think it not Proper to Grant any further time to those Delinquent to do their Duty in we Your Petitioners the Inhabitants pray that it may be Granted to us for our Children that have endured the many Fatigues and Hardships in bringing forward the Settelment of Said Town, and Your Petitioners as in Duty bound Shall ever pray Jeneuary the 13th 1772. Shubel Waldo Samuel Chandler Jason Wait Oliver Shepard Andrew Beckwith Joseph Brown John Thomson Edward Waldo Daniel Waldo Gideon Delano Elias Brown Barnabas Delano Elijah Cone Those Names above Is What of the Inhabitants that has signed & those below Is men that Live out of town that have Land in s District: B. Bellows Abishai Delano AMHERST Jonth Chase [Amherst was granted by the Government of Massachusetts, 26 April, 1733, and was called Narraganset No. 3, which name was afterwards exchanged for Souhegan West, which it retained until the charter was granted, 18 January, 1760, by Gov. B. Wentworth. It was not under the government of New Hampshire until 1741, when the establishment of the line separated it from Massachusetts.-ED.] PAPERS RELATING TO AMHERST (INCLUDING MONSON). Request of the Inhabitants of Souhegan West for a suitable Guard to defend them from the French & Indian Enemy, 1744. Att a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Settlement or Plantation, called Souhegan West in the Province of New Hampshire at the house of Dan' Wilkins ye 16th of June 1744. Unanimously agreed that Dan1 Wilkins of this place in the name and behalf of the Settlers here Represent to the Governor and Council of New Hampshire our destressed Circumstance on account of our being Exposed to the French and Indian Enemy our Low Condition & Inability to subsist here unless a Suitable guard may be had to defend us when about our work; and that he make suitable application that these things may Immediately be obtained. (1) Mr. Hutchinson was the first Town Clerk when Amherst was incorporated. He died in Maine, at the age of 90 years.-ED. To his Exelency Benning Wentworth Esq' Capt. General and Governor in chief in and over his Majesties Province of New Hampshire in New England the Honorable the Council and House of Representatives in General Court convened. The Memorial or Petition of Dan' Wilkins in the name and behalf of the Inhabitants of the Township or Plantation called Souhegan West No. 3 in the said Province Humbly sheweth the said Town has been settled by his Majesties subjects about nine years and a Gospel Minister ordained almost three years that the Settlers had an Eye at enlarging his Majesties Dominions by going into the Wilderness as well as at their own Interest, that some thousand of pounds has been spent in clearing and cultevating the Land there and vast sums in building Houses Barns & fences beside much time and expence in building fortifications by his Excelency the Governers order. That the Breaking up the Settlement will not only ruin the Memorialists but greatly disserve his Majesties Interest by encouraging his Enemies to Encroach on his deserted Settlements and be also hurtful to the Province by Contracting its borders and drawing the war nearer the Capital: That it was by a long and importunate Intercession of this Province, (and not of the Memorialists Seeking) that they are cast under the immediate care of this Government which they conceive give them so much the better Right to its protection: That as war is already declared against France and a Rupture with the Indians hourly expected your Memorialists unless they have speedy help will soon be obliged to forsake their Town how diservisable soever it may be to the Crown dishonorable to the Government hurtfull to the Province & ruinous to themselves: Wherefore, Your Memorialists most humbly supplicate your Exelency the honorable Council and House of Representatives to take the premises into your wise and mature Consideration and to grant them such seasonable relief as may enable them to subsist in the war and secure against the Ravages and Devastation of a blood thirsty and merciless Enemy and your Memorialists as in duty bound will ever pray. Dated at Portsmouth June ye 22d 1744. DAN WILKINS. Petition for protection against the Indians, 1747. To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq' Gov. &c The Hon. his Majestys Council & House of Representatives in Generall Assembly Convened May 13th 1747. The Petition of us the Subscribers Inhabitants of the New Plantation called Souhegan West Humbly Sheweth That there is Settled and now remains in this plantation thirty five familys in which is about Fifty eight men upwards of sixteen years old. That when we began our Setlement, we apprehended no Danger of Our ever being a frontior, there being at that time so many above us begun and obligated to fullfill the Conditions of the Massachusetts Grants, which occasioned us to setle scattering, only Regarding the Advantages of Good and Compact farms. That the difficulty of War happening so early on our Settlements, and the Defenceless Condition they was in, has oblidged them all viz: Petersborough Salem-Canada New Boston & Hillsborough (so called) Intirely to draw off as well as the Forts on Connecticut River left naked. Whereby we are now left as much exposed as any of the Frontiers on Merrimack River That the First year of the present war we was Favoured with a Scout from This Province (which we Thankfully acknowledge) and Salem-Canada with an other which was Equally Serviceable to us Since that time, both SalemCanada and this Place has had a guard from the Massachusetts till the Winter passed together with our Inhabitants keeping a constant Scout (Tho much Impoverished thereby) That this encouragement has occasioned our venturing here till now That as we are now left without either Scout or Guard-Apprehend we are in Imminent Danger, Yet Loath to yield Ourselves Such an easy Prey to Our Enemies or Suffer Ruin by leaving our Improvements wast, One Whereof we have no Reason to Think, but must unavoidably be our lot, unless this Government Compassionately Grants us Protection. Wherefore Your Petitioners most Humbly Pray that your Excellency & Hon's would so far Comiserate our Present Difficult Circumstances as to Grant us so many Soldiers as your Excellency & Hon's may Judge of Necessity for Our Defence and your Peti as in Duty bound Shall Pray &c. Solomon Hutchinson Daniel Wilkins Jun' Benjamin Cheever Jun' John Seetown Israel Towne In Council May 13th 1747 read & ordered to be sent Down to the Honble House. Theodore Atkinson Secy. Petition from Monson. (1) To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq Gov' &c The Honb his majestys Council & House of Repves in Gen Assembly convened May 13th 1747. The Petition of the Inhabitants of the town of Monson, Hereunto Subscribers Humbly Shews That the Said town is Lately begun to Setle & but about Fifteen Familys there. That they are one of the Frontier Towns west of Merrimack River, & the most northerly One, already incorporated, Lying Between Hollis & the New Plantation Called Souhegan West. That could we be assisted by Souldiers Such Competent number as might Enable us to Defend our Selves Shall Chearfully Endeavour to Stay there by Which we Shall Serve as a Barrier in part to Holles Merrimack and Dunstable. That last year we was Favoured by Souldiers From the Massachusetts, that Prevented Our Drawing off. That Should the War be pursued by the Enemy as vigorously as Last year, (unless we are Favoured by some assistance from Ye Government) We Humbly apprehend 'twould be too great Presumption to venture our Selves & Familys there That it will be very Ruinous to your Petitioners To leave their Settlements & the Frontier Widned, & for a Necessary Defence will Require a Greater number of Souldiers than to assist us there Wherefore your Petitioners most Humbly Pray that your Excellency & Honors would be pleased to Take the Premises into your Consideration & Grant us a Guard for two Garrisons & a small Scout on Our Front Or Otherwise Releive us in the Premises as in your Great Wisdom Shall Seem meet & yr Pet as in Duty bound Shall ever Pray. James Wheeler William Neivens William Colburn Robert Colburn Jonathan Taylor Samuel Leman Samuel Leman Jun' Abraham Leman Thomas Neivens Thomas Mordow In Council May 13th 1747 read & ordred to be Sent Doun to the Honble House. Theodore Atkinson Secy. (1)The town of Monson lay adjacent to Amherst, and was afterwards incorporated with it in part.-ED. Prove of New Hampshire Voted That in answer to ye two annexed Petitions Viz: that of Souhegan West & that of Monson, His Excellency be desired to give orders for inlisting or impressing fifteen good executive men to Scout & guard under proper oficer or oficers s Souhegan West & Monson 'til ye twentyeth of octo' next if need be & that s men be shifted once a month. D. Peirce Clk. Theodore Atkinson Secy. In the House of Representatives 15th May 1747. Eodm Die In Coun" read and Concurred Eodm Die Assented to E WENTWORTH. Petition of Monson, for annexation, &c. Province of New e To His Excellency Benning Wentworth J Esq Gov &c & To the Hon His Majestys Council the day of 1754 The Petition of us the Subscribers Inhabitants of the town of Monson Humbly Shews That there is a tract of Land of about the Contents of seven Thousand acres Lying on the North of Monson and adjoyning Included by the following Bounds, viz 1, to begin at Monson Northeast Corner and to Run North by the Town of Merrymac Two miles and the next Station to begin at the North west Corner of Monson & to Extend north two miles and from thence a Strait line to the end of the aforementioned Two mile, and to Bound Southerly on Monson afores". On Which Sundry Familys are Settled & would be of accomodation & Convenience to Monson to have them annexed and Incorporated with Monson and would with that addition make it but about five miles and an half in Breadth one place with the other that Sundry of the Inhabitants of the 's Tract hath together with this Petitioned your Excellency & Honors to be annexed and Incorporated with us. (And as we apprehend would be of Great Convenience to them, & help to us.) Wherefore we most Humbly Pray that your Excellency and Hon's would be pleased to annex and Incorporate the s1 Tract with the Inhabitants Thereon to the town of Monson & your Pet as in Duty Bound Shall ever Pray Elisha Towne Benjamin Kenrick Thomas Neuens James Wheler Thomas Powers Thomas Woolley BENJAMIN HOPKINS) few more that has not sin'd Selectmen. William Colborn Jun William Colborn John Burns Josiah Crosby Nathan Hutchinsen |