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riage has ever past-That the Greatest part of your petitioners were Possest of but Triffleing intrests when they first adventured into this Wilderness that it has been and Still is with the Greatest difficulty that they obtain a Bare Support for their Own families, and not having any article of Commerce which they can Export are not able to make themselves the possessors of one single Doller in the Course of twelve months-That in Consequence of the above mentiond Tax being imposd your petitioners will be Obligd to dispose of all the Stock they now possess (which will not sattisfy s demands) and leaving their habitations Fly to such parts of the Common Welth where there is a Sirculation of Money; That the numerous difficulties with which your Petitioners are surrounded gives the Strongest hopes that they may be Viewd with tenderness and Compassion, Their most Earnest prayer therefore is that this Honourable Court would Free them from paying a publick Tax for the preasent, and give orders that s Execution be with drawn or that they may be Relievd in Such other manner as your Honours Wisdom may Sugest, and as in Duty Bound Shall Ever pray

Reuben Burnam Jesse Knap.

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Gentlemen of the Senate & Gentlemen of the House of Representatives

The Secretary has laid before me your several Resolutions relative to the final Establishment of Peace-By one of the Resolves "I am requested to order the discharge of Cannon, & such other Demonstrations of Joy on the 24th ins' as I may judge suitable to the Occasion This Resolve is so very

inexplicit that I am really at a loss to determine what the two branches of the General Court intend by such other Demonstrations of Joy - If you intend, Gentlemen, that they should be such as heretofore have been practiced upon such important Events, I must order a public Dinner to be prepared upon this Occasion; This was the Case upon the Proclamation of the very last Peace; or perhaps you may design that only such Provision should be made in the State House, for the Accommodations of such Gentlemen as shall please to attend as has been usual upon Public days; I return you the Resolve by the Secretary, & as I wish to Conduct this matter both through the day & Evening in such a manner as to meet your Approbation, I must request you would be pleased to be more explicit respecting it, & I doubt not you will enable me to exhibit such Demonstrations of Joy as shall be fully answerabel to an Event so important & Interesting to this & the other United States

Boston Feb 19th 1784.

John Hancock

Preservation of Lands in Eastern Counties.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In Senate March the 5th 1784 Whereas on the 28th Day of Oct' Last a Resolve was passed by the General Court appointing a Committee to repair to the County of Lincoln and to take care of the Commonwealth's Lands there and to settle with those persons who have claims to Land within that County and whereas it appears to the General Court that the Claims of Individuals to Lands in that County are very extensive and the Titles pretended to the same are very intricate by means whereof it would be unsuitable to place the power of the settlement

of such Claims otherwise than by a due Course of Law, in the arbitration of any other persons than the Legislature

It is therefore Resolved that so far as it respects the appointment and duty of the said Committee the Resolve aforesaid be and hereby is repealed

And it is also

Resolved that

be and they hereby are appointed a Committee to State and Lay before the General Court at the next Session thereof the extent of Lands Laying within the sa County of Lincoln the Extent description and boundaries of all Claims of Properties Corporations or Companies of men to Land there, the Charters Patents Deeds or Grants such Proprietors Corporations or Company, the Real boundaries intended in the said Conveyances, as well as the boundaries by which the Claimers pretend to hold, and the quantities of Land in each Claim over and above what is justly within their Title and that the Committee hereby appointed procure authenticated Copies of all Conveyances of Lands Claimed by Proprieties Corporations or Companies within that County and lay the same before the General Court and that there be a warrant drawn upon the treasury in favor of the said Committee for a sum not exceeding pounds to Enable them to pay the Registers of Deeds and other Persons from whose offices they may receive Copies in the perfecting of the business. aforesaid and for paying such Artist as shall be by them employed to make a plan if a plan shall be found necessarythe said Committee to be accountable for the same.

Resolved that

be and hereby are appointed a Committee to attend to all Grants made by the Government of this state of Lands in the County of Lincoln to inquire whether the Grantees have possessed themselves of more Lands than really intended in the Grants made and if any, how much, and to make a report

of the Result of their inquiry to the General Court as soon as may be

and also Resolved that

be and they hereby are appointed severally and Jointly to attend to the Commonwealth's Lands in the County of Lincoln to prevent the making strip and waste thereon and they are severally hereby required from time to time to find in writing to the Secretary's office the Name of each person who shall be found cutting or carrying away any Trees Lumber or Wood the place of abode and the addition of the person trespassing, the day, as near as the same can be ascertained when the trespass was Committed - the number and bigness of the Trees cut and the quantity of wood carried away in order that the General Court may give proper directions for the prosecution of such trespassers

Read and not accepted

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the House of Representatives Jan 31st 1784Ordered that M' Sullivan, M' King & M' Russell with such as the Hon Senate may join be a Committee to consider what further measures are necessary to be taken for the preservation of the public lands in the Eastern Counties & report Sent up for concurrence

In Senate February 2a 1784

Tristram Dalton Spk

Read & Concurred & Charles Turner & William Lithgow jun' Esq' are joind

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

S Adams Presid

The Committee of both Houses appointed to consider what further measures are necessary to be taken for the preservation of the Publick Lands in the Eastern Counties, ask leave to report the Resolves accompanying

Charles Turner p' Order

Respecting Continental Money.

The Committee of both Houses appointed to consider what Measures are necessary to be adopted in Regard to the old continental Money in the Treasury of this Commonwealth & in the Hands of the Subjects thereof have attended that service & ask leave to Report by way of Resolve

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Nath Goodman p' Order

In Senate March 10th 1784

Resolved that the sum of old continental Money now in the Treasury of this Commonwealth shall be charged to the United States in part payment of the continental Tax assessed in the year 1782 at the Rate of Seventy Five Dollars, for one hard Dollar A & that the several sums of old continental Money now in the Hands of the Citizens of this Commonwealth as soon as the sum shall be received into the Treasury thereof shall be charged to the United States in part payment of the said Tax & at the same Rate And in Order that the Holders of old continental Money being citizens of this Commonwealth may have Justice done them by receiving Governmental Securities or payment for the same in such other Way as the Legislature shall here-after determine & at the same Time to prevent the Reception into the Treasury of this Commonwealth of any sums of old continental Money now in the hands of the Citizens of other States. It is further Resolved that the Clerks of the several Towns, Districts & Plantations within this Commonwealth be & they hereby are directed & required to return into the office of the Secretary of this Commonwealth on or before the first day of June next true & exact Lists under Oath of all the Names of the Owners of the sum Total of old Continental Money already by them respectively returned into the said Office in pursuance of former Resolves for that pur

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