Obed Macy: Journal 5

Capt. Bunker intended to have gone to Falmouth but the weather proving unfavorable, he abandoned the enterprise & left here for York via Newport so the concourse of people of all ages & descriptions who visited the steamboat during her stay here was immense. the same boat was here in the year 1824 8 mo. The time having elapsed so many years, the curiosity to the people generally was nearly equal as though they have never seen one & to a large number it was altogether new.

2nd 11mo the weather has been dry, without rain for nearly a month. Notwithstanding of late the wind has prevailed easterly for a week or more. This afternoon it began to rain & appears likely to continue with the wind about East & moderate breeze; at night the rain increased.

4th Much rain fell sufficient to soak the earth through.

3rd This day a town meeting was held for the choice of electors to elect the President of the United States.

11 A shoal of blackfish was in the Cod of Bay by a person who lost his overboard & went there in pursuit of it. Some of the blackfish was dead & others aground. It was supposed that they unintentionally got into a shoal water and lost their way. There was 16 in the shoal; all of which were saved, the blubber flensed and brought to town & boiled by Orpin Jnr. & George Dunham. The fish produced about 20 barrels of oil worth 45 cents per gallon.

15 1828 12 The weather during the time of last month was very changeable & uncommonly wet but not remarkably cold. Sudden changes almost daily.

A very melancholy disaster took place by a brig cast ashore on the south side of the island. She was from Petersburg bound to Providence loaded with Hemp & Iron. She was driven ashore in a southerly gale of wind and broke into hundreds of fragments & out of 11 men who composed the crew, but one shore alive & lost very little of the cargo. 2 of the bodies of the deceased have since come ashore.

3rd 12 mo Sloop Polly George Barnard went out in a strong wind at SW for Old Town with a load for the Ship Ocean, got nearly to Cape Poge the wind took him ahead & blew violently, he anchored parted his Cables, blowed his sails away, broke his gaff & finally ran her ashore in the Cod of the Bay where she bilged & wet the cargo. The cargo was cargo was saved with very little loss or damage. A vessel was sent up harbor inside & the cargo was carted across the land. The Polly will be lost & come to but very little.

12 The inhabitants of the town seems to be much agitated on several occasions since this month came in. Some of which we shall here make mention of viz. the conclusion of the two Mo. [MONTHLY] Mgs. [MEETINGS] of this place uniting in the proposition of the Qy. [QUARTERLY] Mg. [MEETING] to join the two mo. [MONTHLY] mgs. [MEETINGS] of this place into one. &c &c

1828 12th A large number of the owners of Squam have for many years been much dissatisfied that they were deprived of their privileges in improving their land by tillage. But it has been the case that a very small number who were large owners & believing it for their interest to stock it, prevented its being tilled. And the [PROPRIETORS?] of the common land ordered the fence taken up, which left it open to the stock at all seasons of the year. But of late there happening to be some change in the affairs of those who have hitherto prevented Squam from being fence & tilled, it exerted an inquiry where the proper time had not come for the generality of the owners of Squam & Pokomo [POCOMO] to endeavor in a legal manner to improve their land as best suited their interest & convenience. For this purpose about 20 of the owners met at the Pheonix [PHOENIX] Office chamber for the purpose of imparting their ideas to the body met for the purpose, on the subject. When their [THERE] appeared a great degree of firmness & determined resolution to pursue every legal measure that could be devised to obtain full jurisdiction of the premises & to fence it for the proper owners to improve in their own way. It was finally concluded to publickly [PUBLICLY] invite all those (male & female) who were friendly disposed to its being incorporated to meet at the Town House on the 13th 12 mo at 6 oclock PM. The subject being somewhat novel, the invitation spread throughout the island & at the time of the meeting I think there was about 400 persons collected; after much being said to explain the subject to the audience (which was somewhat new to a large number) a committee of 19 persons were appointed to collect the interest by going to every owner

171828 12 from page 16 & get them to sign a Power of Attorney, to vote & act in their behalf in all meetings of the owners of Squam & Pookoomo [POCOMO]. The aforementioned committee obtained about 3/4 of the whole interest constituting Squam & Pookomo [POCOMO]. A meeting was then held at which the [PROPRIETORS?] of Squam organized & in part chose their officers, then adjourned & finished the appointment of officers. Benjamin Bunker, Charles Mitchell, Peter Chase, Jonathan Gardner & George Myrick were chosen agents. Gorham Coffin Clark, Peter Chase collectors. Obed Macy, Obed Fitch & George B. Cartwright assessors. Voted to raise 250 $ Reuben Swain & Simeon Macy to clear Squam & keep it clear. The agents put up the fence & soon after David Coffin left the gate open & a large flock of sheep got in & was drove out. David was prosecuted before Josiah Macy Esq. Walter Folger appeared as David's attorney and Charles Bunker for Squam. It appeared that Walter knew all or more than all the rest together he argued that David had a good right to leave the gate open, or cut it down if he chose & stated the [PROPRIETORS?] of Squam had no right to encumber the road with a gate and advanced much menacing language, such as, the case would be carried to the S. P. C. in Boston & to the President Jackson. Finally Josiah condemned David to a fine & cost of about $16.88. He appealed to the Court of Pleas. Walter & Charles Folger were his bondsmen. At the Court it was ruled that the way leading through Squam was not a highway. This was like a death blow to their whole fabrick [FABRIC], it was the establishment of the road they made their dependence. The Judge seemed to have doubts of the legality of the Corporation & advised that the whole continued to page 25

1828 19.12. (see Page 13) 18

[ WRITTEN IN THE TOP LEFT MARGIN] Several meetings were held & the foregoing is the final result

A town meeting was held to see if the town would Petition the Congress of the U.S. to grant an appropriation to assist the people of this place, in deepening the water on the Bar & other places adjacent where it may be found necessary, to make a convenient channel to pass in & out of the harbour. A Petition being presented, it was read & approved & directed to be sent and Capt. [CAPTAIN] Thomas Folger was appointed to be the bearer & to exert himself to accomplish the object intended. Congress granted an appropriation of 30000 $ to pay 13000 $ for the Dredging machine. & the remainder to be used in digging out the Bar Leutn. [LIEUTENANT] Prescot [PRESCOTT] arrived here some weeks agone [AGO].- & prepared the materials (3 scows &c [ECETERA]) for digging The dredging machine & scows were carried off to the Bar, to commence digging -- The digging continued through the season. when the weath [WEATHER] was suitable, and the machine worked as well as was expected, but they not do much.

1829 [IN MARGIN] (see page. 29) The subject of French Spoliations on the commerce of the U.S. has at length arrested the attention of Congress. - So for us to appoint a Committee from the Senate, which committee after examining the case, have reported in favour of the claimants that they have a just right of demand on the Govt. I propose that 2 Millions of dollars be appropriated to remunerate the sufferers. This report was accompanied with a bill which provides that Commissions be appointed & C [ECETERA] ______

1830 [IN MARGIN] At the next setting of Congress a new Committee was appointed on the subject, They were united in reporting an appropriation of five million of dollars, but did not present their report, which procrastinates the subjects to the next setting of Congress.