PAX Centurion - January / March 2016

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • January/March 2016 • Page 53 T he original “Boston Police” force, which was called “the Watch,” was a state institution during its first three years. During the first six months after the founding of Boston in September of 1630, Boston had no actual “Police Force” to protect the inhabitants. OnApril 12, 1631, “aWatch” was established in Boston by the General Court for night duty only, hours were set from sunset to sunrise. The number of men appointed to theWatch was not established, although six of the total number was to guard the gate to the town, near Dover Street. There was no Watch for day duty until 207 years later. The Board of Selectmen was established in 1634 and took control of theWatch. TheWatch served only at night during the summer of 1718. After that it served at night throughout the year and by day on Sundays and holidays. In the early days every able-bodied citizen was required to do watch as well as jury duty. The chief responsibility was watching chimneys, then often constructed of wood to see that they did not set the house on fire. TheWatch also enforced puritanical “blue laws”; religious laws regulating conduct on Sundays. For over 50 years after 1652, everyWatchman carried a bell with which to alarm the town in case he discovered a fire. For 160 years a lantern was also carried as street lights did not come along until nearly 1890. From 1701, theWatch (and later the Police) was armed with billhooks, resembling a short-handled boathook which was used for tripping a suspect, catching him by the collar or giving him a shot to his ribs. The men also carried in their pockets wooden rattles; the noise of which was effective in calling assistance. The billhook and rattle were discontinued in 1860 when the “Billy-club” came into use. Many of the officers also carried a rattan cane. In 1732, the town acquired three horse-drawn fire engines. The hand-operated “pump” was capable of throwing a stream 12 feet high. As most houses were not more than one story high in those days, that was deemed sufficient. Bostonians of 1732 would have stared in amazement and disbelief at modern apparatus capable of throwing water 165 feet in height. For 100 years beginning in 1735, theWatch were required to make life miserable for light sleepers by calling out the house and the hour (if known) as they went on their rounds, followed by the cheerful assurance “and all’s well.” These officers were paid 50 cents a night. The Watch and Boston Police – the early years By P.O. Robert E. Anthony, BPPA Historian Naturally, as the members of the force were obliged to have another occupation by day in order to live, complaints of their sleeping, when they should have been on duty, were rife as long as theWatch existed. In 1821, the rule was now that Watchmen must go about in pairs for mutual safety and they must be seen walking and talking on their beats together. They were also warned not to cry the hours of the night “too loudly.” Boston became a city in 1822. A dayWatch was then created for Sunday and holiday only, in an effort to control the “unruly” citizens of Beacon Hill. North Street, at the same time, had the distinction as the first Boston thoroughfare which required aWatch both day and night, year round and was required to see that every cow grassing had the owner’s name on their neck. The following year, the Hancock Girls’ School on Hanover Street became aWatch house, and it later became “Police Station No. 1.” (Still visible on the building located at 152 North St.) A real “Police Force” (non-uniformed) was born in 1838. It consisted of 14 men and served only by day, while 110 men comprising theWatch, continued night duty. The Police, whose hours were 9:00 am until 9:00 pm were paid $2.00 a day. Not until 1850 was night duty required of a few policemen. In 1854, Mayor J.V.C. Smith discharged the entireWatch and Police force for “pernicious activity in politics,” and formed a new police force among who were a few from the former entities (presumably those who were favorably allied with the current Mayor Smith and whose political allegiance was therefore considered “not pernicious”???) All were uniformed and liable to serve day or night. TheWatch came to an end. The only insignia worn prior to the adoption of uniforms had been a brass badge and hatband bearing the word “Police” in metal letters. Dates of interest: the “Rogues Gallery” established at Headquarters began in 1800. The Boston Police Relief Association was established in 1862 and ended a short time later and then was re-established in 1871. The custom of reappointing annually the members of the watch or police begun in 1634 gave way to permanent appointment in 1863 (unless, of course, the appointee engaged in “pernicious political activity,” which would have been cause for discharge). The first police ball was in 1870 and the Mounted Police started in 1873 with one man only, whose beat was Beacon Street west of Charles Street. S TOUGHTON STREET, DORCHESTER was named after William Stoughton, 1631-1701. Was in charge of what have come to be known as the SalemWitch Trials, Chief Justice of the Special Court of “Oyer and Terminer” in 1692 and Chief Justice of the Superior Court in 1693. He served as both Chief Judge and prosecutor during the witch trials, virtually ensuring the outcome. He accepted spectral evidence, which was based on demonic visons. He was particularly harsh on some defendants, such as Rebecca Nurse, sending the jury back to re-consider its not-guilty verdict, after which Boston’s Street History Howsome of our streets got theirnames she was convicted. And unlike some other magistrates, he never admitted to the possibility that his acceptance of spectral evidence might be in error. He was also a major landowner, along with Joseph Dudley, for whom Dudley Street, directly opposite Stoughton Street, across Columbia Road, was named for. The town of Stoughton, Massachusetts, where he also owned land, was named for him. – James W. Carnell, Editor, Pax Centurion