1858-03-08 Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, ss. 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 on Monday the Eighth 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, and grant them such pay for their services
as the town may think expedient, also to decide the number of School Committee to be chosen,
according to the Laws 1857. Chap. 270.
3d. To see if the town will build a Cistern to contain about 275 hogsheads, at the junction of
Cabot & Davis streets, and raise and appropriate money for the same,- per petition of Alpheus Davis
& others.
4th. To see if the town will build a Cistern near the Meeting House at the Farms, and raise and
appropriate money for the same- per petition of Joseph E. Ober and others.
5th. To see if the town will alter the District lines between Bass River Washington Districts,
so as to include within the boundaries of Washington District, the families of Asa Edwards, Azor
Dodge Jr., Robert N. Lee & Samuel H. Stone, or act and do anything respecting the same as they may
think proper.- per petition of Asa Edwards and others.
6th. To see if the town will cause the boundaries of Bass River and Washington Districts to
be so changed as to include within those Districts the territory now remaining of the old Ryal Side
District, or do anything respecting the same they may think proper.
7th. To see if the town will allow the free use of the Town Hall to the "Ladies Home
Seamen's Friend Society" for their Annual Charity Festivals - per petition of the officers of said
society & both Bevy Wallis & others.
8th. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to pay the inhabitants of the part of Ryal
Side District which was annexed to the town of Danvers, their proportion of the unexpended balance
of School money credited to said school district at the time of said annexation, or take any order
thereon, - per petition of Selectmen of Danvers.
9th. To see what action, the town will take in regard to any change in the law respecting
Essex Bridge, said subject being now before the Legislature.
10th. To see what measures the town will adopt to protect themselves from the unlawful
traffic in the intoxicating & the evil consequences resulting therefrom.
11th. To adopt such measures, grant such sums of money, and make such regulations in
regard to schools throughout the town, and also in regard to a High School as the town may think
expedient.
12th. To adopt such measures, grant such sums of money, and make such regulations
respecting the construction, repairs and improvements of the Highways and town ways throughout
the town, as may be deemed expedient.
13th. To grant such sums of money, to be raised on the polls and estates within the town, for
the purpose of defraying the debts of the town, and for the Expenses of the coming year, as may be
deemed expedient, and make all necessary allowances and regulations respecting the same.
14th. To see if the town will approve the Jury List as revised by the Selectmen.
Hereof fail not, but make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon before said
Given under our hands and seal this twenty-sixth day of February in the year 1858.
William H. Lovett
Aaron Dodge Selectmen
John Ober of Beverly
Thomas A. Morgan
Lawson Walker
Beverly March 2,1858. This is to certify that I have notified the persons therein named as
therein directed by posting notices thereof at or near each of the Meeting Houses in town according
to the Town Regulations. Levi Cole, Constable.
A true copy of the original warrant and return thereon.
Attest. James Hill, Town Clerk.
At a legal meeting of the qualified voters of the town of Beverly, held pursuant to the warrant
recorded on the two next preceding pages, at the Town Hall on Monday the Eighth day of March in
the year Eighteen Hundred Fifty Eight at Nine o'clock before noon, the same being the Annual
March Meeting.
The Meeting was called to order at the time appointed by the Clerk, who read
the wammt, and received the ballots for Moderator, and the meeting.
Voted, by ballot, That John I. Baker be Moderator.
Prayers were then offered by Rev. Samuel Brooks.
Voted, by ballot, That James Hill be Town Clerk.
Then in open town meeting immediately after the above choice James Hill was swom to the faithful
discharge of the duties of the office of Town Clerk of the town of Beverly, by and before me
John I. Baker, Moderator.
Voted by ballot, That William H. Lovett, Lawson Walker, John Ober, Thomas A. Morgan, & Albert
F. Dodge be Selectmen.
Voted. to hear the reports of the several boards of town officers before proceeding further in election
of officers.
Voted, That the report of the auditors be laid upon the table and also the Report of the Selectmen.
The Report of the Overseers was then read, and a minority Report being presented, it was voted that
it be read, and it was also voted that Mr. Prince be requested to state the grounds of his minority
Report. When after some discussion by Messrs. Prince, Pousland and others, it was
Voted, That all action upon both Reports of the Overseers, be indefinitely postponed.
The Reports of the Board of Health, and of the Fire Department were read and accepted.
Voted. That the Report of the School Committee be laid on the table; after the choice of officers in
the afternoon, this Report was taken from the table, and after some discussion it was again voted that
it be laid on the table.
Noon having arrived the Meeting adjourned to one o'clock p.m. at which time the voters
again assembled, and were called to order by the Moderator.
Voted by ballot, That Jonathan H. Lovett, Benj.Preston, Amos Lefavour, James Hill, & Elijah E.
Lummus be Assessors.
.Voted. That one Assistant Assessor from each district be chosen at the adjournment whose duty it
shall be to call on all persons that hold property liable to taxation, that they shall take an inventory
of all Real Estate, with tillage, pasture, wood or other land, having many acres in each piece, and
whether it lays on any street or whether it is back land, and in what part of the town each piece may
lie, likewise houses and other buildings in each district, and all personal estate not otherwise
represented by law; the same to be handed to the Assessors to be recorded on their Books. And such
deduction to be madc to Widows, Orphans and other persons as the Assessors may deemed
expedient.
A motion to reconsider at the last vote was lost.
Voted. That the Treasurer receive twenty dollars for his Services.
Voted by ballot, That Ezra Edwards Jr. be Collector of Taxes.
Voted, that the Collector of Taxes shall be allowed one and a half percent on all monies collected
and paid into the Treasury.
Voted by ballot, That John J. Dennis be Inspector of Police.
Voted by ballot, That John J. Dennis, Andrew Wallis, John R. Tibbetts, William P. Moses, Robert
S. Foster, S. D. S. Staudley, Charles Elliott 2d, George T. Larcom, and John H. Chipman be
Constables.
Voted that the Assistant Assessors be chosen at the April Meeting.
Voted by ballot, the James Hill, Robert R. Endicott and George H. Stickney be Auditors.
Voted that the number of the School Committee be reduced to three.
Voted by ballot That William Endicott, Benjn. D. Grant, Ezra Batchelder, Elisha Woodberry & Israel
W. Wallis, be Overseers of the Poor.
Voted by ballot, the Charles Haddock be Trustee of the Public Library for the term of five years, and
that Franklin Leach be Trustee of the Public Library to fill the unexpired term of Richard P. Watters,
from whom a communication was received resigning his trust.
Voted by ballot, That Andrew T. Leach, Henry Creesy & Seth Norwood, be Board of Health.
Voted That the Board of Health be instructed to appoint a General Superintendent of the Burial
Voted, to choose the remaining officers by hand vote. And the following were thus chosen.
Surveyors of Lumber. Hooper A. Appleton, John H. Cross, John F. Ober, Joseph E. Ober, Warren
Prince, Richard A. Woodberry, John Meacom, Robert Curry.
Fence Viewers. Thomas Raymond, Hezekiah Foster, Edward Pousland.
Sealers of Leather. David Thissell, William P. Moses.
Inspector of Lime. Moses Pedrick.
Clerk of the Market. John Morgan.
Pound Keeper. Oliver Herrick.
Field Drivers.
Ward 1 Charles A. Stewart
Ward 1 John Morgan
Ward 2 Thorndike Morse
Ward 2 Daniel S. Trask
Ward 3 Jacob Brower
Ward 4 Henry Blanchard
Ward 5 Stephen P. Elliott
Ward 5 Isaac Standley
Ward 6 Jeremiah Choate
Ward 7. Peter Homan 2d
Ward 8. Benjamin Burchsted
Ward 9. Hiram Clark
Ward 10. William Hale
Ward 11. William I. Smith
Ward 12. Asa F. Putnam
Ward 13. Jedidiah Styles
Voted. That the Wards be numbered anew, so that the Ward formally numbered 12 shall be
numbered 11, the Ward formally 13 be 12, and the Ward formally 14 be numbered 13.
Voted. That the Selectmen now chosen be the Surveyors of Highways, with authority to appoint
agents in each highway Ward, in the town.
The Report of the Selectmen was taken from the table, read and accepted; the Report of the Auditors
was also taken from the table and accepted. The Report of the Trustees of the Public Library was
read and accepted.
Upon Article 3rd. The petition of Alpheus Davis & others.
A motion was made that the whole subject be indefinitely postponed, the Moderator having
decided that motion debatable, an appeal was taken from the decision, and the meeting voted, the
decision of the chair be sustained, and it was then
Voted, that the whole subject of this article be indefinitely postponed.
A motion to reconsider the above vote was put and rejected.
Upon Article 4th. The Petition of Joseph E. Ober and others.
Voted. That the whole subject of this article be indefinitely postponed.
A motion to reconsider the above vote was put and rejected.
Upon Article 5. The petition of Asa Edwards and others.
Voted. That the prayer of the petitioners be granted.
Upon Article 6. In relation to the remaining territory of the old Ryal Side district.
Voted. That the alterations of the District lines conteiiiplated in this article be adopted.
Voted. That the Selectmen be authorized to run out and describe the alterations in the Dislrict lines
as contemplated by the last two proceeding votes.
Voted. That when this meeting adjourns, it be to tomorrow, Tuesday morning at Nine o'clock.
Voted. That this meeting now adjourned, and so declared by the Moderator.
According to the adjournment above recorded the Annual March Meeting again assembled at the
Town Hall on Tuesday morning March 9,1858 at Nine o'clock and was called to order by the
Moderator.
Upon Article 7. Petition of "Home Seamen's Friends Society" for free use of Town
Hall.
Voted. That the prayers of the petitioners be granted, provided that it shall not be used for dancing.
Upon Article 8. Petition of the Selectmen in Danvers.
Voted. That the petitioners have leave to withdraw.
Upon Article 9. Respecting Essex Bridge.
Voted. That the Representatives from this District the requested to use their influence to obtain the
passage of the bill now in the hands of the Committee of the Legislature, respecting Essex Bridge,
as being preferable to the Act passed last winter.
Upon Article 10. Relating to the Liquor Traffic.
Voted. That the Selectmen take such measures in behalf of the Town, as they may deem necessary
in regard to the enforcement of the laws for Suppressing or regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors
within the town.
Upon Article 11. Relative to Schools.
Voted. To reconsider the vote passed yesterday limiting the number of the School Committee to
three.
Voted. That the number of the School Committee be Nine.
Voted. To proceed with the election of the School Committee.
Voted. by ballot, that the following persons be School Committee.
Rev. Joseph Abbott
Rev. Samuel Brooks
S. Lothrop Thorndike
for the term of Three years.
Rev. Joseph C. Foster
Rev. C. T. Thayer
Rev. Alonzo B. Rich
for the term of Two years.
Rev. John Nichols
Joseph G. Dodge
Joseph D. Tuck
for the term of One year.
Noon having arrived, it was voted to adjourn to one o'clock P.M. at which time the meeting again
assembled, and were called to order by the Moderator.
Voted. That the School Committee be authorized and instructed to establish a High School in this
town, such a School as the law requires; and that the same be established at the School House now
owned by George B. Upton at West Farms.
A motion to reconsider the above vote was put and rejected.
Voted. That the School Committee communicate immediately to Mr. Upton the fact that the town
has voted to locate the High School in the School House belonging to him, situated at West Farms.
Upon a decision of the chair that a motion instructing the School Committee as to what particular
person they should employ to notify Mr. Upton, was not in order; Jonathan Batchelder appealed from
the decision of the chair, whereupon the meeting nearly unanimously sustained the decision of the
Chair.
Voted. That the sum of Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars be appropriated for the support of the
District Schools throughout the Town the current year- the same to be expended and distributed as
follows.- one fifth of the whole to be equally divided among the several School Districts; and the
balance to be divided among the several Districts in proportion to the number of children in each
district on the first day of May next, between the ages of five and fifteen years.
A motion to reconsider the last vote was put and rejected.
Voted. That the sum of one thousand dollars be appropriated for the support of a High School the
current year.
A motion to reconsider the above vote was put and rejected.
Voted. To take the Report of the School Committee from the table.
Voted. That the Report of the School Committee be accepted.
Voted. That the Prudential Committee of thc several Districts be authorized to select and conWact
with teachers the coming year.
Upon Article 12.
Highways.
Voted. That the sum of Two Thousand Dollars be appropriated for the construction and repairs of
Highways and town ways throughout the Town and for Snow Bills of the past Season.
Voted. That the Selectmen be authorized to pay such price for teams and labor upon the Highways
& upon Snow as they think proper.
Upon Article 13.
Money Grant.
Voted. That the appropriation asked for by the Trustees of the Public Library in their Report, be
granted, for the support of the Library thc ensuing year.
Voted. That the sum of $18,500 be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates within the Town,
to defray the debts of the Town, and to meet the current expenses of the coming year.
Voted. That the Collector deliver or cause to be delivered at the last or usual place of abode of each
inhabitant of the Town, or to such inhabitant in person, as soon as may be after the taxes are
assessed, a list of the taxes such person has been assessed, and that a discount of five percent be
allowed on the Town Taxes, of all persons who shall pay or settle all taxes due from them on or
before the last day of October next: four percent on all who pay on or before the last day of
November next; three percent on all who pay on or before the last day of December next; and that
so far as practicable, he shall on the first day of January next put in suit all taxes then due
commencing with the highest and so on to the lowest tax, providing always, that the Collector shall
call once for his tax, after leaving the bill thereof, before putting the same in suit.
Voted. That the Town Treasurer be authorized to use the credit of the Town to such an extent as may
be necessary to meet the lawful demands made upon the Treasury, until he shall be in funds for the
collection of taxes.
Upon Article 14.
Jury list.
Voted. That said list be recommitted to the Selectmen, for their revisal, and that they report at the
adjournment of this Meeting in April.
Voted. That all members of the Fire Department be exempted from the Jury List..
Voted. That when this Meeting adjourn it be til Monday the fifth day of April next at two o'clock
a/temoon.
Voted. That this Meeting now adjourn, and that the Moderator declare it adjourned to Monday April
5,1858 at 2 o'clock P.M.
Attest. James Hill, Town Clerk
At a legal meeting of the qualified voters of the Town Beverly, held at the Town Hall on Monday
the Fifth day of April in the year 1858, at Two o'clock afternoon the same being the adjournment
of the Annual March Meeting.
The meeting was called to order at the time appointed, by the Moderator, John
I. Baker, and proceeded to the transaction of the following business.
Voted by ballot, that Samuel Foster be Assessor, in place of Jonathan H. Lovett who declined
serving in that office.
Voted. To proceed to the choice of Nine Assistant Assessors, and the following persons to were then
chosen Assistant Assessors by ballot,
Bald Hill District
Bass River District
Cove District
Dodge's Row District
East Farms District
Grammar District
South District
Washington District
West Farms District
Hooper A. Appleton
Francis Jenness
Joseph Thissell
Ruben Edwards
Joseph E. Ober
Charles Stevens
John Pickett
Robert Whipple
Abram Trowt
Voted by ballot, that Jacob Lunt and Levi Cole by Constables in place of Robert S. Foster & John
H. Chipman who declined serving.
Voted by ballot, the Charles Stevens be of the Board of Health in place of Andrew T. Leach who
declined serving.
The following persons for then chosen their respective offices by hand vote.
Surveyor of Lumber. William Webber in place of Robert Curry declined.
Fence Viewers.
Levi Cole in place of Thomas Raymond
Elisha Woodberry in place of Hezekiah Foster declined
Samuel D. S. Standley in place at Edward Pousland
Sealer of Leather. Eben Rogers Jr. in place of David Thissell, declined.
Clerk of the Market. Benjamin O. Butman in place of John Morgan, declined.
Voted. That the Report of the Selectmen upon the establishing of the boundary lines of Bass River
and Washington School Districts be accepted, and that the boundaries of said districts be established
according to said Report;-which is as follows,-
The Selectmen to whom was referred the subject of the establishment of the bounasry lines of the
Bass River and Washington School Districts would Report that the boundaries of said Districts be
hereinafter known and established by bounds limits, as follows.-
The boundaries of Bass River District to commence at the boundary stone on the Easterly side of
Brown's Folly Hill (so-called) marked B. D. being a bound stone between Beverly and Danvers
thence in a straight line Easterly to the westerly side of Balch Street, at the boundary line between
lands of Charles & Alpheus Davis & of the Heirs of John Bell; at the southerly side of an old cart
way, thence in a straight line easterly to the Easterly side of Cabot Street, to a point One Hundred
and Seventy feet northwesterly from the house of Asa Edwards; thence Northeasterly in a straight
line to the Northwesterly comer of the wall in Cokers Orchard (so-called) thence by the Southerly
and Westerly line of Dodges Row District as established in 1825, to the Wenham line; thence by the
Wenham to the bound stone marked W. B. D. near the house of William Moulton at the Danvers
line; thence by the Danvers line to the bound first mentioned; all the inhabitants and estates within
said bounds to belong to the Bass River School District.
The boundaries of Washington District to commence at the River at the boundary line between
Beverly and Danvers; thence as said boundary line runs to the boundary stone on the Easterly side
of Brown's Folly (so-called)) marked B. D. thence in a straight line Easterly to the westerly side of
Balch Street; at the boundary line between lands of Charles & Alpheus Davis & of the Heirs of John
Bell, at the Southerly side of an old way; thence Easterly in a straight line to a point at the Easterly
side of Cabot Street, One Hundred and Seventy feet northwesterly from the house of Asa Edwards;
thence Northeasterly in a straight line to the northwesterly corner of the wall in Cokers Orchard (so-
called); thence Easterly in a straight line to Colon Street, at Cats Swamp Bars; thence to the
Northwesterly comer of the Cove District at Essex Street; and thence following the line of Grammar
District as established in 1825, westerly to the River; thence following the course of the River to the
bounds first mentioned. The inhabitants and estates lying within said lines to be thereafter known
as Washington School District.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
Beverly April 5,1858
In behalf of the Selectmen of Beverly.
Wm. H. Lovett, chairman.
The following persons were elected Field Drivers for the ensuing year.
Ward 1 Jesse Dame in place of Charles A. Stewart declined
Ward 1 William A. Teague in place of John Morgan declined.
Ward 2 Mark Morse 2d in place of Thorndike Morse declined.
Ward 3 West D. Eldredge in place of Jacob Brower declined.
Ward 6 Charles G. Conant in place of Jeremiah Choate declined
Ward ? Cyrus W. Ward in place of Peter Homan 2d declined.
Ward 8. Emerson G. Shaw in place of Benjn. Burchsted declined.
Ward 9 Jonathan Dodge in place of Hiram Clark declined.
Ward 10 John Conant Jr. in place of William Hale declined.
Ward 11 Aaron Dodge in place of William F. Smith declined.
Ward 12 George H. Clark in place of Asa F. Putnam declined.
Ward 13 Nathaniel Clark in place of Jedidiah Styles declined.
Voted. That the sum of twelve and a half cents per hour be paid, for each man, each horse, and each
yoke of oxen that may be employed in labor upon the Highways and upon snow the ensuing year.
Voted. That the List of Jurors as revised by the Selectmen be accepted. (This list is recorded on the
next page)
Voted. This Meeting be dissolved, and it was so declared by the Moderator.
Attest. James Hill, Town Clerk.
The following is the List of Jurors accepted by the town at the adjournment of the Annual Meeting
April 5,1858.
John Abbott
Hooper A. Appleton
Isaac Appleton
Simeon Bockford
Austin Burnham
Zachafiah Cole
William D. Crosfield
Aaron Dodge
Albert F. Dodge
Azor Dodge, Jr.
Charles F. Dodge
Jonathan S. Dodge
James Dodge
Asa Edwards
Israel O. Edwards
Stephen P. Elliott
Robert R. Endicott
Charles Friend
Shadrack Fisk
Leonard C. Foss
Daniel Foster
Daniel Foster, 2d
Ezra S. Foster
Henry H. Foster
Issacher Foster
Samuel Foster
William P. Friend
Augustus Giles
Edmund Giles
Benjamin Goldsbury
Benjamin D. Grant
Perkins Haskell
Ephraim Hathaway
Sames Hill
John B. Hill
Zebulon O. Hale
Luther Henick
Samuel D. Herrick
Francis Jenness
John Larcom
Asa Larcom
Benjamin Larcom
Francis Larcom
Samuel S. Lee
John Lefavour
Amos Lefavour
Cyrus W. Ward
Charles F. Lovett
Wm. H. Lovett
George S. Millett
Thomas A. Morgan
John Meacom
Moses Marshall
Andrew K. Ober
Joseph Ober
John 0ber
John F. Ober
Samuel Ober
Nicolas Pierce
Jeremiah Porter, 2d
Edward P. Potter
Warren Prince
Charles H. Preston
Robert Remmonds, Jr.
John L. Smith
John O. Standley
Herbert S. Standley
George W. Stickney
Charles H. Stocker
John Stone
Israel Trask, 4th
David Thissell
John F. Trow
Joseph D. Tuck
Benjamin Wallis
Eleazer Wallis
Edward Wallis, 2d
Daniel Wallis
John E. Wallis
Luther Wallis
Lawson Walker
William Webber
Joseph Wilson
William D. Witham
Robert Whipple
John P. Webber, Jr.
Edwin Woodberry
Henry Woodberry
Levi Woodberry 2d
Luther Woodberry
Nathan Woodberry
Stephen P. Woodberry
William G. Woodberry
Daniel Woodberry
A true record.
Attest.
James Hill, Town Clerk.