See Masonian Papers in following volumes; IX, Bouton Town Papers, 331; XII, Hammond Town Papers, 99; Index to Laws, 226; Farmer's Belknap's History of New Hampshire, chaps. 1 and 2, et seq.; An Historical Address, by Joseph Dow, 1838, pub. 1839, pp. 43; historical manuscripts, by E. W. Toppan, in possession of Christopher G. Toppan, of Hampton; History, now in press, by Joseph Dow; papers relating to the town, in appendix of this volume; historical sketch, compiled from Toppan manuscripts, Hurd's History of Rockingham County, 1882, p. 317. Consult authorities cited under titles, Dover, Exeter, Gosport, New Castle, and Portsmouth.]

[Mass. Court Records, March 3, 1635.]

Ordered, that there shalbe a plantac'on setled at wenicunnett & that m❜ Dummer & m' John Spencer shall have power to presse men to builde a howse forthwth in some convenient place, & what money they lay out aboute it shalbe repaide them againe out of the Tresury or by those that come to inhabite there./

[Mass. Court Records, Nov 2, 1637.]

The inhabitants of Neweberry, haveing bene moved to leave their plantation, they have graunted them winnacunnet, or any other plantation upon Merrimack below the first falls, & to have sixe miles square, & those that are now inhabitants, & shall remove wthin one yeare, shall have three years immunity (as Concord hath) the three years begining the first of the first month next.

[Mass. Court Records, Sept. 6, 1638.]

The Court grants that the petitioners m Steven Bachiler, Christo: Hussey, Mary Hussey, vidua, Thom: Crumwell, Samuell Skullard, John Osgood, John Crosse, Samu: Greenfeild, John Molton, Tho: Molton, Willi: Estow, Willi: Palmer, Willi : Sergant, Rich'd Swayne, Willi: Sanders, Rob't Tucke wth diverse others, shall have libertie to begin a plantation at Winnacunnet ; & m2 Bradstreete, mr Winthrope Junior, & m' Rawson, or some two of them are to assist in setting out the place of the towne, & apportioning the severall quantity of land to each man, so as

nothing shalbee done therein wthout alowance from them, or 2 of them./

[Mass. Court Records, May 22, 1639.]

Winnacunnet is alowed to bee a towne, & hath power to choose a Cunstable, & other officers, & make orders, for the well ordering of their towne, & to send a Deputy to the Court, & Christo : Hussey, Willi: Palmer, & Rich'd Swaine to end all businesses under 20 shs for this yeare. the laying out of land to bee by those expressed in the former order

[Mass. Court Records, Sept. 4, 1639.]

Winnacunnet shalbee called Hampton./

[Mass. Court Records, May 6, 1657.]

whereas the lands & proprieties of the Honnored Capt wiggins hath not hitherto binn brought wthin the limitts of any Toune nor binn liable to pay taxes & Assessments as other the Honored magistrates have donne It is therefore Ordered by this Court that henceforth the now dwelling howse of the said Capt" Wiggin together with the lands and proprieties thereunto Appertayning shall belong to the towne of Hampton and by the selectmen of the said Toune to be Assessed in all rates according to lawe any Custome or usage to the Contrary notwithstanding & yt for the time past he allow only the somme of five pounds to the publicke Treasury:

HANCOCK.

[Originally a part of Society Land. Incorporated Nov. 5, 1779, and named in honor of John Hancock. Joseph Putnam's farm was taken from Society Land and annexed to Hancock Jan. 16, 1794. John Flint's farm was taken from Antrim and annexed Jan. 1, 1849.

See IX, Bouton Town Papers, 759; XII, Hammond Town Papers, 152; Index to Laws, 227; historical sketch, Hurd's History of Hillsborough County, 1885, p. 350; History, 1764 to 1889, by William W. Hayward, 1889, pp. 1,070.]

[GRANT TO GREEN, Walker, LYDE, AND GREEN.] [Mass. Court Records, Vol. 17, Misc. p. 221, and Maps and Plans Vol. 35, p. 25.]

June 1740. Then surveyed for Mess' Joseph Green & Isaac Walker Merchants, Byfield Lyde Esq' and John Green Merchant, Eight thousand five hundred & seventy five Acres of Land lying on the South branch of Contookock River taking in said River, and Lyeth on the North side of a Township laid out to Samuel Harwood & Others, known by the name of Peterborough and buts South on it, which is laid out to satisfy a Grant of the Great and General Court made to the abovesaid Persons 10 January 1739to make to them an Equivalent for Lands by them respectively surrendered to the Government, lying in upper Housatannock, in Order to accommodate the Indian Town now Called Stockbridge.

It began at Beech Tree the south West corner of said Tract of Land standing in the North line of said Peterborough Township about half a Mile West from the River, said Tree being marked with the Letter A, from thence it ran North by a line of Marked Trees 1920 Perch to the north west corner, being a Stake and heap of Stones, marked with the Letter B, from thence it ran East by a line of Marked Trees nine hundred and Sixty Perch crossing the River to a White Pine the North East corner marked with the Letter C, from thence it ran fourteen degrees West by a line of marked trees Eight hundred and eighty Perch to a Maple tree, from thence it ran East forty Perch to a poplar Tree Marked, from thence it ran South fourteen degrees West Eleven hundred and twenty by a line of marked trees to a Stake & Stones in said Peterborough line being the South East corner marked with the Letter D, and from thence it runs West with said Township, by a line of marked trees 520 Perch to where it began.

In the lines above described there is allowed four hundred and fifty Acres for sagg of chain and a Pond. The tract of Land described is bounded North, West, and East on unappropriated Lands.

Joseph Wilder Jun' Survey'

Worcester ss: June 14, 1740.

Then Jacob Wilder and Joseph Osgood appearing made Oath that in surveying the above described Tract of Land they faithfully performed the service of Chainmen according to the best of their skill and Judgment.-before me

Massachusetts Bay ss. June 17th 1740

Sam Willard Just. Pe

Then the aforenamed Joseph Wilder appearing made Oath that in surveying the above said tract of Land he faithfully performed the duty of a Surveyor without favor or Affection according to the best of his Skill and Judgment.

Before me.

Joseph Wilder Justice ye Peace

In the House of Representatives June 18, 1740-Read and Ordered, that the Plat be accepted and the lands herein delineated and described be and hereby are confirmed to the said Joseph Green, Isaac Walker, Byfield Lyde and John Green, their Heirs and Assigns-Provided the Plat exceeds not the quantity of the Grant and does not interfere with any former Grant.

Sent up for Concurrence.

In Council July 18, 1740 Read & Concurred
Consented to

[Mass. Maps and Plans, Vol. 35, p. 25.]

J. Belcher

HENNIKER.

[This town was Number 6 in the line of towns from Merrimack to Connecticut River, granted by Massachusetts, Jan. 16, 1735-6. As some of the grantees came from Marlborough, Mass., it was sometimes called New Marlborough, or Marlborough Town. Granted by the Masonian Proprietors, July 16, 1752, to Andrew Todd and others, and sometimes called Todd's-town. Incorporated as Henniker, Nov. 10, 1768, and named in honor of John Henniker, M. P.

See New Hampshire charters and Masonian Papers in this and following volumes; XII, Hammond Town Papers, 189; Index to Laws, 235; History, from 1735 to 1880, by Leander W. Cogswell, 1880, pp. 807; historical sketch, Hurd's History of Merrimack County, 1885, p. 340.]

[Petition of Proprietors of Henniker for Equivalent Grant, 1774.] [Mass. Archives, Vol. 118, p. 757.]

Province of the To His Excellency Thomas Hutchinson Esqr Massachusetts-Bay Captain General & Commander in chief In & over sd Province

To the Honourable His majesties Council & To the Honourable House of Representatives in general Court assembled January 26th 1774

The Petition of the Subscriber in behalf of ourselves and others Grantees of the Township Number Six in the Line of Towns humbly Sheweth

That the Great & General Court of the Province at their Session A D 1735 Granted a Township of the Contents of Six Miles square being Number Six In the Line of Towns between Connecticutt & Merrimack Rivers that the Grantees were at very considerable Expence in clearing Roads Building Mills &c in said Township. that by the late running of the Line Between this Government & the Government of New Hampshire the said Township was taken into the said Goverement of New-Hampshire, & your Pets and their associates have lost their whole Interest therein together with the money Expended in bringing forward the Settlement of said Township

your Petitioners therefore most humbly request that your Excellency & Honours would in your known wisdom & Justice Grant to your Petitioner & the other Grantees and Proprietors of sd Township Number Six in Lieu thereof a Township in some of the unappropriated Land in the Eastward Part of this Province or otherwise