To the Kings most Excellent Majestie—

The Humble Petition of William Duke Hamilton, and Anne Dutchess of Hamilton, sheweth,

That whereas in the eleventh year of the Reigne of your Royall Father of ever blessed memory, the councill established at Plymouth in the county of Devon, for planting, ordering and governing of New England in America (according to the power given them in the eighteenth year of the Reigne of the late King Jarnes, by his Letters Pattents, bearing date the 3d day of November) did for a competent summ of money and other valluable considerations, bargain and sell unto the Petitioners Father, by the name of James Marquess Hamilton, his heirs and assignees, all that part and portion of the main lands in New England, lying and beginning at the middle part of the mouth of the River Coverticu* to proceed along the sea coast, to be accounted about 60 miles, and so up to the west-ward arm of the River into the land northwestward till 60 miles be finished, and so to cross southwestward till 60 miles, all which part and portion of lands were to be called by the name of the county of New Cambridge, with severall other lands and priviledges, as by the said Deed of Feoffment doth more fully appear, a copy whereof is hereunto annexed—since which time and by reason of the late unhappy warr severall persons have possessed themselves of the best and most considerable parts of the said lands, without any acknowledgement of your Petitioners Right.

Your Petitioners therefore most humbly pray, that your Majestie will be graciously pleased to recomend the premises to your Majesties Commissioners for New England, and that care may be taken that your Petitioners may be restored to their just right, and that nothing be don to their prejudice.

At the Court at White Hall the 6th May 1664, His Majesty is graciously pleased to referr this Petition to the Commissioners now imployed by his Majesty to settle the affaires of New England, who are to examine the obligations thereof, and upon due consideration had, to preserve and restore to the Petitioners their just right and interest, or otherwise to report their opinions to his Majestie, who will then declare his further pleasure for the Honnourable Petitioners justification.

HENRY BENNIT.