That in the twentieth year of His Majesty's Reign an Act was pass'd Granting liberty for Building a Bridge over New Market River a Little above the Place where the Ferry is kept from the Land of Andrew Wiggin to the Land of Robert Smart according to the Directions in said Act which Bridge it was Proposed shou'd be Built by Subscription and about two thousand Pounds O. T. accordingly subscribed but as the Subscription was not to be paid before the Bridge was Built there is no fund Provided for Defraying the first necessary Expence which must be Considerable and such a Building cannot be compleated merely on Credit. That the sum aforesaid is far short of a sufficiency to Effect the Design and very few Persons now appear willing to join the Subscribers so that there is no Prospect of Success in this affair by Subscription Especially Considering all future Subscribers will expect the Same Terms of Suspending the Payment. That as there are Several Examples of Raising money for such Purposes by Public Lotterys many have tho't it a very feasible method & giving a fair Prospect of Success in this Case and many Persons wou'd contribut in this Way who wou'd Refuse to do it in any other and as Building said Bridge appears to be a Projection of very Considerable advantage to the Public and is therefore on that account worthy of Encouragement and much to be wished to be well Executed Your Petition therefore Humbly Pray that they may have Liberty to Set up a Public Lottery for the End aforesaid and for maintaining said Bridge all to be under Such Regulations & managed by Such Persons as in your Great Wisdom you shall judge Proper and that the Petitioners may have Leave to bring in a Bill accordingly and they will as in Duty bound Ever Pray &c. Samuel Lane Nathan Taylor Richd Rust Richd Young John Avery John Neal Thos Odel Joseph Young John Avery Saml Doe Junr Joseph Merrill Junr Nath Wiggin Jona Thompson Saml Pevey Abra Kenniston Robt Rawlins Benja Bennick! Jno Crocket Saml Burley Andrew Folsom Saml Harvey Jno Bartlet Volentine Mathes Walter Briant Moses Davis Saml Adams John Shepherd Charles Runlet Robt Pike Caleb Clarke Saml Tilton Joseph Tilton John Smart John Tash Arthur Bennet Ichd Marston Dan! Hilton Joseph Normon John Barbor Jona Piper Jno Mead Geo Dutch Francis Follit Elipha Wiggin Thos Tash Elias Critchet Wm Welch Ja Bracket Jacob Tilton Ebenr Neal Joseph Haley - John Perkins Andrew Wiggin Junr Andrew French Junr John Wiggin Saml Neal Saml Wiggin Josiah Parsons John Penhallow Stephen Bordman Mark H Wentworth John Moffatt Rob Archibald Winthrop Smith Hunkg Wentworth Wm Pinell Isaac Foss Edwd Hilton Lawrence Dowling Gilman Joseph Pickerin Abraham Dearborn Abiather Sandborn Joseph Thomas Joseph Joy Nicho Doe Sam Pickerin James Goodwin James Neal Thos Johnson Saml Hains Timo Jones In Council March the 13th 1759. Thomas Huckins read & ordered that the foregoing Petition be sent Down to the Honble Assembly Theodore Atkinson Secy In Council November 1759 The Within Petition read again & ordered to be sent down to the Honble Assembly The Atkinson Secy Province of In the House of Representatives Jan 4, 1760. This PetiNew Hampe} tion being read Voted That the petitioners have Liberty to bring In a Bill accordingly, Provided they give security that the Bridge prayed for shall be built & Maintained as by an act of this Governm passed in the Twentieth Year of our Sovereign's Reign & also that it shall be free from any Expence to Passers. A. Clarkson Clerk In Council Jany, 5th 1760 read & concurred Theo. Atkinson Petition of sundry Inhabitants of the Province relating to New Market Bridge. To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq' Governor & Commander in Chief In and over his Majesty's Province of New Hampshire, To the Hone his Majestys Councill & House of Representatives for said Province Convened in Gen' Assembly. The Petition of the Subscribers Freeholders & Inhabitants within this Province, Humbly Sheweth That whereas there was some years sence a Grant made by the General Assembly of this Province to a Number of Petitioners, for Leave to Build a Bridge over Exeter River from New Market to Stratham near the Lower Ferry place and whereas a Number of Petitioners for Leave to set up a Lottery for the building of said Bridge have obtained Leave to bring in a Bill Accordingly, and it appearing to us that the building said Bridge at that Place will be a Much Greater Expence to the builders and much Less Benefit to the Publick than if the said Bridge should be built across said River at a place called the New Fields We Pray your Excellency & Honours to Reconsider the Votes Already Passed con cerning said Bridge and Grant that the said Bridge may be built at the s New Fields, For the Following Reasons viz: For that since the first Grant for building said Bridge at the lower Ferry place, The Country is Largely Settled back so as to make the Trading & Travelling by the said New Fields much more Convenient and Proffitable to the People in General than at the other place. 2ly For that the Damage (if any) to the People that Trade in Lumber at Exeter & other places above the New Fields will be much Less if the bridge be built at New Fields than if it be built below as the Rafts & Lighters which Come down from thence, Commonly stop at the New Field to make up their Load & Rafts bigger. 3 For that the River at the New Fields is at bottom Evener and Firmer for making a bridge to stand fast than it is below and Not so wide by Eight rods, so that the Charge of building Said Bridge at New Fields would be Vastly Less than to build it below. 4 For that there is already a high way laid open from the Country road in New Market to the upper End of the Landing at New Fields, and (if the bridge be built at New Fields) there will be a highway given by the owners of the Land in Stratham on the South side of said River From the said river to the Country road in Stratham which will be much more Serviceable & Convenient for People that Travel into the Country than the other way would be as also there will be a highway given from the Lower End of the Landing at New Fields to the Country Road in New Market near the Dwelling house of Hubartus Mattoon to Accommodate the People that live in the lower part of New Market and in Durham, which will make that way as Commodious for that people as if the bridge was to be built below. 5 For that there is a Great Trade and business Carry'd on at the Said New Fields (Particularly Shipbuilding) which (as People are Frequently Settling there) is likely to Increase very Largely in Case the Said Bridge be built there. For all which Reasons and many more that may be offered Your Petitioners Most Humbly Hope that your Excellency & Hons will Take under your wise Consideration the Premises aforesaid and Take Such order Concerning the Same as your Excellency & your Hon's In your Great Wisdom Shall think Most Convenient and proper And Your Petitioners as in Duty Bound Shall Ever Pray &c. New Market Jan. 30" 1760 Jonathan Chase Daniel Palmer Benjamin Morrill John Palmer Moses Chase John Levitt Junr. U Gideon Colcord Jonathan Colcord junr. Saml Baker Winthrop Hilton Jun. Ichabod Hilton Jonathan Hill Abnar Thurston Jonathan Piper Isile Marston Robert Cross Georg Hart Jacob Tilton Samuel Tilton Edward Presson Nathan Preson William Shute Wm Odiorne Junr. Theodre Hilton Banjman Avery Abner Clough Thomas Rowe Israel Blake Saml Gilman John Manning John Leavitt Stephen Thirston John Stockbridge John Stockbridge Jr John Rundlet Richard Calley William Calley Volintine Clark Chas Robinson Saml Lane John Clark Prov. New Hamp. In Council Feby the 6th 1760 read & ordered to be sent down to the assembly Theodore Atkinson Sec To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esqr. Governor and Commander in Chief of His Majestys Province of New Hampshire, To the Honorable His Majestys Council and House of Representatives for Said Province Conven'd in General Assembly. The Petition of the Subscribers, Freeholders and others Inhabitants within this Province Humbly sheweth, That there was formerly a Grant made by the General Assembly of this Province to Build a Bridge over Exeter River from New Market to Stratham near the Lower Ferry place; But the same has |