give any right to land which had been sold so many years before, by the right owners. And the subscribers hope they will be excused from giving away so good a title for others that cannot pretend rationally to be so well supported; and which they always refused to warrantee and make good against other claims. The dutiful applications which we have made to both courts, if we be incorporated, in whatsoever province we fall to be, will witness for our respect to his Majesty's government. If affidavits have been given against one of our number as using some threatening expressions, we hope it will not be imputed to the community. If our accusers be permitted to come up in troops, as they have done, and violently demolished one of our houses, and destroyed part of our hay, and threatened and insulted us with impunity, to the great terror of our wives and children, when we suffered patiently, and then accuse us to our rulers of violence, injustice, fraud, force, insolence, cruelty, dishonour of his Majesty's government, and disturbance of his Majesty's subjects, injuries and offences to the English, and the like, when we know ourselves to be innocent, we think it hard measure; and must have recourse to God, who forbiddeth to take up a bad report against our neighbour, and will, we hope, bring forth our righteousness as the light, and our judgment as the noon-day. If we be guilty of these disorders, we are liable to a legal trial, and are not so weak as to suppose ourselves to be out of the reach of your Excellency's government. The subscribers hope that if any other accusations come in against them, they will be allowed an equal hearing before they be condemned: and as we enjoy the liberty of the gospel here, which is so great a mercy, shall improve it, for God's glory; and as he has taught us, be dutiful to his Majesty's government set over us, and if possible, live peaceably with all men, shall be desirous of peaceable neighbors, that want to settle with us, and help us to subdue a part of this vast and uncultivated wilderness; and shall not cease to pray for the divine blessing on your Excellency's person and government.

Done at Nutfield, Feb. 27, 1719-20, and subscribed by

JAMES MCGREGORE, &c.

[P. 143.] Pro: N. Hamp'.

At a Gen' Assembly held at Portsm by prorogation, April 26, 1720. Present in Councill,

His Excellency Samuel Shute, Esq., Gov',
His Hon' John Wentworth, Esq., Lt. Gov',

Sam' Penhallow,

Mark Hunking,

Shad. Walton,

Esqs. Thomas Packer, Esqs.

A message from his Excellency by the Clerk of ye Council to the

house of representatives (1) to require their attendance at the board. The Speaker and house came accordingly, and then his Excellency was pleased to make the following Speech:

Gent:-There being no ships arrived from Great Brittain that has brought me any letters, I have nothing to acquaint you with from thence, so that I hope you will quickly finish the accounts of the Province and make this meeting of the Assembly very short; but if after I return to Boston, I shall receive any letters that bring any affairs of moment relating to this province, I will not fail to meet you again before the fall sessions.

Adjorned till tomorrow, 8 o'clock a. M.

Pro: N. Hamp❜.

At a Gen' Assembly held at Portsm°, by adjornm, April 27, 1720.

Present in Coun:

His Excellency Samuel Shute, Esq., Gov',

His Honour Jno. Wentworth, Esq., Lt. Gov',

A message from the house by Peter Wear, Esq., & Capt. John Gillman to his Excellency, to pray a Copy of his speech,-whereupon his Excellency directed the clerk to prepare the same & deliver it to the house: which was done accordingly.

[P. 144.] By the same message a vote of the house for a Committee of Auditts, which was concurred with in Coun: and is as follows:

Voted, That the Speaker, Col. Davis & Capt. Odiorne be a Committee from this house to joyn such as shall be chosen by the upper house, to Auditt ye publick Accounts of the Province, & that they make their return to this house at this Sessions.

26 April, 1720.

James Davis, Cler. pro temp.

In Councill.

April 27, 1720. Voted, a concurrence; and further voted, That

(1) 1720, April 26. The House met according to adjournm't or prorogation.

Capt. Wiggin,

Mr. Eastman,

Mr. Dam,

Capt. Gillman,

Capt. Tebett,

Present, Mr. Speaker,

Coll. Davis,
Col. Ware,

Maj. Gillman,

Capt. Odiorne,

Eph. Dennett.

-Journal of the House.

his Honour the Lieut. Gov', Mark Hunking and Rich Wibird, Esqs., be of ye Committee from the board for the service above. Rich Waldron, Cler. Con.

Capt. Henry Sherbourn being returned by the sheriff to serve in the house of representatives for the town of Pourtsmouth, in the room of Thomas Packer, Esq., lately removed into the Council, was sent for to the board, and there qualifyed to Act by taking the oaths appointed by law(1).

Adjorned to 3 o'clock, P. M.

Pro: N. Hamp'. Mett again according to adjornm'.

Present as Before.

Adjorned till tomorrow, 9 o'clock a. M.

Pro: N. Hamp'.

At a General Assembly held at Portsm° by adjournmt, April 28, 1720. Present in Coun',

His Excellency Samuel Shute, Esq., Gov',

His Hon' Juo. Wentworth, Esq.,Lt. Gov',

Sam. Penhallow,

Mark Hunking,

Esqs.

Shad. Walton, Esqs.
Rich Wibird,

Tho' Packer, Esq.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock, P. M.

[P. 145.] Pro: N. Hamp". Mett again according to adjournm'.

Present as Before.

The petition of Mr. Samuel Hinkes, which was preferred in April, 1719, and voted to be considered at this time, was read.

The petition preferred by Mr. Hughes at the sessions in September last, signed by about 100 persons and suspended till this time; and also another signed by Capt. Henry Sherburn and Mr. Clem Hughes and Compa, as a supplement to the aforementioned

(1) [From Journal of the House.]

April 27. Voted, Yt Henry Sherburn be Clark of ye House of Representatives.

petition, preferred this day, were read at the board, praying for a Township in the waste lands adjoining to Kingston, &c.

Ordered, That the clerk give notifications to such persons as have a claim upon the said land, or have any thing to object against making a township according to the tennour of the above petition, to appear before his Honour, the Lieut. Gov and Council, to whom the matter is referred, to offer any thing in the p'meses.

In Coun1.

Ordered, that whatsoever persons in the Town of Hampton have taken any mony upon interest of the Province of New Hamp', shall pay all their taxes to Hampton without exception. Rich Waldron, Cler. Con.

Adjourned till tomorrow, 9 o'clock a. M.

Pro: N. Hamp'.

At a Gen. Assem: held at Portsm by adjournm April 29th, 1720. Present in Council,

His Excellency Sam' Shute, Esq., Gov",

His Hon' Jno. Wentworth, Esq., Lt. Gov',

Rich Wibird,

Sam' Penhallow,

Mark Hunking, S Esqs.

Shad. Walton, Esqs.

Thoms Packer, Esq.

[P. 146.] A message from the House by Maj. Gillman and Mr. Dam to his Excellency, with an answer to his speech as follows:

May it please your Excellency,

We return your excellency thanks for your great care for us in coming into your Governm here. We should have been glad yoʻ Excellency had good news from Great Brittain to have brought us: We shall dispatch the Accts of the Province as fast as possible, having chosen a Committee to adjust the same. If your Excellency should have any good news of moment, your Excellency will be pleased to communicate it to us.

Henry Sherburn, Cler. Assem.

A message to the board by Majr Gillman and Mr. Dam, with the following vote from ye House:

Voted, That forty-six pounds two shillings and nine pence broken bills of credit in the Treasury be burnt.

[P. 147.] A message to the board by Mess's Samuel Easman and John Dam with a vote from ye house as follows:

Voted, That Capt. Odiorne, Esq., and Majr John Gillman be a Committee for this house to joyn such as may be chosen by the Upper house, to form the Excise for this year ensuing, and the Committee to be paid out of the Excise.

April 28, 1720.

April 29th, 1720.

Henry Sherburn, Cler. Assem. In Council.

Voted a concurrence, and Shad. Walton & Richard Wibird, Esq., are appointed from ye board to joyn in the affair above

mentioned.

Rich Waldron, Cler. Con.

A message to the house by the Clerk of the Council, with the petition of Mr. Sam' Hinks, and a vote of Coun1 relating to it.

The petition of John Mead and Joseph Mead in behalf of their father Nicholas Mead in prison, praying his release, read at the board and sent down to the house by Sam' Penhallow and Shad. Walton, Esqs.

The petition of Joseph Chesley, praying to be considered as wounded by John Davis of Dover, read and sent down pr. the clerk.

The petition of Jotham Odiorne, Esq., John Sherburn and John Leach, in behalf of the town of New Castle, praying that the Isles of Shoales may bear a part of that Town's charge in the Province rate, read.

A message to the House by Rich Wibird, Esq., with two votes from the board, one for a committee to proportion Kingston in the Prov: tax, the other for a committee to proportion the Isles of Shoals in s tax.

Adjorned till 3 o'clock P. M.

[P. 148.] Pro: N. Hamp'. Mett again according to adjornm. Present in Council, as Before.

A Message to the board by Mr. Dennet and Mr. Dam, with the petition of Mr. Sam' Hinkes and the vote of Council relating to it (which was sent down in the morning) concurred with. The petition is on file, and the vote as follows:

In Council.

Voted, That the lott of land now in the possession of Mr. Samuel Hinks joyning unto the house-lott of the said Hinks in Portsmouth, which was heretofore the estate of Edward Polly, de