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Page 13
[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 21), June 7, 1753.]
The part of Nottingham, mentioned in these petitions, was not joined to
Dunstable until a later period. On June 14, 1754, an order passed the
House of Representatives, annexing "a very small Part of Nottingham now
lying in this Province, unable to be made into a District, but very
commodious for Dunstable;" but the matter was delayed in the Council,
and it was a year or two before the end was brought about.
The west parish of Groton was set off as a precinct on November 26,
1742. It comprised that part of the town lying on the west side of the
Nashua River, north of the road from Groton to Townsend. Its
incorporation as a parish or precinct allowed the inhabitants to manage
their own ecclesiastical affairs, while in all other matters they
continued to act with the parent town. Its partial separation gave them
the benefit of a settled minister in their neighborhood, which, in those
days, was considered of great importance.
It is an interesting fact to note that, in early times, the main reason
given in the petitions for dividing towns was the long distance to the
meeting-house, by which the inhabitants were prevented from hearing the
stated preaching of the gospel.
The petitioners for the change first asked for a township, which was not
granted; but subsequently they changed their request to a precinct
instead, which was duly allowed. The papers relating to the matter are
as follows:--
Province of The Massechuetts Bay in New England.
To His Excellency W'm: Shirley Esq'r: Goveinr in & over y'e Same And To
The Hon'le: his Majestis Council & House of Representetives in Gen'll:
Court Assembled June 1742:
The Petition of Sundry Inhabitants & Resendant in the Northerly Part of
Groton Humbly Sheweth that the Town of Groton is at Least ten miles in
Length North & South & seven miles in wedth East & West And that in
Runing two miles Due North from the Present Meeting House & from thence
to Run Due East to Dunstable West Line. And from the Ende of the S'd:
two miles to Run West till it Comes to the Cuntry Rode that is Laide out
to Townshend & soon S'd: Rode till it Comes to Townshend East Line then
tur[n]ing & Runing Northly to Nestiquaset Corner which is for Groton &
Townshend then tur[n]ing & Runing Easterly on Dunstable South Line & So
on Dunstable Line till it comes to the Line first mentioned, Which Land
Lyeth about Seven miles in Length & four miles & a Quarter in Wedth.
And Thare is Now Setled in those Lines here after mentioned is about the
Number of Seventy families all Redy And may [many?] more ready to Settle
there and as soon as scet off to the Petitioners & those families
Settled in y'e Lines afore s'd: Would make A Good township & the
Remaining Part of Groton Left in a regular forme And by reason of the
great Distance your Petitioners are from the Present Meeting House are
put to very Great Disadvantages in Attending the Public Worship of God
many of Whom are Oblidged to travel Seven or Eight miles & that the
Remaining Part of Groton Consisting of such good land & y'e
Inhabitants so Numerous that thay Can by no means be Hurt Should your
Petitioners & those families Settled in y'e Lines afore s'd: Be
Erected to a Seprate & Distinct Township: That the in Contestable
situation & accomodations on the s'd: Lands was y'e one great reason
of your Petitioners Settling thare & Had Not those Prospects been so
Clear to us We should by no means have under taken The Hardship We have
already & must go Throu.
Wherefore Your Petitioners Would farther Shew that Part of y'e Land here
Prayed for all Redy Voted of by the S'd town to be a Presinct & that the
most of them that are in that Lines have Subscribed with us to be a
Dest[i]ncte Township Wherefore Your Petitioners Humbly Pray your Honnors
to Grante us our Desire according to This our Request as we in Duty
Bound Shall Ever Pray &c.
Joseph Spaulding iur
Zachariah Lawrance
William Allen
Jeremiah Lawrance
William Blood
Nathaniel Parker
Enoch Lawarnce
Samuel Right
James larwance
Josiah Tucker
Sam'll fisk
Soloman blood
John Woods
Josiah Sartell
benj'n. Swallow
Elies Ellat
Richard Worner
Ebenezer Gillson
Ebenezer Parce
James Blood iu
Joseph Spaulding
Phiniahas Parker iur
Joseph Warner
Phineahas Chambrlin
Isaac laken
Isacc Williams
John Swallow
Joseph Swallow
Benj'n: Robins
Nathan Fisk
John Chamberlin
Jacob Lakin
Seth Phillips
John Cumings
Benj'n: Parker
Gersham Hobart
Joseph Lawrance
John Spaulding
Isaac Woods
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