rods to a monument erected by said former commissioners; thence north 82° 52′ west 109 chains 35 links to a stone monuments erected by us on the road from Granville to Hartland; thence the same course 275 chains 91 links to a large heap of stones on the west bank of Slocum Brook between two hemlock trees, having many ancient and modern marks thereon, being a monument made by said former commissioners; in this course, the commissioners of 1717 made mention of a large hemlock tree, and a very large white-ash tree which we do not find; thence north 81° 50′ west 93 chains 74 links to a stone monument erected by us on the Beach-hill Road, so-called; thence in the same course 235 chains to a stone monument erected by us at a heap of stones about an elm tree standing on the west bank of Sandy Brook, a monument made by said former commissioners, who mentioned in their report a monument in this course, which we do not find; thence north 82° 11' west 357 chains 30 links to a stone monument erected by us on the road from Marlborough to Norfolk; thence same course 38 chains 20 links to a monument made by said former commissioners on the west bank of Whiting River, near falls, being a heap of flat stones on a large rock; thence north 82° 9' west 219 chains to a stone monument at the end of Greenwood Turnpike road; in this course said former commissioners marked two trees, which we do not find; thence in the same course 161 chains 75 links to a stone monument at the Burrell Road, so-called, leading from Canaan to Suffield; thence in the same course 49 chains to an elm tree, with stones near it, on the east bank of Housatonic River, about six rods west from a chestnut stump and stones, a monument made by said former commissioners, who also marked a white oak tree in this course which we not find; thence north 82° 52′ west 20 chains 50 links to a stone monument erected by us at the road leading from Salisbury to Sheffield, called Wetany Road; thence in the same course 119 chains 50 links to a stone monument erected by us at the road from Salisbury to Sheffield, near Ebenezer Fletcher's house; thence on the same course 211 chains 35 links to a stone monument erected by us at the mountain road from Salisbury to Sheffield; thence on the same course 28 chains 4 links to a monument established by said former commissioners at the foot of the mountain, being a heap of stones on a large rock, 20 links long on the northeasterly side, 5 feet high on the southerly side, and which we marked 1803 on the southerly side; thence north 85° 30' west 147 chains 20 links to a stone monument erected by us on the road from Salisbury to Mount Washington; thence on the same course 81 chains 80 links to a large heap of stones, the oblong corner bounds, so-called between the State of Connecticut and New York.

The courses of said line as before given, and here by us are according to the present state of Magnetic needle, which we observed to vary 5° west of north. (See Private Laws of Conn., vol. 2, pages 1540 to 1544.)

ABSTRACT OF REPORT OF COMMISSION OF 1803 ON BOUNDARY BETWEEN MASSACHUSETTS AND CONNECTICUT WEST OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER.

Beginning at a point on the west bank of Connecticut River, in latitude 42° 01′ 52".10, longitude 72° 37′ 03′′.46, and running north 82° 45′ west 22 chains 25 links; thence north 820 west 95 chains 33 links; thence north 77° 4' west 138 chains 63 links; thence north 79° 48' west 102 chains 80 links; thence north 81° 30′ west 61 chains 20 links; thence south 50 west 2 chains; thence north 85° west 167 chains 33 links to a stone monument at the middle pond, 22 links east of low-water mark, latitude 42° 02′ 11′′, longitude 72° 45′ 45′′.07; thence southerly along the east shore of said pond, and also south pond, to a stone monument at high-water mark, at the south corner of said south pond; thence south 10° 20′ west 24 chains 78 links to a stone monument at southeast corner of Southwick, which is in latitude 42° 00′ 11′′.98, lon

5 Boundary stone in west front of Granville.

gitude 72° 46' 24".23; thence south 87° 30' west 208 chains 22 links to a stone monument at the southwest corner of Southwick, which is in latitude 41° 59′ 51′′.89, longitude 72° 49′ 25′′.47; thence north 10° 20′ east 212 chains 84 links, to a stone monument at the northwest corner of the Southwick Jog, which is in latitude 42° 02′ 12′′.39, longitude 72° 49′ 13′′.51; thence north 82° 17′ west 242 chains 40 links to a white oak tree, marked by commissioners in 1717, which is in latitude 42° 02′ 15′′.84, longitude 72° 52′ 47′′.74; thence north 84° 24' west 205 chains 50 links; thence north 85° 7' west 62 chains 15 links; thence north 82° 52′ west 109 chains 35 links to a stone monument in latitude 42° 02′ 17′′.03, longitude 72° 58′ 22.52; thence north 820 52′ west 275 chains 91 links; thence north 81° 45′ west 70 chains; thence north 81° 50' west 328 chains 74 links to a stone monument, which is in latitude 42° 02′ 31′′.11, longitude 73° 07′ 35′′.94; thence north 82° 11' west 395 chains 50 links; thence north 82° 9' west 430 chains; thence north 82° 52' west 140 chains to a stone monument on the road from Salisbury to Sheffield, which is in latitude 42° 02′ 58′′.11, longitude 73° 22′ 55′′.27; thence north 82° 52′ west 239 chains 39 links; thence north 85° 30′ west 239 chains to the northwest corner of Connecticut, which is in latitude 42° 02′ 58.54, longitude 73° 30′ 06′′.66.

According to the survey of the cession of Boston Corners, by Massachusetts to New York, in 1855, the south boundary of Massachusetts from the northwest corner of Connecticut to the southwest corner of Massachusetts is as follows, viz:

A line running north 89° 08′ 4′′ west, 40 chains, by the true meridian. The courses of the line of 1803 are magnetic, with the variation as at that date: i. e., 50 west.

The latitudes and longitudes in the foregoing are taken from the Borden Trigonometrical Survey of Massachusetts of 1843.

In 1826, the line between Massachusetts and Connecticut east of the Connecticut River was run by commissioners appointed from each State. An abstract of the commissioners' report is here given :

Abstract of report of commissioners of 1826.—The commissioners first made the following survey: Commencing at the northeast corner of Connecticut, at a large pile of stones erected by commissioners of 1734; thence running due west on the latitude of 42° 3′ north to the west line of Woodstock, 15 miles 169 rods 15 links. (This is hereafter referred to as the "first line of latitude.") Thence north 30 west 54 rods 19 links to an old pine tree, the reputed northeast corner of Union; thence due west 25 miles 168 rods to Connecticut River. (This line is hereinafter referred to as the "second line of latitude," and the second line of latitude is 54 rods north of the first.) These lines of latitude were compared with the ancient survey, monuments, evidence, etc., of the line run by the commissioners of 1713; the said lines of latitude were found to vary in sundry places therefrom. Therefore, in order to conform as near as possible to the line of 1713, the line was run as follows, viz :

Beginning at the northeast corner of Connecticut and running west on "first line of latitude" 1,702 rods and 4 links to the road to the Merino road; thence in a direct line 1,372 rods 20 links to the road leading from Muddy Brook, so called, by Pennel May's to Southbridge; this point is 21 rods 10 links north of the "first line of latitude"; thence in a direct

line 360 rods 5 links to the Norwich and Woodstock turnpike (this point is 20 rods and 5 links north of "first line of latitude"); thence in a direct line 954 rods 18 links to the road leading from West Woodstock by Abel Mason's to Southbridge (this point is 10 rods and 22 links north of "first line of latitude"); thence in a direct line 1,247 rods to the road leading from Union by Asher Bodgen's to Holland (this point is 2 rods 143 links south of "second line of latitude"); thence in a direct line 1,127 rods to the turnpike from Hertford through Stafford and Holland to Worcester (this point is 6 rods 23 links south of the "second line of latitude"); thence in a direct line 467 rods to an old white-oak tree, an ancient bound, on the road from Stafford by Robert Andruss' to South Brimfield (this point is 1 rod 2 links south of "second line of latitude"); thence in a direct line of 1,615 rods to the road leading from Stafford by Henry Cady's to Monson (this point is 16 rods 15 links south of "second line of latitude)"; thence in a direct line 256 rods to the Tracy road (this point is 12 rods 12 links south of "second line of latitude)"; thence in a direct line 620 rods to the road leading from Stafford by Seth Sheldon's to South Wilbraham (this point is 14 rods 7 links south of "second line of latitude"); thence in a direct line 1,066 rods to the road from Somer's by Walter Ainsworth's to Springfield. (this point is 4 rods 1 link north of "second line of latitude"); thence in a direct line 523 rods to the road from Somer's by Abel Peas's to Springfield (this point is 6 rods 12 links south of the "second line of latitude"); thence due west 645 rods to the ancient line between Springfield (now Long Meadow) and Enfield; thence south 80° 30′ west by the true meridian 645 rods to a monument at an old oak stump; thence south 51° 30' west by the true meridian 164 rods 18 links to a monument at an old pine stump; thence due west 349 rods 15 links to a monument on the Connecticut River 12 rods from the shore; thence due west to Connecticut River. On the line are erected 49 monument stones, marked on the north side M and on the south side C.

The commissioners also surveyed and marked the line from the the corner of Connecticut to the corner of Rhode Island, reporting as follows:

Beginning at the monument erected at the northeast corner of said State of Connecticut and running in a direct line to the ancient heap of stones on the north side of the turnpike leading from Hertford to Boston through Thompson and Douglass, where we erected a monument, and thence running in a direct line to the northwest corner of the State of Rhode Island.

(For survey of 1826, see Private Laws of Conn., vol. 2, pages 1544 to 1550.)

The boundary between Massachusetts and New York at an early period became a subject of bitter dispute, New York claiming to the west bank of the Connecticut River under the charters of 1664 and 1674 to the Duke of York, Massachusetts claiming under her old charters to the South Sea. After many fruitless attempts at a settlement, an ar

rangement was entered into in 1773 fixing the western boundary of Massachusetts where it meets New York territory. The Revolution following soon after, the line was not run. In 1785 Congress appointed three commissioners to run the line, who performed that duty in 1787. The line was as follows, viz:

Beginning at a monument erected in 1731 by commissioners from Connecticut and New York, distant from the Hudson River 20 miles, and running north 15° 12′ 9′′, east 50 miles 41 chains and 79 links, to a red or black oak tree marked by said commissioners, which said line was run as the magnetic needle pointed in 1787. (Vide Revised Statutes of New York, 1875, p. 122.)

The claims of Massachusetts to western lands were finally settled December 16, 1786, by a joint commission of the two States. By this agreement Massachusetts surrendered the sovereignty of the whole disputed territory to New York, and received in return the right of soil and pre-emption right of Indian purchase west of the meridian passing through the eighty-second mile-stone of the Pennsylvania line, excepting certain reservations upon Niagara River. The title to a tract known as "The Boston Ten Towns," lying east of this meridian, previously granted by Massachusetts, was also confirmed. (Vide Hough's N. Y. Gaz., 1872, pp. 25, 26.)

April 19, 1785, Massachusetts executed a deed to the United States. It included all title of the State of Massachusetts to territory west of the present western boundary of New York.

In 1820 Maine, hitherto a part of Massachusetts, was admitted into the Union as an independent State.

In 1853 a small portion of territory in the southwestern corner of Massachusetts, known as Boston Corner, was ceded to New York, and the cession confirmed by Congress in 1855.

The cession of Boston Corner to New York changes the boundary, so that it is now as follows, viz:

Beginning at a monument erected in 1731 by commissioners from Connecticut and New York (known as the Connecticut monument), standing in the south boundary of Massachusetts, latitude 42° 02′ 58′′.54, longitude 73° 30′ 06′′.66, which is the northwest corner of the State of Connecticut; thence along the south boundary of Massachusetts, north 89° 08′ 41′′ west, 40 chains; thence north 12° 57′ 16" west 207.495 chains to a marble post marked on the east side M. S., on the west side N. Y., and on the south side 1853, which is in the line run by United States commissioners in 1787; thence north 15° 12′ 9′′ east on the line run by said United States commissioners (647 miles 73.705 chains) to a red or black oak tree marked by said United States commissioners, in the south boundary of the State of Vermont, latitude 42° 44′

"This distance has been obtained by subtracting the length of the west line of Boston Corner given in survey of 1853 from the entire length of west boundary of Massa chusetts as given by the United States commissioners in 1787.

45.58, longitude 73° 16'17".68. [See Revised Statutes of New York, 1875, page 122; also plat of survey of Boston Corner in 1853, a copy of which is on file in office of clerk of House of Representatives at Washington, D. C.]

RHODE ISLAND.

The present State of Rhode Island was settled by Roger Williams and other immigrants, who left Massachusetts Bay and established themselves at Providence in 1636.

In 1643 a patent was granted for the Providence Plantation, from which the following are extracts, viz:

And wheras there is a tract of land in the continent of America aforesaid, called by the name of the Narraganset Bay, bordering northward and northeast on the patent of the Massachusetts, east and southeast on Plymouth patent, south on the ocean, and on the west and northwest by the Indians called Narigganneucks, alias Narragansets, the whole tract extending about 25 English miles unto the Pequot River and country; and wheras divers English inhabitants of the towns of Providence, Portsmouth, and Newport, in the tract aforesaid, have represented their desire, # * # do * give, grant, and confirm to the aforesaid inhabitants of the towns of Providence, Portsmouth, and Newport a firm and absolute charter of incorporation, to be known by the name of the incorporation of Providence Plantations, in the Narraganset Bay, in New England.

*

*

*

# #

we

In 1663 Charles II granted a charter to Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, of which the following is an extract:

* *

"All that parte of our dominiones in New-England, in America, conteyneing the Nahantick and Narragansett Bay, and countryes and partes adjacent, bounded on the west, or westerly, to the middle or channel of a river there, commonly called and known by the name of Pawcatuck, alias Pawcawtuck river, and soe along the sayd river, as the greater or middle streame thereof reacheth or lyes upp into the north countrye, northward, unto the head thereof, and from thence, by a streight lyne drawn due north untill itt meets with the south lyne of the Massachusetts Collony; and on the north, or northerly, by the aforesayd south or southerly lyne of the Massachusetts Collony or Plantation, and extending towards the east, or eastwardly, three English miles to the east and north-east of the most eastern and north-eastern parts of the aforesayd Narragansett Bay, as the sayd bay lyeth or extendeth itself from the ocean on the south, or southwardly, unto the mouth of the river which runneth towards the towne of Providence, and from thence along the eastwardly side or banke of the sayd river (higher called by the name of Seacunck river), up to the ffalls called Patuckett ffalls, being the most westwardly lyne of Plymouth Collony, and soe from the sayd ffalls, in a streight lyne, due north, untill itt meet with the aforesayd line of the Massachusetts Collony; and bounded on the south by the ocean." And in particular, the lands belonging to the townes of Providence, Pawtuxet, Worwicke, Nusquammack, alias Pawcatuck, and the rest upon the main land in the tract aforesayd together with Rhode Island, Blocke Island, and all the rest of the islands and banks in the Narragansett Bay and bordering upon the coast of the tracts aforesaid (Ffishers Island only excepted).

* *

(For history of the northern and eastern boundaries see Massachusetts, p. 54.)

In 1703 substantially the present western boundary was settled by an agreement made between the commissioners from the two colonies of Rhode Island and Connecticut, viz: "A straight line from the mouth