1775-10-12th
At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Beverly on October 12 1775.
Col. Henry Herrick was chosen Moderator.
Voted that the Town will be at the charge procuring, by borrowing if can be obtained, six pieces of
cannon of the following dimensions, two six pounders and four four founders for the safety
and defense of this Town.
Voted that the Committee of Correspondence of this Town be and are hereby appointed a committee
in behalf of this Town to procure above said cannon and to get them mounted on carriages
at the charge of the Town in the following manner, viz. The twenty-nine pounders and two
of the four pounders on ship’s or fort carriages and the other two four pounders on field
carriages.
Voted that the Committee of Correspondence be appointed in behalf of this Town to build two
breastworks, one on Woodberry’s Head, the other on Paul’s Point so-called for the reception
of the above said cannon and procure such necessary materials for accomplishing the same
at the charge of the Town in the best manner they can.
Voted that the said Committee of Correspondence apply to some engineer or experienced person for
advice and direction how said breastworks should be built and the cannon placed.
Voted that one nine pounder and one four pounder be placed on Woodberry’s Point and the other
nine pounder and one four pounder be placed in the breastworks on Paul’s Point and the two
field pieces to be placed where the committee shall think it most for the public safety.
Voted that Capt. Nicholas Thorndike, Col. Henry Herrick and Mr. William Hazeltine be a Committee
to petition to His Excellency General Washington or to the Hon. Great and General Court or
both of them in the name and behalf of this Town for some sufficient quantity of ammunition
for the defense and safety of this Town.