ov'r, 1781.

"Messrs. Hazen & White, Merchants at Fort Howe,

"Gentlemen,--Since I wrote to you by John Hart, giving you account
of the badness of the Pine Lumber back of St. Anns, I sent 3 hands
up Nashwalk to try the timber in that place, and find the timber
to be small near the waterside. Upon Davidson's understanding I
was determined to try that place, he immediately sent a party of
French up that River, commanded by Israel Perley, to cut all the
Timber that fell in his way, among which was a large Tree that I
suppose was marked by Mr. Hayes, as he tells people that it had
several Broad Arrows on it. At the same time that Davidson
dispatched this party he sent another party back of Thomas
Langin's[119] upon the growth of Pine Mr. Hayes had pitched upon
for us, and has his small party sallying out upon all quarters,
and bids defiance to any Proprietors stopping him from such
proceedings. Now if he is allowed to cut Timber upon the Society's
Land[120] it will be impossible for me to furnish half the
quantity of sticks I could if I had the privilege of all the above
mentioned lands.

[119] 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.

[120] 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.

"Tomorrow morning I am a going with 8 or 10 hands to cut sum fine
Trees up Oromocto, near whear Davidson is stearing his course, as
he should be paid in his own coin. I have imployed sum men to cut
Trees by the jobb up Oromocto, and by searching, they say, that
there may be had some fine lengthy Trees, but not the greatest
diameter.

"I hope one of you will come up soon and reside a few days, for,
as I mentioned to you in my last letter it is very difficult for
me to procure hands at suitable times, as I am in the woods the
cheaf of the time, and at