361 Elisha Cooke et al to A Surveyor

    Biddiford 2d. Oct. 1729

    Sir

    We under written desire you to measure and lay out the following several tracts of Land lying upon Saco River on the Westerly side there of beginning one Mile above a Creek, commonly called Swan Pond Creek, and then measure and lay out fifteen hundred Acres, in Breadth up Saco River one Mile Northwesterly and so to run in length into the main land so far in the said Breadth as to make up the Quantity of fifteen hundred Acres. This tract you are to mark the Bound trees on the River with the Letter T one mile and likewise the two side lines into the Main Land, the back line being also one Mile. You are to mark the bound Trees with the Letter T on the inside of the Trees and with the Letters B and S on the outside of the Trees on the Line. This tract belongs to the Assigns of Edward Tyng late of Boston Merchant deceased which he purchased of Major William Phillips late of Winterharbour, in the Province of Main, in New England Mar. 17th 1667.

    2 The land next adjoyning on the back of this tract lying from the River belongs to Edward Bromfield Marchant, Thomas Salter Shoe maker, Sam Adams Malster all of Boston, Samuel Jordan of Winter Harbour Trader, William Pepperell Esq. of Kittery, Tristram Little of Newbury Shopkeeper, which they lately purchased of the Descendants of the said William Phillips. You are nextly to lay out two thousand Acres, bargained and sold by the said William Phillips and Bridgett his wife 1 February 1666 to Richard Russell late of Charlestown in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay lying and beginning at the upper end of Tyngs lot next the River and runs two Miles Northwesterly up the River and then runs in length into the main land so far on the said breadth as to make up the Quantity or Number of two thousand Acres. This tract you are to mark the bound trees next the River with the Letter R as also the side lines extending into the main land, the back line being two Miles on the River. You are to mark the inside of the trees with the aforesaid Letter R, and on the out side with the Letter B and S. The land adjoyning on the back of this Land also belongs to Edward Bromfield and the other Pe[r]sons aforementioned and they purchased as abovesaid. Then you are to measure and lay out a tract of land containing three square English Miles beginning at the upper end of Tyng’s land adjoining to the River, which said tract of land was bargained, sold and conveyed by the said William Phillips and Bridget his Wife 7 May 1669 to Major General John Leveritt late of Boston aforesaid Marchant deceased being in breadth upon Saco River in a strait line three English Miles North westerly and then runs into the main land the full length of three Miles as aforesaid. This tract you are to mark the bound trees lying on the Course next the River and the two side bounds with the Letter L the opposite from the River you are to mark with the aforesaid Letters B and S on the outside of the Letter L on the inside of the trees, the land contiguous to Leveritts land from the River belonging to the aforesaid Edward Bromfield and other persons within named purchased as aforesaid. The next tract you [are] to Survey measure and mark out is a tract of Land containing two thousand five hundred Acres Conveyed bargained and sold by the said William Phillips and Bridget his Wife to the within named Richard Russell 13th August 1673 and begins at the upper part of Salmon falls next to the upper end of Leveritts Land and is in breadth up by said Saco River North west one Mile and to run in length from the said River so far on said breadth upon the Main Land as to make up the said Quantity or Number of two thousand five hundred Acres. This tract of Land you are to mark the bound trees on the course next the River and the two other Courses extending into the main land with the Letters R. H. C, the other bound trees being opposite to the River line one Mile as aforesaid you are to mark the inside of the trees on the side with the aforesaid Letters R. H. C and on the out side of the trees with the Letters B and S, the Land contiguous belonging to the aforesaid Edward Bromfield and the other persons above mentioned, and purchased by them as aforesaid. In performing this Service You will oblige us and shall be paid for your cost and time and we shall take care to provide three able hands, to assist you. We desire and doubt not your Care in this affair

    And are Your humble Servants

    Elisha Cook

    Thomas Salter

    Tristram Little

    [Endorsed:] A Letter from Elisha Cook and others respecting Saco Lands October 2, 1729.

    College Papers, 1. 76 (No. 158). Elisha Cooke (A.B. 1697), leader of the popular party, owned extensive lands in Maine. The College was involved through the bequest of Daniel Russell, son of the Richard mentioned in this document; see No. 81 for Daniel’s Will and further notes. Consult Sibley, Sketches (Shipton), iv. 351–356, for an account of Cooke’s Maine holdings, and CSM Publications, xv. 272–275 for the story of the Saco River lands. On September 17, 1728 the Corporation voted a committee to treat with “Mr. Cook” about surveying and dividing the land; CSM Publications, xvi. 567.