16 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



Hampshire would be confirmed, if the jurisdic- 

 tion should be altered; the settlers were exhorted, 

 not to be intimidated, but to be industrious an<j[ 

 diligent in cultivating their lands ; and the civil 

 officers were required, to exercise jurisdiction as 

 far westward, as grants had been made, and to 

 punish all disturbers of the peace. This proc- 

 lamation served to quiet the minds of the set- 

 tlers : And after such assurances from a royal 

 governor, they had no idea that a contest be- 

 tween two provinces, respecting the extent of 

 their jurisdiction, would ever affect the property 

 of such individuals, as had fairly purchased their 

 lands, under a charter from a royal government. 

 Nev/ York had as yet founded her claim to 

 the lands, upon the g<-ant to the duke of York ; 

 but that sagacious government did not choose 

 to rely upon so precarious a ground. Applica- 

 tions were made to the crown representing that 

 it would be greatly for the convenience and ad- 

 vantage of the people, who were settled west of 

 Connecticut river, to be annexed to New York ; 

 that the course of business must always lie that 

 ■\vay, and that the people were desirous to be 

 included in that government.* The result of 

 these applications, w^as a decision in favor of 

 New York : On July 20th, 1764, his majesty 

 ordered and declared, " the western banks of 

 the river Connecticut, from where it enters the 

 province of the Massachusetts bay, as far north 

 as the forty fifth degree of northern latitude, to 

 ke the boundary line, between the said two 



* The inhabitants complained that a petition was presented to the kin», 

 signed with their names, but unknown to them. In their firft petition to 

 Congress, Jan. 7, 1776, they give this account of the petition, " We hace 

 often heardj and venly believe [it wasj in your petitioners' name*." 



