History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

272 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
The several calls made upon the town during the year
amounted to seventy-three men, exclusive of the November
call for men to supply the places of those whose term expired
with the month.
"April y e 30 th 1777 then paid a bounty of three pounds each
to 14 soldiers agreeable to a vote of this town 42-0-0."
"May y e 3 d 1777 paid to Jacob Lancaster for carrying the
three year soldiers baggage to Cambridge 4-0-2."
" June 23 paid to Elijah Tilton for keeping school one month
2—17—7."
June 16. At the same meeting voted to build a place in
" Deac n Orlando Sargent's corn house on the towns cost to put
the towns stock of amunition and tools in."
" August 23 paid to Robert Rogers for finding boards nails
Joyce and making a town store in Deacon Sargents Barn 2—
—8."
Joseph Gould died in the army which previously occupied
Ticonderoga, on September 20th. This fort was taken July 2d
by Burgoyne.
Joseph Pressey and his sons John and Hezekiah (Friends),
enlisted this year and were turned out by the monthly meeting
1778.
Jan. 26th, 1778. A meeting was held at which Thomas
Rowell, Esq., was chosen moderator and then it was adjourned
to the house of Isaac Whittier forthwith. It was there voted to
chose a committee of seven men to draft instructions for " our
Representative consierning the Confederation and lay them
before the town at the adjournment of their meeting."
The selectmen with the addition of Thomas Rowell, Esq., Col.
Jonathan Bagley, Stephen Kelley and Capt. John Currier were
chosen for the above purpose, and then the meeting was
adjourned to meet February 3d, at the church meeting house
at the Pond hills. The report of this committee, composed of
the most prominent men in town, is well worth perusal, as it
clearly sets forth the views and ideas of the people at the time
the government was being formed. Their opinions were by no
means favorable to a strong central power that should control
8