STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
DOCUMENTS
RELATING TO
THE MASONIAN PATENT,
1630—1846,
INCLUDING THE
CHARTER OF THE COUNCIL OF PLYMOUTH, OF DATE Nov. 3, 1620, THE VARIOUS GRANTS AND PATENTS TO JOHN MASON, THE RECORDS AND MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS OF THE MASONIAN PROPRIETARY, WITH NUMEROUS OTHER PAPERS CONSTITUTING A PART OF THE DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE PATENT AND THE TITLES CLAIMED UNDER IT, ARRANGED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, WITH CITATIONS TO OTHER DOCUMENTS AND AUTHORITIES RELATIVE TO THE SAME SUBJECT, AND COMPLETE INDEXES.
VOLUME XXIX.
TOWN CHARTERS, VOLUME VI.
MASONIAN PAPERS, VOLUME III.
ALBERT STILLMAN BATCHELLOR,
EDITOR OF STATE PAPERS.
CONCORD:
EDWARD N. PEARSON, PUBLIC PRINTER.
1896.
JOINT RESOLUTION relating to the preservation and publication of portions of the early state and provincial records and other state papers of New Hampshire.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
That Hie Excellency the Governor be hereby authorized and empowered, with the advice and consent of the Council, to employ some suitable person —and fix his compensation, to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated—to collect, arrange, transcribe, and superintend the publication of such portions of the early state and provincial records and other state papers of New Hampshire as the Governor may deem proper ; and that eight hundred copies of each volume of the same be printed by the state printer, and distributed as follows : namely, one copy to each city and town in the state, one copy to such of the public libraries in the state as the Governor may designate, fifty copies to the New Hampshire Historical Society, and the remainder placed in the custody of the state librarian, who is hereby authorized to exchange the same for similar publications by other states.
Approved August 4, 1881.
PREFACE.
In the introduction which preceded the principal text in volumes twenty-seven and twenty-eight of this series of state publications, which were also designated as Masonian Papers, particular attention was called to two elements in New Hampshire history, viz.:— the controversy over the boundary between this province and the colony of Massachusetts Bay, and the controversy over the Masonian claim in its various forms and aspects. No less essential to an apprehension of correct theories as to the developmental history of the province is a recognition of the inter-relation of these two controversies, the identity of interests involved in them and which were constantly moving upon events, and were potent in the accomplishment of the most important results exhibited in the building of this commonwealth. A collection of the documents relating to the former subject, the boundary line controversy, is given in volume nineteen of this series. The papers there presented and the authorities cited afford the material for the study of this subject, or direction as to where it is accessible, with reference to the probable requirements of investigators.
A similar collection of documents relating to the Masonian claim, its origin, its persistent prosecution in varying degrees of vigor and success, both in the courts of the province and in those of the mother country, its status and character as a factor in political and business affairs, the changes in its proprietorship, the eventual qualified recognition of its validity, and its relations with the fundamental titles to a large part of the territory included within the present boundaries of the state, has long been a recognized desideratum in the documentary history of the province and state.
In so far as this deficiency had been already met in the volumes of this series previously published, the result was necessarily fragmentary and desultory. Documents presented in the earlier volumes, edited by Dr. Bouton, were for the most part those found in the state archives. Incidentally with the material of later volumes, largely legislative and executive journals, papers relating to the Masonian claim are incorporated, and are of unquestioned importance as constituting parts of the entire body of Masonian documents. The editors of the early volumes containing these
iv PREFACE.
papers were at a serious disadvantage owing to the fact that a considerable part of the documents which may be described as Masonian, were in private custody and inaccessible as regards public examination and use.
In 1746, if it be permissible to recite here facts of such common knowledge, a number of gentlemen of the province obtained a conveyance of the Masonian title by purchase from John Tufton Mason, an heir sixth in descent from John Mason, the original proprietor. With the muniments of title, a valuable and interesting mass of documents passed to the new proprietors. They were not a corporation in the sense in which the term is now used, but rather an organized association of joint owners. They had a recording officer, and a record of their transactions was continued until all the lands of the proprietary had been disposed of and their business concluded. The early history of this title includes a number of patents. The collection of these papers given in this volume is as complete as modern investigation in American and foreign archives has made practicable. For convenience and completeness of record the charter to the Council of Plymouth is given first place in the order of arrangement, The body of this volume is divided into two parts, the first containing the several patents and other instruments above referred to as constituting the basis of the title of John Mason to that portion of New England established as the province of New Hampshire, and the second containing the records of the associated proprietors, with accompanying documents of a general nature relating to the title in its various stages and conditions of progress in its own history and in the history of the province and state.
It will be noted that many papers relating to this subject, which have appeared in previous volumes of the state publications and which are accessible in other places of reference and custody, are described and cited in their proper consecutive order. It must be remembered that the early history of the Masonian title is largely involved in the history of the beginnings of the settlement of the New Hampshire towns and of the province. Hence all the histories of that period, so far as they relate to New Hampshire distinctively, or to New England, with any special reference to this province or to its early towns, are indispensible as commentaries on and treatment of the principal subjects of these documents. Equally important, in the same connection, are a number of conspicuous biographies of men of large influence in the early years of New England and New Hampshire. Of the former class the work of Dr. Belknap is still without a rival as an authority upon the period of which he treats; and, of the latter class, are the admirable biographies of John Mason and John Wheelwright, the former the work of Mr. Tuttle and Mr. Dean, and the latter from the pen of Governor Bell. Upon an examination of these narratives and of the
PREFACE. v
Masonian documents, it will be observed that the history of the title is traced through periods in which it was a remarkably active element in the progress of events, while in other intervening periods it would seem to have been comparatively quiescent and obscure. Such an interval followed the death of John Mason in 1635. In the years immediately prior to the establishment of the province in 1679 and until the death of Robert (Tufton) Mason, grandson of the proprietor, in 1688, this subject was of overshadowing importance in the political concerns of the people, in their courts, and indeed in respect to the immediate title to and possession of the homes which they had established.
The establishment of the province government was due to the activity and influence of Robert (Tufton) Mason in the revival of the Masonian claim. This influence dominated the selection of royal appointees for the administration of the province and their conduct in office. The heirs of Robert Mason, being minors, allowed the people a respite from the agitation and further enforcement of their rights for the time being. This period, however, was of short duration. In 1691 their title was transferred to Samuel Allen by a valid conveyance, as it was considered, the formality of docking the entail by fine and recovery in the court of king's bench in England having been observed and pursued, the lands which were the subject of the proceeding being considered by a fiction of law as lying in England, in the parish of Greenwich.
Many years later the validity of this proceeding was questioned, and it was treated as invalid, both on technical and material grounds.
Mr. Allen procured a commission as governor of the province in 1692. The prosecution of his claim (for a time after that date known as the Allen title) was thereupon energetically renewed and persistently continued during succeeding administrations in the province until the death of Thomas Allen, in 1715, son and heir of the governor. Another interval of subsidence of the agitation of this interest ensued. The forceful activity of the Masons seems to have been transmitted from generation to generation. The next revival of their efforts to enforce the title emanated from John Tufton Mason, advantage having been taken of the defect in the Allen title before adverted to, and the entail having now been docked in the local courts of this jurisdiction. A sequence of this movement on the part of Mr. Mason was the sale to a number of gentlemen, who, in the parlance of the present day, might, perhaps, be termed a syndicate. The personal character, the financial resources, the social and political connections of these men, and the well-conceived method of their association afforded the Masonian title a status which it had never before gained and occupied with the people and with the several departments of government in the province. The associ‑
vi PREFACE.
ation controlled resources which enabled them to formulate far-reaching plans and to carry them into successful execution. They manifested singular wisdom and tact in their dealings with the people, both in individual and political relations. It was inevitable that they should sooner or later encounter antagonisms of a potential and dangerous character. Men of less influence, less wealth, and less steadfastness of purpose, men less closely identified with the various forces which moved upon the opinions of the masses and influenced the attitude of courts and the action of legislatures, would have failed in this enterprise, long discredited and still burdensome, hazardous, and unpromising. Their administration of their rights as successors to the Masonian interest was judicious and conciliatory.
However promising the outlook may have been for the new proprietary in the early years of their administration, the future was pregnant of difficulty. The historic line which was supposed to bound their grant on the west and northwest may be traced on the map which accompanies volume twenty-six of this series.
In almost forty years succeeding 1746, the course of affairs with them was comparatively uneventful. Soon after the Revolution, however, and at almost one and the same time, they were assailed from two directions. The Allen claim was revived with much apparent determination, and another and adverse construction of the terms of the patent in relation to the specifications of boundaries was asserted on behalf of the state. The nature of both claims is fully disclosed in the records and documents which follow. The proprietary did not resort to protracted litigation, or prolong the issue in the legislature. Compromises were effected, both with the state and the Allen interests, but only by a very large outlay on the part of the proprietary. The state's contention, advanced in the general court, was that there was no warrant for the assumption that the Masonian boundary on the northerly and westerly sides was a curved line. The running of a straight line between the two terminal points of this curved line marked off a considerable area, which, in the state's construction of the terms of the patent, would belong to the public instead of to the proprietary. The deed of the state to the proprietors, June 18, 1788, and the deed of the Allen heirs to the proprietors, January 28, 1790, will be found hereinafter on pages 340 and 345, respectively.
From this time onward to the conclusion of the record, the history of the proprietary and of the Masonian title pertains mainly to the routine of business, resulting finally in the disposal of their holdings and a practically complete execution of their undertakings with respect to the territory included in the Masonian patents.
PREFACE. vii
A few years since, Mr. William M. Sargent of Portland, Me., who was engaged in the examination and transcription of records for the publications known as "York Deeds" and "Maine Wills," discovered, in the custody of Moses A. Stafford of Kittery, an ancient sheep-bound folio manuscript of eighty-four pages, which, for nearly two centuries had been in the custody of descendants of Lieut.-Gov. John Usher. The book contains certified copies of many documents relating to the Masonian claim. Mr. Sargent is of opinion, based on careful investigation, that these papers were used in the trials of the cases, Mason v. Waldron, at New Castle, 1683, Allen v. Spencer, at Wells, 1704, Allen v. Waldron, at Portsmouth, 1707.
This collection contained several valuable additions to be made to the published literature of subjects of which they treat. Several of these papers are incorporated in this volume, with special designation of the source from which they were obtained.
No record or copy of the conveyances made in mortgage or in some other form for the security of Lieut.-Gov. Cranfield, of which mention is made by Dr. Belknap (History of New Hampshire, Farmer's edition, p. 96), has been discovered, though diligent search has been made in the land and court records in this country and in England.
The greater part of the documents here presented are from the collection which came to the custody of the state from Robert Cutts Peirce of Portsmouth in 1891. This has supplied material which has been the basis and principal feature of the three volumes now published and designated as "Masonian Papers." Two of these volumes were devoted to the township charters issued by the Masonian proprietary, while the papers of a more general nature, pertaining to the subject, were reserved to this, the third volume of the Masonian series.
In relation to the two grants of New Hampshire and Masonia to Capt. John Mason, both of date April 22, 1635, the student of these documents should read the note of explanation on pages 216-218 of Tuttle and Dean's life of "Capt. John Mason," published by the Prince Society, 1887.
The plan adopted for this work has not contemplated the incorporation of numerous or extensive explanatory and historical notes. It has, however, required methodical and logical arrangement of the material, fidelity in the transcription and in the imprint, and the addition of accurate and exhaustive indexes, whereby every feature of the collection, every material fact, and every name, may be readily and certainly found and made available to those who have occasion to consult the work.
A. S. BATCHELLOR.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Council of Plymouth Established, Nov. 3, 1620 3
Grant of Mariana, March 9, 1621-2 19
Grant of Maine, Aug. 10, 1622 23
Wheelwright Deed, May 17, 1629 28
Grant of New Hampshire, Nov. 7, 1629 28
Grant of Laconia, Nov. 17, 1629 33
Description of Laconia 38
Letter, Thomas Eyre to Ambrose Gibbons, May, 1631 38
Grant of Piscataway, Nov. 3, 1631 39
Note of Patent to Gorges and Mason, Nov. 4, 1631 43
Invoice of Goods, Nov. 17, 1631 44
Invoices and Accounts 45
Invoice of Goods, April 18, 1632 45
Letter to Ambrose Gibbons, Dec. 5, 1632 47
Names of Mason's Stewards and Servants 48
Letter from Ambrose Gibbons, June 24, 1633 49
Property at Newichwannock, July, 1633 49
Covenant between Walter Neal and Charles Knill, July 1, 1633 50
Letter, Gibbons to the Company, July 13, 1633 51
Four Towns Laid Out, August 13-20, 1633 52
Agreement for Division of Property, Dec. 6, 1633 55
Allotment of Capt. Mason's Part by the Council of New England,
Feb. 3, 1634 55
Gorges and Mason to Wannerton and Gibbons, May 5, 1634 55
Capt. Mason to Ambrose Gibbons, May 5, 1634 56
Gibbons to Mason, Aug. 9, 1634 57
George Vaughan to Ambrose Gibbons, Aug. 20, 1634 59
Lease of New Hampshire to John Wollaston, April 18, 1635 59
Grant of New Hampshire and Masonia, April 22, 1635 62
Grant of New Hampshire and Masonia, April 22, 1635 64
Transfer from Wollaston to Mason, June 11, 1635 66
Royal Charter to Mason, Aug 19, 1635 69
Deed, Gorges to Mason, Sept. 17, 1635 85
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
John Mason's Will, Nov. 26, 1635 88
Vaughan to Gibbons, April 10, 1636 96
Lease to Francis Matthews, Oct. 1, 1637 97
Anne Mason to Ambrose Gibbons, May 22, 1638 98
Richard Rogers to Ambrose Gibbons, March 2, 1647 98
Joseph Mason's Protest against Richard Leader, July 4, 1651 99
Deposition of Biles and Mason, May, 1652 99
Petition of Robert Mason 100
Abstract of Mason's Title 104
Report on Mason's Petition 104
Opinion of Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Nov. 8, 1660 106
Summary of Mason's Title, March 5, 1674-5 107
Report of Attorney and Solicitor General, May 17, 1675 108
Judges' Report 109
Letter from King to Massachusetts Government, March 10, 1675-6 111
Depositions of Edward Johnson and William Seavey, Aug. 25 and
Sept. 3, 1676 112
Extract of Letter from Gov. Leverett to the Lord Chancellor, Oct.
22, 1677 112
Petition of Mason and Gorges for Separate Government, Jan. 9,
1677-8 112
Letter from the King to the Massachusetts Government, July 24,
1679 112
Petition of Robert Mason, Aug 6, 1680 116
Letter from the King to the Massachusetts Government, Sept. 30,
1680 116
King's Instructions, Oct. 1, 1680 118
Appointment of Richard Otis as Steward, March 22, 1680-1 120
Richard Chamberlain's Report to the Lords of Trade, May 16,
1681 120
Letter, Council of New Hampshire to the King, May 31, 1681 120
Petition of Robert Mason against the Council, Nov. 10, 1681 120
Mason's Offer to the King, 1681-2 647
Surrender of Revenues to the King, April 1, 1682 648
Extract from Gov. Cranfield's Commission, May 9, 1682 120
King's Proclamation, June 23, 1682 121
Answer of Elias Stileman, Nov. 15, 1682 123, 649
Answer to Mason's Claim 651
Nathaniel Weare's Complaint 123
Statement of Richard Chamberlain, 1683 124
Letters from Gov. Cranfield to the Commissioners 124
TABLE OF CONTENTS. xi
Deed, Mason to George Broughton, April 12, 1683 124
Certificate of Gov. Cranfield, Sept. 24, 1683 126
Mason vs. Vaughan, 1683 127
Conveyance, Mason to Lyford, Oct. 29, 1683 129
Robert Mason's Waiver, Dec. 5, 1683 131
Proclamation about Deeds, Feb. 17, 1683-4 131
Statement of Walter Barefoot, Nov. 6, 1684 132
Petition of Inhabitants against Mason, 1685 132
Papers in Mason vs. Wiggin and Nutter, 1685 132
Deed, Wonalancet to Jonathan Tyng, Oct. 10, 1685 132
Depositions about Mason Property, 1685 134
Deed, Mason to Usher, Lidgett, and McCarty, April 15, 1686 138
Verdict against William Vaughan Confirmed, Nov. 19, 1686 141
Judgment for Costs against Vaughan, Dec. 10, 1686 142
Samuel Allen's Agreement, Oct. 14, 1690 143
Fine, &c., against John and Robert Tufton Mason 145
Sale of Mason Possessions to Samuel Allen, April 27, 1691 148
Robert Tufton Mason's Will, Oct. 21, 1692 153
Robert Talton Mason's Commission as Attorney-General, May 28,
1695 155
Fine and Recovery in the County of Kent 155
Statement of Henry Langster, May 10, 1699 157
Letter, Bellomont to Lords of Trade, June 22, 1700 158
Complaint against James Menzies, Feb., 1700-1 158
Permission to Withdraw Papers in Horn vs. Dow, Aug. 13, 1700 158
Mortgage of New Hampshire, Allen to Usher, Oct. 14, 1701 159
Governor's Speech and Answer, Feb. 10, 1703-4 162
Deposition of Robert Pike, May 29, 1704 163
Meeting of Committee on Allen's Claim, June 4, 1704 164
Convention to Consider Allen's Claim, May 3, 1705 164
Deed, Allen to Hobby, Aug. 28, 1706 167
Case, Allen vs. Waldron, Aug. 12, 1707 172
Address of the House to Queen Anne, 1707-8 172
Address of the Governor, Council, and House to the Queen, Dec.
6, 1709 172
Record of Birth of John Tufton Mason, 1713 172
Mason Genealogy 172
Letter, Oliver Noyes and Elisha Cooke to Lt.-Gov. Vaughan, Jan.
30, 1715 173
Extract from Lt.-Gov. Vaughan's Speech, 1716 173
Council and Assembly Records, Jan. 11, 1716-17 173
xii TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Council and Assembly Reoords, Jan. 12, 1716-17 174
Council Records, Jan. 17, 1716-17 174
Council and Assembly Records, Jan. 17, 1716-17 174
Council and Assembly Records, May 15, 1717 174
House Journal, Oct. 12, 1717 175
Council and Assembly .Records, May 7, 1718 175
Memorial of John Hobby, Nov. 22, 1726 175
Council and Assembly Record, Nov. 23, 1726 176
House Journal, Nov. 24, 1726 176
Council and Assembly Records, Nov. 24, 1726 177
House Journal, Nov. 29, 1726 177
Council and Assembly Records, Nov. 30, 1726 177
Memorial of John Tufton Mason, June, 1738 177
Opinions of John Read and Robert Auchmuty, June 16, 1738 178
Deposition of Mary Manfield, June 27, 1738 181
Depositions of Martha Trefethen and Deborah Jones, June 27,
1738 182
Certificate and Depositions, 1738 183
Certificate and Depositions, 1738 187
Mason's Quitclaim Deed to Massachusetts, July 1, 1738 189
Josiah Willard to Francis Wilke, July 24, 1738 193
Tripartite Agreement, April 6, 1739 193
Massachusetts Committee to Interview John Tufton Mason, June
29, 1739 197
Council and Assembly Records, Oct. 30, 1744 197
House Journal, Dec. 19, 1744 197
Memorial of John Tufton Mason, Feb. 18, 1745 198
Council and Assembly Records, Feb. 22, 1745-6 199
House Journal, May 7, 1746 199
Lease, Mason to Wibird and Solly, May 16, 1746 200
Indenture for Docking the Entail, May 17, 1746 202
Recovery by John Wentworth, 1746 205
House Journal, July 29, 1746 212
House Journal, July 30, 1746 213
Council and Assembly Records, July 30, 1746 213
Deed, Mason to Proprietors, July 30, 1746 215
Proprietors' Quitclaim to Towns, July 31, 1746 216
House Journal, July 31, 1746 218
Council and Assembly Records, July 31, 1746 218
House Journal, Aug. 1, 1746 219
House Journal, Aug. 1, 1746 219
TABLE OF CONTENTS. xiii
House Journal, Aug. 2, 1746 219
House Journal, Sept. 19, 1746 220
Report of House Committee, Aug. 12, 1746 220
Answer of Proprietors to Committee, Sept. 4, 1746 221
Council and Assembly Records, Sept. 6, 1746 224
House Journal, Dec. 8, 1746 224
House Journal, Dec. 11, 1746 225
List of Legislative Events 225
Draft of Deed of Sale to the Province, May 15, 1747 226
House Journal, Aug. 20, 1747 227
Answer of Proprietors to the Assembly, June 1, 1748 227
House Journal, June 4, 1748 230
Information from Joseph Blanchard, 1748 231
Deposition of Margaret Pastree, July 25, 1748 232
Joseph Blanchard's Obligation, Nov. 5, 1748 232
Letter from Joseph Blanchard, Nov. 30, 1748 233
List of Petitions for Grants, Dec. 7, 1748 234
Letter to John Tufton Mason 237
Thomas Packer's Protest, March 1, 1748-9 247
Power of Attorney to Jackson, Livermore, and Parker, June 14,
1749 247
Letter from Joseph Blanchard, June 26, 1749 249
Motion for Amendment of Writ 249
Letter from John Tufton Mason, Sept. 15, 1749 251
Story of the Purchase from Mason 253
State of Mason's Title 263
Deed, Mason to Proprietors, Sept 30, 1749 274
Benjamin Pratt Asks for Information, Jan. 5, 1749-50 277
Report of Committee on Importing Settlers, July 2, 1750 278
Mason's Power of Attorney to Proprietors, Dec, 12, 1750 279
Letter to John Thomlinson, March 7, 1750-1 280
Letter, Gov. Wentworth to the Board of Trade, March 23, 1750-1 281
Letter, Thomlinson to Peirce, July 24, 1751 281
Letter about Masonian Title, Oct. 16, 1751 283
Letter, Atkinson to Thomlinson, Oct 19, 1751 283
Letter from John Thomlinson, March 6, 1752 288
Receipt for Papers, Sept 4, 1753 289
Lords of Trade to the King, 1753 289
Opinions of Nicholas Fazakerley, May 21, 1754 300
Judgment, Buswell vs. Ordway, June 5, 1754 301
Letter, Atkinson to Thomlinson, Jan. 27, 1758 302
xiv TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Mortgage, Clements to McHard, Sept. 22, 1758 302
Letter, Atkinson to Thomlinson, May 18, 1763 304
Letter, Atkinson to Thomlinson, 1763 305
Deed, McHard to Proprietors, Aug. 13, 1766 305
John Quigley's Certificate, Sept. 17, 1767 306
James Richey's Request 306
Deposition of Jonathan Farwell and John Kendall, Oct. 13, 1767 307
Instructions to Robert Fletcher, June 1, 1769 308
House Journal, March 21, 1771 309
House Journal, March 22, 1771 309
Letter from John Quigley, March 26, 1771 309
Minutes of Meeting, May 1, 1771 310
Report from John Shepard, Jr., Aug. 24, 1773 310
Proxy, Peirce to Atkinson, Sept. 30, 1773 311
Directions for Surveyor 312
Jonas Minot to George Jaffrey, May 3, 1780 313
Defence against Allen Title, April 12, 1785 313
Rough Drafts of Warning to Allen Heirs 320
History of the Title, and Caution 327
Request of Elijah Frink, Aug., 1785 334
Protest against the Curve Line, Sept. 1, 1785 334
Petition of Towns in Hillsborough County, May, 1786 335
Petition of Inhabitants, June, 1786 335
Petition from the Heirs of Allen, June 12, 1786 335
Report of Committee on Unimproved Lands, Jan. 19, 1787 335
Act for Ascertaining Waste Lands, Jan. 15, 1787 335
Act to Quiet Land Purchasers, June 28, 1787 336
Protest of Masonian Proprietors 338
List of George Jaffrey's Lots, March 21, 1788 338
Terms of Compromise with the State, June 2, 1788 340
Act for Sale of Lands to the Proprietors, June 17, 1788 654
Deed, State to the Proprietors, June 18, 1788 340
Act for Levying Taxes, June 18, 1788 655
Report of Proprietors Committee, Sept. 5, 1788 342
George Jaffrey's Bond, Feb. 20, 1789 343
Deed, Allen Heirs to Proprietors, Jan. 28, 1790 345
Draft of Memorial of George Jaffrey, Jan. 3, 1791 351
Petition of Mary Tufton Mason, Dec. 7, 1791 361
John Peirce's Statement, Aug. 30, 1792 361
Vote of the House, Dec. 15, 1792 363
George Jaffrey to William Plumer, June 5, 1794 363
TABLE OF CONTENTS. XV
Oliver Peabody to George Jaffrey, July 12, 1794 372
Deed, Woodbury Langdon to the Proprietors, Aug. 15, 1795 372
N. Dane to George Jaffrey, Feb. 5, 1798 373
Jeremiah Smith to George Jaffrey, April 29, 1800 374
Act for Holding Meetings in Portsmouth, June 10, 1803 374
Deposition of Ebenezer Towle, Oct. 6, 1803 376
Depositions of Jeremiah Bacon and Samuel Gunnison, Oct 6,
1803 378
Deposition of Joseph Blanchard, April 7, 1804 381
Deposition of John Stearns, April 13, 1804 384
Joseph Blanchard to John Peirce, April 15, 1804 375
Jotham Rindge's Journal 385
Records of the Meetings of the Proprietors 401
APPENDIX.
Mason's Offer to the King, 1681-2 647
Surrender of Revenues to the King, April 1, 1682 648
Answer of Elias Stileman to Mason's Claim, Nov. 15, 1682 649
Answer to Mason's Claim 651
Act for Sale of Lands to the Proprietors, June 17, 1788 654
Act for Levying Taxes, June 18, 1788 655
Index 659