USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Lyman > Historical sketches of Lyman, New Hampshire > Part 2
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
favor suspended our Claim to the forfeiture which said Grantees may have Incurred) and by these Presents do grant unto the said Grantees their Heirs and As- signs the further Term of Five Years from this date for performing and fulfilling the Conditions Matters and Things by them to be done as aforesaid, Except the Quit Rents which are to remain due and Payable as expressed & reserved in the Original Grant or Charter.
In Testimony whereof We have caused the Seal of our Said Province to be hereunto Affixed Witness John Wentworth Esquire our Governor & Commander in Chief the Twentieth day of July in the Ninth Year of our Reign, Annoque Domini 1769.
J' WENTWORTH.
By his Excelley's Command with advice of Council GEO: KING Depy Secry Province of New Hampshire August 15th 1772.
Recorded according to the Original Charter under the Province Seal.
Attest" THEODORE ATKINSON, Secry
GRANT TO JOHN HURD, 1769.
Province of new George the Third by the Grace of
Hampshire God of Great Britain France & Ireland King Defender of the faith &ca.
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(Jnº Hurd's Grant of | To all whom these Presents shall come Greeting.
the Deer Islands)
Know Ye that we of our special Grace certain knowl- edge and mere motion for the due encouragement of setling a new Plantation within our said Province by and with the advice of our Trusty and well beloved Jnº Wentworth Esqr our Governor & Commander in Chief of our said Province of New Hampshire in New England and of our Council for the said Province Have upon the Conditions and Reservations herein after made, given and Granted and by these Presents for us our heirs and Successors Do give and Grant unto our Loving Subject John Hurd of Portsmº in our said Province of New Hampshire Esq" and to his Heirs and Assigns for ever ; and those Islands (being 5 in number) commonly called and known by the name of Deer Islands, situate and being between the Towns of Lyman and Barnet in Connecticut River ; the Contents and Numbers of the said Islands are respectively as follows Vizt. as by a plan and Survey thereof made & returned by order of our said Governor into the secretary's office and hereunto an- nexed may more fully appear-To Have and to Hold the said Deer Islands and every of them together with all Priviledges and Appurtenances unto him the said Jnº Hurd his heirs and Assigns for ever ; upon the following Conditions Vizt First That the said John his heirs or Assigns shall Plant and Cultivate Ten
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Acres of the said Land within the Term of Ten Years and continue to improve and settle the same by addi- tional Cultivation on penalty of the forfeiture of his Grant in the said Islands and of their reverting to us our heirs & successors to be by us or them regranted to such of our subjects as shall effectually Settle and Cultivate the same Secondly that all white Pine trees throughout the said Islands fit for Masting our Royal Navy be carefully preserved for that Use and none to be cut or fell'd without our Special License first had and obtained for so doing, upon the Penalty of the forfeiture of this Grant as well as being subject to the Present and future Penalties by Act of Parliament- Thirdly Yielding and paying therefor unto us our heirs and Successors for the space of Ten Years from this Date One Ear of Indian Corn only on the 25th of December annually if lawfully demanded-(4th) That the said John his heirs or Assigns shall yield & Pay unto us our heirs and successors yearly and every year from and after the expiration of the said Ten years in our Council Chamber in Portsmº or to such officer as shall be appointed to receive the same-Two shillings and Sixpence Lawful money for ever: in lieu of all other Rents and services .-
In Testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our said Province to be hereto affixed Witness John Went- worth Esqr our said Governor the sixteenth day of January in the year of our Lord Christ 1769 and in the ninth year of our Reign- J' WENTWORTH
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By his Excellency's Command with advice of Council T: ATKINSON Jun: Secry Recorded according to the Original Patent under the Province Seal the 28th Janry 1769 THEODORE ATKINSON Secry
ORIGINAL SURVEY OF THE TOWNSHIP.
Province of New Hampshire.
These Certify that this Plan of Lyman, containing Twenty five Thousand four hundred and Thirty three Acres of Land is a true Copy of an Original Plan or Survey of said Township as taken & returned to me by Mr Benjamin Whiting Depy Survey"
July 6th 1769 Attest. Is. RINDGE ST Gen1
ORIGINAL SURVEY OF DEER ISLANDS.
Province of New Hampshire Portsmº 28th Janry 1769.
These Certify that this plan of the Deer Islands in Connecticut River lying between the Towns of Ly- man and Barnet is a true Copy of an Original Plan or Survey as taken & returned to me by Elijah King Dy Surveyor.
Attestd Is: RINDGE S' Gen1
Province of New Hampshire 28th Janry 1769.
Recorded accords to the Plan, annex'd to the Orig- inal Grant under the Province Seal .-
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CHAPTER III. STATE AND TOWN PAPERS.
PETITION FOR EXTENSION OF THE CHARTER-RELATIVE TO TAXES- TOWN INVOICE 1777-PETITION FOR ABATEMENT OF TAXES -REPORT OF A COMMITTEE RELATIVE TO A SOLDIER-RELATIVE TO SOLDIERS FUR- NISHED FOR THE WAR-PETITION OF NON-RESIDENTS-PETITION RELA- TIVE TO A FERRY-PETITION FOR AUTHORITY TO TAX NON-RESIDENTS -VOTE OF TOWN RELATIVE TO A FERRY-PETITION OF JACOB HURD -PETITION FOR FIRST TOWN MEETING-FIRST TOWN MEETING JAN. 5, 1786-ADJOURNED MEETING MARCH 31, 1786-SALE OF TOWN PAUPER -SPECIAL TOWN MEETING SEPTEMBER 2, 1864 -CHARTER FOR LIBRARY.
The following papers were obtained at the State Library, from the volumes of State Papers and Town records. The petitions and other papers for various purposes are valuable, as furnishing much historical matter not elsewhere in existence, and the names of the inhabitants at various dates. They have been in all cases copied as originally written, scrupulously preserving the orthography, punctuation, capitaliza- tion, etc.
PETITION FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE CHARTER.
To His Excellency John Wentworth Esqr Captain Gen- eral Governor & Commander in Chief in & over his Majestys Province of New Hampshire in Council .---
The petition of Abraham Thompson of New Haven in the Colony of Connecticut, Agent & Trustee for
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the original grantees of the Township of Lyman in the said Province of New Hampshire, Humbly sheweth -- that your petitioner & his constituents obtained of the Late Governor of said Province, a Charter for the said Township of Lyman, and have proceeded to sur- vey & allot the same and have also made some Settle- ments thereon but your petitioners have been greatly impeded in their progress by the unexpected Division- al Line, making Connecticut River the Boundary be- tween the province of New York & New Hampshire, as your petitioners were Proprietors in several Towns on the western Side of said river on which they had made great Improvements, that this sudden & un- expected Determination threw them into great con- sternation, and they have been greatly harrassed by the Governor of New York, which with other expen- sive Discouragements, they have been unable to bring forward the Settlement of said Township so soon as they expected, but are determined to make a pro- gress therein on the Ensueing Spring-Wherefore your Petitioner in behalf of himself & his Constituents the other Grantees of said Township of Lyman, humbly pray that Your Excellency & the Honble Council would be pleased to renew their Charter for said Township of Lyman or lengthen out the Time for settling the same, assuring y' Excelly & Honours, that we shall not fail to comply with the same, and fruther we pray to be relieved on the Premises as y"
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Excellency & Hon's in your Wisdom, shall think may most conduce to Answer the Prayer of their Petition, and Your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever pray-
ABRAHAM THOMPSON Agent for the Grantees of Lyman (The foregoing petition was granted July 20, 1769.)
RELATIVE TO TAXES.
The Honourable Representatives and Counsel of the State of New Hampshire, -- We the Inhabitants of the Town of Lymon County of Grafton and State afore said, Petioneth an Abatement in Our Taxes from the year 1776 to this present time Humbly shewing Rea- sons why, said Town in 1776 were Eight in Number and Taxd £0 :- 12. 6. in 1777 the like Number were Taxd £60-15-10. the Same Number in 1778 were Taxd £121-11-8. in the above mentiond 1776, 1777, and 1778 Our Situation was such and the Num- ber of Inhabitants so small we Could not call a Town Meeting, at this time we were Eighteen in Number and Taxd £379-10-0. Ten out of said Eighteen for three years past have paid Taxes in Other Towns for which they can produce Lawful Certificates, Con- siquently the Eight Settlers first Mentiond will have all the tax to pay we have sent a True Invoise as Our Polls and Ratable Estate Stood in April 1777, by said Invoice your Honours will find said Taxes too high as
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we were Scarcely able to Maintain Ourselves And Roads through said Lymon, if your honours see cause or think it prudence to abate said Tax according to said invoise we shall Cherefully pay said Tax if not said Setlers must fall a Sacrifice to said State-and as said Town of Lymon is not Incorporated or said In- corporation lost or Misplacd we your Humble Petition- ers Desire you would Appoint Capt Nathan Hodges of said Lymon to call a Town Meeting to Chuse Town Officers, that we may be Enabled to assess sª Taxes and Lawfully gather the Delinquent Tax of sª Town as your Petitioners are bound in Duty and Ever pray- Solomon Parker Thomas mcConnell
Jonathan knap Abial knap
Evan mcBean
Lemuel Parker
Jonathan moulton
Job moulton
Asa fuller
obadiah Eastman
David Hodges
oliver hand
Solomon Parker Jr
TOWN INVOICE 1777.
An Invoice of the Town of Lyman April 1777 Number of Poles 10 number oxen-4 num™ Cows-5 47 acres plow ground and Mowing 47
NATHAN HODGES Inhabitants THOMAS MCCONELL of Lyman
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PETITION FOR ABATEMENT OF TAXES, 1779.
To the Honorable the Representatives and Council of the State of New Hampshire-
The petition of the Selectmen of the Township of Lyman in the County of Grafton and State afore- said-Sheweth That Your
Petitioners being Inhabitants of said Town-In the Year 1776 we were only Eight in Number and Taxed 12-6 In the Year 1777 being the like Number and Taxed £60, 15s 10d, also the like Number in the Year 1778 and Taxed £121, 11s, 8d -- In those Years we were not a sufficient Number to Incorporate or call Town Meetings so we could not possibly have Constables Collectors &e but at this present Time are Eighteen in Number and Taxed £379, 10s 0d for the payment of which all our Live and Trading Stock will not be sufficient to satisfy the same We own we have been delinquent in the Payment of the above Taxes not from any Disrespect to the State but from the Poverty which those few Inhabitants endured at that Time we are and will be always willing to Assist the State in every thing, great Part of Us having been in the Service, Ten out of the Eighteen for these Three Years past have paid Taxes for their Poll for which they can produce Certificates from other Towns and States, The Consequence will be the Poor People of this Town must of Course fall a Sacrifice
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with every thing they Possess and be brought to Entire Ruin if they are Obliged to Answer the above Demand Therefore we Your Honours Petitioners hopes you will take the same into your Wise and Serious Consideration and grant such Relief in the above Request as in your Wisdom may seem most meet And your Petitioners as in Duty Bound shall Ever Pray &e
Nathan Hodges Thomas meConell Selectmen Soloman Parker
We the Poor Distressed Inhabitants of said Town begs your Honours will Gratify the Selectmen in the above Request- Evan mcBean
Asa Fuller
Jonathan moulton
Samuel Fuller
Lemuel Hodges
David Hodges
Oliver Hand
Job moulton
Solomon Parker Jnr
Samuel Parker
REPORT OF A COMMITTEE RELATIVE TO A SOLDIER, 1786. 1129725
The Committee to whom was referd a Petition in behalf of the Town of Lyman respecting Continental Soldiers having considered the same beg leave to report as their Opinion that said Town be allow'd for Thomas Piper a Continental Soldier in Gen1 Wash- ingtons Guards (furnished agreable to the requisition
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of the State) the sum of sixty pounds & the interest and that the Treasurer Credit the same in settling the Charge against said Town for deficiency of Soldiers- By order of the Committee
Submitted per Nath1 Peabody
(In H. of Rep. March 2, 1786, the foregoing report was accepted and adopted. Council concurred .- )
RELATIVE TO SOLDIERS FURNISHED FOR THE WAR. State of New Hampshire-Grafton ss Jany 19th 1786 To the Hon1 Gen1 Court of said State to be Con- ven'd at Portsmouth on the first Wednesday of February next by adjournment-
The Petition of the Town of Lyman Humbly she weth ---
That at the commencement of the Late war with Great Britain-Notwithstanding the many Imbarris- ments we then laboured under, by Reason of being Expos'd to our Enemy &e A number of the Inhabi- tants of said Town Inlisted and went into the service for short Campaigns That a number of said Inhabi- tants did Inlist into said service for three Years and During the war- that in the year of our Lord 1781 your petitioners Received the Apportionment of this States Quota of Soldiers in said service (and Not- withstanding we conceiv'd we were Doom'd much to high) found we had abundantly more than our pro- portion in service- and proceeded to make return
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thereof to the Secrety- conceiving that we were not cald on to send the Number as affixed to us if we had already said number in the service of the war-That notwithstanding (and to our Great surprise) we were inform'd that there are now an Extent out against us for want of our proportion of Soldiers in said service when we in fact suppos'd that we had done as much more than our proportion, as to free us at least from paying any Tax during the war,-
That in addition to our many Distresses -- in the Year 1776 Every family and person in Town Had to moove out of the Town and keept Garrison ,untill they found they might as well be Killed by the Enemy as Die by famine, then mooved to Town again where they have ever since continued-and endeavoured by every passible means in Honesty to acquire a living-
That if your Honours see fit to grant us some Re- lief according to the Nature of our case Requires it will prevent our leaving Town-as all the personal property in said Town is Not sufficient to pay the Demand that the State has against us-
Lyman Jany 19th 1786
At a meeting of the Inhabitants of said Town Voted that Captain Nathan Hodges-be appointed an agent to repair to the General Court at their next Session and the foregoing petition is voted to be laid before said Court and request the ageny of our Repre- sentative touching said petition-and Doubt not but
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Every attention will be paid thereto that the Nature of our case Requires,-and your Petitioners will Ever pray &c
Sam1 Parker
Solomon Parker Jner
Asa Parker
Oliver Hand
Abiel Knap
Solomon Parker
Sam1 Way Jonathan Knap
Lem Parker
Job Moulton
Robert Barkley
william Clough
Evan mcBean
Jona Moulton
Timothy Olmstead
Janson Hodges
PETITION OF NON-RESIDENTS, 1787.
State of New Hampshire-
To the Honle Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened at Portsmouth by Ad- journment-
The Petition of John Penhallow Samuel Cutts & John Wendell Esqrs in behalf of themselves and Others Non Resident Proprs of the Township of Ly- man in the County of Grafton unto your Honours humbly shews-
That this Honle Court at their Sessions in Feby last were pleased to remitt to the Inhabitants of said Town- ship all their Taxes for a certain Number of Years by aspecial Resolve for that purpose-Which Resolve the said Selectmen considered as a total Exemption of
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their real & personal property towards said Taxes in Consideration of Services done by ye said Inhabitants of which they made no Charge to Government and as they knew not how to make their proportionable Abatement they have laid the whole Taxes on the Non resident Lands wch is considered by them unjust and illegal-
They therefore pray that this Honle Court would appoint a Committee to determine what is the said Inhabitants Proportion. That the said Non residents may discharge theirs, of said Taxes, which they are ready to do - and other ways to relieve your Peti- tioners as to Justice and Equity belong- And as in Duty bound they will ever pray-
John Penhallow John Wendell Sam1 Cutts
Portsmº Jany 10th 1787
PETITION RELATIVE TO A FERRY, 1790. State of New Hampshire
Lyman Decem" 13th 1790
To the Hon1 General Court of sd State to be conven- ed at Concord on the first Wednesday of Jan- uary next-
Humbly sheweth the Selectmen of Lyman afore- said, -- that we Your Petitioners & Remonstrants are informed that a Petition has been prefered to Your
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Honorable Body by Jacob Hurd of Bath, wherein he prayed for the exclusive previledge of Keeping a Ferry over Connecticutt River at the South westerly Corner of sd Lyman, which priviledge Your Petition- ers pray may not be granted to sd Hurd, and as it appears to Your Petitioners that the sd Town of Lyman have, in their Corporate Capacity, not only a Greater claim to a Grant of the sd Previledge than the sd Hurd, but a more equitable claim than any other person, or Corporation, we pray that the exclu- sive previlege of opening & forever hereafter keeping a Ferry over Connecticutt River at the place mention- ed in sd Hurds aforesaid petition, & also any other Ferry or Ferrys against any part of sª Lyman as oc- casion may hereafter require, may be granted to the Selectmen thereof for the time being, for the use & benefit of sª Lyman under such regulations as to Your Honors may appear most proper; and Your Petition- ers will pray
Joseph Dexter Selectmen of Lemuel Parker said Lyman -
PETITION FOR AUTHORITY TO TAX NON-RESIDENTS, 1790.
State of New Hampshire
Lyman March-1790
To the Honorable Senate, and the Honorable House of Representatives of said State, to be
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conven'd at Concord on the first Wednesday of June next-
Humbly sheweth-the Selectmen of said Lyman in behalf of said Town, that the Inhabitants, therein, are few in number, and in all probability are for a long time to come likely to remain so, by reason that the greatest part of the lands in Lyman aforesaid are owned by persons living out of this Town, and many of them out of this State, that by the exertions of Your Petitioners, the lands of the Non-resident Pro- prietors are continually increasing in their real value; and your petitioners have in a particular manner, made, and kept in repair, Roads, and Bridges in said Town, beyond their ability,-Therefore-Your Peti- tioners pray Your Honors to pass an Act enabling the Selectmen of Lyman, for the time being, to Assess, and order to be Collected, three pence per acre, on all the Lands of the Non-residents of said Town, for the Sole purpose of making, and repairing the highways and Bridges therein, or Grant such relief in the prem- ises as may appear reasonable, and Your Petitioners will pray
Joseph Dexter Samuel Way behalf and at the
Selectmen of Lyman in
Lemuel Parker
request of said Town
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VOTE OF TOWN RELATIVE TO A FERRY, 1791.
At a legal Meeting of the Inhabitants of Lyman legally warned and held this 15th day of March 1791-
Voted to give to Jacob Hurd Esq" all the right title claim Interest or demand said Inhabitants have to a certain ferry in said Lyman which ferry the said Hurd and the Selectmen of said Lyman hath petitioned for and a hearing to be had on said petitions before the general Court on the third wednesday of their next session
Atst Jona Moulton town Clerk 15th March 1791
PETITION OF JACOB HURD FOR A FERRY, 1793. State of New Hampshire Grafton ss
To the Honble General Court of sd State to be con- ven'd at Concord in sd State on the first Wed- nesday of June next
Humbly Sheweth-Jacob Hurd that he ownes the Land Adjoining Connecticut River in the Township of Lyman in sª County where Elijn Hall now lives opposite to Jacob Halls in the Township of Barnet in the State of Vermont at wch place a public Ferry is much wanted to accomedate the public, That the sd Hurd petitioned the Gen1 Court of sd State of New Hampshire at their Session at Portsmouth the Winter
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of 1789 or the beginning of Jan'y 1790 for a grant of a Ferry, across ye River at the place Aforemd on which petition the Gen1 Court ordered a Day of hear- ing in common form that the order of sd Court was complyd with by your Petitioner and a day of hearing was had upon sd Petition all of which was Attended with considerable Expence to him that on the Day of hearing the Selectmen of sd Lyman by their Agent opposed the prayer of your Petitioner being granted upon which the Gen1 Court posponed the hearing to their next Sessions and the mean Time a Town Meet- ing of sd Lyman was warnd & held for the purpose when it was Voted & agreed the sd Town relinquish to said Hurd all claim to a grant of sd Ferry a Copy of which Vote was given sª Hurd and he again At- tended sd Court agreeable to their Order-but the sd Petition was at that time unfortunately lost or mis- layed-therefore he prays Your Honors to take into Consideration the said premises and without any fur- ther hearing Grant Your Petitioner his Heirs and As- signs forever the priviledge of keeping a Ferry across gd River extending up sd River to the Northerly line of sd Lyman and down sd River about one Mile to the first Falls in sd Lyman under such Restrictions and Limitations as to your Honors may Appear proper and your Petitioner as in Duty bound will ever pray-
Dated at Lyman the 20th May 1793 in behalf of
Jacob Hurd John Hurd
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(The charter for the privilege asked for was grant- ed by an act approved June 19, 1793.)
COPIES OF TOWN RECORDS.
To Jacob Hurd Esq
State of New Hampshire Grafton Ss one of the Justis of the peace within and for the County of Grafton- Humbly Shue- The Subscribers freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Lyman in the County of Grafton that they have no town officers in the town nor any regular method of calling a meeting in said town for the chois of the same only by making appli- cation to a Justise of the peace to call a meeting of the Inhabitants of said town for that purpose there- fore request you to warn a meeting of the Inhabitants of said Town of Lyman as soon as may be to act on the following artikles Viz-
1ly To Choose a moderator to govern said meet- ing.
2ly To Choos a Town Clerk Selectmen and Con- stable and all other Town officers as the law directs
Witness our hand Dated Lyman Decm 20 A D 85 Jon. Moulton Ephraim knap Samuel Parker Evan McBean
Solomon Parker Solomon Parker Jr Nathan Hodges abial knap
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Robart Barkley Samuel Way
Jona knap Asa Parker
Grafton Ss
Pursuant to the foregoing request the freeholders and other inhabitants of said Town of Lyman qualifyed as the law directs to vote in town meeting for the chois of Town officers are hereby notifyed and warned to meet at the Dwelling house of Mr Soloman Parker in said Lyman on Thursday fifth day of January A. D. 86-at one of clock in the afternoon to vote and act on the artikles above mentioned
Dated 20th Dec. A. D. 85
Sined Jacob Hurd Justes Peace
January 5th 1786
At a town meeting held at the house of Mr Solomon Parker
1 st Made Choise of Lemuel Parker town Clerk
2nd Choose Nathan Hodges moderator -
3rd Choose Nathan Hodges Job Moulton Jonathan Knap (Selectmen)
4th Made choise of Even Mc. Bean Constable-
5 th Voted to did adjourned to the 19th instant at one of the clock in the afternoon Thursday instant at the aforementioned on Thursday 19th March
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1 st Voted Even McBean out of his post as Constable
2nd Made Choise of Abial Knapp Constable
3rd Voted to and did adjourn to the third Tuesday of March 1786
Lyman March 31st 1786
State of New hampshire Grafton ss Dated March
This is to Notify and warn all the freeholders and other inhabitants of this town that is qualified accord- ing to law to vote in town affairs to meet at the dwell- ing house of Mr Solomon Parker on Friday the 318 Day of march Currant at one of the Clock in the after- noon to act on the following artikles Viz - -
1 st To Choose a moderator to manage said meeting
2nd To Choose a town Clerk and Selectmen & Con- stable and all other town officers that is necesary for said town and also to act if the town thinks Proper whether the inhabitants will let swine run at large and to act on all other affairs that is necesary to act at said meeting
Signed by
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