Petition of 22 Jul 1775
To the Honble Genl Assembly of the Province of the Mass. Bay, at Watertown.
The Petition of the Committees for the Townships of Gouldsborough Number Four, Narraguagus & Pleasant River laying in the Eastern parts of said Province Humbly sheweth, that whereas the present alarming situation of this Country & the Province in general, particularly the several Towns to which we belong, being at present Destitute of all legal and Constitutional Government, beg leave to Inform your Honours that we have taken such steps as we Thought proper to govern ourselves in our Different Departments agreeable to the once happy Constitution of this Province, according to our Judgment, the Copy of which proceedings We beg leave to transmit by the bearer Capt. Alexr Campbell. However, being suspicious of our Abilitys in matters of that Nature, We beg to come under the Direction & Protection of your Honable Body & to have such Laws and Rules prescribed for us, as you in your Wisdom may think most suitable & we for ourselves & Constituents do heartly engage to Conform to the same from Time to Time as your Honours shall Direct.
It may be Needless for us to Represent to your Honors the very Distress'd Situation of this Country with respect to Provisions and almost every Necessay of Life. We Humbly pray that your Honor's would take this matter into your wise Consideration and Point out some Method, that the Distress'd Inhabitants may be Reliev'd, in that way your Honors may Think best. We beg leave to Refer you to Capt Alexander Campbell for any further particulars Relative to this Country, and your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.
William Nickels, Jonathan Tracy, Committee for Gouldsborough
Alexr Campbell, John Ruall, Committee for Narraguagus
Henry Dyer, Phineas Whitter, Committee for Number Four
Chair Man, Daniel Meritz, John Hall, Committee for Pleasant River
Gouldsborough, 22d July, 1775