HomeMy WebLinkAbout399 Order of the Massachusetts legislature concerning a proposal to make Concord the Middlesex County seat, 1792To the Hon.ble Senate and House of
Representitives in Gen.l Courts assembled
Shew the Representitives of sundry
Towns in the county of Middlesex, That since the year 1643 when
the Town of Cambridge was made the shire town of said County
many new towns have been settled & incorporated, & the Inhabitants of
many of the old towns have much increased; & although the inhabi-
tants of said County in general, were heretofore doubtless more accom-
modated by having Cambridge the shire town of the County, than
any other, but such is the difference in the settlements of the
county, that it is become very inconvenient for a large majority
of the inhabitants to be obliged to resort to Cambridge for the many
papers that must be lodged in the shire towns - & for much business
that must be transacted there - Cambridge lies at the extremity of
the county between 40 & 50 miles distant from several towns, & between
20 & 30 miles from a large number of considerable towns, much trouble
& expence might be saved to the inhabitants of the County, if they
could have all their public records deposited in some town as near the
Centre of the County as circumstances would admit of - It is easy to
conceive of the inconveniencey and expence that must attend having
a majority of Courts holden in one town in the County & having
all public records & papers kept in another town where a less
number of Courts are holden - Established Custom & positive
Law have made it necessary to keep all public Offices of a County
in the shire town, therefore before there can be any change of
place for keeping those Offices, the interposition of the Legislature
is necessary to create (if in their wisdom tey see fit) a new
Shire town for said County. The Inhabitants of the County
have lately been at the expence of erecting a spacious stone
Goal [gaol, or jail] fully capable of serving for the whole County which is
situated in Concord, a place near the Centre of the County, where
three fifths of the Law Courts of the County are holden. A Town in
every respect calculated to accommodate the Inhabitants of the County
The Reasons that existed at the time Cambridge was made the shire
town no longer continue in its favour; most if not all the inconveni-
ences now suffered will be removed by making Concord the shire
town - The general good of the whole is ever the object that ought to
be pursued however prejudice, interest & long usage may persuade
some that the remotest town in the County obscurely situated where
little business is there acted is the most suitable for the shire town
Yet it is not doubted, but What after a candid inquiry the Hon.ble Legisla-
ture will find it for the general advantage & care of the County to have
a new shire town, & as no town is so suitable as the town of Concord for
that purpose, that they will proceed to act thereon or their wisdom
shall direct & as the general good of the County requires - As in
duty bound.
Middlesex May 1791
Duncan Ingraham
Aaron Brown
Zacs [Zacharias] Wright
Charles Whitman
Jonas Brooks
John Minot
Commonwealth }
of Massachusetts } In the House of Reps. Febry. 21, 1792
On the Memorial of the Representatives of sundry
Towns in the county of Middlesex praying that the Town
of Concord may be established as the shire town of said County --
Ordered. That the Memorialists notify the inhabitants
of the several Towns in said County of Middlesex by leaving
an attested Copy of said Memorial with this Order thereon
with the several town Clerks of aid Towns, at least forty
days before the second Wednesday of the first session of the
next General Court that the said towns may then appear
& show cause if any they have why the prayer of said Memorial
should not be granted. Sent up for Concurrence
D. Cobb Spkr. [Speaker]
In senate March 9th 1792
Read & Concurred
Sam'l. Phillips Prsdt [President]
True Copy Att.
Saml. Cooper Clerk Senate