History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 337
Hezekiah Nichols, collector of the town, being sick and infirm,
Maj. Daniel Weed was appointed to complete the collection.
March 4th. There was a great freshet in the Merrimac,
which carried away the Rocks bridge and did a great deal of
damage along the river.
Benjamin Lurvey, Esq., died January 24th, aged eighty-three
years. He lived at the Ferry, his house standing just north of
the old school-house. There was hardly an office in town with
which he had not been honored. He had been representative
five years, selectman twelve years, was a candidate for senator
in 1798, was frequently chosen moderator, and in short, had
served the town and parish in nearly every capacity. His prin-
cipal business seems to have been writing deeds and wills and set-
tling estates. He was, also, a teacher of navigation to private
pupils. The diary which he kept for many years up to the
time of his death, contains much valuable information.
1819.
The policy of allowing a discount for the prompt payment of
taxes was inaugurated this year by the allowance of six per cent,
for thirty days, four per cent, for sixty days and three per cent,
for ninety days.
The first instance of setting the collectorship up at auction is
also found on the record this year.
A new school district was ordered, as follows: "Voted to
set off from the Pond School district, the Pond highway dis-
trict as a separate school district."
Rev. Moses Welch was ordained pastor of the Second church
in June. The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Mr.
Tompkins, and Rev. Benjamin Sawyer, of the First church, made
the concluding prayer.
Marchant Cleaves died April 27th. He was by trade a tailor
and lived at the Mills, his house and little red shop standing
near the Dr. Sparhawk place. In 1767 he petitioned the town
for a piece of land at the Ferry to put a tailor shop on, that
section then being the most populous part of the town. In
1787, 1888 and 1/90 he served as selectman and seems to
have been prominent in parish affairs. During the latter part
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