* The last enumerated 71 subscribers were Tenants to Major Skene.

PETITION OF THE INHABITANTS OF GLOUCESTER AND

CUMBERLAND.

To the King's Most Excellent Majesty.

The Petition of the Inhabitants of the Counties of Gloucester and Cumberland in the Province of New York whose Names are hereunto subscribed.

Most humbly sheweth

That your Petitioners and those under whom they claim formerly obtained Grants for the several Townships on which they reside from the Government of New Hampshire.

That your Majesty by your Royal Order in Privy Council of the Twentieth Day of July One thousand seven hundred and sixty four was pleased to declare the Western Bank of Connecticut River where it enters the Province of the Massachusetts Bay to be the Boundary between the Colonies of New Hampshire and New York.

That some time afterwards on the humble Petition of the then Inhabitants, the Lands on the West Side of the said Connecticut River were erected into two new Counties by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Province of New York by the respective names of Cumberland and Gloucester since which the Course of Justice hath been duly established and the Inhabitants have enjoyed the Blessings and advantages of Peace, Order, and good Government.

That in many Instances they have obtained New Grants and confirmations of their several New Hampshire Claims under the Great Seal of the said Province of New York, and from the Exemplary Liberality and Goodness of his Excellency William

Tryon Esquire your Majesty's Governor of the said Province of New York they have Reason to expect when your Majestys Instructions will permit that the rest of their Townships will be confirmed to them for one half of the usual Fees of Office which your Petitioners consider as a great mark of Favour and Indulgence.

That your Petitioners are not desirous of any Change of Jurisdiction but are perfectly satisfied and earnestly wish to continue under the Government of New York, and are only anxious to have their Titles made valid and secure by confirmations under the Great Seal of the said Province which have been hitherto suspended as your Petitioners are informed by your Majesty's Royal Instructions.

That the Inhabitants of the said Counties whose Titles remain unconfirmed suffer the greatest Inconveniencies on that Account That they cannot carry on their Improvements with spirit and vigour from the uncertainty whether they may not be finally deprived of them and loose their Labour. That they are not entitled to the Rights and Privileges of Freeholders from the Defects of their present Charters, nor can they for the same Reason support any Action for their Landed Property when it is injured or withheld from them, That while these distressing Circumstances fall heavy on Individuals they at the same Time obstruct the Growth and further Cultivation of these New Counties impede the equal Administration of Justice, and prevent the payment and Augmentation of your Majesty's Revenue from the Quit Rents.

Your Petitioners therefore most humbly beseech your Majesty to take their case into your Royal and Paternal Consideration and Graciously to direct that the Several Townships which they hold under the Charters of New Hampshire within the said Counties of Cumberland and Gloucester may be forthwith granted and confirmed to them under the Great Seal of the said Province of New York on the usual Quit Rents and half the Fees of Office agreeable to the generous Plan formed by his Excellency the Governor of the said Province.

And your Petitioners as in Duty Bound shall ever pray &ca

Thos Chandler, Joseph Lord, Samuel Wells, Noah Sabin, Nathn Stone, Israel Curtis, Ephraim Ranney, Crean Brush, William Patterson, Maicom Church, Daniel Renney, Oliver Wells, Joshua Stoddard, John Norton, William Willard, John Grout, John Kathan Junr, Oliver Church, Elijah Prouty, Oliver Cook, John Sargent, Alexander Kathan, Benjamin Gorton, Samuel Knight, David Church, Jacob Spalding, John Baldwin, Benjamin Butterfield Junior, Samuel Brown, Isaac McCune, Ebenezer Knap, William McCune, Jonathan Church, James Smith, Philip Paddleford, Robert Brageal, Timothy Church, Nathaniel Church Junior, Sawyer Wright, Ebenezer Fox, Richard Prouty, Josiah Allen, Stephen Greenleaf, Benjamin Butterfield, Willard Stevens, David Joy, Daniel Tuttle, Isaac Beard, Joshua Parker, Daniel Sabin, Samuel Wheat, Mathew Cushing, Amos Halle, Jonas Snow, James Courins, Noah Sabin Junior, Jonathan Houghton, Noah Cushin, Dennis Lockling, Daniel Houghton, Cyrus Houghton Junior, John French. James Comins, Cyrus Houghton, Ebenezer Houghton, John Butler, Ebenezer Wright, Asa Holegate, Thomas Sargent, Ferbarik Moore Junr, William Cranney, Jonathan Wells, William Ellis, Thomas Ellis, John Ellis, Joseph Burt, Luther Burt, Nathan Davis, Jabez Davis, Ebenezer Fisher, Elias Wilder, Oliver Harris junior, Benjamin Baker, Elisha Harding, David Willis, Edward Jewett, John Houghton, David Houghton, William Houghton, Solomon Ball, Abel Stockwell Junior, Perez Stockwell, James Ball, Elijah Alvard, Caleb Alvard, Reuben Cook, John Rugg, Zapha Swift, Elihew Bosoem, Benjamin Perry, Silas Hamilton, David Davis, John Davis, John Bolton, Henry Henderson, Samuel Clark Junior, Isaac Orr, Ebenezer. Davis, Ebenezer Davis Junior, Jonas Shepard, Hugh Bolton, Benjamin Peirce, Benjamin Peirce Junior, William Frazer, William Wilson, William Galt, Samuel Morrison, Ebenezer Parrish, Israel Gerid, Joseph Stewart, Joseph Stewart Junior, John Stewart, Alexander Stewart, John Clark, James Cary, Ebenezer Sabins, William Hendersen Junr, James McWaters, Rufus Sheppard, David Henderson, John Sheppardson, Daniel Wilkins, Ithar Goodenough, Zephaniah Sheppardson, Solomon Phelps, David Apres Junior, Joseph Dexter, Zakeas Fansworth, Oliver Bishop, John Pike, Benjamin Carpenter, Othaniel Wilkins Junior, William Nickols, Oliver Harris, Jonathan Hobbs, Bildad Andros, Benjamin Burt, Ebenezer Holton, Josiah Pease, Furbank Moore, Daniel Gill, John Baritt, (Simeon Spencer Ichabod Woddams, James Call, John Heart, Francis Beatty, Joseph Woodra, Leavi Stevens, Sol: Stevens, William Patterson, William Smeed, Abel Stafford, Jonathan Burk Junior, Jonathan Holding, David Gitchal, Isaiah Burk, Solomon Burk, Jeremiah Bishop, John Lull, Jonathan Burk, Charles Killam Junior, Zedekiah Stone, Caleb Benjamin, Benjamin Waite, Samuel Stone, Ebenezer Curtis, Peter Leavens, Elisha Hubbard, Moses Evans, Reuben Deane, Watt Hubbard, Matthew Hammond, Elnathan Strong, David Stone, William Smeed Junior, Jacob Gatchell, Sol: Emmons, Benjamin Bishop, Elisha Halley, Francis Fenton, Timothy Bush, Dole Johnson, Thos Sumnor, John Peters, Thomas Chamberlin, Joseph White, John Taplin, Mansfield Taplin, William Taplin, Elihu Johnson, Petahack Bliss, John Beard, Nathaniel Chamberlin, Uriah Chamberlin, Jacob Bayley, Fry Bayley, Ephraim Bayley, Joshua Bayley, Jacob Bayley Junr, Aaron Horsmer, Benjamin Mazey, Daniel Hunt, Jonathan Farewell, John Goodwin, Asher Chamberlin, Moses Thurston, Thomas Hibbard, Samll Hall, Jonathan Goodwin, Abner Fowler, Stephen Rider, Edmond Brown, Welbe Butterfield, John Skeels, Samuel Hadley, Josiah Burnham, William Johnson, David Weeks, Nathaniel Rix, Oliver Willard, Zadock Wright, Francis Wright, John Heseltine, John Sanbonn, Timothy Bedell, Peter Powers, Thomas Brock, David Swaine, James Abbot, Jonathan Fowler Levi Silvester Junr, Er: Chamberlin, Pelatiah Bliss, Richard Chamberlin, Ben: Chamberlin, Silas Chamberlin, Richard Chamberlin Junr, Joseph Chamberlin, Thomas Johnson, Gideon Smith, Levi Silvester, Jacob Fowler, Nehh Lovewell, John Nutting, Ezekiel Colby, John Orman, Robt Johnson, Samuel Stevens, Simeon Stevens, Moses Hariman, Jacob Ken, Samll Eaton, Remnd Chamberlin, Robert Hunkin, John Hazeltine, Enoch Brown, John Mills, John Mills Junr, Abner Fowler Junr, Abiel Chamberlin, Amos Barril, Silvenus Heath, John Taplin Juner, John Lawyer Junr, Hugh Miller, Samuel Barnet, Samuel Barnet Juner, Enos Sawyer. Benn Sawyer Junr Jacob Fowler, John Brown, Henry Moore, Havns Johnson, Stephen McConnell. Benoni Wright, Hezekiah Silaway, Obediah Davis, Robert Barnet, Jesse McFarland, Samll Galt, James Aiken, Joseph Sleper, Nathaniel Martin, Daniel Frazer, Noah

White, John Marten, William Thomson, David Thomson, Samuel Thomson, James Thomson, James Horner, John Kandy, Silveneus Owen, Noah Dewey, William Bell, Mathew Miller, John Robart, Samuel Miller, James Miller, Joel Woodworth, Richard Rogers, James Penock, Tim Bartholomy, Petre Thems, John Strong, James Mann, Solomon Strong, Joseph Downer, Uriah Curtis, Abner Chamberlin, Moses Cadwell, Oliver Taylor, Alexander Brink, Wilder Willard, Mathias Rust, Phineas Rust, Jona: Matthew, Oliver Rust, Zebulon Lee, Phinehas Strong, Timothy Knooks, Ábijah Lamphear, John Peake, John Henry, Daniel Short, Danel Waldo, John Hoisington, Rufus Carpenter, Joab Hoisington, Thomas Cooper, William Dean, Willard Dean, William Dean, John Campton, Donal Fraser, Gad: Smith, John Griffin, Taylor Brooks, Eber: Church, Thos Butterfield, Jas Rogers, Simon Stevens, Joseph Wood, Ebenezer Fuller Junr, Cornelius Baker, Nathaniel Baker, Daniel Whipple, Asa Davis, Ben: Hennery, Wm Williams, Danl Whipple, Thomas Pollard, Ebenezer Whipple, Ger: Whipple, Wm Dawes, Daniel Sargents.

County of Cumberland ss: Be it Remembered that on the Twenty Sixth Day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy three Personally came and appeared before me Samuel Wells Esquire one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, for the same County, Israel Curtis, Esquire, and Malichi Church Yeoman, both of ye same County, who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God depose and say that they were severally present and did see the several persons whose names are signed to the annexed Petition to his most Excellent Majesty and the Duplicate thereof respectively sign their names thereto voluntarily and of their free accord, and that the Several Persons who have so signed the same are Inhabitants of the County of Cumberland or of the County of Gloucester on the West Side of Connecticut River within the Province of New York.

SAML WELLs.

Secretary's Office New York 5th February 1773. The Preceeding are true copies of their respective originals.

Attest

Gw. Banyar D Secry

DEPOSITION OF CAPT. DAVID WOOSTER.

City of New York, ss. DAVID WOOSTER, of New Haven, in the Colony of Connecticut, Esquire, being a Captain on Half-pay, reduced from his Majesty's Fifty-first Regiment of Foot, being

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duly sworn, maketh oath, that as a reduced officer as aforesaid, he obtained pursuant to his Majesty's Proclamation for that Purpose, a Grant under the Great Seal of the Province of NewYork, for three thousand acres of Land, on the East Banks of Lake Champlain, within a Mile and a Quarter of the Fort there, that about five years since, and after the Deponent had obtained the said Grant, on visiting those Lands he found five Families which had then lately settled, some of whom pretended to have a Claim there under a Grant from the Province of New Hampshire, and some of them pretending no Right at all, promised the Deponent immediately to leave the said Lands; the others this Deponent then served Ejectments on, which issued out of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for the County of Albany, whereupon they also submitted, and desired the Deponent to give them Leases of Part of the said Lands, which this Deponent consented to, gave them Permission to remain on the Lands, acknowledging him to be their Landlord, until it was convenient for him to return and give them leases in Form; that for some Time past there has prevailed in that part of the Country, a Spirit of Disorder and Licentiousness in Opposition to the Justice of this Province, among numbers of People who have seated themselves on the Lands granted by the Province of New York, to the reduced officers and others, some claiming the same Lands under New Hampshire, and others without any such Pretence of Claim, who are supported in such their Proceedings by a Combination formed for the support of themselves, and every Person indiscriminately who will settle any of those Lands in Opposition to the Titles granted under the Province of New York, and for the Prevention of any Settlements to be made in that Part of the Province of New York under Letters Patent granted in the said Province: That for this Purpose they have formed themselves into small Companies, under Leaders, whom they call Captains, who frequently make Excursions in that Country for Discovery of Settlers under his Majestys Grants issued under his Great Seal of New York, and to dispossess such Settlers: That this Deponent having heard that several new Intruders had got upon his Lands above mentioned, and that they as well as the former Settlers there had declared they would