1774-05-18th
At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Beverly on May 18 1774.
The Selectmen sat as Regulators of said meeting as the law directs and Mr. Josiah Batchelder Jr. was
chosen by a majority of votes to serve for and represent this Town at a Great and General Court or
assembly appointed to be convened, held and kept for his Majesty’s Service at the court house in
Boston on Wednesday the twenty-fifth day of May instant and so during their session or sessions.
Ens. Josiah Batchelder was chosen Moderator for the remaining business of said meeting.
Voted That the sum of two hundred forty pounds be assessed and raised on the rated polls and estates
within said Town to defray the growing charges arising within the same the ensuing year.
Voted that William Elliott should be a constable in the room and stead of Edmund Giles and that it
should go for said Giles’ term
Voted that the list of Jurors exhibited by the Selectmen shall be accepted and that the Selectmen be
and are hereby are empowered to put them into the juror boxes accordingly.
The committee appointed at the last annual March meeting to take under consideration the
six last articles of said meeting which were in the warrant therefore and make report to this meeting
report as follows, viz.
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To the Inhabitants of the Town of Beverly and Town Meeting assembled May 18 1774.
Whereas we the Subscribers were at a meeting of the Inhabitants of said Town of Beverly March
14th,1774 appointed a Committee to take under consideration the six last articles in the warrant for
calling said meeting and having examined into the said articles and heard the parties on said request
report as follows viz..
1ly. On the request of William Groves and others to see if the Town will layout a way from the
northwest quarter of Jonathan Woodberry’s land on which his house stands, to Obear Cove (so-
called) having viewed this requested way and heard the parties are of opinion that said way is both
necessary and convenient.
2ly. On the request of Benjamin Jones and others respecting the towns exchanging the old way to the
Town Landing at Frost Fish Brook with Mr. Benjamin Creesy for a new way to be found by him to
the said landing have viewed the said old way and the place proposed for the new way are of opinion
that the said exchange will be advantageous for both the Town and Mr. Creesy.
3ly. On the request of Benjamin Jones and Mr. Robert Dodge 2d and others respecting the towns
taking the School House near the Public meeting House in the Upper Parish in said Town to be the
Town’s Property and to keep and maintain the same for the future, having viewed said house and
considered the affair, are of opinion that it would be just & right for the Town to take said School
House to be their property according to said request.
4ly. On the petition of Josiah Trow and others to see if the Town will layout a way from said Trow’s
house to the road near William Trask’s house, having viewed the said requested way and heard the
parties, are of opinion that the it is necessary there should be a way laid out not only for said Trow’s
and others the petitioners but also for others and if Josiah Trow can prove that the way petitioned for
originally went through Trask’s land we think it ought to be laid through the same so as to do the
least damage and be a convenient way.
5ly. On the request of Dr. Israel Woodberry to see if the Town will allow to him Daniel Hayward’s
doctor bill on his late sickness, having inquired into said account are of opinion that if the said Dr.
Woodberry can prove to the satisfaction of the meeting that he was employed by one of the
Selectmen and not afterward forbidden for the said Hayward by other Selectmen he ought to be
allowed a reasonable account.
6ly. On the request of Joshua Ellinwood to see if the Town will allow him any consideration on
account of the damage he sustained by the falling of a wall upon him while at work on the Highways
under the command of Capt. William Bartlett Surveyor of the Highways having examined into the
affair are of the opinion that we ought to abate his poll tax on the Highways for the future
Jonathan Lovett
Ebenezer Trask
Benjamin Lovett
Voted that each article of the above said report [illegible] received and acted upon separately each
by itself as followeth viz..
1ly. Voted that the first article in said report be and the prayer of said petition granted.
2ly. Voted that second article of said report be accepted and the said request granted and that the
Selectmen be hereby appointed as agents in behalf of the Town with full power to exchange said way
with Mr. Creesy in such manner as they shall judge most reasonable.
3ly. Voted that the third article of said report be accepted and that the Town will receive said School
House to be their property according to said request.
4ly. Voted that the fourth article of said report should be accepted and the prayer of said petition
granted as soon as may be.
5ly. Voted that the fifth article in said report be accepted and that said Dr. Israel Woodberry shall
be allowed so much of his said account as Dr. Holyoke of Salem shall judge reasonable.
6ly. Voted that the sixth article of said report be accepted and that the prayer of the petition of the
said Joshua Ellinwood so far granted that his poll tax on the highway for the future shall be abated.
Voted that said Josiah Batchelder Jr. should be their agent with full power to petition to the General
Court in behalf of this Town for liberty to sell part or all of the Land that Ralph Ellinwood gave to
his daughter Abigail Ellinwood the improvement of to defray the charge that has arisen and shall arise
to this Town for her maintenance over and above the improvements of said land.
And then the Moderator dissolved the meeting.
Essex, ss. To Mr. Joseph Woodberry one of the Constables of the Town of Beverly. Greeting.
In his Majesty’s Name you are hereby required forthwith to notify and warn the Freeholders and other
Inhabitants of said Town that are qualified to vote according to Royal Charter in the choice of
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Representatives as also by law in Town affairs to assemble and meet together on Wednesday the 18
day of May instant at one of the clock afternoon at the stated place for holding Town Meeting in said
Town.
1ly. To elect and depute one or more person or persons to serve for and represent them in a great and
General Court or assembly appointed to be convened, held and kept for his Majesty’s Service at the
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court house in Boston upon Wednesday the 25 day of May instant and so [illegible] there.
2ly. To determine what sum of money the Town will grant to be assessed and raised on the ratable
polls and estates of said Town to defray the growing charges arising within the same the ensuing year.
3ly. To see if the Town will choose William Elliott to serve as Constable in the room and stead of
Capt. Edmund Giles who refuses to serve.
4ly. To regulate the Juror Boxes.
5ly. To receive the Report of a Committee appointed at the last annual March meeting to take under
consideration the six last articles of the warrant of said meeting and to make report to this meeting
and for to act anything relative to said articles or any of them as they may think proper. The substance
of said articles are as follows, viz.. 1ly. To see if the Town will lay out a way from Jonathan
Woodberry’s corner to Obear Cove so-called. 2ly. To exchange the way to Frost Fish Brook landing
with Mr. Benjamin Creesy. 3ly. To see if the Town will take the School House near the Upper
Meeting House in said Town to be their property. 4ly. To layout a way from Josiah Trow’s house
to the road near William Trask’s house. 5ly. To see if the Town will allow to Dr. Israel Woodberry
Daniel Howard’s doctors bill in his last sickness. 6ly. To see if the Town will make Joshua Ellinwood
any consideration on account of the damage he sustained by the falling of a wall upon him when at
work on the Highways.
6ly. To see if the Town will choose some person or persons as their agent or agents to petition to the
General Court in behalf of this Town for liberty to sell part or all of the land that Ralph Ellinwood
gave to his daughter Abigail Ellinwood the improvement of to defray the charge that has arisen and
shall arise to this Town for her maintenance over and above the improvements of the said land.
Hereof fail not but make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon at or before said time.
By order of the Selectmen.
Beverly May 5th, 1774.
Joseph Wood, T. Clerk
The foregoing is a true copy of a warrant which the Selectmen ordered the Town Clerk to issue out
on May the fifth 1774.
Attest Joseph Wood, Town Clerk.