1776-03-11th
At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Beverly Mar. 11 1776.
Capt. Josiah Batchelder was chosen Moderator.
Voted that each District should have the nomination of their Selectmen and Assessors by each
districts repairing by themselves and their agreeing upon some person for that purpose and
such person to be by them nominated and the town to choose them if they see cause.
Voted that they will choose all their Town officers by hand votes
and each District nominated their Selectmen and Assessors accordingly
And the following persons were chosen to serve in the several respective offices as follows
viz.
Selectmen Capt. William Langdell, Mr. Benjamin Smith, Capt. Edmund Giles, Mr.
and Jonathan Conant, Joseph Wood.
Assessors
Town ClerkJoseph Wood.
Town Treasurer Col. Henry Herrick Esq. and for to have 2 pence per pound for receiving and
paying the Town money.
ConstablesCapt. Nicholas Thorndike, Farm Ward
Capt. Nathan Leach, Ferry Ward.
Mr. Jonathan Creesy, Royal Side [Ryal Side] Ward.
Capt. Livermore Whittridge, Bald Hill Ward.
ndnd
WardensJonathan Dodge 2 and William Trask 2
Surveyors of the for Ward No. 1 Capt. Jonathan Hart
HighwaysNo. 2 Mr. Williams Standley Jr..
No. 3 Mr. Peter Obear Jr.
No. 4 Mr. John Lovett 3d
No. 5 Mr. Benjamin Leech
No. 6 Mr. Francis Smith
No. 7 Mr. William Butman
No. 8 Mr. William Taylor
No. 9 Mr. Benjamin Shaw
No. 10 Mr. Joshua Cleaves
No. 11 Mr. Elisha Woodberry
No. 12 Ens. Bartholomew Trask
nd
HogreevesJonathan Standley, Robert Dodge 2, Richard Leech, Lieut. Samuel Cole,
nd
Benjamin Leech, Jonathan Dodge 2, Jonathan Dodge.
nd
TythingmenWilliam Morgan 2, William Sears, Joseph Perkins & Wells Standley.
Fence ViewersMalachi Woodberry, Nehemiah Presson, Jonathan Conant, Richard Leech,
William Taylor, Mark Dodge Jr.
Field DriversJonathan Patch, James Dodge, John Thissell, Lieut. Joshua Dodge, Willm.
Elliott.
Clerks of the MarketCapt. Josiah Batchelder Jr., Capt. Wm. Bartlett, Capt. James Lovett, Capt.
John Lovett, Capt. Joshua Cleaves & Richard Leech.
Cullers of Hoops,Capt. Caleb Dodge, Capt. John Lovett, Capt. James Lovett
Staves and Heading
Surveyors of Boards, Capt. John Lovett, Ens. Josiah Batchelder and Samuel Dane
Shingles, Clapboards
& Lumber
nd
Sealers of Leather Capt. Joseph Rae, Lieut. Peter Shaw & Robert Dodge 2
Cullers of Fish Capt. Larkin Thorndike, Isaac Thorndike & Simon Lovett
Pound Keeper Osman Trask
The votes for a County Treasurer and a County Register of Deeds were brought in and sealed up as
the law directs.
Voted That the Town will mend their Highway year ensuing by a tax on the polls and estates of its
Inhabitants and granted to sum of £ 100 to be assessed on the said inhabitants for that
purpose.
Voted That the swine should go at large the year ensuing being yoked and ringed as the law directs.
Voted That the Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety should consist of five persons.
Voted by ballot that Joseph Wood, Benjamin Smith, Capt. William Langdell, Capt. Edmund Giles,
and Jonathan Conant be their Committee of Correspondence, Inspection & Safety for the year
ensuing.
Voted That the Committee of Safety of this Town be empowered in behalf of the Town to purchase
of Mr. Crowninshield of Salem those two pieces of cannon that are borrowed of him for the
use of this Town in their fort and give their obligation for the payment for the same in the best
manner they can or the Town Treasurer is hereby empowered in behalf of the Town to give
his obligations for the payment of the above said money.
Voted That the Committee of Safety etc. of this Town be desired to wait on Col. Glover to see if he
will build some breastworks at West Beach and other places in the Town if necessary and if
he does not see cause to build said breastworks then the said Committee is to build them at
the cost and charge of the Town.
Capt. Larkin Thorndike & Capt. Joshua Cleaves were chosen as the law directs to serve on the Jury
th
at the Court of Justice to be held at Ipswich on the 18 of March instant.