Charter

THE ACT OF INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF MILFORD

State of New Hampshire

An act to incorporation the southwesterly part of Amherst, the northwesterly part of Hollis, the Mile Slip and Duxbury-School-Farm into a town, and to invest the inhabitants thereof with all such privileges and immunities as other towns in this State hold and enjoy:

Approved January 11, 1794

Whereas a petition, signed by a number of inhabitants of the southwesterly part of Amherst, the northwesterly part of Hollis, the Mile-Slip and Duxbury school farm (so called), has been preferred, setting forth, that, by an act of incorporation, passed by the legislature of this State, on the first day  of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, seven hundred and ninety two, the southwest part of Amherst aforesaid, was by certain boundaries; therein described, made a parish; that the tract of land therein contained, is too small for a town; that the inhabitants of Mile-Slip and Duxbury School Far aforesaid, are unable to support the gospel, build bridges and maintain schools;  that a number of inhabitants of the northwesterly part of said Hollis could be better accommodated by being, annexed to the said Southwest parish in Amherst.

They, therefore, prayed, that they might be incorporated and made a body of politic with all the corporate powers and privileges by law, vested in other towns;  And the inhabitants of the town of Amherst, in legal town meeting, having voted their assent to the same. 

Therefore, be it enacted by the Senate and house of Representatives in General Court convened, that all the lands and inhabitants within the following limits, viz, Beginning at the southwest corner of the north west parish in Amherst aforesaid, on Lyndeborough east line, thence running easterly to the northeast corner of Amos Green's lot, called the mill lot, thence southerly on a straight line to the southwest corner of the lot number twenty; thence easterly on the range line to the northeasterly corner of William Peabody’s land;  thence southerly on the range line between John Shepard Esquire's and William Peabody's land, until it comes to land belonging to the heirs of John Shepard late of said Amherst, deceased;  thence easterly to the north east corner of the same, joining to land of the said John Shepard Esquire, thence southerly by land of John Shepard, Esq., aforesaid, on the range line to the Sowhegann river; thence down the middle of the same, till it strikes land owned by Benjamin and Stephen Kendrick; thence southerly by said Kendrick’s land, to the road leading from David Danforth's to the Town of Wilton; thence crossing the same and running a south point to Hollis line, being near David Duncklee's house, and then to ·the north east corner of land lately laid off from said Hollis by their committee appointed for the above purpose;  thence running south about twelve degrees east so as to strike the northeast corner of John Starns’s land it being the northwest corner of Robert Colburne's land, thence on the same course until it comes to the southeast corner of the said Starns's land;  thence westerly by said Starns's and William Hale's land, until it comes to the north west corner of said Hale's  land;  thence westerly to the north east corner of Mr. Gould's land, and so on westerly by said Gould's and David Danforth' s land to said Gould's northwest corner, thence turning southwesterly to the south east corner of Robert Durrah's land; thence west fifteen degrees south until it comes to Raby east line;  thence northerly on said Raby east line, until it comes to the south line of said Amherst;  thence westerly on the north line of said Raby to the southwest corner of Amherst, thence southerly by the west line of said Raby to the southeast corner of the mile slip; thence westerly to the southwest corner thereof;  thence northerly on the east lines of Mason and Wilton to 'the northwest corner of the mile slip; thence easterly on the south line of Lyndeborough to the south east corner thereof;  thence northerly by the east line of Lyndeborough to the bounds first mentioned, Be, and the same are hereby incorporated into a town by the name of Milford; and the inhabitants who reside and shall hereafter reside within the before mentioned boundaries, are made and constitute a body politic and corporate and invested with all the powers, privileges and immunities which towns in 'this State by law are entitled to enjoy, to remain a distinct town, and have continuance and succession forever'.

And be it further enacted, That August Blanchard Esquire be and he hereby is authorized and empowered to call a meeting of said inhabitants for the purpose of choosing all necessary town officers, and shall preside therein until a moderator shall be chosen to govern said meeting, which shall be warned by posting up notice therefor, at the meeting house in said Milford, fourteen days prior to the day of holding the same. And the annual meetings for the choice of town officers shall be holden on the first Tuesdays of March annually.

Provided always, That nothing in this act contained shall in any wise release the inhabitants of the said southwest parish of Amherst (part of said town of Milford), from paying their proportion of all debts now due from the town of Amherst, or their proportion of the support of the present poor of said town and parish or any taxes now assessed on them as inhabitants of said town of Amherst, but the same may be levied and collected from the inhabitants of the said Southwest parish (now part of Milford as aforesaid) in the same manner as if this act had not been passed; and the present inhabitants of the said northwesterly part of said town of Hollis shall be liable to pay all taxed heretofore assessed on them as inhabitants of the town of Hollis in the same way and manner as if this act had not been passed.

In Senate, January 11, 1794

This bill having had three several hearings, passed to be enacted; sent down for concurrence.

Signed:  Abriel Foster, President of the Senate.

In the House of Representatives, the same day, the foregoing bill, having had a third hearing, was enacted.

Signed: Nathaniel Peabody, Speaker.

Approved January 11, 1794.

Signed: Josiah Bartlett, Governor