1697-04-20[Selectmen's Meeting April 20, 1697]
At a meeting of the Selectmen on 20 April 1697, was two lists of a rate made, for the payment of Rev.
Mr. John Hale his salary or dues, for his labor in the work of the ministry, for the year begun the first day
of March 1696/7, and well and the last day of February 1697/8, the one list whereof amounting to the sum
of thirty eight pounds and fifteen shillings, to be paid in money, & committed to Constable William
Cleaves for the collecting and paying, with warrant writ thereon as followeth, viz.: to Constable William
Cleaves, you are required in his Majesty's name, to collect & gather of the several inhabitants within
named, their several proportions or sums as they are set, voted or assessed, to this list, rate or bill of
assessment, the whole sum being thirty eight pounds and fifteen shillings money, thirty two pounds
whereof you are to pay into the Rev. Mr. John Hale, minister of the gospel amongst us, for his salary, and
to do for his labor in the ministry amongst us, for the year begun the first day of March, 1696/7 and will
end the last day of February, 1697/8, that is to say eight pounds per quarter quarterly, and the remainder
of said sum of thirty eight pounds & fifteen shillings, being six pounds fifteen shillings, you are alike
required to pay into the Selectmen or their order, for the use of the town, and if any shall neglect or refuse
to make payment, of his or their respective sum or sums set to him or them to this rate, then you are to
make distress for the same according to law, and for your so doing this shall be our warrant.
Beverly dated April 20, 1697.
Thomas West, Robert Bradford, Thomas Woodberry, Isaac Woodberry, Samuel Balch, Selectmen.
At the same meeting of the Selectmen was also another list of a rate for the said Mr. Hale, for the
payment of him the said Mr. Hale the other part of his salary for said year, said list amounting in the
whole to the sum of thirty seven pounds & sixteen shillings, and committed to Constable Cornelius
Larcom for the collecting and paying, that is to say thirty two pounds to the said Mr. Hale, and the
remainder being five pounds and sixteen shillings, to be paid to the Selectmen or their order for the use of
the town with warrant indebted thereon, according to the term of the warrant above written.