1775-02-28At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Beverly on Feb. 28th1775.
Capt. Josiah Batchelder Jr. was chosen Moderator.
Voted that the Town will raise fifty-four Minutemen including officers.
Voted to give their Captains of the Minutemen three shillings and four pence for each half day service
in learning of the art military, the lieutenants two shillings and eight pence, the Ens. two shillings and
six pence and each private one shilling and eight pence.
Voted that their Minutemen turn out two half days in a week and four hours each half day to be spent
in learning the art military and continue so to do during the Town’s pleasure.
Voted that those Minutemen that do not fully comply with the articles of their enlistment shall not
be entitled to any pay for the above said services.
Voted that Col . Herrick together with the commission officers of the three companies of militia of
this Town be desired to draw up the articles of enlistment of the Minutemen for this Town.
Voted that the Minutemen shall be paid off once a month by Col. Henry Herrick Town Treasurer or
his successor in said trust for their services as above said they producing a certificate from the Captain
of the Minutemen that they have performed the above said service.
Voted that Col. Henry Herrick Town Treasurer be and hereby is empowered in behalf of this Town
to hire upon interest eighty pounds of money to pay off the Minutemen with and be accountable to
the Town for the same.
Voted that there shall be a watch kept in the nighttime within this Town and that it shall consist of
nine persons and be kept in three different places.
Voted that the commission officers of this Town shall appoint the places where and determine the
boundaries where each part of the watch shall patrol and see that the same be kept and regulated in
the best manner they can devise for the public good.
Voted that if the watch discover that any hostilities are likely to be made on the Town or any of the
Inhabitants thereof they are to make an alarm by firing of three guns and the ringing of the bells.