Petition of Zacheus Nonesuch, et. al, for Leave to Sell Land

To the Honorable General Assembly of the State of Connecticut to be held at Hartford in said state on the first Wednesday of May A.D. 18651

The petitioners, Zaccheus Nonesuch, Ann Elizabeth Nonesuch, wife of the  said Zaccheus, and Betsy Nonesuch, sister of the said Zaccheus, would respectfully represent that the petitioners and John Nonesuch, brother of said Zaccheus, and Lucy Nonesuch, wife of said John, are all interested in and owners of certain interests in lands situated in the town of East Lyme in New London County, containing about three hundred acres being the entire lands now remaining undisposed of belonging to the Niantic Tribe of Indians.

The petitioners would represent that it is for their interest and the interest of all parties interested in said lands that authority be given them by the General Assembly to dispose of said lands, or their interest in the same, or that a partition be made to them of such portion of said lands as they are jointly entitled to.  That at present said lands are of little use to the petitioners.  That one of the petitioners being a seaman is by his occupation necessarily away from the lands a large portion of the time and receives little or no benefit from the income of said property.  And all the interests of those owning the lands, would be promoted as well as the interests of the public by a sale of said lands, or by a division and a partition of said lands, and by giving to those interested such shares as they are justly and legally entitled to.

The petitioners therefore pray Your Honorable Body to grant to them the privileges and rights herein prayed for, or in some other way to grant adequate relief in the premises.

And they as in duty bound will ever pray.

Zaccheus Nonesuch, by Henry H. Starkweather, his attorney

Ann Elizabeth Nonesuch, by Henry H. Starkweather, her attorney                

Betsy Nonesuch, by Henry H. Starkweather, her attorney            

Norwich, April 12, 1865

To the Sheriff of the County of New London his deputy or to either of the constables of the Towns of East Lyme and Montville in said county, Greeting

By authority of the State of Connecticut you are hereby commanded to summon Francis L. Bolles ( overseer of the Niantic Indians) of East Lyme, and John Nonesuch and Lucy Nonesuch of the Town of Montville to appear before the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut to be holden at Hartford, in and for said state, on the first Wednesday of May 1865, on the second day of said session, then and there to show reasons, if any there be, why the prayer of the foregoing petition should not be granted.

Hereof fail not to make lawful service and return.

Henry H. Starkweather, Justice of the Peace

Dated Norwich, April 12, 1865

Then and there, I made service of the within petition and citation by leaving a true and attested copy hereof at the usual place of abode of each of the within named respondents.

Attest, J. B. Fillmore, Deputy Sheriff

                Fees      In the jurisdiction of New London County, East Lyme April 13, 1865

• 1. The first Wednesday in May 1865 was May 3.
• 2. The number 20 was crossed out.