THE WHEELWRIGHT DEED.    643

It may be a forgery as stated by Mr. Savage—but before it is fully
dropped from New-Hampshire’s early history, there should be stronger
evidence and more conclusive arguments adduced than have yet appear-
ed, in our opinion, for any son of New Hampshire to lend his aid to its
obliteration.¹

Since writing the foregoing, relative to the Wheelwright Deed, the
Rev. Dr. Bouton, State Historian, has carefully prepared a paper on this
important subject, and after weighing all the points touching this deed,
he has become fully convinced that it must be a forgery.

We make no issue with Dr. Bouton, for his historical research is far
beyond what we can ever hope to attain. But our only regret is, that
this conclusion has been deferred to so late a period, and that it has not
been placed in the Provincial Records where it rightfully belongs.

1

It is to be hoped that before another history of New-Hampshire is written, prominent men
connected with the New-Hampshire Historical Society will fully investigate this question and
decide whether the people of this State can live under this deed, or to have it expunged from th«
early records of New-Hampshire.