The Documentary history of the state of New-York; arranged under direction of the Hon. Christopher Morgan, secretary of State. By E. B. O'Callaghan ...

NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS. 593
who should not pay due Obedience to that order would be.
rejected. This had the desired effect, and altho' it was not
strictly complyed, with as to the Time limited, no advantage was
taken of such Delay, and in a few months, Petitions Memorials &ca were lodged by Persons sent up from thence setting up
claims to ninety six Townships; of this Number no less than
twenty one were deemed to be in this Government before his
Matys order in Council for fixing the Limitts on the Connecticut
River, as they were within twenty miles of the Hudsons River
and within the same distance of the Waters of South' bay and
the Lake Champlain. It was Imagind that this was only by
way of Experiment to try how far this Province would carry
its indulgence towards them, as it has not yet appeared to us
that any kind of settlement was ever made on any of those
claims except in the Townships of Shaftsbury Bennington &
Pownall which were ordered by advice of the Council to be confirmed to those who were actually settled there. As to the rest
of the 21 Townships no Improvement ever having been attempted on them, The Lands after laying waste beyond the time
limited for settling them became again vested in the Crown by
the Conditions of the Charter. Proceedings have been had on
24 of the remaining number so far as Warrants of survey in
pursuance of the orders in Council for that purpose, but although
by His Majestys Instructions the Warrants of survey are directed
to be returned within six months after they are issued some of
these have been issued above Eighteen months and no return
yet made. Four Townships have gone through all the Forms
and their Patents have passed the Great Seal; Three more lay
before me ready for signing at the Time I received your Lordships Letter mentioning his Majestys Commands that no more
Grants should be made till His Pleasure should be signified
to me.
The Proprietors of the Lands intended to be conveyed by those
Patents have been made acquainted with the orders I have received, who do not seem to think themselves under any obligation to Mr Robinson whose Petition has been the cause of the
present obstacle laid in their way, for they have been some time
in Town to get their papers through the different offices and
VOL. iv. 38