1776-06-13th
At a legal meeting of Inhabitants of the Town of Beverly June 13 1776.
Mr. William Hazeltine, William Elliott, Capt. John Woodberry, & Mr. Job Smith were appointed as
the law directs to serve on the Petit Jury at the Court of General Sessions of the Peace and Inferior
Court of Common Pleas to be holden at Salem on the second Tuesday of July next. Also Mr. William
Taylor was chosen to serve on the Grand Jury at the Court of Judicature Court of Assize and General
Jail Delivery to be holden at Ipswich on the third Tuesday of June instant and Mr. Thomas Stephens
was chosen to serve on the Petit Jury at said Court.
Also Capt. Joseph Rae, Mr. Mark Dodge Jr., Lieut. Samuel Cole & Capt. Josiah Woodberry
were chosen to serve on the Jury at the Court of Justice directed to try and condemn all vessels that
should be found infesting on the sea coast etc. to be holden at Salem on the seventeenth instant.
Benjamin Jones Esq. was chosen Moderator for the remaining business of the above said meeting.
Voted the following Instructions to their Representative to the Honorable Great and General Court
Capt. Josiah Batchelder Jr.
Sir: Agreeable to the Resolves of the Honorable House of Representatives of this Colony we instruct
you that should the Honorable Continental Congress for the Safety of the Colonies declare them
independent of Great Britain we be said Inhabitants will solemnly engage with our lives and fortunes
to support them in the measure.