Chapter 7 - Battle for the Town - The Election(s) of 1765

The adjourned town meeting was reconvened March 15. The opposition party did not take kindly to the previous votes and they turned out in force.
 

"Being our annual Town Meeting upon Adjournment the Town meet and after a Confused Debate the house was divided and the major part Voted to dismiss Joseph Holbrook from Serving moderator for this meeting at his Desire and then made Choice of John Metcalf Moderator for Said meeting."
 

"Then put to vote whither the Town dismiss all the officers Chosen on the Sixth of this instant after a moderator and placed to new choices. Passed in the Affirmative."
 

The officers previously elected were thrown out of office!
 

The turnout for this meeting was large. In the middle of the meeting eighteen voters presented a petition opposing the votes already taken and lost.
 

"Bellingham March ye 15 1765. We the Subscribers are of oppinion that the proceedings of the Town on march the 6 Instant was Leguel and Whereas Said meeting was adjourned to the fifteenth of Said march the town then met and Dismiss all the officers that they then Chose without giveing any reason for their so doing and proceeded to a new Choice which we look upon Eleagal and unjust. We accordingly Enter our decent against their proceeding to a new Choice of officers."
 

Ebenezer Thayer Caleb Phillips
 

Daniel Penniman Asahael Holbrook Luke Holbrook Jonathan Draper
 

John Ellis Oliver Pond Ezekiel Hayward Jesse Holbrook
 

Ezekiel Bates Joseph Partridge Joseph Chilson James Baley
 

Ebenezer Thayer Jr Caleb Phillips Jr Benja Partridge Abraham Blake
 

The signers were the disgruntled electees from the initial meeting plus others. Most were Baptists. The other party (many of which were Congregational) proceeded to elect their town officers, choosing to place their own in the best positions. The few token opponents given positions refused to serve and had to be replaced later.
 

Again, the election of officers was not completed and a second adjourment was made until March 22. This meeting completed the slate of officers, but not the remainder of the warrant. Further action was put off until May. At that time it was further adjourned until August. For better or worse the elected proceeded to the duties of their office. The Selectmen elected included two who had served in 1764, another with previous experience as Selectmen and a fourth who was the son of a Selectman of 1764.
 

Before the annual financial meeting held in August of every year, the split in the town became a chasm. The "Outs" went after the "Ins" in Boston. The next warrant, for a meeting in June, brought the matter before the legislature.
 

"Suffolk ss
 

To either of the Constables of the Town of Bellingham
 

Greeting -- In his Majesties name you are required to warn all the freeholders and other inhabitants of said Town that are qualified by Law to vote in Town affairs to meet at the old meetinghouse in said Town on fryday the Seventh Day of June Current at two of the clock in the after noon to act on the folowing articles (viz)
 

1 to Chouse a moderator for said meeting
 

2 To se if the Town will answer a petition of Caleb Phillips and others lately refered to the Greate and Generul Court at Boston Relateing our annual Town meeing in March Last by a Committe or any other way or to act on any other matter or thing that the Town shall then think proper relateing said petition and make returns of this warrant with your doings theron unto one of the Selectmen sone time before the time of meeting.
 

 

John Corbett
 

Oliver Perry Selectmen
 

Obadiah Adams of
 

Daniel Cook Bellingham
 

Stepⁿ Metcalf
 

Now that the matter had moved to the legislature, the second party felt confident enough to not oppose the town meeting. By a vote of 25 to 0 the meeting voted to answer the petition and a committee was appointed to do so by paper ballot, the first mention of this method of voting in the town records. The Town, usually tight with its resources, voted three pounds to the committee to go forward.
 

The legislature heard both sides. The petitioners, argueing that once elected, the town meeting had no right to overturn the election; the town insisting on the right of the town meeting to change its mind.