Obed Macy: Journal 6

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Concourse of people, the town house full to overflowing, the house was crowded, and many could not get in. Seth Pinkham was Moderator. As soon as the meeting came to order Barzillai Coffin moved an Indefinite postponement, a hundred voices was immeditaly raised calling on the Moderator to put the question. It was with some difficulty that the Moderator stilled the people. He then informed them that the motion should be kept in view, but that he should not put _^it as long a people were calling for an opportunity to speak to the subject. Thomas Macy then arose and spoke to a great length. The opposite party tried to put him _^down but it was ruled by the Moderator that he was in order. He then stated his opinion that the town needed a more suitable hiouse to meet in, and that it was indispensable that they shall have one but it was his opinion that we should study economy, he therefore moved that a Committee be appointed to find on what conditions W^m. [William] Ruddack would dispose of his settlement to the town, And also W^m. [William] C Swain to enable the town _^to select that which would be most suitable to enlarge the present Townhome, and report at the adjournment of the meeting.

Aaron Thomas went largely into the subject, and about an hour. He spoke loud that all could hear.

Aaron Mitchell said he agreed to Thomas^s [THOMAS'S] Motion; but thought the motion might be added to by directing the Committee to to endeavor to find a suitable place to build a New town house, and named 10 as a suitable number of the Committe. all this was agreed to. The Moderat A number more spoke largely on the subject, it appeared they were all on the side of being accomodated with more room, either by increasing the bigness of the present Town house or building a new one. John Shaw spoke largly [LARGELY] on the subject, and Andew M Macy spoke sometime

When all had done speaking the Moderator called for a nomination, I should _^think 50 voices were heard in the utmost confusion all the same time, the Moderator could distinctly distinguish one name from another. Many trials were made, the most of them without success---

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At length the number 10 was Voted. It was then moved to add 5 to the number and for the Moderator to name them.

The names of the Committee here follows, Aaron Mitchell, John H Shaw, Matthew Crosby, David Joy   Thomas Macy, Philip H Folger, Barker Burnall [BURNELL], Sam^l. [Samuel] B Tuck, Barzⁱ [BARZILLAI] Burdit [BURDETT], Ge^o. [George] Haden Starbuk [STARBUCK], Ch^s. [Charles] Wood, W^m. [William] C Swain, P W^m. [William] R Easton, Christop^r [CHRISTOPHER] Wier [WYER], Ge^o. [George] M Bunker.

The Meeting adjourned two weeks which will be the 16^th at half past six PM

16^th.2^m. [16 FEBRUARY] The town convened according to adjournment

The house was very full. The committee were unanimous in their report, that it would _^be for the interest of the town to cause various alterations inside of the house which would increase the room, so that as to accomodate 450 persons & all to be seated. My_^uch was said for and against the report, at length the vote was put to accept the report, which appeared so near an equal number that the moderator could not determine the decision. It was then concluded to pole [POLL] the people by all going out of the house & count them as they came in, when it appeared there were a large majority against accepting the report.           (Look at the next Page)

[FROM THE NEXT PAGE] The subject was then voted an indefinite postponement. I think it was the most disorderly town meeting that I ever witnessed. Laughing aloud, talking, stamping, and making impertinent observations. Finally it appeared that the town did not want any alteration for the accomodation of the people, neither in having a new house, or altering the present house.

1839∙14^th∙2^m [1839 14 FEBRUARY]   Rainy and wet, small wind at East & SEThe weather continues moderate for Winter. By the Short cold turns it has kept the harbor froze over for some time. It has at one time been froze out far beyond the Bar, but yet it may truly _^be remarked that the Winter has the most of the time been moderate. Very little Snow at no time exceeding two inches in depth.

The Eelers have kept the market well supplied with Eels and Clams. Notwithstanding the favorable weather there has been no traders to bring the products of _^the country to market.

All the most substantial articles of food & fuel are plenty -- considerable Wood is now on the Wharves Oak at 8$ and Pine at 6$ ⅌ [PER] Corn Flour 9½ -- Corn 1.10 ⅌ [PER] bushel

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19.2. Cold wet snow storm, wind at NE and increasing. There has been so much ice in and near the harbor that Vessels could not pass and repass without difficulty. At some times there has been due a number of mails. Yesterday by the Mails, accounts from Liverpool England announce the most tremendous and destructive Hurricane ever know in that place before. The loss of shipping of every description, together with many lives and property immense made dreadful destruction. ------------- Some additional remarks of the effects of the Storm mentioned in page 4. ---------- Previous to the Storm, Smiths Point had made out so far that a straight line drawn from the end of the point to the end of Great Point would leave Tuckernuck a considerable distance to the southward of the line. But the storm has cut it off so as to cause the point to become an Island, and a considerable wide and deep channel between. Whereas before the storm horses and cattle passed with safety from Smiths Point to and from Tuckernuck.

8) 1839. 11th.12th. 25th of 2.m/o The annual meeting for the choice of town officers and other business began today. An uncommon quantity of business was contained in the warrant, beween 20 and 30 different articles and some of which were of much importance to the Town, among which was to see and consider whether the town should build a new house at Quays [QUAISE] for the accomodation of the poor. A committee was appointed to examine into the department of the Poor and also the expediency of building a New house. 25th 2m/o The committee presented a lengthy report, stating many important facts relative to the poor department generally. And also their opinion that it was indispensably necessary to build a new house at Quays [QUAISE] for the poor, which after much being said on the subject it was voted by a large majority to accept the report of the Committee For the names of the town Officers, see Inquirer of 27th 2m/o

1st 3m/o I believe all are agreed, that the Winter has been the most moderate of any one within many years back This morning the weather displayed quite a Winterish aspect, it appeared in the night preceeding there was the greatest fall of Snow that had been for the winter. It was aout 3 Inches on a level, when the Sun broke out it melted very fast. The Streets were very wet.

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1839 14th 3 mo Received a letter for Daniel dated New Orleans. He informs his health is no better but is hoped as the weather becomes warmer and drier, he will be better.

3m/o There has been no alarm of Fire during the last winter, But in the early part of this month William Hart's blacksmith shop took fire near the forge which was soon extinguiesded without much damage.

20th This morning as 2 o'clock a fire broke out on the back side of the block on Orange Street in Benjamin Worth's barn, which was occasioned by ashes which burnt six barns viz. Barker Burnalls [BURNELL'S], Gramwell Barnard's, Thomas Runell's, Benjamin Worth's, James Easton's & Joshua Bunker's. A strong wind prevailed at NE and the weather dry, yet nothwithstanding, by the great exertion of the people the fire was checked without much other damage. It was in the middle of the town and surrounded by a thicket of houses. For some time it appeared that the fire would spread to an alarming extent, the cinders and large flakes of fire spread to a great distance, which sat some other buildings on fire, but were immediately extinguished.

There has been a difficulty of long standing between our government and New Brunswick, Alias, the British Government to determine the boundary between the State of Maine and the British lines. This difference has led the two governments to a great expence [EXPENSE] & a considerable degree of censure and hard thinking. The territory is of a large extent and covered with a valuable growth of timber trees. It is said that the tract is large as the State of Massachusetts. Of late the British have sent a company who have taken possession of the land, and a cutting down the trees, this intrusion has caused great excitement throughout our Governt. [GOVERNMENT]. The Govr. [GOVERNOR] of Maine has remonstrated against it, and applied to the Genl. [GENERAL] Government for advice. Congress (then in session) has taken up the business very spiritedly, and authorised the President