Norwich bulletin., 1909-07-03
NORWICH WANTS CITY cHARrsa.
Petition of f7s4 and sisners' Names A Charter ersnted-chsnsss Since Made.

 Petition of f7e4 and sisners' Nance
 A Charter eranted-chsnsss Since
 Made
 Soon after the Revolution the qucs- ton of organizing all active centcrs of business under a city government was widely discussed, and as result of this discussion in Norwich the follow ing petition was prepared and signed by the residents of the village sites of Bean Hill. old Norwich, the Falls, Chelsea and the West Side:
 Memorial of Norwich. for City Privi- Ieges. Jany.. 17S4.. Cont. in May, f7sf.
 To the Honorable General Assembly | to be holden by adjournm. at New Ha- ven. on the Second Thursday of Jan- uary Next. the Memorial of a Numblr | of the Inhabitants living in the Firse and Chelsea Societys in the Town of Norwich humbly sheweth
 That your Memorialists from their local Circumstances are not able to gain Subsistence by agriculture, That they
 Therefore, have for many years past | Turn'd their Attention to Commerce & Mechanical Arts. That during the late war they have been unfortunate in their Navigation having the greatest part Captured by the Enemy and Burnt and destroyed by them when they were at New London.
 That Notwithstanding all thcir Mis- fortunes They are renewing their ef- forts in extending their Commerce go Necessary for them & SO beneficial to the Country in general yet many and great Inconveniences do arise for want of due regulation of the Internal police of said Town which are Sensibly felt as well by Strangers as your Memo- rialists in almost every merchantil( Transaction. That for the promotiof of Trade, it is needless to Inform youi Honors. That a full Credit and strict punctuality in performing contracts ara absolutely necessary. That it is a | matter of no small importance that Wharves, Streets & Highways be Cons modiOus for business and kept Con- tinually in good repair. That the abovesaid regulations cannot take place unless your Memorialists have a Juris- diction of their Own. Subordinate to that of the State. enabling them to on. act bye Laws for their particular com mercial welfare, as Occasion may re- quire. Nor can good faith and credit however essential to a Mercantile People ever be expected in any great degree. unless your Memorialsts bs allowed Court of their Own Co sit often for the dispensation of Justice, and having a concurrent cognizance of causes arising within certain limits. with the Courts of Common Law in this State-your Memorialsts would further humbly Suggest to your Hon. ors, that the limits they would propose for their Jurisdiction are all the Ter ritory within the Parish lines of the first Society and the Society of Chel- sea In said Norwich and to Include the River Thames and Coves towards New London below high water Mark as far as the most Southerly Extent of tho Town of Norwich and from thence to Include the Channel as far as tho Straights in said River or Such other Limits as your Honors Shall Please to Grant
 And your Memorialists would humhiy pray your Honors That the Inhabltantr living within the aforesaid limits may be a Corporation with full power and Authority to enact bye Laws for the regulation of their Commerce and for the general Welfare of said Corpora tion. And that your HonOrs would Authorize sd. Corporation to appoint a Court to be holden within said Juris- diction with full power and authority to hear try and determine all personal Actions. where the Title Of Land 10 concern'd, grounded on any Contract made. or injury happening within said | limits and that said Court may have concurrent authority in said causef with the other Courts of Common I,aV in this State and that all the afore- said matters and things be under sucF I restrictions and regulations as shaf | seem meet to your Honors and yot1 | Memorialists as In duty bound shaf | ever pray. dated at Norwich the 22n1 day of December, A. D. 17s3.