The document was dated at Maugerville the 15th October, 1781. The parties to the agreement were on the one hand Francklin, Hazen & White; and on the other hand Francklin, Hazen, White & Peabody. The second party were to deliver to the first at Fort Howe “by the first Freshes in the Spring” the masts, yards, etc., mentioned in the contract. One third of the profit or loss to be the said Samuel Peabody’s and two-thirds to be the said Michael Francklin, Wm. Hazen and James White’s.
Thomas Langan lived at this time about four miles above St. Ann’s Point. On his lot there was a log house and he had about 20 acres of land, cleared chiefly by the French. He lived there about six years but was disturbed by the Indians, who, about this time, killed his cattle and made his situation so precarious that he moved down the river with his family to Burton.
The townships of the St. John’s River Society are here referred to, more particularly Burton, Sunbury and New-town. Wm. Hazen, James Simonds and James White were proprietors of lands in these townships, and Peabody regarded Wm. Davidson as an intruder.
The reference is to George Andrew, government purveyor, who surveyed the masts furnished by Mr. Davidson’s workmen.
My authority for this is Adam Beveridge, Esq., of Andover, than whom few, if any, living men are better posted on the history of lumbering on the St. John river.—W. O. R.