River runs and that said Ferry so allow'd to be kept, hath hitherto been, kept, more than four miles above said Point, as said River runs, and that there hath, for a number of Years before the making-out said Charter, a Boat been kept and us'd, for the Conveniency of Travellers, passing said River, at ye Place where the publick Highway passes sa River from said Haverhill to said Newbury near the now Dwelling House of Richard Chamberlin in said Newbury which place is almost two miles below s Point, of the little Ox Bow, where your Petitioner beggs Leave to Say a Ferry ought Still to be kept for the Conveniencey of Travellers, Whereupon your Execellency's Petitioner, humbly prays, that Your Excellency would Grant him, Liberty to Sett up & keep a Ferry, accross said River, at or near s places where said Highway passes, from said Haverhill to sd Newbury by ye House of sa Chamberlin under usual Regulations & Restrictions and as in Duty bound Shall ever pray

Ports Novem' 13, 1772.

[5-51]

thom' Johnson

[A plan of a portion of Connecticut river. The ferry asked for was granted November 11, 1774.-ED.]

[5-50]

[Extract from Grant to Asa Porter.]

the Sole right of keeping a Ferry & keeping useing and employing a Ferry Boat or Boats for the Transporting of Men Horses Goods Cattle Carriages &c from the Shore of Haverhill afores-cross Connecticut river to the opposite Shore of Newbury & from s Newbury to the oppose Shore of Haverhill within one Mile on a Strait Line from that Part of HaverHill called the Point of the little Ox Bow being a Point of medow Land now in Possesion of Capt John Hazzan To Hold &c

And as a further encouragement to the said Asa Porter in and about the premises, we Will that none of our loving Subjects do presume to molest or interrupt the sd Asa Porter in his said Ferry or set up any other Ferry upon or Across the said River Connecticut, within One Mile above or below the Ferry of the said Asa Porter.

The above Two Paragraphs extracted from the Record of the Grant of Mr. Asa Porter's Ferry across Connect River from Haverhill to Newbury, and are truly Copied from thence

Attest Theodore Atkinson Sec

[5-51] [Report of the Committee on the matter of Granting a Ferry to Thomas Johnson.]

Pursuant to a Vote of Councill appointing us a committee to consider of the petition of Thom" Johnson for the priveledge of a Ferry across Connecticut river between the Towns of Haverhill and Newbury also the grant made to Asa Porter Esq' of a Ferry priveledge between said Towns beg Leave to report as follows. The grant made to Asa Porter Esq' we suppose fixes the place where said ferry is to be kept at the point of the little Ox Bow and that the priveledge of one mile above and one mile below said point is to be measured upon the river agreable to its general course, but upon viewing the plans exhibited to us by the Parties we find that the ferry now kept by Mr Porter is between three & four miles upon the river above said point & the place fixed upon by Mr Johnson is near Two miles upon the river below the aforesaid point. it also appears to us absolutely necessary for the public utility that two ferries be established across the River between the aforesaid Towns & nearly in the places now fixed upon by Mess Porter & Johnson as there is no Spot upon the river within a mile either above or below said point convenient for keeping a ferry we would also humbly suggest that care should be taken in all such grants that the Taxes arising therefrom should be paid in this Government

[5-52]

Mr Crocker

[Relative to dead Body found, 1776.]

D Peirce

D Rogers

The Bearer Mr Chamberlain informs me, that the Body of poor John Presson drowned this afternoon is just now taken up, and they are in quest of a Coroner to set upon him-I woud inform you, (if you are not already knowg to it) that you were appointed by the General Court at Exeter a Coroner for this County, and in Case you are willing to accept the Office, I am ready to administer the Oath-that you may do the Duty necessarily required & weh please to let me know immediately

Yr hum Serv

Haverhill 9th Augst 1776

J Hurd

Mr Crocker returnd this Billet with an Answer, that he did not chuse to accept the Office, for he did not like our form of Govern

To M' And S: Crocker present pr M' Chamberlain

Colo Hurd begs leave to recommend Mr Simeon Gooding of Haverhill (in the room of And S: Crocker)—for a Coroner

[5-53] [Enoch Bartlet's Complaint, 1780.]

To the Honble the Council And Representatives of the State of New Hampshire in General Court Assembled

The Petition Memorial And Address of Enoch Bartlet of Haverhill Humbly Shews.

That he Your petitioner has lately Suffered Much injury by a Sort of Banditti who in Contempt of all laws did at Northumberland in the County of Grafton in Said State in September last without Any colour of right commit a most horid ravage, by entering Upon his Your petitioners Grist Mill And Saw Mill in Said Northumberland (lately erected or repaired at a great expence) And Cut and destroy'd the wheels Shafts &c And took Away all the Iron Work of Said Mills Mill Stones and other Gear And a Quantity of Boards and Carried them a Cross Connecticut River into the State Called Vermont And improved them for other Mills-And have Since when demanded refused pay for the damages done-And that he having Apply'd to Gentlemen of the law in order to bring his Process Against the trespassers is informed by them, that Unless Some further provision is Made by the legislators of the State the good And wholesome laws of it Cannot be carried into execution-And As it has ever been esteem'd a great and most valuable part of our English liberties And Constitution founded on Magna Charta— That Justice and right Should Not be delay'd or denied to Any Man-And as the Suppression of laws And good Order in a State is Attended with Anarchy And the most fatal Consequences-He therefore humbly prays that you As the guardians of the just rights of the people And as legislators of the State will make provisions for the due And just Administration of Justice by law in every part of it—

And your petitioner is humbly of Opinion that if Such flagrant Acts of injustice Are conniv'd at And Not prosecuted, Every ones property in that county will be in danger, And that if he Shall Again furnish Stones Iron truck &c And repair Said Mills for the benefit of the Inhabitants he cannot think they will be Secure Against Such Free Bootery-And your petitioner also further Says-That he has Suffered much at the town of Bath in s County for that he could not enforce the Contract Against his Tenant who has improved his house And land there

for Some Years past-And for that on his Said Tenants leaving it without Notice, He by his attorney was obliged to let it on Very disadvantageous terms to procure one to enter immediately, To prevent one who was going to enter And get Possession

of it without leave

And Further Says that he cannot Suppose that his affairs (tho not the most trivial) will alone put you Upon Acting on the affair; But that a due consideration of the many Instances of Fraud, Injustice and oppression that prevails in that County Since the laws were Suppress'd-will influence You to Make the Necessary Provision Pray'd for And he As in duty bound Shall ever pray

June 22a 1780

Enoch Bartlet

[R. 2-71] [Abstract from the Petition of George Moor, Soldier, 1783.]

[In a petition, dated Haverhill, June 6, 1783, George Moor states that he leased a piece of land in Haverhill of Capt. Joseph White, of Newbury; that said White left and joined the enemy in Canada, and thereby his property was confiscated by the state. He wants the state to recognize his claim as lessee, and sell him the land for what it was worth when he took the lease. He further states, "that upon the breaking out of the Troubles at Lexington he went down as a Volunteer and Engaged in the service for Eight Months, and afterwards engaged with Colo: Bedel and went to Canada and was under the command of Gen1 Sullivan upon the Retreat, and have since been in all the different calls for Men."-ED.]

[R. 2-72] [John French, Armorer, 1780.]

Haverhill 21st Nov 1780

This may Certify that John French work as an armour for the Troops Raised for the Defence of these frontiers by the state of New Hampshire three months in the year 1780

[John French, of Haverhill, petitioned November 7, 1783, for pay for said service, and was allowed "three pounds over and above the pay he received as a soldier."-ED.]

[5-54] [Moses Dow declines to accept an Election as a Member of the Congress of the United States.] Haverhill Oct 4th 1784.

Sir

Having lately received from your Secretary a copy of the vote of the Gen1 Court, appointing the Hon'ble Abiel Foster, Jon Blanchard & John Langdon Esquires, with myself delegates to represent this State in the Congress of the United States, the ensuing year. I take this opportunity to make my sincere and hearty thanks, to your Excellency & the Court for the honor done me in this appointment.

I feel the most agreeable sensations, when I find, that I possess so much of the confidence of my fellow-citizens, as leads them to such an election and as I have always made it my principal design, uprightly to endeavor the promotion of the public good, my ambition is highly gratified, while I thus experience the public approbation.

I acknowledge the appointment, to be honorable, & very respectable, and conceive, the tour & employment would be exceeding pleasant and agreeable—and that all the unhappiness I should find in the pursuit, would arise from a consciousness of my inability to render that service to the State, my inclination would dictate.

As I have had no apprehension, but some two of the three worthy Gentlemen, at the same time elected, who are experienced, & much better qualified for the purpose, at this important and critical juncture, when matters of the last Consequence are before Congress, which require the greatest wisdom & perseverance, would have undertaken the representation of the State, I have intirely neglected every necessary preparation.

The present infirm state of my health, the real conviction of my inequality to the business of the mission, and many other circumstances, unnecessary to be mentioned, render it extremely difficult, or rather impossible for me to engage in a trust so arduous & interesting; And I doubt not but the candor of your Excellency, and of the worthy members of the General Court, will readily apologize for, and excuse me, while I say that I cannot conceive it to be my duty, or by any means, see my way clear, at this time, to undertake an appointment of such weight & importance

With the highest sentiments of esteem, I have the honor, to subscribe myself,

your Excellency's

most obedient & most humble Servant

Moses Dow

His Excellency Meshech Weare Esquire President of the State of New Hampshire.