History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

252 HISTORY OF AMESBURV.
money raised in the town for the Province use for the year 1774
to Henry Gardner Esq of stow he being appointed Treasurer
by the Provincial Congress," "and to do any other business the
town shall think proper."
At this meeting it was "voted to pay the money raised in
1774 and also that raised in 1773 to the Provincial Treasurer."
It was, also, "voted to give the minit men one shilling each
for exercising four hours in a week in the room of one shilling
in a fortnight as voted last meeting."
" At the same meeting it was voted that each minit man
shall have two dollars bounty paid them at their first marching
of provided they are called for by the Congress or a General
officer they may appoint."
This patriotic meeting was just two days before the fight at
Lexington. On the 24th instant a town meeting was held and
Doctor Nehemiah Ordway was chosen moderator.
"At the same meeting it was voted to send a man upon the
town's cost to Cambridge to the Minit men to see whether they
wanted their bounty or any part of it."
Since April 17th fifty men had been raised, equipped,
marched and arrived at the head-quarters of the Patriot army.
The selectmen were authorized to hire ;£ioo, lawful money,
for one year, to carry on the work thus begun.
Another meeting was held May 25th, and Capt. Caleb Pils-
bury was chosen a representative to the Provincial Congress for
six months.
June 6th. A town meeting was held, when it was voted to
join with Newburyport in sinking a pier at the mouth of the
river. This measure was considered of so much importance
that the meeting was called by one of the selectmen, the others
being away from town attending to matters relating to the army,
and with but two day's notice. Josiah Sargent, the only selectman
in town, had no scruples what course to take, when sup-
ported by the " Committee of Safety," who requested the meet-
ing.
The pier was sunk and Lieut. John Barnard and Lieut. Wil-
lis Patten boated a portion of the ballast for that purpose, for