Wayland town meeting minutes, volume 3. Wayland, Mass.

Volume three starts recording Town meetings on March 6, 1854. The discussion starts on building a public high school, printing the yearly accounts, giving special privileges to clergymen at the library and the committee on hooks and ladders gave way to purchasing a fire engine. On November 13, 1854, sisters, Mrs. Nabby Draper and Miss Debby Allen donate to the town $1000 to be invested and used for “relief to inhabitants as may be in need of pecuniary need and who have not become chargeable to the town for support.” This fund is still functional in 2018. A concern from 1638, of roaming animals in the streets, gardens and fields presisted. Scholars from the age of five to fifteen will be schooled. The Library continued to generate discussion. Wayland voted on the state constitution amendments in 1857. Voiced opinions on the petitions to the legislature to raise the dam at Cochituate Lake and the change the Middlesex dam on the Concord River as they affect the agriculture and quality of life in the town. The town prepared for war by organizing women for relief aid and men into military units in 1860. Wayland would pay $20 bounty as well provide a suit of clothes and underclothes for those that enlist in 1861 but rescinded the vote at the next meeting. The town would care families of the soldiers. However, the town refused to raise money for guns and equipment. The town helped to defray the cost of cost of bringing home the deceased soldier, George T. Dickey. Individual citizens then offered $5.00 to help pay the bounty to fill the town’s quota of soldiers on July 21, 1862. By Sept. 1, 1862, the town was paying a bounty of $150 to fulfill its quota requirements. By June 13, 1864 the town voted on borrowing money to pay the bounties. Soldiers’ Aid Society was set up in Town Hall. On October 15, 1864, the bounty was reduced to $125. Then on April 3, 1865, the bounty paid to Charles H. Berry was $100 and the family of William D. Draper received $20 and another $20 in lieu of clothing. Charles Dudley received $20 bounty but Charles H. May was offered nothing on Sept. 18, 1865, but by November he received $100 bounty fee. A list of returning soldiers were named to receive abatements on their taxes for one year. James Draper offers $500 to set up a fund for the library. James L. Draper was chosen to keep the town clock in good repair. Francis Wayland’s passing was marked by a resolution in his memory and as a founder of the library, have a bronze casting of him made. Both the town and his son, Francis Wayland, refer to the fact that the town was named after him. The constitution and by-laws of the Methodist Society of Cochituate were published in 1866. Nov. 6, 1866, the town borrowed money for “state aid” to soldiers and families. The following meeting passed an article to write a book of sketches of the Wayland soldiers as a memorial. The veterans' story would have a bigger impact than a statue. Town voted on September 6, 1870 to prohibit the sale of ale, porter, strong beer, larger beer unanimously. Nov. 8, 1870, corrected the vote of 1861 and paid soldiers or their heirs, enlisting between May 7th and July 15, 1861, $50. Lakeview Cemetery is accepted on May 2, 1871 as a town cemetery. The Cochituate receiving tomb is built 1872. Town meetings would alternate between Wayland Center and Cochituate Village stating in 1871 but was rescinded on Nov. 30, 1872. By-laws for truant children was written. Lists of jurors throughout the year is provided. This volume ends with the July 1, 1882 town meeting and the Nov. 7, 1882 ballet votes.
Courtesy of Wayland Town Clerk