1874-03-02Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss.
Warrant for Annual Meeting March 2, 1874
To one of the Constables of the town of Beverly. Greeting.
You are hereby required in the name of said Commonwealth to notify and warn in the usual manner
the qualified voters of said town to meet at the Town Hall in said town, on Monday the Second day
of March next at Nine o'clock before noon, for the following purposes, viz:
1st To choose a Moderator.
2d To choose town officers for the ensuing year, grant these pay, and take action on the Reports
of the several Boards or Town Officers and Committees.
3d To act on the question of an appropriation for the expenses of Memorial Day, in decoration
of Post No. 89 of Mass. Grand Army of the Republic.
4th To take action with reference to a new code of By Laws.
5th To see what action the town will take to stop the sale of intoxicating liquors, except for
mechanical or medicinal purposes. Also, the sale of all immoral and obscene books, papers,
periodicals or any printed paper of a like nature. - Per petition of Austin Whitcomb and
others.
6th To see if the town will vote to locate the Fire King Engine at Centerville, with five hundred
feet of hose, and building an Engine House near the School House there, and raise money to
defray all expenses of the same. - Per petition of Francis S. Lovett and others.
7th To see if the town will discontinue such portion of the old town way, known as Balch Street,
as lays northeasterly of a line which will be fifty feet northeasterly from the southwesterly
line of said Balch Street, as now established, so as to leave said Balch Street fifty feet wide,
and in a direct line from Cabot Street, to the Estate of John Bell. - Per petition of John D.
Standley and others.
8th To see what action the town will take in regard to the further progress of the work on the new
Briscoe School House; and provide by taxation for what may be expended thereon during the
current year. - Per petition of John Pickett and others.
9th To take action upon stopping the further extension of the Water Works in town, and
rescinding any and all votes that may have been passed whereby the Selectmen were
instructed to put the pipes into all the Streets of the town. - Per petition of John Pickett and
others.
10th To authorize the Town Treasurer to sell and convey the land and buildings near "Cats
Swamp", so called, formerly belonging to Ebenezer Thissell, and set off to the town on and
under an execution against said Thissell.
11th To adopt such measures, grant such sums of money, and take such action in regard to
Schools and Schools Houses, throughout the town, as may be deemed expedient.
12th To adopt such measures, grant such sums of money, and make such regulations in regard to
the repairs and improvements of the highways and town ways throughout the town, as may
be deemed expedient.
13th To grant sums of money, to be raised and assessed upon the polls and Estates within the
town, for the defraying the debts of the town and for the expenses of the current year, as may
be deemed expedient, and make all necessary regulations and allowances respecting the
same. Also, to authorize the Town Treasurer to borrow on the credit of the town, such sums
of money from time to time as may be necessary to meet the liabilities of the town, and to
provide State Aid for the families of Volunteers. And likewise to see if the town will take
measures to fund its debt, and to issue bonds in renewal or payment thereof.
14th To see if the town will approve the Jury List, as revised by the Selectmen.
Whereof fail not, but make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon before said
time.
Given under our hands and seal this twentieth day of February in the year Eighteen Hundred
and Seventy Four.
John I. Baker
James Hill
Selectmen
Freeborn W. Cressy of
Beverly
Nathan H. Foster
Nathan H. Webb
Beverly February 23, 1874. Pursuant to the foregoing warrant I have notified the persons
therein named, as therein directed, by posting notices according to the Town Regulations.
William P. Moses. Constable.
At a legal meeting of the qualified voters of the town of Beverly, held (in pursuance of the warrant
recorded on the three next preceding pages) at the Town Hall in said town, on Monday the Second
day of March in the year Eighteen hundred and Seventy Four, at Nine o'clock A. M. the meeting was
called to order at the time appointed, and the Clerk read the warrant therefor, and it was.
Voted by ballot (unanimously) that Freeborn W. Cressy be Moderator.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. J. N. Emery of the Universalist Church.
Voted by ballot (unanimously) that James Hill be Town Clerk.
Then in open town meeting, immediately after the election of Town Clerk James Hill
abovementioned was sworn to the faithful discharge of his duties as Town Clerk of Beverly, by and
before the
Moderator
The following officers were then elected by ballot.
Selectmen. John I. Baker, Freeborn W. Cressy, Joseph Wilson, John H. Young, John H. Woodberry.
Voted To now adjourn till half past one o'clock this P.M.
At half past one o'clock P. M. the voters again assembled, and the meeting was called to order by
the Moderator and the following officers were chosen by ballot.
Assessors. Charles L. Williams, David A. Preston, John Bell, Jeremiah Murphy, Abraham B. Lord.
Collector of Taxes. Ezekiel F. Obear.
Town Treasurer. Robert G. Bennett.
Overseers of the Poor. Benjamin D. Grant, Charles L. Moulton, Thomas Pickett, George Henry
Southwick, Ephraim A. Edwards.
Inspector of Police. William P. Moses.
School Committee for Three Years. John I. Baker, Oscar F. Swasey, Isaac F. Day.
School Committee for Two Years. Eben H.. Moulton.
Voted, that when this meeting adjourn, it adjourn to meet at this place tomorrow moming Tuesday
March 3d, at Nine o'clock A.M.
Voted to now adjourn.
On Tuesday March 3d at nine o'clock A. M. the voters again assembled according to adjournment,
and were called to order by the Moderator, and proceeded with the business of the meeting and the
following officers were then chosen by ballot.
Constable. William P. Moses, Eleazer Giles, Samuel G. Hooper, Eli Bray, John H. Chipman,
William Patterson, George T. Larcom, Ezekiel F. Obear, Isaac StandIey.
Trustees of the Public Library for Five Years. O. T. Lanphear.
Voted That the Town Clerk be Auditor of Accounts for the Ensuing year.
Voted That the Election of a Board of Health be indefinitely postponed.
Voted To choose Fence Viewers by hand vote, and the following persons were chosen
Fence Viewers, Isaac Appleton, Samuel Foster, S. D. G. StandIey.
Voted That the Selectmen this day chosen, are hereby chosen Surveyors of Highways for the
Ensuing year, with authority to appoint agents.
Voted To choose the remaining officers by hand vote, and the following officers were thus chosen.
Surveyors of Lumber. Daniel Wallis, Hooper A. Appleton, Richard A. Woodberry, Isaac Ober,
Edward W. Cole.
Field Drivers
Ward 1 John Davis
Ward 2 Jonas Gallop
Ward 3 Andrew H. Trowt
Ward 4 Stephen Larcom
Ward 5 Hooper A. Appleton
Ward 6 Chester Hobbs
Ward 7 Charles H. Dickinson
Ward 8 Laforest C. Dodge
Ward 9 Sumner E. Glines
Ward 10 George H. Edwards
Ward 11 Seth Friend
Ward 12 E. F. Caswell
Ward 13 George W. Taylor
Pound Keeper Eli Bray.
Sealers of Leather. Davenport Tuck, William A. Teague
Inspector of Lime. Luke P. Goodridge
Clerk of the Market. Livermore Whittredge.
Voted To lay the Auditor's Report on the table.
The several Reports of the Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, Engineers of the Fire Department and
Board of Health were severally read and accepted. The Auditor's Report was taken from the table
and also accepted.
Upon Article 3d Appropriations for Memorial Day.
Voted That the sum of One Hundred and Fifty dollars be appropriated for the expenses of Memorial
Day in decorating Soldiers' Graves, to be expended under the direction of Post No. 89 of the Grand
Army of the Republic.
Upon Article 44 By Laws.
Voted That this article be referred to a committee of three, to be appointed by the Chair, to report
thereon to the town, at the adjournment.
The Moderator appointed; Henry P. Moulton, William P. Moses, and Henry E. Woodberry as the
Committee.
On Motion of Robert R. Endicott.
Voted That the Selectmen in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting, provide, First, for the choice
of a Moderator and a Town Clerk, and Secondly, that all the other town officers to be chosen by
ballot, be voted for on one ticket, and the time for closing the polls be also specified in the warrant,
and the Committee on the revision of the By Laws, be requested to consider the expediency of
making this a permanent regulation.
Upon Article 5. Petition of Austin Whitcomb and others.
Voted On motion of lsacher Lefavour, That the Selectmen be instructed to prosecute any complaint
that shall be made of the violation of the law.
Voted That when this meeting adjourn, it adjourn to meet at this place at One o'clock this afternoon.
Voted That this meeting now adjourn.
At One o'clock this Tuesday Afternoon March 3d, 1874, the voters again assembled agreeably to the
adjournment, and proceeded with business.
Upon Article 6th. Petition of F. S. Lovett & others for Engine at Centerville.
On motion of Francis S. Lovett
Voted That the Engineers purchase five hundred feet of linen hose for No. 4 Engine, finish suitable
accommodations in the basement of Centerville School House, and station the Engine there.
On motion of John Pickett
Voted That the sum of Five Hundred dollars be appropriated to carry the foregoing motion into
effect.
Upon Article 7. Discontinuance of a portion of Balch Street.
Voted That this article be referred to the Selectmen to report thereon at the adjournment of this
meeting in April next.
Upon Article 8. New Briscoe School house.
A motion offered by John Pickett. "That the sum often Thousand dollars be raised upon the polls
& estates the present year, for the purpose of carrying forward the work upon the New Briscoe
School House, and that the Committee having charge of the building of the same, be, and they are
hereby instructed not to expend more than the said sum of Ten Thousand dollars during the current
year, and that any and all votes that may have been passed heretofore, whereby the Committee were
authorized to use the credit of the town, in building the same, be and they are hereby rescinded." was
put to the meeting and lost.
A motion of Isacher Lefavour.
"That the subject of this article be referred to a Committee of Eleven to investigate and report
thereon on Monday Evening next." was also put to the meeting and lost.
Upon Article 9. Extension of Water Works.
On motion of Robert R. Endicott.
Voted That hereafter no Water Pipes shall be laid or streets graded without a specific vote of the
town, (based on a careful estimate of the expenses from the Selectmen) authorizing the same at its
annual town meeting.
Upon Article 10. Sale of Thissell's land.
Voted That the Town Treasurer, be authorized to cause said land to be sold at public auction, and
to give quit claim deed therefor.
Upon Article 11. Schools.
Voted That the sum of Eighteen Thousand Five Hundred dollars be appropriated for the ordinary
expenses of the Schools and School Houses, throughout the town then current year.
A motion offered by Daniel Foster
"That the School Committee be instructed not to employ a Music Teacher after the expiration of the
present school year." was put to the meeting and lost. - a large majority voting in the negative.
Voted That the further consideration of the subject of a Music Teacher be indefinitely postponed.
Upon Article 12. Highways.
Voted That the sum of Five Thousand dollars be appropriated for the ordinary repairs of the
highways and town ways throughout the town, the current year, and for the snow bills of the past
winter, also that the sum of Fifteen Hundred dollars be appropriated for the maintenance of Essex
Bridge for the current year.
Voted That the Selectmen be directed to repair the sidewalk on Cabot Street at the entrance of
Milton Street, to be pair for out of the highway appropriation.
Voted That the sum of twenty five cents per hour, for each man, and twenty cents per hour, for each
horse and cart, and twenty cents per hour for each pair of Oxen and cart, be allowed and paid for all
labor performed upon the highways the current year.
On motion of David L. Foster.
Voted That all labor performed on the highways, in each of the highway wards, shall be performed
by residents of said ward, and that none but taxpayers be employed.
Upon Article 13. Money Grant.
Voted That the Selectmen represent the town before the Legislature in regard to obtaining authority
to issue bonds.
On motion of Isacher Lefavour.
Voted. That the Selectmen be instructed to present a plan and estimate of cost for at least so
enlarging the Town Hall, that the stairs leading from the galleries, shall descend to the lower entry,
thus avoiding the contact with those issuing from the Hall floor, and also for the opening one or more
doors for entrance and departure on the lower floor, and that they be requested to call a meeting for
the consideration of the matter at the time of the adjournment of this meeting.
Voted That this meeting be now adjourned to Monday the Sixth day of April next at One o'clock
afternoon.
A true record, attest James Hill Town Clerk.