ward of the Isle La Motte to the line in the 45th degree of north latitude, established by treaty for the boundary line between the United States and the British Dominions. (See Revised Statutes of New York, Banks & Brothers, sixth edition, Vol. I, pp. 122-123.)

This line was changed in 1876 by a cession of a small territory from Vermont to New York, described as follows, viz:

All that portion of the town of Fairhaven, in the county of Rutland, and State of Vermont, lying westerly from the middle of the deepest channel of Poultney River as it now runs, and between the middle of the deepest channel of said river and the west line of the State of Vermont as at present established. (Ratified by Congress April 7, 1880.)

MASSACHUSETTS.

The territory of Massachusetts was included in the first charter of Virginia, granted in 1606, (Vide Virginia p., 94) and in the charter of New England, granted in 1620, (Vide Maine p. 39.)

In 1628 the council of Plymouth made a grant to the governor and company of Massachusetts Bay in New England, which was confirmed by the King, and a charter was granted in 1629, of which the following are extracts:

* * *

* *

Nowe Knowe Yee, that Wee have given and granted all that Parte of Newe England in Amirica which lyes and extends betweene a great River there commonlie called Monomack River, alias Merrimack River, and a certen other River there, called Charles River, being in the Bottome of a certen Bay there, comonlie called Massachusetts alias Mattachusetts, alias Massatusetts Bay, and also all and singuler those Landes and Hereditament whatsoever, lying within the Space of Three Englishe Myles on the South Parte of the said River called Charles River, or of any or every Parte thereof. And also all and singuler the Landes and Hereditaments whatsoever, lying and being with the space of Three Englishe Miles to the southward of the southermost Parte of the said Baye, called Massachusetts, alias Mattachusetts, alias Massatusetts Bay-and also all those Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever, which lye and be within the space of Three English Myles to the Northward of the saide River, called Monomack, alias Merrymack, or to the Norward of any and every Parte thereof and all Landes and Hereditaments whatsoever, lyeing within the Lymitts aforesaide, North and South, in Latitude and Bredth, and in Length and Longitude, of and within all the Bredth aforesaide, throughout the Mayne Landes there from the Atlantick and Westerne Sea and Ocean on the East Parte, to the South Sea on the West Parte.

Provided alwayes, That yf the said Landes

were at the tyme of

the graunting of the saide former Letters patents, dated the Third Day of November, in the Eighteenth yeare of our said deare Fathers Raigne aforesaide, actuallie possessed or inhabited by any other Christian Prince of State, or were within the Boundes Lymitts or Territories of that Southern Colony, then before graunted by our saide late Father * * That then this present Graunt shall not extend to any such but as to those partes or parcells *

*

* * *

*

partes or parcells thereof shal be vtterlie voyd, theis presents or any Thinge therein conteyned to the contrarie notwistanding

The charter of New England was surrendered to the King in 1635. (Vide Plymouth Colony Laws, p. 333.)

The charter of 1629 was canceled by a judgment of the high court of chancery of England, June 18, 1684. (Vide C. & C., p. 942.)

In the year 1686, Pemaquid and its dependencies were annexed to the New England government. (Vide Maine, p. 40.)

In 1691 a new charter was granted to Massachusetts Bay, which included Plymouth Colony and the Provinces of Maine and Nova Scotia. The following are extracts from this charter:

*

Wee * # * do will and ordeyne that the Territories and Collonyes Commonly called or Known by the names of the Collony of the Massachusetts Bay and Collony of New Plymouth the Province of Main the Territorie called Accadia or Nova Scotia and all that tract of Land lying betweene the said Territories of Nova Scotia and the said Province of Main be erected Vnited and Incorporated into one reall Province by the Name of Our Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England.

*

*

*

All that parte of New England in America lying and extending from the greate River comonly called Monomack als Merrimack on the Northpart and from three Miles Northward of the said River to the Atlantick or Western Sea or Ocean on the South part And all the Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever lying within the limitts aforesaid and extending as farr as the Outermost Points or Promontories of Land called Cape Cod and Cape Mallabar North and South and in Latitude Breadth and in Length and Longitude of and within all the Breadth and Compass aforesaid throughout the Main Land there from the said Atlantick or Western Sea and Ocean on the East parte towards the South Sea or Westward as far as Our Collonges of Rhode Island Connecticutt and the Narragansett Countrey all alsoe all that part or porčon of Main Land beginning at the Entrance of Pescataway Harbour and soe to pass vpp the same into the River Newickewannock and through the same into the furthest head thereof and from thence North westward till One Hundred and Twenty miles be furnished and from Piscataway Harbour mouth aforesid North-Eastward along the Sea Coast to Sagadehock and from the Period of One Hundred and Twenty Miles aforesaid to crosse over Land to the One Hundred and Twenty Miles before reckoned up into the Land from Piscataway Harbour through Newickawannock River and alsoe the North halfe of the Isles and Shoales togather with the Isles of Cappawock and Nantukett near Cape Cod aforesaid and alsoe [all] Lands and Hereditaments lying and being in the Countrey and Territory commonly called Accadia or Nova Scotia And all those Lands and Hereditaments lying and extending betweene the said Countrey or Territory of Nova Scotia and the said River of Sagadahock or any part thereof And all Lands Grounds Places Soiles Woods and Wood grounds Havens Ports Rivers Waters and other Hereditaments and premisses whatsoever, lying within the said bounds and limitts aforesaid and every part and parcell thereof and alsoe all Islands and Isletts lying within tenn Leagues directly opposite to the Main Land within the said bounds. *

(For an account of the settlement of the boundary between the District of Maine, formerly a part of Massachusetts, see Maine, p. 41.)

The present northern boundary of Massachusetts was settled in 1741. (For history, see New Hampshire, p. 48.)

The boundary line between Massachusetts and Rhode Island was for more than two hundred years a question of dispute, and was, in some respects, the most remarkable boundary case with which this country has had to do. Twice the case went to the Supreme Court of the United States, and in one of these suits Daniel Webster and Rufus Choate were employed as counsel for Massachusetts.