List of selectmen of Freetown, Massachusetts

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The Town Seal was designed by Selectman Col. Silas P. Richmond in 1890.

This is a list of Selectmen of Freetown, Massachusetts and election results, where available. Freetown was first settled in 1659, but did not incorporate (and therefore did not elect members to its Board of Selectmen) until 1683.

Selectmen currently serve terms of three years each, and those terms are staggered to ensure that only one member is up for re-election in any given year. Through the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, the number of Selectmen was not set in law, and therefore varied, sometimes greatly. In 1988, Barbara Trainor became the first woman to hold the position of Selectman in Freetown, giving the town a record of 305 years of all-male leadership. After her defeat in 1991, no woman was again elected to the board until 2006.

In 2005, attempts to expand the Board of Selectmen to five members failed. Also failing in 2005 was an attempt to limit Selectmen to a total of two terms (or, six years). Attempts to expand the board to five members have been frequent in recent years.

As of May 7, 2007, Elections in Freetown are held on the first Monday in April.

Contents

[edit] 1683 - 1799

Year(s) Selectman Selectman Selectman Selectman Selectman
1683 - 1684 No record
1685 Thomas Terry Thomas King John Bailey
1686 Job Winslow
1687 John Hathway
1688 Samuel Gardiner
1689 Thomas Terry Job Winslow John Read
1690 Samuel Gardiner Samuel Howland
1691 No record
1692 Job Winslow Samuel Gardiner John Read
1693 - 1695 No record
1696 Joshua Tisdale John Simmons Thomas Makepeace
1697 John Read
1698 - 1699 John Hathway Benjamin Chase
1700 Thomas King John Read, Jr.
1701 Job Winslow Thomas Makepeace
1702 - 1703 Josiah Winslow Robert Durfee
1704 Joshua Tisdale
1705 Thomas Terry
1706 John Hathway John Simmons
1707 Nicholas Morey
1708 Benjamin Chase Thomas Thurston
1709 Josiah Winslow
1710 William Winslow Ralph Earle
1711 Job Winslow John Hathaway Jonathan Dodson
1712 Thomas Terry Joseph Reed
1713 John Hathaway Joseph Blackman
1714 - 1715 Jonathan Dodson Joseph Reed Joseph Borden
1716 Benjamin Chase Robert Durfee Jacob Hathaway
1717 Thomas Terry Jonathan Dodson Joseph Reed
1718 Robert Durfee
1719 John Hathaway Benjamin Chase
1720 Jacob Hathaway
1721 Samuel Forman
1722 - 1723 Benjamin Chase, Jr.
1724 - 1729 Thomas Terry
1730 Joseph Reed George Winslow Walter Chase
1731 - 1744 Thomas Terry, Esq. Jacob Hath(a/e)way Samuel Forman
1745 - 1748 Samuel Tisdale Stephen Chase James Chase
1749 - 1750 John Winslow
1751 Maj. Abiel Terry Samuel Valentine
1752 - 1753 Ebenezer Hathaway George Chase
1754 Ambrose Barnaby Joshua Boomer
1755
1756 George Brightman
1757 Thomas Durfee Philip Hathaway Nathan Simmons
1758 - 1759 Capt. Ambrose Barnaby
1760 Thomas Durfee
1761 Abiel Terry
1762 James Winslow George Brightman
1763 - 1768 Thomas Durfee Philip Hathaway Nathan Simmons
1769 - 1771 Thomas Durfee Thomas Gilbert Jael Hathaway
1772 Jael Hathaway George Chase (?) Borden
1773 Samuel Barnaby George Chase (?) Borden
1774 Samuel Barnaby George Chase Elisha Parker (?) Borden
1775 Samuel Barnaby Jonathan Reed Elisha Parker
1776 Samuel Barnaby Jonathan Reed Abner Winslow
1777 - 1778 Samuel Barnaby Jonathan Reed Abner Winslow (?) Borden
1779 No Record
1780 Nathaniel Morton Jonathan Reed Abner Winslow Joseph Durfee
1781 - 1782 Nathaniel Morton Jonathan Reed William Reed Joseph Durfee
1783 Jael Hathaway George Chase George Brightman
1784 Jael Hathaway Nathaniel Morton George Brightman
1785 Benjamin Durfee Nathan Dean Abner Winslow Philip Rounseville George Borden
1786 Nathan Dean Simeon Borden Benjamin Durfee Abner Winslow Levi Rounseville
1787 Ambrose Barnaby Jonathan Reed Benjamin Durfee Levi Rounseville Glibert Hathaway
1788 Ambrose Barnaby Jonathan Reed Gilbert Hathaway Nathaniel Morton, 3rd Benjamin Durfee
1789 - 1792 Ambrose Barnaby Nathaniel Morton, 3rd Thomas Borden Capt. Benjamin Reed Benjamin Durfee
1793 - 1794 Ambrose Barnaby Jonathan Reed Nathaniel Morton
1795 Ambrose Barnaby Benjamin Durfee Nathaniel Morton
1796 Benjamin Durfee Nathaniel Morton Benjamin Reed
1797 Luther Winslow Nathaniel Morton Ambrose Barnaby
1798 Gilbert Hathaway Nathaniel Morton Ambrose Barnaby
1799 Gilbert Hathaway Nathaniel Morton, Esq. Ambrose Barnaby

[edit] 1800 - 1950

Year(s) Selectman Selectman Selectman Selectman Selectman
1800 Gilbert Hathaway Nathaniel Morton, Esq. Ambrose Barnaby
1801 Thomas Borden Nathaniel Morton Levi Dean Ambrose Barnaby
1802 Luther Winslow
1803 Daniel Douglas Levi Dean
1804 Job Terry
1805 Job Morton, Esq. Capt. Charles Strange Samuel Hathaway
1806 Peter Nichols Peregrine White C. Tobey
1807
1808 Daniel Douglas
1809 - 1810 Charles Strange
1811 David Terry Edmund Hathaway
1812 - 1813 Charles Strange Edmund Hathaway
1814 Charles Strange John Terry
1815 Hercules Cushman
1816 - 1817 John Hathaway
1818 Silas Terry Col. Benjamin Weaver
1819 Ephraim Merrick
1820 John Hathaway
1821 - 1823 Malachi Howland John Hathaway
1824 - 1827 David Evans
1828 Abram Ashley Philip P. Hathaway Thomas Bump
1829 Job Horton Lot Strange
1830 - 1831 Malachi Howland Abram Ashle
1832 George Pickens
1833 - 1834 Gilbert Rounseville
1835 Abner Braley Stephen Barnaby
1836 John Hathaway Job Pierce
1837 George Cummings
1838 Charles A. Horton George Cummings
1839 Guilford H. Hathaway George Cummings
1840 Jos. Cudworth
1841 George Cummings
1842 Silas Terry Charles A. Morton Joseph Cudworth
1843 Silas Terry Guilford H. Hathaway Joseph Cudworth
1844 Charles A. Horton Guilford H. Hathaway Bradford Braley
1845 - 1846 Joseph Cudworth Gideon P. Hathaway
1847 Philip Tripp
1848 Alden Hatheway, Jr. Walter S. Rounseville
1849 Samuel F. Dean Walter S. Rounseville
1850 - 1852 Bradford Braley
1853 - 1854 Gideon P. Hathaway Benjamin Evans Abishal H. Chase
1855 Ambrose W. Hathaway Ennis Hathaway
1856 George Dean Marcus M. Rounseville
1857 Thomas W. Philips
1858 John D. Wilson George W. Hall Bradford Braley
1859 Ambrose W. Hathaway Thomas W. Philips Marcus M. Rounseville
1860 Sylvanus S. Payne Asa Pickens
1861 John D. Wilson James Pickett Paul M. Burns
1862 Edmund D. Hathaway Granville Allan
1863 Elijah D. Chace
1864 John W. Peabody
1865 James W. Hathaway Marcus M. Rounseville
1866 David C. Thresher Henry Winslow Elijah D. Chace
1867 - 1869 James W. Hathaway
1870 Alden Hathaway, Jr.
1871 William Dean
1872 Cornelius Chace
1873 Manasseh S. Terry
1874 - 1875 George W. Hall
1876 - 1877 Charles Braley
1878 Henry Peirce Jonathan R. Gurney
1879 Orsmond F. Braley
1880 Ebenezer W. Peirce James Winslow
1881 - 1882 George W. Hall Ambrose Dean Marcus M. Rounseville
1883 George B. Cudworth Charles E. Chace
1884 Palo Alto Peirce Job F. Lucas
1885 James B. Hathaway
1886 George W. Hall Silas P. Richmond Jonathan R. Gurney
1887 George B. Cudworth Charles Braley
1888 Gilbert M. Nichols Frank H. Ashley
1889 - 1890 Alden B. Nichols
1891 - 1895 Andrew M. Hathaway
1896 - 1898 George B. Cudworth George A. Braley
1899 John H. Evans Job F. Lucas
1900 George H. Gibbs
1901 - 1902 Charles Braley
1918 - 1920 Francis P. Daley Walter H. Cudworth William A. Reynolds
1920 - 1923 Rufus P. Davis
1923 - 1925 Mark H. Richmond
Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.


[edit] 1925 - present

Year(s) Selectman Selectman Selectman
1925-26 Mark H. Richmond Walter H. Cudworth Charles E. Gurney
1926-27
1927-28 George S. Mycock
1928-29
1929-30
1930-31
1931-32
1932-33
1933-34
1934-35
1935-36
1936-37 Fred W. Hodgman
1937-38
1938-39
1939-40 George S. Mycock
1940-41
1941-42
1942-43
1943-44 Albert F. Edminster
1944-45 George E. Grimshaw
1945-46 Nahum B. Morse Benjamin R. Evans
1946-47
1947-48
1948-49
1949-50 Vernold N. Gregory
1950-51
1951-52
1952-53 Frederick C. Boehler
1953-54
1954-55
1955-56 Harold C. Cunningham, Jr.
1956-57 Frederick C. Boehler
1957-58
1958-59
1959-60
1960-61
1961-62
1962-63
1963-64 Francis W. Wing
1964-65
1965-66
1966-67
1967-68 Marianno Rezendes, Jr.
1968-69
1969 - 70 Milton A. DeMoranville
1970 - 71
1971 - 72
1972 - 73
1973 - 74
1974 - 75
1975 - 76 Robert S. Dorsey
1976 - 77
1977 - 78
1978 - 79
1979 - 80
1980 - 81 L. Barry French
1981 - 82 John S. Ashley
1982 - 83
1983 - 84 Richard L. Suprenant
1984 - 85
1985 - 86 Thomas R. Perry
1986 - 87 Marianno Rezendes, Jr.
1987 - 88
1988 - 89 Barbara A. Trainor
1989 - 90 Richard P. Johnson
1990 - 91
1991 - 92 Robert A. Robidoux
1992 - 93 Bruce W. Wilbur
1993 - 94
1994 - 95
1995 - 96
1996 - 97 Christopher D. McCarthy
1997 - 98
1998 - 99 John S. Ashley
1999 - 00 Lawrence N. Ashley
2000 - 01 Mark A. Howland
2001 - 02
2002 - 03
2003 - 04 John Laronda, Jr.
2004 - 05
2005 - 06
2006 - 07 Lisa A. Pacheco
2007 - 08 Jean C. Fox
2008 - 09

[edit] Elections

[edit] 2008

On April 7, 2008, three-term incumbent Lawrence N. Ashley was challenged by Water Commissioner John T. Conway, Jr., and retired police officer Michael Lecuyer. Ashley was re-elected by a margin of four votes.[1] Both Lecuyer and Ashley petitioned for a recount, which was held on April 29th. Many handsome selectmen...

Initial Count

Candidate Result
Ashley 527
Lecuyer 523
Conway 181

Hand Recount Results

Candidate Result
Ashley 530
Lecuyer 524
Conway 182

[edit] 2007

In 2007, incumbent John Ashley chose to not seek a sixth term. Regional school committee member Jean Fox defeated finance committee member Dennis F. Belanger and Citizens Advisory Task Force member George J. Lambert in the March 5 election.[2]

Candidate Result
Fox 528
Lambert 392
Belanger 292

[edit] 2006

In 2006, incumbent John Laronda, Jr., chose to not seek a second term. Preliminary results posted at 8:15p indicated a four vote victory for school committee chairman Lisa A. Pacheco.[3] Pacheco was sworn to duties on March 7, and challenger George Grunwald subsequently petitioned for a recount, which was held on March 23.

Initial Count

Candidate Result
Lisa A. Pacheco 687
George L. Grunwald 683

Hand Recount Results

Candidate Result
Lisa A. Pacheco 689
George L. Grunwald 687

[edit] 2005

In 2005, two-term incumbent Lawrence N. Ashley defeated challengers Michael J. Motta and John A. Santangelo to win a third term.

Candidate Result
Lawrence N. Ashley 596
John A. Santangelo 479
Michael J. Motta 42

[edit] 2004

In 2004, seven-term incumbent John S. Ashley defeated challenger Michael J. Motta to win an eighth non-consecutive term.

Candidate Result
John S. Ashley 720
Michael J. Motta 410

[edit] 2003

In 2003, incumbent Rep. Mark A. Howland did not seek re-election to a second term, producing an open field.[4]

Candidate Result
John Laronda, Jr. 661
Bruce W. Wilbur 500
Maureen Trahan 189
Michael J. Motta 64

[edit] 2002

In 2002, incumbent Lawrence N. Ashley was re-elected to a second term without facing any challengers. He received 843 votes.[5]

[edit] 2001

In 2001, six-term incumbent John S. Ashley defeated Assessor John Laronda, Jr. to secure a seventh non-consecutive term.[6]

Candidate Result
John S. Ashley 1,408
John Laronda, Jr. 1,126

[edit] 2000

In 2000, three-term incumbent Robert A. Robidoux was defeated was defeated by challenger Mark A. Howland.[7]

Candidate Result
Mark A. Howland 1,018
Robert A. Robidoux 816

[edit] 1999

In 1999, incumbent Christopher D. McCarthy did not seek a second term, producing an open field.[8]

Candidate Result
Lawrence N. Ashley 1,009
Mark A. Howland 777

[edit] 1998

In 1998, incumbent Bruce W. Wilbur did not seek re-election to a third term, producing an open field. Former five-term selectman John S. Ashley, defeated in 1996, waged a comeback bid that proved successful.[9]

Candidate Result
John S. Ashley 873
Atty. Patrick T. Matthews 472

[edit] 1997

In 1997, incumbent Robert A. Robidoux defeated Patrick J. Murphy and Finance Committee Chairman George L. Grunwald to secure a third term.[10]

Candidate Result
Robert A. Robidoux 665
Patrick J. Murphy 291
George L. Grunwald 232

[edit] 1996

In 1996, incumbent John S. Ashley was defeated in his bid for a sixth term by Christopher D. McCarthy.[11]

Candidate Result
Christopher D. McCarthy 1,110
John S. Ashley 754

[edit] 1995

In 1995, incumbent selectman Bruce W. Wilbur ran unopposed for a second term.[12]

[edit] 1994

In 1994, incumbent Robert A. Robidoux succeeded in his bid for a second term against community activist Nancy T. Hall.[13]

Candidate Result
Robert A. Robidoux 545
Nancy T. Hall 220

[edit] References

  1. ^ Recount set for board results. The Fall River Herald News. April 11, 2008
  2. ^ Fox wins 3-way race for Freetown selectman . The New Bedford Standard-Times. March 6, 2007
  3. ^ Razor-thin win for Pacheco in Freetown?. The New Bedford Standard-Times. March 7, 2006
  4. ^ Laronda is newest Freetown selectman. The New Bedford Standard-Times. March 4, 2003
  5. ^ Pacheco keeps school board seat. The New Bedford Standard-Times. March 5, 2002
  6. ^ Ashley edges Laronda in fly ash "referendum". The New Bedford Standard-Times. March 13, 2001
  7. ^ Howland upsets Robidoux in Freetown. The New Bedford Standard-Times. April 4, 2000
  8. ^ Pro-school candidates carry Freetown. The New Bedford Standard-Times. March 2, 1999
  9. ^ Happy return in Freetown. The New Bedford Standard-Times. March 3, 1998
  10. ^ Freetown re-elects Robidoux. The New Bedford Standard-Times. March 4, 1997
  11. ^ Newcomer in Freetown ousts five-term selectman. The New Bedford Standard-Times. April 2, 1996
  12. ^ Freetown candidates for office share their views. The New Bedford Standard-Times. March 16, 2000
  13. ^ Robidoux wins big in Freetown. Fall River Herald News, March 8, 1994.

A History of the Town of Freetown, Massachusetts with an Account of the Old Home Festival, July 30th, 1902. Assonet Village Improvement Society (1902)

  • Lists of Selectmen, 1683 - 1902
v • d • e
Freetown, Massachusetts
Seal of the Town of Freetown