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History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

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260 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.<br />

composed <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> the most substantial and influential citi-<br />

zens. The duties <strong>of</strong> this committee were to hold correspond-<br />

ence with the committee at head-quarters, and <strong>of</strong> other towns,<br />

and <strong>of</strong> deciding upon measures for the public good and safety.<br />

Theirs was the duty <strong>of</strong> directing the proper course to be taken,<br />

and the people and authorities were ready to carry out the<br />

measures advised. Forty pounds were raised to repair the high-<br />

ways and the selectmen allowed four pounds for their services.<br />

April 2 2d. Major David <strong>Merrill</strong> was chosen a delegate to a<br />

county convention to be held at Mr. Treadwell's tavern in Ips-<br />

wich. The object <strong>of</strong> this convention we are unable to state.<br />

The council <strong>org</strong>anized a new regiment in the towns <strong>of</strong> New-<br />

buryport, <strong>Amesbury</strong> and Salisbury to be designated as the Sec-<br />

ond Regiment. <strong>Amesbury</strong> was dissatisfied with the proportion<br />

<strong>of</strong> commissioned <strong>of</strong>ficers assigned to her and voted that "they<br />

thought they had not had their proper proportion <strong>of</strong> field <strong>of</strong>fi-<br />

cers."<br />

"At the same meeting Capt. William Bayley, Lieut. John<br />

Barnard and Christopher Sargent were chosen a committee to<br />

draw a petition or memorial and send to the honorable coun-<br />

cil and house <strong>of</strong> representatives in behalf <strong>of</strong> the town praying<br />

their honors to consider whether a second major is our full<br />

proportion <strong>of</strong> field <strong>of</strong>ficers, and redress us if they think we are<br />

agrieved."<br />

Each regiment was provided with three important <strong>of</strong>ficers, viz.<br />

Colonel, paid ,£15 per month, Lieut.-Col., paid ^12 per month,<br />

and Major, paid ,£10 per month, and neither <strong>of</strong> these <strong>of</strong>ficers<br />

had been taken from <strong>Amesbury</strong>, but simply a " Second Major."<br />

Those determined men who were watching every interest <strong>of</strong> the<br />

town were not to be slighted in any manner, without an attempt<br />

at redress. The effect <strong>of</strong> this petition is not known.<br />

British vessels were frequently seen <strong>of</strong>f the Bar, and C<strong>of</strong>fin, in<br />

his history <strong>of</strong> Newbury, gives an account <strong>of</strong> several that were<br />

taken and brought into Newburyport as prizes, viz. Jan. 15th<br />

the ship Friends, Feb. 16th, a bark <strong>of</strong> three hundred tons,<br />

March 1st, brig Nelly; and supposing that war vessels might<br />

attempt to enter the river to burn the town it was determined

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