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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01096 4101
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00hosk_0
ELIJAH KNAPP.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF
LYMAN NEW HAMPSHIRE
BY E. B. HOSKINS
LISBON, N. H. PUBLISHED BY CHARLES P. HIBBARD
1903
1129725 CONTENTS. 2
CHAPTER I. PAGE
Exploring Party of 1754. First Survey. Mark of King George. Indian Tribes. Town Grant- ed. Extension of Charter. Division of the Town. Ponds. First Representative. Min- erals. Prosperous Times.
9
CHAPTER II.
Wendell Family. Lyman Charter 1761. Names of Grantees. Charter Renewed 1769. Grant to John Hurd. Survey of Township. Survey of Deer Islands. . .
17
CHAPTER III.
Petition for Extension of the Charter. Rela- tive to Taxes. Town Invoice 1777. Petition for Abatement of Taxes. Report of a Com- mittee Relative to a Soldier. Relative to Soldiers Furnished for the War. Petition of Non-Residents. Petition Relative to a Ferry. Petition for Authority to Tax Non-Residents. Vote of the Town Relative to a Ferry. Peti- tion of Jacob Hurd. Petition for First Town Meeting. First Town Meeting January 5, 1786. Adjourned Meeting March 31, 1786.
PAGE
Sale of Town Pauper. Special Town Meeting September 2, 1864. Charter for Library. . 30
CHAPTER IV.
Parker. Moulton. Clough. Cowen. Cal-
houn. Martin. Barber. Hodges. Burt.
Dodge. Stevens. Gordon. Knapp. Miner. Eastman. McMillen. Merrill. Porter. San- born. Wright. Drake. Bailey. Little. Un- derwood. Barkley.
. 51
CHAPTER V.
Walker. Corey. Thornton. Moore. Sher- man. Gordon. Ash. Eastman. Gould. Cass.
Gibson. Young. Mason. Hoskins. Hurd.
Patridge. Kent. Smith. Garland. Ester-
brook. Lynde. Bass. Presby. Bartlett. Hastings. Gilman. Foster. Dow. Dyke. Locke. Titus. Parker. Ford, Chase. Stev- ens. Bedell. Swan. Wheelock. Martin. Williams. Stickney. McAlpen. . 85
CHAPTER VI.
Old Cellars. Cold Season of 1816. Incidents in the early History of Lyman. Cider Mill. Drinking Habits. Physicians. Churches and Ministers. Domestic and Social Life. Mor- mons. Stores. Mills. Starch Business. Blacksmiths. Tannery. Town House. Li- braries. Schools. Potash. Sugar Making. Running the Connecticut River. Teaming. Witchcraft. Military Matters. . 115
PREFACE.
Within a short time several of the oldest native inhabitants of Lyman have died, which has brought to notice the fact that there are very few people liv- ing who know any thing about the early history of the town. Several people, interested in the town, have felt that a record should be made of the historical events, before the material is all lost, and have suggested that I undertake the work. At first I declined, but have finally consented to do so, only because no other person could be found who was willing to take it up.
The work is necessarily imperfect in some respects, as it is not possible for a record of this kind to be made free from error. I have availed myself of all sources of knowledge within reach; the town records, town and State Papers, History of Haverhill by Rev. Mr. Bittinger, History of Cohos, Child's Grafton County Gazetteer, History of Bath, and whatever could throw light upon the history of the town, but I have not encumbered the pages with citations of authorities.
No pretence is made to literary merit. It is de- signed to be simply a record of facts wihout embel- lishment or exaggeration. If I have been able to
PREFACE.
make myself understood, I shall feel that I have done something towards rescuing the memory of our fore- fathers from oblivion, which is my design.
I have been greatly aided in this work by Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Stevens, Mrs. John Martin, Mrs. Betsy Young, Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Hoskins, Mr. J. D. Hoskins, Mr. John P. Miner, and others for favors. If these sketches are brief and contain little of deep interest, it is because Lyman is a small farming town, and its history has been quiet and peaceful, with no events of a remarkable character. The work has been undertaken none too soon, as much valuable in- formation is already lost. It relates entirely to East Lyman, as no data have been collected relative to West Lyman, or Monroe.
E. B. H.
Lisbon, N. H., 1902.
HISTORY OF LYMAN.
CHAPTER I.
GRANT AND SETTLEMENT OF TOWNSHIP.
EXPLORING PARTY OF 1754-FIRST SURVEY-MARK OF KING GEORGE- INDIAN TRIBES-TOWN GRANTED-EXTENSION OF CHARTER-DIVISION OF THE TOWN-PONDS-FIRST REPRESENTATIVE-MINERALS-PROSPER- OUS TIMES.
In the spring of 1754, the General Court of New Hampshire sent Col. Lovewell, Maj. Talford and Capt. Page at the head of a company with John Stark, afterward General Stark, for their guide, to ex- plore the upper part of New Hampshire. They left Rumford, now Concord, March 10, 1754, and went as far as the Connecticut river at Piermont. They spent one night in the valley and returned to Concord, probably fearing an attack from an Indian force su- perior to their own. But the government was not dis- couraged by this failure, and in the same season Capt. Peter Powers of Hollis, N. H., Lieut. James Stevens and Ensign Ephram Hale, both of Townsend Mass., were appointed to march at the head of a company to explore this section. This company started from Concord, Saturday, June 15, 1754. The expedition
-
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
passed through Lyman, Saturday, June 29, 1754, and was probably composed of the first white men who were ever in the town. They camped in the southern part of Dalton, then traveled as far north as Israel's river in Lancaster, and returned.
The town of Lyman was first surveyed in 1760, by marking its corners, and designating it as No. 11, on the Connecticut river, Bath being No. 10, Haverhill No. 9, and Charlestown No. 4. This survey was made under King George III., and the town was di- vided into what was called "rights" of about three hundred and twenty-eight acres. By following "the line of right," running east from the Parker Hill road between the farms once owned by Isaac D. Miner and Harrison Porter, nearly to the top of the hill, one can find cut into the smooth surface of the solid ledge the "Broad Arrow," the King's mark, showing the corner of the four "rights." A stone is also buried at the other corner in the middle of the Parker Hill road, with the "Broad Arrow" cut on it. Other "rights' " corners are known, but the one on the ledge is certain to be correct.
Lyman was included within the limits of the Cohos* country. The Indians were probably never very nu-
*Coo was the Indian for pine tree, and Cooush. the plural of Coo, meant pine trees ; hence the Indian word Cooash-auke as applied to the county on the Connecticut, at Haverhill and Lancaster, meaning literally the pine tree's place, and hence our word Coos, Cohos, and Cohosuck. The "Great, or Lower Coos," was at Haverhill, and the "Upper Coos," at Lancaster.
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
merous in this vicinity. The nearest tribe was a division of the Nipmucks that cultivated the Coos intervales on the Connecticut, and was called "the swift deer- hunting Coosucks." Branches of the St. Francis tribe of Indians frequently occupied this territory, and there are reasons for believing that, for a time at least, they had a permanent settlement in the Cohos coun- try.
Bath was granted, in 1761, to Andrew Gardner and others, hence came the name of Gardner's moun- tain which extends up through Lyman. Lyman was granted November 10, the same year, to Daniel Lyman and sixty-three others, its name being derived from the fact that eleven of the grantees bore the name of Lyman. The grantees failed to comply with the requirements of the charter, and thus forfeited their grant, but an extension of time was granted them July 20, 1769, in answer to a petition from Abraham Thompson of Connecticut, agent of the original grantees. As originally granted the town was much larger than it now is, but extending north and south through its center was Gardner's mountain. This rendered travel from either the eastern or western parts to the opposite side of the town exceedingly difficult and troublesome, and thus inconvenient for all to attend town meetings, etc. For this reason, by an act of the legislature July 13, 1854, all that portion of the town lying west of
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Gardner's mountain was incorporated into a separate township, by the name of Monroe. There was a strong opposition to this division in the eastern part of the town. Previous to this division it was known as Lyman and East Lyman. The town was repre- sented in the state legislature, in 1854, by Pliny Bartlett who resided in the eastern part, and was op- posed to the division. He was aided in his efforts before the legislature by Dr. Samuel Hoskins. The Monroe side was represented by Jedediah Buffum, who succeeded in having the town divided, and in having Monroe set off. The eastern part took the name of Lyman, and also retained possession of the town books and records.
Lyman is situated in lat. 44° 15' N., and long. 71º 55' W., bounded north by Littleton, east by Lisbon, south by Bath, and west by Monroe. The soil is generally good, producing excellent crops of grains and grasses, and furnishes excellent grazing. During the settlement, mistakes were made in locations, and several farms were cleared which were not suitable for cultivation; but through the center of the town, and over Parker Hill, many highly cultivated farms are found, and excellent crops are raised. The geo- graphical features of the town are varied and pictu- resque, and several small lakes or ponds dimple the surface of the town. Beginning with Patridge we find a chain of ponds leading to the Ammonoosue
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
river. In their order they are: Long pond, Round pond, Dodge pond, Cowen, and Young's ponds. The upper Mountain pondt is situated on the top of Gardner's Mountain, having no inlet, but an outlet of considerable size runs down to the base of the mount- ain into the lower Mountain pond. This pond and Young's were at one time well filled with trout, but these were killed by the introduction of pickerel. In early times the citizens contributed a sum of money, and hired Johnnie White, an old peddler from New- bury, Vermont, to bring up some pickerel which were placed in Young's pond, which soon found their way into the other ponds. These were the first fish of their kind in town.
The beauty and grandeur of the scenery from many localities in town is unsurpassed. Standing on the heights of Clough Hill, a panorama of mountain scenery is presented, extending from the peaks in Milan to the Moosilauke in Warren. Most of the business of the town has been done on Parker Hill, which at one time was quite a trade center. Several people, who have lived in both Lyman and Littleton, have told the writer that they could remember when there were more wealthy men, and more business in Lyman, than in the town of Littleton.
But few settlements were made in the town previ- ous to the Revolution, there being but ten ratable t Now situated in Monroe.
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
polls here in 1777. The Moulton family came about 1760, and the Miners and Parkers about the same time. Up to 1786 the business of the town was done by the proprietors. On March 16, 1785, "the free- holders and other inhabitants of the towns of Bath, Lyman, Landaff, Concord alias Gunthwaite (now Lisbon), Littleton, Dalton, Lancaster, Dartmouth, Northumberland, Stratford, Cockburn, and Colburn, qualified to vote for a representative," met at the house of Mr. William Eastman, in Bath, and chose "Maj. John Young as a member of the General Court to be convened at Portsmouth on the first Wednesday of June" following. The town was organized, and the first town-meeting was held January 5, 1786. At this time the town had become quite well settled. The Knapps, Cloughs, Hodges and many, others had become located, and the community was increasing. The population, in 1790, was two hundred and two; in 1860, six hundred and nineteen; in 1880, six hundred and fifty-five; in 1890, five hundred and forty-three.
The town is well supplied with roads. Three run lengthwise of the town, and cross-roads connect these at convenient points. The locality on the road, at the base of Mount Gardner, is known as "under the mountain." The main road leading from Littleton to Bath, through the center of the town, until quite recently, had as much travel as most of the river roads in the county.
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Ores and minerals are found in various parts of the town. Gold, iron, lead, and copper have all been found here. The "Dodge Gold Mine" is located on the old Hall farm, and has been worked quite extensively for several years. Over sixty thousand dollars of gold coin, now in circulation, was taken from this mine. Quite extensive mining operations were car- ried on at the Paddock Mine, also on the Capt. Bailey farm, and several other localities in the town. It has been estimated that over two million dollars have been expended in Lyman, in prospecting, opening mines, and building crushers and stamping mills. The "Tunnel Mine," situated near the Dodge Mine, is now being worked, and shows a larger percentage of gold than some of the famous gold mines in South Africa. Many farms in town were bonded by mining parties, and quite a number have passed under the control of mining companies. These farms have been allowed to run down, the buildings have fallen into decay and ruin, and have become a disgrace and an injury to the town.
During the forties and fifties, a little hamlet grew up at the north end of the town, and became known as Tinkerville. The school was there; John Martin and Nelson Noyes made boots and shoes; Amos Smith carried on a tailoring business; the Union Store was running; a saw-mill on the brook in the rear of the store was in operation; and Julius Smith, during these
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
times, had a grist-mill, and was doing all kinds of wood-work, and a general black-smithing business.
At this time Lyman was prosperous, and the peo- ple satisfied and contented. All the farms through the town were occupied. The farmers had good buildings, good teams, and large stocks of cattle and sheep. During this era of prosperity, Barron Moulton, who had become quite wealthy, sold out and left town. This seemed to cause a feeling of unrest and discontent. Several others of the more prosperous class followed, and this emigration has continued, till nearly all the old families have moved out of town. Other influences, which caused injury to Lyman, were the Bothwell Oil business, the Union Store failure, and the Rail-roads. The advent of the rail-roads changed the business centers, and many hill towns which before were prosperous, are now deserted, and almost for- gotten. Lyman is no exception to the general rule, and the ruthless hand of neglect has left its imprint on this once prosperous community.
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
CHAPTER II.
CHARTER PERIOD. 1761.
WENDELL FAMILY-LYMAN CHARTER 1761-NAMES OF GRANTEES- CHARTER RENEWED 1769-GRANT TO JOHN HURD-SURVEY OF TOWN- SHIP-SURVEY OF DEER ISLANDS.
A large portion of the land in Lyman held by the grantees, soon by purchase or otherwise, came into the possession of the Wendell family of Portsmouth. The last of their holdings were disposed of about 1880. As long as land was held in Lyman by mem- bers of this family, different members came at various times to dispose of property. Abram Wendell came once a year for a long time. He used to stop with Mr. Kent, as long as Mr. Kent lived, and after his death, made his home with Moses Walker when in town. He sold the land at three dollars per acre, and the purchaser made his own selection. The holdings gradually grew less and were finally disposed of en- tirely.
The original charter of the town was formerly kept in the office of the town clerk, but Dr. Samuel Hoskins claimed it was borrowed to use at court in some law suit, and probably lost as it was never returned.
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
LYMAN CHARTER 1761.
PROVINCE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
LYMAN
GEORGE THE THIRD,
PS
By the Grace of God, of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the faith, &c.
To all persons to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.
Know ye, that We of Our special Grace, certainKnowl- edge, and meer Motion, for the due encouragement of settling a New Plantation within our said Province, by and with the Advice of our Trusty and well- beloved Benning Wentworth, Esq; Our Govenor and Commander in Chief of Our said Province of New- Hampshire in New-England, and of our Council of the said Province; Have upon the Conditions and Reservations herin after made, given and granted, and by these Presents, for us, our Heirs, and Success- ors, do give and grant in equal Shares, unto Our loving subjects, Inhabitants of Our said Province of New-Hampshire, and our other Governments, and to their Heirs and Assigns for ever, whose Names are entered on this Grant, to be divided to and amongst them into Seventy equal Shares, all that Tract or Parcel of Land situate, lying and being within our said Province of New-Hampshire, containing by
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Admeasurement Twenty Three Thousand & Forty Acres, which Tract is to contain Six Miles square, and no more; out of which an Allowance is to be made for High Ways and unimprovable Lands by Rocks, Ponds, Mountains and Rivers, One Thousand and Forty Acres free, according to a plan and Survey thereof,made by our said Governer's Order, and returned into the Secretary's Office, and hereunto annexed, butted and bounded as follows, Viz. Begining at a Tree Marked that Stands on the Bank of the Easterly Side of the Connecticut River which is the North Westerly Corner of Bath & is Six Miles on a Straight Line from Am'onusock Rivers Mouth & from thence Runing by Bath to the North Easterly Corner thereof, then Begining again at the first Bounds & Runing up Connecticut River, so far as to make it Six Miles upon a Streight Line, thence Six Miles on such a Point as will be Six Miles from the North Easterly Corner of Bath aforesaid & thence to said North Easterly Corner of Bath aforesd And that the same be, and hereby is Incorporated into a Township by the Name of Lyman And the Inhabitants that do or shall hereafter inhabit the said Township, are hereby declared to be Enfranchized with and Intitled to all and every the Priviledges and Immunities that other Towns within Our Province by Law Exercise and Enjoy: And further, that the said Town as soon as there shall be Fifty Families resident and settled
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
thereon, shall have the Liberty of holding Town Fairs, one of which shall be held on the
and the other on the
annually, which Fairs are not to continue longer than the respective following
the said
and that as soon as the said
Town shall consist of Fifty Families, a Market may be opened and kept one or more Days in each Week, as may be thought most advantagious to the Inhabit- ants. Also, that the first Meeting for the Choice of Town Officers, agreeable to the Laws of our said Province, shall be held on the First Monday in December next which said Meeting shall be Notified by Gideon Lyman Esq who is hereby also appointed the Moderator of the said first Meeting, which he is to Notify and Govern agreeable to the Laws and Customs of Our said Province; and that the annual Meeting for ever hereafter for the Choice of such Officers for the said Town, shall be on the Second Tuesday of March annually, To Have and to Hold the said Tract of Land as above expressed, together with all Privileges and Appurtenances, to them and their respective Heirs and Assigns forever, upon the following conditions, viz-
I. That every Grantee, his Heirs or Assigns shall plant and cultivate five Acres of Land within the Term of five Years for every fifty Acres contained in his or their Share or Proportion of Land in said
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Township, and continue to improve and settle the same by additional Cultivations, on Penalty of the forfeiture of his Grant or Share in the said Town- ship, and of its reverting to Us, our Heirs and Suc- cessors, to be by Us or Them Re-granted to such of Our Subjects as shall effectually settle and cultivate the same.
II. That all white and other Pine Trees within the sad Township, fit for Masting Our Royal Navy, be carefully preserved for that Use, and none to be cut or felled without Our special Licence for so doing first had and obtained, upon the Penalty of the Forfeiture of the Right of such Grantee, his Heirs and Assigns, to Us, our Heirs and Successors, as well as being subject to the Penalty of any Act or Acts of Parliament that now are, or hereafter shall be enacted
III. That before any Division of the Land be made to and among the Grantees, a Tract of Land as near the Centre of the said Township as the Land will admit of, shall be reserved and marked out for Town Lots, one of which shall be allotted to each Grantee of the Contents of one Acre.
IV. Yielding and paying therefor to Us, our Heirs and Successors for the Space of ten Years, to be computed from the Date hereof, the Rent of one Ear of Indian Corn only, on the twenty-fifth Day of De- cember annually, if lawfully demanded, the first Pay- ment to be made on the twenty-fifth day of December 1761.
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
V. Every Promoter, Settler or Inhabitant, shall yield and pay unto Us, our Heirs and Successors yearly, and every Year forever, from and after the Expiration of ten years from the abovesaid twenty- fifth Day of December, namely, on the twenty-fifth Day of December, which will be in the Year of Our Lord 1771 One shilling Proclamation Money for every Hundred Acres he so owns, settles or posesses, and so in Proportion for a greater or lesser Tract of the said Land; which Money shall be paid by the respec- tive Persons abovesaid, their Heirs or Assigns, in our Council Chamber in Portsmouth or to such Officer or Officers as shall be appointed to receive the same; and this to be in Lieu of all other Rents and Services whatsoever.
In Testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed. Witness Benning Wentworth, Esq; Our Governor and Com- mander in Chief of Our said Province, the Tenth Day of November In the Year of our Lord Christ, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty One And in the Second Year of Our Reign B WENTWORTH By His Excellency's Command,
With Advice of Council,
Theodors Atkinson Sery
Province of New Hamps" Novr 10 1761 -- Recorded According to the Original Charter under the Prove Seal. THEODORE ATKINSON Secry
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
The Names of the Grantees of Lyman (viz)
Daniel Lyman
Jacob Heaton
Phineas Bradley
Dan1 Basset
Sam1 Bishop Jun™
Ezekiel Hotchkins
David Austin Thomas Willmot
Zadoc Allin Isaac Thompson John Belcher James Bradley
Sam1 Munson John Mix Benj'ª Bradley
Joseph Thompson
Moses Ford Amos Perkins
Gad Smith
John Austin
Isaac Bishop
Sam1 Willmot
Silvanus Bishop Sam1 Austin
Hezekiah Tuttle
Steph™ Johnson
Punderson Austin
Ezra Dodge
Andw Bradley
Erastus Bradley
Timº Peck
Timº Bradley Abram Augur
Amos Shearman
Timoy Tallmage
Medad Lyman
Ruben Bradley
James Blackby
Timº Ruggles Sam1 Hannum
Gideon Lyman Esq Phineas Lyman Esq Joseph Miller Phineas Lyman Esq
Israel Bishop Joseph Belcher Amos Morris
John Johnson 3ª Ezra Clark Elijah Lyman Esq John Beecher Gideon Lyman Esq Edwd Cutt
Eliakim Hall
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Gideon Lyman Jun"
Elisha Lyman
Naomi Lyman
Elijah Southwell
Joseph Root
Eben" Philps
Zina Bradley
Richd Wibird Esq
Joseph Newmarch Esq
& Elias Lyman
His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq a Tract of Land to Contain Five Hundred Acres as marked B-W in the Plan which is to be Accounted two of the within Shares. One whole Share for the Incor- porated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, One Share for a Glebe for the Church of England as by Law Established, One Share for the first Settled Minister of the Gospel, & One Share for the Benefit of a School in said Town-
Province of New Hamps' Novr 10, 1761 Recorded from the Back of the Original Charter of Lyman under the Prove Seal
Attested Theodore Atkinson Sery
LYMAN CHARTER RENEWED, 1769.
Province of New George the Third by the Grace Hampshire of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith, and so forth.
(Lyman Extension)
Whereas we of our special Grace and mere Motion for the due Encouragement of settling a New Plantation within our Province of New Hampshire by our Letters
.
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Patent or Charter under the Seal of our said Province dated the Tenth day of November One thousand Seven hundred & Sixty one in the Second Year of our Reign, a Tract of Land equal to Six Miles Square, bounded as therein expressed, (and since Survey'd, and measured, marked and ascertained by our Order to Isaac Rindge Esquire our Surveyor General of Lands for said Province, granted to a number of our Loyal Subjects whose Names are enter'd on the same to Hold to them their Heirs and Assigns on the Condi- tions therein declared, and to be a Town Corporate by the Name of Lyman as by reference to the said Charter may more fully appear. And whereas the said grantees have represented unto us that by reason of the great Inconveniencies which occur in the settle- ment of New Townships so remotely situated from any other settlements that can afford any Assistance hath render'd it Impracticable for the whole Number of Grantees to perform that part of the Conditions that relates to the cultivation of such a proportion of the said Grant, that there are a considerable number of Families settled on the premises, which affords them hopes of a final Settlement, without delay. And humbly supplicating us not to take advantage of the breach of said Condition, but to lengthen out and grant them some further time for the performance thereof. Now Know Ye, that we being willing to pro- mote the end proposed Have (of our further Grace and
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