Something by Elder John's Own Hand!

Below is an actual document that was most probably written and signed by Elder John Crandall at Westerly, RI on 11 March 1669/1670. Beneath the document is a transcription of the document by one of our CFA members, Mr. Paul A. Saunders of Matthews, NC.

The original document is housed at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford, CT.

At the very bottom of the page is a close-up of Elder John's signature.

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CONNECTICUT STATE ARCHIVES

COLONIAL BOUNDARIES 1662-1827, SERIES 1, VOL.1, DOC. 45

Onered Gentellmen

Yours bearing date November th 18 last past wee recived whear in you wear pleased to signifi unto us that ye have bin often solisited to hear seaverall complaints mad against us by the inhabitance of Stoningtown & allso of other gentellmen. & that ye saw reason to grant them a time of hearing & did give us timly notis of & wee did not apear. Unto the which wee cannot omit but make you sum return. As to that of complaint mad by the inhabitance of Stoningtown we do profess that wee ar not sensabell that we ar in any measure guilti which if we wear wee should have prevented thair complaint by rendering satisfaction. But wee ar very sensable of great wrongs that wee have susstained by them for seaverall years.

And as to a time of hearing and giveing timly notis - wee being by Chartar & otherwise subjected to an other coloni could not asent but with the hazard of breaking our obligations - it not withstanding we ar much in clind to a peacable and a finall issu of those diffarances by a leagall prograce in Law in the jurisdiction whearunto we do belong & by whos athoriti we ar hear setteled whear we dout not but equall justis will take plac. As for your advic to agree with those our neighbours of Stoningtown & the other gentellmen we hop that your coloni & ours will in the first plac loveingly agree and then we question not but thar will be an agreement between us and our neighbours of Stoningtown and the rest of the gentellmen.

Seemacut [?]

John Crandall (signature)

This 11 of March 1669/70

Tobias Saunders (signature)
in the Behalf of the Town

Onnered Governor wee do desier & intreat ye to signifi by this ingion that ye have recived the letters then wee shall know wheather he have don faithfully.

For the worshipfull John

Wintrop Esqr Goverr of

Coneticut to be communita-

to the Asistant thear.

Paul A. Saunders (Matthews, NC) 3/25/98

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