1863-05-23 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 Saturday the 23d day of May
instant at 2 o'clock P.M. for the following purposes.-viz.:-
1st. To decide the manner of choosing a Moderator, and to choose the same.
2d. To see if the town will accept and allow of a town way as laid out by the Selectmen's Report
now on file in the Office of the Town Clerk, extending from Church Street to Essex Street, by the
Grammar District School House, being the way known as Briscoe Street.
3d. To see if the town will discontinue that part of Thorndike Street, lying easterly of Lovett Street,
and authorize the sale of the land included in that portion of the Street, thus prayed to be
discontinued.
4th. To see if the town will authorize a release to be made to the first Universalist Society in
Beverly, of the lot of land, under and adjoining their Meeting House in Thorndike Street, and
confirm all conveyances made and deeds done under the original deed given to Daniel Hildreth,
Stephen Lovett, and Charles W. McClellan, and do anything in regard thereto, that may be deemed
expedient.
Hereof fail not, but make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon, before the time
appointed for said meeting.
Given under our hands and seal this Eleventh day of May A.D. 1863.
John Meacom
Joseph Wilson
Robert S. Foster
Selectmen of Beverly
Beverly May 15th A.D. 1863. Pursuant to the foregoing warrant I have notified the persons therein
named, as therein directed by posting notifications, at or near each of the public meeting houses, and
at other places in town according to the Town Regulations.
W. P. Moses, Constable of Beverly.
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 in pursuance of the warrant
recorded on the next preceding page, at the Town Hall on Saturday the 23d day of May A.D. 1863
at Two o'clock P.M. it was voted
That a Moderator be chosen by hand vote, and John I. Baker was thus chosen.
Upon Article 2d. Voted, to accept and allow the laying out of the town way known as Briscoe Street
and that the same be established as a town way, according to the Report of the Selectmen, which
Report is as follows, viz..
Upon petition of A. N. Clark and others, a Committee of the Grammar School
District, to lay out anew the way known at his Briscoe Street, in the town of Beverly, the Selectmen
of said town having notified, met and heard all parties interested, do hereby layout said way in
manner following, to wit: Beginning at the breast work by land of Jeremiah Porter, at a point on line
with the Northerly line of Church Street, thence running Northerly as said breast work runs to the
end thereof, to land of Grammar School District, thence Northeasterly one hundred six feet and half
to a stake on a line with the Northerly side of the old part of the School House, which stake is eleven
feet and eight tenths westerly of the Northerly corner of said old part of School House, thence in a
continuation of said line one hundred and three and four tenths feet to a stake opposite the boundary
line between lands of Henry Creesy and Josiah Raymond's estate, thence more northerly sixty-seven
and three tenths feet to a stake by the boundary line of said District land, and the old Chapel lot,
which last stake is one and two tenths feet westerly of the stone breast work; thence Northerly in a
straight line to the Southerly gate post on the estate of Josiah Raymond, which post is twenty-four
and two tenths feet Southerly of the Southwesterly comer of the dwelling house of the estate of said
Raymond; and the line as above described is the Easterly line of said way; and the Westerly line of
said way is as follows: Beginning at the northerly line of Church Street, at a point three rods
Westerly of the breast work named at beginning of the easterly line, thence running Northeasterly
to a stake two feet Easterly of the Southerly corner of the Chapel of the First Baptist Church and
Society which stake is three rods westerly from the stake at the opposite angle, thence northeasterly
over lands of said Church & Society, and of Henry Creesy to a stake by the boundary line of said
Creesy and land of Josiah Raymond's estate, which stake is three rods Westerly of the stake at the
opposite angle, and sixty six and seven tenths feet Easterly of the eastern line of Essex Street; thence
Northeasterly to a stake by the Northerly lot of land of Josiah Raymond's estate which stake is three
rods westerly from the stake at the opposite angle; thence turning and rurming Westerly as the
Northerly line of said Raymond's estate runs, fifty three and three tenths feet, to the Easterly line of
Essex Street, laying all the land lying between said Easterly and Westerly lines as above described,
and all that triangular piece lying Northerly of the last described course in the westerly line of said
way, and between the Easterly line of said way as above described, and the Easterly line of Essex
Street, open as a public way.
And we have awarded damages consequent upon said laying out of said town way, as follows.
To the Estate of Josiah Raymond thirty dollars
To Henry Creesy seventy dollars
To the First Baptist Church & Society forty dollars
To the Owners of the triangular lot northerly of J. Raymond's lot, on the westerly side of said way
twenty dollars
And to no other person have we awarded any darnages.
Witncss our hands hereunto this second day of May A.D. 1863
John Meacom
Joseph Wilson
Robert S. Foster
William G. Woodberry
Selectmen of Beverly
Upon Article 3d Voted, that instead of granting the petition of Mr. Whitney, praying for the
discontinuation of Thorndike Street, the town prefers that the Selectmen proceed forthwith to layout
the continuation of said Street according to the petition now in their hands.
Upon Article 4th. Voted, that the town hereby release to the First Universalist Society in Beverly,
and to Austin D. Kilham, respeefively all the right, title and interest of the town, if any they have,
in and to Lot Number One (No. 1) on the plan of the Thorndike Estate, now held by said Society and
by said Austin D. Kilham, and that the Town Treasurer is hereby directed to execute and deliver in
the name and behalf of the town, to said Society and to said Austin D. Kilham, quitclaim deeds of
their respective portion of said premises, subject however to the conditions & restrictions named in
the deed given by a Committee to Daniel Hildreth & others.
The several articles of the warrant having been disposed of, the Chairman of the Selectmen,
presented a communication received by the Selectmen from Hon. Charles G. Loring accompanying
an elegant portrait of Washington, presented by him to the town, and which had been placed over
the rostrum in the Town Hall, agreeably to the wishes of the donor.
Mr. Loring's communication is as follows,
"Beverly Farms, May 20,1863"
"To the Selectmen of the town of Beverly. Gentlemen.
Perceiving when in the Town Hall, that it is without a portrait of Washington, I have the
honor to offer for your acceptance, a copy made fi'om one, of the head and bust from the picture by
Smart in Faneuil Hall, no place of public assembly, nor private dwelling in the United States, should
be without a portrait, in permanent view, of the father of his country, the sublime example of an
American soldier and statesman. And although this humble copy might not be otherwise worthy of
acceptance, it may in some measure, serve the desired purpose, until superseded, as I hope it ere long
may be, by one more worthy of the subject, and the place.
Especially, in a season of effort and anxiety like this, do we need to be daily reminded of the
courage, patience, self sacrifice, long suffering and stern endurance, by which our fathers
accomplished for us our national existence, now in such deadly mariner assailed, and which we their
children are called upon to defend. The hour has come, the inevitable necessity is upon us, to prove
whether we are loyal signs of that noble stock, or a degenerate race unworthy of our parentage, &
of the inheritance they bequeathed. In a humble but earnest desire to contribute, however slightly,
in keeping alive the remembrance of the heroic virtues of those by whom our existence, as a free
nation was established, and in animating their descendants to prove themselves worthy of their
fathers, I venture this simple tribute of respect to the town of Beverly, which has done its part so
nobly in the great struggle, and
Our Gentlemen with great respect
Yr. Obt. Servt. Charles G. Loring.
Whereupon it was unanimously voted, that the thanks of the town be given to Hon. Charles G.
Loring for his elegant and patriotic gift, and that the Town Clerk be instructed to communicate the
action of this meeting to Mr. Loring.
Voted. To adjourn, and the meeting was declared adjourned without day.
Attest. James Hill, Town Clerk.