1686-11-03[Committee to Hire John Pearly Schoolmaster, November 3, 1686]
On the third day of November in the year 1686 the Committee that were chosen & appointed
by our Town on the second day of said month did meet at the house of John Stone senior to agree
with Mr. John Pearly in behalf of our Town of Beverly for his teaching of school for one whole year
from the date hereof and did agree with said Pearly in the behalf of the Town as followeth. For said
year to make up and to pay unto said Pearly at or upon said Pearly’s giving of an honest & fair
account of what he had received of particular man & such as came to his school which he the said
Pearly identified with by the week or otherwise these wages for said teaching 20 lb., in pay & 10 lb.,
in money to be paid to said Pearly by said Town it is to be understood that what was wanting unto
said Pearly of the abovesaid thirty pounds by said Pearly’s particular indentments with particular men
& scholars said Town was to make up & pay.