Be it enacted, That any person, desiring ye same as aforesaid, shall be allowed the liberty formerly used within this their Maj'ties' dominions, of holding up the hand in swearing, & all oath[s] so taken shall be accounted in all cases as good and valled as if they had been taken by laying the hand on the Bible. 34 March 1693. JOHN PICKERIN, Clark. Ordered by this House, that in regard it is but matter of seremony (the oath being the same) that this Bill be passed.* Indorsed "A Bill presented by the Representatives 1692." THO. DAVIS, Sec. WILLIAM & MARY, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, Whereas in pursuance of our Precept to you directed, Seal you have returned for the Towne of Portsmouth in s Province, Major Elias Stileman and Mr. Samuell Keeas as Representatives for sd Towne, but it not appearing by s returne that they were duly chosen by the freeholders of the sa Towne, or that the ffreeholders were duly summoned thereunto, the sareturne was adjudged illegall and voyde: Wee therefore Comand you, by and with the advice of our Councill upon receipt hereof, you forthwith make out your Precepts directed to the Constables of the sd Towne of Portsmouth and the Isle of Shoales, requiring them to cause the freeholders of their sd Towne and of the Isle of Shoales, according to their Maj'ties Commission, being duly qualified, at time and place to meet & chuse two men for the sd Towne of Portsmouth, and one man for the Isle of Shoales, to serve for and represent them, respectively in the Assembly now convened, had and kept, for our service at Great Island in Portsmouth, aforesaid: And to cause the person or persons soe elected by the Major part of the ffreeholders to be summoned to attend our service, this s Assembly forthwith, and so diem in diem, during their ses It appears from the Records, that Major Elias Styleman and Saml. Keeas of Portsmouth, and Job Clements of Dover, returned as Representatives, had refused to take the oath "by laying their hands on the Holy Evangelists and swearing accordingly”—“declaring they would swear by lifting up the hand, but not otherwise.”— B. II. p 16. ED. sion or sessions; and to returne the name of the persons soe chosen with this precept, and of your doings therein, under your hand, in our Secretary's office forthwith. Thereof faile not at your perill. Witness, John Usher, Lieut Govern & Commander-inchiefe in and over our sd Province, Hampshire. Given at Portsmouth, under the Publick Seale of our said Province aforesaid, the ffourth day of March 1693 in the ffifth yeare of our Reigne. JOIN USHER. In pursuance to the wth in Precept, I granted out my writs to the Constable of Portsmoh. for ye calling of ye freeholders together, for ye making choyce of two men as Representatives to serve in General Assembly. In pursuance to wch I have returned to me by the constable, ye persons following: Maj. Elias Stileman and Mr. Sam". Keeas, to serve as abovesaid. March 6th, 1693. RICHARD JOSE, Sherf. In pursuance to a precept to me directed some few days before this, for ye election of one man to serve as a Representative in ye general assembly now sitting att great Island in the roome of one Job Clements, ther was returned to me by ye constable of ye towne of Dover, Left. John Tuttel to serve as aforesaid. March. 6th. 1693. RICHARD JOSE, Sherf. Returned for ye Isle of Shols, by the constable of sd Island Mr. Thomas Dimond, to serve as a Representative to sett in ye Generall Assembly, now sitting at Great Island in the towne of Portsmouth, in the Province of New Hampshire. March 6th, 1693. B. II. p. 15. RICHARD JOSE, Sher'. [The following paper, without date, is indorsed "The inhabitants at New Castle sworn."] Jeremiah Walford John Sevy Thomas Sevy Samuel Rand John Bracitt Francis Tucker John Odihorn John Bickford John Amaseen Thomas Parker Edd Cary Richard Hales Jos. Read Rich. Goss Sam'. Dorse Tho. Marchall Will. Enderson John Searle John Hammons Tho. Mardin John Foss Dan'. Joanes Rich. Taulton [Tarlton?] James Mardin Will: Foss James Leach Georg Wallis James Berry Will. Enderson, sen. John Beale Edward Randal Will. Tucker Edd. Hales Paul Holand Edd. Willson John Leach Thomas Holland John Samson Jacob Randall James Roberson John Mardin John Churchell Jos. Menserat Foster Traform[?]* Steven Estwick Moses Paul Benj. Parker Will: White Arthur Head * The first letter, T, is doubtful. The above persons appeared personally before us and took the oaths appointed instead of the oath of allegiance. Proposed by the Lieut. Govern', whether the rights and bounds of this Province should be asserted and maintained: Ordered, that it be. Proposed, That the selectmen of Portsmouth may be ordered to attend this Board to give an account of their making an Assessment on the sd towne: No final resolution made thereto. The Lieut. Governor read a Lettr from Sir Wm. Phipps, dated Boston, the 6th of March, 1693, demanding several men as having deserted their Maj'ties' service, belonging to the Nonsuch: Ordered, That those who have a clearing from Capt. Short ought to be protected; & if there be any others that have not such a discharge, ought not to be protected. Ordered, That the Treasurer take care that a centinall's Box be made on Little Harbor Poynt upon Great Island. Capt. Pickering attending this Board acknowledged it is his hand writing subscribed to the warrant of Assessment for Great Island. The Petition of the inhabitants of Great Island being read petitioning to be made a Township by itself: Ordered, That a coppy of the Petition be given to the Selectmen of Portsmouth, & that they have notice to attend Friday next to show cause why the Petition should not be granted; and likewise that they come prepared to show how they came to be a Towne, and what their rights and immunities are. Adjourned to Fryday next, 10 o'clock forenoon. B. II. p. 28. Mr. Moss one of the Selectmen of Portsmouth ownes he signed the Warrant for gathering in an Assessment for sd Towne, saith severall things were layed before them whereby to induce them to make the Assessmt, as partly some ingagements of the Towne, some before the arrival of the Lieut Govern', some since. Being asked whether any part of this Rate was not to goe towards paying the Towne's engagent with Mr. Moody in case the contribution would not doe, sayth he cannot say, & being asked whether they did not intend it, sayth he cannot neither owne or deny it. Mr. Snell, another of the Selectmen ownes it is his hand subscribed to the three several lists for raising an Assessmt on the Towne of Portsmouth. Being asked what was committed to him at the meeting of the freeholders pursuant to their Warrt, sayth, he was not there at their meeting; on what account did you assess Great Island? sayth as belonging to the Towne. What Poor or necessary charge is laid before you by Great Island, that you assessed them soe much-to be disposed of by the Inhabitants thereof for the use of the Poor or such occasions as they should think fitt, sayth they did as they were part of the Towne. Being questioned what are the engagemts of the Towne & whether this Tax a part of it was not to goe towards paying Mr. Moody in case the contribution fell short, cannot say. Upon reading the Warrt made on the Assessmt for Great Island, the Board was of opinion the Warrt was illegal, as also the Assessmt. Ordered, That the rates for the Banck goe on, but that the rate for Great Island be stopped. Ordered, That Mr. Martyn and the Selectmen be dismist till further order. Adjourned to 10 a clocke, ffryday morning, 10th March, 1693. B. II. At a Councill held at Portsmouth, on Fryday, the 17th March, 1693. The Petition of the Inhabitants of Great Island was read, and the Selectmen of the Towne of Portsmouth attended this Board, |