Transcribed by Linda Ogborn

Section 3 - 1857/58 continued

REPRESENTATIVE OF CONGRESS

SHERIFF

COUNTY CLERK

CORONERS

JUSTICES OF SESSIONS

VOTES FOR AND AGAINST CONVENTION

ASSEMBLY 1^ST DISTRICT and 2^ND DISTRICT

In Witness whereof, this statement is certified to be correct, and is attested by the signatures of our Chairman and Secretary of the Board of Canvassers, this 9^th day of November, 1858.

O. W. Smith, Special Deputy Clerk and Secretary

S. Gordon, Chairman of Board of Canvassers

1859

At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Delaware held Nov. 15^th, 1859 the following Supervisors were present. (Except Mr. Devereux)

Andes John P. Benjamin Bovina James Archibald, Jr.

Colchester George W. Downs Delhi Samuel Gordon

Davenport Wm. Simpson, Jr. Franklin William S. Noble

Hamden Alexander Shaw Harpersfield Norman P. Dayton

Hancock Samuel Doyle Kortright Samuel McCune

Masonville Lewis Kentfield Middletown George W. Clark

Meredith Asahel R. Dutton Roxbury Benjmain Scudder

Sidney William H. Bradford Stamford Daniel Andrews

Tomkins Horace T. Devereux Walton Benjamin J. Bassett

The Board proceeded to elect a Chairman upon which, Samuel Gordon received 11 votes, William Simpson, Jr. received 6 votes.

On motion of Mr. Dayton, Samuel Gordon was then declared unanimously elected.

Mr.Clark then moved to delay further organization until tomorrow at 2 o'clock p.m. which motion was declared carried. The ayes and noes being called for by Mr. Dutton stood as follows:

Ayes: Benjamin, Archibald, Downs, Simpson, Doyle,Clark, Bradford. 7

Noes: Gordon, Noble, Shaw, Dayton, McCune, Kentfield, Dutton, Scudder, Andrews, Bassett. 10

On motion the Board proceeded to elect a Clerk when:

Allen S.Gibbs received 9 votes. Eleazer D. Peake received 6 and Amos Douglas received 1.

On motion Allen S. Gibbs was then declared unanimously elected.

The Board then adjourned till Wednesday morning at 8 o'clock.

Wednesday Morning

The Board met pursuant to the above adjournment.

On motion resolved that the Clerk procure stationery for the use of the Board.

The Chairman announced the following standing committees:

On Equalization

Messrs. Archibald, McCune, Simpson, Scudder, Bassett, Kentfield, Andrews

On Constables & Justices' Accounts

Messrs. Shaw, Clark, Downs

On County Claims

Mess. Clark, Devereux, Shaw

On Town Accounts

Messrs. Doyle, Noble, Dayton

To Settle With Treasurer

Messrs. Benjamin, Noble, Dutton

On Poor House

Messrs. Devereux, Bassett, Andrews

On Sheriff's Accounts

Messrs. Benjamin, Archibald, Bradford

On Court & Jail

Messrs. Downs, Simpson, Andrews

Loan Commissioners

Messrs. Dutton, Dayton, Bradford

The Board adjourned until 3 o'clock p.m.

The Board met at 3 o'clock when the Supervisor from the several towns presented the amounts of town accounts as audited by the Boards of Town Auditors together with the Town appropriations for highways & bridges and for the support of the poor, which were ordered to be levied upon the several towns, as follows:

Andes Town Accounts $289.83 Highways & Bridges $100.00

Bovina Town Accounts $182.00

Davenport Town Accounts $262.94 Highways & Bridges $125.00

Delhi Town Accounts $490.16 Highways & Bridges $500.00

Franklin Town Accounts $453.55 Highways & Bridges $200.00 For the Poor $150.00

Hamden Town Accounts $229.26 Highways $100.00

Harpersfield Town Accounts $120.50

Hancock Town Accounts $665.36 Highways & Bridges $250.00

Kortright Town Accounts $273.61 Highways & Bridges $225.00

Masonville Town Accounts $328.88 Highways & Bridges $175.00 For the Poor $150.00

Middletown Town Accounts $594.49 Highways & Bridges $972.85

Meredith Town Accounts $296.91 Highways & Bridges $147.23

Roxbury Town Accounts $343.35 Highways & Bridges $ 60.00

Sidney Town Accounts $246.55 Highways & Bridges $250.00 For the Poor $ 40.00

Stamford Town Accounts $231.97 Highways & Bridges $250.00

Tompkins Town Accounts $501.00 Highways & Bridges $600.00 For the Poor $200.00

Walton Town Accounts $550.73 Highways & Bridges $1000.00 For the Poor $300.00

Mr. Downs from the Committee on Court House & Jail, offered the following resolution which was adopted.

Resolved that the Sheriff be authorized to put bars on the windows & door of the jail at the expense not to exceed $15.

On motion of Wm.Clark

Resolved that the Clerk of this Board in estimating the taxes of the several towns of this County as provided in the revised statutes add to the amount of town and county charges the sum of $20,525.88 together with the Treasurer fees which amount is to be paid by the County Treasurer into the State Treasury according to acts passed as per Chap. 180 Laws 1856, Chap. 149 Laws 1859, Chap. 383 Laws 1859.

On motion of Mr. Clark

Resolved that Marshall Shaw be allowed to act as Supervisor of Hamden in place of Alexander Shaw who has leave of absence.

Mr. Shaw then took the constitutional oath and entered upon the duties of his office.

On motion of Mr. Clark

Resolved that the County Clerk be authorized to procure copies of the Second Edition of the Supervisors Book for each Supervisor in the County.

On motion of Mr. Clark

Resolved that Messrs. Archibald, Benjamin & Andrews be appointed a special committee to examine a claim by the Town of Tompkins to have certain monies refunded by the County which are claims to have been overpaid by said Town.

On motion of Mr. Clark

Resolved that School District No. 7 in the Town of Davenport be authorized to lay a tax of $65.56 on the taxable property of said district to pay a certain bill of costs incurred by said district.

The Board then adjourned till Thursday morning at 10 o'clock.

Thursday Morning

Board met pursuant to adjournment.

On motion of Mr. Clark it was

Resolved that a standing committee of three be appointed by the Chairman to examine printers claims. The Chair then appointed Messrs. Devereux, Noble & Dayton as such committee.

By resolution offered by Mr. Clark the following sums were authorized to be raised on the town of Middletown.

For building River bridge account audited by Board of town auditors under act of 1858. Certificate assigned to Lemuel Sines $322.00 interest $16.91, Total $338.91.

For building Gulf bridge under act of 1858 certificate assigned to Cyrus Mead audited and certified by board of town auditors. $83.50 interest $1.44, Total $83.94.

For the support of roads & bridges for the ensuing year pursuant to report of Commissioners of Highways $250.00 pursuant to a resolution adopted at the last annual town meeting of Middletown, the Board of Supervisors hereby authorized the sum of $300.00 to be raised from the Town of Middletown and intheir warrant direct the collector of said town to pay the said sum to William Swart and Isaac Birdsall to be paid by them on the order of the Commissioner of Highways of said town for the building and improvement of the road leading from David Akerly's over Akerly Hill to the store of Swart & Birdsall in the Town of Middletown. $300.00

(Embraced before in town accounts) Total for Highways $972.85

On motion of Wm. Scudder the Board adjourned till 2 o'clock.

2 o'clock the Board met pursuant to adjournment.

Stephen C. Johnson, Esq. appeared to make application in behalf of the Delaware Bank requesting to be stricken from the tax roll and allowed to settle with the Treasurer on the ground that the Bank was not earning 5 per cent on its capital stock. On motion it was Resolved that the application be granted.

Charles Knapp, President of the Deposit Bank, sent in an application similar to the above the hearing of which was deferred in order to permit Barna Radeker, Esq. one of the directors of said Bank to prepare an affidavit concerning the same.

On motion of Wm. Clark

Resolved that the sm of $7.90 be raised on the Town of Middletown and the sum of $3.68 be raised on the County of Delaware and paid to Silas Tompkins to reimburse him for monies paid erroneously in the year 1858.

On motion

Resolved that the sum of $57.64 be raised on the following towns on account of tax rolls falling short of the several amounts directed to be paid over viz: Colchester, $10.40, Masonville, $1.87; Kortright, $4.53, Tompkins, $22.74.

On motion it was

Resolved that the report of the committee to settle with the Treasurer be accepted.

On motion

Resolved that the report of the County Judge be accepted.

On motion

Resolved that the sum of $20 be raised on the county for the relief of Eliza Simmons at the Institution of the Blind , and that the further sum of $40 be raised on the county for the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb for the relief of Francis Seeley and Stephen W. Fitch.

On motion

Resolved that the Board adjourn until eight o'clock a.m. Friday in order that the different committees may be enabled to make their reports.

Friday Morning

The Board met pursuant to adjournment. The minutes were read and approved.

On motion of Wm. Clark

Resolved that the application of the Deposit Bank be made the special order for Saturday morning at 8 o'clock.

On motion of Wm.Scudder

Resolved that the vote releasing the Delaware Bank from the tax rolls be reconsidered. It was made the special order for Saturday morning at 8 o'clock.

On motion of Mr. Devereux

Resolved that the County Treasurer be requested to present a statement to this Board of the amount necessary to be raised as a contingent fund for the ensuing year.

The Clerk was then directed to serve a notice of the same upon the Treasurer.

The Committee on Equalization made the following report:

Resolved that the Clerk of the Board alter the assessment of the several towns so as to make the equalized assessments as follows:

Andes Seven Dollars & Fifty Cents per acre

Bovina Ten Dollars per acre

Colchester Four Dollars fifty cents per acre

Davenport Fourteen Dollars per acre

Delhi Seventeen Dollars per acre

Franklin Seventeen Dollars per acre

Hamden Ten Dollars per acre

Hancock Six Dollars fifty cents per acre

Harpersfield Fifteen Dollars per acre

Kortright Twelve Dollars and fifty cents per acre

Masonville Nine Dollars fifty cents per acre

Meredith Twelve Dollars per acre

Middletown Seven Dollars and fifty cents per acre

Roxbury Thirteen Dollars per acre

Sidney Fourteen Dollars per acre

Stamford Fifteen Dollars per acre

Tompkins Seven Dollars fifty cents per acre

Walton Ten Dollars per acre

Resolved that the Clerk reduce the Equalization so that the aggregate amount of the equalized value of the real estate of the several towns shall be the same as the aggregate assessed value thereof.

Mr. Doyle moved to amend the report so as to reduce the town of Hancock to Four Dollars and fifty cents per acre the motion was lost.

The ayes and noes being called stood as follows:

Ayes: Messrs. Downs, Doyle, Clark, Devereux. 4

Noes: Messrs.Benjamin, Archibald, Gordon, Simpson, Noble, Shaw, Dayton, McCune, Kentrifield, Dutton, Scudder, Bradford, Andrews, Bassett. 14

Wm. Doyle then moved to reduce Hancock to Five Dollars per acre which was lost.

Wm. Doyle moved to reduce it to six dollars per acre. Motion lost.

The ayes and noes being called stood as follows on the last motion:

Ayes: Messrs. Downs, Doyle, Clark, Devereux, Bassett, Simpson. 6

Noes: Messrs. Benjamin, Archibald, Gordon, Noble, Shaw, Dayton, McCune, Kentfield, Dutton, Scudder, Bradford, Andrews. 12

On motion

Resolved that the report be adopted as made by the committee a vote being called for stood as follows:

Ayes: Messrs. Benjamin, Archibald, Gordon, Simpson, Noble, Shaw, Dayton, McCune, Kentfield, Dutton, Scudder, Bradford, Andrews, Bassett. 14

Noes: Messrs. Downs, Doyle, Clark, Deverusx. 4

The report was declared adopted.

Mr. Clark offered the following preamble and resolution which were adopted.

Whereas it is alleged that an encroachment upon the Public Square in the Village of Delhi which lands are the property of Delaware County now exists, Therefore

Resolved that a committee of three be appointed by the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to investigate the matter and report at this session of the Board.

The Chairman then appointed Messrs. Clark, Doyle & Noble as a committee to make such investigation and report.

On motion of the Supervisors the following sums were ordered to be charged and assessed to their several towns:

Andes $1.40 Meredith $1.25

Bovina $4.50 Middletown $19.50

Davenport $1.00 Roxbury $2.50

Hamden $1.50 Stamford $1.50

Tompkins $1.40

Also the sum of $4.50 was ordered to be taxed to the Town of Tompkins and $3.50 to Masonville and credited to Franklin. And the sum of $21 to be taxed to Franklin and credited to Walton.

On motion

Resolved that the Town of Bovina be allowed to raise the sum of $250 (embraced with town account) for roads and bridges.

The Board then adjourned till one o'clock p.m.

One o'clock p.m.

The Board organized when Mr.Downs presented a memorial asking that the sum of $300.00 be allowed by the County to be paid towards rebuilding bridges in the Town of Colchester which have been destroyed by the elements.

This memorial was made the special order for Saturday morning at eight o'clock.

Mr. Doyle presented a bill in favor of John Norwood requesting to have $30 allowed against the County for taking care of paupers $20 of the same to be allowed to said Norwood and $10 to be allowed to Reeves & Allison. The bill was allowed.

The sum of $2.88 was allowed to R. W. Elwood for returning collector's bonds.

On motion of Mr. Simpson

Resolved that the sum of $50 be deducted from the appropriation for poor in Davenport.

On motion of Mr.Gordon

Resolved that $50 be raised on the Town of Delhi for the support of Poor for the ensuing year.

On motion of Wm. Andrews

Resolved that the sum of $203.48 be deducted from the Poor allowance in Stamford.

The Board then adjourned till eight o'clock Saturday morning.

8 o'clock Saturday

Board met pursuant to adjournment when the minutes of the preceeding day were read and approved.

The application of the Deposit Bank being the special order Mr. Johnson proceeded to read affidavits of Charles Knapp the president and Barna Radeker a director of the bank stating that said bank was not in receipt of 5 per cent on its capital stock and asking to be stricken from the rolls and allowed to settle with the County Treasurer the motions was denied.

The ayes and nays being called for stood as follows:

Ayes: None

Nays: Messrs. Benjamin, Archibald, Downs, Gordon, Simpson, Noble, Shaw, Dayton, Doyle, McCune, Kentfield, Clark, Dutton, Scudder, Bradford, Andrews, Devereux, Bassett. 18

On motion

Resolved that the report of the Committee on Poor House be accepted.

On motion of Mr. Devereux

Resolved that a committee of three be appointed to examine the Poor House and report what shall be done with regard repairing, rebuilding or otherwise disposing of the Poor House and its lands.

On motion of Mr. Clark

Resolved that the Committee on Poor House act as such committee.

On motion of Mr. Clark

Resolved the sum of Four Dollars charged by P. W. Smith to the towns of Masonville and Sidney be stricken rom the accounts.

On motion

Resolved the report of the committee on town accounts be accepted or amended.

R. Parker, Esq. in behalf of the Delaware Bank offered the following Preamble and Resolution which was ordered to be copied on the minutes of the Clerk.

The President of the Delaware Bank having by his own affidavit proved to the satisfaction of this Board that the Delaware Bank an incorporated company included in the assessment roll of the town of Delhi Delaware County has not been during the preceding year in the receipt of next annual profits or clear income equal to five per cent on the capital stock of said company paid in or secured to be paid in after deducting from the amount of their capital stock the assessed value of the real estate, Therefore

Resolved that said Delaware Bank shall be entitled to commute for its taxes on its capital stock by paying directly to the Treasurer of said County a sum equal to five percent on its next annual profits or clear income and also such further sum as shall have been assessed on said roll of said Town on the real estate of said Bank.

The motion was denied. The ayes and nays stood. Ayes. None. Nays. 18.

At the request of Mr. Johnson the above Preamble & Resolution was allowed to be altered and applied to the Deposit Bank.

The application Mr. Downs being the next in order was put to vote with the following result.

Ayes: Messrs. Archibald, Downs, Gordon, Shaw, Doyle, Clark, Bradford, Benjamin. 8

Nays: Messrs. Simpson, Noble, Dayton, Dutton, McCune, Kentfield, Scudder, Andrews, Devereux, Bassett. 10

On motion of Mr. Devereux

Resolved that the Sheriff of Delaware County be ordered to prohibit all exhibitions that have heretofore been allowed the free use of the Court House and further to prohibit the free use of the Court House for Town meetings or Town caucuses also that he shall prohibit the use of the Court Room and Jury Room for a play house for the boys of the Town of Delhi.

On motion

Resolved that the report of the Committee on Justices and Constables accounts be accepted.

Also Resolved that the report of the Committee on Court House and Jail be accepted and that the sum of Three Thousand Dollars be raised on the Count to defray the expenses of making repairs on the Court House.

On motion of Mr. Downs it was

Resolved that James Ellwood, Gabriel S. Mead and Horatio N. Buckley be appointed a committee to repair the Court House.

On motion

Resolved that the time of the Committee to report on the encroachment upon the public grounds be extended until the next meeting of the Board.

A motion was made to amend the report of the Committee on county claims by striking out $200 allowed to the School Commissioners as expenses. Lost.

The Committee to visit the Poor House made a report highly commending the management of the keeper and requesting that he be retained for another year providing that he would consent to remain at a fair compensation. The report was adopted.

Mr. Downs presented a memorial asking that the sum of $150.00 be raised by the County and given to the Town of Colchester to assist in building bridges. The application was lost. The ayes and nays being called stood.

Ayes: Messrs. Benjamin, Downs, Shaw, Clark. 4

Nays: Messrs Archibald, Gordon, Simpson, Noble, Dayton, Doyle, McCune, Kentfield, Dutton, Scudder, Bradford, Andrews, Devereux, Bassett. 14

On motion of Mr. Downs

Resolved that the sum of $1585.56 be raised on the Town of Colchester to defray town expenses & for highway & bridge purposes.

On motion of Mr. Dayton

Resolved that the sum of $25 be deducted from each of the School Commissioners accounts for expenses.

On motion

Resolved that the account of the Sheriff and his deputies be allowed as audited.

Also that the accounts of the Superintendents of the Poor be allowed.

On motion

Resolved that the sum of $20 be allowed to the N. Y. Asylum for Idiots for the relief of Maargaret Comack of Delhi.

Resolved the Clerk in making out the assessments shall in those rolls which have been corrected assess the rejected taxes back upon the lands so rejected. Also that on those rolls which have not been corrected the rejected taxes be assessed back upon the town.

On motion of Mr. Devereux

Resolved that the several bills audited to printers be allowed as audited.

On motion of Mr. Clark

Resolved that one copy of the index to the Laws of New York be disposed to use of the District Attorney and one copy to the use of the Board of Supervisors.

On motion

Resolved that the Committee on encroachment be allowed to take testimony concerning the same if necessary.

On motion

Resolved that the amendment to the report of the Committee on County Claims striking $25 from the bills of each of the School Commissioners be reconsidered and that they be allowed the full amount thereof.

On motion of Mr. Devereux

Resolved that vote appropriating $300.00 for the support of poor in the Town of Tompkins as was recommended by the town auditors be reconsidered and that the sum of $200.00 be allowed instead.

On motion

Resolved that $32.54 be allowed to Thomas Harby for bars on door & windows of jail.

On motion of Mr. Archibald

Resolved that the session be published in the Delaware Express & Franklin Visitor, that the town and county accounts be printed in the Delaware Gazette, Bloomvlle Mirror and Deposit Union Democart, the Equalization of the Assessment Rolls in the Del. Express & Franklin Visitor. Report of the Superintendents of the Poor in the Star of Delaware and Deposit Union Democrat, and the County Judges Report and notices of the School Commissioners in the Bloomville Mirror and Deposit Union Democrat.

On motion of Mr. Downs

Resolved that the report of the Superintendents of the Poor be accepted and the sum of $2000.00 be raised on the county for the support of the poor.

On motion

Resolved that $4.00 be allowed to Dr. A. Fitch and charged to the county.

On motion of Mr. Scudder

Resolved that the vote rejecting the account of Dr. L. G. Sherman be reconsidered and that $5.00 be allowed on said account.

On motion

Resolved that $18,000.00 be raised on the County to defray county expenses including $2,000.00 already appropriated to the poor fund.

On motion of Mr. Kentfield

Resolved that the Board adjourn till the 13^th day of December at 2 o'clock p.m.

Minutes approved.

Adjourned Meeting

Tuesday Dec. 13^th, 1859 2 o'clock P.M.

The Board met pursuant to adjournment and a quorum being present proceeded to business.

A communication was received from Mr. J. P. Benjamin that he was unable to be present on account of illness and requesting to have A. B. Douglas substituted in his place. Mr. Douglas by a vote of the Board was permitted to act as such substitute and after taking the constitutional oath acted as one of the Board.

W. Murray, Esq. appeared before the Board and requested the highway appropriation for the Town of Bovina of $250.00 be reconsidered and that the sum of $1500.00 be substituted in its place a vote being called for stood as follows:

Ayes: Messrs. Downs, Shaw, McCune, Dutton, Andrews, Devereux. 6

Nays: Messrs. Archibald, Gordon, Simpson, Noble, Dayton, Kentfield, Clark, Bradford, Bassett. 9

On motion

Resolved that the sum of Three Hundred ($300) Dollars illegally appropriated to build a road over Akerly Hill in the Town of Middletown be rescinded.

On motion of Mr. Clark

Resolved that the Commissioner of Excise report to this Board of Supervisors their present session the names of all persons prosecuted by their direction for violation of the excise law and the different amounts of money including costs, received by them and their attorney's from each person so prosecuted and also each and every amount received by them for such violation where no prosecution has been had. Such report to extend to the last two years.

On motion of Mr. Devereux

Resolved that the account of G. W. Reynolds assigned to Otis Abell for $87.00 be allowed as charged.

On motion of Mr. Shaw

Resolved that whereas the town of Hamden in the County of Delaware by a vote of the electors of said town taken at the annual town meeting held in said town on the 8^th day of February 1859.

Resolved that the said town be authorized and empowered to borrow Three Thousand ($3000) Dollars for the purpose of building three bridges in said town to be paid within ten years with interest and -- therefore Resolved that the said Town of Hamden be hereby authorized & empowered to borrow the sum of Three Thousand ($3000) Dollars to build three bridges in said town to be paid as follows to wit: The interest to be paid annually on the first days of February of each year on all sums unpaid, at seven (7) percent of the principal, Five Hundred Dollars on the first day of February 1861 and Five Hundred Dollars on the first days of February each year thereafter until the whole sum of Three Thousand Dollars is paid.

The Board then adjourned till 8 o'clock tomorrow morning.

Dec. 14^th

The Board met at eight o'clock when Mr. Douglas offered the following

Resolved that the Clerk proceed immediately and place an equalized column in each of the assessment rolls in accordance with the resolution of the equalizing committee. Carried.

On motion of Mr. Downs

Resolved that a committee of three be appointed to decide upon the number of Grand Jurors to be returned by the Supervisors of each town.

The Chair then appointed Messrs. Downs, Clark and Simpson as such Committee.

The report of Committee to Settle with Loan Commissioners was received and accepted.

Mr. Andrews moved to raise $750.00 on the Town of Bovina in addition to the $250 already raised. Mr. Clark moved to lay the resolution on the table. The ayes and nays being called stood:

Ayes: Messrs. Archibald, Clark. 2

Nays: Messrs. Douglass, Downs, Gordon, Simpson, Noble, Shaw, Dayton, Doyle, Dutton, McCune, Kentfield, Scudder, Bradford,