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1841-03-08Essex, 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 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, (by posting notices according to Town Regulations) to act on the following Articles. viz. .: st 1. To choose a Moderator. d 2. To give in their ballots for a County Treasurer & for a Register of Deeds for said County. d 3. To choose town officers for the ensuing year and grant of such pay as the Town think proper. th 4. To hear and act on the report of the committee of the Town appointed on the fourth day of January last in regard to purchasing an estate for a Town Hall. th 5. To determine in what way the Town will pay for any estate bargained for, for a Town Hall, whether it shall be by applying for that purpose the Town’s share of the Surplus Revenue now invested in the Worcester Railroad stock, with the dividends and interest thereon accruing, and in the Treasurer’s hands; or by giving the Town’s security for the same in part or in the whole, or by taxes, or whether the Town will raise money in any other way for that purpose. th 6. To see if the Town will direct the above named Committee what they shall further do in respect to said Estate and in respect to the present Town Hall and the land under and adjoining it. th 7. To see if the Town will direct the Selectmen to lay out one or more new Town ways over said estate purchased for the Town, and over the lands of William Endicott, Albert Thorndike, Thomas Stephens & wife and Thomas P. Bancroft, and extend Lovett Street over Washington Street and over land of Jonathan H. Lovett & wife, and over said land purchased for the Town. th 8. 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. th 9. To see what measures the Town will adopt in regard to Schools the ensuing year, and grant money for the support of the same and make such regulations respecting the same as the Town think proper. th 10. To see what Regulations the Town will adopt in relation to the Fire Department and grant money for the support of the same and make such regulations respecting the same as they think proper. th 11. To see if the Town will grant liberty to Samuel Ober & others to work out their highway taxes for five years to come on the way leading to their houses at Ober’s Point. th 12. To see if they will give liberty to Benjamin Preston & others to work out their highway taxes on the way leading to their houses, for five years to come. th 13. To see if the Town will cause Engine House No. 1 to be removed to some location on Cabot Street near Elliott Street. th 14. To see if the Town will so alter the division line between the Middle and South School Districts as to include all the inhabitants south of Franklin Place in the South District. th 15. To see if the Town will cause the Causeway near John Standley’s house and the Causeway near Cedar Swamp to be severally widened and repaired. th 16. To see what measures the Town will adopt for rebuilding the fence around the Common or training field. th 17. To see if the Town will take any measures in regard to the price of land at the Cove near Witch Lane called the Shilager land. th 18. To see if the Town will allow the several bills of the late Hezekiah Wallis, of Ephraim Harris, James Stone and of the Selectmen. th 19. To see if the Town will modify or alter their present Town Regulations or make new Regulations as they think expedient. th 20. To see what sum of money the Town will grant to be raised and assessed on the polls & estates in said town for the purpose of the defraying the debts of the Town and the expenses of the ensuing year and make such regulations and allowances respecting the same as they may think proper. st 21. To see what measures the Town will take for revising their Jury List. And act and do anything in reference to either of the foregoing subjects the Town may think proper. You will give notice that the votes for Town Clerk, Selectmen, Assessors, School Committee, and Treasurer & Collector will all be received on one piece of paper unless the Town otherwise determine. 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 of February A.D. 1841. Jona. BatchelderSelectmen Isaac Galoux of Josiah Woodberry Beverly Essex ss. Beverly. March 8th A.D. 1841. Pursuant to the foregoing warrant I have notified the persons therein named to meet at the time and place and for the purposes therein specified by posting notices as therein directed. Francis Lamson, Constable. A true record. Attest. John I. Baker Town Clerk. At a legal meeting of the qualified voters of the Town of Beverly held on Monday the eighth day of March A.D. 1841 at Nine o’clock, before noon, pursuant to the foregoing warrant: the same being the Annual March Meeting- Voted. That John Safford be Moderator. Prayers were then offered by Rev. Charles W. Flanders of the First Baptist Church. On the Second Article in the Warrant in relation to County Treasurer & Register the electors proceeded to give in the votes for a County Treasurer within our County of Essex - and the whole number of ballots given in were sorted & counted according to law and were in all, sixty four, all of which were for William F. Wade of Ipswich. The electors also proceeded to give in their votes for a Register of Deeds for said County - and the whole number of ballots were sorted & counted according to law, and were in all, one hundred & thirty three of which number. Ralph H. French had seventy six Joseph Shed had forty four. Eleazer M. Dalton had Nine. Ezra Ober had one. Samuel Phillips had three. On the third Article - the Selectmen’s annual report was submitted in relation to Guide Posts, and to the general business of the Town, which report contained a recommendation to the Town to comply with the notice in the warrant in receiving the ballots on one piece of paper for different officers. Voted. To accept said report and to give them the thanks of the Town for their services. Voted. That the Town comply with said notice to ballot altogether for certain officers. The Electors then proceeded to vote accordingly and the following officers were elected. Town Clerk. John I. Baker, unanimous save five - Selectmen. Josiah Woodbury, James Haskell, Isaac Galoux, William H. Lovett, Edward T. Proctor. Assessors. Thomas Whittredge, Francis Lamson, Benjamin Preston Jr., William Putnam, Francis Woodbury. Treasurer & Collector. John P. Roundy. School Committee. C. T. Thayer, Joseph Abbott, E. M. Stone, J. Foote, W. Bushnell, P. P. Sanderson, C. W. Flanders, R. Rantoul, J. Safford, S. Baker, John Hatch, John Ober. Voted. That Daniel Hildreth, Robert Curry, Ezra Foster be Auditors. Voted. That Francis Lamson be Inspector of Police. The Town then elected the following officers by hand vote. Overseers of the Poor. Robert Rantoul, John Safford, Stephens Baker, Ezra Dodge, Andrew Ober. Firewards. Charles Stevens, Jesse Sheldon, Daniel Cross, Paul Hildreth, Samuel D. Turner, Issacher O. Foster, William Putnam, John Pickett, Wm. D. Crosfield, Ezra Batchelder, William H. Lovett, John Tuck 2d, Joel Woodbury. Board of Health. Israel Trask, Charles Stephens, Jesse Sheldon. Constables. Francis Lamson, Wm. D. Crosfield, John E. Baker, Samuel D. Turner. Surveyors of Lumber. Isaac Galoux, John Meacom, Warren Prince, Robert Remmonds Jr., Isaac Ober, Seaward Lee, Wm. Webber, Aretas Green, Samuel S. Ober. Surveyors of Shingles & Clapboards. John Porter 2d, Seth Dodge. Inspector of Lime. Philip E. Ober. Fence Viewers. Thomas Whittredge, John Porter 2d, John Meacom. Sealers of Leather, Thomas B. Smith, Ezra Woodberry. Surveyors of Highways.WardField Drivers Benjamin Preston Jr.1Obed Woodberry Jr.. Benjamin Smith2John M. Thissell. John W. Young3Edward Perry. David Standley4Jeremiah Choate. Paul Hildreth5Joseph T. Haskell, Andrew Wallis Perkins Haskell6Wm. Isaac Smith. Ezra Cleaves7Joseph Elliott, Robert Brown. Herbert S. Standley8Jesse Dame. Azor Dodge9David R. Howard. Benjamin Woodbury 2d10David Sheldon. Sullivan Brown11James Friend. William. E. Dodge12Wm. E. Dodge. Jonathan Cressy 2d13George Southwick. Dudley Dodge14John Dodge Pound Keeper. Benjamin Roundy. The report of the School Committee was then accepted with a vote of thanks for their services. The same action was also had on the Reports of the Overseers of the Poor with thanks. No report was received from the Auditors or Board of Health. The Firewards report was laid on a table til afternoon, noon having now arrived. Voted, to adjourn until one o’clock this afternoon. Adjourned accordingly. One o’clock P.M. met according to adjournment, and adopted the following. Voted. That all moneys that may hereafter be received from the Massachusetts School Fund, except such sum or sums as may be necessary for supplying the destitute with School Books be appropriated by the School Committee of the Town for the improvement of the District Schools according to the several rated polls in each District in such way and manner as they shall judge to be for the best interest of the said Schools and that the Said Committee be authorized to draw on the Treasurer for all such sum or sums. Voted. That the Selectmen be instructed not to approbate any person to be licensed as an innholder to sell spiritous liquids, or as a retailer of the same; and we hereby remonstrate to the committee against granting such licenses & that the Inspector be directed to prosecute in behalf of this Town all violations of the License Laws, within our limits. The Report of the Firewards was then taken up & accepted with thanks for services. ththththth On the 4, 5, 6 & 7 Articles. The Committee appointed on the 4 of January last in regard to purchasing an estate for a Town Hall submitted a report, detailing their action under said appointment, by which it appears they had purchased an Estate of the late Israel Thorndike for the sum of $6500, and had contracted with carpenters to alter the dwelling house into a Town Hall for $2275, and they recommended the adoption of certain votes accompanying said Report, which Report was accepted, and thereupon Voted. That the Town hereby assent to and ratify on their part the Contract of Sale entered into by their Committee in behalf of said Town which is in the following words - We the undersigned a Committee appointed by the Town of Beverly to purchase conditionally the Estate of the late Israel Thorndike of Beverly, do hereby agree, that we will bid at the auction sale of the mansion house, garden and field of the late deceased in Beverly, the sum of $6500 for the same, it being understood that the said Town are to have the estate for the said some unless more is bid therefore at auction, the estate of the minors interested in said estate to be sold by the guardians by order of court and the owners of other portions or interests in a manner satisfactory to said Committee, and other persons whose names are hereto affixed having an interest in said estate, or being agents or guardians for those interested, do hereby respectively agree that the sale of the whole of said estate shall be perfectly free and they will not interfere either themselves personally, or for their heirs or other persons interested neither will they employ anyone for themselves, or the heirs or others interested, to bid for them or to interfere at the sale of said Estate. It is further understood that the said Committee is to be satisfied with the quitclaim deed or deeds of the premises, but in case any encumbrance is found upon the estate, the said Town will not be required to take the same - In witness whereof, the parties have hereto subscribed their names this thirteenth day of January A. D. 1841 in Boston & Beverly. Geo. BrownMary T. H. Thorndike -Sarah Thorndike John SaffordWm. Appleton assignee to Israel Thorndike A. N. ClarkB. R. Nichols, guardian to Elizor F. and Martha Thorndike James HaskellAugustus Thorndike by Wm. H. Gardner his attorney Francis WoodberryJosiah Quincy Jr. guardian to M. A. P. and A. D. Thorndike. Voted. That the Town Treasurer be authorized & directed to settle with the owners of the Thorndike Estate for the price thereof $6500 and interest. That he pay them the proceeds of the shares of the Town in the Worcester Railroad Company & also the dividends thereon, and the balance in his hands, of the Town’s share of the Surplus Revenue, so-called, and further that he be empowered in the name & behalf of Town, to make, sign and deliver to said owners a note of hand for the balance on interest when deeds of the estate satisfactory to the Town’s Committee shall be delivered. Voted. That the aforesaid committee are authorized to sell and give deeds in the name of the Town of any parcel or parcels of land they may think it for the interest of the Town to sell, of said Thorndike estate after they shall have received deeds of the same for the Town. Voted. That the Selectmen are authorized and directed to layout and extend the ways over said Thorndike estate as marked on the plan now before the Town, made by John H. Nichols of Salem Feby. 1841, and over the land of Jonathan H. Lovett & wife, Wm. Endicott and Thomas P. Bancroft, and lay their doings before the Town for their acceptance at the adjournment of this meeting in April next. Voted. That the Committee be authorized to sell the old Town Hall and land under and adjoining for any sum not less than $800 they may be able to obtain and give deeds thereof in the name of Town- including in said sale that... the Hall belonging to the Town, and the Bell, and everything in the School Room with the stoves in the Selectmen and Assessors’ rooms. A motion was also made to authorize said committee to fit up an Armory in the stable on said estate and an Engine house therein, conditionally upon their having spare funds, which motion was referred to the April adjournment. On the 8th Article. Voted. That the sum of six hundred dollars be appropriated for the repair of Highways & Town ways and the sum of three 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 and, driver & cart, be allowed per day for labor on the Highways and ten cents per hour for each man employed in clearing snow. On the 9th Article. Voted. That one dollar and ninty cents be allowed on each rated poll within the several School Districts for the support of District Schools therein. th On the 10 Article. Voted. That the Firewards be authorized to keep the several Fire Engines well manned and in good order on the best terms they can for the Town, for the expenses of which duly approved & properly vouched the Selectmen are hereby authorized to draw on the Treasurer. On the 11 & 12th Articles. Petitions of J. Ober et al. & B. Preston et al. for working out highway taxes. Voted. The said petitions be granted under the direction of the Surveyor of their respective wards. th On the 13 Article. Petition of J. Tuck 2d et al. For removing Engine House, indefinitely postponed. th On the 14 Article. Petitioner D. Hildreth et al. altering district line. Indefinitely postponed. th On the 15 Article. Petition of W. A. Patch et al. Widening Causeway be referred to Selectmen. th On the 16 Article. Common Fence. Indefinitely postponed. Common not to be let for pasture. th On the 17 Article. Shilager land. Voted. That the same be referred to John Porter 2d, Francis Lamson & Josiah Lowell 2d to report the facts in reference thereto to the Town and recommend the future action of the Town in relation to said land. the On 18 Article. The bills of H. Wallis est. Selectmen and Railroad com. were paid by vote. Voted. That the bill of James Stone be indefinitely postponed. th On the 19 Article. Town Regulations. Voted. To refer the same to A. N. Clark, E. Pousland and J. I. Baker to report at adjournment. th On the 20 Article. Voted. That the sum of Nine thousand dollars be raised and assessed on the polls and estates within the Town for the purpose of the defraying the debts of the Town and the necessary expenses of the ensuing year. Voted. That the Treasurer & Collector allow a discount of ten percent to all persons who shall pay th their Town tax on or before the 30 of September next and a discount of five percent to all who shall th pay the same on or before the 15 of January next. Such persons having paid all former taxes due th the Town. And that he notify each person whose name is on his list ten days previous to said 30 of Sept. by leaving a ticket at their places of abode. Voted. That the Treasurer & Collector be hereby authorized, under the direction of the Selectmen to hire such sums of money on behalf of the inhabitants of this Town as may be necessary to meet the present outstanding orders of the Town & Overseers up to this date. And that he allow interest on all such orders hereafter presented him for payment from the time of such presentment, to be entered by him on the back of each order, until he is in funds to meet the same. stee On the 21 Article. Report of Jury com. Voted. To refer the whole subject to the Selectmen to report at the adjournment. The Committee appointed to settle damages with the Eastern Railroad Company, reported that they had settled with said company and received two deeds of land near the workhouse in behalf of Town, containing in all about one acre & 18 polls, and also $50 in cash which they had paid into the Town Treasury. Voted. To accept said Report. This certifies that John I. Baker took the oath prescribed by law to the office of Town Clerk for the Town of Beverly, in open Town Meeting, on Monday the 8th day of March A. D. 1841, for the ensuing year & until another is qualified in his stead. John Safford Voted. That this meeting stand adjourned to the 1st. Monday in April next at three o’clock afternoon. Attest. John I. Baker, Town Clerk.