The Statistics and Gazetteer of New-Hampshire, Seventh
Edition, Compiled by Alonzo J. Fogg. Concord, N.H.:    D.L.

FIRST SETTLEMENT.    15

hold equal shares, obtained the title for a company. To effect this,
they acquired of Robert T. Mason a relinquishment of the claim
^:he made to it, and entered into a mutual agreement, May 12,1686,
for the control of the whole territory. This was called the million
acre purchase.

June 14, 1728, the General Court of Massachusetts, after pro-
tracted consideration, agreed that the vote pertaining to townships
in New-Hampshire, Dec. 13,1727, should be carried into effect. The
vote was, for the better protection of the inhabitants, and to diminish
the cost of defence in war, townships, each of six mjles square, be
laic out, by committees, in a straight line, from the north-east cor-
ner of Northfield, to the north-west corner of Dunstable, northward
of the said line ten miles, to the south-ward five miles, on both sides
of Merrimac River, east of said river three miles, and west of it six
miles, from the north part of Dunstable to the south part of Con-
cord. Jan. 15, 1736, the Legislature of Massachusetts accepted
the report of a committee. It proposed that, for protection and
defence, a line of towns from the north-west corner of Rumford or
Concord, to the Great Falls of Connecticut River, and from these
falls, on the east side of said river, to Arlington, and one or two
towns, between these falls, and the equivalent land on the west
side of this river, be laid out.

The necessity of the times demanding a further prosecution of
their object, the Legislature passed, on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 1737,
the following order:—“ In the House of Representatives. Whereas
several townships, heretofore granted, are now settling, and many
inhabitants have actually got on Asheuelot River, and on a town-
ship granted to Josiah Willard, Esq., and others, lying on or near
Connecticut River, and also other people are settled on severdl
townships, on or near Merrimac River, which have not as yet been
laid to or declared in what county they lye, and it being necessary
that those people know in what county they be in order to have
their title recorded, the King’s peace preserved, and common jus-
tice done therein, as other his Majestie’s subjects within this prov-
ince ; wherefore, voted that the said townships, granted to Josiah
Willard, and commonly called Arlington, the two townships on
Asheuelot River, the township granted to Sylvester and company,
the several townships to the westward of Connecticut River, the four
townships on the east side and adjoining to Connecticut River, and
also three, four, eight and nin^ in the line of towns, and the lands