1691-07-01[Town Meeting, July 1, 1691]
The first day of July, 169 1. At a general town meeting John Dodge senr. was chosen constable in & of our
town of Beverly, for Bass River Ward, for one whole year next ensuing the date hereof.
At the same town meeting, Nicholas Woodburie [i. e. Woodberry] who is chosen constable for Mackerel
Cove ward, on the twenty -third day of June last past, but wouldn't serve in said office, by reason of his
employment with any convenience, said Woodburie [i.e. Woodberry] did agree & and bargained with
Jonathan Biles, to serve in his stead & in his, the said Woodburie's [i. e. Woodburie's], room for one
whole year from the date hereof, & said Biles did present himself personally at said meeting, & did then
and there acknowledge & said bargain, & did accept of said office, & and the inhabitants then convened
did accept of said Biles, in said office of a constable for said time, and said Woodburie [i. e. Woodberry]
was then & there wholly acquitted & cleared from said office & for said time by said inhabitants.
At the same town meeting it was taken into consideration by the inhabitants then met the great damage
that our town of Beverly is exposed unto, by particular persons whose land doth lye and is bounding upon
our town common land, by reason of said persons extending their boundary & and taking several parcels
of our said land, into their own properties unjustly & and unrighteously; for the prevention of such abuse
& rectifying of such disorders, there were chosen & appointed by the said inhabitants, Capt. William
Raymond, Lieut. William Dodge, & Mr. Nehemiah Grover as a committee to do said work, and to act in
said business above mentioned, & said committee are hereby fully empowered & authorized, by said
inhabitants that convened, to said matter & to regular & disorders.