USA > Maine > Oxford County > Paris > History of Paris, Maine, from its settlement to 1880, with a history of the grants of 1736 & 1771, together with personal sketches, a copious genealogical register and an appendix > Part 10
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Ephraim Field,
306 00
Solomon Shaw,
180 00
Jonathan Hall,
280 00
Wm. Stowell, 310 00
Benj. Hammond, 7
306 00
Daniel Stowell,
550 00
1
98
HISTORY OF PARIS.
NAMES. ASSESSED VALUE.
Joseph Hammond,
$130 00
Thomas Stevens,
NAMES. ASSESSED VALUE. $160 00-
Levi Hubbard, 330 00
Jairus Shaw, 180 00
Lemuel Jackson,
350 00
Cyprian Stevens,
300 00
Lemuel Jackson, Jr.,
320 00
Joseph Swift, 180 00
Isaac Jackson,
150 00
John Willis, 280 00
Forty persons in Paris at this time, occupied houses, and proba- bly frame houses which, with their lots, were considered worth one hundred dollars each, and were therefore taxable. The two best houses in town were those of Seth Morse and Daniel Stowell, but these could hardly be regarded as extravagant, their value being put down at only five hundred and fifty dollars each. A large majority of the houses assessed, must have been of small dimensions and cheaply built.
"Valuation of Lands, Lots and Buildings, the latter of less value than one hundred dollars, and not included in the preceding list.
OWNERS' NAMES.
ACRES.
VALUATION.
David Andrews,
150
$350
Edward Andrews,
100
300
Abiezer Andrews,
160
360
Asa Barrows,
119
230
Isaac Bolster,
299
950
Isaac Bolster, Jr.,
99
430
Abraham Bolster,
99
430
John Billings,
100
240
James Bowker,
99
450
Jonathan Bemis,
699
1300
John Besse,
100
260
Joshua Besse, Jr.,
97
235
Joseph Blake.
190
Abner Benson,
60
140
Seth Benson,
90
200
Ichabod Bryant,
50
100
David Bryant,
50
100
Josiah Bisco,
300
700
Solomon Bryant,
79
200
Luther Brett,
199
400
James Le Broke,
99
230
Moses Buck,
200
300
Eleazer Cole,
50
300
Calvin Cole,
50
240
Philip Caldwell,
99
500
Joseph Churchill,
120
220
Nicholas Chesley,
149
800
99
HISTORY OF PARIS.
OWNERS' NAMES.
ACRES.
VALUATION.
Consider Cole,
49
$150
Caleb Cushman,
299
1030
Seth Carpenter,
139
730
John Daniels.
230
1070
John Daniels, Jr.,
109
300
Asa Dean.
60
240
Barzillai Dwelley,
50
200
Allen Dwelley,
50
200
Samuel Durell,
100
400
Peter Durell,
80
500
Edmund Dean.
100
400
David Dudley,
100
400
Job French.
77
230
Aaron Fuller.
200
500
Caleb Fuller.
100
250
Ephraim Field.
499
1280
Barnabee Faunce,
100
230
Win. Faunce .-
200
200
Jacob Gurney.
100
400
John Gray.
100
220
Alfred Gates,
99
500
Jonathan Hall,
199
450
Abijah Hall.
100
450
James Hooper,
100 exempted
Henry Hill.
100
180
Benj. Hammond,
99
750
Joseph Hammond.
99.
400
Lemuel Holmes,
100
350
Joseph Holmes,
100
300
Samuel Hammond,
100
120
Levi Hubbard,
149/
600
Lemuel Jackson,
1899
4130
Lemuel Jackson, Jr.,
149
780
Isaac Jackson,
199
1000
Levi Jackson,
99
650
Solomon Jordan,
66
300
Samuel King,
299
1000
Seth Morse.
499
1125
James Morse,
99
420
Silas Maxim.
99
380
Samuel Maxim,
40
100
Elias Partridge,
99
380
Simeon Pond,
99
380
Joseph Perry,
34
100
Cornelius Perkins,
50
75
Luther Pratt,
100
370
100
HISTORY OF PARIS.
OWNERS' NAMES.
ACRES.
VALUATION.
Nathaniel Pratt,
50
$100
Lemuel Perham,
80
100
Nathaniel Pierce,
149
650
Asa Perry,
150
700
Caleb Prentiss,
60 rods
300
Ebenezer Rawson,
399
1200
Abner Rawson,
242
800
Luke Ryerson,
100
200
Geo. Ryerson,
100
200
David Ring,
100
150
Stephen Robinson,
399
2230
Asa Robinson,
199
580
John Robinson,
199
500
John Record,
69
300
Isaac Record,
30
25
Uriah Ripley,
59
250
Sylvanus Robbins,
100
250
Daniel Staples,
159
1270
Win. Stowell,
499
2080
Daniel Stowell,
349
1830
Win. Stearns,
300
550
Jairus Shaw,
199
500
Caleb Swift,
200
480
Win. Swan,
50
110
Wm. Swan. Jr.,
50
110
Timothy Smith,
99
500
Joseph Swift,
99
500
Gilbert Shaw,
100
200
Abner Shaw,
99
400
Solomon Shaw,
99
400
Thomas Stevens,
199
600
Asa Sturtefant,
50
120
Joseph Sturtefant,
110
230
Cyprian Stevens,
99
700
Josiah Smith,
90
600
Jonathan Shurtleff,
100
350
Samuel Stephens (non-resident)
100
600
Jacob Twitchell,
99
300
John Tuell,
100
250
John Tuell, Jr.,
50
100
Abijah Warren,
200
350
David Walton,
130
190
Jonathan Walton,
100
150
Robert Wightman,
100
250
John Willis,
5.19
1250
Daniel Whitney,
100
400 .**
101
·
HISTORY OF PARIS.
The whole number of resident tax payers at this time, was one hundred and eighteen. Samuel Stephens who had purchased the center lot and was taxed for it, had not yet come. The number is considerably greater than of those who signed the petitions and remonstrances relating to the incorporation of the town six years before. showing that the gain in population had been as rapid as could reasonably have been expected. After the close of the Revo- lutionary war in 1783, a large number of patriot soldiers sought homes upon our eastern lands and of these the town of Paris had its full share : and they continued to come until after the close of the century. Probably at the time the above tax was assessed, there were more or less residents of Paris not owners of real estate and so not taxable.
1799.
The meeting was at Lemuel Jackson's, on the 4th of March. Seth Morse, Levi Hubbard and Ebenezer Rawson, were chosen selectmen, and Jairus Shaw, Daniel Stowell and Abijah Hall asses- SOTS. Abijah Warren bid off the taxes and was chosen collector and constable. The road surveyors this year, were James Morse, Isaac Bolster, Joseph Holmes, Jacob Gurney, Nathan Pierce, Daniel Staples, Benj. Hammond, Lemuel Jackson, Simeon Pond, John Robinson and Thomas Stevens. Tythingmen, John Willis and Job Lurvey. Fence viewers, Nicholas Chesley, Simeon Pond and Isaac Bolster. Hogreeves, Samuel King, John Robinson, Caleb Swift, Seth Benson, Barzillai Dwelley, Henry Hill, Philip Caldwell and Samuel Bryant. For School committee, Lemuel Jackson. Seth Morse. Daniel Stowell. Solomon Jordan, Lemuel Holmes, Edmund Dean. David Andrews and William Stearns. . For Field Drivers, Daniel Whitney, Edmund Dean, Caleb Swift and Aaron Fuller. For Surveyors of Lumber, Solomon Bryant, Samuel King, Jairus Shaw and Jacob Twitchell. Voted three hundred dollars for the support of Schools, and two hundred pounds for the repair of roads. The accounts against the town this year were rendered in dollars, dimes and cents. Forty dollars were raised for town charges. Forty-eight votes were thrown for Governor, forty-seven being for Gov. Sumner. Seventy votes were thrown for senators, Stephen Longfellow 30. Daniel Ilsley 24, and Daniel Davis 16. The asses- sors were directed to go to each person's house in the discharge of their duty. The committee on the contested road before referred to, reported that in their judgment the inhabitants in the northeast part
102
HISTORY OF PARIS.
of the town would be better accommodated by the location that led by Caleb Fuller's house and to Bemis' Mills. The report was accepted.
1800.
Jonathan Bemis, moderator, and Abijah Hall, clerk. The old board of selectmen was reelected, and Jonathan Bemis was chosen assessor in place of Jairus Shaw. Road surveyors, James Morse, Isaac Bolster, David Dudley, Abiezar Andrews, Nathan Pierce, Daniel Staples, Benj. Hammond, John Willis, Jonathan Bemis, Luther Pratt and Solomon Shaw. For Tythingmen, Alfred Gates and Jeremiah Rolf. Fence viewers, Barnabee Faunce, Joseph Ham- mond and Ebenezer Rawson. Hogreeves, Alfred Gates, Samuel Smith, Asa Robinson, Joseph H. Hall, Ezra Brett, Job French and George Ryerson. School Committee, Lemuel Jackson, Solomon Shaw, Joel Robinson, John Besse, Jairus Shaw, Edmund Dean, Abijah Warren and Wm. Stearns. For treasurer, Wm. Stowell. Field drivers, Daniel Whitney, Asa Robinson, Abner Shaw and Caleb Fuller. Surveyors of Lumber, Job French, Thomas Stevens, Samuel King and Jairus Shaw. Viewers of brick moulds, Job French and Thomas Stevens. Voted to raise four hundred dollars for the support of schools and seven hundred dollars for the repair of roads. A report was made on five surveys for roads and accepted. The selectmen were instructed to petition the General Court for permission to sell the public lots in town. Abner Rawson bid off the taxes and was made collector and constable. At an adjourned meeting, April 2d, one hundred and fifty dollars were raised to defray town charges. A committee of three was chosen to treat with Elder Hooper, the minister of the town. Forty-six votes were polled for Governor this year, at the meeting in April. Those only were permitted to vote who had a freehold estate yielding three pounds income, or any estate valued at sixty pounds. At an adjourned meeting April 28, a committee was chosen to locate the bridge across the river, below Jackson's mill. The committee appointed to settle with Elder Hooper, reported :
"That in behalf of the town, your committee have received from Mr. James Hooper, a quitclaim deed of the lots of land number five in the seventh range, and one hundred acres of the north part of lot number eighteen in the ninth range, said lands belonging to the right of land granted to the first settled minister ; also the said James Hooper agrees to relinquish all the right of improvement that
103
HISTORY OF PARIS.
he has in the right of land in Paris which was granted for the use of the ministry, and for the security of the said Mr. James Hooper his heirs and assigns, against the claims of any minister that may here- after be settled ; your (committee) are of the opinion that the town of Paris should pass a vote that they will never hereafter settle a minister in said town of any denomination whatever unless the minister or ministers which are settled, shall agree to and relinquish all the right or title that he or they might claim or challenge, in the right of land granted in said Paris for the first settled minister, and that this report with the doings of the town thereon, be recorded in the town records. The foregoing is humbly submitted by your committee."
JAMES HOOPER, LEVI HUBBARD, SETH MORSE, EBENEZER RAWSON, JOSIAH BISCO, DANIEL STOWELL.
Paris, April 28, 1800.
This report was accepted, and at an adjourned meeting it was . voted to sell the land released by Mr. Hooper. A committee of eight was chosen to revise and recommend alterations in the school districts if any should be considered necessary. Forty-eight votes were thrown for member of Congress at the meeting Nov. 3d, of which Peleg Wadsworth had 34 and William Widgery 14.
This brings the abstracts of the town records down to and includ- ing the year 1800. Full lists of town officers have been given to show the introduction of new names, but hereafter this will be omitted. Full lists of the municipal officers from the first will appear in the appendix, and hereafter the abstracts of records will be con- fined to matters of general importance. It is to be regretted that reports of committees were not more generally spread upon the records. Reports of committees to divide the town into school dis- tricts with bounds and names of heads of families in each district, would be of special interest, as giving the names of all the families in town. But none of them were recorded and most probably none of them are in existence.
DAMON
104
HISTORY OF PARIS.
CHAPTER XVII.
EFFORTS TO DIVIDE THE TOWN.
Statistics of Paris .- Division Proposed .- Voted Down in Town- Meeting .- Petitions and Remonstrances .- The Project Fails .- Annals Continued.
1801.
The following Statistics of the improvements and resources of the town are from a return made this year to the Massachusetts Secre- tary of State :
Polls, 16 years of age and not over 21, 29.
Polls ratable, 21 years of age and upwards, 141.
Polls not ratable and not supported by the town, 8.
Polls not ratable and supported by the town, 2.
Dwelling houses, 61 ; barns, 78; Potash works, 1.
Grist mills, 2 ; saw mills, 2.
Tillage lands including orchards, 93 ; doomed for 100 acres more.
Wheat, 46 bushels ; rye, 64; oats, 25; corn, 985 ; peas and beans, 19.
Acres upland mowing, 456 ; doomed 500 acres more.
Tons hay (1 year's product) , 458.
Acres pasturage, 416 ; doomed for 700 acres more.
Cows, 473 ; horses 3 years and upward, 107; oxen 4 years and upward, 188 ; steers and cows, 4 years and upward, 403 ; swine 6 months old and over, 243.
Acres unimproved lands, 11,752 ; acres unimprovable lands, 4857 ; acres used for roads, 373 ; acres covered with water, 880.
Six hundred dollars were raised for roads and four hundred for schools. Ebenezer Hutchinson and Jeremiah Rolf were made a separate highway and school district. Jonathan Shurtleff was allowed fifteen dollars for keeping his brother Thomas. This amount per year was allowed for several years. An adjourned meeting was held April 6th at the Center School District. All the previous meet- ings had been held at private houses. The north end of the school district where Thomas Stevens lived, was set off into a separate dis- trict. The question of a new county was again agitated, and Seth Carpenter and Ebenezer Rawson were chosen a committee to visit the towns in northern Cumberland and York, and arrange for a con- vention to meet at Paris, to consider the subject. The convention
105
HISTORY OF PARIS.
was appointed for the second Wednesday of October following, and Josiah Bisco was authorized to represent Paris in the same.
1802.
The meeting was called at the Center School House. Five hun- dred dollars for schools and one thousand for roads. Rev. James Hooper was voted the interest on seven hundred dollars due for ministerial land.sold. At the April meeting, several new roads were accepted and others discontinued. A meeting was called at the South School house September 22, among other things, "to know the minds of the town, whether they will petition the General Court for a division of the town :" also "to see if the town will choose an agent to present such petition and to act thereon as they may think proper." At this meeting, the town voted not to be divided, the vote standing forty-one in favor of division, and fifty-one opposed. An adjourned meeting was called at the Center School house, Nov. 1, to vote for member of Congress ; Gen. Peleg Wadsworth had twenty-two votes, all that were thrown. The committee appointed to sell the north side of lot 18 in the 9th range, reported that they had advertised and sold the same to Alexander Thayer of Buckfield, for $701. The next record is a warrant for a school meeting in the 9th school district. issued to Edward Andrews, "to see if the dis- trict will agree to build a school house."
The movement for a division of Paris made this year, was a very strong one, the petition bearing the names of some of the leading men in town, and it probably might have succeeded had there not been an equal array of strength against it. The real animus of the movement is not indicated by any of the papers employed in the case, and at this distant day it can only be a matter of conjecture. The petitions and remonstrances belong to the history of the town, and are given verbatim in full. The original orthography is also preserved.
"To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled.
We the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Town of Paris in the County of Cumberland and Commonwealth of Massachusetts humbly Sheweth : Whereas the Town of Paris aforesaid is Twice as long as it is wide, that is nine miles long and four and a half wide, your Petitioners pray your Honours to divide said Town and Incorporate - half of said Town into a Town by the name of with the privileges of other Towns in the Commonwealth ; divide the privileges of said Town; also the reasons of our prayers are, we wish to be preparing for publick buildings
106
HISTORY OF PARIS.
which we cannot do as the Town now is. And as it always was the design of the proprietors and their Plan to have Two Towns, we expect the Hon. Legislature will See the reasonableness of our request the Town is large two foot Companies and considerable part of a Company of horse are in Said Town, we pray that the Town may be divided on the line betwen four- teen and fifteen numbers of Lots being the most central line and as in duty bound shall ever Pray.
Paris, Sept. 1, 1802.
Daniel Stowell.
Geo. King.
Thomas Hill,
James Morse.
Ezra Brett.
Samuel King.
Barzillai Dwelley.
Lewis Monk.
David Durell.
Ichabod Bryant.
Allen Dwelley.
Samuel Durell.
James Dunham.
Joseph N. Hall.
Joseph Churchill.
Isaac Reckard.
Calvin Cole. Phillip Caldwell.
Elijah Robinson.
Rowse Bisbee.
Robert Wightman.
Stephen Rowe.
Eleazer Cole.
Asa Sturtefant.
Caleb Prentiss.
Joseph Swift.
Joshua Besse.
Isaac Bolster, JJr.
Thomas Stevens.
John Besse.
Luther Brett,
Isaac Bolster.
Joseph Besse.
Silas Maxham.
Jonathan Hall.
Win. Bent.
Henry Hill:
Win. Stowell.
Rufus Brett.
Benjamin Jeneson.
Seth Morse.
Alfred Gates.
Abrahamı Bolster.
Abijah Hall,
Win. Swan, Jr.
Edmund Knight.
Jonathan Shurtleff.
Timothy Smith.
John Starbird.
Jesse Briggs.
Caleb Swift.
PETITION FOR DIVISION No. 2.
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled in Boston. The Petition of the Subscribers Freeholders, Inhaba- tance of the town of Paris in the County of Cumberland humbly sheweth that when the Town of Paris was laid out by the Proprietors it' was laid out nine miles long and four miles and half wide with a view that in some futur tine it might make Two Compact Towns the time is arived that it Becums Nessasary that there be a devision that the Enhabatance may bet- ter detarmine where to Set houses to meet in for Publick Worship, and also To Build School Houses for the enstruction of youths which if they are set up as the Town now stands wherever a devision takes place they will in great Masure Becom useless your Petitioners would further Shew that there is a large River Running through the Town, whereby the Roads are So laid out, that as the meetings are now held in Town, many of your Petitioners have to go Seven or Eight Miles to Meeting. For these and other good Causes not mentioned your Petitioners Pray your honours to take there Case into your wise Consideration and that there be a devision line Run from East to West through the Center of the Town and that the North part Be Encorparated into a Town by the Name of - otherwase as your wisdom shall direct, and that after the devision each Town have an Equil Right to Enjoy all the Previleges that shall fall within
107
HISTORY OF PARIS.
there respective Bounds and also to have an Equil Right to what money that Has arisson on the Sale of Several lots of land that has been sold By vandue within there Respective Bounds By order of Court which your Peti- tioners as in duty bound ever Pray.
Paris, September the 1st, 1802.
Simeon Pond.
Benj. Walton.
Abiezer Andrews.
David Andrews.
John Gray.
Henry Prentiss.
Jonathan Bemis.
Silvanus Robbins.
Samuel Hammond.
Abijah Warren.
Moses Buck.
Enoch Hammond.
Job Lurvey.
Asa Barrows.
Jeremiah Rolf.
John Tuell.
Wm. Stearns.
Artemas Rawson.
Daniel Pond.
Seth Benson.
Jolin Robinson.
Edward Andrews.
Ebenezer Hutchinson.
Samuel Briggs.
Caleb Bryant.
Daniel Shaw.
Lemuel Perham.
Wm. Walker.
Caleb Fuller.
Eleazer Dunham.
John G. Crawford.
Aaron Fuller.
Peter Chase.
Simeon Walton.
David Andrews, JJr.
STATEMENT OF MUNICIPAL OFFICERS.
A number of the inhabitants of the town of Paris having Petitioned the Honorable Gen. Court for a Division of sd. Town, and the Honorable Court having directed the Town to be notified to shew cause if any they have why the prayer of sd. petition should not be granted. The Greatest part of the Inhabitants of the town having expressed their minds upon the subject by signing a Remonstrance against dividing sd. town, it was thought to be most for the interest of the town that a Representative should be chosen to Represent the town in the Gen. Court. for that purpose the inhabitants were warned to meet on the ninth day of May inst., to choose a Representative. The town being convened some objections were made by those persons who were for dividing the town against the legality of the warning of sd. meeting and against sending a Representative because the cost would be burdensome to the town they further objected because that a list of voters was not posted up previous to the meeting. The Selectmen then informed the town that they had searched all the Laws in the posses- sion of the Town Clerk and no law was in his possession was found which directed the assessors or selectmen to post a list of voters for Governors and Senators and Representatives. Then a motion was made to take the sense of the town by a vote whether they would proceed to the choice of a Representative and it passed in the affirmative by a great majority. After sd. vote a newspaper was produced, containing a Law directing a list of voters should be posted up by the Assessors &c previous to the meetings for Governor &c &c. but the town viewing their interest to be at stake could not conceive that they were deprived of a Constitutional Right merely for want of information contained in a Law they were not possessed of, nor had any knowledge of, and being sensible that the interest and Reputa- tion of the Town would suffer if they were not Represented, they there- fore proceeded and choose a person to Represent them, and we are confi-
T
108
HISTORY OF PARIS.
dent that no persons voted that were not qualified according to the Consti- tution to vote. The opposite party did not dispute any person when they presented their vote, and the choice was unanimous, not a Dissenting vote, and we presume to say that if a list of voters had been posted up the Result of the meeting would have been as it now is, as to the Choice, the foregoing is a true Representation of the proceedings of the town at their meeting for the choice of their Representative.
Paris, May 9th, 1803.
(Signed)
EBENEZER RAWSON, Selectmen of LĖVI HUBBARD, Paris.
JAIRUS SHAW,
SETH CARPENTER, Assessors. ABNER RAWSON, Toun Clerk.
REMONSTRANCE.
To the Hon. Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court Assembled. Whereas a Number of the inhabitants of the Town of Paris have presented a Petition to the Hon. General Court praying for a Division of said Town, and said Petitioners having Delivered an Attested copy of their Petition with the Order of the Hon. Court thereon to the Town Clerk of Paris. The Subscribers Inhabi- tants of the said Town Most Respectfully Represent to your Honors, that a Considerable number of the inhabitants who Signed the Petition afore- said were incautiously drawn in to set their names to it, by Persons who in Our Opinion are seeking their own Interest more than that of the Town, and we beg leave to State to your Honor that a Considerable number of the Signers of said Petition, Perceiving their Error were willing that an act of indescretion, should give place to sounder judgment, therefore they Gave their voices against a Division in a Public Town Meeting, Called to take the sense of the town upon the subject at which meeting out off upwards of ninety voters there were only forty-one in favor of a Division. Thus the promoters of the Petition with as full evidence as they could have, that a Considerable Number of the persons who had unwarily signed their Petition together with a very Considerable Majority of the Town were against a Division, have nevertheless presumed to present said Petition to the Hon. General Court; and their Petition, contains some Reasons as groundless as their conduct in some instances is exceptionable viz, their Representation that the Proprietors, always, Designed the Town, for two Towns, is without any Shadow of Proof, for no act of the Proprietors will Discover the least Design of any such intention, and we can upon good authority say that the only reason why the Town was laid in its present form was to avoid as much bad and include as much good land as possible, another Reason is that a large River runs through the Town, which is said to Discommode the laying of Roads, we here Observe to your Honors that the River runs length ways of the Town, and would be as great an obstruc- tion to Roads if the Town was Divided as it now is; but the River being not more than four or five Rods wide is no great Obstruction, and we humbly conceive that if there were no River in the Town, and the land was
109
HISTORY OF PARIS.
of the same Quality that it now is the Roads would have been laid but little if any. Different from what they now are, being laid out to accommo- date the first Settlers and Generally lead to the Centre of the Town and now serve the greatest part of the Inhabitants better than if the Town was Divided : and with Regard to public Building a Division could make no material Difference there being already four School Houses already erected in Town, and as to houses for public worship the inhabitants having a variety of Opinions in Regard to Religious matters, none are likely to be Built except it be by Subscription, and as soon as the Town gave their voice against a Division, a number of the inhabitants entered into an agree- ment to build a Meeting House and have contracted with workmen to build said House which is to be set in the most central place to accommodate the inhabitants. As to the Companies of Malitia, the Inhabitants being chiefly young and middle aged persons few are exempt from Military Duty which may account for their being two Companies which are not large; as for other Reasons not named, we can Conceive of none Except it be to advance the interest of a few individuals who if the Town is Divided will be near the Centre of each Town. Thus having Represented to your Honors a state of facts both with Regard to the Petitioners and the Town, We Hum- bly Offer our Reasons Against the Division of said Town; First because much the greatest part of the inhabitants are against it; Secondly because we think it would Depreciate both the Interest and character of the town and prevent its population as no person would incline to Settle in a Town whose Interest and character was Sinking. Thirdly because we should be Divested of some privileges we now have ; in particular that of being Rep- resented in the General Court. and also excluded from future privileges which we think are Sufficient Reasons for a humble Remonstrance against a Division of said Town. We therefore Humbly Submit the Consideration of the foregoing to your Honor and if Consistent with your Wisdom Still let us Remain undevided which as in Duty bound ever pray, your Peti- tioners (Signed.)
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