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History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

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HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 29 I<br />

attributed It to toryism or want <strong>of</strong> patriotism ; even on the 1 3th<br />

<strong>of</strong> March, 1775, when the town voted not to raise any minute<br />

men, the act <strong>of</strong> adjourning to the 20th inst. shows that further<br />

time was needed for consideration only. If there was a particle<br />

<strong>of</strong> doubt, it must forever be dispelled on the passage <strong>of</strong> the<br />

following unanimous vote this year :<br />

"Voted that this town will at all times as they have done to<br />

the utmost <strong>of</strong> their power oppose every enemy to the just<br />

rights and liberty <strong>of</strong> mankind and after that so wicked a con-<br />

spiracy against those Rights and liberty by certain Ingrates<br />

most <strong>of</strong> them natives <strong>of</strong> States and who have been refugees and<br />

declared Traitors to their Country, it is the opinion <strong>of</strong> this<br />

town that they ought never to be suffered to return but be<br />

excluded from having lot or portion among us."<br />

Thus boldly spoke <strong>Amesbury</strong> concerning tories. Every pos-<br />

sible exertion had been made during the almost hopeless strug-<br />

gle to raise men to fill the numerous calls. More than sixty-<br />

five thousand dollars had been hired to pay bounties and out-<br />

fits, and very large indebtedness had been incurred. The war<br />

now being ended, it was proper that some <strong>of</strong> its burdens should<br />

be borne by posterity, for they were to<br />

1784.<br />

reap its benefits.<br />

The price fixed for labor on the highway was "three shillings<br />

per day," and ^60 were raised to repair the highways. A com-<br />

mittee was chosen to look out the location for a road from the<br />

Ferry to Clapboard landing at South <strong>Amesbury</strong>, with instructions<br />

to report at an adjourned meeting, and then made the following<br />

report :—<br />

"<strong>Amesbury</strong> March 18th 1784. We the subscribers being<br />

appointed by the town at their meeting on the eighth day<br />

<strong>of</strong> this instant to view the way petitioned for by Samuel Fol-<br />

lingsbee and others from the way by Elijah Flanders by or near<br />

Merrimack River to the way near Mr Stephen Patten's on to<br />

Clapboard Landing, Have attended said service and are <strong>of</strong><br />

opinion that said way would be <strong>of</strong> general service and that it<br />

would accommodate some persons very much, therefore are <strong>of</strong><br />

opinion that if said way can be opened without any cost to the<br />

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