Lorraine, Jefferson, NY

Civil Organization

CIVIL ORGANIZATION

The net of incorporation directed, the first town-meeting of Lorraine to be held at the house of John Alger, March 5, 1805. The election resulted in the choice of the following offices: Supervisor, Asa Brown; clerk, William Hosford; assessors, Clark Allen, Ormond Butler, Warner Flowers; Collector, O. Butler; Poor-masters, William Hunter, C. Allen; Constable, O. Butler; Com. Of Highways, William Hosford, Michael Frost, Asa Sweet; Fence-viewers, William Lanfear, Joseph Case, Elijah Fox; Pound-masters, James McKee, John Griswold; Sealer of weights, Seth Cutler.

From the records of the town many interesting facts are gleaned. At the State election held in April, 1807, 85 votes were polled, of which Morgan Lewis received 47 and Daniel Tompkins, 38. The population had so much increased three years later, 1810, that 162 votes were polled.

In 1806, "Voted, there be a pair of stocks erected in the town of Malta, Voted, that the stock be set at the crotch of the road near John Alger’s." It is thought that these resolutions were passed in order to convince a desperate character, then living in the town, that this salutary instrument would be used, if necessary, to reform him. The unworthy citizen took the hint, "skipped" to the country, and the stocks were never erected. At this meeting, also, an embryotic legislator offered the following effective "means-to-the-end" resolution: "That swine be well yoked, and ringed, and shut up in a good pen."

In 1812, "Voted, that if cattle are found within thirty rods of a public inn, from December 15 until April 15, that the owner pay $1.00 for every such offense; one half to be given to the complainant, and one half of the poor."

On February 6, 1810, a special meeting was held, to divide the town, at the home of Benjamin Gates. Elihu Gillet was appointed moderator. "Voted, to go around and each man give his vote verbally." "That the town be divided according to the division line between No. 1 No. 2." Not one person dissented, but owing to various causes the separation did not take place until 1848.

In 1811 the members of the Griffin family,--Samuel, aged thirteen; James, seven, and Mary, nine years,--who were left in destitute circumstances, were legally indentured to Joseph Odell, Elihu Gillet, and Timothy Risley, respectively. The boys to be instructed "in the art and ministry of farming;" Mary "in the art and ministry of housekeeping." And in consideration of the faithful service which the boys were to render, each was to receive, on attaining his freedom, "one new Bible, durable wearing apparel of all kinds, one suit of which shall be new, likewise sixty dollars in neat cattle, stock to be appraised at cash prices." Mary was to receive, besides the bible, "one good cow, one good feather-bed, with bolsters and pillows. To be of geese feathers."

Deer and other game were common in the town, as well as beasts of prey, which led to the offering of bounties for the destruction of the latter. Wolf bounties of $10 were offered in 1806, and $5 from 1809 to1820, also panther bounties, in 1810, ’11, ’17, ’19, and ’20, of $5 and $10, and a bounty of $0.50 for every fox killed in the town. In 1822 there was a bounty of $0.25 on poor Reynard’s scalp. The wording of the bounty act of 1820 is remarkable for its originality: "That a bounty of $5 be paid for every wolf or panther killed in the town; one-half to be paid for the use of the poor, the other half to the half to the complainer."

In 1822 "that the scaler of public weights keep the same for public and not for private use." In 1839 "notice was given that an application would be made to the Senate and Assembly to attach a part of Lorraine to Adams," but nothing resulted from this move. In 1847, at a special election held for this purpose, whether the town grant license or not, 106 voted for and 108 voted against license. There were appropriated $250 for the support of the poor the same year.

In 1885 S. Lyman made a proposition to the town, at its annual meeting, to convey the old Congregational church to the town for a hall, to be opened to all meetings, civil and religious, if the town would repaid the hall in a suitable manner. This was done, and the house has since been used, and is known as the Town Hall.

In 1864 the office of supervisor was tied between Philo M. Brown and Elisha Allen, each having received 157 votes. As neither accepted the office, the county board selected Edmund G. Remington to fill the vacancy. (Jefferson County History, L. H. Everts, 1878)

Transcribed by Holice B.Young

Html by Debbie

December 26, 1999

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