1852-03-08Essex 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 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 year ensuing and grant them such pay for their services as may
be deemed expedient.
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3. To give in their ballots for a County Treasurer.
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4. To take such measures as may be deemed expedient in reference to the petition of Peter Pride and
others now pending before the Legislature for an Act of Incorporation as Proprietors of West Beach.
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5. To see if the Town will discontinue that portion of the town way located last year which extends
from Bartlett Street to May Street, per petition of Michael Whitney and others.
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6. To see if the town will make an extra appropriation for the improvement of Conant Street at
Conant’s Hill, and cause the same to be prosecuted with the least possible delay - per petition of John
Conant and others.
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7. To see if the town will grant Jonathan Batchelder’s petition for liberty at his own expense, to
repair the highway in front of the estate and of Nathaniel Batchelder 2d, and of said petitioners under
the orders and inspection of the Surveyor of the Ward.
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8. To see if the town will grant liberty to William H. Allen and others to work out their highway
taxes for five years to come upon the way known as Congress Street, according to their petition.
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9. To see what measures the town will take toward celebrating the coming anniversary of American
Independence, according to the petition of Henry E. Story and others.
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10. To see if the town will pass a Bylaw forbidding the practice of snowballing in the public streets
and also to prevent coasting across the same with sleds, by which practice the traveler is endangered.
- Also, to see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to appoint a sufficient police to enforce the
laws and keep order within the town, and raise money for the support of the police; according to the
petition of John P. Webber and others.
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11. To see if the town will cause Engine Number Five at Beverly Farms to be altered into a suction
or hydraulion Engine, and raise and appropriate money therefore, according to the petition of Nathl.
P. Allen and others.
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12. To see if the town will grant to the “Dodge’s Row School District,” so-called, the sum of
seventy-five dollars, in addition to what said District is entitled to draw on the present ratio of
distribution, from the money raised by the town for public schools, according to the petition of
Jeremiah Choate and others.
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13. To act upon the report of the Selectmen relative to the petition of Samuel D. G. Standley and
others, which was referred to said Selectmen at a town meeting held on the twelfth day of June last,
to report upon at the March Meeting: the same having reference to the town’s petitioning the County
Commissioners to new locate, widen and straighten the highway from near Chapman’s Corner East
northerly to Standley Street, thence northerly to Essex Street and by the same to Grover Street, and
thence to Dodge’s Row, and by new location thence northerly to near the house of Abraham Dodge
in Wenham.
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14. To see if the Town will take measures to prevent and restrict traffic in intoxicating liquors, and
cause prosecutions to be instituted in behalf of the town against the unlawful traffic in such liquors.
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15. To adopt such measures, grant such sums of money, and make such regulations respecting
schools within the town as may be deemed proper.
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16. To adopt such measures, grant such sums of money, and make such regulations respecting the
construction, repair and improvement of the highways and town ways of the town as may be deemed
expedient.
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17. To grant such sums of money to be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates within the
town, for defraying the debts of the town, and for the expenses of the ensuing year, as the town may
deem expedient; and make all necessary regulations and allowances respecting the same.
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18. 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 per day of February in the year eighteen
hundred and fifty-two.
Wm. H. Lovett
Joseph E. OberSelectmen
Haskett D. Whitney of
John I. Baker Beverly
Andrew C. Baker
Beverly February 28,1852. Pursuant to the foregoing warrant I have notified the persons
therein named as therein directed -
Benj. C. Sumner, Constable of Beverly.
A true record of the original warrant and a return thereon -
Attest,
John I. Baker, Town Clerk. To
At a legal meeting of the qualified voters of the town of Beverly held on Monday the eighth
day of March in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-two, at the Town Hall at nine o’clock before
noon, pursuant to the warrant recorded on the two next proceeding pages: - the same being the
annual March Meeting -
Voted, by ballot, That William H. Lovett be Moderator.
Prayers were then offered by Rev. Stillman Barden of the Universalist Society.
Voted, by ballot, That John I. Baker be Town Clerk.
Then John I. Baker immediately upon his being chosen Town Clerk as aforesaid was sworn faithfully
and impartially to discharge and perform the duties of his said office for the current municipal year,
and until another be chosen and qualified in his place -
In open town meeting, before me, Wm. H. Lovett, Moderator.
Voted, by ballot, That William H. Lovett, Haskett D. Whitney, Joseph E. Ober, Andrew C. Baker,
and Alpheus Davis be Selectmen.
Voted, upon motion of F. W. Choate, That the Third Article in the warrant be now taken up, and that
the ballot box for County Treasurer be now opened and kept open till four o’clock this afternoon -
Then proceeded to the election of the other town officers, and the following were chosen by ballot -
Assessors, Francis Lamson, Benjamin Preston, Charles Perry, Samuel Foster, James Hill.
Treasurer, Robert G. Bennett.
Collector of Taxes, Jacob Lunt.
Inspector, Jacob Lunt.
Constables, Francis Lamson, Jacob Lunt, Charles H. Stocker, Benjamin C. Sumner, Samuel Foster,
Nathaniel P. Allen, Samuel D. G. Standley.
Voted, that the salary of the Treasurer be twenty dollars, and that the Collector receive two percent
on all monies collected by him and paid into the Treasury.
Noon had having arrived, adjourned to 1½ o’clock P.M.
Voted, by ballot, That Rev. C. W. Redding, Rev. J. Abbott, Rev. A. Gannett, Rev. S. Barden, F. W.
Choate, D.C. Foster, Samuel Foster, Zachariah Cole, A. Moulton, C. W. Haddock, J. G. Dodge and
John Knowlton be the School Committee.
Voted, by ballot, That Wm. H. Lovett, Henry E. Story, William H. Allen, Joseph T. Haskell, William
Porter, Francis M. Masury, Joseph D. Glover, Daniel Trow, Benjamin C. Sumner, Nathaniel Porter,
James Crockett, Abraham B. Lord, George S. Millett, Nathaniel P. Allen and Edward Wallis 2d be
Firewards.
Voted, That all the other officers be chosen by hand vote, and the following were thus elected.
Auditors, Thomas Pousland, John B. Hill, Joseph T. Haskell.
Overseers of the Poor, Robert Rantoul, John Safford, Stephens Baker, Henry Larcom, Samuel D. G.
Standley.
Board of Health, Augustus N. Clark, Stephens Baker, Samuel Woodbury.
Fence Viewers, Edward Pousland, Hezekiah Foster, Isaac Prince.
Surveyors of Lumber, Robert Remmonds, Robert Remmonds Jr., Benjamin Larcom, John Meacom,
John Ober.
Inspector of Lime, Benjamin C. Sumner.
Sealers of Leather, William A. Foster, Alpheus Trask.
Clerk of Market, James Stone.
Field Drivers
Ward 1. Charles KimballWard8. Amos Trask
Benj. C. Sumner9. Charles Perry
2. Albert Brower10. Andrew C. Baker
3.11. John Ross
4. Samuel A. Edwards12. Perkins Foster
5. Isaac C. Groce13. Joseph D. Glover
6. Amos Burnham14. James Jennings
7. Oliver Edwards
Pound Keeper, Ebenezer Trask.
Surveyors of Highways.
Ward1. Isaac AppletonWard8. Azor Dodge
2. Abraham H. Fisk9. Albert T. Dodge
3. Joseph Ober10. Sullivan Brown
4. Joseph L. Ober11. William Webb
5. Hooper A. Appleton12. Joseph Cressy 2d
6. Reuben Edwards13. Eleazar Giles
7. Benjamin Ludden14. Thomas Burke 2d
The several reports of the Auditors, School Committee, Overseers of the Poor, Firewards,
and Board of Health were then separately considered, and were each accepted with the thanks of the
town for their services: - a vote was adopted to print the reports of the School Committee, which was
afterward reconsidered, and the following was adopted upon motion of J. T. Haskell -
Voted, That the sum of ten dollars be appropriated to print the reports of the town officers in the
Beverly Citizen.
At four o’clock afternoon, the poll for County Treasurer was closed agreeably to the vote in
the morning and the following result ascertained as certified to the County Commissioners-
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
.
At the Annual Meeting of the qualified voters of the town of Beverly in the County of Essex,
held on the eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two,
the votes for a Treasurer of said County having been duly reviewed, were sorted in open town
meeting by the Moderator thereof, and the Town Clerk, and were as follows:-
For Allen W. Dodge of Hamilton, three hundred and thirty-four votes334
Dan Weed Jr. of Lawrence, seventy-one votes71
George Wilson of Marblehead one vote1
Whole number, four hundred and six406
Upon Article 4, relative to West Beach, on motion of R. Rantoul as amended by him at the suggestion
of E. Pousland-
Voted, That the Representatives of the town in the General Court be instructed to attend to the
interest of the town in regard to the incorporation of the Proprietors of West’s Beach, on the petition
of Peter Pride and others, so as to continue the obligation of said proprietors to maintain the
causeway near said Beach, and the road adjoining upon said Beach.
The petition of Benj. Upton, Master of the Salem Marine Society, and C. M. Endicott,
president of the East India Marine Society, now pending before the Legislature praying for authority
to appoint a Pilot Commissioner to see that the Pilots for the Port of Salem, attend to their duties,
came before the town upon an order of notice from the General Court, and thereupon it was upon
motion of F. W. Choate-
Voted, That the Representatives
from this town in the General Court be instructed to appear before the Committee having this matter
in charge, and to oppose the appointment of any Pilot Commissioner, who shall have any control over
those who have a right to pilot in or out of the harbor of Beverly.
Upon Article 5, relative to discontinuing that portion of the new town way between Bartlett
and May streets, a proposition of M. Whitney, as amended by him at the suggestion of W. D.
Crosfield, to discontinue that portion of said way which lies within the fences of Josiah Pickett and
Michael Whitney, continuing that line to Bartlett Street, was rejected by 161 votes to 170, and then
it was-
Voted, that this Article be indefinitely postponed.
Upon Article 6, relative to the improvement of Cherry Hill on Conant Street-
Voted, To refer the same to the Selectmen to examine and report upon the expense and the
expediency thereof at the adjournment of this meeting.
Upon Article 7, the petition of Jonathan Bathcelder for leave to repair at his own expense the
highway in front of his own estate, and that of Nathaniel Batchelder 2d.-
Voted, That the prayer of the petition be granted under the orders and inspection of the Surveyor of
the Ward.
Upon Article 8, the petition of W. H. Allen and others to work out their highway tax on
Congress Street-
Voted, That the same be indefinitely postponed.
Upon Article 9, relative to celebrating the next anniversary of American Independence, an
ineffectual attempt to appropriate five hundred dollars to that object was made, and then it was voted,
that the whole subject be indefinitely postponed.
Upon Article 10, relative to snowballing and disorder in the streets on motion of R. Rantoul,
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to take such measures as they may think to be necessary
to regulate or suppress coasting and snowballing in the streets. - And also to enforce the Bylaws in
relation to disorderly conduct of every description in the streets and public places.
Upon Article 11, relative to altering Engine Number Five into a hydraulion-
Voted, That the same be referred to the Firewards with authority to cause same to be done, and that
the Selectmen be authorized to draw on the Treasurer for the expense thereof, but not to exceed one
hundred and fifty dollars.
Article 12, Dodge’s Row petition was deferred until Article 15 should be considered.
Upon Article 13, the Selectmen reported that the improvement sought for is one that it would
be for the general interest of this town to promote and favor, and upon motion of W. A. Patch -
Voted, That the Selectmen be instructed to petition the County Commissioners in behalf of this town
forth with, to grant the improvements prayed for in the original petition of Samuel D. G. Standley and
others, upon which these proceedings are founded.
Upon Article 14, relative to the liquor traffic - upon motion of W. D. Crosfield-
Voted, The Selectmen be instructed to prosecute in behalf of this town all unauthorized dealers in
intoxicating liquors within the town.
It being now nearly dark and considerable business unfinished it was -
Voted, That this meeting be adjourned until Monday the fifth day of April next at one o’clock
afternoon.
Attest,
John I. Baker, Town Clerk.
The legal meeting of the qualified voters of the town of Beverly held on Monday the fifth day
of April of the year eighteen hundred and fifty two, by adjournment from the Annual March Meeting,
at the Town Hall in said town, at one o’clock afternoon-
The meeting was called to order by William H. Lovett, the Moderator, and the following
business transacted-
Voted, by ballot, That Rev. C. T. Thayer, Rev. Joseph Abbott, Rev. C. W. Reding, Rev. Allen
Gannett, Robert Rantoul, Wyatt C. Boyden and John Knowlton be of the School Committee, to fill
vacancies caused by the declination of Samuel Foster, Rev. S. Barden, and of Messrs. Abbott,
Reding, Gannett and Knowlton now rechosen, as well as to supply the place of C. W. Haddock
chosen and whom the Constable reports he cannot find.
Voted, by ballot, The David F. Foster be fireward in place of Francis M. Masury who declines
serving.
The following officers were then elected by hand vote.
Fence Viewer, - Thomas Raymond instead of Isaac Prince who declines.
Surveyor of Lumber, - William Webber instead of Robert Remmonds who declines.
Surveyor of Highways, Abraham B. Lord instead of Benjamin Ludden who declines, Ward 7.
Field Drivers, Issacher Foster in Ward 2, additional-
Jesse Dame for Ward 10.
Henry Cressy for Ward 13.
A motion to choose another Surveyor in Ward 1 was negatived. The ground of the motion
was said to be that the one heretofore chosen did not live quite within the limits of the Ward
according to its previously assigned limits-
The following additional report from the Auditors was then presented, and the same was
accepted, and was voted that the recommendation therein contained should be hereafter adopted by
the several officers of the town.
The Auditors in addition to their printed report, would respectfully recommend to the town
to cause the Selectmen to hold their last meeting for the drawing of orders on the last Monday in
February, as at present there is not enough time for the Auditors to examine the accounts and have
a report printed in season for distribution.
Beverly Mar. 8, 1852.
Thos. Pousland
Joseph T. HaskellAuditors
John B. Hill
In reference to the appropriation to alter Engine Number Five, made the meeting in March
it was stated by Mr. Haskell, in behalf of Firewards, that the sum was insufficient for the purpose,
were upon it was-
To Voted, That an additional sum of sixty dollars be appropriated for the purpose.
Article 12, which was passed over in March, was now taken up and after some discussion,
the same was indefinitely postponed.
Article 15, relative to Schools was next considered, and it was
Voted, That the sum of four thousand dollars be and the same hereby is appropriated for the
support of schools throughout the Town current year, - and that one eighth part thereof be divided
equally among the several School Districts, and that the residue of said sum be apportioned among
the same in the proportion of the inhabitants in each on the first day of May next, between the ages
of five and fifteen years.
Article 16, relative to Highways and town ways was next taken up, and under this head the
Selectmen to whom Article 5, was submitted for their consideration, reported and recommended an
appropriation of three hundred dollars to widened horse bridge, and to improve Cherry Hill on
Conant Street. This report was accepted and it was Voted, That the recommendation be adopted.
Under Article 16, it was also-
Voted, that the sum of three thousand be and the same hereby is appropriated for Highways
and town ways with in the town; three hundred and fifty dollars of said sum for the land damages in
the new town way in continuation of Lovett Street; three hundred dollars on Conant Street according
to the recommendation of the Selectmen; eight hundred dollars for the ordinary road repairs; and thea
balance to be expended upon the construction and improvement of the newly located Highways and
town ways within the town, and for the completion of other road improvements. All the above to
be expended under the direction of the Selectmen, who are also hereby further authorized and
empowered to use the credit of the town at their discretion to complete the construction of any vote
that this town may be under obligation to make.
Voted, That twelve and one half cents per hour, be allowed for each man, each horse, and each pair
of oxen, for labor on the roads and on snow; and twenty five cents per day for each cart and each
plough thus used.
Upon Article 17, relative to the Annual grants of money.
Voted, That the sum of twelve thousand dollars be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates
within the town to defray the debts of the town, and for the expenses of the town for the current
municipal year.
Voted, That the Collector of Taxes deliver or clause to be delivered at the last unusual 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 he allow five percent
discount on all town taxes paid on or before the fifteenth day of October next; - and that, as 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 down to the lowest tax: provided always, that the said Collector shall call once
for his tax after leaving the bill thereof, before putting the same in suit.
Under Article 18, the following list of Jurors was accepted and approved by the vote of the
inhabitants now assembled in town meeting:
The Selectmen submit the following triennial revisal of the list of Jurors,
comprising eighty nine inhabitants of this town, being one for every sixty of our population by the last
State Censes.
Stephen AbbottNathan H. FosterGeorge S. MillettJohn G. Smith
Thomas AndrewsRobert S. FosterWilliam MosesJohn L. Smith
Hooper A. AppletonJames FriendEben H. MoultonLevi D. Sheldon
Andrew C. BridgesEdmund GilesAndrew K. OberGeorge Southwick
David H. CaldwellAnderson GliddenJoseph E. OberBenjamin W. Standley
Joshua W. CarricoBenjamin D. GrantJoseph L. OberHerbert Standley
William P. CleavesJoseph GrayPhilip E.OberHenry E. Story
Samuel CoffinIsrael GreenSamuel Ober Jr.Jacob Simons
Levi ColeEphraim HathawaySamuel OdellJohn Thissell
Zachariah ColeEmerson HerrickRichard PedrickSamuel Thissell 2d
Joseph ConantLuther HerrickBenjamin F. PerkinsJohn F. Trow
John H. CrossJames HillJames PerryJacob Trout
Henry CressyFrancis JennessJeremiah PorterEdward Wallis 2d
Joshua H. DavisEdward KilhamJeremiah Porter 2dJeremiah Wallis
John J. DennisFrancis LarcomJoseph Porter Jr.John E. Wallis
Albert E. DodgePhilip Lee Jr.William PorterWilliam E. Weber
Richard Dodge Jr.John LefavourJoseph K. PrestonHaskett D. Whitney
William D. DodgeAbraham B. LordJohn PutnamEdwin Woodbury
William G. EnglishWilliam LordRobert Remmonds Jr.Elisah Woodbury
John K. FielderCharles T. LovettGeorge RoundyJoseph Woodbury 3d
Issachar FosterJohn Lovett 2dNathaniel T. SaffordStephen S. Woodbury
Joseph C. Foster Jr.James MasuryDaniel SargentStephen W. Woodbury
William G. Woodbury
Wm. H. Lovett
Joseph E. Ober
Haskett D. WhitneySelectmen of Beverly
John I. Baker
Andrew C. Baker
Beverly March 8, 1852.
Under Article 12, for an additional appropriation for Dodge’s Row School District-
Voted, That the petitioners have leave to withdraw.
Agreeably to the recommendation of the Board of Health it was
Voted, That the Board of Health be authorized to dispose of the Old Hearse, and to procure
a new Hearse for the use of the town, using for that purpose, the credit of the town at their discretion.
It was also Voted, That the Board of Firewards be authorized to sell and dispose of the old
Engine No. One.
Upon motion of Joseph E. Ober, Esq. After some discussion, it was
Voted, That a Committee of Five, chosen at-large, and one from each School District be chosen to
take into consideration the expediency of abolishing the School District System in this town, and to
report at some future meeting: and said committee was then chosen and constituted as follows:
Robert Rantoul, Rev. C. T. Thayer, Joseph E. Ober, Rev. C. W. Reding, Eben H. Moulton, S. D. G.
Standley, Charles Perry, Samuel Foster, Jeremiah Choate, John Knowlton, F. W. Choate, Rufus
Putnam, Daniel Foster, Joseph G. Dodge, and Levi Augustus Abbott.