be done touching that Town (during my absence).* I think of nothing more material at p'sent, but believe I shall trouble your Hon' with one Lt more before my departure. In the mean time, I remain, with much Respect, Your Honour's most Obedient Humb' Servt, BOSTON, Jan. 8: 1728/9. Governour TALCOTT. [Indorsed] From JONTH BELCHER, Esq' Jan'y 8, 1728/9, with an account of Rec'ing £3300 of our Credit and Instructions, &c. GOVERNOR TALCOTT TO JONATHAN BELCHER. S': I have the favor of yours of the 6th instant, and have sent the Act of Assembly constituting *Gov. Belcher purchased, April 3, 1713, the tract of land called the manor of Mortlake, then included in the township of Pomfret, from the son of Sir John Blackwell, who had bought the land in order to establish there a colony of English and Irish dissenters during the reign of James II. This scheme was frustrated, and for nearly thirty years Mortlake was left a wilderness. Belcher at once undertook the improvement and settlement of this territory. A highway was laid out, two farms called Kingswood and Wiltshire reserved for Mr. Belcher's own occupation, and large tracts of land were sold. The right of jurisdiction was transferred with the land title, and Belcher's purchase recognized as a distinct township. As part of the tract was within the limits of Pomfret, Mr. Belcher proposed to annex his township to that town under certain conditions; which were not accepted, and Mortlake was left in 1716 in its original status as manorial property, with the rights and privileges of a township, but its government resting in an individual, not in a corporation. In May, 1728, the inhabitants petitioned the General Assembly that they might be set off as a separate township. The Lower House granted the petition, but it was rejected by the Upper; Belcher was too powerful a person to be molested. In 1739 Gov. Belcher sold the south part of Wiltshire to Israel Putnam and John Pope, both of Salem. In the course of the year Putnam purchased Pope's share, and took personal possession of Wiltshire Manor. In the following year all that remained of Belcher's land was sold by him to Godfrey Malbone, of Newport; viz., Kingswood and the north part of Wiltshire. The manorial status of Mortlake was unchanged by this transfer, but the owners were accessible and the land more open for improvement. In 1752 Mortlake was dis-stated and merged into Pomfret township, and then established as a society by the name of Brooklyn. Gov. Belcher had also a residence in Woodstock, and his counsel was sought in many cases of difficulty you Agent, &c. Your business at present for this Colony, as Agent, will be as you have intimated in your last to me, (viz.) to get reverst the Judgment of the King in Council, making null and void our law for the settling Intestate Estates, and to get the said law allowed and confirmed, &c. And I have no doubt but that Government in faithfulness to the you'l serve this utmost of your power, in whatever may inure to his Majesty's service and the tranquillity of this Gov'. And nothing new coming to my mind that is necessary for your further instruction in the management of our affairs, I desire you give my hum. Service with Respects to all Gen' that shall inquire after me, to our agent, Jeremia Dummer, Esq', and to Mr. Sam" Suall [Sewall] of Boston, now I suppose in London, to whom I sent a letter respecting our affairs, upon his offering his service, and am persuaded he'll serve me and this Colony in anything that he can, and shall not add, but only committing you with all your concerns, and ours, to the guidance, conduct, and protection of the allwise Gov of the whole world, and pray that He who hath the hearts of kings in his own hands would give you and us favor in the eyes of our Sovereign King George, &c. That the heavens may protect you, and send you a good and safe passage to great britton, keep you safely and guide you with his eye whilst there, and give success, with safe return in his own good time, to his praise and his people's good for whom you are concerned, so prays and hopes, Sir, Your very humbl Serv1, HARTFORD, Jan'y 30th, 1728/9. J. TALCOTT. by neighboring Connecticut towns. — Miss Larned's History of Windham County, I. 190, 194-9, 344, 353, 366, 517-20. GOVERNOR TALCOTT'S COMMISSION TO RICHARD CHRISTOPHER.* Joseph Talcott Esq' Gov' of his Majestys English Colony of Connecticut in New England having power and authority (by our act of ye fifteenth year of King Charles ye 2 intitled an act for the encouragement of trade) to appoint Navall offices or officers in any Ports in s Colony: Send Greeting: To all to whom these Presents shall come: Know ye that I have assigned, constituted and appointed and by these presents doe assign, constitute, and appoint Richard Christopher of New London Esq., to be Navall Officer in the port of New London and the dependances therein, and do impower him the s Richard Christopher to doe and performe the severall acts and duties belonging to the office of a Navall officer in s Port of Newlondon as afores according to what is required of such officers by the severall acts of Parlyment in such Cases; and by ye laws of this his Maj'es Colony. Given under my hand and seall at arms in Hartford this sixth day of feberury in the second yeare of his Majestys Reign George the 2 by the grace of God of Great britton &c King: Defender of the faith. J. TALCOTT. [Indorsed] Copie Commission I sent Richard Christopher, Naval officer. GOVERNOR TALCOTT TO GOVERNOR MONTGOMERIE.+ Sir May it please your Excellency: When you first arrived to your Government at New York, I sent sent a congratulatory letter to your * Richard Christopher was born Aug. 18, 1685; deputy from New London; Justice of the Peace for New London County; Assistant; died in 1736. — Hinman's Puritan Settlers, 582-3. Miss Caulkins' History of New London, 317. Colonial Records, Vols. VII, and VIII. + Col. John Montgomerie, or Montgomery, said to have been a favorite Excellency, with a motion in it, to persuade you to set a time for our joyning with our Comtees to run and ascertain the boundary line between this Colony and the Province of New York; and in a short time. after I heard that the letter came safe to you, but I have had no answer as yet, and lately I am informed that your Excellency hath said that you have had a letter from the Govr of Connecticut, and would willing write him an answer, but he not signing his letter, you have been at a loss for his name; and I well remember when I sent s letter, my clerk had transcribed several letters, and brought them to me to compare and sign, and as I signed, he closed and seal'd them, and very like in the multiplicity of business, he might close that before I had sign'd it. However, I hope the slip is venial, and that your Excellency will please to favor me with an answer. And as to the matter of the Line &c. I shall refer you to my former, only to say, since the Assemblys of each Gov'ment have show'd their earnest desire that s line might be agreed to and settled, and especial the Gov'ment of New York by their ex parte Act, &c. The season of the year for doing such services now drawing nigh, and the peace and good of the Governments, and more especially of the borderers on s line, much depending on the settling and making of it certain, I hope I shall not offend your good nature, if I once more move that your Excellency would appoint a time and place as soon as may be with conveniency, for our Commissioners to meet to carry on and perfect said of King George II., was appointed Governor of New York in the room of Gov. Burnet, Aug. 23, 1727, soon after that King's accession. He did not arrive in New York until April 15, 1728. He died while holding the office, June 30, 1731.- Documents Relating to the Colonial History of New York, 1. 823-4, 855, 921. Hutchinson, II. 325. service, and I shall not be wanting to contribute what's in my power for his Majesty's Service, and good of the Gov'ment on that behalf, and am, with due Regards, Sir, Your Excellency's Most humb, most obed' Servant, HARTFORD, March 17, 1728/9. To Gov MONTGOMERY. LIEUT.-GOVERNOR DUMMER TO GOVERNOR TALCOTT. Sir: I received yours relating [to] the box of books which I have found and have committed it to the care of one of my officers at the Castle to put on board the next vessel bound for your port, who will take good care thereof. I'm going to Newbury for about 6 weeks, and at my return shall be ready to render you any service, being Sir Your most humble servant, WM DUMMER. BOSTON, 18th March, 1728. JONATHAN BELCHER TO GOVERNOR TALCOTT. May it please Your Honour. S': I have now the opportunity (with great thankfulness to Almighty God) to advise you of my safe arrival after a fine passage of 26 days. I spent yesterday's evening with my good friend Mr Dummer, and the evening before with Mr Winthrop, with whom I had a long talk upon the affairs of the Colony. I find Mr Winthrop full of wrath and prejudice against Connecticutt, and I believe now indeavouring to do them all the ill offices in his power. But I hope God will blast his unjust attempts. Mr Dummer and I are in a perfect good understanding, |