1781-04-02At a Meeting of the male Inhabitants of the Town Beverly of 21 years of age and upwards qualified
agreeable to the New Constitution and form of government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
to vote in the choice of governor, Lieutenant Governor and persons for Senators and Councillors
legally warned and assembled on Monday the 2nd day of April 1781.
And the Selectmen presided at said meeting and the vote received for Governor, Lieutenant Governor
and persons for Senators and Councillors are followith. viz.
Votes received for a Governor
For His Excellency John Hancock Esq.23
Votes received for a Lieut. Governor
For His Honor Thomas Cushing Esq.23
Votes received for Senators and persons for Councillors
For Honorable Azor Orne Esq. 24
For Honorable Samuel Holten Esq.24
For Honorable Stephen Choate Esq. 24
For Honorable Samuel Phillips Esq.24
For Honorable Jonathan Greenleaf Esq.24
For Honorable Aaron Wood Esq.24
And a list of the above said persons & votes was made by the Town Clerk in the presence of the
meeting and attested by the Selectmen and Town Clerk and directed to the Secretary’s Office of this
Commonwealth.Attest.Joseph Wood, T. Clerk
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At a Legal Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town Beverly on Monday the 2
day of April 1781.
Larkin Thorndike Esq. was chosen Moderator.
Voted. The Capt. James Lovett, their Town Treasurer, be desired to liquidate all the Town securities
which have been given by their Treasurers, Selectmen or Committees in their behalf by the
sale of depreciation made by the Commonwealth and that the sum so liquidated shall be paid
in gold or silver or in bills of credit current in this Commonwealth at their real value as is or
shall be prescribed by the laws of this Commonwealth. And the said Town Treasurer is
hereby empowered in the name and behalf of this Town to give his note for a term not less
than one year with interest until paid to all such persons as are willing to have the interest due
on their securities consolidated with be principle to be paid in such manner as is above
prescribed.
And the Town Treasurer is directed to lay before the Town at their next May meeting a list of the
whole amount of the Town’s debt where securities are given and what part thereof is immediately
demanded.
Josiah Trow Jr. was chosen Constable, Dr. Israel Woodberry chosen at the last March meeting
refusing to serve.
Ebenezer Trask was chosen to serve as Constable
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William Trask 2 chosen on the 15 of March last to serve Constable refusing to serve.
Voted. That Robert Patch be excused from serving Constable and Benjamin Obear chosen to serve
in his room, it going for said Patch’s turn. John Stone was chosen to serve Field Driver and
William Green Fence Viewer in the room of those refusing to serve.
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Voted. That Jonathan Dodge 2 be their agent the current year to prosecute to final judgment in the
law in the behalf of this Town all such persons as refuse to serve in the several offices where
there is a fine by law annexed to said offices for not serving whereunto they were severally
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chosen at their annual Town Meeting on the 12 & 15 of March last or may or shall be
chosen at this or any other legal Town Meeting the ensuing year.
Voted. That Francis Smith be excused from serving on the Grand Jury at the Court of the General
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Sessions of the Peace etc. etc. etc. and to Joseph Lovett 2 chosen to serve in his room.
Town Meeting dissolved.
I, the subscriber, do hereby covenant, promise and agree to and with the Selectmen as Overseers of
the Poor of the Town Beverly to keep and maintain Molly Presson, a poor child under their care, the
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full term of one-year commencing on the 7 of April next and to find and provide for and unto the
said Molly good and sufficient meat, drink, washing and lodging, apparel & nursing whole of said
term, Doctor bills excepted, for and in consideration of the sum of two shillings hard money per week
or the current exchange in paper money to be paid quarterly if desired.
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Beverly April 3 1781. James Patch.