1696-07-06[Selectmen's Meeting July 6, 1696]
July 6, 1696. At a meeting of the Selectmen there was a town rate made amounting in the whole to the
sum of £51:00:11, the for said sum of £51:00:11, being divided into list one whereof containing the sum
£25:10:07, to be paid in money, was committed to Constable John Balch for the collecting and paying,
according to warrant as followeth viz: to Constable John Balch you are required in his Majesty's name, to
collect & gather of the several inhabitants within named, their several proportions as they are rated or
assessed, to the within list, rate or bill of assessments the sum being £25:10:7, to be paid in money, this
being the part that you are to gather of a rate of fifty pounds, ordered to me made according to a record on
our town book bearing the date the 23rd day of March, 1696 for the maintenance of the poor, and
defraying of the necessary charges arising in our town of Beverly, to which you are forthwith to pay into
the Town Treasurer, or other way as the Selectmen shall order, and if any person or persons shall refuse
or neglect to make payment of his or their respective sum or sums, set them to the within list rate or bill of
assessment, then you are to make distress for the same, according to law, and for your so doing this shall
be your warrant. Dated in Beverly July 6, 1696.
Thomas West, John Hill, Robert Bradford, and Edward Dodge, Samuel Balch, Selectmen.
At the same meeting of the Selectmen, the other list of the above said town rate, amounting to the sum of
twenty five pounds, & ten shillings and four pence made, and committed to Constable John Trask for the
collecting and paying with warrant thereupon, according to the terms of the warrant next above written.