Chelsea MA Officeholders 1643-1738

Chelsea’s Officeholders 1643
– 1738

For the Districts of
Winnisimmet, Rumney Marsh and Pullen Point
prior to separation from
Boston in 1739

*Date*	*Constable*	Surveyor of highways
1643	James Penn and Wentworth Day – Surveyors of the highways at Rumney Marsh
1648	Mr. Cole – Surveyor of highways
1651	Henry Eavons
1652	John Tuthill	Thomas Stocker
1653	John Doelittell	James Pemerton
1654	William Hearsey	Thomas Stocker
1655	Simon Bird	Edward Weedon
1656	William Ireland	Sam Davis
1657	James Pemberton	Samuel Bennett
1657	James Pemberton appointed by the selectmen as “pounder” at Rumney Marsh on March 30
1658	vacant	Henry Greene
1659	James Bill	Robert Bucher
1660	Jonathan Grover	William Hacy
1661	Thomas Stocker	Samuel Davis
1662	Aaron Way	William Hazy
1663	Elias Maverick	John Doolittle
1664	Hennery Green	John Center
1665	Samuel Dauis	Benjamin Mussye
1666	Samuel Dauis	William Ireland
1666	It is later recorded that Benjamin Mussy hath accepted to hold surveyor of highways for this year.
1667	John Center	Henry Green
1667	John Smith chosen constable in the name of John Center, deceased.
1668	James Bill	Thomas Brentner
1669	Thomas Townsend	Samuel Townsend
1670	Benjamin Mussey	Samuel Stocker
1671	John Doelittle	William Ireland
1672	Jeremiah Belchard	William Ireland
1673	Samuel Townsend	William Ireland
1674	Thomas Brentner	William Ireland
1675	James Bill	William Ireland

The Tithingmen

An act of the General Court passed on November 3, 1675, “the
selectmen of every town shall choose some sober and discrete persons
to be authorized from the County Court, each of whom shall take
charge of ten or twelve families of his neighborhood, and shall
diligently inspect them, and present the names of such persons as
transgressed the law, receiving as compensation for their services
one third of the fines allowed, if faithful in the discharge of their
duty, otherwise to be liable to the same fine as the unlicensed
houses. The selectmen ordered that these men be notified to inspect
their precinct as the law directed “for the preuentinge of
disorders in private and unlicensed house of entertainment”

*Date*	*Constable*	Surveyor of highways	Tithingmen
1676	Elias Maverick, Jr.	William Ireland	James Bill Sr., John Grouer, Elias Maverick Sr., William Ireland
1677	Edward Tuttle	William Ireland	“
1678	William Ireland	Jeremiah Belshard	“
1679	Jeremiah Belchard	Samuel Townsend	“

On May 24 and October 10, 1677, and on October 15, 1679 the duties of
the Tithingmen were increased and in 1679 they were to be chosen
annually. On February 4, 1679 a fine of 40 shillings was decreed for
those that refused to serve. It was their duty to seize liquors sold
without license, and also “to present the names of all single
persons that live under family government, stubborn and disorderly
children & servants, night walkers, typlers, saboath breakers, by
night or by day, & such as absent themselves from the public
worship of God on the Lords dayes, or whatever the course or practise
of any person or persons whatsoeuer tending to debauchery,
irreligion, prophaness, & atheisme among us, wherein by omission
of family government, nurture, & religious duties, &
instruction of children & servants, or idleness, profligat,
uncivill, or rude practises of any sort.“

*Date*	*Constable*	Surveyor of highways	Tithingmen
1680	John Wiswall	William Ireland	John Dolittle, James Bill, Aaron Way, Samuel Townsend
1681	John Flood	Samuel Townsend	James Bill, Jr., Goodman Eustice, Sr., Lt. Hasey
1682	William Hasey, Jr.	John Wiswall	“
1683	William Eustice	John Wiswall	“
1684	John Tuttle, Jr.	Capt. John Floyd	“
1685	Isack Lewis	William Hersey, Jr.	Capt. John Floyd, John Wiswall
1686	John Center	Jeremiah Belchard	William Hasey, James Bill, Jr.
1687	Joseph Hasey	Jeremiah Belchard	“
1688	Hugh Floyd		“
1689	Joseph Bill	Isack Lewis	“
1690	Samuel Townsend	Isack Lewis	William Ireland, Joseph Hasey
1691	Elisha Tuttle	John Center	“
1692	William Ireland	John Center	“
1693	William Bordman	Samuel Townsend, Sr.	“

Fence-Viewers
This historic position was first established in 1693 by a statute
which was amended in 1785 and again in 1836. Upon request of any
citizen, the Fence Viewer: views fences to see that they are in good
repair and in case of disputes between neighbors, works to resolve
their differences.

*Date*	*Constable*	Surveyor of highways	Tithingmen	*Fence-viewers and haywards*
1694	Thomas Pratt	Hugh Floyd	William Hasey, Edward Tuttle	Joseph Hasey, John Tuttle
1695	Jonathan Tuttle	Joseph Hasey	John Floyd, Samuel Townsend	Hugh Floyd, Elisha Tuttle
1696	John Wait	Joseph Hasey	William Ireland, John Tuttle	John Center, Thomas Pratt
1697	Edward Tuttle	Elisha Tuttle	William Ireland, John Tuttle	Joseph Bill, John Floyd, Jr.
1698	John Floyd	John Center		Hugh Floyd, Thomas Pratt
1699	John Bretnall	John Floyd, Jr.		William Ireland, Thomas Pratt
1699	On March 14, 1698, Boston voted that Rumney Marsh and Muddy River might choose, on the next training day, subject to the approval of the Boston town meeting, an assesor to assist the selectmen in assesing the rates in their respective districts. John Center was chosen assesor.
1700	Jesse Winthrop	John Tuttle	Samuel Townsend, James Bell	John Britnall, Hugh Floyd
1701	Joseph Belcher	John Brintnal	No record for 1701	Joseph Bill, Elisha Tuttle
1702	Jonathan Townsend	Edward Tuthill		William Ireland, Saml. Townsend
1703	John Center	Jonathan Bill	John Tuthill, Joseph Bill	Edward Tuthill, Thomas Marable
1704	Thomas Berry	John Center	Jonathan Bill, Elisha Tuthill	Jonathan Townsend, William Hasie
1705	Jonathan Bill	Elisha Bennet	Edward Tuthill, Hugh Floyd	John Center, John Floyd
1706	Jonathan Eustice	John Floyd	John Chamberline, Jonathan Townsend	Francis Love, William Hasie
1707	Hugh Floyd	Jonathan Eustice	Capt, Elisha Bennet, Jonathan Bill	Jonathan Waite,Thomas Barry
1707	Hugh Floyd excused from service, John Tuthill appointed constable
1708	Francis Love	Joseph Belcher	Thomas Berry, Thomas Pratt	John Floyd, Jonathan Eustice
1709	Hugh Floyd	Francis Leath	John Waite, William Eustice	Isaac Lewise, William Hasie
1710	Isaac lewise			John Brentnel, Thomas Pratt
1710	This year Boston voted: “That the Select (men) take ye care of repairing the highwayes for the year ensueing both within ye town and at Rumney Marsh.”
1711	William Hasie		Thomas Berry, Thomas Pratt	Abraham Hasie, John Chamberline
1711	It was voted: “That the Gentlemen now chosen as Select (men) be also the Surveyors of the Highwayes for the year ensueing.” This vote was repeated from year to year.

*Date*	*Assessor*	*Constable*	Tithingmen	*Fence-viewer*	*Hog-reeves*
1712	This year Boston voted that an Assesor be chosen out of ye inhabitants of Rumney Marsh. Collectors of taxes were chosen in Boston, but the constable continued to collect the taxes in Rumney Marsh.
1712	Capt. Elisha Bennet	Joseph Belcher	Elisha Tuttle, Hugh Floyd	John Floyd, Thomas Pratt
1713	Capt. Elisha Bennet	Joseph Belcher	Edward Tuttle	John Brentnell, John Center
1714	Capt. Elisha Bennet	Edward Tuttle, Jr.	Joseph Bill	Daniel Floyd, John Floyd, Jr.	John Brentnall, Edward Tuttle, Sr.
1715	Capt. Elisha Bennet	John Chamberline	William Borman	William Hasie, Jacob Hasie	John Center, Isaac Lewise
1716	John Floyd	William Borman	Isaac Wilkinson	Edward Tuttle, Elisha Tuttle	John Tuttle, Edward Tuttle
1717	John Floyd	Jacob Hasie	Edward Tuttle, Sr.	Isaac Lewis, William Hasie	Thomas Berry, John Tuttle
1718	John Floyd	Joshua Bill	John Chamberlin	John Chamberlin, Jr., Sam Watts	Nathanial Tuttle, Elisha Tuttle
1719	John Floyd	John Floyd, Jr.	Elisha Tuttle	William Hasie, Jacob Hasie	Thomas Pratt, Daniel Tuttle
1720	John Floyd	John Grover		Thomas Pratt, Nathaniel Richardson	Jonathan Eustice, John Chamberline
1721	William Heasy	Joseph Bill		John Brintain, William Heasy	Jacob Heasy, Isaac Lewis
1722	John Floyd	Elisha Tuttle		Samuel Watts, Thomas Pratt Sr.	John Whittemore, Jr.,Thomas Pratt, Jr.
1722	Joseph Belcher was chosen to assist the selectmen as surveyor of highways.
1723	John Floyd	Nathaniel Tuttle		Hugh Floyd, John Whittemore	Jacob Chamberlin, John Lave
1723	Samuel Watts was chosen to assist the selectmen as surveyor of highways.
1724	Joshua Cheever	John Whettemore		Isaac Lewis, Elisha Tuttle	Jonathan Eustis, Samuel Floyd
1725	Joshua Cheever	Thomas Pratt, Jr.		Isaac Lewis, Elisha Tuttle	Jonathan Eustis, Samuel Floyd
1726	Joshua Cheever	Nathan Chevers		Isaac Lewis, Elisha Tuttle	John Eustice, Samuel Floyd
1727	Joshua Cheever	John Lane		Isaac Lewis, Thomas Pratt, Jr.	Robert Waite, John Whittemore
1728	Joshua Cheever	Samuel Tuttle		Isacc Lewis, Jacob Hasey	Joseph Bill, Samuel Pratt, Robert Waite

*Date*	*Constable*	*Fence-viewer*	*Hog-reves*	*Sealer of Leather*
1729
1729	John Laith	Isaac Lewis, Thomas Pratt, Jr.	Daniel Watts, Samuel Pratt	Jacob Chamberlin
1730	John Leathe	Isaac Lewis, Jacob Hacey	Nathaniel Tuttle, William Pain	Jacob Chamberlin
1731	Daniel Watts	John Floyd, Samuel Tuttle.	Robert Weite, Nathan Sergent	Nathan Cheever
1732	Samuel Pratt	Samuel Tuttle, Jacob Chamberlin	Thomas Eustis, Benjamin Whetmare	Nathan Cheever
1733	Jacob Chamberlin*	Samuel Tuttle, Thomas Pratt	John Hasie, Isaac Lewis, Jr.	Nathan Cheever
1734	Joseph Whittemore*	Hugh Floyd, Stephen Kent	John Tewksbury, Daniel Tuttle	John Hasey
1735	John Brentnal*	Elisha Tuttle, Benjamin Floyd	Robert Levenston, Nathanael Tuttle	John Hasey
1735	Thomas Pratt – Surveyor of Highways, except in Rumney Marsh where the selectmen were the surveyor of highways. Stephen Kent – Hayward, excused and replaced by Isaac Lewis.
1736	Stephen Kent*	Elisha Tuttle, Samuel Pratt	Charles Bill, Samuel Maxwell	John Hasey
1736	John Laithe – Hayward. John Brintnal – Surveyor of hemp and flax.
1737	Benjamin Whittmore*	Samuel Floyd, Edward Tuttle	Joseph Hasey, Samuel Hasey	John Hasey
1737	Nathaniel Tuttle – Hayward
1738	Samuel Floyd*	John Floyd, Edward Tuttle	Samuel Tuttle, Jr., John Tuttle	John Hasey
1738	Elisha Tuttle – Hayward

* Constable and Collector of Taxes