FOUNDERS OF FORT NO. 4, CHARLESTOWN, NH From: Farns10th@aol.com - Janice Farnsworth Topic:  The Granting of Fort 4 Source:  Hist. of Charlestown, NH Fort 4 by Rev. Henry H. Saunderson Chapter 1 p.1 Circumstances connected with the Granting of No. 4, by Massachusetts Bay, and matters preliminary to its settle- ment. The following facts afford an explanation without which much that is of interest in the granting, settlement and early history of No. 4, will fail to be understood. At the time of the granting of No. 4 by Massachusetts Bay it was supposed that the territory now included in the township of Charlestown, was embraced within that prov- ince. When the Charters of Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire were granted, the explorations of the country had been so imperfect that the knowledge of its geography possessed by the sovreigns of Great Britan was both limit- ed and inaccurate. As a consequence no little confusion was ultimately produced, resulting in conflicts of juris- diction arising from indefinite boundaries. In these conflicts not only New Hampshire and Massachusetts, but Connecticut and New York became involved, and in the nature of the case this was unavoidable as, in numerous instances different grantees were invested by their charters with right to the same territory. (see B. J. Lossing's Life of Gen. Schuyler) Thus the western boundaries of Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut were by their charters upon the South Sea or Pacific Ocean; while Charles II had granted to his brother, the Duke of York the Province of New Netherlands, which lay along the Hudson River, directly west of these colonies. Here was direct and palpable conflict, which nothing but mutual concession and compromise could settle. The boundaries of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, though not in the same manner conflicting, were still indefinite and unde- termined, as each privince claimed by its charter a divi- sional line greatly differing from that which was insist- ed upon by the other. It was absolutely essential, there- fore, to an established peace and harmony between these provinces, that some line of division should be mutually agreed upon or that an appeal should be made for a de- cision to the power from which their charters had been originally derived. It being found that the former course was more likely to create new complications than to result satisfactorily to either of the parties, the feeling on the part of New Hampshire at length became so intense for ascertaining definitely her territorial jurisdiction that it was determined in 1733 to present a petition to his majesty, King George II praying for the appointment of commissioners, whose duty it should be to ascertain the respective boundaries of the two prov- inces. In accordance with this determination, the peti- tion was prepared and presented, and to quote from the Provincial Records of New Hampshire, "Upon hearing of both parties before the Attorney and Solictor General, the Board of Trade and the Council, His Majesty was pleased by his order in Council, the 9th February, 1736 to direct that a Commission should be prepared and pass Under the great Seal, authorizing Commissioners to mark out the dividing Line between the Provinces of the Massa- chusetts Bay and New Hampshire, giving Liberty to either Party therein who thought themselves aggrieved to appeal therefrom to his Majestie in Council. In Pursuance of his Majesty's said Commission, Commissioners met and re- ported their Determination, specially; upon which both Provinces appealed to His Majesty in Council, and after- wards their Lordships reported to His Majesty as their opinion 'That the Northern Boundaries of the Massachusetts Bay are and be a similar curve line pursuing the Course of Merrimac River at three Miles Distance from the North side thereof, beginning at the Atlantic Ocean and ending at a Point due North of a Place in the plan returned by said commissioners called Pautucket Falls, and a straight Line Drawn from thence due West crossing the said River till it meets with His Majesty's other Governments, and that the rest of the Commissioners' said report of De- termination be affirmed by his Majesty. In 1738, His Majesty was Pleased with the advice of his Privy Council to approve of their Lordship's Report and to confirm it accordingly, in Consequence whereof the Line has been marked out." 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