1842-03-14Essex, ss. To one of the Constables of the town of Beverly. Greeting -You are hereby required in
the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to notify and warn in the usual manner the qualified
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voters of said town to meet at the Town Hall on Monday the 14 day of March instant 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 give in their ballots for a County Treasurer for the ensuing year.
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3. To act on the reports of the several town officers, agents and committees.
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4. To choose town officers for the year ensuing and grant them such pay for their services as the
Town think proper.
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5. To see what measures the town will adopt for repairing their highways and town ways and for
completing the unfinished locations of roads within the town the ensuing year and grant money for
those purposes and make such regulations respecting the same as they may think proper.
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6. To see what measures the town will adopt in regard to Schools the ensuing year and grant money
for their support and make such regulations respecting the same as the town think proper.
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7. To see if the town will widen and rebuild the Causeway by the dwelling house of John Standley,
and also will widen the Causeway near, and also cause the hill near the dwelling house of Jonathan
Foster to be taken down three feet or more agreeably to the petition of D. Appleton and others.
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8. To see if the town will grant liberty to Isaac Prince to work out his highway taxes for five years
to come on the way leading to his house.
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9. To see if the town will discontinue that portion of Thorndike Street below Lovett Street as a
town way, agreeably to the request of Albert Thorndike and others.
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10. To see if the town will allow the bill of James Stone for damages claimed by him.
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11. To see what measures the town will adopt for building the Common Fence.
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12. To see what sum of money the town will grant to be raised and assessed on the polls and estates
in said town for the purpose of defraying the debts of the town and for the expenses of the current
year, and make such regulations and allowances respecting the same as the town think proper. And
to act and do anything in reference to either of the foregoing subjects the town think expedient.
Hereof fail not but make due return of this warrant before said time with your doings thereon.
Given under our hands & seal this 4th day of March A.D.1842.
Isaac GalouxSelectmen
Wm. H. Lovett of
Josiah Woodberry Beverly
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Beverly March 4, 1842. Pursuant to the foregoing warrant I have notified the persons therein named
as therein directed.Francis Lamson, Constable.
A true record.Attest.John Israel Baker, Town Clerk.
At a legal meeting of the qualified voters of the town of Beverly held pursuant to the
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foregoing warrant on Monday the 14 day of March A. D. 1842, the same being the annual March
Meeting.
Voted, by ballot, that John Safford be Moderator.
Prayers were then offered by Rev. C. T. Thayer.
Voted, to proceed to the choice of Town Clerk for the ensuing year as the present incumbent declined
serving any longer in that capacity.
Voted. That Edward Bradstreet be Town Clerk.
A true record thus far made by John I. Baker, Town Clerk. Then Edward Bradstreet aforesaid
appeared before me and took the oath of office prescribed by law to perform faithfully the duties of
Town Clerk for the ensuing year and until another is qualified in his stead, in open town meeting.
John Safford.
Noon having now arrived, Voted, to adjourn until one o’clock this afternoon. Adjourned
accordingly. One o’clock P.M. met according to adjournment.
On the second article in the warrant in relation to County Treasurer the Electors proceeded to give
in their votes for a County Treasurer within our County of Essex - And the whole number of ballots
given in where sorted and counted according to law, and were in all one hundred and eighty-one.
Wm. F. Wade, of Ipswich had ninety-two. Cyrus Chase of Salem eighty-nine.
It was then Voted to proceed to the choice of Town Officers, and the following Officers were elected
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Selectmen. William H. Lovett, John Wilson, John I. Baker, Joseph E. Obear, Edward T. Proctor.
Assessors. Olphert Tittle, John Porter 2nd, Iona H. Lovett Jr., Edward Pousland, Joseph Woodberry
3d.
Treasurer & Collector. John P. Roundy.
School Committee. C. T. Thayer, Joseph Abbott, E. M. Stone, John Foote, Wm. Bushnell, C. W.
Flanders, Edwd. Bradstreet, Stephens Baker, Robt. Rantoul, James Haskell, Sumner Hale, W. C.
Boyden.
Voted. That John Bradstreet be Inspector of Police.
The town then elected the following officers by hand vote.
Auditors. John Morgan, Edwd. Pousland, Saml. Dike.
Overseers of the Poor. Robt. Rantoul, John Safford, Stephens Baker, Ezra Dodge, Andrew Ober.
Firewards. Charles Stephens, Jesse Sheldon, Daniel Cross, Paul Hildreth, Saml. D. Turner, Isaacher
O. Foster, Wm. Putnam, John Pickett, Wm. D. Crosfield, Ezra Batchelder, Wm. H. Lovett, Perkins
Haskell, Joel Woodberry, Wm. Friend.
Constables. Ezra Woodberry, Francis Lamson, John Bradshaw, Wm. D. Crosfield.
Board of Health. Israel Trask, Edward Morse, James Haskell.
Surveyors of Lumber. Isaac Gallop, John Meacom, Warren Prince, Robt. Remmonds Jr., Isaac Ober
Jr., Seaward Lee, Wm. Webber, Aretas Green, Saml. S. Ober.
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Surveyors of Shingles & Clapboards. John Porter 2, Seth Dodge.
Inspector of Lime. Philip E. Ober.
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Fence Viewers. Thomas Whittridge, John Porter 2, John Meacom.
Sealers of Leather. Thomas B. Smith, Ezra Woodberry.
Surveyors of Highways.WardField Drivers
Benjamin Preston Jr.1Obed Woodberry Jr.
Benjamin Smith2Peter Ober
Abraham H. Fisk3Israel Lefavour, Walter Rogers
Asa B. Edwards4Jeremiah Choate
Paul Hildreth5Edward Bartlett, Andrew Wallis
Thomas B. Smith6Allen Burchstead, John E. Baker
Daniel Homan7Cornelius Preston
Isaac Appleton8S. D. G. Standley
Azor Dodge9Azor Dodge, Benjamin Burchstead
Benjamin Woodberry 2d10Wm. F. Dodge
Sullivan Brown11Nathan Webb Jr.
Jonathan Green,12Abraham K. Young
George Southwick13Wm. Pousland
Samuel Lummus14Edward Trask Jr.
Pound Keeper. John E. Baker.
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Today having been thus spent, Voted. To adjourn until Tuesday March 15 at eight o’clock A.M.
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Tuesday March 15. Met according to adjournment.
Voted to choose a Clerk of the Market.
Jona. Batchelder was elected.
Voted. That the several reports be now taken up.
Auditors Report. A motion was made to strikeout so much of this report as charged an evasion of
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the 4th Sec. Chap. 2 of the Town Regulations, upon the committee on the Thorndike estates; which
was lost.
A motion was then made to include in said century the Overseers of the Poor, for debating the same
regulations which was also lost. The Report was then accepted - with a vote of thanks for their
services. A motion was then made to reconsider the vote upon the Town Committee which was
carried, and so much of the Auditors reported as referred to their evading the 4th Sect. 2nd Chap.
was rescinded.
Report of the Committee on the Thorndike estate was then taken up
Voted to refer this report to the Auditors to report at the adjourned meeting.
This Committee having resigned, and the resignations being accepted, it was
Voted, that the Selectmen be authorized to transact all business connected with this Estate, with full
powers in the premises.
Voted, that the Selectmen draw on the Treasurer of the Town for the balance that may be due the
Committee on the Thorndike Estate, after their accounts are audited by the Auditors.
Report of the School Committee was then accepted with a vote of thanks for their services.
Noon having arrived, Voted to adjourn until one o’clock this afternoon. Adjourned accordingly.
One o’clock P. M. Met according to adjournment.
Voted, to accept the report of the Overseers of the Poor with a vote of thanks for their services.
Voted, that the reports of the Selectmen & Firewards be accepted with a vote of thanks for their
services.
The Board of Health made no written report. It was Voted, that they be requested to examine into
the expenses of burying the dead, and report at the adjourned meeting.
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On the 5 to Article.
Voted, that the sum of five hundred dollars be appropriated for the repair of highways and Town
ways, and the sum of two hundred dollars for extra Highways the ensuing year to be expended at the
discretion of the Selectmen.
Voted, that one dollar per man, and not exceeding three dollars per team of two yoke of oxen, driver
& cart, be allowed per day for labor on the highways, and ten cents per hour for each man employed
in clearing snow.
On 6th Article.
Voted, that one dollar and ninety cents be allowed on each rated poll within the several School
Districts for the support of District Schools therein.
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On 7 Article.
Voted, that this article be referred to the Selectmen.
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On 8 Article.
Voted - The petition of Isaac Prince be granted, and that he have liberty to work out his highway
taxes for five years to come, on the way leading to his house - under the direction of the Surveyors
of that Ward.
On to 9th Article.
Voted, that this article be postponed indefinitely.
On10th Article.
Voted, that this article be referred to the Selectmen, to report at the adjourned meeting.
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On 11 Article.
Voted, that this article be referred to the Selectmen, with discretionary power
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On 12 article.
Voted, that the sum of sixty two hundred dollars be raised and assessed on the polls estates within
the Town for the purpose of defraying the debts of the Town, and the necessary expenses of the
ensuing year.
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On 13 Article.
Voted, that the resolutions proposed to the Town, be referred to the Assessors to report on the same
at the adjourned meeting.
Voted, the Selectmen be instructed not to approbate any person to be licensed as an innholder to sell
spiritous liquors, or as a retailer of the same: and we hereby remonstrate to the County
Commissioners against granting such licenses, and that the Inspector be directed to prosecute in
behalf of this Town all violations of the License Laws, within our limits.
Voted, that the bill for refreshments submitted to the Town by Lewis Hubert, be referred to the
Selectmen, and that they be authorized to pay the same, provided they become satisfied, that it is the
opinion of a majority of the Firewards, that the aforesaid bill ought to be paid.
Voted, that the motion submitted to the meeting, requesting that hereafter all public notices shall be
posted on the Town Hall, instead of at the various churches, be postponed till the adjourned meeting.
It was then Voted that when this meeting adjourns, it adjourns to the First Monday in April next at
One o’clock P.M.
It was then Voted that this Meeting adjourn.
Adjourned.
Attest.Edward Bradstreet,
Town Clerk
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At a legal meeting of the qualified voters of this Town, held on the 4 of April 1842, it being
the adjournment of the annual March meeting. John Safford, Moderator.
Voted, that, Benjamin Preston Jr. be one of the Assessors. Joseph Woodberry 3d having declined.
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Voted that Josiah Lovett 2 and William Endicott be School Committee, W. C. Boyden & James
Haskell, declining.
Voted, that Simeon Beckford, be Surveyor of Shingles and Clapboards, Seth Dodge, declining.
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Voted, that Josiah Woodberry, John Tuck 2, Elbridge Fisk, be Auditors, the others having declined.
Voted, that James Stone, Edward Kilham, Josiah Woodberry, Andrew W. Standley, John Bradshaw,
be Firewards - in place of Charles Stephens, Daniel Cross, Paul Hildreth, Joel Woodberry, William
D. Crosfield- who declined.
Voted, that William A. Foster be Field Driver Ward 2 Peter Ober declining.
Voted, that Stephen Cree, be Field Driver Ward 3 Israel Lefavour declining.
Voted, that Wm. T. Trask be Field Driver Ward 4 Jeremiah Choate declining.
Voted, that Herbert S. Smith and Isaac Smith be Field Drivers in Ward 5. Edward Bartlett declining.
Voted, that John Curtis and Ezra Ober be Field Drivers in Ward 6. Johnny E. Baker declining.
It was then Voted, That, as the number of Field Drivers required by the Town Regulations has been
chosen, the vote passed at the March meeting, that one or more Field Drivers be chosen in each
Ward, be reconsidered.
Voted, that the following report of the Auditors, to whom was referred the report of the Committee
on the Thorndike Estate, be accepted.
“The report referred to the Auditors has been examined by them, and they believe it to be
correct. They think it proper to state that no bills for services and expenses of the Committee are
included in that report, with the exception of the one in the Auditors report in March.”
Signed Edward Pousland
Samuel Dike
April 4,1842.
In reference to the Selectmen’s Report, it was Voted, that so much of it, as refers to the Pierce Hill
so-called in Conant Street, and Rubly Hill, be recommitted to them.
Voted, that they be authorized to repair all damage done on “Rubly Hill, since it was accepted by the
County Commissioners.
Voted, that the Selectmen be authorized to pay the damage sustained by James Stone, by having the
land ploughed up before house, provided it does not exceed “Ten Dollars.”
The Board of Health, made no report this meeting.
The motion respecting the posting up of public notices on the Town Hall etc. was withdrawn by the
mover.
The Assessors having made a report on the resolutions submitted by George
Brown at the March meeting, it was Voted that it be laid on the table.
Voted. That the Treasurer and Collector deliver, or cause to be delivered at the residence of each
Inhabitant of the Town, as soon as may be after the taxes are made, in each year, a bill of the taxes
he has been doomed to pay by the Assessors, and that notice, shall be printed on said bill, to all
persons to call on said Collector and pay the same, stating the hours of the day when he will be at his
office.
Voted, that all taxes on personal and real-estate now due the Town which shall not be paid on or
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before the 15 of this month be immediately put in suit by the Collector, commencing with the largest
tax & so on to the smallest tax; and also, all taxes which may or shall be levied, and shall not be paid
on or before the first day of February in the current year - then the Collector shall immediately
commence suit for the same, taking the largest tax first and so on to the smallest.
Voted, that the Treasurer & Collector have “one and a half percent” on all taxes collected, for his
services.
Voted, that the Treasurer and Collector allow a discount of ten percent to all persons who shall pay
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their Town tax on or before the 30 of September next, and a discount of five percent to all who shall
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pay the same on a before the 15 of January next; such persons having paid all former taxes to the
Town.
Voted, that this Meeting be dissolved which was so declared to be.
Attest.Edward Bradstreet, Town Clerk.