John Riggs, Esq., served the meeting as moderator. It will at once be seen that the people then as a town community were in a crude state, and without authority vested in themselves for town organization.
    The town meeting was held in accordance with the foregoing. One who was in attendance told me that snow fell heavier than we often know it to fall, yet the meeting was as fully attended as any town meeting he had known in this town.

(from his Centennial speech, July 4, 1876)

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THE FIRST TOWN MEETING

    The first selectmen of the town of Oxford were David Tomlinson, Charles Bunnel and Caleb Candee. The town clerk was Ebenezer Wooster and John Riggs was named treasurer.

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THE FIRST CHILD BORN IN OXFORD AFTER INCORPORATION

    The first child born in Oxford after its incorporation was Sherman Lines, son of Zebulon and Lois Lines, who was born November 12, 1798.

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LAYING OF THE TOWN GREENS

    The public green in the Center of Oxford was given by a Mr. Chatfield, "for a site for a meeting house, according to Wilcoxson. The site was called "Meeting house acre land" and consisted of land donated by Chatfield, and land from proprietors and owners of land on the easterly side of the turnpike road, forming the Upper Green.
    The Lower Green was laid out by the proprietors committee for a public common and military parade ground.

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EARLY TOWN ROADS

    One of the most important problems facing the new town was the matter of roads and highways through the town. At that time, many roads were turnpikes, which were privately operated. These were let out to the lowest bidder, who would maintain the roadway and collect tolls as compensation for his efforts.
    However those roads which were not traveled extensively enough to justify toll collection were often in disrepair.
    In 1809, a tax of three cents on the dollar on the list of 1809 was laid to repair the highways. However, the tax