An Act for inquiring into the Title and taking care of the Land of the Commonwealth within the late Province of Main

Whereas there is a Vast tract of Territory Extending from the mouth of the River Piscataqua on the Sea Shore to the River Saint Croix and from the sea extending back Northerly & North-Westerly to the Line of the British Province of Canada or quebec and bounded Easterly on the Province of Nova Scotia, and Westerly & Southwesterly on the State of New Hampshire which Territory excepting such small parts thereof as before the Year one Thousand six hundred and ninety two were granted to other Persons than to this Government by the Crown of great Britain or since that Time by this Government under the Title of the Province of Massachusetts Bay is now the real property of this Commonwealth and it being necessary that proper attention should be paid to the same that it may be a source for raising money to be employed in discharge of the Debts' accumulated by the late

war

Be it therefore Enacted by the Senate and house of Representatives in general Court assembled and by the authority of the same that if any person shall Cut down fell destroy or carry any tree within the Limits aforesaid standing or growing on the land of this Commonwealth such person shall forfeit and pay to the Use of the said Commonwealth the sum of Forty Shillings for every tree of the bigness of one foot diameter and half that Sum for every tree of Lesser dimensions and that any person who shall carry off any wood or underwood from the Land of the Commonwealth within the Limits aforesaid shall forfeit and pay to the use of the Commonwealth three times the value of such wood or under wood

Provided that nothing in this Act Shall Extend to Lessen the penalty for Cutting pine trees as provided by an Act passed this present Session

and be it further enacted that Three Commissioners be appointed by joint ballot of both Houses to Superintend the Same Lands belonging to the State within the Limits aforesaid, and they are also impowered to bring an action or Actions against any person or persons for Cutting any tree or trees or carrying off any wood or underwood as aforesaid on the Land of the Commonwealth before described and by an Action of Trespass brought in their names as agents to the Commonwealth & to the use of the same to recover the penalty provided by this Act against any person or persons who shall Trespass the same Lands as aforesaid

and the said Commissioners are also hereby empowered to bring any Action of Ejectment or other real action in their Capacity aforesaid to recover for the use of the said Commonwealth any Tract of Land within the Limits aforesaid not granted to private persons as aforesaid

And it is also Enacted that if either of the agents aforesaid shall resign or shall die the right of prosecuting any Action then pending in their names shall Survive to the others. and those persons who shall be from time to time appointed by the General Court on the said Committee shall have the same powers as those named in this Act.

Provided nevertheless that if the said Agents shall bring any Action for the Recovery of Land without the orders of the Legislature they shall bear the expence thereof themselves

And it is also Enacted that the said Committee shall have authority to appear by an Attorney appointed in the same manner as other persons may appear by Attorney, and shall as soon as may be procure and lay before the General Court a Plan of the Territory aforesaid from some of the best plans now Extant of the same and shall delineate thereon from Time to time the real Property of Private persons within the said Territory,

And the Said Committee shall also have full power to

Enter in behalf of the Commonwealth upon any Land within the Limits afores" belonging to the same, and to lease the same for any Term not exceeding three years

Provided that no lease by them made Shall Justify the Cutting of any Trees on the Land Leased or to be abar to the penalty provided in this Act for Trespassing on the Land of the Government

And the said Committee Shall as soon as may be State to the General Court the Several Claims of Individuals within the Territory aforesaid, the proper Extent of such Claims, the quantity Claimed distinguishing the Legal Claims from those to which the persons claiming Pretend

In the House of Representatives Oct° 23d 1783

This Bill having had three several Readings passed to be Engrossed

Whereas the Committee who were appointed by a Resolve of the General Court of May first 1781 for examining into all Trespasses and illegal entries on the unappropriated Lands belonging to this Commonwealth cannot execute the business that may arise in all the Eastern Countries with necessary dispatch -It is the opinion of your Committee that the last mentioned Committee be excused from attending to any concerns that may fall within their Commission in the County of Lincoln and that a Committee be appointed specially for the said County of Lincoln to do and execute all that in the said County which the Committee appointed

by the Resolve aforesaid were impowered to do and execute in the said County of Lincoln —

Resolved that the Committee appointed by a Resolve of the General Court of May the first 1781 for examining into all Trespasses and illegal Entries on the unappropriated Lands belonging to this Commonwealth be enjoined to compleat without delay in the Counties of York and Cumberland the business assigned them by said Resolve and one other Resolve of June the eleventh 1783 — and the said Committee be and they are hereby directed to lay out one or more Townships in the County of Cumberland if they shall judge it expedient and make Report of the same at the next sessions of the General Court

Resolved that the aforesaid Committee be and they are hereby discharged of any further execution of their Commission in the said County of Lincoln and no further—

Resolved that a Committee to consist of three Persons be appointed for the purpose of doing and executing all that in the said County

Sir

Thomas Mifflin to Governor in re Treaty of Paris.

Philadelphia November 23rd 1783

I have the honor to inform you, that Mr Thaxter, private Secretary to Mr Adams, arrived last night from France; being dispatched by our Ministers at paris, with the definitive Treaty between America and Great Britain; which was signed on the third day of September

I beg leave to congratulate your Excellency on this great event & remain with much respect & Esteem

Your Excellency's ob' hble Serv

Thomas Mifflin

His Excellency The Governor of Massachusetts

Affidavits.

Warren December 8th 1783

We John Willie and John Watson of Lawful age Testify And say that on this Eight Day of December We Saw William Lermond of Warren Serve the acting town Clerk (the Regular Chosen Clerk being at Sea) with a Copy a pettion and order of Court for having his Land Lying in Thomas town Annext to Warren

John Willie, John Watson

Warren December the 8 1783

Then the above Named John Willie and John Watson personally appeard and mad oath to above Deposition by taken and subscribed

Before me

Patrick Pepble Just. of Pease

Certificate in Favor Joseph Marquand.

This Certifies,

Boston Septem. 24, 1783

That the sum of One thousand five hundred & thirty eight Pounds, five shillings & seven pence, including Interest, is due to Mr. Joseph Marquand, for the Balance of his three sixteenth parts of the armed Ship Monmouth lost on the Expedition to Penobscott in the year 1779-which Sum when paid will be in full for the same - £1538.5.7

Thomas Ivers

Peter Roe Dalton

In Council Sept 25th 1783.

Comtee for Audit the Accts of the late Board of War

R & Advised that a Wt be drawn on the Treasury in full of the above Certificate agrecable to Resolve of 28th Jan' 1782.

John Avery Sec

His Excellency the Governor & the Hon. the Council of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts