Chapter 3

_Francis Foxcroft_, Esq; brought down the Petition of the northerly Part of _Groton_, as entred the 11th of _March_ last, and refer'd. Pass'd in Council, _viz._ In Council _May_ 29th 1747. Read again, together with the Answers of the Towns of _Groton_ and _Dunstable_, and _Ordered_, That _Joseph Wilder_ and _John Quincy_, Esqrs; together with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to take under Consideration this Petition, together with the other Petitions and Papers referring to the Affair within mentioned, and report what they judge proper for this Court to do thereon. Sent down for Concurrence.

Read and concur'd, and Major _Jones_, Mr. _Fox_, and Col. _Gerrish_, are joined in the Affair.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 11), May 29, 1747.]

_John Hill_, Esq; brought down the Petition of the Inhabitants of _Groton_ and _Nottingham_, with the Report of a Committee of both Houses thereon.

Signed _Joseph Wilder_, per Order.

Pass'd in Council, _viz._ In Council _June_ 5th 1747. The within Report was read and accepted, and _Ordered_, That the Petition of _John Swallow_ and others, Inhabitants of the northerly Part of _Groton_ be so far granted, as that the Petitioners, with their Estates petition'd for, be set off from _Groton_, and annexed to the Town of _Dunstable_, agreable to _Groton_ Town Vote of the 18th of _May_ last; and that the Petition of the Inhabitants of _Nottingham_ be granted, and that that Part of _Nottingham_ left to the Province, with the Inhabitants theron, be annexed to said _Dunstable,_ and that they thus Incorporated, do Duty and receive Priviledges as other Towns within this Province do or by Law ought to enjoy.

And it is further _Ordered_, That the House for publick Worship be placed two Hundred and forty eight Rods distant from Mr. _John Tyng's_ North-East Corner, to run from said Corner North fifty two Degrees West, or as near that Place as the Land will admit of.

Sent down for Concurrence.

Read and concur'd with the Amendment, _viz._ instead of those Words, ... _And it is further Ordered, That the House for publick Worship be_ ... insert the following Words ... _Provided that within one Year a House for the publick Worship of_ GOD _be erected, and_....

Sent up for Concurrence.

[Journal of the House of Repesentatives (page 26), June 6, 1747.]

To his Excellency William Shirley Esquire Captain General and Governour in Chief in and over his Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England The Hon'ble: the Council and Hon'ble: House of Representatives of the said Province in General Court Assembled at Boston the 31'st. of May 1749.

The petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Dunstable in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay

Most Humbly Shew

That in the Year 1747, that part of Nottingham which lyes within this Government and part of the Town of Groton Called Joint Grass preferred two petitions to this Great and Hon'ble: Court praying that they might be Annexed to the Town of Dunstable which petitions Your Excellency and Honours were pleased to Grant upon Conditions that a meeting house for the Publick Worship of God should be built two hundred and forty Eight Rods 52 Deg's: West of the North from North East Corner of M. John Tyngs land But the Inhabitants of the Town Apprehending Your Excellency and Honours were not fully Acquainted with the Inconveniencys that would Attend placeing the Meeting House there Soon after Convened in Publick Town Meeting Legally Called to Conclude upon a place for fixing said meeting house where it would best Accommodate all the Inhabitants at which meeting proposals were made by some of the Inhabitants to take the Advice and Assistance of three men of other Towns which proposal was Accepted by the Town and they accordingly made Choice of The Hon'ble: James Minot Esq'r. Maj'r: Lawrence and M'r. Brewer and then Adjourned the Meeting.

That the said Gentlemen mett at the Towns Request and Determined upon a place for fixing the said meeting house which was approved of by the Town and they Accordingly Voted to Raise the sum of one hundred pounds towards defraying the Charge of Building the said House But Upon Reviewing the Spot pitched upon as aforesaid many of the Inhabitants Apprehended it was more to the southward than the Committee Intended it should be And thereupon a Meeting was Called on the Twenty Sixth day of May last when the Town voted to Build the meeting house on the East side of the Road that leads from Cap't: Cummings's to M'r Simon Tompsons where some part of the Timber now lyes being about Forty Rods Northward of Isaac Colburns house which they Apprehended to be the Spot of Ground the Committee Intended to fix upon.

And for as much as the place Last Voted by the Town to Build their meeting house upon will best Accommodate all the Inhabitants,

Your pet'rs. therefore most humbly pray Your Excellency and Honours would be pleased to Confirm the said Vote of the Town of the 26'th: day of May last and order the meeting house for the Publick Worship of God to be Erected on the peice of Ground aforementioned,

And in duty bound they will ever pray &c.

Simon tompson Eben Parkhurst

Com'tee for the Town of Dunstable

[Massachusetts Archives, cxv, 507, 508.]

The Committee appointed on the Petition of a Committee for the Town of _Dunstable,_ reported according to Order.

Read and accepted, and thereupon the following Order pass'd, _viz._ _In as much as the House for the publick Worship of_ _GOD in_ Dunstable _was not erected within the Line limitted in the Order of this Court of_ June 6th 1747, _the Inhabitants of_ Groton _and_ Nottingham _have lost the Benefit of Incorporation with the Town of_ Dunstable: Therefore

_Voted_, That a Meeting House for the publick Worship of GOD be erected as soon as may be on the East Side of the Road that leads from Capt. _Cummins_ to _Simon Thompson's,_ where the Timber for such a House now lies, agreeable to a Vote of the said Town of _Dunstable_ on the 26th of _May_ last; and that the said Inhabitants of _Groton_ and _Nottingham_ be and continue to be set off and annexed to the Town of _Dunstable_, to do Duty and receive Priviledge there, their Neglect of Compliance with the said Order of _June_ 6th 1747, notwithstanding, unless the major Part of the Inhabitants and rateable Estate belonging to said _Groton_ and _Nottingham_ respectively, shall on or before the first Day of _September_ next in writing under their Hands, transmit to the Secretary's Office their Desire not to continue so incorporated with the town of _Dunstable_ as aforesaid; provided also, That in Case the said Inhabitants of _Groton_ and _Nottingham_ shall signify such their Desire in Manner and Time as aforesaid, they be nevertheless subjected to pay and discharge their Proportion of all Publick Town or Ministerial Rates or Taxes hitherto granted or regularly laid on them; excepting the last Sum granted for building a Meeting House. And that the present Town Officers stand and execute their Offices respectively until the Anniversary Town-Meeting at _Dunstable_ in _March_ next. Sent up for Concurrence.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (pages 46, 47), June 26, 1749.]

Whereas the Great & Generall Court of the the [_sic_] Province of the Massachusetts Bay in June Last, On the Petitions of Dunstable & Nottingham has Ordered that the Inhabitants of Groton and Nottingham, Which by Order of the s'd Court the 6th of June 1747 Were On Certain Conditions Annexed to s'd Dunstable & (Which Conditions not being Complyed with) be Annexed to s'd. Dunstable to do duty & Receive priviledge there their neglect of Complyance notwithstanding, Unless the major part of the Inhabitants and ratable Estate belonging to the s'd. Groton & Nottingham respectively Shall on or before the first day of September next in Writing under their hands Transmitt to the Secretarys Office their desire not to Continue so Incorporated With the town of Dunstable as afores'd. Now therefore Wee the Subscribers Inhabitants of Groton & Nottingham Sett of as afores'd. do hereby Signifie Our desire not to Continue so Incorporated with the town of Dunstable as afores'd. but to be Sett at Liberty As tho that Order of Court had not ben passed

Dated the 10th day of July 1749

Inhabitants of Groton

Timothy Read Joseph fletcher John Swallow Samuel Comings Benjamin Robbins Joseph Spalding iuner

Inhabitants of Nottingham

Samuell Gould Robert Fletcher Joseph perriaham Daken [Deacon?] iohn Collans Zacheus Spaulding and ten others

[Massachusetts Archives, cxv, 515.]

A manuscript plan of Dunstable, made by Joseph Blanchard, in the autumn of 1748, and accompanying these papers among the Archives (cxv, 519), has considerable interest for the local antiquary.

In the course of a few years some of these Groton signers reconsidered the matter, and changed their minds. It appears from the following communication that the question of the site of the meeting-house had some influence in the matter:--

Groton, May 10, 1753. We have concluded to Joine with Dunstable in settling the gospell and all other affairs hart & hand in case Dunstable woud meet us in erecting a meting house in center of Lands or center of Travel.

Joseph Spaulding jr. John Swallow. Timothy Read. Samuel Cumings. Joseph Parkhurst.

[Nason's History of Dunstable, page 85.]

The desired result of annexation was now brought about, and in this way Joint Grass became a part and portion of Dunstable. The following extracts give further particulars in regard to it:--

A Petition of a Committee in Behalf of the Inhabitants of _Dunstable_, within this Province, shewing, that that Part of _Dunstable_ by the late running of the Line is small, and the Land much broken, unable to support the Ministry, and other necessary Charges; that there is a small Part of _Groton_ contiguous, and well situated to be united to them in the same Incorporation, lying to the West and Northwest of them; that in the Year 1744, the Inhabitants there requested them that they might be incorporated with them, which was conceeded to by the Town of _Groton_; that in Consequence of this, upon Application to this Court they were annexed to the Town of _Dunstable_ with the following Proviso, viz. "That within one Year from that Time a House for the publick Worship of GOD should be erected at a certain Place therein mentioned": Which Place was esteemed by all Parties both in _Groton_ and _Nottingham_, so incommodious, that it was not complied withal; that on a further Application to this Court to alter the Place, Liberty was given to the Inhabitants of _Groton_ and _Nottingham_, to withdraw, whereby they are deprived of that contiguous and necessary Assistance which they expected: Now as the Reasons hold good in every Respect for their Incorporation with them, they humbly pray that the said Inhabitants of _Groton_ by the same Bounds as in the former Order stated, may be reannexed to them, for the Reasons mentioned.

Read and _Ordered_, That the Petitioners serve the Inhabitants of _Groton_ therein refer'd to, as also the Clerk of the Town of _Groton_, with Copies of this Petition, that so the said Inhabitants, as also the Town of _Groton_, shew Cause, if any they have, on the first Tuesday of the next _May_ Session, why the Prayer thereof should not be granted.

Sent up for Concurrence.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (pages 138, 139), April 4, 1753.]

_John Hill_, Esq; brought down the Petition of a Committee of the Town of _Dunstable_, as entred the 4th of _April_ last, and refer'd. Pass'd in Council, viz. In Council _June_ 5th 1753. Read again, together with the Answer of the Inhabitants of that Part of _Groton_ commonly called _Joint-Grass,_ and likewise _William Lawrence_, Esq; being heard in Behalf of the Town of _Groton_, and the Matter being fully considered, _Ordered_, That the Prayer of the Petition be so far granted, as that _Joseph Fletcher, Joseph Spaulding, Samuel Comings, Benjamin Rabbins, Timothy Read, John Swallow, Joseph Parkhurst_, and _Ebenezer Parkhurst_, Jun. with their Families and Estates, and other Lands petitioned for, be set off from the Town of _Groton_, and annexed to the town of _Dunstable_, agreable to the Vote of the Town of _Groton_ on the 18th of _May_ 1747, to receive Priviledge and do Duty there, provided that _Timothy Read_, Constable for the Town of _Groton_, and Collector of the said Parish in said Town the last Year, and _Joseph Fletcher_, Constable for the said Town this present Year, finish their Collection of the Taxes committed or to be committed to them respectively; and also that the said Inhabitants pay their Proportion of the Taxes that are already due or shall be due to the said Town of _Groton_ for the present Year, for which they may be taxed by the Assessors of _Groton_, as tho' this Order had not past: provided also that the Meeting-House for the publick Worship of GOD in _Dunstable_ be erected agreable to the Vote of _Dunstable_ relating thereto in _May_ 1753. Sent down for Concurrence.

Read and concur'd.

[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

In the House of Rep'ives June. 10, 1742.

Read and Ordered that the Pet'rs serve the Town of Groton with a Copy of this Pet'n that they shew cause if any they have on the first fryday of the next session of this Court why the Prayer thereof should not be granted

Sent up for concurrence

T Cushing Spkr

In Council June 15. 1742;

Read & Non Concur'd

J Willard Sec'ry

[Massachusetts Archives, cxiv, 779, 780.]

To his Excellency William Shirley Esq'r. Captain General and Governour in Cheiff in and over his Majesties Province of y'e. Massachusetts Bay in New England: To y'e. Honourable his Majesties Council and House of Representatives in General Court Assembled on y'e: Twenty sixth Day of May. A:D. 1742.

The Petition of as the Subscribers to your Excellency and Honours Humbley Sheweth that we are Proprietors and Inhabitants of y'e. Land Lying on y'e. Westerly Side Lancester River (so called) [now known as the Nashua River] in y'e North west corner of y'e. Township of Groton: & Such of us as are Inhabitants thereon Live very Remote from ye Publick worship of God in s'd Town and at many Times and Season of y'e. year are Put to Great Difficulty to attend y'e. same: And the Lands Bounded as Followeth (viz) Southerly on Townshend Rode: Westerly on Townshend Line: Northerly on Dunstable West Precint, & old Town: and Easterly on said River as it now Runs to y'e. First mentioned Bounds, being of y'e. Contents of about Four Miles Square of Good Land, well Scituated for a Precint: And the Town of Groton hath been Petitioned to Set of y'e. Lands bounded as afores'd. to be a Distinct and Seperate Precint and at a Town Meeting of y'e. Inhabitants of s'd. Town of Groton Assembled on y'e Twenty Fifth Day of May Last Past The Town voted y'e Prayer of y'e. s'd. Petition and that y'e Lands before Described should be a Separate Precinct and that y'e. Inhabitants thereon and Such others as hereafter Shall Settle on s'd. Lands; should have y'e Powers and Priviledges that other Precincts in s'd. Province have or Do Enjoy: as p'r. a Coppy from Groton Town Book herewith Exhibited may Appear: For the Reasons mentioned we the Subscribers as afores'd. Humbley Prayes your Excellency and Honours to Set off y'e s'd Lands bounded as afores'd. to be a Distinct and Sepperate Precinct and Invest y'e Inhabitants thereon (Containing about y'e N'o. of Forty Famelies) and Such others as Shall hereafter Settle on s'd. Lands with Such Powers & Priviledges as other Precincts in s'd. Province have &c or Grant to your Petitioners Such other Releaf in y'e. Premises as your Excellency and Honours in your Great Wisdom Shall think Fit: and your Petitioners as in Duty bound Shall Ever pray &c.

Benj Swallow W'm: Spalden Isaac Williams Ebenezer Gilson Elias Ellit Samuel Shattuck iu James Shattuck David Shattuck David Blood Jonathan Woods John Blood iuner Josiah Parker Jacob Ames Jonas Varnum Moses Woods Zachery Lawrence Jun'r Jeremiah Lawrence John Mozier Josiah Tucher W'm Allen John Shadd Jam's. Green John Kemp Nehemiah Jewett Eleazar Green Jonathan Shattuck Jonathan Shattuck Jun'r

In the House of Rep'tives Nov'r. 26. 1742

In Answer to the within Petition ordered that that Part of the Town of Groton Lying on the Westerly Side of Lancaster River within the following bounds viz't bounding Easterly on said River Southerly on Townsend Road so called Wisterly on Townsend line and Northerly on Dunstable West Precinct with the Inhabitants thereon be and hereby are Set off a distinct and seperate precinct and Vested with the powers & priviledges which Other Precincts do or by Law ought to enjoy Always provided that the Inhabitants Dwelling on the Lands abovementioned be subject to pay their Just part and proportions of all ministeriall Rates and Taxes in the Town of Groton already Granted or Assessed.

Sent up for Concurrence.

T Cushing Spk'r.

In Council Nov'r. 26 1742 Read and Concurr'd

J Willard Secry

Consented to, W Shirley,

[Massachusetts Archives, cxiv, 768, 769.]

When the new Provincial line was run between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, in the spring of 1741, it left a gore of land, previously belonging to the west parish of Dunstable, lying north of the territory of Groton and contiguous to it. It formed a narrow strip, perhaps three hundred rods in width at the western end, running easterly for three miles and tapering off to a point at the Nashua River, by which stream it was entirely separated from Dunstable. Shaped like a thin wedge, it lay along the border of the province, and belonged geographically to the west precinct or parish of Groton. Under these circumstances the second parish petitioned the General Court to have it annexed to their jurisdiction, which request was granted. William Prescott, one of the committee appointed to take charge of the matter, nearly a quarter of a century later was the commander of the American forces at the battle of Bunker Hill. It has been incorrectly stated by writers that this triangular parcel of land was the gore ceded, in the summer of 1736, to the proprietors of Groton, on the petition of Benjamin Prescott. The documents relating to this matter are as follows:--

To his Honnor Spencer Phipes Esq'r Cap't Geniorl and Commander In Cheaf in and ouer his majists prouince of the Massachusets Bay in New england and to The Hon'ble his majestys Counsel and House of Representatiues In Geniral Courte assambled at Boston The 26 of December 1751

The Petition of Peleg Lawrance Jarimah Lawrance and william Prescott a Cum'ttee. for the Second Parish In Groton in The County of Middle sikes.