Matthew Thornton William Cox Vincan Cochran Randel Alexander John Durham James Willson Mathew Taylor Hugh Mungomery Petition of Inhabitants of Londonderry, 1759, for discontinuance of a highway. To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq Captain General Governour & Commander in Chief in & over his Majestys Province of New Hampshire, The Honourable his Majestys Council & House of Representatives in Generall Assembly Conven'd. The Humble Petition of the Subscribers Inhabitants of Londonderry & Province afores Humbly Shews, That in or about the year 1746 the Selectmen of Londonderry afore s Laid out a Highway Lengthways thro the land belonging to one Joseph Boyes of the Town & Province aforesaid which Lands is the farm on which the said Boyes then did & now dwells which Highway is within eight or nine rods of the Line of said Farm the whole or near the whole length, & In Oct 13th 1748, The selectmen of Londonderry afor's at the request of s Boyes Laid out a Highway on the same Tract of Land the whole Length of the afores line & the Highway Laid out on the line in all respects accommodates the Publick as well, & said Boyes much better then the first as may appear by the Plan of both herewith Exhibited & there is little or no work Dun on the first road. Therefore your Petitioners humbly pray that the first Laid out Highway may be Disannulled; & the latter established or otherwise as in your great Wisdom you think best & your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. Londonderry Oct 21st A D. 1759. John Duncan James Cochran Neall Taggart John Taggart John Aiken Jon Wallace Andr Todd James Todd Will. Clark Tho. Willson James Ramsey Samuel Fisher James Anderson Edward Akin William Anderson Joseph Scobey John Holmes Saml Miller Robt McNeill Daniel McNeill James Blair Arthur Archibald James Gillmor John Moor John Hylands William Moores James Boyes Ebenezer Coston Adam Dickey John Dickey John Morrison John Duncan John Barnett Mehen Clark Thos. Morison Robt Clendinin Samuel Steel In Council Jan 10th 1760 John Mitchel, Jr Jno Wiear Thomas Wallace James Doacke John Doacke Hugh Young John Gregg James Gregg Read & ordered to be sent down to the Honble House. Province of New Hamps Theodore Atkinson, Secry. In the House of Representatives Jany 11th 1760. This petition being read, Ordered That the petitioners be heard thereon the third day of the sitting of the Gen Assembly next after the first day of March next & that the petitioners at there own cost and charge cause James Murrow mentioned In said petition to be Served with a copy thereof, and this order of Court Likewise that they cause the substance of this petition & this order of court thereon to be advertised In the New Hamps' Gazette, three weeks successively, that the said Murrow or any other persons whome it may concern may appear & Shew cause if any they have why the prayer thereof should not be granted In Council Jan. 11th 1760. Province of Theod. Atkinson, Secry A. Clarkson, Clerk In the House of Representatives March 27th 1760. The partys to the within Petition being fully heard thereon & it appearing a reasonable Request, therefore Voted That the prayer thereof be granted & that the said Boyes have leave to bring in a bill accordingly. In Council Eodm Die, Peter Gilman speaker, Pro Tem Theodore Atkinson, Secry. Read & Concurred. Petition for a Law regulating fishing. To His Excellency Bening Wentworth Esq. Captain General Governour & Commander in Chief in & over his Majestys Province of New Hampshire: The Honourable his Majestys Council & House of Representatives in General Assembly Conven'd. The petition of the Subscribers a committee chosen at a Legal Town meeting Holden in Londonderry & Province afore's & others Inhabitants of Neighbouring Towns Humbly Shews, That the Petitioners apprehend the Publick Interest makes it necessary To make a Law to regulate the following Articles viz: First where as in Merrymac river in the Town of Derryfield & Province afore s there is certain rocks Known by the name of Amuskeeg Falls at which place every Spring there is great number of Salmon & Shad fish which we believe every Inhabitant in the Province afore s has an equal right to, But particular men Takes what they call possession of all the Convenient places to catch said fish & either by themselves or agents prevents all others from catching & those possession men sells at what prices & when & to whom they please which makes Disturbances & Disorders Too many to be here enumerated. Secondly The rivers & Brooks That emtys into Merrymac river are so filled with Mills & Dams that the passage of the fish is Intirely obstructed & the Inhabitants especially the poorer sort greatly Injured. Thirdly, Fishing every day with scenes in Merry-Mac river prevents the Increase & in time may Turn the corse of the fish from the river; wherefore your Petitioners Humbly pray, First That every Inhabitant in the Province afore s if they please to go to the above s falls may fish their Turn & enjoy their right peaceably. Secondly, That every Impediment on any river or Brook as above s may be removed at the expence of the Builders of sả Impediment so that the fish may have free corse to the heads of sd rivers & Brooks. Thirdly, That no persons be allowed to fish more than three days in the week with Sienes in Merrymac river within the Province afore sa In case Massachusetts Bay makes the same Law or Otherwise In any or all the Above's Articles as in your Great Wisdom you Judge most for the Publick Good & your Petitioners as in Duty bound will ever pray. Londonderry December AND TODD MATTHEW THORNTON Comittee 22d A D. 1759. In Council Jan. 10th 1760. John Quig James Lyons Read & ordered to be sent down to the Honble Assembly. Theodore Atkinson Secry. Province of In the house of Representatives, Jan 11th 1760. OrNew Hampshir}dered that the petitioners be heard thereon the second day of the sitting of the Gen Assembly next after the first Day of March next & that they cause the Substance of this petition & this order of court to be advertised In the New Hamps Gazette three weeks successively that those persons whom it may Concern may appear & shew cause if any they have why the prayer thereof should not be Grant'd In Council Jan. 11, 1760. read & Concurrd. Province of New Hampshire Theod. Atkinson, Secry. A. Clarkson, Clerk. In the house of Representatives May 16th 1760 This petition being read the parties appeared by themselves & their attorneys & after being fully heard thereon, Resolved, That the prayer thereof be so far granted as that no person shall be on the rocks at Ammuskeege fall from Sunsett Saturday evening untill Monday next at noon-one evidence to convict them before a justice of peace & his determination to be final that all obstructions on the rivers & brooks therein mentioned be so far Removed that the fish may have free course to the heads thereof that no sceins be used In said River only on Monday, Wednesday & Fryday, & further Resolved that no manner of Acts or Instruments shall be used to distroy take or stop any of the young Salmon or Shad In said Rivers or Brooks on the penaltys in a bill for that purpose to be prepared by the petitioners accordingly In Council, EodTM Die, read & Concurrd A. Clarkson, clerk Theod. Atkinson, Secry. |