As a matter of local record the following action of the General Assembly of New Hampshire in 1766 relative to Goffe's ferry is inserted here.-ED. Province of New Hampshire GEORGE the third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France & Ireland King Defender of the Faith &ca To all to whom these Presents shall Come Greeting KNOW ye that we of our Especial Grace, Certain Knowledge & mere Motion (by & with the advice of our Trusty & Wellbeloved Benning Wentworth Esqr our Capt. General Governor & Commandr in Cheif in & Over Our Province of New Hampshire in North America) Have giv'n & granted And by these Presents for Us our heirs & successors Do give & grant unto Our Loyal & most faithful Subject John Goffe of Derryfield in our said Prov: of New Hampshire Esqr the sole Right of Keeping a Ferry and of Keeping Useing & Employing a ferry boat & boats for the transporting of Men, Horses Goods Cattle Carriages &ca from the Shore of Derryfield aforesd where the said John Goffe's dwelling House now stands, Across Merrimack River to the opposite Shore of Bedford, & from Beford Shore Opposite his Said House unto Derryfield Shore aforesd To Hold the said Ferry and Priviledge of a Ferry, with all Ferryage Advantages Emoulments perquisites & Profits thereunto belonging unto him the sd John Goffe Esqr His heirs, Executors, Administrators & Assigns from the Day of the date Hereof for Ever to his & their only Proper Use & behoof for Ever Upon the following Conditions Vizt that he & they do & shall at all times Keep such boats & give such Attendance & behave as the Now (or any hereafter) Laws do or may Require. And as a further Encouragement to the sd John Goffe in and about the Premises We Will that none of our Loving Subjects do presume to molest or Interrupt the sd John Goffe in his sd Ferry or set up any other ferry upon or across the sa River Merrimack within the space of Two Miles above or below the Ferry of the sd John Goffe In Testimony whereof we have Causd the Public Seal of our sd Prov to be hereunto affixd Witness our sd Governor B Wentworth Esqr the 7th day of Nobemr in the 7th Year of our Reign Anno Domini 1766 By His Excellency's Commd B Wentworth T: Atkinson Jun. Secry Province of New Hampshire 7th Nov 1766— Recorded according to the Original, under the Province Seal Attest T: Atkinson Jun Secry Province of New Hampshire To James Mc Night Constable for the town of Derryfield Greeting You are Hereby Required In his majestys Name to warn all the free Holders and in Habitantes of the town of Derryfield that they meet at the Meetinghouse in Said town upon the first Monday in March nixt at ten of the Clock Be fore noon then and there to act on the following artikles (Viz) 1ly to Chues a Moderator to Regulate Said Meeting 2ly to Chuse all there town oficers for the present year 3ly to See How much Money the town will Reas for Defraying the Charges of the present year 4ly to See How much money the town will Reas for to Provide Priching for the present year 5ly to Here the Town accounts for the year 1766 and to aprove or Disaprove of the Same and this Shall be youer Sufficent warent Given under our Hands and Seal Deated this Ninth Day of February 1767 Recorded this 17th Day of June 1767 John Hall Ebenezer Stavens Select Men pr me David Starrett Town Clark Province of New Hampshire March the 2th Day 1767 By vertue of this precept I have warned all the free holders & inhabitants of Derryfield of the time and Disnges of hold in Said meeing pr me James McNight Constable pr me David Starrett Town Clark Recorded this 17th Day of June 1767 At A Meeting of the free holders and other inhabitants of the town of Derryfield held march the 2th Day 1767 Voted David Starrett Moderator Voted David Starrett town Clark Voted three Select men for this year Voted Elizer Robens Alex' Mc Clintok Nathal Boyd Select men Voted John Harvey Constable Voted to ajourn this meeting to John halls house the moderator and Clark prasent and the meeting being opened Voted to Carey on the remander of this meeting by hand vots Voted Eins James Mc Caley James Mc Night Charles Emerson and John Mc Clintock to be Servairs of highways Voted Willm Nutt Willm hall tything men Voted the Select men fences viewers and prizers of Damages Voted Charls Emerson Ebenezer Stavens Servairs of Louember Voted Captn John moors Eins" James Mc Caley to Count with the Select men Voted Levin John Hall to take the Invoice Voted Abrm merrell James parce Willm parham Jun' Constables Voted thomas Russ Sealer of Leather Voted to ajourn this meeting to the first Monday in Apriel nixt at one of the Clock in the afternon at the meeting house in Said town Derryfield April the 6th Day 1767 meet according to ajournment the moderator and Clark Being Present and the meeting Being opned Voted on the Second artickle Willm hall tything man Voted on the third artikle to Raies two Pounds Lawful money for to Defraey the Charges of the Curante year Voted on the fourth artikle to Raies five Pounds Lawful money for to Provid Priching for the Curante year Voted on the fifth artikle to alow the Accounts of the year 1766 February the 27th Day 1767 This Day we met with the Select men and the Constoble and fines the total of his List to be in Lawful money Province of New Hampshire To John Harvey Constable for the Town of Derryfield Greeting You are Hereby Required in his Majestes Name to warn all the freeholders and Inhabitants of the Toun of Derryfield that they meet at the meetinghouse in Said town upon monday the fourth Day of May Nixt at Twelve of the Clock at noon then and there to act on the following artikles (Viz) 1ly to Chuse a moderator to Regulate Said meeing 2ly to hear the Committees Report of the Settlement with the Select men and Constables that they were to Settle with and hear the accounts Read and to approve or Disapprove of them as they Shall think fitt 3ly to See if the town will Chuse A Committee to Settle with Levtn John Hall for the four Hundred Pounds Borrowed for the Towns use and Make a Compleet Settlement and make Report to the town 4ly to See what method the Town will take and allow for warning town meetings for the futer 5ly to See if the town will Chuse a Committee to Settle with all the Selectmen and Constables in this Town that are not alredey Settled with since the year A D 1759 and make their report to the town 6ly to see who the town will appoint to provide Preaching for the money which the town has voted for that use and who Should Entertain the Ministers 7ly to See whither the town will allow Eleazer Robbins anything for the merstainance of Betty Woods ane Infant one of the Poor of the Town and vote thereon, also to act on any other arttikles they Shall think Proper and this Shall be your Sufficent warrant Given under our hands and Seal Deated this Seventh Day of April, A D 1767 Eleazer Robbins Alexander Mc Clintok Recorded this 21th Day of of July A D 1767 Select men pr me David Starrett Town Clark Province of New hampshire May the 4th Day A D 1767 by vertue of the with in warrant I have warned all the freeholders and in habitants of the town of Derryfield of the time and place of meeing acorden to Law pr me John Harvey Constable Recorded this 21th Day of July 1767 pr me David Starrett Town Clark At A meeting of the freeholers and inhabitants of the town of Derryfield held May the 4th Day 1767 Voted William Mc Clintok Moderator Voted to ajourn this meeting to the first Monday of July nixt at twalve of the Clock in in Said Day Derryfield July the 6th Day 1767 Meet according to ajournment the Moderator and Clark being Prasent and the meeting Being opned Voted that the Seelect men and Constable for the year A D 1761 are foun to Be Clear By the Committee Chusen for |