265 



where in 1737 assembled the General Court to confer with the 

 Legislature of New Hampshire concerning the boundary line 

 between the two provinces. This boundary line had long 

 been in dispute, from the fact that the Massachusetts Patent 

 described the northern boundary of its grant as on a line run- 

 ning "three miles north" of the Merrimack river, thus con- 

 flicting (through ignorance respecting the course of that riv- 

 er which was supposad to run due east) with the claims of 

 other grantees. It was finally settled, in 1740, upon its 

 present location. We were shown the house, 'still standing, 

 in which, it is said, the General Court assembled. The New 

 Hampshire Legislature sat at the same time in Hampton. 



Before and during the existence of the county of Norfolk, 

 New Hampshire had been under the dominion of Massachu- 

 setts, and for many years there was much objection to a 

 separation of New Hampshire in to a distinct province. This 

 was accomplished, however, in 1680. John Cutt or Cutts 

 was made the first President and ELTAS STILEMAN the first 

 Secretary. 



Mr. Stileman was from Salem where he had been Clerk of 

 the Court, Register of Probate, &c. He was one of the earli- 

 est opponents of a separation from Massachusetts, but not- 

 withstanding this he rose to the position, of Deputy Govern- 

 or, and, throughout his life, was one of the chief men of the 

 new Province. 



The Speaker forbore to mention the names of some men 

 of great distinction who have lived here in later times, but 

 would refer to one of his predecessors in office, who had been 

 brought to mind to-day as the speaker stood looking over the 

 extensive marshes between the river and some parts of the 

 town. On those marshes, in Dec. 1722, Daniel Rogers of 

 Ipswich, then Register of Probate for Essex County, who 

 had been to Salisbury on some official business, lost his way 



ESSEX INST. PROCEED. VOL. ili. 34. 



