PAX Centurion - September / October 2015

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • September/October 2015 • Page 33 April 12, 1631 The local court ordered that “Watches be set at sunset, and if any per- son fire off a piece after the watch is set, he shall be fined forty shillings, or be whipped.” April 14, 1631 A Court of Guard was created. “we began a Court of Guard upon the neck, and between Roxburie and Boston, whereupon shall always be resident an officer and six men.” This was an organization of the first BostonWatch; and although it partook more of the character of a military guard then, it was well adapted to the wants of the people, as all police ar- rangements should be; and was probably continued, with greater or lesser numbers, till the organization of a watch by the selectmen. September 1, 1635 The Town of Boston, MA records the name of William Chesebrough as a Constable. February 27, 1636 The Town assumed the prerogatives of appointment and control of the Boston Watch. 1639 Edward Palmer was employed to build stocks (a place in which to set criminals for punishment); when completed, he presented his bill for his services. The bill was thought to be exorbitant, and Edward Palmer got placed in his own stocks and was fined five pounds. 1692 A cage and watch house is built near the market. 1701 At town meeting “Watchmen are enjoined to be on duty from ten o’clock till broad daylight. They are to go about silently with watch bills, not using any bell, and no watchmen to smoke tobacco while walking their rounds; and when they see occasion, to call to persons to take of their light.” 1703 John Barnard built a watch-house for the town at North End, with a sentry box on top of it; and another near the powder-house on the common. 1707 Three hundred pounds appropriated to support the watch. Twelve watchmen were employed at 40 shillings a month. James Thornby and Exercise Conant, overseers of the watch. Watch rules and regulations adopted. 1709 Watch increased to fifteen. They also petition for leave to prosecute those who abuse them while on duty. 1710 Fortification rebuilt on the neck, composed of brick and stone, across Washington at Dover St. as now named, extending to the sea on the east, and south to where is now Union Park, having a parapet on which to place a cannon, with gates for teams and foot passengers at the street. Watch- boxes set up in various parts of the town. 1714 Watch increased to seventeen. The watchhouse near the townhouse to be removed, “and set by the schoolhouse in Queen Street, and that a cage be added.”Also ordered, that “the whipping-post be removed thereto.” 1715 A brief history of the Boston Police Department – 1631-1865 By P.O. Robert E. Anthony, BPPA Historian There were four watchhouses; one in Clark Square, one near the schoolhouse, Queen Street, and one at South End, with about four watch- men at each. The watch went on duty at nine p.m. in the winter and 10 p.m. in the summer remaining till daylight next morning, at forty shillings per month. There were two overseers. 1722 Boston population stands at 10,670. The watch is reduced to twelve men; the south watch is discontinued. 1723 Five divisions of the watch established, and called the “Old North, New North, DockWatch, TownhouseWatch and SouthWatch. The names indi- cated the locality. The South were supposed to be located in a narrow, one story brick house in Orange Lane. There were five watchmen at each house. They were ordered “to walk their rounds slowly and silently, and now and then stand still and listen.” 1730 Boston cast 530 votes. Among the town officers are sixteen constables and twenty- five watchmen. 1732 Selectmen authorized to award faith- ful watchmen “not exceeding ten shillings a month.” 1733 Application was made to have MathewYoung appointed watchman, “that he and his children do not become town charge.” 1735 Watchmen “Ordered to cry the time of night and state of the weather, in a moderate tone, as they walk their rounds after 12 o’clock – One o’clock, clear, and all’s well.” Boston divided into twelve wards, names dropped, and numbers used instead. Thirty shil- lings a winter allowed each watchhouse for coal. 1736 Watchmen reduced to sixteen and watchhouse reduced to four. The badge of the overseers to be “a quarter pike;” one watchman to attend each watchhouse door all night, to inspect persons. 1740 The overseer of the watch petitioned to have a coal-hole door to a watchhouse repaired. The watch ordered “to look out for disorderly Ne- groes and Indians.” 1748 Able-bodied watchmen allowed seven pounds, ten shillings per month, but fined twenty shilling for getting asleep on duty. 1749 Written rules prepared for the government of the watch. 1754 Thomas Williston appointed Captain of theWatch. 1765 Captain Semmes, of the South watch, reported that “Negro Dick came to the watchhouse and reported rowdies under his window. Watchmen were sent, and met a gang of rowdies, one of which drew a sword. The watch cried murder and fled to the watchhouse, and the rowdies escaped.” See Brief History on page 34