DUNBARTON.

[Granted by Massachusetts, June 19, 1735, to Capt. John Gorham's men and called Gorham-town. Granted by the Masonian Proprietors, Dec. 17, 1748, to Archibald Stark and others, and called Stark's-town. Regranted March 2, 1752. Incorporated as Dunbarton Aug. 10, 1765, and named from a town in Scotland. A portion of Dunbarton was included in the limits of Hooksett, incorporated July 2, 1822. The line between Dunbarton and Goffstown was established Jan. 7, 1853, and the line between Dunbarton and Weare, July 2, 1853.

See Massachusetts charters preceding, and Masonian Papers in following volumes; IX, Bouton Town Papers, 189; XI, Hammond Town Papers, 558; Index to Laws, 157; Early History, addresses by Amos Hadley, 1845, pp. 27; History, by Caleb Stark, 1860, pp. 272; Centennial Celebration, 1865, pub. 1866, pp. 124; Dunbarton, Past and Present, by J. B. Connor, 4, Granite Monthly, 38; sketch, by W. H. Stinson, Hurd's History of Merrimack County, 1885, p. 291; sketch, 12, Farmer's Monthly Visitor, 101; Baptist Churches in N. H., by É. E. Cummings, 1836, p. 20; Lawrence's N. H. Churches, 1856, p. 376; Memoir of John Stark, by Caleb Stark, 1860; Historical Sketch of Congregational Church, by J. M. Putnam, 1845, pp. 16; The Stark Place, by F. M. Colby, 5, Granite Monthly, 80.]

*1-280

Dunbarton

P. S.

[DUNBARTON INCORPORATED, 1765.]

*Province of New Hampshire

George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France & Ireland King Defender of the Faith &ca

To all to whom these Presents Shall come Greeting Whereas our Loving Subjects Inhabitants of a Tract of Land within our Province of New Hampshire aforesaid. known by the Name of Starks town have humbly Petitioned and Requested that they may be errected And Incorporated into a Township & Infranchized with the Same Powers & Previledges which other Towns have & Enjoy within our Said Province by Law & it appearing unto us to be Conducive to the General good of our Said Province as well as the Said Inhabitants in Particular

by maintaining good order And Encouraging the Culture *1-281 of the Said Lands that the Same *Should be done Know

ye therefore that We of our Special Grace certain Knowledge & for the Encouragement & Promotion of those good Ends and Purposes by & with the advice of our Trusty & well beloved Benning Wentworth Esq our Governour & Com'ander in Chieff &

of our Council for Said Province of New Hampshire have erected & ordaind and by these presents for us our Heirs & Successors do will & ordain that our Loving Subjects Residing on the Tract of Land aforesaid or that Shall hereafter Reside & Improve thereon the Same being Limited & bounded as follows (Viz) Begining at a stake & Stones standing on the Bank of the Westerly Side of Merrimack River which is also the Northerly Corner Bound of Goffs Town so called thence runing Westerly by said Goffs Town till it comes to the Town of Weare so called then turning off & runing Northerly by Said Weare till it comes to the Line of New Hopkinton so called then turning off & runing North Easterly by the Line of New Hopkinton aforesaid till it comes to the Township of Bow then runing by Bow Line till it comes to Merrimack River then down Said River Southerly as that runs to the Stake & Stones began at Shall be and by thes Presents are declared & ordaind to be a Town corporate and are hereby erected & Incorporated into A Body Politick & Corporate to have Continuence until his Majtys Pleasure shall be signifyed to the Contrary by the Name of Dunbarton with the Powers & Authoritys Previledges Immunitys & Franchizes which all Other Towns in Said Province by Law hold & Enjoy always Reserving to us our Heirs & Successors all white Pine Trees that are or Shall be found growing or being on the Said Tract of Land fit for the Use of our Royal Navy Reserving also the Power & Right of Dividing the Said Town when it Shall appear necessary & Convenient for the Benefit of the Inhabitants thereof Provided nevertheless & it is hereby declared that this our Charter & Grant is not intended or shall in any man'er be construed to extend to affect the private Property of the Soil within the Limits afores and as the Several Towns within our said Province of New Hampshire are by Laws thereof enabled & authorized to Assemble & by the Majority of Voters Present to Chuse all Such Officers & Transact all Such Affairs as by the Said Laws are declared We do by these Presents Nominate & Appoint Caleb Page to call the first Meeting any Time within forty Days from the date hereof giving legall Notice of the Time Place and Design of holding such Meeting after which the Annual Meeting for said Town for the Choice of officers & management of ye affairs afore said Shall be held within Said Township on the Second Tuesday of March Annually—

In Testimony whereof We have caused the Seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed Wittness Benning Wentworth Esq our Governour and Com'ander in Chieff in & over our said

Province of New Hampshire the Tenth Day of August in the Fifth Year of our Reign Annoq Domini 1765

By his Excellencys Com'and

with Advice of Council

Theod' Atkinson Jun Secy

B Wentworth

Recorded according to the original Charter under the Province Seal the 10th Day of August A D 1765

T Atkinson Jun Sec"

DURHAM.

[Petitioned to be set off from Dover as a parish by the name of Oyster River, May 27, 1669. Incorporated as Durham May 15, 1732. Lee was set off and incorporated Jan. 16, 1766. The south line of the town was established June 19, 1818. A portion of Durham was annexed to Newmarket, July 2, 1870.

See Massachusetts charters preceding; IX, Bouton Town Papers, 234; XI, Hammond Town Papers, 566; Index to Laws, 159; Life of John Sullivan, by Thomas C. Amory, 1868; Memoir of Ebenezer Thompson, by Mary P. Thompson, 1886; Sketches of Civil and Ecclesiastical History, by Federal Burt, 5, Collections of N. H. Historical Society, 129; sketch, Hurd's History of Strafford County, 1882, p. 616; Valedictory Discourse, by Curtis Coe, 1806, pp. 32; Lawrence's N. H. Churches, 1856, p. 326; Establishment of the N. H. College of Agriculture in this town, Reports of Trustees, 1893, pp. 5, 107; The Benjamin Thompson Trust Fund, Report of State Treasurer, 1892, pp. 175 to 220; Documentary History, by W. F. Goodwin, Dawson's Historical Magazine, 2d series, vol. 8, p. 292; Marriages, 1713-68, by S. C. Adams, N. E. Hist. Gen. Register, vol. 23, p. 178, to vol. 33, p. 345; Sullivan House and Its Associations, by F. M. Colby, 5, Granite Monthly, 80.]

[PETITION FROM JOSEPH JONES OF OYSTER RIVER, 1731.]

[Mss. "Town Boundaries," p. 87.]

To his Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq' Governour and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesties Province of New Hamp', to the Honourable his Majesties Council and the Representatives of the S Province in General Assembly

The Petition of Joseph Jones in behalfe of Sundry Inhabitants of the Parish of oysterriver humbly Sheweth

That about Twenty months Since Sundry persons Inhabitants of the Parish of oysterriver by Your Petitioner did prefer to his