necessary) any number of men, not exceeding six to each engine, in addition to the number now allowed by law, to be subject to the same rules and regulations, and entitled to the same privileges and exemptions as other enginemen. (June 21, 1803.) AN ACT to divide the town of Cambridge, and to incorporate the southerly parish therein as a separate town, by the name of Brighton. corporated. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Brighton inRepresentatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That all that part of the town of Cambridge situated on the south side of Charles River, heretofore known as the Third Parish, and as described within the following bounds, together with the inhabitants thereon, be, and the same is, hereby incorporated into a separate town, by the name of Brighton, viz.: Beginning at Boundaries. Brookline line, where Charles River intersects the same, and running on a line in the middle of said Charles River until it strikes Newton line, thence along Newton line until it intersects Brookline line; thence on said line of Brookline to said Charles River, first mentioned, and the said town of Brighton is hereby vested with all the powers, privileges, and immunities, and shall also be subjected to all the duties to which other corporate towns are entitled and subjected by the Constitution and Laws of this Commonwealth. Provided, however, That nothing in this Act Proviso. shall be so construed as to impair the right or privilege of the Congregational ministers of the said town of Brighton, which they hold in Harvard College. property to be SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That the said town of Proportion of Brighton shall be entitled to hold such proportion of all held by the real and personal estate now belonging to, and owned Brighton. in common by, the inhabitants of the present town of Cambridge as the property of the inhabitants of the said town of Brighton now bears to the property of all the inhabitants of the present town of Cambridge, according to the latest valuation thereof, excepting always all right of common landing places, uses, and privileges, heretofore possessed by the inhabitants of said town of Cambridge, all which shall be held and enjoyed by the towns respectively within whose limits the same may be. proportion of SECT. 3. Be it further enacted, That the said town of To pay their Brighton shall be holden to pay their proportion, to be ascer- debts, etc. tained as aforesaid, of all the debts and claims now due and owing from the said town of Cambridge, or which may Supporting the poor. Supporting the bridge. Justice to issue his warrant. To pay proportion of taxes. any con hereafter be found due and owing by reason of SECT. 4. Be it further enacted, That the said town of Brighton shall be holden to support their proportion of the present poor of the town of Cambridge, which proportion shall be ascertained as aforesaid, and all persons who shall, or may hereafter, become chargeable as paupers, shall be considered as belonging to that town on whose territory they have gained a legal settlement at the passing of this Act, and shall be supported by that town only. SECT. 5. Be it further enacted, That the said town of Brighton shall keep up and support their proportion of a bridge over Charles River, between said town and the town of Cambridge, so long as said bridge may be deemed by law necessary; said proportion to be ascertained by the State valuation from time to time. SECT. 6. Be it further enacted, That either of the Justices of the Peace for the county of Middlesex is hereby authorized to issue a warrant, directed to some inhabitant of the said town of Brighton, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants thereof to meet at such convenient time and place as shall be expressed in the said warrant, for the choice of all such officers as towns are by law required to choose, in the months of March or April annually. SECT. 7. Be it further enacted, That the said town of Brighton shall pay their proportion of all State and county taxes as are already, or may hereafter, be assessed upon the inhabitants of the town of Cambridge, until the General Court shall lay a tax upon the said town of Brighton. (February 24, 1807.) Second parish in Cambridge AN ACT to divide the town of Cambridge, and to incorporate the SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of incorporated. Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That all that part of the town of Cambridge heretofore known as the second parish, and as described within the following bounds, together with the inhabitants thereon, be, and the same is, hereby incorporated into a separate town, by the name of West Cambridge, viz.: Beginning at Charlestown line, where the little river intersects the same, and running on a line in the middle of said little river until it strikes Fresh Pond, so called; thence west, ten degrees south, until it intersects the line of the town of Boundaries. Watertown; thence on Watertown and Waltham line until hold a propor ty owned in SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of Inhabitants to the said town of West Cambridge shall be entitled to hold tion of propersuch proportion of all the real and personal property now common. belonging to, and owned in common by them, and the inhabitants of the present town of Cambridge, as the property of the said inhabitants of West Cambridge now bears to the property of all the inhabitants of the late town of Cambridge, according to the latest valuation thereof; excepting always all rights of common landing places, uses, and privileges, now and heretofore possessed and enjoyed by the inhabitants of said Cambridge, which shall hereafter belong and appertain to that town only, in which the same may fall. of taxes. SECT. 3. Be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of To pay arrears the said town of West Cambridge shall be holden to pay all arrears of taxes due from them, together with their proportion (to be ascertained as aforesaid) of all the debts and claims now due, and owing from the said town of Cambridge, or which may hereafter be found due and owing, by reason of any contract, engagement, judgment of court, or other matter or thing, heretofore entered into, or now existing. their propor SECT. 4. Be it further enacted, That the said town of To support West Cambridge shall be holden to support their proportion tion of poor. of the present poor of the town of Cambridge, which proportion shall be ascertained by the present valuation of the town; and all persons who may hereafter become chargeable as paupers to the towns of Cambridge and West Cambridge shall be considered as belonging to that town, on the territory of which they had their settlement at the time of passing this Act, and shall, in future, be chargeable to that town only. bridge. SECT. 5. Be it further enacted, That the said town of To support their proporWest Cambridge shall be held to keep up and support their tion of the old proportion of the old bridge over Charles River, between the first and third parishes of Cambridge, which proportion shall be ascertained, from time to time, by the State valuation. and county SECT. 6. Be it further enacted, That the said town of To pay State West Cambridge shall be holden to pay their proportion of all taxes. State and county taxes assessed on the inhabitants of the said sue a warrant. town of Cambridge, until the General Court shall lay a tax on the said town of West Cambridge. SECT. 7. Be it further enacted, That this Act shall not have any force or effect until the first day of June, one thousand eight hundred and seven. SECT. 8. Be it further enacted, That any Justice of the Peace for the county of Middlesex, upon application thereJustice to is for, is hereby authorized to issue his warrant, directed to some freeholder of the said town of West Cambridge, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants thereof to meet at such time and place as shall be appointed in said warrant, for the choice of such officers as towns are by law required to choose at their annual town meetings. (February 27, 1807.) Weight fimited. Penalty. Justice to issue his warrant. AN ACT providing for the storing and safe keeping of Gunpowder in the town of Cambridge, and to prevent damage from the same. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That after the first day of September next, it shall not be lawful for any person living in said town, to keep or have in any house, store, or other building within said town, except such building as shall be provided for that purpose, and approved by the firewards and selectmen of said town, more than fifty pounds weight of gunpowder at any one time, nor any quantity thereof, unless the same shall be kept in brass, copper, or tin canisters; and if any person or persons shall so have or keep in any building, any gunpowder contrary to the provisions aforesaid, he shall forfeit and pay the full value of the same, one moiety thereof to the use of the person who shall inform, complain, or sue for the same, and the other moiety to the treasurer of the town of Cambridge, to the use of the poor of the town aforesaid, to be recovered with costs, by information or indictment in the Court of Common Pleas, or by action on the case before any court having by law jurisdiction and power to try the same; and any Justice of the peace of said county, on information supported by oath, is hereby authorized to issue his warrant, returnable to himself within sixty days, directed to any fireward or constable of said town of Cambridge, requiring him forthwith to seize any quantity of gunpowder kept in any building in said town contrary to this Act, and to remove the same to the powder house, to be there kept as security for the penalty incurred by the owner or possessor thereof, and until such penalty, with the cost of seizing, removing, and storing the same, shall have been paid; and such fireward, or constables having such warrant may seize and re move any such gunpowder in the daytime, giving notice to the owner of said powder, or occupant of the building where the same may be found, by reading such warrant to him, or leaving an attested copy thereof at his usual place of abode in said town. And the keeper of the powder house shall receive and keep the same until the clerk of the court in which the information, indictment, or action of the case had been pending, shall certify that said suit or process is at an end, and settled, or unless property shall have been attached on said process, or security given by the person who has incurred the forfeiture, to respond the judgment. And in every case the proprietors of the powder house shall have a lien on the powder stored therein, for their fees due for such storage. SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That John Hayden and his Persons incorassociates, be and hereby are, incorporated and made a body porated. politic, by the name of the Powder House Corporation, and may have and enjoy all the powers and privileges which are by law incident to corporations, for the purpose of building a powder house in Cambridge, aforesaid, for the storage and safe-keeping of gunpowder; and to purchase and hold a suitable piece of land on which to erect the same, the place and building to be approved and accepted by the firewards and selectmen of Cambridge. dent. fees. SECT. 3. Be it further enacted, That said powder house Superintencorporation shall constantly keep a suitable person, who shall be approved by the firewards of said town to superintend said powder house, and shall be obliged to receive and deliver His duty and powder into and from the same, and shall be allowed to receive at the rate of five cents per month, for the storage of every cask of gunpowder containing twenty-five pounds, and in proportion for a larger or smaller quantity; and at the rate of two and a half cents per month for every cask of like weight for every month after the first, during all the time which it shall be stored or kept therein, and twenty-five cents upon each delivery of any quantity thereof; and the proprietors of said powder house shall be held responsible, both in the corporate and individual property, to any owner or depositor of powder in said house, for any damage arising from the deficiency of said house, or the refusal, delay, or gross negligence of the keeper. called. SECT. 4. Be it further enacted, That the said John Hay- First meeting den shall have a right to call the first meeting of said corporation, by posting up notice thereof at two public places in said town, at least five days previous to such meeting, at which time they may choose such officers for the management of said corporation, as they may think fit, and make such by-laws for their own regulation, as are not repugnant to the laws of this Commonwealth. |