The history of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts, By a committee of the Dorchester antiquarian and historical society ...

300 HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1734. Blake, in his Annals, says that from the
year 1657 to the end of this year-a period of 78
years-there had been 2416 births, and 921 deaths
in the town; "which shows," he adds, "that many
of ye People that were born in ye town moved out
& died not here." The town increased but very
slowly from 1657 to 1800. One cause of this was
doubtless the wars, which at different times took off
many of the men. Another was the various inducements offered to settlers in other parts of the colony.
At the seating of the meeting-house, in 1690, the
names of all able to attend were inserted, and all
expected to occupy the seats assigned them, unless
in cases of great necessity. In that list, 171 men
are enumerated, and 180 women; " which seems to
be as many," says Blake in 1734, " as can sit in
those seats now."
This year the town ordered that the bell be rung
at nine o'clock at night, and the custom was followed for about one hundred years. As early as 1663,
the Boston bell was rung at nine o'clock. It was
customary then for young gentlemen and ladies to
walk on the Common until that time, " when presently the constables walk the rounds to take up
loose people." It was considered very necessary, in
the early settlement, to have the most discreet and
reliable men for constables. Yet it was an office
that few were willing to accept, and a penalty was
decreed against those who declined. Many paid
their fines, rather than serve. About 1655, it became so difficult to get proper persons to serve, especially in Boston, that the General Court gave that