Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-06-01
Historical Slxcichcs.-NO. z.
Town Charter.
PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSuIu

ond by the Grace of GOD of Great Brit
tain, France and Ireland, KING, Defender
of the Faith, &c. To ALL Persons to
whom these Presents shall Come GREET
ING.
KNOW YE that We, Of our Especial
Grace certain knowledge and mere mo-
tion, for the due Encouragement of settling
a new Plantation within our said Province,
By and with the Advice -four trusty and well
beloved BENNING WENTWORTH,
ESQ., our Governour and commander in
Chief of our said Province of New Hamp-
shire, in AMERICA, and of our Council of
said Province, HAVE, upon the Conditions
and Reservations hereafter made, Given
and Granted and by these Presents for us
our heirs and Successors, Do Give and
Grant in Equal shares unto our loving
Subjects Inhabitants of our said Province
of New Hampshire and his Majesty's other
Governments and unto their Heirs and as
signs for ever whose names are entered on
this Grant, TO be Divided to and amongst
them into Seventy four Equal Shares, all
that Tract or Parcel of Land situate lying
and being within our Province of New
Hampshire, containing by admeasurement
Twenty three thousand and Forty acres !;
which Tract is to contain Six miles Square
and no more ; out of which an allowance is
to be made for highways and unimproyable
Lands by Rocks, Mountains and Ponds and
Rivers, one thousand and Forty acres, free,
according to Plan thereof made and Pre-
sented by our said Governours orders and
hereunto annexed Butted and bounded as
follows, (Viz) Beginning at the North
East Corner of Westminster and running
up by Connecticut River till ii extends Six
Miles upon Strait Line Northerly TO a
stake and stones upon the bank of said Riv-
er. in Hickup Meadow--thence running
, due West Six miles to Stake and Stones
thence running Southerly Six Miles to
the North Westerly Corner of Westmins-
ter-thence Running due East to the bounds
first mentioned; and that the same be and
is Incorporated into q Township by the
name of ROCKINGHAM and the In
habitants that do or Shall hereafter Inhabit
said Township are hereby Declared to be
Enfranchised with and Instituted to all and
Every the Privileges and immunties that
other Towns within our Said Province by
Law Exercise and Enjoy and Further
that the said Town, as soon as there Shall
be fifty families resident and settled therein,
shall have the Liberty of Holding two
Fairs, Annually, which Fairs are not to be
held at other times or longer than the au-
thorities shall appoint; and as soon as the
Town shall consist of fifty families, Market
Shall be opened and Keept one or more
Days in Each Week, as may be thought
most advantageous to the Inhabitants /; also
that the first meeting for the Choice OF
Town officers, agreeably to the Laws OF
Said Province Shall be on the Last Wednes-
day in March next--whch meeting shall
be notified by Mr.. Benjamin Bellows--who
is hereby also appointed the Moderator Of
the said first meeting which he is TO Notify
and Govern agreeably TO the Laws and
Customs of our said Province and that the
Annual Meeting for Ever hereafter for the
Choice of such Officers of Sd Town shall
be on the Last Wednesday in March An,
: nualIy. TO HAVE & TO HOLD the
sd tract of Land as above Expressd To
gether with all the Privileges and Appur
tenances TO them and their respective Heir.
= and assigns for Ever upon the following
Conditions, (Viz.) that every Grantee His
: heirs or assigns Shall Plant or Cultivate
. five Acres of Land within the Term of five
u Years for Every fifty contained in his oil
u their Share or Proportion Of Land in Salt
Township and Continue to improve ant
Settle the same by additional Cultivation'
K on Penalty of the Forfeiture Of his Gram
y or Share in sd Township, and it reveriins
f to his Majesty his heirs and Successors IL
: be by him or them ie-granej to such O
t his Subjects as Shall EHectually settle anC
: Cultivate The same. That all White anC
a other pine Trees within the said Township
p fit for Masiing our Royal Navy be carefully
& preserved for that use and none be Cut OIL
: felrd without his Majesty Especial Ii
: cense for so Doing first had and obtan'd
: upon the Penalty of the forfeiture of the
/. Right Of such Grantee his heirs or assigns
e to US our Heirs and Successors as well a:
e being Subject to the Penalty of any Act
e or Acts of Parliament that now are or here
r after shall be Enacted. That before any
r Division of the Said Land be made TO anC
n amongst the Grantees. A Tract of I.ant
: as near the Centre Of the Township as ih,
i Land will admit of shall be reserved anC
: marked out for Town Lofts one of whici
!. shall be allotted to Each Grantee of III,
t Contents Of one acre YIELDING & PAY