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History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

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HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 3OI<br />

1787.<br />

"Voted that the Soldiers which have been in the service the<br />

winter past shall have the dollar each which they received <strong>of</strong><br />

the Selectmen as a bounty from the town, and that it shall not<br />

be deducted from their wages." These soldiers had been called<br />

out to assist in quelling the Shay rebellion. The condition <strong>of</strong> the<br />

country at this time was anything but satisfactory, and the rebell-<br />

ion simply showed the ill feeling which very generally prevailed.<br />

In fact, the times were believed to be so critical that a town<br />

meeting was called for the purpose <strong>of</strong> instructing the represent-<br />

ative-elect, Mr. Peleg Challis ; and Lieut. Ezra Worthen, Doctor<br />

Aaron Sawyer, Moses Chase, Capt. Benjamin Lurvey and John<br />

Kelley were chosen to draft the instructions. They were<br />

reported at an adjourned meeting, and as they embody a large<br />

amount <strong>of</strong> practical, common-sense doctrine, they will be given<br />

entire :<br />

—<br />

" To Mr Peleg Challis Sir :<br />

You being chosen to represent this town in the great and<br />

General Court for the year 1787 and as the said court is to be<br />

convened and held at Boston on the 31st <strong>of</strong> January 1787<br />

therefore the following instructions are presented to you from<br />

this town as part <strong>of</strong> the Rule <strong>of</strong> your conduct in said General<br />

Court during your continuing a member <strong>of</strong> said Court :<br />

First : You<br />

are not to act nor consent to anything against<br />

the present constitution as we look upon it to be the basis or<br />

foundation <strong>of</strong> security to every individual for life, liberty, pros-<br />

perity and character.<br />

Secondly :<br />

For<br />

obvious reasons we recommend and desire<br />

you to use your influence to have the General Court removed<br />

from the town <strong>of</strong> Boston.<br />

Thirdly : The<br />

court <strong>of</strong> Common Pleas is viewed by many to<br />

be rather a burden than a public benefit therefore we desire<br />

you to use your influence in case this subject should come<br />

before the General Court to have them set aside.<br />

Fourthly: Another thing calls for your attention that is. the<br />

scarcity <strong>of</strong> cash and the low ebb <strong>of</strong> trade and the want <strong>of</strong><br />

employment for Mechanics <strong>of</strong> almost every branch and the<br />

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