ileges August 26, 1768, and given its present name in honor of Capt. John Mason, the original owner of that tract of land known as "Mason's Patent." At a meeting of the inhabitants held June 22, 1768, they voted to have the town called Sharon; but Governor Wentworth, who generally named towns to please himself, named it Mason. This town includes that portion of the town of Townsend, Mass., which was north of the province line as established in 1741. By an act passed June 28, 1872, the north-west part of the town was set off, and incorporated into the town of Greenville, and the line between the two towns was established the following year. Joseph Blood, of Mason, was killed in the battle of Bunker Hill. Ebenezer Blood, Jr., was taken prisoner at the same time, and never returned home. [7-50] [Petition for a Town Charter, 1768.] To His Excellency John Wentworth Esq' Captain General Governor and Commander in Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of New-Hampshire in Council The humble Petition of Obadiah Parker of a Place within the said Province called N° 1 on behalf of himself and the rest of the Inhabitants there. Sheweth That the said Tract of Land is about 5 Miles Square & is held by your Pet" under a Grant from the Gent" Proprietors of Mason's Patent and is bounded as follows Viz Beginning at a Stake & Stones on the Province Line, then running on the Province Line 5 Miles & 20 rods to the S: E. Corner of New Ipswich Thence running No on said New Ipswich line 5 Miles to a White pine Tree to Wilton Corner Then running E. on the S° line of Wilton 5 Miles to a hemlock tree then running S° 5 Miles by the Needle to the Bounds first mentioned. That they have now Fifty Six Families on the Spot, and are ripe for Town Officers, a Minister &c Wherefore they humbly pray a Charter of Incorporation and that they may be invested with all the Powers & Authorities Privileges & Franchises which other Towns enjoy within this Government by such Name as Your Excellency shall be pleased to appoint. And your Pet" will ever pray &c Obadiah Parker pro Se et Cæteris. [For himself and others.] L7-46] [Relative to an alleged Theft, 1775.] To the honorable Gentlemen of the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire That whereas Jason Russell & John Tarbell both of Mason in said Province, did in a felonious Manner on or about the Twentieth of May last, retire to a Pasture in said Town belonging to Sam" Dana of Groton & took from thence a Three Years old Heifer & killed & converted it to their own Use-Whereupon early Notice being given to the Committee for said Town, met & requir'd of the Offenders full Satisfaction therefor, But each of them peremptorily refusing to comply therewith the Advice of Committees from two neighbouring towns being called in, viz New-Ipswich & Temple & the Criminals being cited to appear before said Committees not only neglected to make their Appearance before us, But as we learn have fled to the Army & finding ourselves unable to settle the unhappy Difficulty by Reason of their escape, came into the following Resolution viz Resolved to refer the Matter to your judicious Consideration, begging that you will in your Wisdom, take cogniscence, either of the Offence & deal with the Offenders or give us Rules how to proceed with them in this, & such like Case for the futureEphraim Adams Chairman for said Committee. David Blodgett Scribe Dated Mason June 26th 1775 [7-47] [Relative to Paper Currency, 1777.] To The Honorable Council and House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire in General Cort assembled at Exeter on Wednesday the 17th Day of December AD: 1777 Humbly Sheweth the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of The Town of Mason in the County of Hillsborough in Sa State That the Calling in and Sinking this States Bills of Publick Credit of the Square form So Called and giving in Exchange For the Same Treasuerys notes upon Loan or Intrest appears to your Honours Suppliants to be Disadvantegeous and Detrimental to this State in General and Tends to Sap the Foundation of Prosperity among the Good People of this State and Embarrass the Growth of the Commonweth Then Engaged in a very Grevious and Expencive war the Period of Which is Yet unknown which will unavoidably Prove noxious to this State as well as others Wherefore your Potitioners Humbly Pray That a Late act of the Former House an act Entitled an act For Calling In and Sinking the Bills of Publick Credit of This State of the Square Form So Called May Be Repealed and the above Said Bills Pass as Spacified in the Face of the Same or Untill the above Sa Bills May be Called in By a Tax as you in your wisdom Shall See Fit and your Humble Potitioners as in Duty Bound Shall Ever Pray At a Town Meeting held at Mason Dec y 15: 1777 The abov Potition Being Read ye Town unanimously Voted That Sa Potition Be Presented to the Gen' Cort By the hand of y* Representitive of Sa Town Attest [7-48] Benjamin Mann Town Clark In obedience to a Vote Passed in the general Court Directing the Selectmen of the Several towns in this state to Return the number of male Poles from twenty one years old and upward paying for themselves a Pole Tax in order to apportion the Representation according to the New Constitution we do hereby Return for the town of mason one Hundred and forty male poles paying for themselves a Pole Tax in Sa mason mason December ye 5th 1783 Elijah Keyes Amos Dakin Selectmen [Sworn to before Benjamin Mann, justice of the peace. ED.] [7-49] [Vote relative to Paper Currency, 1786.] At a Legal Town meeting held in Mason (by adjournment) on Fryday ye 8th Day of Dec 1786 Voted not to have Paper Money on the Plan proposed by the general Court No. 17-& not one appeard for it on s Plan: No: Eleven Not for Paper Money on any plan: and three for paper Money on some Plan. Mason Dec' ye 8th 1786. Coppy Attest William Eliot Town Clerk To Benjamin Mann Esq' Representative for sd Mason & Raby.— [See Vol. XI, page 130.—ED.] [R. 2-267] [Soldiers' Orders.] To Nicholas Gilman Esq' Treasurer Sir Please to pay Benjamin Mann Esq' the whole of my wagers & milage that is made to me on Capt William Barron Pay role for a three months Campeign in the year 1780 and it shall Discharge you from me Mason September the 9th 1782. Joshua Richardson To whome it may concern this may certify that Jno Richardson in my Roole For 1780 is Joshua [R. 2-268] William Barron Capt To Mr John Taylor gillman Treas' For the State of New Hamp Sir Please to Pay the Bareor Benjamin Mann The wages that appears Due to me For the months January Feby March & april in the year 1780 as a Soldier in the Continental army in ye 3 new hampshire regt Lt Coll Company and his Receipt Shall be a Discharge For the Same per me, also the arears of Clothing Mason June ye 1st 1784 David Hall MEREDITH. The town was incorporated by the governor and council December 30, 1768, at which time it received its present name. Previous to its incorporation it was known by the name. of New Salem, some of its early settlers being formerly residents of the town of Salem. It was within the bounds of Mason's Patent, and as incorporated included the present town of Laconia. By an act approved December 30, 1799, Stone-dam and Bear Islands were annexed to this town. A division of the town took place July 14, 1855, the south-easterly portion being incorporated into a town by the name of Laconia. By an act approved July 3, 1873, a portion of Meredith. was annexed to Centre Harbor. [7-51] [Petition for an Incorporation, 1768.] To His Excellency John Wentworth Esq Captain General Governor & Commander in Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of New-Hampshire, & The Hon: His Majesty's Council The humble Petition of David Lawrence Esq' and Ebenezer Smith Gent" in behalf of themselves and others Proprietors & Inhabitants of NEW SALEM (in the Province aforesaid) upon Winipisiokee Pond. Sheweth That 17 Families have actually Settled and are now resident in New Salem aforesaid, and four other Families are preparing to go, & reside there. That they humbly apprehend they are ripe for an Incorporation; and an Investment with Town Priviledges, which will greatly assist the present Settlement, and accelerate its Completion as they can thereby make proper Highways, & have power to chuse Town Officers &c They therefore pray your Excelley & Hon" to take the premises into your Consideration, and that they may be incorporated accordingly And your Pet will ever pray &c Portsmouth 16th June 1768. David Lawrence Ebenezer Smith [The foregoing petition was granted, and the town incorporated by the name of Meredith, December 30, 1768.ED.] [7-54] [Soldiers' Orders.] meredith December ye 15th 1777 S Pleas to pay Col° Ebenezer Smith the full Sum of the Rations Due to me the Subscriber as an Ensign in your Regiment in Gen' Starks Brigade—and you will oblige your Humble Serv Robert Bryant Ensign To Colo Thomas Stickney-of Concord |