I. [Return of the Commissioners "about the Beaver Trade.] The Returne of yr Committee, betrusted to Agree with such as presented to carry alonge yr Trade of furrs, Including In our agreements yr prohibitinge them of Trading Comodytyes by the Court prohibited. 1. Imprs. we Contracted with yr Worp Major Willard and Mr. Brenton, William Wheeler and Tho. Hinksman, for yr Trade of Merrimack, 2. Thomas Broocks and petnors for yr Trade of Concord, 3. Mr. Pinchon for yr Trade of Springfield and 4. John Stedman for yr Trade of Cambridg, 6. John Parmiter for yr Trade of Sudbury, The Trade to begin from ye 1st of the 5th moth 1657 : to pay in Beuer. RICHARD RUSSELL, EDWARD JOHNSON, EDWARD COLLINS, EDWARD TYNGE. The Deputyes approve hereof and doe order the same to be recorded, desiring the consent of or honrs magistrates hereto. WILLIAM TORREY, Clerct. Consented to by the Magystrates. R. BELLINGHAM, Dept. Gour. II. [Letter from the Council to Major Simon Willard.] SIR, The Council receaved your letter, and are sorry for your excuse for not coming to the council, By reason of the state of Lancaster, which wee desire you to endeavour to the utmost of your power to Releive and succor. Wee are using our best endeavour to prepare more forces to send to distrest the enemy. You shall here more from us speedily and in the Interim: february being now come, we desire you to be in a readiness if you should have a full comand over the forces to be sent forth from this colony. EDWARD RAWSON, Sec. 11 febr. 1675. [11 Feb. 1676.] III. [Letter from the "Committee of the militia" of Chelmsford.] To our Honord Governor and Counsail in Boston. Mercy and peace May it please yor Honors. We have judged our Duty, to acquaint to you, with or present condition, and danger of following or Brethren and Neibors in the Horrible distructiens, ruines, and loss of our owne lives and or relatiens. The Savages have been for a day or two discovered to have ranged aboite or Borders and this morning about an hower and halfe after sunrising, Joseph Parker of this place, with his son, coming for the Hon'd Major Willard, about fower mile from or meeting house, along by some houses perteyning to this towne, now against one house standing nigh the way. way-layed, and had ye Indian Bullets thick (as they Report) about them, and were followed, by about 10 nilk guns, discharging at them and shouting: they rod fast to escape them: the young man was wounded in his shoulder by a musket Bullet, as cut out on the other side of his Arme, and as we conceive, by pistol Bullets his cloathes torne in several places. Or men, ye inhabitants of ye saide place, never came away into toune over-night, but some as we heare gone up hastyly this morning, to see after their cattle; we are in such a posture, as without God's extraordinarye help, we see not how we can stand against the enemy. Or Garrisons are so weake, and or men so scattered about their personal occasions: that we are without rational hope, for want of men, and what is otherwise necessary: Arguts. we shall not need to use to yr Wisdoms to consider or necessity of help : If or frontiere Towns be cutt off, what will be the consequence, 'tis not for us to say. We leave it humbly unto yr Hon'd to doe as God shall persuade yr hearts. Commending all yr and our concerns unto the Lord Almighty, and subscribe Yr Hon'dr to command. Chelmsford, 15 of 12. 75. [15 Feb. 1676.] Post Scr. May it please to understand, yt parte of or men are abroad with Majr Willard; upon public service, whereby we are the more enfeebled. SAM. ADAMS, SAMUEL FLETCHER, At the motion and request of Lieft Henchman of Chelmsford, about quitting his house at Merrimack, The Council declare yt they are willing for the present to continue the file of solders yt are there as formerly, and that Mr. Henchman is impourered to take in any persons to abide with him to Keepe Garrison, and for their incouragement he shall abide neer to grant such persons liberty to improve any part of the Indians' land within the bounds of Wameset and Naamkeke untill the Council or General Court take further order. [Past 21 March, 1675–6.] To the Constables of Chelmsford, Bilerekey, Andover and Wooburne. You and every of you are hereby required in his ma'ties name within your respective towns, to impress carts, boards, or other things necessary to build a fortification and shelter at Pautuket falls neare Merrimack river, under the command of Samuel Hunting, for which this shall be yor warrant, and further more the townes afforesaid are to take notice, yt if at any time you be assaulted, you may send to the said Samuel Hunting for succor, whom we have ordered to give you ayd as occasion shall require. Dated 19 April, 1676, IV. The Names of eighteen Gentlemen, who had most Votes for Magistrates for the year ensuing, as appears at opening the sd Votes at BostonApril 11t: 1676, with the number of votes for each. Simon Willard, Esqr. dead, 1278 Wm. Stoughton, Esqr. 950 [Letter from James Parker to the Honred Govner and Council at Bostown: hast post hast.] From Mr. Hinchmane's farme ner Meremack : 23: 1 mo: 1676-77. To the Honred Govner and Counsell. . This may informe youer honores that Sagamore Evanalanset [Wonalanset] come this morning to informe me, and then went to Mr.Tinge's to informe him that his son being one ye outher sid of Meremack River a hunting, and his dauter with him up the River over against Souḥegan upon the 22 day of this instant, about tene of the clock in the morning, he descovered 15 Indens on this sid the River, which he soposed to be Mohokes by ther spech. He called to them, they answered, but he culd not understand ther spech and he having a conow ther in the River, he went to breck his conow that they might not have ani ues of it, in the mene time thay shot about thirty guns at him, and he being much frighted fled and come home forthwith to Nahamcok, wher ther wigowemes now stand. Not Eles at present, but Remain youer sarvant to comand. JAMES PARKER, Re'd 9 night 24: muh 76–7. |