books, was the sum of twelve shillings and twopence, which was paid out of the town treasury to Mr. Timothy Wilkins, Jr., for sweeping and taking care of the meetinghouse for one year ending the first of March, 1784.

Other payments of similar amounts were made to various persons for the same service in subsequent years.

In early times it appears to have been the duty of the selectmen to guard against the possibility of any person coming into the district to reside who would be likely to become a pauper, and instances are of common occurrence where persons thus suspected were warned by the constable to depart out of the district. One order drawn on the district treasurer, and dated March 2, 1786, is for the sum of seventeen shillings, to be paid to Deacon John Robbins for service done the district in warning out seventeen persons. The following is a copy of a summons taken from the town records, and will serve as a sample of many others that are to be found therein:

"Middlesex, S. S. To Dea. John Robbins, one of the constables of the District of Carlisle, in the County of Middlesex, Greeting:

"Whereas, Sarah Crosby, who is an inhabitant of the Town of Billerica, Came last from Westford on the Eighth of November instant to Reside in the District of Carlisle, the circumstances of the above Named person is such it is Supposed She will Soon be Chargeable to Some place, and the Selectmen of Said Carlisle do Refuse to admit her, the above named person, of becoming an inhabitant, or any way Chargeable to Said Carlisle or any of the inhabitants thereof.

"These are therefore in the Name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to Require you immediately to warn the above-named person forthwith to Depart out of

Said District and Stay no longer within the Bounds of the Same. Hereof fail not, etc.

ASA PARLIN,
JONATHAN HEALD,

Carlisle, November 12, 1785."

Selectmen.

At the annual April meeting in the year 1790 it was voted to have a collector for the whole district, to collect the district rates, and that the office should be given to the lowest bidder, providing he shall be required to furnish satisfactory bondsmen. Previous to this date the service had been performed by the constables, two of whom were annually appointed, one for the east, and one for the west side of the district; and the rates for that part of the district for which they were chosen constable were committed to them to collect.

Mr. Amos Blood's bid for collecting was fourpence halfpenny on the pound, and since he was the lowest bidder, he was chosen as the first collector under the more modern provisions of the preceding vote.

Previous to the year 1790 it had been the custom for the selectmen to commit the warrant for calling district meetings to the constables, who personally warned the inhabitants, one taking the east side, and the other the west side of the district, the dividing line being the road from Chelmsford to Concord, which at that time passed near the meeting-house. The southern part of this road is now known as the Old Concord Road, and for purpose of travel is practically abandoned.

At a meeting of the inhabitants held on the fourth day of October, 1790, it was voted that the annual meetings in March and April be warned in the future by posting up a copy of the warrant at the meeting-house the number of days required by law previous to said meeting. Thus was inaugurated the modern method practiced until the present day.

The first record that is found relating to guide-posts is recorded under the proceedings for the year 1796, and is as follows: "The Selectmen of Carlisle have agreed that it would be convenient to have Guide Posts Set up at the following places in Said Carlisle, viz: one near Mr. Timothy Wilkins, Jun House, to Direct to Chelmsford and Bedford; one near the School House in the East part of Carlisle, to direct to Concord and Bedford; one near the School House in the South-west part of Carlisle, to Direct to Concord, Chelmsford and Carlisle." The following year several sums were paid out of the treasury for guide-boards and expenses in procuring and erecting same, and it would seem that a number were erected in the district.

In the year 1801 the district made their first appropriation for music, when it was voted to raise the sum of twenty-five dollars for the purpose of hiring a singingmaster. In subsequent years larger amounts were often raised and appropriated for the same purpose.

In the year 1802 the district voted that a premium of twenty-five cents a head on crows be allowed to any inhabitant of the district who should kill them within the limits of the district. Lieut. Daniel Wheat was authorized to pay for same on presentation and, as subsequently appears, seventy-three crows were carried to him and paid for, at an expense to the district of $18.25.

Another similar offer was made by the town when, in the year 1872, it voted that the sum of twenty-five cents be paid out of the town treasury for each woodchuck killed within its limits. A committee of five persons, located in different parts of the town, were chosen to receive them and keep the record. The result was the destruction of five hundred and sixty animals, for which the town paid the sum of one hundred and forty dollars. The largest number credited to any one person was forty-three, for which Mr.

C. H. Hutchinson was paid the sum of $10.75. Mr. Amos Baldwin reported the next largest number, and received the sum of nine dollars for the destruction of thirty-six animals.

At the annual district meeting held March 7, 1803, it was voted that the selectmen serve gratis the ensuing year. Since it was customary on various occasions, connected with their duties, to provide spirituous refreshments, there might have been to some a temptation to aspire to the office notwithstanding the lack of financial compensation.

CHAPTER III

CARLISLE INCORPORATED A TOWN

By the act which incorporated the district of Carlisle, it was debarred of the privilege of sending a representative annually to the General Court from among its own citizens and, while enjoying all the other privileges usually granted to towns, it was compelled to join with the town of Acton in the choice of a representative.

Several times the question of making application to be incorporated as a town had been agitated by the inhabitants of the district, but it was not until June 11, 1804, that final action was taken. On that date the inhabitants were assembled, agreeable to a warrant for that purpose, the first article in which was as follows: "To see if the District will agree to chuse agents to petition to the General Court to have said District of Carlisle separated from the Town of Acton, and that they may have appelation of Town instead of District, agreeable to a request of a number of the inhabitants of said District, and pass any votes respecting the matter which they may think proper when met."

The action taken on this article was that the district make choice by ballot of an agent to petition the General Court to have the change brought about, and to have the district incorporated as a town. Jonathan Heald, Esq., was elected as agent, and the result of the petition was the following act of the Legislature, which incorporated the district as a town, after having existed as a district for the space of nearly twenty-five years.