Canton Massachusetts Town Charter 1797
Here's the original 1797 Town of Canton Charter transcribed.
An Act to divide the town of Stoughton in the County of Suffolk and to incorporate the Northerly part thereof into a town by the name of Canton.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled and by the authority of the same, That the Northerly part of the Town of Stoughton in the County of Suffolk, which lies north of the following bounds (viz) beginning at the Punch Bowl in Milton; thence by a straight line to Ponkapoag Pond; thence by the westerly side of said pond to the road leading from the first to the second parish in Stoughton near Ebenezer Billings’ house; thence Westerly by said road until it comes to Stoughton Great Bridge; thence Southerly in the range of the main road to Stoughton; and from thence to the place first mentioned, be and hereby is separated from the said Town of Stoughton and is erected into a separate town by the name of Canton; with all the corporate powers and privileges which other towns in this Commonwealth do or may enjoy.
Section 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the inhabitants of said town of Canton shall pay all the arrears of taxes which have been assessed upon them by the Town of Stoughton, together with their proportion of all debts due from said Town of Stoughton and shall be entitled to receive their proportion of all monies remaining in the Treasury of said Town of Stoughton, and also their proportionable part of public lands, and other property belonging to said town; the same to be adjusted according to their proportion on the last valuation.
Section 3. And whereas the Town of Stoughton has heretofore raised money by way of lottery for the purpose of building a meeting house in the said town; and whereas there remains a sum of money in the hands of the managers of said lottery unexpended; Be it further enacted, that the said town of Canton shall be entitled to receive their proportion of said unexpended monies according to the number of ratable polls in said town of Canton, as compared with the number of ratable polls in said Town of Stoughton.
Section 4. And be it further enacted, That Thomas Crane Esq. be and hereby is empowered to issue his warrant directed to some principal inhabitant of said town of Canton requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town of Canton qualified to vote in town affairs to meet at such time and place as shall be expressed in said warrant, to choose all such town officers as towns are required to choose in the month of March annually.
And until a new arrangement of representatives there shall remain only one election in said town of Stoughton.
Section 5. Be it further enacted, That John Billings, Esq. the Selectman remaining within said Town of Stoughton, shall have full power to call the first meeting of said town of Canton and to do all matters and things necessary for carrying this Act into full effect.
Section 6. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said town of Canton shall pay two pounds two shillings seven pence on each Thousand Pounds valuation to the Treasurer of this Commonwealth, and that the same sum shall be deducted from the proportion which the Town of Stoughton pays agreeable to the last valuation.
House of Representatives, Feby 17, 1797 This bill having had three several readings passes to be enacted.
Signed Edward H. Robbins, Speaker
In Senate, February 23, 1797 This bill having had two several readings passes to be enacted.
Signed Samuel Adams
Feby 28, 1797 By the Governor approved.
Signed Samuel Adams