History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

196 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1669.
"To the Right Wor" Wor" and much Honord the Goveniour Depiity
Governo"' and the Rest of onr Honor'' Magistrates & Depiityes Assembled
in Generall Court at Boston.
Right Wor" Wor" and mnch Honord
" Amonge the high and Pecnlier favonres wherewith the Lord hath
dignified his poore people in this wilderness and o'selues in p'iciiler,
this may not bee accounted the least, that wee hane such Godly, Pru-
dent, and Faithfull Rulers set over vs. vnto whom wee may vi^on oiir
necessities supplecate for our releife in our Distressing difficulties, and
that with well grounded assurance, not to bee disown'd in the time of
o"" neede : The Consideration whereof hath encouraged yoiir Petition-
ers the Inhabitants of Northampton to Address o'^selues vnto you in
this oiu- Petition humbly shewing.
'•May it please yoii that wheras ther was a lawe made as wee are informed
the last Sessions of o'' Honord Gene" Court Respecting laying
of Custome or Trybute vpon Corne or other provisions that are brought
into the several Portes within this CoUony, and this Order, as wee are
allsoe informed doth not exempt, but reach and bring in our neighbouring
Plantations belowe vs vpon Conecticut Riuer.
" Wherupon wee are informed that they are like to doe soe by vs all-
soe, and some of them doe tell vs that thej' will make vs pay for all,
and allsoe tell vs that if 2'' p'' biish: will not, 4'' or 6'' shall, and if 2' 6d
p bar. will not 5' shall.
"Wee know your worships vnderstand that wee haue noe way to
Transporte oru- Corne and Provisions but thoroe them, and wee find it
very Difficult and Chargable, for it will Cost 1" p bush, to Winsor, and
2'' p. bush, from thence to Hartford, and 6'' p. bush, from Hartford to
Boston. And many times wee are exposed to warehouse roome. Beesides
all this wee haue binn at very great Charge in laying out. in makeing
and maintayning highwayes, and Bridges, to make them fitt for
Traveling and Carting. And if wee should pay Trybute and Ciistome
at Hartford or elswher in Conecticut Jiirisdiction, wee Conceiue the
burthen will bee soe heavy that wee feare will Cawse some Amongst vs
to bee thinke themselves about speedy remooueing. And Allsoe bee a
meanes to retard and hinder the proceeding and goeing on of any Plan-
tation aboue vs.
" Much honord in the Lord wee feare allsoe that the putting this
lawe in Execution vpon o"^ neighbom-s and loeuing Confederates (who
through the Good hand of Gods Providence v^xm vs, have soe lined in
loue, and Peace to geather without such Taxes) hath in it a Tendency
to breake the bond of Peace and loue: Therefore whether it were not
better to let the Children goe free, and lay taxes and Custome on
Strang".
"Therefore wee humbly begg and crane of you. that you would bee
pleasd to stopp and p''vent the execution of that order vpon our neighbom-ing
CoUony, If it may bee: Or else to make some pvission for your
Petitioners that they may not bee pvoked to doe to vs as is aboue
exprest, that wee may still haue free Passage thoro them. And allsoe
that loue and Peace may bee still Continued as formerly.