Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-01-21
MAIDSTONE.
BY HON. MOODY RICH.

BY HON. MOODY RICH.
Maidstone was chartered by Gov.
Wentworth, of New Hampshire, I'M
der George III, Oct. IL, 1761; bound
ed N. by Brunswick, S. by Guildhall,
E. by Connecticut river, W. by
CRANKY and Ferdinand; containing,
as chartered, rs, 900 acres.
The proprietors under the N. H.
grants Immediately proceeded to or
garize their proprietary body, after
the granting of said charter, and the
first meeting was held at the house
of Elisha Mills, in Stratford, Ct, on
the End Tuesday of November, 1761;
and at meeting Of the proprietors
at the same place as above, held
Aug. II, 1862, it was decided to get
the township of Maidstone surveyed
and laid out and William Emmes,
Thomas French and John Yates were
appointed the committee, and to re-
ceive for their services Is ed per day
while on that service, they bearing
the expenses of themselves and
horses; but all other charges neces-
sary to prosecute said affair to be
borne by the proprietors-and G66
were raised by vote of the proprie.
tors to defray the expense of tie
survey. Under this vote the town.
ship was first located.
This comprises all that was done
towards the promotion of the settle
ment of this town, 50 far as | have
been able to ascertain, before the
difficulty arose under the conflicting
grants from New Hampshire and
New York. This difficulty however,
was never carried to, actual HOSTILE
ties in these eastern townships as it
was in the western-as there never
were any claimants or settlers under
the New York grants in these north
eastern townships.
The foil owing minutes, from the
proprietors' records, comprises the
whole history of this conflict of
grants as far as it relates to this
town particularly:
In 1854 the king of Great Britain
annexed the townships west of Con-
necticut river, which had prior to
that time been supposed to belong
to the province of New Hampshire,
and had been granted to proprietors
by the governor Of that province.
The grantees of Maidstone ap-
pointed Capt. John Brooks their
agent, to meet with other agents in
New York, to make application to
his excellency the governor of New
York, for new grants of said town.
ship, under the seal of New York.
At proprietors' meeting, Nov. 10,
1865, the question was raised wheth-
er they would agree to pursue the
plan laid by the agents who conven-
ed at New York on the 18th day of
the preceding October, with respect
to the townships patented by the
governor of New Hampshire on the
west side of Connecticut river, in
order to obtain of the kings majesty
confirmation of said grants?-
which passed in the affirmative, and
Agur Tomlinson, Esq, was chosen
agent, to meet with other agents at
the house of Friend BENZ. Ferris, al
the Oblong, on the 26th' day of Nov
ember, then inst. And at an adj
journed meeting, held the End day
of the next December, the proprie.
tors heard the report Of their agent
, from the OblOng, and 1t was agreed
to pay for each whole right or share
: As. New York currency, towards de-
fraying the charges of carrying 6
petition home to Great Britain, tC
His Majesty King George ILL.,, for g
, confirmation of their rights.
TIE last proprietors' meeting, which
was held in Connecticut, was Apr
l, 1879, at Ripton, from the record
of which we take the following:
Whereas we have appointed Mr.
Nehemiah De Forest our agent tt
go up to the governor of Vermont
with petition, in the name of sale
proprietors, for his sanction, protec
ton and direction in laying out anC
settling said township.
N. B. We received an answer
= from the governor Of Vermont by
our agent, Mr.. De Forest, to thi