and gave in their answer in writing: and say, the Towne has been represented soe; believe there may be a Grant constituting Portsmouth a Towne; know not where it is; say the bounds were laid out by the Massachusetts, and as having enjoyed it for many years, pray it may be still soe continued as a Towne; say it is inconvenient for the people of Great Island to go to the Bank to meeting, but ought to have a minister on the Island; say Great Island ought not in reference to their Maj'ties' Fort and Stores, to be deserted at any tyme. .The selectmen withdrew and the Councill considered and debated of what the Selectmen had offered; and are of opinion, Great Island should be a Township and divided from the Bauck, provided it is able to support itselfe: And that Sandy Beach and Little Harbour be added. The Lieut. Govern then declared it should be a Towne; and that he would make it soe separate from the Banck. Capt. Pickering (1) be called up. Demanded of him if he knew anything of a Warrant that was shown him; a stock of powder, &c., as in the paper given in as an answer of the selectmen. The Law says, the Selectmen and a Justice P. may raise money: They did raise the Assessmt for repairing the house for the minister: Cannot say all the charges for which this money is raised accrued since the Lt. Govern arrival: Cannot say any of the money was to go to Mr. Moody in case the contribution fell short. Major Vaughan(1) called up. That 'tis his hand to Warrant and Assessmt as a Selectman: They have acted as the Law directed them: The things were proposed at Town meeting that are mentioned in the papers given in for the Town's use. Agreed-The warrant for the Assessment on Great Island is illegall. Ordered the Selectmen now be called, and checked (2) for the same, & ordered to be more careful for the future. Ordered, That the Treasurer pay house and man that attended. (1) Capt. Pickering and Major Vaughan were summoned to appear by special warrant, dated March 10, 169. (2) Chided, reproved. Ordered, the soldiers pay be 2s. 6d. per week for subsistence. Ordered, the Govern' or President issue out their Warrants to Treasurer to pay for the Plattform at Fort, and repairing thereof, & for the carriages and mounting of guns, and likewise for supplyes for the future for the garrisons. B. II. p. 33. To the Honored Governour and Councill of the Province of NewHampshire. Whereas by their Majesty's Royal Commission you are invested with power to constitute Townships in this Province, we, the inhabitants of Great Island being incapacitated on several accounts to attend the worship of God in any other place but on the said Island-it being also unmeet that the Island should be deserted at any time by its Inhabitants, in reference to their Majestys' Fort here; we desire and petition that we may be constituted a Township with those immunityes, privileges and liberties that their Majestyes' are wont to grant to such a township; & for the better upholding of the said Towne, that you would be pleased to state & appoint the bounds of our said towne to comprehend not only the Island, but from the mouth of Sagamores Creek to the head thereof, and so to the reputed Bounds of the towne of Hampton all ye families and land seaward, that we may be ye better enabled for ye discharge of all dutyes. So prays your humble Petitioners. Thomas Parker Phesant Eastwicke James Casowah Joseph Read Richard Tarletoun James Booth William Forbes Arthur Hed John Fenicks[?] Ezerya [Ezra?] Elwell Joseph Elwell Henery Trevethan Fostar Trevethan Jaramyah Walford, mark. Jacob Rendall James Roberttsone John Lewis John Cross-his mark Shadrach Walton Tho. Cobbett Francis Tucker Robert Jorden Daniel Oshaw [?] (1) mark Will. Wallis Tho. Sevey (1) In Portsmouth Records, 16th March, 1673, is the name of Daniel Ushaw. To the Honorable, ye Lieut Govern' and Councill of this their Maj'ties' Province of New Hampshire; - the humble petition of the Inhabitants of the Great Island, humbly sheweth: [Literal and exact copy.] That whereas we, being part of ye twone of portsmo: and having found for many years great Inconveniences arising thereby, in regard of the distance we are from the banck, and no way to it but by water, wherein there is great diffyculty at any time, but sumtimes more espetialy, to ye hazard of our healths and lives, in going up to atend the publike worship of god at Strawberry banck, and having many poore people amongst us, both men and woemen and children, which have no convenience of passage, by which meanes ye greatest part of our people canot Injoy ye hearing of ye word preached to them, wch causeth many times y breach of ye Sabath, and the dishonor of god's holy worship; as also our Iland being ye mouth of ye harbor and Inlet into ye Province, having the King's fort placed here, and all the stores of amenution, which is of great Consequens, and ought at all times to be carefully atended and lookt after; but if the Inhabitants of this Island must be Confyned to atend their duty at Strawbery banck upon every publike ocation, the King's fort is left destitute of assistance, and lyes exposed to ye surprizall of ye enemie and our owne distrucktion: we, therefore, the Inhabitants of ye Great Island being a competent number to make and uphold a twoneship, doe humbly beg and desire of this honorable board ye govern and Councill, that we may be constituted a Twoneship by our selves, and that you would grant us the previleges and imunities as their Majestys have bin gratiously pleased to allow sutch a Twonship; and that the bounds of our Twoneship may be settled as may be most convinient for ye sd twone in respect of an addition To our soldiers belonging to our Island: and ye petitioners shall ever pray. To the Honble ye Lieut Govn' and Councill of New Hampshire, now sitting at Great Island. In obedience to your Honors summons Requiring us to appear this day to shew cause why ye petition of the Inhabitantse of Great Island and Sagamores Creek should not be granted; and how wee come to be a Township, as also to give an acco why and for what we made ye last Assessment for the towne of Portsmouth; wee here attend and make answer to each particular in brief, as followeth: 1st. The Petition ought not to be granted because not desired by the inhabitanse of Sagamore Creek, who tho' said to signe ye Petition, affirm y no freeholders of Sagamor Creek ever signed ye same, but desired the contrary;—as sundry of them and others have now signified under their hands: And why the Inhabitants of Sagam Creek, &c. should agts their desire, be so much incommoded, to gratify the desires of the Inhabitants of Great Island, wee humbly leave y' Honors to judge. 24. As to our being a Township, It is not unknown to some of your Honors, how long we have been under such a construction: But, if any question the legality of ye authority that first constituted us soe, we presume his Maj'ty's owning us as such in two Commissions for ye Government of the Province, and ye adminis tration of ye affairs of Government, having been all along toward us as such, should silence all gainsayers. However if it be in yr Honors power to add anything toward the confirma [tion] of townships which may yet be wanting; wee are humbly of opinion it will much more conduce to their Maj'tie's interest and the peace and unity of his subjects soe to doe, than to admit of any division thereof at this time. 3rd. In answer to that, why & for what wee made the last Assessment for ye town of Portsm°, wee crave leave to say; Wee did it, Because the law (entitled an Act concerning the prudential affairs of the town,) impowers us soe to doe; and that to defray ye necessary charge arising within the towne; and shall follow the direction of that Law, within the yeare to give an Account of all ye money so raised by us to one of the Justices of the Peace, with three men chosen by the freeholders as a committee for that end; that there may be no damage to any man; & while we thus make the law our rule, we promise o'selves to be indemnified thereby. However, that your Honors may be satisfied there are charges arising in the town, for wch such an assessment was necessary, we mention sundry, viz. For a stock of powder, shott &c., about For defraying ye charge of ye assembly-men, about 30:00:00 : 15:00:00 05:00:00 15:00:00 20:00:00 20:00:00 To so much to repair the meeting house, Minister's house, fencing in a garden, building a stable, boardnails, &c. about For a Pound For 9 wolves killed this winter 30:00:00 10:00:00 09:00:00 For Splan Lovewell for keeping the glass of the meet- 02:00:00 01:00:00 01:10:00 To making a new causeway over the great swamp, about 15:00:00 To the town clark, per annum 02:00:00 175:10:00 Besides other incident charges that may occur within the year. |