the first day of February 1732, sold to
Col. John Henry Lydius, a large tract of land embracing most of
the Counties of Addison and Rutland. There is a map of tliis tract
in the possession of Henry Stevens, Esq., President of the State
Historical Society, of which we have a copy, laid out into thirty-
five townships, with the name of each. The southeast corner is at
the sources of Otter Creek, and the northwest at its mouth, and the
territory embraces the whole length of that stream, running diago-
nally through it. The west line — and the east is parallel with it —
is marked as running from the north, south 16 degrees west 58
miles 20 chains. On the back of the map is the following certifi-
cate. "Feb. 2. 1763. A plan of alarge tract of land, situated
on Otter Creek, which empties itself into Lake Champlain, in
North America, easterly from and near Crown Point, purchased by
Col. John Henry Lydius, of the Mohawk Indians, by deed dated
Feb. 1732, and patented auTl confirmed by his Excellency Wil-
liam Sl'iIRLEy, Esq., Governor of the Province of Massachusetts
Bay, August 31, 1744, divided into townships, and sold by the said
Lydius, to upwards of two thousand British subjects, chiefly be-
longing to the Colony of Connecticut."
The New York town of Durham, and probably other towns in
Rutland County, were originally settled under this grant. Tv/o of
the citizens, Jeremiah Spencer and Oliver Colvin, belonging to
that town, in their petition to the General Assembly of New York,
dated October 17, 1778, say, " That the township of Durham was
originally settled by the late