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CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS
IT. GOV. GOLDEN TO THE BOARD OF TRADE.
My Lords The Dispute subsisting between this and his Majesty’s Government of New Hampshire respecting their Boundary obliges me to lay the State of this Matter before your Lordships.
In April 1750 Governor Clinton communicated to the Council a Letter of the 17 th Nov r from M rWentworth Governor of New Hampshire , representing that he had it in Command from his Majestyto make Grants of the unimproved Lands in New Hampshire , and Desiring Information how farNorth of Albany this Province extended, and how many miles to the Eastward of Hudson’s River,to the Northward of the Massachusetts Line, that he might govern himself accordingly—As also anExtract of his Majesty’s Commission to M r Wentworth, describing the Boundaries of that Governm 4By the Advice of the Council, M r Clinton informed M r Wentworth, in Answer to his Request, Thatthis Province is bounded Eastward by Connecticut River , the Letters Patent from King Charles theSecond to the Duke of York expressly granting “ All the Lands from the West side of ConnecticutRiver to the East side of Delaware Bay .”
M r Wentworth in his Answer of the 25 th April, says that he had Communicated to his Majesty’sCouncil of that Government, the above opinion of the Council of the Province, which he declareswould have been satisfactory had not the two Charter Governments of Connecticut and the Massa-chusetts Bay extended their Bounds many miles to the Westward of Connecticut River , and desiredto be informed by what Authority Connecticut and the Massachusets Governments claimed so farto the Westward as they had settled ; and acquainted Governor Clinton, that before the Receit of hisLetter of the 9 th of April, he had Granted a Township due North of the Massachusits Line, of theContents of six miles square, and by Measurement Twenty four miles East of the city of Albany —Upon Governor Clinton’s laying this Letter before the Council, they advised him to Inform GovernorWentworth, That the Claim of the Government of Connecticut is founded upon an Agreement withthat of New York in the year 1683, afterward confirmed by King William—But that as to theMassachusits Settlement so far to the Westward, it was presumed they were first made by Intrusion,and since continued thro’ the Neglect of this Government—And that it was probable the Landswithin the Township he had lately granted, or some part of them had been already granted by theGovernment of New York .
In July 1750, M r Wentworth’s Letter of the 22 d June preceeding was laid before the Council,declaring that his Majesty’s Council of that Province were unanimously of opinion not to commencea Dispute with this Government respecting the Extent of Western Boundary to New Hampshire ,until his Majesty’s pleasure should be further known, and accordingly the Council had advised thathe should on the part of New Hampshire , make a Representation of the Matter to his Majesty, relyingthat M 1 ' Clinton would do the same on the part of New York To which proposal this Governmentagreed ; adding that it would be a 5 et «ure for the Mutual advantage of both Provinces, that theCopies of the respective Representations to be made to his Majesty on this Head should be exchanged.
On the 2 d September M r Wentworth signifyed the Assent of his Government to the last mentionedproposal, as it might contribute to the Speedy Settlement of the Boundary between the two Provincesand assured M r Clinton that he would Transmit to him a Copy of the Representation he shouldmake in behalf of New Hampshire as soon as perfected.
I find the Representation on the part of New York was not approved of by the Council until the18 1 * 1 of October 1751, when it was entered on the Minutes together with a letter of mine on the