, the matter Was again
postponed.

The dispute was finally settled by a law amending the act incorpora«
ting the district of Berlin. Dealing solely with matters of relief, it
made Berlin liable for all law suits and future expenses of indigents,
formerly dwelling in that part of Bolton which later became Berlin. If
Berlin refused to consider any individual case as part of its responsi-
bility, the courts of justice'serc giVen the power to determine the
dispute.

The distress of the period was manifested in other ways. ghilO
there is no evidence that any of the townspeople joined Daniel Shays in
his rebellion against the luthcrities. the town sent a representative to
conventions in Paxton and‘Iorccstcr which preceded the outbreak, and in
1788 and 1789 voted for John Hancock for Governor unanimously, since it
was expected that he Would bx lnss rigorous in handling the insurgents
than lie ooonent.8

Despite these evidences of economic distress, a district meeting
held in 1784 granted h2h "to be laid out for schooling in this district

._—- -mm--m—_~l-w..~_ ~-.~r~-..-.._..w- yym. ._...._... rug—-

1. Ibid.

2. lbid., Copy of Petition to General Court to Settle Dispute
BetWecn Town of Bolton and District of Berlin, September 25, 1786, see
the apaendix, entry 19.

1
.L

3. lbid