The government, however, was by no means through with Massachusetts, nor with its other neighbor, Connecticut, both of whom were soon to lay claim to the soil in another direction. The Pawcatuck River, which is the present western boundary of the state, had also been the dividing line between the Narragansetts on the east and the Pequots on the west; and after the destruction of the latter, both Connecticut and Massachusetts had claimed the Pequot country by right of conquest. In spite of attempts to divide the spoil between them, the dispute dragged along, with clashings of interests and of jurisdiction.[630] Massachusetts, however, not content with claiming a large part of the country west of the Pawcatuck as a reward for her share in the war, was also constantly endeavoring to establish her claims to the rich tract lying between the east bank of that river and Narragansett Bay, known as the Narragansett country. In spite of her defeat in the Gorton episode, she continued her efforts, and in 1659, a year after Southertown, the present Stonington, had been declared by the Massachusetts Court to be a part of Suffolk County in that colony,[631] the Atherton Company was formed, mainly by Massachusetts land-speculators, to secure title to the Narragansett lands.[632] A grant was obtained by the company from one of the sachems, and, in the following year, four others, in order to meet a fine which had been imposed upon them by the United Colonies, executed a mortgage deed of the entire Narragansett country to the Atherton Company, except such parts as might have already been granted, the Indians having six months in which to redeem the pledged lands, which, of course, they failed to do.[633] Footnote 630: _Acts United Colonies_, vols. I, pp. 19, 79, 97, and II, pp. 209, 228; _R. I. Records_, vol. I, pp. 451 _ff._, 457; _Conn. Col. Records_, vol. I, pp. 570 _ff._; Bowen, _Boundary Disputes of Connecticut_, pp. 31 _ff._; _Massachusetts Records_, vols. II, p. 160, and IV, pt. i, p. 315. Footnote 631: _Ibid._, vol. IV, pt. i, p. 353. Footnote 632: The members included Gov. Winthrop of Connecticut, and Richard Smith; _R. I. Records_, vol. I, p. 464. Footnote 633: _Acts United Colonies_, vol. II, p. 248; _R. I. Records_, vol. I, pp. 465 _f._