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VOLUME II.

CONCORD TO EXETER.

CONCORD.

[This town was first visited by the English in 1638 or '39' It was granted by Massachusetts, 17 January, 1725-6, and was settled in 1727. It was then called PENY COOK. It was incorporated by the Province of Massachusetts in 1733, by the name of Rumford, and remained under that government until 1741. It received the name of Concord by the Charter which was granted during the administration of Benning Wentworth, 7 June, 1765. ED.]

Petition from Ebenezer Eastman for protection from the Indians.

To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq. Governor and Commander in Chief and Captain General in and over his Majestys Province of New Hampshire The Honorable his Majesty's Council for said Province and the House of Representatives met on the twelfth day of March 1746 upon a special Convention

The Petition of Ebenezer Eastman of Penny Cook so called in sa Province in behalf of himself and the other In habitants there Most humbly Shews

That they are in great danger of and much exposed unto the Indian Enemy and are in daily fear that they shall be attacked by them and such a number as will be too many for them unless they have some help

That the Inhabitants there, are about to quit the Place unless they can be protected That on Saturday night last being ye Eighth day of March Inst. there was a discovery of an Indian near Canterbury Fort, which has caused much fear and an apprehension that there is a Body of the Enemy waiting an opportunity to do mischief

Wherefore Your Petitioner most humbly Prays your Excellency and Honours to consider of this Petition and to Grant such Relief as in your great wisdom you shall judge meet and proper and your Petitioner as in duty bound Shall ever pray EBENEZER EASTMAN.

&c

March 12th 1746

Province N. Hamp. March 12th 1746.

In Council at a Special Session of Gen1 Assembly

read & ordered to be sent down to the Convened members

Theodore Atkinson

Copy of Rumford Petition, June 21, 1744, for defence against the Indians.

To his Excy B. W. Esqr. Capt. Gen' and Gov' in chief, in and over His Majtys Province of N. H. in N. Engl. The Hon; the coun and House of Represenves in Gen' Court Convened The memorial & Petition of ye Inhabitants of the town of Rumford in s Prov. Humbly Sheweth That ye sd Town has been settled by His Majesty's Subjects abt. 17 yrs. and a Gospel Minister ordained there abt 12-That the Settlers had an eye at enlarging his Majestys Dominions by going into the Wilderness as well as at promoting their own Interest; That many Thous Pounds have been spent in Clearing and Cultivating the Lands there, and many more in erecting mansion houses out-Houses, Barns and Fences besides a large additional sum in Fortifications lately made, by His Exey the Gov's order; That the Buildings are compact, and properly form'd for Defence, and well situated for a Barrier, being on Merrimack River, abt. 15 miles below the Confluence of Winnipishoky and Pemissawpset Rivers, both wch are main Gang Ways of the Canadians, to the Frontiers of this Province; That the breaking up of the Settlem' will not only ruin the Memorialists, but in their humble opinion greatly disserve His Majestys Interest, by Encouraging his Enemies to Encroach on his derelict Dominion, and be also hurtful to the Prov; by contracting its Borders, and drawing the War nearer the Capital; That it was by a long and importunate Intercession of this Province and not of the Memorialists seeking that they are cast under the immediate care of this Govent wch yy apprehend gives them so much the better right to its protection that they have hitherto cheerfully paid their proportionate Part of the public Taxes, assigned 'em by the General Court even without being priviledged with a Representative in the Said Court; That as War is already declared Agst France and a rupture with ye Indians hourly expected, your Memorialists unless they have Speedy help will be soon obliged to evacuate ye Place, how disserviceable soever it may be to the Crown, dishonorable to the Goverm' hurtful to the Province and ruinous to themselves. Wherefore they most humbly Supplicate your Excy the Hon. Counel and House of represenves to take the Premises into your wise and mature Consideration and to grant them such seasonable relief as may enable 'em to maintain

His Majestys Dominions in so well situated a Barrier and so ancient and well regulated a Settlem' as well as to secure their own Lives and Fortunes agst the Ravage and Devastation of a blood-thirsty and Merciless Enemy. And ye Memorialists as in Duty bound will Ever pray—

Petition for aid, by Benjamin Rolfe, Esq.

To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esqr Capt. General and Governour in Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of New Hampshire in New England the Honble the Council and House of Representatives in General Court convened The Memorial and Petition of Benjamin Rolfe in the Name and Behalf of the Inhabitants of the Town of Rumford in said Province Humbly Sheweth That the said Town has been Settled by His Majesty's Subjects about Eighteen Years and a Gospel Minister ordained there upwards of Fourteen

That the Settlers had an eye at enlarging His Majesty's Dominions by going into the Wilderness as well as at their own Interest That Many Thousand Pounds have been spent in clearing and cultivating the Lands there and many more in erecting Mansion Houses Fortifications, Out Houses, Barns and Fences. That the Buildings are mostly compact and properly form'd for Defence and well situated for a Barrier, being on Merrimack River about a Days march below the Confluence of Winipishoky and Pemissawasset Rivers both which are main gang Ways of the Canadians to the Frontiers of this Province and within a Weeks march at farthest from a very strong Fort built within these few years by the French at Crown Point which will be a Place of constant Retreat and Resort for the French and Indians in all their Expeditions against the English Settlements. That the breaking up of the Settlement will not only ruin the Memorialists but in their humble Opinion greatly disserve His Majesty's Interest by encouragin His Enemies to encroach on His derelict Dominions and be also hurtful to the Province by contracting its Borders and drawing the War nearer to the Capital. That it was by a long and importunate Intercession of the Province (and not of the Memorialists seeking) that they are cast under the immediate Care of this Government, which they apprehend gives them so much the better Right to its Protection That as War has been declared against France for some Time and a Rupture with the Indians has been hourly expected, many of the Inhabitants of said Town, by Reason of their being so exposed to imminent Danger from their Enemies have already moved from said Town and the Season of the Year being such as to give the

Indians an opportunity of disturbing the Frontiers and the Dutch Mohawks having lately given occasion to fear that they would Joyn in a Warr against His Majestys settlements as mentioned in some late News Papers your Memorialists unless they have speedy help will be soon oblidged to Evacuate said Town how disserviceable soever it may be to the Crown dishonorable to the Government, hurtful to the Province and ruinous to themselves-Wherefore your memorialists most humbly supplicate your Excellency, the Honourable Council and House of Representatives to take the Premises into your wise and mature Consideration and to grant them such constant and seasonable aids both with Respect to men and Military Stores as may enable them to maintain His Majesty's Dominions in so well situated a Barrier, and so ancient and well regulated a Settlement as well as to secure their own Lives and Fortunes against the Ravage and Devastations of a Blood thirsty and Merciless Enemy and your Memorialists as in Duty bound will ever pray

Portsmouth April ye 30th 1745.

BENJAMIN ROLfe.

Petition of Inhabitants of Rumford, 1747.

To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esqr Capt. General & Governour of His Majesties Province of New Hampshire in New England To the Honourable the Council & House of Representatives of sd Province.

The Petition of ye Subscribers Inhabitants of Rumford in sd Province Humbly sheweth That we have great Reason to fear a Speedy attack from the Enemy with a force too great to be match by us with what Assistance we att present (thro your Excellencys & Honours great Goodness) have from ye Province-That the plain and Evident tracks of a Considerable Number was discovered by our Scout ye last week. That Guns have been heard both here and att Contoocook upon ye Sabbath & other Times & Places where it is certain no English were. That ye News of a Formidable Armament sent from Canada to Crown Point obtained such credit with the Government of ye Massachusetts Bay as Induced them to provide a prodigious Reinforcement to strengthen their Western Barrier-That such is our Situation that as ye Rivers Hudson & Connecticut lie most exposed to Incursions from Crown Point so ours is ye next, and the experience of this whole war has Taught us that whenever any Smart attack has been made upon any of ye Settlements on Connecticut River the Enemy have never failed of sending a considerable Number to visit our

River-That while our ordinary business was Hoeing we could work in such large companies as not be in Such Imminent Danger of being massacred by ye enemy, which now Haying and English Harvest comes on will be Impracticable with out vast Detriment to ye whole & utter Ruin to some. We therefore beg of your Excellency & Honours to take our deplorable case into Consideration & extend your compassion towards & grant us such a further Reinforcement as you may think in your great wisdom our case requires & your Petitioners shall as in Duty Bound Ever pray &c

Rumford July 13, 1747.

Ebenezer Hall
Jeremiah Stickney
John Chandler
Abiel Chandler
George Hull
Edward Abbott
Benjamin Abbott
Joseph Ordway
Samson Colbe

Aaron Stevens
Timothy Bradley
Joseph Farnum
Isaac Walker Jun.
James Abbott
Amos Abbott
Ephrnam Faram

Joseph Pudney

Ebenezer Eastman

Henry Lovejoy

Joseph Eastman

Jeremiah Eastman

Nathaniel Eastman
Amos Eastman

Ebenezer Eastman Jr.

Samuel Shepherd Joseph Simonds Ebenezer Virgin

Philip Eastman

Ephraim Carter

Ezra Carter

Stephen Farington

In Council July 15th 1747.

Naths Abbott
Joseph Easman
Samwill Easteman
Abraham Kimball
Samuel Grey
George Abbott
John Merrill
Joseph Hall
David Foster
Obediah Foster

Hanery Pudney
Patrick Garving
James Peters

Zebdiah Farnem
James Farnum
James Osgood
Lot Colbe
Moses Merrill
William Pudney
Isaac Wakler
Timothy Walker

David Evens

Richard Haselton

Jacob Shut

Samuel Putney
Nathaniel West
Abraham Colby

Matthew Standly
John Putney
Daniel Chase

Daniel Chase Junr.

read & ordered to be sent Down to The Honble House

Theodore Atkinson Sec.

Petition of Capt. Eben Eastman.

To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq' Governor and Commander in Chief and Captain General in and over the Province of New Hamp The Honble his majestys Council & House of Representatives in General Assembly conven'd The memorial and Petition of Ebenezer Eastman for him

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