for the Town of Kingstown in the Province aforesaid, Humbly shews. That in Consideration of a Petition now laying before your Excellency and the Hon His Majestys Council for a Parish in the Western part of Kingston, and an Appeal now Depending for want of a Competent Quorum of his Majestys Council to hear the same together with some other Essential papers which we are not provided with, your Petitioners humbly pray that a further Day may be appointed for the Town of Kingston to Shew Cause why the Petition of Richard Hazzen, and others for a Grant of Incorporation in the District of Haverhill so called may not be Granted, and your Petitioners as in Duty Bound shall Ever Pray. Portsmouth February 12" 1746. EBEN STEVENS JED" PHILBRICK February 7th 1746 then Sirvaid the Parrish granted by Kingstown at the West End adjoining upon Chester and Londonderry Agreement Line and find it upon s Line three miles and a half and one hundred and ten Rods: and three miles upon the East and by South poynt at the End agreeable to Said grant. Sirvid by me, Sam Emerson, Sirvaior. [See plan of West Parish set off from Kingston 7th February, 1746, in MS. Vol. IV.. pp. 34. 35. ED.] Petition relating to the Basford land grant. To his Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq. Province of New Hamp j Capt Gen Governour & Commander in Cheif in and over his Majesty's Province of New Hampshire and to the hon his Majestys Council and the hon house of Representatives in Gen Court Conven'd. Humbly Shews the Proprietors of the Common and undevided Land in the Township of Kingston in said Province that one James Basford of Chester in s Province yeoman pretending to have a right to lands in the s town of Kingston hath procur'd several persons of Chester afores who stile themselves Lott lavers to make two several returns of lands in Kingston afores to him the s James Bassford one of which returns is said to be dated y 19 of sept 1733. and the other the 27 of Sept 1733. in both s returns are contain'd two hundred and forty acres of Land which land is the right and property of your petitioners and for which the s1 James Bassford hath no Lawfull right or grant neither had the Lott layers any Lawfull authority to lay out the s Land and they did the same without acquainting your petitioners or any of the Proprietors therewith, And at his Majties Superiour Court of Judicature held at Portsmouth within & for the Province afore sd on the first tuesday of August last past the s James Bassford obtaind an order for a peremptory mandamus which accordingly Issued from the clerk of s court dated August 15th 1746 directed to the Town Clerk of Kingston for the time being, requiring him in his Majties name forthwith to Enter & Record the sd returns in the record of sa Town with the other returns of the laying out of Land in the sd Town, in the same manner as other returns are enter'd and recorded, being presented to him by the s James or any other person for him paying the Legal fees for the same and the said Town clerk is therein also required to make return of s mandamus & his doings therein unto the sd Court on the first tuesday in February next at his peril, By which mandamus if observed by s Town clerk your Petitioners humbly conceive they wil be greatly Injur'd in their Right to & Interest in the Land mentioned in s return, (namely) by sd returns being recorded in your petitioners book of records against your petitioners leave or Consent, the said James being neither Inhabitant of the s Town nor hath he any legal right to the land mention'd in sa returns as proprietor or other wais to your petitioners knowledge wherefore the s James Bassford moving s Superiour Court for a mandamus to the clerk to record said returns before a tryal at the Common Law to Establish his right to the lands mention'd in s return if he had any as also s Superiour Courts Issuing s mandamus without notifying the Proprietors of sd Kingston of s motion to be heard thereon and shew cause why s motion should not be granted your Petitioners humbly conceive to be unpresidental as also very injurious to your petitioners and the example hereof may be the like injurious to the Proprietors of the other towns in this Province unless your Excellency and hon interpose herein: Wherefore your Petitioners most humbly pray that your Excellency and hon will interpose herein and order that the s mandamus may be stay'd and all proceedings thereon untill s James if he sees fit make it appear by a tryal at the Common Law that he hath a right to the land mention'd in the said returns and that your Petitioners may have opportunity to defend their Just rights in a due Course of Law and not to have s unlawful returns entred and recorded in your petitioners book of records or other wais grant yo' Petittioners Such relief in the Premises as your Excellency & hon in your great wisdom shall see meet and your Petition' as in Duty bound shall ever pray. S December 4 1746. John Sweett William Long Nathanael French Read again & revived & ordered to be sent down to the House. Province of New Hampshire) At a Legall meeting of the Inhabitants & free holders of Kingstown held the Twenty fourth of September 1746, firstly Leiut John Sweat was Chosen Moderator for that meeting 2dly Voted that we Jacob Gurdey Israel Huse Jr. Benjamin Tucker John Hogg & do hereby as far as in us lyeth set off Israel Huse James Huse Meshech Gurdey Of Kingstown abovesaid with a Certain Tract of Land in said Town for a distinct Parish or precinct, bounded as followeth Viz' Beginning at the Beech Tree which is the Dividing boundary between Londonderry & Chester said Tree standing on the West Line of said Kingston and running Southerly on said Kingston said line as heretofore setled between said Londonderry & said Kingston to the Island Pond (so called) Then running Easterly South Three miles then Northerly tilla North & by West Course will Strike said Kingston Line (where it crosses the mill brook so called) as heretofore setled between sd Kingston & said Chester and from thence Viz. where said line crosses sd mill brook to run Southerly on said line to the Beech tree first mentioned. This is a true Copy taken out of Kingston Book of records Attest Jed Philbrick, town Clerk. Petition of persons in the westerly part of Kingston for town privileges. To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq. Capt. Generall, Governour and Commander in Chief in & over his Majestys Province of New Hampshire and to the honble his Majestys Council of sd Province. The Petition of the Subscribers Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Westerly parts of the Town of Kingston in sa Province, Humbly Shews, That your Petitioners living so remote from the meeting house in s town are not able to attend the publick Worship there on the Sabbath and also by reason of the distance we live from the Town our other duties & Services have been for a long time past attended with great charge trouble and difficulty and we having represented the same to the s town they have at their late legal meeting sett us off as farr as in them lay as a distinct Parish with land suitable for the same as by the Votes of sd Town herewith presented will fully & plainly appear. Wherefore your Petitioners most humbly pray your Excellency & hon's will be pleased to Confirm the votes of sd Town by Incorporating us & all others that do or shall inhabit or dwell within the Limits of the land so sett off by the Town into a Parish and that we may have all such priviledges as other parishes have both for the setting up and maintaining the publick Worship of God and all other duties & services appertaining to a Parish. bound shall ever pray. Dated Sep 26th 1746. Moses Tucker James Huse Israel Huse James Graves Thomas Wells Israel Huse, Jr John Hoog John Bond Joseph Dow Philip Wells Daniel Hebberd Jonathan Colby And your Petitioners as in duty Daniell Kid Petition for a Justice of the Peace. To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq. Governour and Commander in Chief of His Majestys Province of New Hampshire, The Petition of His Majestys subjects in Kingston, Humbly sheweth, That having long Experienc'd the good Effects of the administration of the Civil Authority by a Justice of the Peace, as that office was used among us by the Honble Ebenezer Stevens Esq. deceas'd; since the death of that very worthy & good Gentleman, we are more Sensible of our obligations to your Excellency for Establishing such authority among us; & affected with our Present disadvantageous & uncomfortable State, for want of such Authority here; to prevent disorders, acknowledge Instruments of Conveyance, receive the Oaths of Town Officers & We therefore humbly Entreat your Excellency to reestablish such authority in this Place, and having been advised that your Excellency has condescended sometimes to Enquire of leading men in a Town who is most likely to support such Commission with Honour, in respect of the People. If the Governour were to honour us with such demand we might with humble submission propose Capt Jedidiah Philbrick. C And if your Excellency would further Indulge us we would, but just say that having been long disus'd to the Inconveniency of going out of Town for such officer, If your Excellency tho't fit to grant such a Favour before our Annual Town meeting; we should esteem it an Instance of your great Condescention & Goodness to us, & it would afford this People a Singular Satisfaction. We humbly beg your Excellency's Pardon for the Freedom, which your Paternal Concern for the Peace & good order of all under your Government, Condescending Goodness this People entirely your own and the Exigency of our Present state, has Encouraged & urged us to take. And humbly ask leave to add that, If your Excellency shall grant such Commission to such Person or Persons among us. & in such Time as in your great Wisdom you shall think fit, Your humble Petitioners shall ever pray. Kingston Feb. 23d 1749-50. Sir: John Fifield, Jr Sam Colcord Benjamin Stevens Paul Sanborn Elisha Sweet John Huntoon Samuel Fifield Nathan Swett Tristram Sanborn, Jr Joel Judkins. Little Harbour 28th Feb. 1749. You are hereby desired to Place Capt Philbricks name in the Com |