ter continues to live near the center of the east Parrish & all that Proceed from the forty families in the east that Poll'd to the west be the number ever so great belong to & vote with the west Parrish as they yet have done which two causes in our opinion begun the flam of contention in Londonderry & as they have they will keep it alive while they continue when we are Distinct Parrishes without Pollers & not till then Londonderry may reasonably expect peace take the cause & the effect will cease: relative to a petition lately Exhibited to your Excellency & Honours by a committee from the West Parish & now under your consideration Shewing first the great difference between Presbyterians & Presbyterians: 2d the promiscuous situation of the Parishioners of each Parrish. 3ly the great difference in opinion between the people of the two Parrishes in the Important Doctrines of the Gospel. 4 that The meeting Houses are Equally well situated to accommodate the people of each Parrish; Finally praying for what they call by the name of liberty for each Individual to joine where he or they Please & pay where they joine. We answer first as to the great differance between Presbyterians & Presbyterians, we take it to be a Theological Distinction when there is no difference; that there is a wide difference between Real & nominal Presbyterians we are very sensible & leave it to the Impartial which they will call the first. Secondly that the Parishioners are Promiscuously situated is true which is owing to the forty pollers & their ofspring: 3d if there is that great difference in opinion set forth in said petition between the People of the two parrishes respecting the Important doctrines of the Gospel it must be in the minds only or some private disputes between enthusiasticks unless they call disputes about the Irregular conduct of some members of Presbyterys Important Doctrines of the gospel. 4th If by the Meeting Houses in each Parrish being equally well situated to accommodate the inhabitants they mean the new meeting House in the East Parrish and the last built meeting House in the west it is true But if they mean the meeting house in the west Parrish near the east line where the Publick Worship now is & has been ever since they were a Parrish (Except as above excepted) we leave it to your Excellency & Honours how well the inhabitants of the west Parish are accommodated & what Justice is done them in General; Finally the Liberty prayed for in said petition if granted we humbly apprehend will be productive of greater evils than the Polling act Because in that case in all future time that Parrish which has the most Popular Preacher who is not the wisest man the best scholar nor the best christian will leave the other Parish unable to support the Gospel & we dont desire to give or take such unjust advantage it is evident that every Individual of mankind in our present state & circumstances are not to be free in every respect, Because that would destroy the publick good. In all Bodys Politick Individuals give up part of their Liberty & Properties to the Publick to secure the remainder. In all societies Religious civil or Political Individuals are to enjoy private liberty & property as far as is consistant with the good of the community of which they are a part & no further, from which it is evident that whatsoever liberty one of any number desire or pray for inconsistant with the good of the community of which they are a part, should be refused And as the prayer of their Petition is evidently calculated to destroy the future peace and good order of both the above sd Parrishes in Londonderry, Therefore your Petitioners Humbly pray first that the prayers of said Petition may not be granted. 2d that the present dividing line between the two Parrishes in said Londonderry may be examined by a committee appointed by your Excellency & honours and if Just, established & if not that s committee may fix it so as to doe Equal Justice to both Parrishes. And that an act may be made that will oblige Every Individual Presbyterian in all future time to pay his proportion according to law of the Ministers Salary in the Parrish where he dwells & Joine & Worship where he or they please which we believe would produce peace & good agreement between the Inhabitants of both Parrishes in general or reduce the forty pollers to their primitive number & fix it so that they never shall exceed that number & impower the west Parish to meet for Publick worship where it will be most Just & Convenient for the Inhabitants of s Parish for the future the latter will better our circumstances, the first will cause our distructions. But we humbly submit all to your Excellency & Honours & as in duty bound will ever pray & Matthew Thornton Samuel Anderson Samuel Anderson Jr James Eayrs James Ramsey Londonderry May 27, A D. 1773. In Council Jan. 13, 1774. Read and ordered to be sent down to the Honble Assembly. Geo. King, D. Secry. Agreement of Committees. Whereas there is a Petition Exhibited to His Excellency John Wentworth Esq Captain General, Governour & Commander in chief in & over his Majesty's Province of New Hampshire & The Honourable His Majestys Council & House of Representatives in General Assembly Conven'd signed by a committee appointed by the New parish in Londonderry in said Province praying for the Redress of Certain greevances mentioned in said petition, It is mutualy agreed Between sd Committee & a committee from the old or first Parish in said Londonderry as follows, viz: First that all the Rev'd Mr David M Gregors Hearers that are rated by s old Parish shall be erased out of their list for the last tax & all former taxes not already paid. 2 That the ministers Salary (viz Eighty pounds Each pr annum) shall be raised on the whole Inhabitants of Both Parishes that are obliged by law to pay to either of s ministers by Pole & estate & each Parish shall Levie the money of their respective hearers by their own collectors. 3 That this agreement shall continue between s parishes until the death or incapacity of the Revd Mr David M'Gregore or the Revd Mr William Davidson or for the space of three years from this date. Dated at Portsmouth, Jan. 15th A. D. 1774. Signed pr [Lyme was granted by charter, July 8, 1761. Settlements began in May, 1764, by emigrants from Connecticut. ED.] Petition for a ferry. Province of To his Excellency John Wentworth Esq. New Hampshire ) Captain General and Commander in chief in and over his Majestys Province of New Hampshire In Council. The petition of Ebenezer Green of Thetford in the County the other Parish unable to support the Gospel & we dont desire to give or take such unjust advantage it is evident that every Individual of mankind in our present state & circumstances are not to be free in every respect, Because that would destroy the publick good. In all Bodys Politick Individuals give up part of their Liberty & Properties to the Publick to secure the remainder. In all societies Religious civil or Political Individuals are to enjoy private liberty & property as far as is consistant with the good of the community of which they are a part & no further, from which it is evident that whatsoever liberty one of any number desire or pray for inconsistant with the good of the community of which they are a part, should be refused And as the prayer of their Petition is evidently calculated to destroy the future peace and good order of both the above sd Parrishes in Londonderry, Therefore your Petitioners Humbly pray first that the prayers of said Petition may not be granted. 2d that the present dividing line between the two Parrishes in said Londonderry may be examined by a committee appointed by your Excellency & honours and if Just, established & if not that s committee may fix it so as to doe Equal Justice to both Parrishes. And that an act may be made that will oblige Every Individual Presbyterian in all future time to pay his proportion according to law of the Ministers Salary in the Parrish where he dwells & Joine & Worship where he or they please which we believe would produce peace & good agreement between the Inhabitants of both Parrishes in general or reduce the forty pollers to their primitive number & fix it so that they never shall exceed that number & impower the west Parish to meet for Publick worship where it will be most Just & Convenient for the Inhabitants of s Parish for the future the latter will better our circumstances, the first will cause our distructions. But we humbly submit all to your Excellency & Honours & as in duty bound will ever pray & Matthew Thornton Samuel Anderson Samuel Anderson Jr James Eayrs James Ramsey Londonderry May 27, A D. 1773. In Council Jan. 13, 1774. Read and ordered to be sent down to the Honble Assembly. Geo. King, D. Secry. Agreement of Committees. Whereas there is a Petition Exhibited to His Excellency John Wentworth Esq Captain General, Governour & Commander in chief in & over his Majesty's Province of New Hampshire & The Honourable His Majestys Council & House of Representatives in General Assembly Conven'd signed by a committee appointed by the New parish in Londonderry in said Province praying for the Redress of Certain greevances mentioned in said petition, It is mutualy agreed Between sa Committee & a committee from the old or first Parish in said Londonderry as follows, viz: First that all the Rev'd M David M Gregors Hearers that are rated by s old Parish shall be erased out of their list for the last tax & all former taxes not already paid. 2 That the ministers Salary (viz Eighty pounds Each pr annum) shall be raised on the whole Inhabitants of Both Parishes that are obliged by law to pay to either of s ministers by Pole & estate & each Parish shall Levie the money of their respective hearers by their own collectors. illy 3 That this agreement shall continue between s parishes until the death or incapacity of the Revd Mr David M'Gregore or the Revd Mr William Davidson or for the space of three years from this date. Dated at Portsmouth, Jan. 15th A. D. 1774. Signed pr [Lyme was granted by charter, July 8, 1761. Settlements began in May, 1764, by emigrants from Connecticut. ED.] New Hampshire ( Petition for a ferry. Province of To his Excellency John Wentworth Esq. Captain General and Commander in chief in and over his Majestys Province of New Hampshire In Council. The petition of Ebenezer Green of Thetford in the County |