his Excellency's prudent conduct and good settlement of the Governm' here; also to represent to his Excellency the extreme poverty and inconsiderableness of this Province, having been extremely lessened and impoverished by the late war, and just now wading through the difficulty of discharging all publick debts, [P.34.] formerly contracted for our defense agst the common enemy, besides the unhappy circumstances we at present labor under, by a growing charge to defend our Rights and properties agst one, who, for lending a few hundred pounds to a pretended proprietor, claims the possession of our Houses and Lands, which, with the expense of so much blood and mony, even far beyond the intrinsic value thereof, our ancestors and Selves have hitherto defended, both in the former Indian war and in the late French and Indian War, whereby his maj'ty's Right, interest and dominion in and over this part of our territory of New England, hath hitherto been preserved; but, however, with all humble gratitude to acknowledge his Excellency's great care and concernedness for our future defense in time of danger, and to assure his Excellency that when ever he shall see cause to order the building a more sufficient fortification on the Great Island, we will contribute according to our utmost ability towards finding materials for the same, which we shall be more particular in when his Excellency shall please to send us an estimate of the charge thereof, wch we account our selves obliged to, as well in duty to his most Excellent Maj'ty, as for our own preservation, only we desire his Lord" may be put in mind that the fortifying Piscataqua River doth as much concern the Massachusetts as ys Province, whose interests on that side the River is of much more value than ours on this, and pray that the Honble Lt Govern' and Council will join with us herein.

Passed by the House of Representatives.

THEODORE ATKINSON, Clerk.

The Lt. Govern' and Council having heard the abovesaid vote read, gave consent thereunto and order the Secretary to draw a letter directed to his Excellency Richard, Earle of Bellomont, accordingly.

[P. 35.] Mr. Charles Story was sent to call up the House of Representatives, who accordingly came, and passed the bill to be enacted, entituled an Act for settling the ferry between Swamscott and Mr. Richard Hilton's House, in the townPP of Exeter.

Then the Lt. Govern', Council and Assembly subscribed y' names to a letter, directed to Richard, Earle of Bellomont, a copy of which is as follows:

Portsmouth, 12th June, 1700. May it please your Excellency,-We cannot omit a due acknowledgemt of the many benefits and advantages of y poor Province, the year past, having enjoyed a great deal of peace and tranquillity without disturbance, which we find to be the fruits and effects of your Excellency's prudent conduct and good settlem' of the Governmt among us.

Wee not enlarge upon the exceeding poverty and inconsider. ableness of this small Province, who have been extremely lessened and impoverished by the late war, and just now wading through the difficulty of discharging all publick debts, contracted for our defense against the late common enemy; besides the unhappy circumstances that we at present labor under, to defend our Rights and properties against one, who for lending a small sum of money to a pretended proprietor (and a little more to stop the mouths of his heirs after his death), now claims the possession of our houses and lands, which with the expence of so much Blood and mony, even far beyond the intrinsique value thereof, our ancestors and selves have hitherto defended, both in the former Indian War and in the late French and Indian War, whereby his Maj'ty's Right, interest and Dominion, in and over this part of his Territory of New England, has been hitherto preserved.

But notwithstanding all our ill circumstances, we do, with all humble gratitude acknowledge your Excellency's great care and concernedness for our future defense in time of danger, signified in your Excellency's Letter of the 6th currt, and crave leave to assure your Excellency, that whenever you shall see cause to order the building a more sufficient fortification upon the Great

[P. 36.] Island, we will contribute according to our utmost ability towards finding materials for the same; which we shall be more particular in, when your Excellency shall please to send us an estimate of the charge thereof: And this we account ourselves obliged to, as well in duty to his most Excellent Maj'ty as for our own preservation.

Wee only further presume to put your Excellency in mind that the fortifying Piscataqua River doth as much concern the Massachusetts as this Province, whose interest on that side the River is of much more value than ours on this, &c.

Then the L Governor adjourned the Council and Assembly till the 2a Tuesday in July next.

Province of

New Hampshire.

At a Council and Gen" Assembly
held at Portsm°, by adjournment, on

Tuesday, the 9th July, ante merediem, 1700.
Present,

The Honble Wm Partridge, Esq., Lt Govern',

Nath' Fryer,

Peter Coffin, Esqrs.

Richard Waldron, Esq.

The L Govern produced an estimate or computation, which was sent from his Excellency Richard, Earle of Bellomont, relating to materials for the building a new fort on Great Island in Piscataqua River, was read to this Board, and sent down to the House of Representatives per Mr. Charles Story, Secretary.

The L' Govern' likewise produced a copy of a petition of several masters of Coasting vessels and Lumber Carriers, which was sent from the Earle of Bellomont, being directed to him, relating to their being greatly oppressed by reason of the fees demanded and taken from them by the officers in the Province of New Hampshire, - was read at this

Board.

[Pr. Rec. B. II, p. 241.]

To his Excellency, Richard, Earle of Bellomont, Capt. General and Governor in Chief of his Majesty's Provinces of the Massachusetts Bay, New York and New Hampshire:

The Petition of several Masters of coasting vessels and lumber carriers: Humbly sheweth,

That your petitioners, being frequently employed to make voyages from Boston and other ports in the river of Piscataqua, as well in places lying thereupon belonging to the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, as to towns and places thereon belonging to the Province of New Hampshire, for the fetching of boards and lumber from thence, are greatly oppressed by reason of the fees demanded and taken from them by the officers in the said Province of New Hampshire, viz: Every vessel coming out of the said river is obliged to pay to the officers there ten shillings and six pence before such vessel can be permitted to pass the Fort on Great Island; which charges do sometime amount to near as much as the freight such vessel makes: and the same fees are not only exacted from vessels coming from places in the said Province of the New Hampshire, but also from vessels coming from places in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay which lye upon Piscataqua river aforesaid, altho' one half of said river belongs to the Province of the Massachusetts Bay.*

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray your Excellency to give orders to the officers in the said Province of New Hampshire, to take such fees only as your Excellency shall judge reasonable for coasting vessels and lumber carriers going into the said Province, and not to demand or exact any thing from vessels coming out of said river of Piscataqua from places belonging to the said Province of the Massachusetts Bay.

And your petitioners shall ever pray, &c.

[P. 37.] W Partridge, Jun', gave in his account to this Board, amounting to 18, for riding and going to each town

* Massschusetts claimed to the middle of Piscataqua river. The dispute about the boundary line between New Hampshire and Massachusetts was not settled finally until 1741. See Belk. Farm. pp. 257–259. — ED.

in the Province to get a list of the soldiers and officers of the militia to be sent to his Excellency; was passed and allowed.

Ordered, that the Secretary make out an order to the Treasurer for the same.

Mr. Samuel Winckley's petition was read at this Board, relating to the importing 41 tearces of Rum, about one year 1-2 ago into this River, and 25 Hogsheads of Molasses, and paid full duties for the same; But some small time afterwards exported 21 tearces of Rum out again of said River, and 13 hogsheads of molasses.

Ordered, that if it appear by the officers' Books, that such duty was fully paid, and that such quantities of liquor and molasses was exported, as alledged in said petition, that then the said Sam" Winckley have his draw-back allowed, as the law directs.

Mrs. Elizabeth Harvey's petition was read, relating to her keeping the Post-office, and desiring abatem of her excise, as for keeping a Publick House.

Whereas his Excellency, the Earle of Bellomont, our Govern', has been pleased to recommend to the L' Govern and Council, the consideration of some addition to be made to the Secretary's Salary:

Ordered, that considering Mr. Charles Story, the present Secretary, for his extraordinary service in transcribing the Laws, Minutes of Council, &c., to send for England, that he be allowed twelve pounds for his said service the year past, besides the accustomed salary of twelve pounds per

annum.

Jonathan Wadleigh and Nichos Gordin, their petition relating to a Rate formerly made in the year 1696-7 for the building a meeting house at Exeter, and said Rate being not fully paid by reason of the Poverty of the people, petitioned for address [?] was read at this Board and sent down to the House of Representatives by Mr. Charles Story, Secretary.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning 10 of the clock.