1869-03-08Commonwealth 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.:-
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1. To choose a Moderator.
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2. To choose town officers for the ensuing year, and granting such pay as the town may think
proper, and also to act on the reports of the several Boards of town officers.
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3. To see if the town will accept and allow of the town way in extension of Water Street, easterly
from Austin Burnham’s estate to the sea, near the estate of Joseph Silver, according to the report of
the Selectmen on file in the Office of the Town Clerk.
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4. To see if the town will accept and allow of the town way in extension of School Street, from
Cabot Street near William B. Lovett’s house, westerly, crossing Rantoul Street and extending over
the town’s land to the Eastern Railroad, and crossing said Railroad by a bridge, and thence by an
open way, known as West School Street, to the way known as Wellman Street, and thence by said
last named way Southerly to the way known as Congress Street; according to the report of the
Selectmen on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
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5. To see if the town will accept and allow of the town way as widened and altered, in alteration
of the way known as Beckford Street, extending from Cabot Street, near B. D. Grant’s house, to
Elliott Street by S. B. Sweet’s house, according to the report of the Selectmen on file in the office
of the Town Clerk.
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6. To see if the town will cause a new School House to be built in that part of the town heretofor
known as Bald Hill School District and to procure a lot of land therefor on or near Essex Street;
according to the petition of S. D. G. Standley and others.
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7. To see if the town will vote that no license shall be granted in this town, which shall authorize
the sale to be drunk upon the premises, of either distilled or fermented liquors, or both.
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8. To see what action the town will take in regard to the lighting of Hale Street with gas; as per
petition of Edwin Foster and others.
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9. To see if the town will reconsider its vote closing the Town Hall at Twelve o’clock midnight; per
petition of William A. Friend and others.
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10. To authorize the raising of such sums of money as may be necessary to provide according to
law, State Aid for the families of Volunteers.
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11. To adopt such measures, grants such sums of money, and make such regulations in regard to
the construction and repair of the Highways and town ways throughout the town as may be deemed
expedient and; including especial repairs upon Hale Street; - as petitioned for by David Larcom and
others; upon Cross Street - as petitioned for by R. A. Woodberry and others; and upon such other
roads and streets as may seem necessary.
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12. To adopt such measures, grant such sums of money and make such regulations in regard to
Schools and School Houses throughout the town as may be deemed expedient.
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13. To grant such sums of money to be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates within the
town, for the purpose of defraying the debts of the town, and 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 found necessary to meet the liabilities of the town.
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14. 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 time.
Given under our hands and seal this twenty-seventh day in February, in the year one
thousand eight hundred sixty-nine
John I. Baker
Samuel PorterSelectmen
George Roundy of
Seth Norwood Beverly
B. N. Dodge
Beverly February 27,1869. Pursuant to the foregoing warrant I have notified the persons therein
named as therein directed by posting notices according to the amended Town Regulations, at or near
the First Parish, Second Parish and Beverly Farms Meeting houses; the Town Hall, Post Offices, and
the several Railroad stations in town; and at the corner of Hale and Ober Streets; Hale and Foster
Streets; Essex and Standley Streets; at each junction of Rantoul and Cabot Streets; and at Dodge’s
Mill on Elliott Street.
William P. Moses
Constable
A true record 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 three next preceding pages) at the Town Hall in said town on Monday the eighth day
of March in the year Eighteen Hundred and Sixty Nine at Nine o’clock, before noon, the meeting was
called to order by the Clerk, at the time appointed, who read the warrant therefor, and it was
Voted, by ballot, (unanimously) the Freeborn W. Cressy be Moderator.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. O. T. Lanphear of Dane St. Church.
Voted, by ballot, (unanimously) that James Hill be Town Clerk.
Then in open town meeting, immediately after the choice of Town Clerk, James Hill above named
was sworn to the faithful discharge of the duties of Town Clerk of Beverly, by and before me F. W.
Cressy, Moderator.
The following officers were then chosen by ballot.
Selectmen. John I. Baker, George Roundy, Seth Norwood, Benjamin N. Dodge, Freeborn W.
Cressy.
Assessors. John B. Hill, Samuel Porter, Elisha Woodberry, Hervey Lunt, Josiah A. Haskell.
Collector of Taxes. Joseph A. Haskell (unanimous)
Voted, that the Collector of Taxes receive one percent on all monies collected and paid into the
Treasury, by him which shall be in full for all his services.
The following officers were then elected by ballot.
Treasurer. Robert G. Bennett (unanimous)
Overseers of the Poor. John Meacom, Israel F. Lee, Benjamin D. Grant, Thomas Pickett, Charles
L. Moulton.
Inspector of Police. William P. Moses.
Constables. George H. Trafton, Andrew Wallis, John R. Tibbetts, William P. Moses, Ezekiel F.
Ober, George T. Larcom, Isaac Standley, John H. Chipman, Joseph B. Appleton.
Trustee of Public Library for 5 years. Rev. O. T. Lanphear.
Fence Viewers. John B. Hill, Hervey Lunt, Josiah A. Haskell.
Board of Health. John I. Baker, Joseph E. Ober, Samuel Porter, Joseph Caswell, Seth Norwood.
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Voted, that the election of School Committee be deferred until the 12 article of the warrant has been
acted upon.
And the following persons were at a subsequent stage of the meeting, elected by ballot as School
Committee.
School Committee for Three Years. Joseph C. Foster, F. M. Cookson, Joseph D. top, Henry E.
Woodberry.
School Committee for Five Years. John I. Baker.
Voted, that the remainder of the town officers be chosen by hand vote, and the following officers
were thus chosen.
Auditors. Israel F. Lee, Samuel Porter, Israel Lefavour 2d.
Surveyors of Highways.
Ward 1. Isaac Appleton
Ward 2. George Thissell
Ward 3. Samuel Obear
Ward 4. Thomas Elliott
Ward 5. Albert T. Roberts
Ward 6. Abraham H. Fisk
Ward 7. Benjamin Ludden
Ward 8. Robert N. Lee
Ward 9. Edward Trask
Ward 10. George H. Edwards
Ward 11. Benjamin D. Dodge
Ward 12. John H. Lovett
Ward 13. Charles Marshall
Field Drivers
Ward 1. Charles Carrico, Crowell, Davenport Tuck.
Ward 2. Albert Brower, Samuel Foster Jr..
Ward 3. Elisha Pride, George Ober
Ward 4. Azariah M. Larcom, Adoniram Pierce.
Ward 5. Albert T. Roberts, Hooper A. Appleton.
Ward 6. Henry O. Edwards, John Mollison.
Ward 7. Hugh Hill Jr., Chester Hobbs Jr..
Ward 8. Robert N. Lee, John G. Munsey.
Ward 9. Moses Wilson, John G. Brown.
Ward 10. Benjamin H. Day, George W. Lovett.
Ward 11. Zachariah Cole, Joseph L. Cressy 2d.
Ward 12. Nathaniel Clark, Seth Friend Jr..
Ward 13. Joseph A. Kilham, Jedidiah styles.
Pound Keeper. John E. Baker.
Surveyors of Lumber. Robert Remmonds, Hooper A. Appleton, Daniel Wallis, George Butman,
Richard A. Woodberry, John E. Morgan.
Sealer and Measurer of Leather. David Thissell.
Inspector of Lime. Philip E. Ober.
Clerk of the Market. Josiah A. Haskell.
Truant Officers. William P. Moses, John H. Chipman, George F. Larcom.
Voted, that when this meeting adjourn, it adjourned to meet at one o’clock this afternoon.
Voted to now adjourn.
At one o’clock afternoon the voters again assembled and it was
Voted, that the Auditors’ report the accepted.
The several Reports of the Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, Board of Health, and Engineers of the
Fire Department were read and accepted.
Voted. That the recommendation in the Report of the Engineers relating to Hose and a Hose carriage
be adopted.
Voted that the Report of the School Committee be accepted.
Upon Article third.Extension of Water Street.
Voted, that the Report of the Selectmen be accepted, and said way established as a Town way
forever, according to said Report, which is as follows.
“Upon the petition of David Crowell and others for a Town way, the undersigned, Selectmen of the
town of Beverly having, notified and heard the parties, did proceed to lay out said Town way as
follows, viz.: - Commencing at the Southeasterly corner of Austin Burnham’s estate by water Street
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and run thence over land, of Cook, Fielder , and others South 76 east in the direction of the large
tower of the Baker’s Island Lighthouse to high water mark, near or upon the Estate of Joseph Silver,
laying the said Town way forty feet wide Southerly of the line described, and we allow till the first
day of May next to remove obstructions, an award damages as follows
To George Godfrey Cook fifteen dollars.
To Samuel H. Fielder five dollars.
To John K. Fielder twenty dollars.
To Richard H. Andrews eighty dollars.
To John Bell fifteen dollars.
To Israel Brown forty dollars.
To John Brown seventy dollars.
To owners of John Fielder’s estate twenty-five dollars.”
Beverly February 27,1869.
John I. Baker
George RoundySelectmen
Samuel Porter of
Seth Norwood Beverly
B. N. Dodge
Upon Article 4.Extension of School Street.
Voted, that the consideration of this article be postponed to the adjournment of this meeting, and the
Selectmen be requested to get some information as to the expense of building a bridge over the
railroad and report thereon at that time.
Upon Article 5.Widening of Beckford Street.
Voted, that the Report of the Selectmen upon said Way be accepted, and said Way established as a
Town way forever, according to said Report which is as follows.
“Upon petition of William P. Friend and others for widening, straightening and alterations of the
Town way known as Beckford Street, the undersigned having notified and heard the parties, did
proceed to layout, widen and alter said Town way as follows, viz.. Commencing at a point on the
Northeasterly side of Elliott Street, by land of Chase, fifty feet northwesterly from the Westerly
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corner of S. B. Sweet’s Estate, by the corner of Elliott & Beckford Streets, and run thence North 42
15' East, over said Chase’s land, land of Mrs. Jane Rantoul, across Mill Street, over the old
Washington School House Lot, and land of Benjamin D. Grant, running under his dwelling house to
Cabot Street establishing this as the Northwesterly line of said Beckford Street; and laying all land
between said line and the present southeasterly line of said Street into said Town way, and so that no
part thereof shall be less than fifty feet wide in the narrowest places, and as much wider in the other
places as maybe. And providing that said dwelling house of Benjamin D. Grant shall stand and said
Town way until the same be voluntarily removed. And we award damages as follows.
To Samuel Chase, forty dollars.
To Jane Rantoul, two hundred & fifty dollars.
To Benjamin D. Grant, one hundred & sixty dollars.
And we allow till the first day of May next for the removal of trees and fences from said premises,
allowing said Grant’s house to stand as aforesaid unless the Town should decide to remove the same
sooner and compensate therefore.
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Beverly February 27 1869.
John I. Baker
George RoundySelectmen
Seth Norwood of
B. N. Dodge Beverly
Samuel Porter
Upon Article 6.Petition for School House at Bald Hill.
Voted, that the prayer of the petitioners be granted.
Voted, that the Selectmen and School Committee be a Joint Committee to carry the same into effect,
and cause a New School house to be built in that part of the Town formally known as Bald Hill
District, and locate the same at or near Essex Street.
Voted that the Town will procure a lot of land on or near Essex Street in what was formally known
as Bald Hill School District, to build and locate a School House thereon for the Bald Hill School, and
if the same cannot be procured at a reasonable price, in the judgment of the Selectmen, said
Selectmen are authorized and directed to proceed to select at their discretion and layout a School
House lot in said locality and appraise the damages to the owner of such land, in the manner
prescribed by law, but such lot shall not exceed in the whole eighty square rods exclusive of the land
occupied by school buildings.
Upon Article 7.Licenses.
Voted, that no license be granted in this Town, which shall authorize the sale to be drunk on the
premises of either distilled or fermented liquors or both.
Upon Article 8.Lighting Hale Street.
Voted, that the whole subject of this article be referred to a Committee of three persons to be
appointed by the Chair, to report thereon at the adjournment.
The Chair appointed Edwin Foster, George Ober, and Oscar F. Swasey, as this Committee.
Upon Article 9.Upon Closing Town Hall at Midnight.
A motion that the prayer of the petitioners be granted, was put to the meeting - and lost.
Voted, that the Selectmen be instructed to comply with the original vote closing the Town Hall at
twelve o’clock midnight.
At a subsequent stage of the meeting a motion to reconsider this last vote, was made, but was cut off
by a motion to adjourn.
Upon Article 10.State Aid.
Voted, that the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be authorized to hire money
from time to time to pay the orders drawn upon the Treasury by the Selectmen for the relief of the
Families of Volunteers as required by law.
Upon Article 11.Highways.
Voted, that the sum of twelve thousand dollars be appropriated for the construction and repairs of
Highways and for land damages consequent upon such construction and repairs, throughout the
Town the current year.
Voted, that the sum of twenty-five cents per hour be allowed and paid for all labor on the Highways
the ensuing year, and a proportional sum for teams, and all other services upon the Highways.
Upon Article 12.Schools & School Houses.
Voted, that the sum of fifteen thousand dollars be appropriated for the support of Schools throughout
the Town the current year, and that fifty percent be added to the amount paid last year to the female
teachers of the Town, and that the Committee be instructed to average the distribution of it among
the female teachers as nearly as possible according to the work done to the value of their services.
Voted, that it is the opinion of the Town that it is expedient that male teachers be employed in Bald
Hill, Farms and Cove Schools. (306 in favor, 251 opp.)
Voted, that the High School be located and kept in the Odd Fellows Building, in Railroad Avenue
the ensuing year.
Voted, that the School Committee be authorized to establish a Central Grammar School in Town and
that the sum of fifteen hundred dollars be appropriated for that purpose.
128 in favor 85 opposed.
Voted, that the School Committee be required to appoint a Superintendent of Schools the current
year.
Voted, that the salary of the Superintendent of School for the ensuing year be one thousand dollars.
Upon Article 13.Money Grant.
Voted, That the sum of forty two thousand dollars be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates
within the town, to defray the debts of the town and the current expenses of the current municipal
year.
Voted, That the Collector of Taxes deliver or cause to be delivered at the last and usual place of
abode of each inhabitant of the town, or to such inhabitant in person as soon as practicable after the
taxes have been assessed a list of the taxes such persons have been assessed. And a discount of three
percent be allowed on all taxes of all persons who shall pay or settle all taxes due from them on or
before the first day of October next, and two percent on all who pay or settle on or before the first
day of December next, and on the first day of January next all taxes which have been assessed within
the town shall be paid and interest at the rate of one percent per month shall be charged on all taxes
shall remain unpaid from an after said first day of the January until the same shall be paid, and such
interest shall be added to and considered a part of such taxes, and that so far as practicable the
Collector shall on the first day of January next put in suit all taxes then due and unpaid, commencing
with the highest and so on to the lowest tax. Provided always, that the Collector shall make one
demand for the tax before putting the same in suit.
Voted, that the Town Treasurer be authorized to borrow, on the credit of the Town, such sums of
money from time to time, upon notes approved by the Selectmen as may be found necessary to meet
the liabilities of the town.
Upon Article 14.Jury List.
Voted, that all action on the Jury List be deferred until the adjournment.
Voted, the when this meeting adjourn, it be to the first Monday in April next at nine o’clock in the
forenoon.
Voted, that this meeting now adjourn. And it is so declared by the Moderator adjourned to Monday
the fifth day of April next at nine o’clock A.M.
A true record.
Attest.
James Hill
Town Clerk.
At a legal meeting of the qualified voters of the town of Beverly held at the Town Hall on Monday
the fifth day of April in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-nine, at nine o’clock before noon the
same being an adjournment of the Annual town meeting held March 8,1869.
Voted by ballot, that Daniel Foster be Assessor in place of Saml. Porter, declined.
Voted by ballot that Daniel Foster be Fence Viewer, in place of John B. Hill who declines serving.
The following officers were then chosen by hand vote, to fill vacancies caused by declination of
persons chosen at the meeting in March last.
Surveyors of Lumber
George Swan in place of John E. Morgan.
William Webber in place of Daniel Wallis.
Sealer & Measurer of Leather
John K. Fielder in place of David Thissell.
Field Drivers.
Ward 1 Benjamin C. Sumner in place of Davenport Tuck..
Ward 2 Levi Cole place of Samuel Foster Jr..
Ward 2 Mark Morris in place of Albert Brower.
Ward 3 Joseph Ober in place of Elisha Pride.
Ward 4 George T. Larcom in place of Adoniram Pierce.
Ward 5 Isaac Standley in place of H. A. Appleton.
Ward 6 Richard Dodge Jr. in place of H. O. Edwards.
Ward 7 William Spear in place of Hugh Hill Jr.
Ward 7 Cyrus W. Ward in place of Chester Hobbs Jr.
Ward 8 William H. Nutter in place of R. N. Lee.
Ward 8 George R. Sands in place of John G. Munsey.
Ward 9 Edward Trask in place of John G. Brown.
Ward 10 Sullivan Brown in place of George W. Lovett.
Ward 11 John M. Taylor in place of Zachh. Cole.
Ward 11 Benjn. E. Smith in place of Joseph Creesy 2d
Ward 12 George Fielder in place of Seth Friend Jr..
Ward 13 Stephen P. Elliott in place of Jedidiah Styles
Clerk of the Market.
James Stone in place of Josiah A. Haskell.
Voted, that the Salary of the Town Treasurer be one hundred dollars for the current fiscal year.
Upon the 4th Article of the Warrant, the Extension of School Street, which was referred to the
Selectmen for inquiry as to the probable expense of a Bridge, the Selectmen made a verbal report,
and exhibited a model of an Iron Bridge, and it was
Voted, that the Report of the Selectmen laying out said way be accepted, and said way established
as a Town way forever, according to said Report, which is as follows.
“Upon petition of Charles Haddock and others for a Town way the undersigned Selectmen
of the town of Beverly having notified and heard the parties who wished to be heard, did proceed to
lay out said Town way in manner and form following viz; Commencing at the corner of William B.
Lovett’s Estate, at the corner made by Cabot Street and the way known as School Street in said
Town and run thence as the fence runs Westerly by said Lovett’s estate, and the estates of Charles
F. Dodge, the Rubber Clothing Company and A. E. Edwards tenement house to Rantoul Street,
laying all the land between said fence and the fence on the Northerly side of said School Street way
into said Town way, commencing next on the Westerly side of Rantoul Street at the Southeasterly
corner of land of Edwards where the shoe shop is located, and run thence as the present open way
runs westerly by the fence of said Edward’s land to the town’s land, and then in the same direction
over said Town’s land to the Eastern Railroad, and thence crossing the Eastern Railroad in the
direction of the way known as West School Street to the opposite side of said railroad and continuing
in the same direction by land of John Lynch and others to the westerly side of a way known as
Wellman Street, laying the said Town way forty feet wide Southerly of the line described from
Rantoul Street to Wellman Street, commencing next at the corner of said West School Street and
Wellman Street by the corner of land of the Wilson Estate and run thence Southerly as said Wellman
Street runs, by its plan and fences by lands of Wilson, O’Hara, Hardy, Lynch and Buckley & Co. to
the way known as Congress Street, laying said Town way forty feet wide westerly of the line
described, and we award no damages.
Beverly February 27,1869.
John I. Baker
Geo. Roundyto Selectmen
Seth Norwood of
Samuel Porter Beverly
B. N. Dodge
Voted, that the Selectmen be instructed to cause an Iron Bridge to be erected across the Railroad,
in the extension of School Street, in preference to a wooden Bridge.
Upon the subject of lighting Hale Street which was referred to a committee to reported upon at this
meeting, the committee reported as follows-
April 5,1864. Your Committee have considered the business entrusted to them and
respectfully submit the following substitute for a report. - That the Selectmen be a Committee to erect
posts with lanterns thereon at suitable distances on Hale Street from Cabot Street to Chapman’s
Corner and light the same with Kerosene or other illuminating substances.
Signed by Edward Foster, O. F. Swasey.
A motion “that the Report be adopted and the credit of Town be used for the same,” was put to the
meeting and lost.
Upon Article 14.Jury List - which was referred to this meeting.
Voted, that the list be referred to the Selectmen with instructions to strike out the names of all
persons who have served upon Juries within five years last past, and insert other names in their stead.
Voted, that this meeting be dissolved.
A true record.
Attest. James Hill, Town Clerk.