Eben' Pitman Jr Elias Swain Jun Edward fox Elisha Piper Daniel Piper Daniel Smith 3d Samuel Edgerly Jesse Plumer Moses Plumer Amos Plumer nathan plumer Taylor Pearson Levi Leavitt Joseph Pearson Joshua Woodman James Sanborn the under Signed have no objections to the prayer of the within Petition being Granted we being Inhabitants of said [A copy of the foregoing was posted at the house of "David Boynton Inholder," and served on the selectmen. See following document.-ED.] [7-55] [Vote of Town relative to the Baptist Society, 1797.] Strafford ss Meredith August 28th 1797 At a Legal town Meeting this day holden at the North Meeting House in said town the fourth article in the Warrant for said Meeting to Consider of the Petition of the Baptist Society of this town at the General Court of this State Praying for an incorporation Voted that they would not uppose the Petition of the Baptist Society at the General Court praying for an incorporation— The Above is a true Coppy from record Attest— Daniel Smith Jr Town Clerk [The society was incorporated by an act passed Dec. 14, 1797.-ED.] MERRIMACK. All that portion of this town lying south of Souhegan river was included in the Dunstable grant of 1673; the north part was a portion of Narragansett No. 5, and was called Souhegan East for some years. In 1746 "Old Dunstable" was divided: the north-west corner was incorporated by the name of Monson, and the south-east corner by the name of Dunstable, on the first day of April; the south-west corner by the name of Holles, April 3; and the north-east corner by the name of Merrimack, April 2. By this charter the latter town comprised that portion only of its present territory which lies south of Souhegan river. Col. Joseph Blanchard was authorized to call the first meeting of the inhabitants of Merrimack. In 1750 the inhabitants petitioned for an addition on account of the small amount of their territory; and on the first day of June of that year, their request was granted by the addition of that portion of the town lying north of Souhegan river. By an act passed Feb. 1, 1755, the town was authorized to assess and collect a tax of sixpence per acre, on all the non-resident lands in town, for the purpose of building a meeting-house. Hon. Matthew Thornton, who was for many years a resident of this town, was a member of the first congress, and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He died June 24, 1803, at the age of 89 years. [7-59] [Sarah Lutwyche, relative to Ferry, 1775-] To the Honorable Congress for the Colony of New Hampshire The petition of Sarah Lutwyche Humbly Sheweth that your petitioner removed from Boston into the town of merrimake fifteen years ago Last Aprill and hired the farm & ferry of Capt Comings whereon I have Lived Ever Sence and my Honourd father Left me Some Land in Said town, Some Lettel time after my removal as aforesaid I Exchanged away my Land with Said Comings for the Said farm I now Live on & the ferry which farm and ferry I have Ever sence Enjoyed untill the Latter end of may Last past at which time a number of Gentlemen viz m' Jonathan Blanchard m' John Neal and others from merrimake and Letchfeld as I am Informed assembled and took away the Ferry from me and have Ever sence taken the profet and Hire thereof to there own use and as I am informed diveded it between the two towns which is depriving and takeing from me my own Estate for which I paid a valuable Consideration and whereon I depended for Considerabel parte of my Supporte and have ben reduced to many difficultys and Inconveniences on acct thereof in my aged widowed State wherefore I humbly pray that your Honors wold be so kind as to take this matter into your Consideration and order that those persons that have been so unkind as to take away my property as aforesaid Shall restore me the same aforesaid and the hire or use thereof Sence that time and your petitioner as in duty bound Shall Ever pray merrmak oct 20th 1775 Sarah Lutwyche Gentlemen I am advanced in years and am in a poor State of helth which maks it allmost imposabel for me to wait upon you and have no frind near me but what is fearfull to appear at the Congress for me wherefore I hope you will be So Kind as to Excuse me in Giving you this trubel as I Know of no other way of Relief or Redress but this and if any difficulty Should appear why the prayer of my petition should not be Granted pray your Honors would appint some Gentleman to Speak for me I am Gent Yr Hum1 Sert Sarah Lutwyche A Coppey of my petition and Lettre to the Gentelman of the Congress at Exeter [Mrs. Lutwyche was the mother of Edward Goldstone Lutwyche. See p. 239, ante. -ED.] [7-58] [Report of Committee on the Foregoing.] In Congress at Exeter Novem' 24 1775 A petition of Sarah Lutwytche of Merimack complaining that the profits of a Ferry had been taken from her by the Committees of Safety for the Towns of Merimack and Litchfield, (all which is particularly Set forth in her said Petition), being read and Mr Jonathan Blanchard being heard in behalf of said Committees Resolved that the said Ferry ought Imediately to be given up to said Petitioner, and that the Person who has Improved the same under the direction of the aforesaid Committees Account to the Petitioner for the Profits that have arose since he has held it by order of said Committee. Extract from the Minutes attest E Thompson Sec [7-60] [Remonstrance to Petition of Matthew Thornton for a Ferry, 1784.] To the Honorable the Councel & House of Representatives for the State of New Hampshire to be Conveen'd at Exeter on the Last Tuesday of march 1784 the Petition of the subscribers Humbly shew That we are Inform'd that Matthew Thornton Esq' Has petitioned your Honors that he may have the Exclusive right of ferrying people over merrimack river where Col° Lutwyche formerly keept the ferry and that a Hearing is Appointed the 2a Wednesday of your next session We Humbly pray that his petition may not be Granted first Because it wou'd be unjust that he should have the Benefit of the ferry when the Owners & proprietors of Brintons farm have been at so much Cost and Exspence in Reserving lands on both sides merrimack river keeping proper Vesels for & tending the ferry 2dly because that Col° Thornton sence he has Lived there has paid little or no Attention to serve the publick in that way and if your Honors Grant his petition the public as well as your petitioners will be much Injuired as all that are Aquainted with him know that he never did attend to such matters neither can it be Exspected he ever will Therefore we Humbly pray your Honors not to Grant his said petition all which your petitioners as in Duty bound do sincerely pray Robert Dickey Uriah wright Gideon Butler William Dickey son Nehemiah ordway Stephen Chase Joseph Chapman Matthew Dickey Samuel Thomson Robert Lyons [7-61] [Another Remonstrance to same.] To the Honble the Councel and House of Representatives for the State of New Hampshire in General Assembly Conveen'd at Exeter the last Tuesday of March 1784 The Petition of the Subscribers Humbly shews That in some of the Late New Hampshire news papers They have seen it Advertis'd that Matthew Thornton Esqr Hath Petition'd Your Honers that the Exclusive priviledge of Ferrying people over Merrimack River might be granted to him as set forth in said petition and that your Honors have Order'd a hearing thereon the 2a Wednesday of Your next session. that any person may then Appear & shew Cause (if any they Have) why the prayer thereof should not be Granted-And as the Granting such Petition may be very Injurious to the publick as well as to Your Petitioners: they most Humbly beg leave to Remonstrate and Shew. That your petitioners are Owners & Inhabitants of a Farm of the Greatest part of the farm mentioned in the said Petition Called Brintons Farm-An Ancient Grant-lying on both sides of Merrimack River and now known by the names of |