Charter of Hollis
“Province of New Hampshire”
George the Second, by the
Grace of God of Great Britaine,
France and Ireland, King,
Defender of the Faith, &c.
“Province of New Hampshire”
George the Second, by the
Grace of God of Great Britaine,
France and Ireland, King,
Defender of the Faith, &c.
To all to whome these Presents shall come. Greeting
Whereas sundry of our loyal subjects, Inhabitants of a Tract of Land within the Antient Boundary of a
Town called Dunstable in our Province of New Hampshire, on the Westerly Side of Merrymack River,
herein after Described ~ Have humbly Petitioned and Requested of us that they may be erected and
Incorporated into a Township and Enfranchised with the same Powers, Authorities and Privileges which
other Towns within our Said Province have and Enjoy. And it appearing to us to be conducive to the
General good of our Said Province as well as of Said Inhabitants in Particular, by maintaining Good
order and Encouraging the Culture of the Land, that the Same should be done. Know Yee therefore that
We of our Special Grace, Certaine knowledge, and for the Encouragement and promoting the good
purposes and Ends aforesaid ~ By and with the advice of our Trusty and well beloved Benning
Wentworth, Esq., our Governor and Commander in Chief, and of our Council for said Province, have
Erected, Incorporated and Ordained, And by these Presents for us and our Heirs and Successors Do will
and Ordaine That the Inhabitants of the Tract of Land aforesaid, (Bounded as follows viz.), beginning at
Nashway River, where the Northerly Boundary Line of the Province of theMassachusets Bay crosses that
River, then running North Eighty Degrees West on Said Line Six Miles and Ninety Six Rods; Then North
by the needle on Dunstable antient head Line four Miles and one Hundred and Forty Rod then south
eighty Degrees East by the Needle to Muddy Brook then by Muddy Brook into Flints Pond then by
Flint’s Brook to Nashway River, then by Nashway River to the place where it first began. and that shall
Inhabit the Same be and by these Presents are Declared and Ordained to be a Town Corporate, And are
hereby Erected and Incorporated in a Body Politick and a Corporation to have continuance forever by
the name of Holles with all the Powers and authorities, Privileges, Immunities and Franchises which
other Towns within our said Province or any of them by Law have and Enjoy. To have and to hold the
said Powers and Authorities, Immunities and Franchises to them the said Inhabitants and their
Successors for ever.
“Always Reserving to us our Heirs and Successors, All While Pine Trees growing and being, and which
shall hereafter grow on said Tract of Land fit for the use of our Royal Navy; Reserving Also, the Power of
Dividing the Said Town to us our Heirs and Successors when it shall appear necessary or convenient for the
benefit of the ‘Inhabitants thereof.
“ And as the Several Towns Within our said Province are by the Law thereof Enabled and Authorized to
Assemble and by the Majority of Votes to chuse all such officers as are mentioned in Said Laws, We do by
these Presents Nominate and appoint Coll. Joseph Blanchard to call the first meeting of the Said
Inhabitants to be held within the Said Town at any time within thirty dayes from the Date hereof, Giving
legal notice of the Time and Place and Designe of holding Said Meeting. In Testimony Whereof We
have caused the Seal of our Said Province to be hereunto affixed.
Witness, Benning Wentworth, Esq., our Governor, and Commander-in-Chief of our said Province the
third day of April, in the yeare of our Lord Christ, 1746, and in the nineteenth yeare of our Reign.
Whereas sundry of our loyal subjects, Inhabitants of a Tract of Land within the Antient Boundary of a
Town called Dunstable in our Province of New Hampshire, on the Westerly Side of Merrymack River,
herein after Described ~ Have humbly Petitioned and Requested of us that they may be erected and
Incorporated into a Township and Enfranchised with the same Powers, Authorities and Privileges which
other Towns within our Said Province have and Enjoy. And it appearing to us to be conducive to the
General good of our Said Province as well as of Said Inhabitants in Particular, by maintaining Good
order and Encouraging the Culture of the Land, that the Same should be done. Know Yee therefore that
We of our Special Grace, Certaine knowledge, and for the Encouragement and promoting the good
purposes and Ends aforesaid ~ By and with the advice of our Trusty and well beloved Benning
Wentworth, Esq., our Governor and Commander in Chief, and of our Council for said Province, have
Erected, Incorporated and Ordained, And by these Presents for us and our Heirs and Successors Do will
and Ordaine That the Inhabitants of the Tract of Land aforesaid, (Bounded as follows viz.), beginning at
Nashway River, where the Northerly Boundary Line of the Province of theMassachusets Bay crosses that
River, then running North Eighty Degrees West on Said Line Six Miles and Ninety Six Rods; Then North
by the needle on Dunstable antient head Line four Miles and one Hundred and Forty Rod then south
eighty Degrees East by the Needle to Muddy Brook then by Muddy Brook into Flints Pond then by
Flint’s Brook to Nashway River, then by Nashway River to the place where it first began. and that shall
Inhabit the Same be and by these Presents are Declared and Ordained to be a Town Corporate, And are
hereby Erected and Incorporated in a Body Politick and a Corporation to have continuance forever by
the name of Holles with all the Powers and authorities, Privileges, Immunities and Franchises which
other Towns within our said Province or any of them by Law have and Enjoy. To have and to hold the
said Powers and Authorities, Immunities and Franchises to them the said Inhabitants and their
Successors for ever.
“Always Reserving to us our Heirs and Successors, All While Pine Trees growing and being, and which
shall hereafter grow on said Tract of Land fit for the use of our Royal Navy; Reserving Also, the Power of
Dividing the Said Town to us our Heirs and Successors when it shall appear necessary or convenient for the
benefit of the ‘Inhabitants thereof.
“ And as the Several Towns Within our said Province are by the Law thereof Enabled and Authorized to
Assemble and by the Majority of Votes to chuse all such officers as are mentioned in Said Laws, We do by
these Presents Nominate and appoint Coll. Joseph Blanchard to call the first meeting of the Said
Inhabitants to be held within the Said Town at any time within thirty dayes from the Date hereof, Giving
legal notice of the Time and Place and Designe of holding Said Meeting. In Testimony Whereof We
have caused the Seal of our Said Province to be hereunto affixed.
Witness, Benning Wentworth, Esq., our Governor, and Commander-in-Chief of our said Province the
third day of April, in the yeare of our Lord Christ, 1746, and in the nineteenth yeare of our Reign.
B. WENTWORTH.
By his Excellency’s Command
With advice of Council,
THEODORE ATKINSON, Sect’y
Recorded the 4th
Day of April 1746
THEODORE ATKINSON, Sect’y
With advice of Council,
THEODORE ATKINSON, Sect’y
Recorded the 4th
Day of April 1746
THEODORE ATKINSON, Sect’y