[7-127]

[Return of Ratable Polls, 1783.]

New Boston Dec 2 AD 1783

Agreable to the Desire of the General Court we have taken the Number of Polls Above twenty one years of age and it is as folows Viz one hundred and fifty two Certifyed by us

[7-128] [Concerning Dr. Gove and Silas Hedges, 1786.]

State of New Hampshire

To the honble the General Court for said State humbly shew

That whereas Dr Jon Gove of New-Boston was convicted of passing Counterfiet Money knowing the same to be such (on or about the Month of Oct 1778) and was then Sentenced to pay a heavy Fine-cost of Court and suffer Imprisonment &c which Sentence was duly executed, altho' we fully believe that that Conviction could never have happened had it not been for the Testimony of one Silas Hedges a most atrocious villian who (we reasonably suppose) to escape deserved Justice himself was induced by perjury and falsehood to saddle another with that Disgrace and punishment which he himself had most amply merited, we beg Leave to say that had his Character then been fully known his Evidence could not have had the least weight either with Court or Jury, and as the Constitution of this State expresly declares that every person has a Right to have Recourse to the Laws for Injuries that he has suffered— and said Gove has petitioned the General-Court for a rehearing upon that Conviction or upon his proving the perjury of the Evidence upon which He was convicted that his Sentence may be reversed and made void-We humbly conceive it to be a most Reasonable Request, and earnestly wish that the prayer thereof may be granted, for We fully believe that excepting the Matter of that Conviction-his Character ever has been and still is good-and that in his practice (which by no Means has been small) he has ever dealt faithfully and impartially always endeavoring as much as in Him Lay to afford Relief to Rich and poor Friend and foe without Distinction wherefore we earnestly pray that your honors would take his Case into your most serious Consideration and grant him his Request-and your petitioners Subjects of said State as in Duty bound will.

pray

may 25 1786

[Many other papers relating to this case may be found in 'Miscellaneous File, 1786," in secretary of state's office.— —ED.]

[7-129] [Instructions to Representative, 1787.]

To Doct' Jon Gove—

Sir The Town of Newboston having placed great Confidence in your Abilities and Integrity (by a full and generous

Vote) have done you the honor to elect you their Representative for the ensuing year; and viewing the present a very dark and difficult Day, have also thought fit (through us) to give you some general Instructions, to regulate your Conduct; so far as the Oath which will be required of you; or the good Reasons which you now possess; or hereafter may have or obtain, (relative to any Matters which in General-Court may come before you) shall permit. We know Sir! that if you attend your Duty as you ought, your Task must be hard & difficult: Wherefore in the Name and Behalf of the Town, we most earnestly enjoin it upon you (in the first place) to pay a devout and religious attention to the Constitution, and Laws of this State; & also to the Confederation of the United States; and manfully oppose every Measure which shall not be consonant thereto; well knowing that if the General-Court are inattentive to-& Disregard their own Laws-the People will most certainly treat them with Neglect, & Contempt. You cannot be ignorant that the good of the People, ought to be your great Aim: And so far as you discharge your Duty in that Respect, you will merit the fullest Approbation of this Town-and all good Men. We do not pretend, to give you Directions in Matters, where it is impossible for us to know the Reasons, which may be given for, or against them; but most chearfully submit them to your own Judgment, & Discretion; But beg Leave to Caution you against exercising a party Spirit in any of your Conduct: But that you ever keep in view the Good of the Whole, in which the happiness of Individuals must necessarily Consist, But as it will be a Duty incumbent on you, (in a more particular Manner) to attend closely to the Business of this State, and the welfare and happiness of it; we intreat you to strive to promote peace and Unanimity in the General-Court; as that will greatly strengthen the hands of Government-give Courage and Contentment to its Virtuous Citizens, whilst the flagitious and abandon'd shall thereby meet with every Discouragement, and be forced to their Duty; or depart from among

us.

In the next place, we most earnestly enjoin it upon you, to endeavor to ease the Burdens of the people, so far as you can consistent with Justice & Equity, not loading them with unnecessary Taxes, & thereby drive them to a State of Desparation; nor intermeddle with any Disputes, which neither Justice, our Constitution nor the Confederation either warrant; or require. We further instruct you to use your Influence that our waste Lands may be appropriated to the payment of our Debts, in the cheapest & most expeditious manner possible, so as to encourage & facilitate the settlement of them; & in all things endeavor to promote peace & Unanimity, which are generally

attended with happiness & prosperity: Whilst Division & Dischord tend to Destruction.

And it is our Desire, that the Tender Act may be continued with this alteration, that Creditor shall either by himself, or Attorney make a Demand of Monies due, or property, previous to his commencing his Suit, or in any Stage, thereof, accept the tender of the Same; or his Neglect, shall be a Bar to all cost, which may arise thereon.

And also that a justice of the peace may have full power, to try any civil Action up to ten pounds; & that all appeals from sd Justice may be entered up at the Superior Court, & also that all Actions upwards of ten pounds, may be entered first at the superior Court, and that the general sessions of the peace may not be permitted to set in the County of Hillsborough more than twice in one year

and lastly that the Officers of Government may Conform to the Circumstances of the People (respecting Salaries) & not load them with Burdens exceeding their Abilities.

And now Sir-Sincerely wishing you Wisdom to desern; & uprightness to conduct; in the important Station in which this Town have placed you beg Leave to subscribe our-selves your most obed' hbe Servts

In Town Meeting March 26th 1787-The above Instructions being laid before The Town for their Consideration (by their Committee) were unanimously approved of & accepted

attest Jon Gove Town Clerk

[7-130] [Relative to Boundary Line between this Town and Goffstown, 1788.]

Dunbarton June ye 9: 1788

Srs I was Desired by the member of Court for Goffston to inform the Honob Committee Chosen to Examin the Report mad by me and Esq' Campall Relative to the Settlement of the Line between Goffston and New-boston-which Report maj Goffe strongly opposed in the house Last Satter Day-we as a Committee took Grat Paines to Sarch all Papers Examine the Lins and Sitwation of the affaire-and found it imposable for us to make a Strat Line from the north west Corner of Bedford

to the northeast Corner of Newboston (which is a white oak tree) without taking away mens Buildings and a Grat Deal of work in improvements don by said towns-then by Examining ower orders from Court,-which is as foloweth ;-a Committee to Preambelate assertain and Establish a Line between said Goffston and newboston to Run a new Line Strat, it appeared to us to be Grat Disadvantage to boath town then Exam the old Line and the Bounds standing on s old Line: which was made near forty years ago by Boath towns; we Judged the most safe way to hurt no mans Property to Establish it—and by advising with the Selectmen of boath town who ware present through the whole affaire who was all agreed-that wee should Establish said Lines as Reported to your hono" as for majer Goffe we did not see him nor his son who Lived near whare we was at work the whole time and very well Knew of ower Business-if Goffston or Newboston ware so Careliss-as to Let these old bounds and Line stand untill now-when thare was a mistake in Goff's Lot we Could not account for that-if a Strat Line is made Boath towns unavoidbly must be flung in to a Law Sute

Gentleman I should have wated on you and Gave my Reason Personaly had it ben in my Power-as Amharst Court sets this weak I must attend thare;

Gentlemen your most humble Sarv

Jeremiah Page.

P. S: I was Desired by the member of Goffston to wright to your honor Consarning the above afaire

[See page 45, ante.-ED.]

J Page

[7-133] [Report of Committee on Town Lines, 1788.]

State of New Hampshire Hillsboro: ss

We the Subscribers a Committee appointed by the Authority of said State to Preambulate Ascertain and Establish a line between the Towns of Goffstown and New Boston

Pursuant to our appointment we have met and being attended by the Selectmen of each of the said Towns and having Examined the several Charters and after having obtained what light we Could into the Affair we have agreed to report and Do hereby report as follows (viz) that the line between the said Towns of Goffstown and New Boston begin at a Hemlock tree which is the North west Corner of the Town of Bedford from thence north three Deg" West about three miles to a rock ma