USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Amherst > History of the town of Amherst, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire (first known as Narraganset township number three, and subsequently as Souhegan West) > Part 3
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6 June, 1733. " The committee mett at Mr. Luke Verdey's, accord- ing to their adjournment, and Delivered their Votes, the Account of their meetings, the lists. Papers, &c .. by their Clark to the Grantees."
On the same day a general meeting of the grantees was held in Boston, at which Colonel Thomas Tylston was chosen moderator, and Sam'l Kneeland, clerk. A com- mittee, consisting of Colonel Benjamin Prescot, John Rich- ardson, Esqr., and Captain Joseph Ruggles, was appointed "to examine the late Committee's accounts, and all the former accounts." The meeting then adjourned until two o'clock in the afternoon, at which time the grantees again met on the "Common of ye Towne of Boston." It was then
" Voted, that the Grantees allowed by the General Court, amounting to the number of eight hundred and forty in the whole, be Divided into Seven Distinct Societies, each Society to consist of one Hundred and twenty of the s'd Grantees, which society shall be Intituled to One of ye Townships granted to the Narraganset Soldiers, &c.
That one of the S'd Societies shall consist mostly of the Proprietors belonging to the Towns of Ipswich, Newbury, Rowley, Haverhill, Salsbury, Almsbury, Methuen, Hamton, Greenland, Berwick."
" Voted, that Mr. PHILEMON DANE, of Ipswich, Mr. JOHN GAINS, of Ipswich, Con'll JOSEPH GEARISH, of Newbury, be a Committee for the said Society."
" Voted, That another of the s'd Societies shall consist mostly of those Proprietors belonging to the Towns of Salem, Lin, Marblehead,
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HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Glocester, Andover, Topsfield, Beverly, Wenham, Boxford, Bradford, Scarborough, York, Falmouth, Chatham."
" Voted, that Mr. RICHARD MOOR, of Lin, Mr. JOHN TRASK, of Salem, and Mr. EBENEZER RAYMENT, be a Committee for the said Society."
" Voted, that Another of the said Societys shall Consist of the Pro- prietors belonging to the Towns of Cambridge, Charlestown, Watertown, Westown, Sudbury, Newtown, Medford, Maulden, Red- ing."
"Voted, that Mr. JOHN CUTTING, of Watertown, Mr. JAMES LOW- DEN, of Charlestown, and Capt. JOSEPH BOWMAN, be a Committee for the Said Society.
" Voted, that another of the s'l Societys shall consist mostly of those Proprietors belonging to the Towns of Concord, Groton, Marlboro', Chehnsford, Billerica, Lancaster, Lexington, Framingham, Stow, Littleton, Sherburn, Stonham. Southboro', Woburn."
" Voted, that Mr. SAMUEL CHANDLER, of Concord, Mr. JACOB WRIGHT, of Woburn, and Con'll BENJAMIN PRESCOTT, Esqr., of Groton, be a Committee for the Said Society."
" Voted, that another of the s'd Societys shall consist mostly of those Proprietors belonging to the Towns of Northampton, Hadley, Sufield, Endfield, Deerfield, Worcester, Woodstock, Oxford, Brookfield, Kil -. lingly, Lebanon, Mansfield, Norwich, Pomfrit, Windham, Bristol, Taunton. Swanzey, Rehoboth, Little Compton, Dighton, Attleboro', Norton, Freetown, Barrington, Bridgewater, Middleboro', Plimpton, Kingston, Rochester, Pembrook, Marshfield, Ashford, Colchester, Hadham, Hebron, Bellingham, Horseneck, North Kingston, and Walpole."
" Voted, that Mr. EDWARD SHOVE, Mr. JOSIAHI KEETH, and Con'll JOHN CHANDLER, be a Committee for the said Society."
" Voted, that Another of the said Societys shall consist mostly of those Proprietors belonging to the Towns of Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, Milton, Brantree, Waymouth, Hingham, Dedham, Stongh- ton, Brookline, Neadham, Ilull, Medfield, Scittnate, Newpourt, New London, Providence."
" Voted, that Con'll THOMAS TOYLSTON, Mr. JONATHAN WILLIAMS, and Capt. JOSEPH RUGGLES, be a Committee for the s'd Society."
" Voted, that another of the Societys shall consist mostly of those Proprietors belonging to the Towns of Barnstable, Yarmoth, Eastham, Sandwich, Plimoth, Tisbury, Abington, Duxbury, and one of Scit- uate."
" Voted, that Con'll SHUBAEL GOARHIAM, Mr. TIMOTHY WHITE, and Mr. ROBERT STANDFORD, be a Committee for the Said Society."
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THE NARRAGANSET TOWNSHIPS.
III.]
" Voted that each of the Several Committees for the Respective Societies, now chosen, be Directed and Impowered to take a List of the Society for which they are Appointed, and to Joyn with the Other Committees in Assigning the Towns to each Society, &c., and also to assemble the Grantees of their Respective Societys to Chuse a Clark and Committees, from time to time, to manage and transact any affairs that may be thought needfull. and make such Rules and Orders as may be Proper and for the benefit of the Society and bringing forward the settlement of the Township that shall be assigned them, as aforesaid."
"Voted, that any two of the committee for each society be Impow- ered to act, or transact any affair, for the good of the Society they are chosen for."
" Voted, that all past and the present charges of this meeting be paid by the wholl Society."
7 June, 1733. The grantees met at Mr. Luke Verdey's, in Boston.
The report of the committee, appointed yesterday to examine the late committee's accounts, and all former accounts, was accepted, and the amount of claims reported being one hundred and thirty-nine pounds, eleven shillings and eight pence, was ordered to be paid to the several per- sons to whom it was due.
"Voted, that Deacon Jonathan Williams, of Boston, be Treasurer of the wholl Narraganset Society or grantees, and it is further Ordered and Voted that the Severial Societys pay their Proportionable Part of the One Hundred and Thirty nine Pounds, eleven Shilling's and eight Pence (Due from the wholl Society) to Deacon Jona. Williams, of Boston. Treasurer, and by him to be Repaid to the late committee, to whom it is Due to Discharge the Said Debt."
" Voted, that Sam'll Kneeland be the Clark of the wholl Narra- ganset Society or grantees, and that he is Impowered by said Grantees to keep all the Records, Papers, Resolves, and Votes of, or belonging to, the s'd Grantees, and that he give coppeys to any of the grantees or Others, Attested under his hand, he being under an Oth for a faithful Discharge of his trust."
" Voted, that the charge of this meeting being Seven Pounds, ten Shillings and Six Pence, be Paid by the Severial Societys to the Treasurer, in the same method that the Other Debts are to be paid in."
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HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
7 September, 1733. " By A desier from the Committee of Boston. &c., Society of the Narraganset Grantees, the severial Persons after named met at Boston, at the house of Mr. Luke Verdey, on said Day, Vizt :
Con'll Thomas Toylston. Deac'n Jonathan Williams, and Capt. Joseph Ruggles, Comitee for Boston, &c .; Mr. James Lowden, Capt. Joseph Bowman, Mr. John Cutting. Comittee for Charlestown. &c .; Mr. Sam'HI Chandler, Mr. Jacob Wright, Committee for Concord, &c. ; C'apt. Richard Moor. Mr. John Traske. Committee for Salem, &c. ; Mr. Edward Shove, Mr. Josiah Keith, Committee for Northamp- ton, &c .; and have agreed to meet at Boston, at this house, upon Oct'b'r 17th next, at nine of the clock in the Morning: also, Ordered that the Clark notifie the Gentlemen of the Severial Committees that are not here at this time, especially the Newbury, &c .. Committee, and Barnstable, &c .. Commitee, to meet with them upon the S'd Day. in Order to Assign the Towns to the Severial Societys."
17 October, 1733. The committees of the several socie- ties met at the house of Mr. Luke Verdey at nine o'clock in the morning, and after discussing the matter of assign- ing the townships granted them, without coming to any conclusion, adjourned until half past two o'clock this after- noon, at which time they met,
" And resumed their Debates. They agreed that A Towne back of Saco and Scarbro' be Called No. 1, and that the s'd Town be Assigned to Mr. Philemon Dane and Company, a committee for Ipswich Society, &c .; and then voted that the Committees for the other Six Societys come into a lot for the six remaining Towns, being No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, No. 7; but before the drawing of the lot a proposial was maid that the Society that should hapen to Draw the Town called No. 2, at Watchusett, should lay out and assign to his Excelency Jonathan Belcher, Esqr., five Hundred acres of land in s'd Towne for his Honored Father's wright, which Proposial was agread upon and Consented to by all the Committees Present at Said Meeting, and Voted and Ordered Accordingly : then Voted, that one of each Committee draw the lot for each Society, and that Capt. John Chandler Draw for Barnstable Society."
" Voted, that the Six Towns be assigned as by lot they were Drawn, Vizt :
To Mr. James Lowden and Company, No. 2, at Watchusett;
To Mr. Richard Moore and Company, No. 3, Souhegan West;
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THE NARRAGANSET TOWNSHIPS.
III.]
To Mr. Edward Shove and Company, No. 4. at Amaskeage; To Col'n'll Thomas Tilstou and Company, No. 5, Souhegan East ; To Mr. Sam'l Chandler and Company, No. 6. west of peuny cook and Suncook.
To Con'll Gorham and Company, No. 7. to lay out."
Of the townships thus assigned, No. 1 is now known as Buxton, Maine ; No. 2, as Westminster, Mass : No. 3 com- prised parts of the present towns of Amherst, Merrimack, Milford, and Mont Vernon, New Hampshire; No. 4 included the present town of Goffstown, and a part of the city of Manchester; but as the grantees reported that " they found the land so poor and barren as to be altogether uncapable of making a settlement!" it was abandoned, and another township, at a place called Quabbin, now Greenwich, Mass., was assigned them in its stead ; No. 5 comprised the present town of Bedford, and parts of the town of Merrimack, and the city of Manchester ; No. 6 is now Templeton, Mass. ; and the township laid out for No. 7 is now Gorham, Maine.
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HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
CHAPTER IV. 1734-1762.
SOUHEGAN WEST.
FIRST MEETING OF THE PROPRIETORS. - ORGANIZATION. - A VIEWING COMMITTEE APPOINTED .- A DIVISION OF THE TOWN- SHIP INTO LOTS ORDERED, AND MADE .- ENCOURAGEMENT OFFERED TO SETTLERS .- PROVISION MADE FOR BUILDING " A HOUSE OF ENTERTAINMENT," AND FOR A FERRY-BOAT TO CROSS THE SOUHEGAN .- A COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONFER WITH A COMMITTEE OF THE PROPRIETORS OF NO. 5 IN REGARD TO A BRIDGE ACROSS THE SOUHEGAN .- REGULATIONS ADOPTED CONCERNING THE LOTS DRAWN. - NUMBERS OF THE LOTS DRAWN IN THE FIRST DIVISION .- NAMES OF THE DRAWERS, AND THE TOWNS TO WHICH THEY BELONGED .- A COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO LAY OUT A PLACE FOR A MEETING HOUSE, TRAINING FIELD, BURYING-PLACE, A LOT FOR THE MINISTRY, SCHOOL AND MINISTERIAL LOTS, AND THEIR REPORT. -
FIRST
SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP .- HARDSHIPS
OF
SETTLERS IN NEW TOWNSHIPS .- BRIDGE BUILT ACROSS THE SOUHEGAN .- BUILDING OF A SAW-MILL PROVIDED FOR .- A SECOND DIVISION OF LOTS VOTED, AND VOTES IN RELATION THERETO .- SOUHEGAN WEST BECOMES A PART OF NEW HAMP- SIIIRE .- PROVISION MADE FOR BUILDING A GRIST-MILL AT THE FALLS OF THE SOUHEGAN .- A COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONFER WITH THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF NEW HAMPSHIRE .- HIGHWAYS LAID OUT, AND SURVEYORS AP- POINTED .- EFFORTS MADE TO BRING IN SETTLERS .- A THIRD DIVISION OF LOTS VOTED .- ROADS LAID OUT .- OLD, MIDDLE, AND NEW TENOR BILLS .- LAWFUL AND STERLING MONEY.
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SOUHEGAN WEST.
IV.]
-OLD AND NEW STYLE .- PETITION FOR INCORPORATION AS A TOWN, WITH SIGNERS' NAMES, 1753 .- PRICES OF SUN- DRIES, 1759 .- CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, 1760. -GENERAL AMHERST .- NAMES OF TAX-PAYERS ON THE FIRST TAX-LIST .- CHARTER, AS REVIVED 7 JANUARY, 1762.
The first meeting of the proprietors of Souhegan West was held at Salem, 17 July, 1734. At this meeting Capt. Benj. Potter, Capt. Richard Mower, and Mr. Daniel Kenney, were appointed a committee " to take a Perticular view of ye scircumstances of s'd Township, and make Report to ye Society or Grantees at their adjournment on the second tuesday in September next."
They were authorized to employ a surveyor, and such pilots as might be necessary, at the expense of the pro- prietors.
Capt. Richard Mower, Messrs. Cornelius Tarble, Ebenezer Rayment, Jeremiah Gatchel, and Daniel Kenney, were appointed a committee to sub-divide the township. Capt. Benjamin Potter, Mr. John Bixbe, and Ensign Thomas Tarbox, were added to this committee at a subsequent meeting.
Another meeting of the proprietors was held at Salem, 13 August, 1734, at which William Collins was elected proprietors' clerk ; Capt. Richard Mower, Messrs. John Trask, Ebenezer Rayment, Stephen Peabody, and Jeremiah Gatehel, prudential committee ; and Capt. Benjamin Potter, treasurer.
The prudential committee was directed to rectify all mistakes in the names of the proprietors, as given in the list, and to lay the same before the General Court, if they thought proper.
10 September, 1734, the proprietors met to hear the report of their viewing committee, but the committee had been disappointed by the surveyor they had engaged, and were not prepared to make a full report. They reported
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HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
verbally that " they had been on the land and found it well timbered."
After some discussion it was voted, "that the township be sub-divided this fall, as soon as may be."
The committee was directed to lay ont sixty acres to each proprietor, for his or her first or home lot, what was wanting in quality to be made up in quantity. It was also voted that should any large quantities of meadow be found, it should be left to the consideration of the committee whether to include the same in the lots, or reserve it for the benefit of the whole society.
Collectors were appointed in each town to collect the assessments ordered to defray the expenses of the Society.
At a meeting, held 8 January, 1734-35, the proprietors
" Voted, that the first sixty proprietors that shall and Doe each of them build and finish a Dwelling house of eighteen feet square and seven feet studd, and clear two acres of Land fitt for mowing or plow- ing, and actually live on the spot, and perform the same within three years from the date hereof, they and each of them shall be Intitled to draw out of ye said proprietors' Treasury the sum of six pounds."
A committee was chosen to hear all persons that had any disputable claims to any rights in the township, and make report of their opinion to the Society as soon as might be.
" Voted, that Capt. Richard Mower have Liberty to draw ye Lott No. 21, he Building a convenient House of Entertainment, and fence in a pasture of six or eight acres of land, and provide a sufficient ferry Boat to transport any of the Proprietors over Souhegan River, and performe the same within eighteen months from the Date hereof."
An auditing committee was appointed, and it was voted that "the Lotts Nos. 87, 88, and 89, should lye by for the present, to make good for the three lots-viz., one for the first settled minister, one for the ministry, and one for the school."
A committee was appointed to confer with the committee of the proprietors of Souhegan East, No. 5, about building a bridge over Souhegan river, and report at the next
29
SOUHEGAN WEST.
IV.]
meeting of the proprietors. (Souhegan East, No. 5, after- ward Bedford, as at first granted, extended to Souhegan river.)
Complaint having been made by some that many of the lots laid out by the committee " were not so good as others, for want of quality," and therefore not fit to settle on, by means whereof much damage might acerne to some of ye proprietors, it was
" Voted. that each Proprietor shall have the liberty, if he see cause. to exchange his Lott or Lotts by Quitting his Right to such Lott as he shall draw. to all the Proprietors, & by taking other Lott or Lotts in the Room of s'd Lotts in any of the Lands within the Township. Provided they are not more in Number than the Lotts he or they shall Quitt to the Proprietors, and Provided. also. that they or he shall lay ont no more than sixty acres to each Lott, & half a mile in length and sixty rods in bredth. as the other Lotts are now laid out. Further- more. Provided, that ye Lotts so exchanged shall be laid out at ye owner's cost. within one year from the Date hereof, & said Lotts to be sufficiently butted & bounded, and a Returne therof made to the Clerk of ye s'd Society, & hee to make an entry in the proprie'rs' book, to whom and by whom thay ware Laid ont, with the Buts & Bounds."
The lots laid out by the committee appear to have been drawn by the proprietors at this meeting, as we find it was
" Voted. that the Clerk Record all the Lotts that have been Drawn in the Society's Book of Records to the several persons that have been allowed to draw the same. with their names."
It was also
" Voted, that the Clerk take care of those Lotts that are not drawn. & that the several persons to whom they belong have liberty to Repair to s'd Clerk and draw their Respective Lotts, they paying the Rates or Dues set on s'd Lotts.
In the following list, the names of the proprietors, the towns to which they belonged, and the number of the lot drawn by each, are given. A * placed before a lot signifies that it was afterward exchanged for another. Names in
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HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
SMALL CAPITALS are those of the surviving soldiers and officers who were in the fight at the Narraganset fort, December, 1675.
ANDOVER.
*104. John Ballard, for his father, John Ballard.
87. William Ballard, for his father, Nath'l Ballard.
*103. EBENEZER BARKER.
108. JAMES FRY. 38. JOHN PARKER.
*106. Rev. Andrew Peters, for his father, Andrew Peters.
*30. SAMUEL PHELPS.
56. JOHN PRESSON.
44. Ebenezer Tyler, for his father, Samuel Tyler.
BEVERLY.
*59. HENRY BAYLEY.
*79. Henry Blackfield, and his assigns.
12. JONATHAN BYELS.
71. LOTT CONNANT.
24. Andrew Dodge, for John Elinwood.
48. Jonathan Dodge, for John Dodge.
*60. William Dodge's heirs. 80. RALPH ELINWOOD.
106. Samuel Harris's heirs.
7. Joseph Morgan, for his father, Joseph Morgan.
*102. Joseph Picket, for his father, Elias Picket.
110. THOMAS RAYMENT.
*97. William Rayment's heirs.
51. CHRISTOPHER READ.
BOXFORD.
50. John Andrews, for his father, Robert Andrews.
*47. John Bixbe, for his father, Joseph Bixbe.
95. James Curtice, for Francis Jeffreys.
19. Stephen Peabody, for his father, Stephen Peabody.
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SOUHEGAN WEST.
IV.]
BRADFORD.
4. Ichabod Boynton, for his father, John Boynton.
CHATHAM.
34. Robert Nicholson, for his father, William Nicholson.
FALMOUTH.
42. PHILIP DEXTER.
62. JOSEPH HATCH.
GLOUCESTER.
72. JOHN DAY.
67. EDWARD HARRINGTON.
64. SAMUEL INGERSOLL.
98. Jacob Row, for his father, Henry Row.
76. Samuel Stevens, for Isaac Ellery.
LYNN.
103. THOMAS BAKER.
*18. John Ballard, for his father, John Ballard.
100. William Basset, for his grand-father, William Basset.
72. Michael Bowden, for his father-in-law, John Davis.
49. Timothy Breed, for his father, Timothy Breed.
92. Ebenezer Burrill, for his brother, John Burrill.
*78. Ebenezer Burrill. Jr., for his grand-father, Joseph Mansfield.
65. HENRY COLLINS.
39. William Collins, for his brother, Joseph Collins.
*6. Ruth Driver, for her father, Robert Driver.
29. SAMUEL EDMONS.
91. Joseph Farr, for his father, Joseph Farr.
*17. Joseph Farr, for his father-in-law, John Lindsey.
110. John Farrington, for his father, John Farrington.
107. Samuel Graves, for his father, Samuel Graves.
*35. Joseph Haven, for his father, Joseph Haven.
60. Jonathan Johnson, for his father.
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HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
32. Richard Johnson, for his father, Samuel Johnson.
*80. Edmond Lewis, for his father, John Lewis.
21. Richard Moor, for his father, John Moor. 8. JOHN NEWHALL.
111. Samuel Newhall, for his uncle, Samuel Farrow.
*31. Benjamin Potter, for his father, Robert Potter.
20. Benjamin Ramsdell, for his father, Aquilla Ramsdell.
36. Robert Rand, for his father.
73. Samuel Tarbox's heirs.
16. Andrew Townsend's heirs.
MARBLEHEAD.
41. Jeremiah Gatchel, for his uncle, John Gatchel.
*28. WILLIAM HIND.
68. Joseph Majory, for his father, Joseph Majory.
52. Thomas Martin, for Doctor Knott.
26. Richard Shapley, for his father, David Shapley.
25. Joseph Sweat, for his brother, Stephen Sweat.
85. Jonathan Wolcot, for his father, John Wolcot.
READING.
40. Thomas Bancroft, for his father, Nich's Lum.
22. John Bowtel, for his father, John Bowtel.
SALEM.
109. JOHN ABBOT.
51. THOMAS BELL.
46. John Bullock, for his father, John Bullock.
*14. William Curtis, for his father, William Curtis. 86. John Elwell, for his father, John Elwell.
*94. John Flynt, for his father, Thomas Flynt.
*13. William Fuller, for his father, Thomas.
33. Habakkuk Gardner, for his uncle, Capt. Joseph Gard- ner.
*101. John Gloyd, for his father, John Gloyd.
*105. John Harradaway's heirs.
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SOUHEGAN WEST.
IV.]
112. Edward Hollis's heirs.
96. JOSEPH HOLTON.
3. Joseph Hutchinson, for his father, Joseph Hutchin- SON.
*102. Thomas Keney's heirs.
77. JONATHAN LAMBERT.
66. Thomas Laskin, for his father, Timothy Laskin.
53. Samuel Manning, for his uncle, Nicholas Manning.
45. Ezekiel Marsh, for his father, Adam Gold.
81. Jonathan Marsh, for his father-in-law, John Ross.
11. Jeremiah Neal, for his father, Jeremiah Neal.
1. William Osburn, for his father, William Osburn. 69. Samuel Pickworth's heirs.
43. Joseph Prince, for his uncle, Richard Prince.
105. Thomas Putnam, for his father, Thomas Putnam. 63. John Rabson, for his brother, Thomas Rabson.
5. Nathaniel Soams, for his uncle, Joseph Soams. *83. John Tarble's heirs.
15. John Trask, for his father, William Trask.
*109. Jonathan Verry, for his father, Samuel Verry.
SCARBOROUGH.
*37. JOHN HARMON.
TOPSFIELD.
108. Josialı Clark's heirs.
104. Thomas Davis's heirs.
*70. Abraham Fitts's heirs.
107. James Ford's heirs.
9. Joseph Herrick, for his father, Joseph Herrick.
55. John Hutchins's heirs. Samuel Kneeland, for John Brandon.
27. Samuel Kneeland, for Robert Brown. 99. Samuel Perkins's heirs.
*93. ZACCHEUS PERKINS.
*2. MOSES PINGREESE. 3
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HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
23. Elihu Wardwell's heirs.
*84. John Wild's heirs.
74. NATHANIEL WOOD.
WENHAM.
58. Thomas Abbot, for his father, Thomas Abbot.
*101. John Batchelder, for his uncle, Joseph Batchelder.
111. Elizabeth Fowler, for her father, Richard Hutter.
54. William Rogers and Thomas Perkins, for Joseph Perkins.
YORK.
10. Dennison Sargent, for his father, Andrew Sargent.
1 May, 1735. In regard to the exchange of lots provided for in a vote passed at the last meeting, the proprietors
" Voted, that it is to be understood that any Proprietor, by virtue of that vote exchanging his Lott, shall not leave a smaller vacancy than 60 poles between that and the next adjoyning lot, excepting a fonre pole way, where it is necessary, and that no person so exchanging shall include in his Lott more than two acres. of meadow; and that if any proprietor shall Lay out a Lott adjoining to ye River, s'd Lott shall not extend more than 60 poles upon s'd River."
At this meeting the following report of the committee appointed to sub-divide the township was received, accepted, and ordered to be placed on record.
" We, the Subscribers, being chosen & appointed to sub-divide and Lott ont to each proprietor, for their home Lotts, sixty acres, having respect to the quality of s'd Lotts, & to equalize the same according to our best JJudgement :
Pursuant whereunto, we have accordingly, by Surveyors and Chain- men Imployed in that service, Laid Out one hundred and twenty Lotts, containing Sixty acres each, allowing two acres in every forth Lott for a by way, and also a range way, foure pole wide. between each Range, as will more fully appear on the face of the Plan herewith to be presented. We have Indeavored to attend to our Directions in not laying out any Considerable quantity of Clear Medow in any one Lott, & as for Quallifying ye Lotts we thought it Impracticable,
35
SOUHEGAN WEST.
IV.]
especially considering the season of ye year being such as required Dispatch of ye Business, and we judge it will be more for the intrest of ye Society to equalize the same in some other way, which they may think proper at this meeting, or any other hereafter.
RICHARD MOWER, JER. GATCHELL. EBEN'R RAYMENT, DANIEL KENNEY, THOMAS TARBOX, CORNELIUS TARBELL, JOHN BIXBE. Committee."
Robert Hale, Esq., Capt. Stephen Peabody, and Lieut. Ebenezer Rayment, were appointed a committee
" To take a view of the township, and in the most commodious place therefor Lay out a place whereon to erect the Public Meeting House for the worship of GOD, & a convenient place for a Public Burying place, & An Other for a Training field, marking the same by Butts and Bounds & that they doe More Over Lay out three home Lotts of equal quantity and like form with ye Other Lotts Already laid Out,- One to be for the first settled Minister, One for the Ministry, & One for the School, and in their return to make Distinctions, the Lotts to be Butted and bounded as aforesaid, and make return thereof to ye Clerk, that so he may record the same."
They were also directed
" To take a view of Souhegan River, in Order to find out ye most convenient place to Build a Bridge over the same, & make report to ye Society at their next meeting."
The report of this committee was recorded by the clerk, 4 June, 1735, as follows :
"The Com'tee to lay out a place for a Meeting House, Training field, Burying place. & parsonage, Minister & School Lott, &c., Laid out for the Meeting house place, Burying place & Training field, A track of Land Joyning Easterly to ye head of ye Lotts No. 108, 109, & 110, lying Joyning southerly to Andrew Balche's Lott, Containing thirteen acres & 140 perch, lying North & South 74 perch, East & West 30 perch. Also a Lott for ye Ministry, containing Sixty acres, Bounded thus: Beginning att a Maple tree marked with P & T.,
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