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PRINTED FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS.HISTORICAL SOCIETY TEAON THE FUND GIVEN BYEZ WILLIAM.BRADFORD.HOMER-DOWSE
THIS IS THE PROPERTY OF Robert Waitt, gr. 20 Overbrook Road RICHMOND, VA.
No. G7300
BEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01757 8805
GC 974.4 J812, V.1
244318
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Massachusetts Historical Society
FOUNDED 1791
OS.NON.
1.
MAS
ODISE
ST. P
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JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF MASSACHUSETTS
VOLUME I
21.
.......
Committee of Publication
HENRY CABOT LODGE WILLIAM BRADFORD HOMER DOWSE WORTHINGTON CHAUNCEY FORD
·
JOURNALS of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts 1715-1717
Published at the Charge of the Dowse Fund
--
THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1919
Contents
INTRODUCTION vii
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 1715-1716 ix
GENERAL COURT, 1715-1716
First Session, May 25-June 21, 1715 I
Second Session, July 20-August 1, 1715
46
Third Session, August 24-27, 1715
-
68
GENERAL COURT, 1716-1717
First Session, May 30-June 27, 1716 77
Second Session, August 1-3, 1716
124
Third Session, November 7-December 4, 1716 129
Fourth Session, April 10-12, 1717
169
SPEECH MADE UNTO HIS EXCELLENCY, SAMUEL SHUTE, BY THE REV. COTTON MATHER, MAY 30, 1717 175
GENERAL COURT, 1717-1718
First Session, May 29-June 22, 1717 178
Second Session, October 23-November 22, 1717
222
Third Session, February 5-14, 1718
261
INDEX 275
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013
http://archive.org/details/journalsofhouseo00mass
Introduction
A COPY of the printed Journals of the House of Representatives of his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New England for the session which began at Boston on May 25, 1715, was given to Samuel Sewall by the printer, Bartholomew Green, on July 12, three weeks after the Governor had in angry mood prorogued that body. Stung by a slighting comment passed by Governor Dudley on their proceedings, the members of the House de- termined to print the full Journal of the session, as the best defence of them- selves. Thus began a practice of printing the Journals of the House which was continued in an almost unbroken series till the Revolutionary War. The conven- ience of having the record in such a form would alone have justified the publica- tion; as time passed, the political advantages were also recognized, and the long controversies arising between the Governor and the House, or between the Coun- cil and the House, led to many papers, worthy to be called state papers, being spread upon the pages of the Journals. Such publications were intended more for the constituents of the House than for any effect they could produce upon those immediately engaged in the controversies; and, in the absence of an active press, the political questions received their discussion in messages, addresses, declara- tions, or the more formal proclamations - the most final of all expressions of opinion.
The beginnings of this publication were small and uncertain. The clerk of the House was directed to prepare a copy of the Journal, and the representatives of Boston were desired to take care that the printing was seasonably done.1 The question of cost does not appear to have been considered at this time; but the ex- pediency of continuing to print was at once recognized, and in the second session of this General Court measures were taken to learn the cost, and provide for the future regular appearance of the votes or minutes during the session. On July 30, 1715, the representatives of the Town of Boston were again desired to take the care of printing the Journals of the session, and to "Treat with a Printer about the Terms upon which they may be Printed here-after." 2 Bartholomew Green was at this time printer to the Governor and Council, and appears to have been the only printer who submitted an estimate. He offered to print the Votes of the House "and all the other Printing directed by the Government, for the space of Seven Years next coming; and to furnish each Member of this Court, with a Copy of the said Votes, free of charge, on each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, of the several Sessions, during that Term, upon his being Allowed Thirty Pounds per Annum for his Service." 3 This offer was accepted by the House, and the con- currence of the Council was desired, but not given. The session came to an end while the matter was before the Council, and so the care of the printing of the
1 Infra, page 45. 2 Infra, page 65. 3 Infra, page 70.
.
V111
Introduction
Journal fell upon the representatives of Boston, "upon the foot of the Agreement with Mr. Green the Printer." 1
Thus for three sessions the House of Representatives took upon itself the print- ing of its votes and minutes, without any encouragement from the Governor and Council. The fourth and last session began on November 23, and continued until December 22, but the Journal was not printed, as the following entry in the pro- ceedings in the House on June 27, 1716, proves: "An Accompt of Bartholomew Green, for Printing the Journal of this House, in their Sessions begun in May, July and August, the last Year, and finding Paper, Folding and Stitching them, Amounting to the Sum of (.22 175. 6d. Presented to the House for Payment" - and allowed. Had the Journal of the November session been printed, it would have been mentioned with the others.
It is to be noticed that in each case the entire session was printed as one piece, and without title-pages. The form adopted was modelled after that of the printed laws, and had been used by the Governor and Council when they issued resolves of the General Court. One such resolve has been found in the Boston Athenæum.2 It is the only issue in that form known, and might easily be mistaken for a page from the printed Journals, although no Journals were printed until 1715.
The practice, thus begun, was continued in the House of 1716-17, and on the day of proroguing the first session it ordered the printing of the Journal under the direction of the representatives of Boston.& The inconvenience of delay in printing and distributing the Journal at the end of the session, and the advantage of having the record of proceedings at hand during the session, led the House to order that "the Votes of this House be Printed Twice a Week." 4 This accounts for the form and divisions of the sheets and for the comparative rarity of the is- sues. In no one library of New England can a full set be found, and even that in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is far from complete.
The present publication is made possible by a fund given to the Massachusetts Historical Society by a member, Mr. William Bradford Homer Dowse, of Sher- born. As the intention is to reprint the original volumes errors of type and print- ing have been followed; a proper correction in names of persons and places will be found in the index. As the first volume of the Journals contained no list of the members of the House for 1715 one has been taken from the Boston News-Letter.
WORTHINGTON CHAUNCEY FORD
Boston, December, 1919.
1 Infra, page 74.
? It was reproduced as the frontispiece to a reprint of the Journals of 1715, made in 1902.
· Infra, page 123. ' Ib., 184.
1X
List of Members
MEMBERS OF HOUSE, 1715-1716
"The Boston News-Letter" for the week from Monday, May 23, to Monday, May 30, 1715, contains a list of the Members of the House of Representatives. The asterisk indicates a new member.
Col. Adam Winthrop
Charlestown, *Capt. Ch. Chambers
Boston,
Capt. Oliver Noyes *Mr. William Payne
Cambridge, Mr. Jonat Remington
*Mr. Elisha Cook
Concord, *Mr. William Wilson
Roxbury,
Mr. William Denison
Woburn, *Capt. Josiah Converse
Dorchester, Mr. Hopestil Clap
Hingham,
Samuel Thaxter Esq;
Sudbury,
*Mr. Edmund Rice
Brantree,
*Mr. Joseph Allein [Allen]
Dedham,
*Mr. John Fuller
Newton, Mr. John Ward
Weymouth, Capt. Stephen French
Chelmsford,
Mr. Stephen Pierce
Milton,
Mr. Ephraim Tucker .
Billerica, Lieut. John Sternes
Wrentham,
Mr. John Guile [Guild]
Sherburn,
*Capt. Joseph Morse *Mr. Thomas Tarbal
Brooklin,
Lancaster,
*Mr. John Houghton
Woodstock,
*Mr. Samuel Payne
Framingham, Medford, *Capt. Peter Tufts
Salem, ·
*Daniel Epps Esq; Capt. Peter Osgood
Weston, Capt. Francis Fulham
Ipswich, - Mr. John Appleton
Mr. Nath. Knowlton
Springfield,
*Luke Hitchcock Esq;
Newbury, *Mr. William Moodey
Northampton, Joseph Parsons, Esq; Hadley, Mr. Daniel Marsh
Marblehead, Mr. James Cawley
Hatfield, Mr. John Partridge
Andover,
*Capt. Benjamin Stevens
Suffield, *Mr. Atherton Mather
Beverley,
Mr. Samuel Balch
Westfield,
Mr. John Ashley
Rowley, *Mr. Ezekiel Northen Salisbury, *Capt. Joseph Eaton Haverhill, *Capt. John White Glocester, *John Newman Mr. Tobijah Perkins
Enfield,
Plymouth, James Warren Esq;
Situate, Mr. Samuel Clap
Topsfield,
Mr. Joseph Hale
Duxbury,
Seth Arnold Esq;
Wenham, *Capt. Thomas Fiske
Rochester, *Mr. John Randel
Amesbury, *Mr. John Foot
Pembrook,
Capt. Thomas Barker
Bradford,
*Mr. John Hutchins
Barnstable,
*Mr. Joseph Lothrop
Medfield,
*Capt. John Boydon
Maldon, Mr. John Greenland
Mendon,
Mr. Samuel Thaer [Thayer]
Groton,
Maj. Jos Buckminster
Needham,
Lexington, *Mr. Francis Bowman
Stow, *Mr. John Buttrick
Lynn, John Burril Esq; Speaker
Bridgewater,
*Mr. Edward Fobes
Marshfield,
Capt. Isaac Little
Boxford,
Watertown, Mr. Samuel Sternes
Reading, Mr. Timothy Wily
Marlborough, Mr. Thomas Rice
X
List of Members
Eastham, *Mr. Samuel Mayo
Tiverton,
*Mr. Wm Manchester
Sandwich,
*Mr. John Chipman
Attleborough, *Mr. David Freeman
Yarmouth,
*Mr. Joseph Hall
Dighton, Mr. Benjamin Jones
Harwich,
*Mr. Gershom Hall
Norton,
*George Leonard, Esq;
Truro,
*Mr. Constant Freeman
York, *Abraham Prebble Esq;
Kittery,
*Mr. Joseph Hammond
Middleborow Bristol,
*Mr. John Bennet [Capt.] Simon Davis Esq; *Capt. Henry Hodges
Wells,
Berwick, *Mr. Elisha Plaisted
Dartmouth, Mr. Jonathan Delano
Edgar-Town,
Major Benj. Skiffe
Rehoboth, Mr. Moses Read
Tisbury,
Little Comp.
Capt. W. Southworth
Chilmark,
Swanzey,
Mr. John Rogers
Nantucket,
James Coffin Esq;
.
Taunton,
JOURNALS of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts 1715-1717
1
Anno Regni Regis GEORGII nunc Magnæ Britannia, &c. Primo.
JOURNAL
Of the House of Representatives.
At a Great and General Court or Assembly of His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in pet England, begun & held at 1Boston, upon Wednes- day the 25th Day of May, Anno Domini, 1715.
S Amuel Sewall, John Phillips, and Joseph Lynde Esqrs. came down from the Council Board, and Acquainted the House that they were Appointed and Authorized by His Excellency the Governour, That this House should take the Oaths, Make and Subscribe the Declaration, Take and Subscribe the Oath of Abjuration (as by the Royal Charter of this Province is Directed) before them, which was accordingly done by the Members present, and They with- drew.
The House Proceeded to write their Votes for a Speaker, which being Col- lected, and Examined, it was found that John Burrill Esq; was chosen by a major part of the House, and he was accordingly Conducted to the Chair.
The House Proceeded to write their Votes for a Clerk, which being Collected and Examined, it appear'd that Mr. John White was chosen by a major part of the House, who was accordingly sent for to the House.
Post Meridiem.
A Message sent up to the Council Board, by Capt. Davis, and Mr. Cawley, to report to His Excellency the Choice the House had made of a Speaker.
Who Returned, That His Excellency was not in Council, but by Sickness Con- fin'd at home.
Major Skeffe, and Mr. Chipman, were sent to Wait on His Excellency at His House at Roxbury, to Report to His Excellency, the Choice of the Speaker.
Who Returned, That His Excellency said, the Choice is very acceptable to him.
A Message sent up to the Board, by Mr. Samuel Clap, and Capt. Davis, That the House are now ready to proceed to the choice of Councellors.
Who Return'd, That the Board were ready to Proceed, and Join with the House in the Choice.
Ordered, That Mr. Epps, Capt. Noyes, Col. Winthrop, Col. Thaxter, and Mr.
2
Journal of the House of Representatives
Denison, be a Committee to carry up the Votes of this House for Councellors, and assist in Sorting and Numbering them, together with the Votes of the Board, and Report to the House, the several Elections that shall be made.
The said Committee carried up the Votes of the House, for Councellors in the late Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay until Eighteen were chosen by a major part of the Voters.
Then for the late Colony of New-Plymouth, until Four were chosen, as aforesaid. Then for the late Province of Maine, until Three were chosen, as aforesaid. [ 2 ]
Then for the Territory between Sagadehoc and Nova Scotia, until One was chosen, as aforesaid.
And lastly, for Persons dwelling in any Part of the Province, until Two were chosen, as aforesaid.
And the said Committee Reported the choice to be as follows, viz.
Of the Inhabitants, or Proprietors of Lands in the Territory formerly called the Massachusetts-Bay.
The Hon. William Tailer Esq; Wait Winthrop Esq;
Elisha Cooke Esq;
Elisha Hutchinson Esq;
Samuel Sewall Esq; John Appleton Esq;
John Higginson Esq;
Andrew Belcher Esq;
Edward Bromfield Esq; Nathaniel Norden Esq;
Benjamin Lynde Esq; John Clark Esq;
Addington Davenport Esq; Thomas Hutchinson Esq;
Samuel Brown Esq; John Pinchon Esq;
Thomas Oliver Esq; Thomas Fitch Esq;
Of the Inhabitants or Proprietors of Lands within the Territory formerly called New-Plymouth, viz.
Nathaniel Paine Esq; Isaac Winslow Esq;
John Cushing Esq; John Otis Esq;
Of the Inhabitants or Proprietors of Lands within the Territory formerly called the Province of Maine, viz.
Eliakim Hutchinson Esq; Ichabod Plaisted Esq;
John Wheelwright Esq;
Of the Inhabitants or Proprietors of Lands lying within the Territory between Sagadehoc and Nova Scotia, viz.
Joseph Lynde Esq;
Of the Inhabitants or Proprietors of Lands in any Part of the Province. Nathaniel Byfield Esq; Edmund Quinsey Esq;
And then the House Adjourn'd till to Morrow Morning Nine a Clock.
3
Journal of the House of Representatives
Tobis 26 Maii 1715.
O Rdered, That Col. Thaxter, Col. Winthrop, Capt. Noyes, Capt. Osgood, and Capt. Davis, Wait on His Excellency the Governour, with the above- written List of the Councellors, or Assistants, newly chosen for the Year ensuing, for His Excellency's Approbation of the Persons, therein Named, to be given in Writing under his Hand.
And inquire of His Excellency's Health.
The House Proceeded to Examine the Returns of the Precepts, made from the several Towns, of the choice of their Representatives.
Which being Passed through,
The usual Orders of the House were Read: And
Ordered, To be the Orders, of the House during the Sessions thereof.
Ordered, That Mr. John Sternes, Mr. Reed, and Capt. Arnold, be Monitors of the House to take care that the Orders thereof are duely observed. [ 3 ]
Ordered, That Mr. Speaker, Mr. Denison, and Mr. Cawley, Give the Thanks of this House to the Reverend Mr. Jeremiah Shepard for the Sermon Preach'd at their Desire, before this Court in a Publick Assembly Yesterday, being the Anni- versary Day of Election of Councellors: And that they Desire him to give a Copy thereof to be Printed.
Post Meridiem.
An Accompt of William Paine Joyner, of the charge of Wainscotting, one half of the Chamber of the House of Representatives, and making of Seats therein, amounting to the Sum of 40 l. 16 s 8 d. Presented to the House for Allowance. Read and
Resolved, That the Sum of Forty Pounds Sixteen Shillings and Eight Pence be Allowed and Paid out of the Publick Treasury, to William Paine, the Accomptant to Discharge his Accompt.
Sent up for Concurrence.
An Accompt of Edward Pell Painter, for Painting half of the Representatives Chamber, amounting to the Sum of 5 l. & 2 s. offer'd to the House for Payment. Read and
Resolved, That the Sum of Five Pounds and Two Shillings, be Allowed & Paid out of the Publick Treasury to Edward Pell, the Accomptant to Discharge his Accompt. Sent up for Concurrence.
The List of Councellors sent to His Excellency the Governour this Morning: was Return'd to the House again, by the Members who carried it, His Excellency having Entred thereon as follows: viz.
I Consent to this Election of Councellors, except Nathaniel Byfield Esq; Given under My Hand, J. DUDLEY.
And then the House Adjourn'd till to Morrow Morning Nine a Clock.
4
Journal of the House of Representatives
Deneris 27 Maii 1715.
O Rdered, That Capt. Noyes, Col. Thaxter, Mr. Parsons, Mr. Denison, and Capt. Fullam, be a Committee for Petitions to Examine the Matters and Allegations thereof, and report the same with their Opinion thereon to the House.
A Petition of John Brigham, Hopestill Brown, and Twenty-nine others, Pre- sented to the House and Read, Praying, That the Land lying between the Towns of Marlborough, Lancaster, Worcester and Hassanameesit, may be granted to them, and made a Township.
Ordered, That the Petition be Rejected all the Names affixed thereto, except one being written by the same hand.
A Petition of Francis Fullam and Daniel Livermore, both of Weston, Presented to the House and Read, Praying this Court to give them leave to Purchase a piece of Land, containing about Six Hundred Acres, Lying on the Easterly side of the Town of Oxford, of the Indian Owner thereof, called Mallalawing David, for Reasons therein expressed.
Ordered, That the said Petition be committed to the Committee for Petitions.
Ordered, That Capt. Noyes, Mr. Cooke, and Col. Thaxter, be a Committee to prepare the Draught of a Vote, to bring forward, the Running of the Line be- tween this Province and the Colony of Rhode-Island, pursuant to the Agreement of the Commissioners of the Two Governments for that end.
A Petition of John Small-piece of Boston, who was very much wounded, by a Blast of Gunpowder, in the Burning of the Impost-Office, the last Winter, when he was attempting to save what he could therein; Presented to the House and Read, Praying some Allowance towards his Cure and Subsistence.
In answer to the said Petition. [ 4 ]
Resolved, That the Sum of Twenty Pounds be Allowed and Paid out of the Pub- lick Treasury to John Small-piece the Petitioner, towards his Relief.
Sent up for Concurrence.
Andrew Belcher and Addington Davenport Esqrs. brought down a Letter from His Excellency the Governour, dated yesterday at Roxbury, and directed to the Gentlemen of the Council and Representatives: Intimating that he is under such Bodily Illness, that he is unable at present to Attend the Court, but would have the Court Proceed in the Business that lies before them.
And a Letter from Mr. Agent Dummer, dated at Whitehall, Decemb. 4th last, Directed to Mr. Secretary Addington, for the General Assembly: Which were Read.
Mr. Edward Hutchinson, having Represented to this House, That he with Mr. John Watts, have now more than Ten Families, gone and ready to go, to Arowsick Island, to make a Settlement there.
5
Journal of the House of Representatives
Voted, That His Excellency the Governour be requested, now to order a Ser- jeant with Nineteen Sentinels, from Casco Fort, to Defend and Assist their Settle- ment, agreeable to the Vote of this Court in October last: The said Undertakers having likewise represented that convenient Barracks will be ready for their reception, by the time they can remove thither.
Sent up for Concurrence.
A Report of the Committee, appointed by this Court, the 20th of last October, to Run the Line, between the Town of Groton, and the Plantation of Nashoba, offer'd to the House, and was Read accordingly.
Resolved, That the Report be Accepted.
Sent up for Concurrence.
And then the House Adjourn'd till to Morrow Morning Nine a Clock.
Babbeti 28 die Mait 1715.
C Apt. Noyce from the Committee for Petitions, made Report to the House on the Petition of Francis Fullam, and Daniel Livermore, the prayer whereof was entred yesterday: That the Committee were of Opinion that the prayer of the Petition be granted.
Resolved, That the prayer of the Petitioners be granted; Provided the Land be no Part of Land appropriated by the Government, and the Quantity exceeds not Seven Hundred Acres. Sent up for Concurrence.
Ordered, That Col. Adam Winthrop, Mr. William Paine, Mr. Elisha Cooke, Mr. Abraham Prebble, Mr. James Cawley, and Luke Hitchcock Esq; be a Committee to joyn with such as the Honourable Board shall Nominate, to Prepare the Draught of a humble Address and Memorial to His Majesty, humbly to Represent, and lay before His Majesty, the present State of this Province.
Sent up for Concurrence.
A Report of the Committee for Setling of the Eastern Parts of this Province: Offered to the House, and Read.
A Petition of Joseph Morse Representative of the Town of Sherbourn, Presented to the House, and Read; Praying that a Plat of Four Thousand Acres of Land, (there-with exhibited) laid out and protracted by Thomas White Surveyor, pur- suant to a Grant of this Court, may be confirmed to the said Town. .
A Message from the Board by John Wheelwright, and John Clark Esqrs. De- siring the House to have a further consideration of the Memorial of the Council that manag'd the Government, after the Death of Lieut. Governour Stoughton, until the Arrival of His Excellency our present Governour.
The said Memorial purporting as entred Feb. 20th 1713. Read.
And then the House Adjourn'd till Monday next Three a Clock afternoon. [ 5 ]
6
Journal of the House of Representatives
Lund 30 Die mait 1715.
A Petition of Richard Coomes and Hephzibah his Wife Daughter of Joseph Newel, late of Roxbury, deceas'd, presented to the House & Read; Praying Relief from great wrong they suffer, by the Heirs of Florence Maccarty late of Boston, deceas'd, injuriously with-holding from them Lands that were her Father's, lying in Roxbury aforesaid; and for which they are without remedy in the Law.
Ordered, That a hearing be granted on this Petition, before this Court, on Friday next at Ten a Clock in the forenoon: And that the Petitioners serve the adverse Party with a Copy of the Petition, and a Notification, That they may be heard, if they have any thing to Alledge why the prayer of the Petition should not be Granted. Sent up for Concurrence.
A Petition of Daniel Marsh Representative of the Town of Hadley, presented to the House & Read, praying, That a Tract of Land of Four Miles Square adjoy- ning to the said Town may be annexed, and made part thereof, Agreeable to a Grant of this Court, formerly made, That the said Quantity should be laid to them.
And a Petition of Ebenezer Pumry and Nineteen others Inhabitants of the said Town, and the Town of Northampton; presented to the House & Read; Praying, That the said Lands, with others near adjoining may be Granted to them, to Settle and Form a Township there.
Ordered, That the said Petitions be referr'd to further Consideration, at the Session of this Court in the next Autumn.
And that in the mean time the Town of Hadley lay out their Grant, of Four Miles Square, made to them by the General Court in May 1683. by a skilful Sur- veyor, under Oath, either of the South-west, or North-east End of the said Town. That the Province Land lying between the said Town, and the Town of Spring- field, may not be cut in pieces, and made unfit for future Grants and Settlements, and return a Plat thereof to this Court for Confirmation.
Whereas a great Number of Guns were fired yesterday, being the Lords Day, at Castle William, for which we are not sensible of any necessary occasion.
Ordered, That Mr. Speaker be desired to wait on His Excellency the Governour, and inquire, Upon what occasion, and by whose order they were fired; and desire that for the future Orders may be given, That no Guns may be fired there on the Lord's Day, but in cases of necessity.
And then the House Adjourn'd till to Morrow Morning Nine a Clock.
Martis 31 die Mait 1715.
A Petition of Samuel Partridge Esq; Praying as entred the Third day of Novemb. last, Read again and Committed.
Sundry Accompts of charge arising for the furnishing of Major John Stoddard,
7
Journal of the House of Representatives
and the Reverend Mr. John Williams, and their Attendants, to proceed on their Journey to Canada, Anno 1713. being sent by this Court to obtain the English Captives there.
And Accompt of charge after their Return, and charge upon the Captives re- turn'd, Presented to the House for Allowance and Payment: Read and com- mitted to the Committee for Petitions.
The following Report offered to the House, viz. We under-written, having been appointed by the Honourable General Assembly of this Province the 10th day of June, Anno 1714. To view a Tract of Land adjoyning to Brookfield on the South, and to Brimfield on the East, extending from Brookfield South-west Corner Eastward, Three Miles, in order to its being added to the Town of Brimfield, whose Bounds are straitned on the South, by the Partition Line of this Province, and the [ 6 ] Colony of Connecticut, and make Report thereof. Having strictly Meas- ured said Brimfield West Line, which we find to be Seven Miles & Sixteen Perch, as it Bounds on Springfield, tho' not so much Square off from the said Partition Line; and also the Distance between Springfield, and the South-west Corner of Brimfield, which we find to be Eight Miles one Quarter, and Twenty-two Perch, and no more; which said Tract is short of the Contents of Eight Miles Square, and withal very Mountainous, and uncapable to entertain a suitable Number of Fam- ilies, without an addition at the East End: Are therefore humbly of Opinion, That unless Three Miles be added, to the said Town of Brimfield, as described in the Subsequent Map; It will not be inviting nor capable to entertain a Suitable Num- ber of Families, according to the Direction of the Court, relating to the Settlement thereof; the said Eastermost End only being capable to entertain Inhabitants to Settle in a defensible manner.
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