1857-03-09Commonwealth 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 Ninth day of
March next at Nine o’clock before noon for the following purposes, - the viz.:
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1. To choose a Moderator.
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2. To choose town officers for the ensuing year, and grant them such pay for their services as the
Town may think expedient.
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3. To see what measures the Town will take in reference to an order of notice from the General
Court, on the petition of Josiah Gray and others, praying for the annexation of Ryal Side School
District in this town to the town of Danvers.
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4. To take such measures as may be deemed necessary in relation to an order of notice on the
petition of the proprietors of Essex Bridge for a renewal of their charter [now pending before the
Legislature.]
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5. To see if the Town will provide a new Fire Engine & Reservoir and appropriate money for the
same to be located at the Cove - per petition of E. Perry & others.
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6. To see if the Town will cause a Water Cistern to be built in Knowlton St. near Dane St. Church,
for the use of the Town in case of fire - per petition of I. Appleton & others.
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7. To see if the Town will grant Saml. McFarland some further remuneration for damages sustained
by him in changing the grade of Bow St. - per his petition.
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8. To see if the Town will allow Ephraim Harris a sufficient sum to defray the expense of making
an entrance to his land from Lothrop St. - per his petition.
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9. To see if the Town will cause the Old Wallis House and other buildings which now lay within the
located limits of Bow St. to be removed so that said way may be unobstructed - per petition of G.
Batchelder and others.
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10. To see if the Town will accept and allow of the laying out as a Town way, the open way in said
town known as Stone Street, extending from near the junction of Davis & Cabot Streets, opposite
School Street, easterly to Bartlett Street near the residence of Benjamin Wallis; according to the
report of the Selectmen now on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
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11. To see what action the Town will take in regard to the several School Districts in Town; either
by new districting the whole Town, or by changing the lines of any of the existing districts, or do
anything respecting the same they may think proper: - per petition of T. B. Smith & others.
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12. To see if the Town wall grant the petition of John Porter & 3 others asking liberty to work out
their highway taxes on the way leading from their respective lands to the county road; - per their
petition.
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13. To see what measures the Town will adopt to protect themselves from the unlawful traffic in
intoxicating liquors and the evil consequences resulting therefrom.
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14. 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 the establishment and support of the High School
and also in regard to furnishing School Books as the Town may think expedient.
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15. To adopt such measures, grant such sums of money, and make such regulations respecting the
construction, repairs and improvement of the Highways and Town ways throughout the Town as may
be deemed expedient.
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16. 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 the Town
may deem expedient, and make all necessary allowances and regulations respecting the same.
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17. To see if the Town will approve of 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 the seal this twenty-seventh day of February in the year Eighteen hundred fifty-
seven
Lawson WalkerSelectmen
Aaron Dodge of
John Pickett Beverly
Essex, ss. Beverly Feb. 28,1857. This is to certify that I have notified the persons within named as
within directed by posting up warrants at or near each of the meeting houses in Town.
Jacob Lunt, 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 pursuant to the warrant
recorded on the two next preceding pages at the Town Hall on Monday the Ninth day of March in
the year Eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, 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 warrant, and received the ballots for Moderator, and the meeting:
Voted, by ballot, that William H. Lovett be Moderator.
Prayers were then offered by Rev. Joseph C. Foster.
Voted, by ballot, that James Hill be Town Clerk.
Then in open town meeting immediately after the above choice James Hill aforesaid was sworn to the
faithful discharge of the duties of the office of Town Clerk of the town of Beverly, by and before me
Wm. H. Lovett, Moderator.
Voted. To hear the Reports of the several boards of town officers, before electing town officers.
The that the Auditors Report be laid on the table till after hearing the other reports.
The Report of the Selectmen was read and accepted, as was also that of the Overseers of the
Poor.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone the subject of either a vote of thanks or censure to the Overseers
of the Poor.
The Reports of the Firewards and Board of Health were then read and accepted.
The Report of the Trustees of the Public Library not having been presented, it was Voted, to
defer the consideration of this report for the present. At a later stage of the meeting this report was
presented, read and accepted.
The Auditors Report was then taken from the table and after some discussion & explanation
was accepted.
Voted by ballot. That Lawson Walker, Aaron Dodge, William H. Lovett, John Ober & Thomas A.
Morgan be Selectmen.
Noon having arrived Voted to adjourn to half past one o’clock P.M.
At half past one o’clock P.M. the meeting again assembled.
Voted by ballot, that James Hill, Benjamin Preston, Perkins Haskell, Amos Lefavour and Samuel
Foster be Assessors.
Voted by ballot to Robert G. Bennett be Town Treasurer.
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, the John J. Dennis be Inspector of Police.
Voted, by ballot, that John J. Dennis, George T. Larcom, Levi Cole, Samuel D. G. Standley, Albert
T. Dodge, Ezra Edwards Jr., Eben Ray, Richard Pedrick, and Nathaniel T. Allen be Constables.
Voted, by ballot, the John B. Hill, Robert R. Endicott and Hooper A. Appleton be Auditors .
Voted. To postpone the election of School Committee till the adjournment of this meeting in April.
Voted. To postpone the Election of Trustee of the Public Library till the adjournment of this meeting
in April.
Voted by ballot, that Samuel Woodberry 2d, John H. Chester, Eben H. Moulton, John L. Story, Israel
Trask 5th, Edward Wallis 2d, Andrew L. Eaton, Nathl. Porter, Alpheus Davis, Francis E. Porter,
Joseph D. Glover, Andrew F. Wales & Charles P. Dodge, be Firewards.
Voted by ballot, that Edward Pousland, Jonathan Batchelder, Isaac Prince, William Putnam &
Jeremiah Porter, be Overseers of the Poor.
Voted. To take up the Report of the Trustees of the Public Library, this Report was then presented,
read, and it was voted that it be accepted.
Voted, by ballot, that William Endicott Jr. be a Trustee of the Public Library for the full term of five
years, and that Joseph G. Dodge be a Trustee of the Public Library to fill a vacancy caused by the
resignation of Charles W. Galloupe.
Voted. To choose the remaining officers by hand vote; and the following officers were thus chosen:
Board of Health, Augustus N. Clark, Ezra O. Woodberry, Charles H. Stocker.
Surveyors of Lumber, Robert Remmonds Jr., Warren Prince, John Meacom, William Webber, John
P. Ober, John H. Cross, John Ober, Benjamin Larcom.
Fence Viewers, Thomas Raymond, Hezekiah Foster, Edward Pousland.
Sealers of Leather, Joshua W. Carrico, Seth Norwood.
Inspector of Lime. Benjamin D. Grant.
Clerk of the Market. James Stone.
Surveyors of HighwaysField Drivers
Ward 1. Thomas HarrisWm. H. Teague. Wm. Moses
Ward 2. Henry BensonDaniel L. Trask
Ward 3. West D. EldredgeWest D. Eldredge
Ward 4. Timothy M. StandleyThomas Pierce
Ward 5. Ephraim HathawayIsaac Standley
Ward 6. David StandleyIsrael O. Edwards
Ward 7. Benjamin LuddenElijah E. Lummus
Ward 8. John W. RaymondStephen W. Roberts
Ward 9. John D. StandleyAlbert T. Dodge
Ward 10. James FriendWilliam Hale
Ward 11. William WebbJohn Ross
Ward 12. David H. CaldwellIsaac Smith 2d
Ward 13. John E. BakerCharles Elliott
Ward 14. Alfred ColeHugh Hill Jr.
Pound Keeper Ebenezer Trask.
Voted. That when we adjourn it be till tomorrow morning at Nine O’clock. Tuesday March
10,1857.
Voted. That this meeting do now adjourn, and it was so declared by the Moderator.
According to the adjournment above recorded, the annual March meeting again assembled at the
Town Hall, Tuesday morning March 10,1857, at Nine O’clock A.M. and was called to order by
William H. Lovett, Moderator.
Upon Article 3. Relating to the Order of Notice upon the petition of J. Gray & others.
Voted. Not to choose a Committee on this subject.
Voted. To reconsider the last vote.
Voted. To instruct the Representatives from this town to oppose the petition of Josiah Gray & others
now before the Legislature praying for the annexation of Ryal Side District in this town to the town
of Danvers.
Voted. The John Safford, Edward Pousland, & Seth Friend be a Committee to act in connection with
Representatives the petition of Josiah Gray & others, before the Committee of the Legislature.
A vision of the proprietors of Essex Bridge for renewal of their charter.
Voted. That John Safford, Edward Pousland, Seth Friend & Frederick W. Choate be a Committee
to act in connection with the Representatives from this town in opposing this petition before the
Committee of the Legislature.
Upon Article 5. Petition of Edward Perry & others for Fire Engine & Reservoir.
Voted. That so much of this article as relates to an Engine, be indefinitely postponed.
Voted. That the whole subject of this article be indefinitely postponed.
Upon Article 6. Petition of Isaac Appleton and others for a Cistern.
Voted. That the whole subject of this article be indefinitely postponed.
Upon Article 7. Petition of L. McFarland for damages.
Voted. To refer this subject to the Selectmen for their consideration, and that they report thereon
at the adjournment of this meeting in April.
Upon Article 8. Per petition of Ephraim Harris for a way.
Voted. That this petition be referred to the Selectmen for their consideration of that they report
thereon at the adjournment of this meeting in April.
Upon Article 9. Petition of G. Batchelder & others to remove Wallis House.
Voted. That the whole subject of this article be indefinitely postponed.
Upon Article 10. Report of Selectmen upon the laying out of Stone Street.
Voted. To accept and allow the laying out of the way known as Stone Street as a Town way,
according to the Report of the Selectmen; provided that it can be graded within one year without any
further land damage to any person.
The following is the Report of the Selectmen, - Upon a petition of Benjn. Wallis and others, for laying
out the way heretofore known as Stone Street as a Town way. Notice having been duly given to all
parties interested we the undersigned, Selectmen of the Town Beverly, did view the premises, and
hear the parties; and upon completion of said view and hearing did proceed to layout said Town way
in a manner and form following, to wit; Commencing at a point on Bartlett Street twenty feet
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Southerly of the central line of the Stone Estate, and running thence North 62 West about 433 feet
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to a stake, said way being forty feet wide for that extent, thence about North 56 degrees west forty-
six and one half feet to a stake; said way gradually narrowing to thirty-seven and a half feet in width
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at this point; thence about North 58 West forty-eight and a quarter feet to a stake four feet northerly
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of the near northeasterly corner of the shed or . part of James Stone’s dwelling house, gradually
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narrowing to thirty-six feet in width at this point; thence about North 62 West about Eighty three
and one half feet to a stake on Cabot St. eight feet, six inches northwest of the northwesterly corner
of James Stone’s dwelling house, at which point said way is forty feet in width; the last described line
running four and one half feet northerly of the northwesterly corner, and three feet northerly of the
northeasterly corner of the front portion of said Stone’s dwelling house. The above described line
is the Southerly boundary of said way, and said way is laid northerly of said line of the width indicated
in the above description. Reference also being had to the deeds of partition of the Stone Estate and
the survey thereof. And we have awarded no damages consequent upon the laying out of said Town
way. Witness our hands hereunto this twenty-sixth day of February in the year Eighteen hundred
fifty-seven.
Lawson Walker
Aaron DodgeSelectmen
Samuel Ober of
John Pickett Beverly
David H. Caldwell
Upon Article 11. Petition of T. B. Smith & others in regard to School Districts.
Voted. That this article be indefinitely postponed.
Upon Article 12. Petition of J. Porter & others for leave to work out their highway taxes.
Voted. That the prayer of the petitioners be granted for the term of one year.
Upon Article 13. 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 14, relating to the Schools.
Voted. To reconsider the vote whereby the Election of the School Committee was postponed till the
adjournment of this meeting in April.
Voted. To postpone the Election of School Committee, till the remaining business of the meeting has
been disposed of.
Voted. To act upon the difference subjects contained in this article separately.
Noon having arrived it was voted that the meeting adjourn to half past one o’clock P.M. at which
time the voters again assembled according to adjournment, and were called to order by the
Moderator.
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The 14 article being still before the meeting John I. Baker Esq., submitted a
motion, “That that the School Committee be instructed to furnish the School Books as heretofore
under the Act of May 21,1855.”
Joseph E. Ober Esq. offered a substitute to Mr. Baker’s motion in the
following words:
Voted. “That the School committee be instructed not to furnish the School
Books as heretofore under the Act of May 21,1855, and that all previous votes of the town on the
subject, giving them authority in the premises be rescinded.”
This motion was adopted by a decisive majority, and a motion to reconsider this last vote was
lost.
Voted. That the Books now in the hands of the School Committee, be divided among the Several
School Districts, in proportion to the number of children in each district between the ages of 5 & 15
years.
Voted. To consider the subjects of the High School, and of the annual appropriation for Schools
separately.
The following motion was offered by John I. Baker Esq..
“That the School Committee be authorized to establish a High School as required by law.”
This motion was rejected by a vote of 145 in favor to 213 opposed.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone the subject of establishing a High School. And a motion to
reconsider the vote indefinitely postponing the subject of the High School was offered by H. D.
Whitney Esq. and rejected by a considerable majority.
Voted. That the sum of Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars be appropriated for the support of
Schools throughout the Town the current year. The same to be expended and distributed as follows.-
one fifth of the whole sum 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.
Upon Article 15.Highways.
Voted. That the sum of Four Thousand Dollars be appropriated for the construction and repairs of
the highways and Town ways throughout the town and for Snow Bills of the past season.
Voted. That a sum not exceeding one Shilling per hour be paid each man, and that the sum be paid
for Teams, Ploughs, etc. shall be such as the Surveyors shall determine for all labor upon highways
& on Snow.
Upon Article 16.Money Grant.
Voted. That the sum of Twenty One Thousand Dollars be raised & 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 of Taxes 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
made, a list of the taxes such person has been assessed, and that a discount of five percent be made
on the Town Taxes of all persons who shall pay or settle all taxes due from them, upon or before the
fifteenth day of October 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 sum of Three Hundred Dollars be appropriated to the Public Library for the payment
of the Librarian, & others incidental expenses of the coming year.
Upon Article 17.Jury List.
Voted. That the List be referred to the Selectmen to report upon at the adjournment of this meeting
in April.
The business of the meeting having been disposed of, the meeting according to a vote past
at a previous stage of the meeting, proceeded to elect a School Committee, and it was,
Voted by ballot, that Rufus Putnam, Christopher T. Thayer, Joseph Abbott, Alonzo B. Rich, John
Nichols, Joseph C. Foster, Saml. Ordway, Joseph G. Dodge, Benjn. O. Peirce, John I. Baker, David
C. Foster & Frederic W. Choate, be School Committee for the ensuing year.
Voted. That when this meeting adjourn it be till Monday the sixth day of April next at one o’clock
afternoon.
Voted. That this meeting now adjourn and the Moderator so declared it adjourned to Monday April
6,1857 at one o’clock in the afternoon,
Attest.James Hill, Town Clerk.
At a legal meeting the qualified voters of the town of Beverly held the Town Hall on Monday the
Sixth day of April, in the year 1857, at One O’clock afternoon, the same being the adjournment of
Annual March Meeting.
The meeting was called to order at the time appointed, by the Moderator Wm.
H. Lovett, and proceeded with the transaction of the following business.
Voted, by ballot, That Joseph Thissell be Assessor, in place of Benjn. Preston who declines serving
in that office.
Voted, by ballot, That Jacob Lunt be Constable.
Voted, That the election of any more constables be dispensed with.
Voted, by ballot, That Wm. P. Moses, be Auditor, in place of John B. Hill who declines.
Voted, by ballot, That Levi Cole, be of the School Committee.
Voted, not to fill the remaining vacancies in the School Committee.
Voted by ballot, That Joseph E. Tuck, be Trustee of the Public Library, in place of William Endicott
Jr. who declines.
Voted by ballot, That Levi Cole be Fireward in place of Eben H. Moulton who declines.
Voted. To add one person to the Board of Firewards and Brackett C. Munsey, was accordingly
chosen Fireward.
Voted by ballot, that Israel W. Wallis, and Ezra Batchelder be Overseers of the Poor in place of
William Putnam and Jeremiah Porter who decline serving.
Voted. To choose the remaining officers by hand vote, and the following persons were thus chosen.
Board of Health Saml. Woodberry 2dinA. N. Clark
& Thomas P. Groceplace& C. H. Stockerwho decline.
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Surveyor of Lumber. Joseph E. Ober, in place of Benjn. Larcom, declined.
Clerk of Market. Robert G. Elliott in place of James Stone, declined.
Surveyors of Highways.
Ward 4. Dixey Woodberry in place of Timothy M. Standley declined.
Ward 10. Elnathan Dodge in place of James Friend declined.
Ward 11. Josiah Gray in place of William Webb declined.
Field Drivers
Ward 1. Jesse Dame
Ward 5. Peter Corning
Ward 3. Elisha Pride in place of West D. Eldridge declined.
Ward 6. Reuben Edwards in place of Israel O. Edwards declined.
Ward 7. Cyrus W. Ward in place of Elijah E. Lummus declined.
Ward 9. Edward Trask in place of Albert G. Dodge declined.
Ward 10. Sullivan Brown in place of Wm. Hale declined.
Ward 11. Josiah Gray in place of John Ross declined.
Ward 12. Aaron Dodge in place of Isaac Smith second declined.
Ward 13. William Cook in place of Charles Elliott declined.
Pound Keeper John E. Baker in place of Eben Trask declined.
Voted. To defer the reading of the Report of the School Committee till the remaining business of the
meeting is disposed of.
The following reports were presented by the Selectmen, read and accepted.
Upon the petition of S. McFarland which was referred to the Selectmen for
their consideration they would report as follows.
Having viewed the premises and heard the statement of Mr. McFarland, upon due
consideration of the subject, we did not feel authorized to award any further damages.
Upon the petition of Ephraim Harris for a way, which was referred to the consideration of the
Selectmen they would make the following Report. viz.. Upon a view of the premises and a hearing
of the matter, we believe that the award of the County Commissioners completely covered any claim
Mr. Harris may have for damage.
Signed. Wm. H. Lovett
L. WalkerSelectmen of Beverly
A. Dodge
J. Ober
Thos. A. Morgan
Voted. That the Town Treasurer be authorized to use the credit of the town to such an extent as may
be necessary to meet such lawful demands as may be made upon the treasury of the town until he
shall be in funds from the collector of taxes.
Voted. That that the Jury List be referred to the Selectmen for their further revision.
A motion was made by C. H. Stocker, as follows
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“That it is the sense of this meeting, that in revising the Jury List, the Selectmen should take
therefrom the names of all persons who have been upon said List during the last eight years, and who
been drawn out and served as jurors in that time; and suitable other names therefore.”
The above motion was adopted.
Voted. To reconsider the vote passed at the March Meeting, indefinitely postponing the whole
subject of the petition of Isaac Appleton and others, for a cistern, in Knowlton Street.
Voted. That the prayer of the aforesaid petitioners be granted, and, that the Board of Firewards be
authorized to build a cistern at some convenient point near Dane St. Church.
The School Committee Report was read, and it was
Voted. That the Report of the School Committee be referred back to the School Committee.
Voted. That in future, the School Committee present their Report to the town at the Annual March
Meeting.
Voted. That the vote past at the March Meeting whereby the subject of a cistern at the Cove, as
prayed for by E. Perry and others, was indefinitely postponed; be hereby reconsidered.
Voted. That the prayer of said petitioners be granted, and that the Board of Firewards be authorized
to construct a suitable cistern or reservoir at some convenient point near the School House in the
Cove District.
The report of the Agent for the purchase and supply of School Books was read and accepted.
Voted. That the School Committee be instructed to distribute what books they have on hand
immediately.
Voted. To reconsider the vote whereby the School Committee Report was referred back to that
Committee.
Voted. That the Report of the School Committee be accepted.
A motion “to reconsider the vote passed at the March Meeting whereby the subject of the
petition of T. B. Smith and others respecting School Districts was indefinitely postponed” was
negatived by the following vote, 62 in favor 87 opposed.
Voted. That this meeting be dissolved, and it was so declared by the Moderator.
Attest.James Hill, Town Clerk.