Commonwealth of Massachusetts
In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three
An Act to Divide the Town of Freetown and to Incorporate the Southerly Part Thereof into a Separate Town by the Name of Fall River
[1]
Editor's Note: Included herein is the original incorporation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled and by the authority of the same that the southerly part of Freetown in the County of Bristol as described within the following bounds with the inhabitants thereon be and they are hereby incorporated into a separate town by the name of Fall River viz. beginning in Taunton Great River so called and thence running south seventy degrees east on the lines dividing the lands belonging to the heirs of Samuel Vallentine from the lands of the heirs of William Vallentine and so continuing the same course about eighteen hundred and sixty rods till it intersects a line running from the Town of Dartmouth north twelve degrees east by the easterly of the twentieth great lot owned by Thomas Borden and Richard Borden thence on the line last mentioned to Dartmouth line thence by the lines of the Towns of Dartmouth and Westport to the State of Rhode Island thence on the line of said state into said river thence by the channel of said river to the bounds first mentioned.
And the said Town of Fall River is hereby vested with all the powers and privileges, rights and immunities to which other towns are entitled by the Constitution and laws of this Commonwealth.
(Acts of 1803, § 1)
Be it further enacted that the said Town of Fall River shall pay all the arrears of taxes which have been assessed upon them together with their proportion of all debts owed by the said Town of Freetown prior to the date of this Act and that all questions relative to property already existing shall be adjusted and settled in the same manner as if this Act had not been made and that all property rights and credits of said Town of Freetown be received and enjoyed by the said Town of Fall River according to their proportion of the taxes of said Freetown assessed in the tax bills.
(Acts of 1803, § 2)
Be it further enacted that the said Town of Fall River shall take upon themselves and support one half of all the poor now actually chargeable to said Town of Freetown and shall also bear and pay one half the expense of supporting such poor persons as may be sent back upon said Town of Freetown from other towns who removed from said Town of Freetown prior to the passing this Act.
(Acts of 1803, § 3)
Be it further enacted that of all state and county taxes which shall be levied and required of said towns previous to a new valuation the said Town of Fall River shall pay four-tenths.
(Acts of 1803, § 4)
And be it further enacted that Charles Durfee Esq. be and he is hereby authorized to issue his warrant directed to some suitable inhabitant of the said Town of Fall River requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town qualified by law to vote in town affairs to meet at such time and place as shall be expressed in the said warrant to choose all such officers as other towns within the Commonwealth are required by law to choose in the months of March or April annually and the officers so chosen shall be qualified as other town officers are.
(Acts of 1803, § 5)
In the House of Representatives February 24th, 1803. This bill having had three readings passed to be enacted.
John C. Jones, Speaker
In Senate February 25th, 1803. This bill having had two several readings passed to be enacted.
David Cobb, President
February 26th, 1803
By the Governor Approved.
Caleb Strong
True Copy, Attest.
John Avery, Secy.
A True Copy, Attest.
Walter Chaloner, Town Clerk
[1]
Editor's Note: Included herein is only § 1 of Acts of 1854, c. 257, at the direction of the City, as the remaining sections of the act are apparently obsolete.
The inhabitants of the Town of Fall River shall continue to be a body politic and corporate, under the name of the City of Fall River, and as such, shall have, exercise, and enjoy all the rights, immunities, powers, and privileges, and shall be subject to all the duties and obligations now incumbent upon, and appertaining to, the said town, as a municipal corporation.