the Selectmen of the Said Town assessed on the lands in said Town at one penny half penny per acre annually in years past hath been applied and used as in and by the act for granting the same was ordered and yet there must be further great Cost and charge before the Meeting House in said Town be finished, and moreover the Inhabitants of said Town (though few in number) are desirous to promote learning among them and to that end be at the Cost to Keep a School. And further there is a certain River (called Beaver River) Runs through the Body of the said Town which occasions great charge for Building and maintaining five Bridges over said River to accommodate people in passing over the same from all which (and other circumstances) ariseth great Cost and charge upon the Inhabitants of said Town. And the said Non Resident owners of such lands are greatly benefited and may be still by the performance of these things thereby raising the value of such lands. Your Petitioners therefore (being Desirous to act and do such things as tend to the General Interest of the Town) Humbly supplicate the serious Consideration and favour of your Excellency and your Hon's Praying that power and authority may be granted to the Said Town to Tax all the Lands of such Non-Residents lying within the said Town at two pence per acre annually for such term as your Excellency & your Hon in your wisdom and Goodness shall think fit and Judge meet-all which is humbly presented by In Council July 15, 1756 JAMES WILLSON read & ordered to be Sent Down to the Honble House Theore Atkinson Secy. Selectmen for Pelham Province of In the House of Representatives July 15th 1756 This New Hampre Petition being read Ordered That the Petitioners be heard thereon ye 2d Day of the Sitting of the General Assembly next after ye 1st day of Sep' next Ensuing, & y' in the meantime the petitioner at his own Cost & charge Cause this order of Court with the Substance of sd petition to be advertized in some publick print for three weeks successively. In Council Eodem Die read & concurred Province of New Hample Theore Atkinson Secy Andrew Clarkson, Cl In the House of Representatives Dec 22d 1756 This Petition being read, & it appearing that the above order of Court had been Conformed to and no person appearing against the Petition the prayer of which appears reasonable Therefore Voted That the prayer thereof be granted & that the petitioners have Liberty to bring in a Bill according subjecting the sd Lands to the said Tax for five years In Council December 23d 1756 Andrew Clarkson Clk. read & concurred Theodore Atkinson Sec PEELING. [Peeling was first granted Sept. 23, 1763, to Eli Demeritt; settlements were begun about 1773. ED.] To His Excellency John Wentworth Esq' Governor of His Majesty's Province of New Hampshire The Petition of Nathaniel Cushman of Lebanon in Connecticut most Humbly sheweth That he hath a Number of Sons disposed to remove into the s Province, & become Settlers on the New & Uncultivated Lands within the same; & that a Number of his Friends are of the same disposition—in the whole A Number fully Sufficient to settle an entire Township. Your Excellency's humble Petitioner therefore Prays your Excellency, to Grant to him & them A Certain Tounship of Land, within sd Province, called & known by the Name of Peeling, on such Terms, subject to such Settling Duties & endowed with such Town Priviledges as the other Towns in sd Province have generally & usually been Granted upon & Endowed with-& your Excellency's humble Petitioner as in Duty Bound shall ever Pray. Lebanon 17th June A.D. 1771. NATHANIEL CUSHMAN Memorial of Nath Cushman and others for a regrant of the Town of Peeling. To His Excellency John Wentworth Esq' Governor of the Province of New Hampshire in New England in America. The Memorial of Nath' Cushman & others Subscribers, Humbly Sheweth, That we are desirous of Settling a Township of Land, within the Province of New Hampshire. That we understand that a certain Town formerly Granted by the Name of Peeling, is now Vacant & Ungranted & that your Excellency is willing to Grant that Town to People who will settle the Same.-Whereupon We humbly Move your Excellency to Grant the same to us in such Proportions as we subscribe for, & by the Name of Fairfield, subject to Such Duties & Penalties, & Endowed with such Priveledges, as your Excellency has been accustomed to Grant other Towns, within s Province. And your Excellency's memorialists as in Duty Bound shall ever Pray. Dated at Lebanon this 24th day of November, A.D. 1771 & in the 12th year of his majesty's Reign PEMBROKE. [This town was originally Suncook, and afterwards Lovewell's Town; and was granted by Massachusetts to the brave men who belonged to the company of Capt. John Lovewell, and to the heirs of those who fell in the memorable engagement at Pequawket. The first Settlement was made about the year 1729, by some of the survivors of that engagement. The Town was chartered by New Hampshire, 1 November, 1759. ED.] To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esqr. Captain General and Governor in chief in and over his Majestys Province of New Hampshire in New England the Honourable the Council and House of Representatives in General Court Convened. The memorial and Petition of Moses Foster in the Name and Behalf of the Inhabitants of the Plantation of Suncook in Said Province, Humbly Sheweth, That the Said Plantation has been Settled by His Majestys Subjects about Eleven years and a Gospel minister ordained. there Several years. That the Settlers had an eye at enlarging His Majestys Dominions by going into the Wilderness as well as at their own Interest That several Thousand Pounds have been spent in clearing and cultivating the Lands there and in erecting Houses, Barns, and Fences; besides a large additional Sum in Fortifications, lately made by His Excellency the Governours Order. That the breaking up of the Settlement will not only ruin the Memorialists, but in their Humble Opinion greatly disserve His Majestys Interest by encouraging his Enemies to encroach on His derelict Dominions and be also hurtful to the Province by contracting its Borders and by drawing the War nearer to the capital. That it was by a long and importunate Intercession of this Province (and not of the Memorialists seeking) that they are put under the immediate care of this Government which they apprehend gives 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 be soon oblidged to dissert their Settlements how disserviceable so ever it may be to the Crown, and this Province and ruinous to themselves Wherefore your Memorialists most humbly Supplicate your Excellency the Honourable Council and House of Representatives to take the Premises into your wise and mature Con sideration and to grant them such Seasonable Relief as may enable them to maintain His Majesty's Dominions in so ancient and well regulated a Settlement as well as to secure their own Lives and Fortunes against the Ravage and Devastations of a Blood-thirsty and Mercy-less Enemy and your Memorialists as in Duty bound will ever Pray. Portsmouth June 20, 1744. MOSES FOSTER To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esqr. Capt. General, Commander & Gov in chief in & over his Majesties Province of New Hampshire in New England, the Honourable his Majesties Council & House of Representatives in General Court convened. The Memorial & Petition of Benjamin Holt in the name and behalf of a major part of the inhabitants of the New plantation commonly known by the name of Suncook or Lovewells Town in said Province Humbly Sheweth, That the said plantation has been settled By his Majesties Subjects about fourteen years, and a Gosple Minister upwards of seven, that the settlers had an eye at enlarging his Majesties Dominions by going into the Wilderness, as well as at their own Interest That many thousand pounds have been spent in clearing & cultivating the Lands there, and many more in erecting Houses Fortifications, Barns and Fenses. That the Buildings are properly formed for defence, and Well scituated for a Barrier being on Merrimack River about a Days march below the Confluence of Winnipishoky and Pemissawasset Rivers Both of which are gang ways of the Canadians to the Frontiers of this province and within a Weeks March at farthest from a very Strong Fort Built within these few years by the French at Crown point, which will be a Place of constant Retreat and Resort for the French and Indians in all their Expeditions against the English Settlements. That the Breaking up of the Settlements will not only Ruin the memorialists, But in their humble opinion greatly disserve his Majesties interest by incouraging his Enemies to Encroach on his derelict Dominions 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 apprehend gives them so much Better Right to its protection. |