Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-11-19

Lord Bellament became governor
OF the two provinces in 1899. New
Hampshire having had an experiences
with Edward Cranfield as the king's
administrator" which was far from
being pleasant or profitable. Lord
Bcllamont was succeeded by Dudley,
who served for twelve years, and was
himself succeeded by Col. Shute.
Barnet was governor from 1927 to
I72s, in which year be died; and the
cabinet then sent out Belcher, who
had formerly acted as their agent.
Each province mad an assembly, bat
with only one governor, and he was
also governor of Maine, which had
been acquired by Massachusetts, in
1877 by purchase for the sum of 81. $50.
Before each of these governors the
boundary dispute between New Hamp-
shire and Massachusetts, was repeated
ly laid, without any decision of the
disputed points by the royal govern
ors. AS early as 1894 a commission
was appointed by the cabinet to take
such measures as they might deem ex-
Psdlent for settling the peace and Sc,
curlty of the country on a solid foun-
datlon." Governor Belcher renewed
these etferts to settle this boundary be-
tween the provinces, and mass of
papers was sent to the king in the year
1920, who decreed that the southern
boundary of New Hampshira should
be curved line corresponding witt.
the course of the Merrimac river, at a
distance of three miles on the north
side thereof, beginning at the Atlantic
ocean and ending at a point due north
from Pawtucket Falls (now LowelD
at boundary pine tree (n the present
town of Pelham, n. h, and from
that point by a line drawn due west
to the west bank of the Connecticut
river in the province of New York
(new the state of Vermont. The
king also decreed that the line should
be run and established by the two
provinces: out if either should refuse
to act In the matter when the other
might fix and establish the line ex
parte. Massachusetts, was angered by
the decree, and refused to have any
thing to do with running and mark
ing this line, which was done by q
Now Hampshire surveyor, Richard
Haxen, under the direction of Gov.
Belcher In the winter of 1741, COM
formally, as was then supposed, to
the decree of the king, Massachusetts
all the while objscting to the line as
an improper and unfair one
In his survey Hazen made an allow
aace of ten degrees for the westerly
variation CT the needle. Subsequent
~, and previous to the revolution it
became known that Hazen had made
a serious blunder in making such a
large allowance for the variation of
the needle. Instead of 10 degrees his
allowance should have been degrees
40 minutes only, and he had there.
fore hit the Connecticut river by
line degrees 20 minutes TO far north,
and the line should have been placed
further south on that river by 942
rods, or nearly three miles. Thus,
Massachusetts was given a triangular
piece Of territory with base of Sc
miles from the "boundry qine"in
Pelham 10 the connecticut river at
rods down the river, and hypothe>
muse thence to the boundary pine"
the territory embraced containing 80
SNodIO LilICS, VI OYCT Cs, OOU dCTcS Vi
land. The matter continued to be
discussed When the proposition was
made to give Massachusetts, still less
than the New Hampshire surveyor
had accorded to her she insisted that
the line was in the right place, and
New Hampshire became the Directing
party, and has so continued till this
day, so that it has not been possible
for either at the same time TO argue
as to the correct boundary line be
tween them. This year both states
have provided for joint commission
to establish q boundary line which
both states can agree is the trae one.
The Massachusetts towns, which, it is
claimed, lie wholly or partially in
New Hampshire, according to the
kings decree, are beginning at the
easterly point, Tyngsboro. Dung
stable. Pepperell, Townsend. ASH
burnham, Winchendon, Royaltor,
Warwick, and Mortified. The New
Hampshire members of it will insist
that the line shall be so established
as to bring such of these towns as
fall within the true 'due west" line
into the state of New Hampshire. The
joint commission is expected to get
together shortly.