1776-01-17th
At a Town Meeting legally warned and held January 17.1776 Col. Henry Herrick was chosen
Moderator.
Voted that the Town will hire 24 men to guard on the sea coast in the following manner viz. four men
each night to keep watch at guard at West Beach No. 1 and four men each night at the guard
house No. 2 near Mr. Benjamin Smith’s and that each man shall have 2/ for each night they
shall so guard.
Voted that Capt. Azariah Woodberry be Capt. of the watch No. 1 at West Beach and is hereby
empowered to procure 12 men for that watch and provide necessary fuel for the same period
Voted that Mr. Benjamin Smith be Capt. of the Watch No. 2 near his house and is hereby empowered
to procure 12 men for that watch and necessary fuel.
Voted that the sum of one hundred pounds be raised on the ratable polls and estates of this Town for
defraying the charges of watching and guarding and other extraordinary necessary charges
arising within the same etc.
Voted that when Col. Glover should cease to keep a watch at the fort that the Committee of
Correspondence procure 12 men to keep a guard at said fort six men each night and for to
have 2/ a man for each night so guarding and that they be provided with necessary fuel at the
cost of the Town.
Ordered the Treasurer to pay Mr. Henry Herrick Jr. twelve pounds for keeping of the
Grammar School in his first quarter as per agreement.
Ordered the Treasurer to pay Lieut. Joseph Rae eighteen shillings and six pence for
extraordinary charge and labor on the Highways as surveyor.
Ordered the Treasurer to pay and Andrew Cleaves one pound ten shillings for carting of 260
bushels of corn from the warehouses to sundry places.
Ordered the Treasurer to pay Lieut. Isaac Chapman three pounds ten shillings and eight pence
13/8 of said sum for extraordinary charge as surveyor and 57/ for his account of iron work for the
carriages of the cannon etc..
Ordered the Treasurer to pay Robert Baker twenty shilling in part for keeping of Caleb Clerk
his latter half year as per agreement.
Ordered the Treasurer to pay Robert Baker four pounds nineteen shillings and two pence in
full for keeping of Caleb Clerk in his last half year as per agreement.
Ordered the Treasurer to pay Benjamin Pickett six shillings and eight pence for shaving of
John Martin the year past.
Ordered the Treasurer to pay Josiah Morgan eighteen shillings in part for keeping Mary
Butman at his house.
Ordered the Treasurer to pay Capt. Edmund Giles one pound fourteen shillings and nine pence
5/10 of said sum for lumber for gun carriages and handspikes & and 28/11 for 723 feet of board, for
building the breastwork at Tuck’s Point.
Ordered the Treasurer to pay Thomas Champny one pound seven shillings and four pence for
two dozen of canisters for shot and for four chains and staples for the field pieces.
Ordered the Treasurer to pay Dea. Benjamin Cleaves fifteen shillings and four pence for
twenty-three feet of cordage for harnesses to haul the field pieces with.
Ordered the Treasurer to pay Larken Thorndike one pound seventeen shillings for 905 feet
of board, for to build breastworks with at Tuck’s Point.