Whereas, the General Assembly at their sessions in October last, required the several Companies and settlers who have made purchases of the native right to any part of the Western lands, within the limits of the Charter, and the Governor of Connecticut, as soon as may be done with Convenience to lay the state of their purchase before the General Assembly, that whenever the title to said lands is determined in favor of this Colony, that Such part of their respective purchases may be granted them as shall be a reasonable Compensation for the Cost, trouble and expense, in purchasing and settling the same, as by this assembly shall be thought fit and reasonable, as by records of said assembly may fully appear. The Committee of the Susq' Comp in Consequence of such requisition have duly warned a meeting at Windham on the 9th day of March, 1774. When, and Where in said meeting, it is Voted, that Jedediah Elderkin, Nathan Wales, Junr., Sam' Gray of Windham, Alex' Wolcott of Windsor, Esq., and Mr. Joseph Trumbull of Norwich, be a Committee fully to state the Comps Claim to that part of said lands purchased by said Comp to the Committee appointed by the General Assembly at their adjourned Sessions in July last, or the General Assembly to be holden at Hartford in May next, or Such Committee as they shall appoint at that time for that purpose, agreeally to the requisition of the General Assembly aforesaid. And Whereas, the Expenses that may arise in disputing the Colony's title to the Western lands, are objected by many against the Colony's prosecuting their title, to obviate such objections as far as may be equitable, taking into Consideration the great Extent of the lands lying west of this Colony's Claim and within the limits of the Charter. Voted, that said Committee be, and they are hereby directed, to propose to the General Assembly, or their Committee, that this Comp have now voted a tax of 24s lawful Money on each whole share, and 12s on each half share in this Company's purchase which will amount to £1600 lawful money, to be paid into the hands of the Comp's Treasurer, to be by him paid over to the Colony's Treasurer by the first of Jan' next, towards defraying Expenses already arisen or that may hereafter arise, in the dispute with Mr. Penn, Concerning said lands, and as an equitable Consideration for the Crown title to the lands within the said Comp purchase, and in Case any of the proprietors of this Comp' shall not punctually pay up the said sum of 24s on their whole right or share, or 12s on their half share or right by the first of Jan'y next, they shall forfeit their said rights or shares to the Colony; except orphans, or such as may be absent beyond the sea; provided only that the Colony prosecute their Claims to their Western lands within the limits of their Charter, and grant the said Comp' the Crown title to the land within their purchase. Voted, to raise 24s on each whole share, and 12s on each half Share, for the purpose mentioned in the foregoing vote. Whereas, by the votes of the Susq" Comp', no person has any right to take up any lands in the Susqa purchase, but such as obtain a Certificate according to the votes of Said Comp' that such person is a proprietor in said purchase, duly admitted, and hath duly paid all the taxes granted by said Company, and Whereas, it is said that the names of Sundry persons are inserted in the deed to Said Comp' of the Indian title, who have never Claimed any interest therein, or paid any taxes granted thereon, and who though named in Said Deed, or enrolle i in the records of said Comp' have treated the Same with neglect, and wholly failed to pay their taxes, and are now moving for liberty to pay their taxes, and to have Certificates granted so as to enable them to take up lands, and Whereas on Consideration of the Case, it appears to this meeting, that the taxes granted amount to but a Small part of the Expense which those proprietors have been at who have been active in presenting the Claim of said Company to said lands. Yet, nevertheless, this meeting being desirous of promoting harmony among the proprietors, and willing that all who are now desirous Should be benefitted by their purchase, do therefore vote, That whenever any person named in Said deed, or Enrolled in said records, who have neglected to pay their taxes aforesaid, shall apply to the Clerk of Said Comp' for a Certificate on the following Conditions, namely: That such persons so applying pay to the Treasurer of said Comp' for the use of Said Comp, all the taxes granted by said Company, and the lawful interest thereon, and also a further sum of £10 lawful money, Excepting only orphans and those absent beyond seas or other equitable good Cause who shall be admitted on paying the whole taxes due and interest due thereon, and Whereas, it is said that Some of the proprietors who have actually paid their taxes, or some part of them, by which they were justly entitled to an interest in Said purchase, and others have purchased rights and taken receipts, and have also paid those taxes granted subsequent to their purchase, and by some accident have lost their receipts and are thereby prevented from obtaining Certificates according to the votes of Said Comp", whereby great injustice is likely to happen, which to prevent, it is Voted, That whenever any person shall have lost any receipt or receipts as aforesaid, such person may make application 7-VOL. XVIII. unto any two or three of the Standing Committee of said Comp', who shall have full power to Enquire into the matter, and if said Committee, or any two of them, shall be satisfied that such person has been duly admitted a proprietor in said Comp', and has paid the taxes in part, or in whole, Said Committee shall Certify to the clerk that such person is a proprietor, and what part, if any, of the taxes appear to be due, which Certificate being produced to the Clerk and the balance of taxes (if any there be) being paid, and the interest thereon, the Clerk or others authorized thereto, shall give such person a certificate, Certifying that such person is a proprietor, and hath paid his taxes, whether his name is inserted in the deed or records or not; and if such person's name is not inserted in the deed, &c., the Clerk shall enroll the same in the records of said Comp' provided that those persons that Come within the first part of this vote, do apply to the clerk of the Committee of this Comp', and Comply with the tenor & Condition thereof, on or before the first of Jan' next. Whereas, this Company formerly Voted that those proprietors that should survey and take up townships on their rights in the Susq* purchase according to the votes of this Comp shall have twenty settlers settled in such towns within two years after the laying out of such towns, and whereas, the settlers have met with such opposition and hindrances that it has not been possible for said proprietors to settle on such towns within said term and that great opposition still remains. It is now Voted, that the proprietors that have or shall take and lay out towns in said purchase according to the votes of this Comp, shall have three years from the time of Time of filling up Townships Ex- taking up and Surveying such towns, to Carry tended to 3 years. on and settle twenty settlers, Mentioned in said vote. Whereas, Matthew Hollinback is one of the associates of Capt. Lazarus Stewart and Wm. Stewart, and ought to be one of the thirty-six Settlers to whom the township of Hanover was granted as a gratuity, and drew in said town the lot Number five and the Said Stewarts have pretended to Exclude said Matthew Hollinback from his said right, upon a report of a Committee for that purpose appointed. It is now Voted, that the said Matthew Hollinback shall have and enjoy his saidright in said township of Hanover, viz., his lot No. 5, with all the after divisions in said town to be laid out to said lot No. 5, in Equal proportion with the proprietors in the said town of Hanover. Voted twenty dollars to Mr. Speedy. Voted, that Wm. Judd, Increase Mosely, Silas Dean, John Owen and Eliphalet Whittlesey, be added to the Standing Committee. Voted, to print Doctor Stiles' piece. Adjourned to meet at Hartford, on the 24th of May next. At a meeting of the Susquehanna Company held by adjournment, at Hartford, May 24, 1774. Elizur Talcut, Moderator. Sam' Gray, Clerk. Voted, that Benj. Stevens, Josiah Cowles, Benj. Yale, Jon Root, Aaron Cleveland, Wm. Judd, Gad Stanley and Jos. Slewman, be a committee to hear and Consider sundry Complaints and matters of grievance now preferred to this meeting. We the subscribers, being appointed to hear, Examine and redress, the grievances of Thomas McClure wherein said McClure Complains that his settling right in Kingston No. 36, &c., was voted to James Forsythe in June, 1773, beg leave humbly to report, That Thomas McClure be restored to the above settling right in Kingston, and quieted in possession thereof, and that James Forsythe be quieted in the suffering right in the six miles square at Muncy Creek; as we find his name enrolled among the sufferers in that township, which enrollment was made in lieu of the above right after it was voted to the above named McClure, appeared by evidence laid before us, and we also find that the above named Forsythe was duly notified to appear at the meeting. All of which is submitted to your wise Consideration. GAD STANLEY, Jos. SLEWMAN. BENJ. YALE, The foregoing report is accepted by this meeting, and or dered to be recorded, and the parties to be Concluded thereby. To the Gentlemen proprietors of the Susqa purchase in meeting Convened: Your Committee appointed to hear, Examine and adjust the several grievances now lying before said meeting, having heard the Complaints, Examined and adjusted the same, beg leave to report: That the Matter of Capt. Lazarus Stewart and associates against Matthew Hollinback, be and remain as it was last settled by the Susquehanna Company, until the parties shall be duly heard before the Comp', or they be duly Cited to appear before the Comp. As to the matter of the Survey made to Lazarus Stewart at Wapwallopen, and afterwards located to others, We are of opinion, doth not fall within the authority given us by the Comp, neither Can we find any vote of the Susq' Comp au . thorizing any Committee to locate or Survey any lands within the purchase, but such lands as are within the limits of Some town, taken up pursuant to the votes of the Comp. It appears that, Slocum accepted a right in Providence in lieu of a right in Pittstown in behalf of Mr. Updike and ought to be Content therewith. It appears to us that Mr. Elijah Shoemaker has had meet recompense in one of the suffering towns, for the rights he lost at Kingston or 40. We are of opinion that the right Rob. Frazier has had, and disposed of in Wilkesbarry, is a sufficient Compensation of all that he has done for the Company. John Steavens and Son have been duly provided for by the Committee of Settlers at Westmoreland, the Father having had a right in Wilkesbarry, and the Son in Providence. As to the Complaint of Mr. Ebenezer Newton, we apprehend by the votes of the Susqa Company, by his own neglect has justly forfeited all further favor from the Company. We further recommend to the Consideration of the Susq Comp', whether it is expedient that any particular location or Survey be made by any particular person or persons, out of the limits of Some town laid out pursuant to the votes of the general Comp, and whether any such survey as has heretofore been made, be Confirmed by the Comp. All of which is submitted by your humble servants, BENJ. STEVENS, JOSIAH COWLES, AARON CLEVELAND, Jos. SLEWMAN, JON ROOT, The foregoing Report is accepted by this meeting, and ordered to be recorded, and the parties to be Concluded thereby. To the Gentlemen proprietors of the Susqa purchase in meeting Convened: Your Committee appointed to hear and Consider the petition of James Bidlack, now lying before this Meeting, wherein hə prays to be restored to the right that was originally Jeremiah Ross's, or to his original right in Plymouth, and having heard the evidence in the Case, and fully Considered of the Matters, are of opinion, that the said Ross be quieted in the possession of his said rights agreeably to the votes of this Comp on the 2a day of June last, and as to the said Bidlack being restored to his original right in Plymouth that he made over to Uriah Marvin, we are of opinion that it is out of our province to Consider, as said Marvin was not Notified of Said petition. All of which is submitted by your humble servants. GERSHOM REED, BENJ. STEVENS, JOSEPH COWLES, Committee. |