of the unhappy disputes controversies & Law suits between them & the other part of the said Town by whom they have allways been (as they think unreasonably) oppos'd In matters that Relate to the Premises which situation of affairs has also greatly disturb'd the peace of both societies & perhaps much Impeded not only the discharge of Christian duties but even the offices of Good neighborhood between them. That your Petitioners & their party have however at one time & another made all the overtures to their opponents that could in reson be expected for adjusting & ending the said differences & Issuing all their Controversies in an amicable manner which have hitherto prov'd fruitless & Ineffectual for that purpose, and they are not only still Subsisting but seem to be carried to a greater Length & are risen to a higher Pitch now than ever. That notwithstanding the afore 's rule & method of raising the ministers Salary in the said Town the said party, your petitioners opponents who are the Major part of the Town have lately voted that the support of y ministry among them (tho. they have at present no settled minister) shall be by a tax Levied on the whole Town in General without distinction thereby subjecting Mr Magregore's Congregation to pay toward the maintainance of the other minister or the supply of the other desk at the same time they maintain their own of themselves which seems to be a scheme projected purely to oppress & dishearten that Congregation or at least their present minister. That they are still willing to comply with any reasonable terms of Terminating the said differences but as the said Contending parties are never like to fix on such terms themselves your Petitioners in behalf of the said Congregation fly to this Hone Court for aid and therefore Humbly Pray that the said Congregation with such others as are willing to join them (not exceeding the one half of the Town) may be freed & exempted from paying to any other ministers salary than their own & all other charges of y nature of Parish charges & may have Parish powers & authorities granted to them, or that both the ministers of the said Town for the time being may be Supported by an assessment on the whole town in Common according to the method of defraying Town charges in other Towns or that such other Redress may be Provided for your petitioners & their associates as this Hon Court in their great wisdom & Goodness shall think proper & y Petition as in duty bound shall ever pray & James McKeen James Adams Hugh Moungtroy John Jamisou Nathaniel Ekin Daniel M'alee James Lindsay Robt Martin John Blair James Blair John Wallas Matthew Reid James Willison Thomas Boyd Archibald MacMurphy Robart Arbuckell John Mack Johu Taget John Gregg Robert Norris Peter Tufft Robt Anderson David Hunter James Moore Tho: Jamison James Nesmith Hugh Brown Edward Ackin Samil Anderson Tho: Anderson Robt Morrison Jr. Matt: Taylor Willm Galt James Galt Samll Barr Tho: Tippin John Cochran Hugh Grahams Robt Dinsmore Robt Anderson Allexr Patterson James Nesmith Jr. Willm Acking John Hopkins Samil Ranking Samil McKeen James Rodgers John. MacMurphy Charles Maclary James Smith John Anderson Willm Smith Sam Smith Arthur Nesmith James Anderson Peter Pattyson George Duncan, Jr Willm Duncan James Moore Senr Nath Boyd James McKeen, Jr Samll Huston David Huston Hendry Mountgomery John Dickey Will. McNeal David Burnsides Robt Hopkins John Orr John Goffe James Reid Arche McCormuck Jas Eyars. No. 114. In the House of Representatives Feb. the first 1739-40. The within Petition Read & Voted, viz'. That the Petition's serve the select men of the Town of Londonderry with a copy of this Petition (at the Peti tioners Charge) And that they appeare to be heard Tuesday the twelfth Curr to shew cause why the prayer of the Petition may not be granted (if the Court is then sitting) if not then the third day of the sitting of the Gen Ass next sessions. In the House of Representatives Feb. 14th 1739-40 The within petition read, and the partys heard by their Council, the House having considered thereof. Voted that there be an assessment made on the whole Town in Common according to the method of defraying Town Charges in other Towns for three years now next ensuing for the ministers Rates and that the same be applyed and pay'd to the ministers each his respective Salary already agreed for: and that the Rate already made be gathered and applyed in the same manner, and that the Petitioners have liberty to bring in a Bill accordingly. James Jeffry Cl. AssTM In Coun. Feb. 15th 1739-40 R. Waldron, Secry Counter Petition. We the under Subscribers being Inhabitants of L: Derry and province of New Hampshire (viz) living in the Southerly part of s town, we are Informed that their are Sundry of our Neighbours Petitioners your Excell and Hon" for a new parish in s Town, therefore we wod signify to your Excell. & Hon that we hope by the blessing of God in a fue years to be fit to be Erected into a parish or precinct by ourselve theirfore we pray your Excell. and Hon not to hurt our yong beginings in setting off a new parish in said town of Londonderry, as wittness our hands. Dated at Londonderry aforesaid Feby the 9th 1739-40. John Kille Halbert Morison Ezekiel Morison Tho Morison Will Thorn John Creige Willm Bolton Thomas Quigley John Vance John Aram Strong John Willson Answer of Selectmen of Londonderry. To His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq. Governor and Commander in chief in and over his Majesties Province of New Hampshire, the Honourable his Majesties Council for s province and the House of Representatives in General assembly Convened. The Answer of the selectmen of Londonderry to a petition of sundry of the Inhabitants of sd Toun for a new parish, shews, That at the General Court held at portsmouth in and for said Province in April 1736 there was a petition preferred to the General Court of s province that there might be a parish set off in the westerly part of s1toun agreeable to a vote of s toun, that then the General Court was pleased by a Vote to set off a parish in the westerly part of s toun and that the meeting House or place of worship should be where it then Stood in the westerly part of said toun and that to the number of thirty five in s westerly parish might Remain to the old parish, and also thirty five of the old parish might go to the New parish, and that Before the s Vote of the General Court was reduced to an act the Secretarys House was consumed by fire the sd Vote among other papers was Burnt at which grant to our neighbours by your Excell. & Hon's your answerers was fully satisfied and contented, But it hath so hapned since the Destruction of s papers that their is a party in the old parish friends to the Revd M: M Gregore that has removed the publick worship of God from the Westerly meeting House Contrary to your Excell. & Hon orders and have Built another meeting house within a mil and a half to the old meeting House which we conceive will tend more to the fomenting of our present Debets and the destroying of Religion than any thing Ells, and have used all means & methods to tear our toun into peaces and also they have tray'd all meathods to destroy our meathod in Rising our ministers Sallary in the old meeting house which meathod was to Rise the ministers Sallary upon the pews or seats in s House they still crying out that such a meathod was unjust and also contrary to the Laws of sd province till this present year that they obliged the Town to pass a vote to Rise sa Sallary by the poles and estats of sd Toun agreeable to the Laws and Custom of this Province. That a number of the Inhabitants of sa toun have Petitioned this Honorable Court (this present sessions) for a new parish in s1 toun. Wherefore your Petitioners most humbly pray that if their be any new parish in s town it may be agreeable to the line agreed upon in the s town and agreeable to the vote of the General Court, Namely that the meeting House be where it was first Built in the westerly part and that thirty five may go from the westerly part to the old parish and as many from the old parish to the westerly parish, and that the taxes already assessed in s town for this year past may be pay'd as assessed by s1 town. Feb. 11 1739-40. Votes relating to the places of public worship, &c. Prov. of At a meeting of the proprietors freeholders & Inhabitants of Londonderry held at the old meeting House Oct. the 6th 1739. The Seventh article in the foregoing Warrant Being Read & considered by sd Inhabitants It is Voted and agreed upon that the most westerly meeting House in the westerly side of s4 Toun shall be the place of publick Worship for that Parish when set off by authority and laws of sd province A true copy taken out of the second Book of Records for Londonderry the 9 day of Feb 1739-40 Attest p. Jo Wallace town Clerk. It is also voted & agreed upon at the afore sd meeting by sd Inhabitants that they will pay their Suppliers or Preachers of the Gospel in the old meeting House according to the Law and Custom of sd province A true Copy attest p. Jo" Wallace, At a Toun meeting held at L: Derry Decb y 5th 1735. Town Clerk. Whereas at the aforesaid meeting after severall arguments and overtures made by the proprietors freeholders and Inhabitants where they wo'd have the aforesaid line made for a new precinct in the westerly side of this town in order to maintain a gospel ministry in that part of Londonderry the Moderator Desired all those that were Qualified to draw or form themselves up before the South side of the meeting house in two parties those that was for having a line Determined to be in one place and those that was not for having a line made to be in another place upon which those that was willing and contented to have a line Determined formed themselves together in order to be number'd and the town clerk, (viz) John M Murphy Rekn'd or counted them one hundred and twenty for having a line determined for a new precinct, upon which the moderator desir'd all those that was not for sd line to form themselves also but they wo'd not and upon their refusall the moderator desir'd them to repair into the meeting House and either bring in written votes or to put themselves in form so as they might |