History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 369
and continuing with little change to Johnson's corner, where
a new way was to be opened to South Amesbury, connect-
ing with the River road near the stone bridge.
The town opposed the new measure, but the petitioners
were finally successful and the road was located and built.
Rev. Albert Paine, of the Congregational church at West
Amesbury, was formally dismissed April nth, and Rev. Lean-
der Thompson installed as pastor September 20th.
1855.
The town, by leave of the legislature, sold the ancient
landing at the Mills to the Salisbury Manufacturing Company
for the sum of $2045. This again brought up the question
which caused the bitter strife of 1837, viz.: the division of
the money among the inhabitants. This subject came up at the
annual meeting, and the divisionists had their own way and
ordered it to be divided "equally among the inhabitants
(paupers excepted.)" But this vote was destined to be short
lived, as on the 15 th inst. a second meeting was held and
the former vote reconsidered. The money was put into the
treasury to help pay the town debt.
This disposition of the money was not acquiesced in by a
portion of the citizens, and on the 29th inst. a meeting was
held, when the divisionists met with a signal defeat, the vote
standing sixty-six in favor of division and two hundred and
thirty-six against.
May 23d. A town meeting was held to act upon six articles
of amendment to the constitution of Massachusetts. The vote
stood twenty-five in favor and five against.
The first article embraced the plurality system in elections,
which has since become very popular and beneficial. The
articles were all rejected, however, by the commonwealth.
Rev. Robert F. Chase was elected rector of St. James
church and retained till 1858.
1856.
The town remonstrated against the extension of the charter
of the Essex Merrimac bridge, but without effect.
This is the ever memorable " Know Nothing " year and the
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