The University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Massachusetts. Treasurer and Receiver General

Massachusetts Bay Warrants Collection

1743-1767
6 folders 0.15 linear feet
Call no.: MS 089

On the eve of the Seven Years War in the Province of Massachusetts, town constables shouldered an array of public responsibilities, including announcing town meetings, serving writs for the town clerk, and collecting local taxes. Although they received a commission for the taxes collected, constables were also held personally responsible for any taxes unpaid, authorized by writ of the Provincial Treasurer and enforced by County Sheriffs.

The warrants in this collection, nearly all printed forms completed in manuscript, were issued by the Treasurer and Receiver General of Massachusetts Bay Province, William Foye or his successor Harrison Gray, authorizing the Hampshire County Sheriff, Oliver Partridge, or Deputy Sheriffs Moses Miller or Ephraim Williams, to attach the goods of local constables in arrears: Brimfield, Greenwich, Sheffield, and Westfield, Mass., along with Somers and Suffield, now part of Connecticut. In instances where the taxes were not delivered, the Sheriff was empowered to “levy by Distress and Sale of the Estate real and personal” of the constable to make up the unpaid difference.

Background

On the eve of the Seven Years War in the Province of Massachusetts, town constables shouldered an array of public responsibilities, including announcing town meetings, serving writs for the town clerk, and collecting local taxes. Although they received a commission for the taxes collected, constables were also held personally responsible for any taxes unpaid, authorized by writ of the Provincial Treasurer and enforced by County Sheriffs.

Contents of Collection

The warrants in this collection, nearly all printed forms completed in manuscript, were issued by the Treasurer and Receiver General of Massachusetts Bay Province, William Foye or his successor Harrison Gray, authorizing the Hampshire County Sheriff, Oliver Partridge, or Deputy Sheriffs Moses Miller or Ephraim Williams, to attach the goods of local constables in arrears: Brimfield, Greenwich, Sheffield, Westfield, and Somers (now Connecticut). In instances where the taxes were not delivered, the Sheriff was empowered to “levy by Distress and Sale of the Estate real and personal” of the constable to make up the unpaid difference.

The towns of Somers and Suffield were incorporated in Massachusetts (in 1734 and 1682, respectively), but separated from that colony and were annexed to Connecticut in 1749.

Collection inventory
Brimfield
1743-1752
7 items
Box 1: 1
Greenwich
1757-1767
2 items
Box 1: 2
Sheffield
1743-1752
8 items
Box 1: 3
Somers
1743-1749
4 items
Box 1: 4
Suffield
1746-1749
4 items
Box 1: 5
Westfield
1743
1 item
Box 1: 6
Administrative information
Provenance

Provenance not recorded.

Processing Information

Processed by I. Eliot Wentworth, July 2015.

Copyright and Use (More informationConnect to publication information)

Cite as: Massachusetts Bay Warrants Collection (MS 089). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries.

Subjects

Brimfield (Mass.)--HistoryGreenwich (Mass.)--HistorySheffield (Mass.)--HistorySomers (Conn.)--HistorySufffield (Conn.)--HistoryTaxation--Massachusetts--18th centuryWestfield (Mass.)--History

Contributors

Massachusetts. Treasurer and Receiver General

Types of material

Warrants