taxes by Law are collected of Non, resident proprietors in other Towns in this state which act your petitioners would have most chearfully complyed with had it been in their power but said Littleton together with a Town or part of a Town known by the name of Dalton, was first granted by the name of Chesuwich afterward by the name of Apthorp then divided into Littleton and Dalton to particular Gentlemen and not in proprietory shares as is usually the custom in other towns in this state-your petitioners would further Sugjest that the act for taxing Lands in said Littleton and Dalton for the purpose of making and repairing roads therein is under the aforesaid Imbarisments Your petitioners would therefore pray your Honors to pass an act Impowering the Selectmen of said Littleton for the time being to assess and cause to be collected all publick taxes due from said town in one tax bill on the lands therein not confining them to any particular rights but to sell as much of said Lands in one body as will pay said tax with Incidental charges also in the same way and manner to sell as much land as will compeat said road throug said Town as also that they may be Impowered in the same way and manner to sell as much land in Dalton as will complete the road leading through the same and give a reasonable time to levy and collect said Taxes or grant such other relief in the premises as to your Honors may appear reasonable and Just and stay the extents against said Littleton untill a final determination be had and your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray— Sam Young in behalf of the Selectmen of Littleton & Inhabitants of Dalton [R. 2–191] [Lieut. Peleg Williams's Petition, 1793.] State of Newhampshire— To the Honble Gen1 Court of sd State convened at Exeter on the twenty fifth day of December 1793 Humbly sheweth Peleg Williams of a place caled Littleton in said State-That in November 1776 he engaged and was commissioned as a Lieut for said State in the late war-That on account of his ill State of health, contracted in s service, he, in the month of may 1778 resigned not in the smallest degree doubting he had a right so to do Peleg Williams [He stated that he had not been paid the depreciation of his wages, and asked to have it done.—ED.] LONDONDERRY. The township was granted, June 21, 1722, by Gov. Samuel Shute to John Moor and one hundred and seventeen others. The grantees were Scotch Presbyterians, who came in 1718 from the north part of Ireland, where their ancestors, emigrants from Scotland, had settled about one hundred years before. By an agreement dated March 26, 1718, Rev. William Boyd was appointed by them as agent to obtain a grant of land from Gov. Shute, and succeeded in obtaining a promise of a grant whenever they decided upon a location. On receiving this encouragement they came over, landing in Boston Aug. 4, 1718. A portion of them went to Casco Bay, then in the province of Massachusetts, with the intention of settling there; but not being pleased with the country, they returned and located here in April, 1719, O. S. Many of them came from the city of Londonderry, Ireland, and named this town in honor of their old home, which some of them had helped to defend in 1689 against the emissaries of James the Second. They were an industrious and thrifty people, and strongly attached to their religious opinions. The town was divided into two parishes, by an act approved Feb. 25, 1740, in accordance with a vote of the town passed in 1735. Feb. 12, 1742, the southern portion of the town was incorporated into a parish by the name of Windham, the first meeting of which was to be called by Robert Dinsmore, Joseph Waugh, and Robert Thompson, on March 8th of that year. The north-west part of the town was taken off Sept. 3, 1751, and with other territory incorporated into the town of Derryfield. A portion of the town was annexed to Nottingham West (Hudson), March 6, 1778. Sept. 26, 1777, sundry persons and their estates were severed from Londonderry and annexed to Windham. Nov. 26, 1778, Samuel Clark and his estate were also annexed to Windham, and the line between these towns was established by an act passed Nov. 22, 1782. Another portion of this town was annexed to Windham, Dec. 25, 1805. An act was passed July 2, 1827, dividing the town nearly in the middle, and incorporating the east half by the name of Derry. People from Londonderry were among the first settlers of the towns of Bedford, Merrimack, Antrim, Acworth, Cherry Valley, N. Y., and other places. [6-91] [Relative to the burning of Matthew Clark's House, 1725.] To all Christian People to whom these Presents shall come Greeting: The humble Petition of Matthew Clark of Londonderry in in Newhampshire, Humbly Sheweth That on Fryday the third of this Instant in the dead time of the Night an awfull and dreadfull fire seized upon his dwelling House and consumed it to Ashes, together with his worldly Substance therein contained, as Household furniture, cloaths, Provisions and Money, whereof there were four pounds, four and Six pence of the Bills of this Province, Your Petitioner with his wife and small Children narrowly escaping with their Lives through the mercifull Providence of God May it therefore please such Christian People to whom these presents shall come to consider of this case in the bowels of Christian charity and afford such relief to your Petitioner as they shall think fit, and your Petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever Pray. We believe the Truth of the Above Petition, and have great Compassion on the Petitioner as being of an honest and Christian Character. Done at Londonderry Dec' 23, 1725. X' the 28-1725 Ja: Macgregor John macmurphy Cler. Robert Boyes James morgan James Greg James McKeen S' men In the house of Representatives Mathew Clark the Petitioner Made Oath that he had actually Burnt in his house of this Province Bills of Credit the sum of foure pounds foure Shillings & Six pence James Jeffry Classm [He was allowed the foregoing amount by the assembly out of the money in the treasury next to be burned.—ED.] [6-92] [Order relative to laying out some Land, 1728.] Whereas there was Given & Granted to Mess" McGregor McKeen Cargil Greg and Goffe Several Tracts of land in y Town of Londo Derry over and above their Proprietors Share for their good Service in promoting the Interest of ye People there as appears per ye Charter of Sa Town which said Tracts of land have been laid out to the sd Grantees in ye refuse and Most barren part of the said Town wth an aim to render ye sd Grants of no value and to defeat the good designs of the Same It is therefore In Coun' May 25th 1728-hereby Voted and ordered that the laying out of ye said lands be and are hereby declared to be nul void and of no Effect, And that the Lotlayers of ye sd Town within twenty days from ye Date hereof proceed to lay out ye sd Grants upon oath to the s Grantees in some of y Common lands of ye sd Town-Such as are of a Middling quality (ie) Neither of ye best or worst but midway between both, an that ye lotlayers Deliver returns of ye laying out sa land to ve Grantees in Convenient time after ye busyness is done for ye Usual and legal fees yt ye sd returns May be recorded by ye Town Clerk in ye Town book R. Waldron Clr: Cou. [6-93]. [Warrant for Town-Meeting, 1733.] Province of New Hamp To the Selectmen of the Town of Londonderry within the Province afores Greeting Pursuant to his Majties writ to me directed for Convening a Generall assembly within the said Province, you are hereby required in His Majties name to Cause the freeholders of the town of Londonderry aforesaid duely quallified (giving them fifteen days previous notice) to assemble at such time and place as you Shall appoint within the said town then and there to Elect and Chuse or depute one fit person qualified in the Law to represent the said town in General assembly appointed to be Convened and held at Portsm° wth in ye Province aforesaid on Tuesday the first day of January Next at ten of the Clock before noon and you are alike required to Cause the person so Elected and deputed by the maj' part of the electors present at the Election to be timely notafied and Summoned by one of the Con stables of the said town to attend his Majties Servis in Gen" assembly at the time and Place above Prefixed and so de Die in Diem dureing their Session or Sessions and you are to make return of this Precept with your doings thereon and the name of the Person that Shall be Elected and Deputed as afores unto my Self on or before the first day of January next to be by me transmitted into the Secretarys office at or before the time appointed for the Convening of the said Gen" assembly and Here of you may not fail Given under my hand & Seal at Portsmouth the Eleventh day of Decembr 1733 & in the Seventh year of His Majties Reign Eleazer Russell Sheriff [The meeting was held Dec. 28, 1733, and Robert Boyse was elected. ED.] [6-95] [Charge against the Legality of a Town-Meeting, 1736.] Londonderry April ye 13th 1736 We the under Subscribers all freeholders of the aforesaid London-Derry doth protest against all the actings of our March meeting this being part of it by adjournment (for these reasons) that the said meeting was not legall in itself, neither was it legalee Caried on for a great many of them that was votters in it was not Qualified according as the law directs and also that a great many of the voters was only transient persons and paid no rates in this town besides many other reasons— Given under our hands the day and year above Robert Boyes Hugh Willson William Humphra John Moore A true Coppy taken out of Londonderry Records as Attests p' John Macmurphy Town Clerk [6-96] [Precept for the Election of an Assembly-man, 1736.] Province of Newhamps George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Brittaine France and Ireland King defender of the Faith & To the Sherrif of the Province of Newhampshire Greeting We command you that imediately on sight hereof you make out a precept Directed to the Selectmen of Londonderry within |