Groton Town (part 5 of 9)

On June 15, 1753, the General Court of Massachusetts passed an Act for granting the sum of ;^i,500 to encourage the manufacture of linen ; and in order to raise this amount a tax was levied "on every coach, chariot, chaise, calash and chair" within the province. The tax on a coach was ten shillings ; a chariot, five shillings ; a chaise, three shillings ; a calash and a chair, two shillings each. For the purpose of carrying out this law returns were made, during several years, of all the carriages in the several towns ; and according to a table prepared from these returns, there was one chair at Groton in the year 1753 ; none in 1754 and 1755 ; and three in 1756 and 1757. At this period there was no other carriage, besides these chairs, kept in the town. (Massachusetts Archives, CXXI. 326, 329, 340.)

The Reverend Nathaniel Bouton, D.D., in his History of Concord, New Hampshire (page 513), mentions among the earliest chaises owned in that town one that had belonged, just before the Revolution, to Colonel Peter Green. It had come to him from the estate of his father-in-law Colonel John Bulkley, of Groton, who died on December 3, 1772. This was, probably, also one of the earliest chaises in Groton. For a reference to Mrs. Peter Green, as well as to her father. Colonel Bulkley, see No. XHI. (page 61) and No. XVH. (page 13) of this Historical Series.

Slavery In Groton

During a long period before the Revolution, Groton had one element in her population which does not now exist, and which to-day has disappeared from almost the whole civilized world. At the beginning of the year 1755 there were fourteen negro slaves in town, seven men and seven women, who were sixteen years old or upwards. At that time Townsend had three slaves, two men and one woman; Shirley had one, a man ; and Pepperell made no return of having any. West- ford had five, but the sex is not given. These facts are gathered from a census of negro slaves in Massachusetts, ordered by the Province, which is published in the third volume, second series, of the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society (pages 95-97).

William Banks, a negro or mulatto, was married at Groton on December 21, 1719, by Francis Fullam, a Justice of Peace,' to Hannah Wansamug. See No. XHI. of this Historical Series (page 17). William appears to have been a slave belonging to Eleazer Robbins, of Groton, and Hannah was an Indian, who is called in the records " late of Lancaster ;" but unfortunately the marriage was not a happy one. With all confidence in her husband, the wife bought his freedom, when he proved false to his plight and promise, and deserted her. The story, told in her own words, is found in the Journal of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, June 13, 1724 (page 39).

A Petition of Hannah Banks Indian, shewing that she bought of Eleazer Robbins of Groton his Servant Man's Time, and gave a Bond of /. 15 for Payment of the same, that afterwards she married the said Servant Man, who is since absconded, and the said Robbins hath put the said Bond in Suit, and cast the Petitioner into Prison in Boston, that the Principal Debt with the Charges hath arisen to /. 25 which yir. Edward Ruggles of Roxbury hath paid for her, praying this Court would please to enable the said Edward Ruggles to Sell such a part of her Land in Natick, as will satisfy him for his advance of said Twenty Five Pounds.

RAN away from his Master, Mr. John Woods of Groton, on Thursday the \2th of this Instant July, a Negro Man Servant named Caesar, about 22 Years of Age, a pretty short well sett Fellow. He carried with him a Blue Coat and Jacket, a pair of Tow Breeches, a Castor Hat, Stockings and Shoes of his own, and a Blue

Cloth Coat with flower' d Metal Buttons, a white flower' d Jacket, a good Sever Hat, a Gray Wigg, and a pair of new Shoes of his Master's, with some other Things. It is suspected there is some white Person that may be with him, or design to make Use of his Master's Apparel above described.

Whoever shall take up the said Servant, and bring hiin to his abovesaid Master in Groton, or be a Means of convicting any Person or Confederate ifjith said Servant as above suspected, shall have Five Pounds Reward for each of them, and all necessary Charges paid.

The following marriage is entered in the church records under the date December 28, 1742: '' Priamus (Cap' Boydens Negro man servantQ] to Margr? Molatto formerly servant to S. S. both of Groton". It is also recorded that Margaret, the servant of Samuel Scripture, Jr., was baptized on January 30, 1733-4, and that she owned the church covenant at the same time. See No. X. of this Historical Series (pages 14, 20, and 30). The last entry shows that the initials " S. S." mentioned above stand for Samuel Scripture, Jr. This negro couple was afterward blessed with a family of children, and they lived on the west side of the Nashua River, a short distance north of the county road to Townsend. His surname wa? Lew or Lue, and his given name became contracted into Primus ; and to this day the rise of ground, near the place where the Pepperell road leaves the main road, is known as Primus Hill, so called after him. Mr. Butler thinks that perhaps Margaret's name was Lew. See his History (page 454). Their oldest child, - Zelah, a corruption of Barzillai, - born at Groton on November 5, 1743, was a famous musician, who lived at Dracut, and the father of numerous children who were also musicians. He was a fifer in Captain John Ford's company of the 27th Massachusetts Regiment in service at the siege of Boston, and was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

About the year 1740 there was a negro slave in Groton by the name of Bead, who used to look after the cattle sent up to Groton Gore in the spring to be pastured during the summer. See "The Boundary Lines of Old Groton " (page 37), and No. XHI. of this Historical Series (page 59). In the year 1761 Abraham Moors owned a slave named Zebina.

Noah Shattuck, esq., informs me that there were eleven slaves in Groton when slavery was abolished, and he mentioned the following names : Chloe Williams, Phillis Cutler, Phillis Sartell,^ Ichabod Davis, Fanny Borden and William Case. Phineas Wait also owned one slave.

Slavery was never formally abolished in Massachusetts, but it was held by the courts that the Bill of Rights contained in the Constitution, which was adopted in the year 1 780, swept away this last vestige of feudalism.

Items From Various Sources

We hear from Dunstable, That a sorrowful Accident happen'd there as they were raising the Frame for a new Meeting-House in that Town Yesterday was sev'night - Two Men, assisting in the Work fell, from a Spar, and one of them (Abiel Richardson of Groton) had his Brains dash'd out, his Head in the Fall striking upon a Rock, so that he expir'd immediately ; the other was much bruis'd, but 'tis tho't will recover.

Some Days ago a young Man at Work in a new House at Groton, catching hold on a wrong Rope, fell from the Top to the Bottom, and was kill'd in a Moment.

Province of New- Hampshire. One of the Gang is now in our Goal, for attempting to put off some of the said Counterfeits in this Town. "The Boston Gazette, or, Weekly Advertiser," February ii, 1755.

A Petition of Jonathan Sheple of Groton, in the County of Middlesex, setting forth, that about four Years ago, he was several Times presented by the Grand-Jury for not attending the public Worship of God, but being at that Time over-borne with Melancholly, under his then distressing Circumstances, and bereaved of the proper Exercise of his Reason, he forfeited his Recognizances, for satisfying which, and the other Costs attending the said Presentments, he has been since obliged to make Sale of his Dwellingplace ; and praying that the Money paid by him, being still in the Clerk's Hands, he may be allowed to receive back again.

Last Wednesday [June 3,] the Rev. Mr. Samuel Dana was ordained Pastor to the first Church in Groton . The Rev. Mr. Rogers of Littleton began with Prayer, the Rev. Mr. Appleton of Cambridge preached from Levit. X. 3. the Rev. Mr. Parker of Dracut gave the Charge, and the Rev. Mr. Hall of Wesford gave the Right Hand of Fellowship.

At Amherst, N. H. Mr. John Parks, of Groton, (Mass.) He, as master workman in building the stone gaol in Amherst, was unfortunately wounded by a large stone falling on the end of a pry, which struck him on the head and stomach, and occasioned his death the third day after. He was the master workman in building the gaols in this town and Concord. " Thomas's Massachusetts Spy : or. The Worcester Gazette," August 29, 1793.

At Groton, on the ist inst. Mrs. Lovina Tarbell, wife of Mr. Abel Tarbell, and daughter of Joshua Longley, Esq. of Shirley, JEt, 22 years. - Having been in good health, and without any previous complaint, fell on the floor, and expired in a few minutes. Her death is severely felt in the family, and greatly lamented by her acquaintance.

In Groton, Mr. David Wilson, a revolutionary soldier, aged 90. His death was occasioned by falling into the fire, supposed in a fit. "Columbian Centinel" (Boston), February 23, 1833.

According to an advertisement in " The Continental Journal, and Weekly Advertiser" (Boston), May 29, 1777, John Williams, of Groton, was engaged at that time in recruiting for Colonel Rufus Putnam's regiment ; and according to the same newspaper, three weeks later (June 19), the town of Groton was to receive ninety-eight bushels of salt out of the public stores belonging to the State.

General Grant'S Visit To Groton

The visit of the President of the United States will long be memorable in the annals of Groton. General Grant passed the night of Wednesday, June 16, 1869, at the house of Governor Boutwell, where on the next day he held a pubhc reception, which was attended by a large gathering. People poured into the village from all the neighborhood, and never before was there so great an assemblage of persons within the limits of the town. No accident occurred to mar the festivities, and everything passed off satisfactorily, thus making the occasion a complete success.

A musical festival, known as the Peace Jubilee, had begun in Boston on Tuesday, June 15, which lasted five days. It was intended to celebrate the downfall of the Rebellion and the restoration of peace and good will in all parts of the country, which at that time so recently had been rent asunder by Civil War. Several thousand voices sang in the chorus, and the audiences were correspondingly large. A building known as the Coliseum was erected for the special occasion. General Grant attended the concert in the afternoon of the second day of the Jubilee, in company with Governor Boutwell, a member of his Cabinet, and with other distinguished guests. After a dinner in the evening given by the city of Boston, a special train was despatched to Groton, which bore the President and his party.

The President At Groton

The President and his party left the supper room of the Revere House at a few minutes before eight o'clock last evening, and after a few minutes' conversation in the ladies' parlor, proceeded to the Fitchburg Railroad station, where a special train awaited his arrival. The party consisted of the President, U. S. Grant, jr.. Secretary Boutwell, Governor Claflin, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Hon. J. M. S. Williams, Dr. S. A. Green, Colonel Daniel Needham and wife, Mrs. McAfee and Mrs. Wellington of Groton, General A. B. Underwood and the Rev. William Clark, chaplain of the New Hampshire legislature. The President was loudly cheered as he entered the cars, where Mr. P. S. Gilmore had a brief interview with the President. The train made brief stops at Waltham, Concord and South Acton, and at each of these stations the President bowed his acknowledgments to the gathered crowds, and shook hands with hundreds from the car window. During a large portion of the journey to Concord the President conversed freely with Mr. Emerson, chiefly on educational matters, and the two distinguished gentlemen evidently enjoyed the interview.

At the Groton Junction station a great crowd was gathered, and great enthusiasm was manifested when the President made his appearance. After a little delay he proceeded with Secretary Boutwell and a select party to Groton Centre, where he passed the night as the Secretary's guest. A salute of guns greeted his arrival, and the whole town was in a state of excitement. A public reception is to be held at the Town Hall, at half-past nine o'clock this morning) when an immense gathering is expected.

The genial and frank conversation of the President while on the train, showed that when inclined to be communicative he has no lack of words to express his ideas. He gave many little war incidents bearing upon different officers, and in the course of some remarks made in reference to General Sherman, he said that he considered him fully capable of commanding any army that the country could raise and against any nation with which we should ever be called to fight ; that he had sound judgment, great nerve, and was always ready to do what he was ordered to do, even when against his personal wishes, and never grumbled. In a remark made to Governor Claflin concerning the election of last fall, he said that Massachusetts entered into the contest as if she had not a vote to lose - as if she was a doubtful State ; and this compliment was well responded to by different gentlemen present. It may be said, in brief, that the President greatly enjoyed his visit to Boston, and that all the arrangements made for his benefit were highly satisfactory to him.

The President leaves for Worcester today at 12.30 p. m., the hospitalities of that city having been tendered him yesterday by Mayor Blake. He will remain in the city but a few hours, returning to New York by the afternoon train. He will be received by the city government, and escorted through the principal streets by the military, the Highland Cadets and the Grand Array of the Republic. He will review the public schools, and partake of a collation at the Bay State House. Secretary Boutwell will accompany the President to Worcester, but will return to Groton in the evening.

Gen. Grant In Middlesex

The announcement that the president, after his holiday in Boston, was to visit the secretary of the treasury at his home in Groton, seemed at first a little surprising, especially to the Bostonians, who could hardly bear the thought of so distinguished a man sleeping anywhere but under the shadow of the state house. But the reason for it was a very good one, - to visit and pay honor to the county and the precise region which, on the opening of the rebellion, sent the first soldiers to defend the capital of the nation. It was from Acton and Groton, and the neighboring towns, that the Sixth regiment went forth on the i6th of April, 1861, and it was the farmers and mechanics of Middlesex that, on the 19th of April, shed their blood in Baltimore, as their grandfathers had at Concord and Lexington on another 19th of April eighty-six years before. When the Essex county men and the New York Seventh got to Washington on the 25th of April, they found the townsmen of Secretary Boutwell quartered in the Senate chamber, having been the first of the volunteers to reach the capital. Close behind them came the Fifth regiment, also Middlesex men, who marched away from their homes while their neighbors of the Sixth were breaking through the Baltimore mob, and joined them on Capitol Hill before there was any chance for further fighting.

It was these men, their widows and children, their fathers, brothers and townsmen who crowded about the train that carried the great general of the war through the length of Middlesex county on Wednesday evening. As he left the Fitchburg railroad station he passed along the side of Bunker Hill ; through Cambridge, where Washington encamped with his besieging army ; not far from Lexington, over the meadows of Concord, and amid the hills and woods of Acton, whose "embattled farmers" fired the famous shot in 1776. In all these - towns the monuments of the old war and the new might be seen standing in sight of each other, - the granite of their sides not more firm and durable than the loyalty of the people who built them to the cause of freedom and their country. It was a little after 8 o'clock when the special train carrying Gen. Grant and his son, Secretary Boutwell, Gov. Claflin, Mr. Emerson of Concord, Dr. S. A. Gr^en of Groton, and a few others, left Boston for the old village of Groton, where Mr. Boutwell's home and farm are. The train made brief stops at Waltham, Concord and South Acton, and at each of these stations the president bowed his acknowledgments to the gathered crowds, and shook hands with hundreds from the car window. During a large portion of the journey to Concord the president conversed freely with Mr. Emerson, chiefly on educational matters, but he spoke frankly also of incidents of the war. In regard to his companion in arms. Gen. Sherman, he declared that he was fully capable of commanding any army that the country could' raise, and against any nation with which we should ever be called to fight ; that he had sound judgment, great nerve, and was always ready to do what he was ordered to do, even when against his personal wishes, and never grumbled. In a remark made to Gov. Claflin concerning the election of last fall, he said that Massachusetts entered into the contest as if she had not a vote to lose - as if she was a doubtful state ; and in all that was said he showed that he was well aware of the part taken by Massachusetts in the war, and in the political sequel thereto.

Indeed the president had already shown his appreciation of Massachusetts and of Middlesex county by his choice of cabinet officers. In his detour of Wednesday and Thursday he visited the homes of his attorney-general and his secretary of the treasury, - places within fifteen miles of each other, and in those rural communities of our state, where, more than in our cities and larger towns, the old fashioned spirit of Massachusetts abides and prevails. It is not often that a president of the United States visits such communities, or chooses from them his cabinet ministers, but when he does so it is a sign that he values the Puritan virtues, and takes pleasure in seeing the plain people among whom they have longest held sway. This is the way we interpret Gen. Grant's visit to Middlesex ; though it may also have been intended as a mark of the special trust which he reposes in his secretary of the treasury, who well deserves it.

Old Mill-Sites In Groton

The distinct traces of an old dam on James's Brook at Groton are to be seen on the easterly side of the road to Ayer, near the extreme limits of the town. They are found on the farm, known formerly as the Benjamin Moors place, but latterly owned by Nathan F. Culver. The excavations of earth, below the dam, for the purpose of filling-in the stones, are clearly visible ; and even the size of the mill-pond can be made out. None of the aged people, whose recollection goes back to the early part of the present century, could tell anything in regard to the mill that stood on this site. It is not mentioned by Dr. Oliver Prescott, Jr., in his survey of the town made in the year 1794, which carefully notes all the mills at that time. James's Brook was once a much larger stream than it is now, and in particular places furnished considerable water-power.

This farm was bought of John Farnsworth, by Abraham Moors, the grandfather of Benjamin ; and the deed, dated February 5, 1 716-17, is duly recorded in the Middlesex Registry of Deeds (Book XXIII. page 47) at East Cambridge. From this record the following description of land is taken, which furnishes a clew to the desired information : -

Several parcels of upland & Swampy Low land all Situate lying & being within the Bounds and Limits of the Township of Groton in the county and province afores'd containing in all by Estimation One hundred & Sixty acres more or less Improv" Thirty acres more or less of mill pond Swamp & upland with a three quarter part of an Old Saw mill thereupon [the Italics are mine] now standing and it is Bound Northwardly upon a high way that leadeth to a farm that is called by the Name of Coycus ffarm Eastwardly with the Lands of Josiah Farnsworth Southerly upon Davis's Land & Westerly upon Saw mill Lands &c.

Here we have a distinct reference to this very mill, which identifies it beyond doubt ; and it is interesting to note that even then, a hundred and seventy years ago, it was called " an- Old Saw mill." " Coycus ffarm " is the abbreviated spelling of Nonacoicus farm, which had previously belonged to Major Simon Willard. The highway, mentioned in the description, is the present road from Groton to Ayer. A record of John Farnsworth's lands in the Middlesex Registry of Deeds (XIII. 336), on May 10, 1700, refers to his "Saw Mill Land," which was without question this parcel, showing that he owned it at that time.

Going back to a still earlier date, in a description of Farnsworth's lands, on December 9, 1680, as found in "The Early Records of Groton" (page 182), reference is made to "a pece of swamp land, lyeing betwixt the pond at John Page's sawmill and the bridg that goe to Nonicoycus, bounded round by the town's comon land." Undoubtedly Page's saw-mill, here mentioned, was the same as Farnsworth's, as the sites of the two appear to be identical ; and " the bridg that goe to Nonicoycus " is still standing over James's Brook, very near the bed of the old mill-pond. Page's mill was built probably soon after the re-settlement of the town in the year 1678 ; and this dam furnishes, perhaps, the earliest trace of man's work that can be identified within the limits of Groton or its neighborhood.

Many years ago John Chamberlain had a saw-mill on Martin's Pond Brook, near the foot of Brown Loaf, on its northerly side. He was known about here as- " Paugus John," from the fact of his kiUing the Indian chief Paugus, in Lovewell's -Fight at Pequawket, on May 8, 1725. An account of this action is found in Chapter IV. of " Groton during the Indian Wars." Even now there is a deep place in Paugus Brook, known as Paugus Hole, on the west side of Brown Loaf, where, it is said, the body of Paugus's descendant, who came to kill Chamberlain, many years after , the Fight, was sunk, after he himself was killed. A small elm stands on the south bank of the brook, very near the place. Chamberlain is supposed to have died about the year 1756, though no record of his death is found. The appraisal of his property was made on March 31, 1756, according to papers in the Middlesex Probate Office at East Cambridge. The old mill-race is still to be seen ; and only a few weeks ago, in company with Francis M. Boutwell, Esq., I examined the site. The mill is not mentioned by Dr. Oliver Prescott, Jr., in his survey of 1794, and, of course, was not standing at that time. It was sold by Joseph Gilson, Jr., husbandman, to Eleazer Gilson, cooper, February 13, 1716- 17, as recorded in the Middlesex Registry of Deeds (XIX. 131, 132). The land is described as lying on both sides of " Brownlofe Brook," and bounded westerly by the road leading to John Chamberlain's corn-mill, which at that time was the mill mentioned in the next paragraph. There has been, however, a grist-mill on or very near the sahie spot in modern days, which was built by George Russell about the year 1870 ; but this was carried away during a freshet in March,

A grist-mill stood for a long period on Baddacook Pond Brook, about two miles and a half from the Unitarian Meeting- House, on the Lowell road. It is given by Dr. Oliver Prescott, Jr., on his plan of 1794, and was standing in the early part of the last century. John Chamberlain, yeoman, conveyed it to Eleazer Gilson, February 13, 1716-17, - the same day that Joseph Gilson, Jr., sold his mill to Gilson, as recorded above. The grantor afterward became the famous Indian fighter, as previously stated. The land is described as lying on the southerly side of " Battecook Medow," and from the description the road ran then as it does now.

When Mr. Butler's map was made, from a survey during the years 1828 and 1829, the mill belonged to Amelia Woods, and before that had been owned successively by her father and brother, Nahum and Nahum, Jr. It was taken down about i860, having for several years previously fallen into disuse.

Eleazer Gilson appears to have been a large owner of millproperty at an early period in the history of Groton. He bought of Isaac Parker, December 7, 1726, a saw-mill situated on Mulpus Brook, as recorded in the Middlesex Registry of Deeds (XXVI. 336). In modern times he would have made his mark as an extensive manufacturer or a railroad magnate.

During my boyhood there was a mill for grinding and sawing at West Groton, - or Squannacook, as it was then called ; but this was taken down many years since. It was first built by John Tarbell, the father of the late Colonel Abel Tarbell, who died on October 19, i860, at the advanced age of 86 years. John died on September 9, 1802, aged 79. A mill for the manufacture of leather-board now occupies the site.

There was also another mill for grinding and sawing, where the Hollingsworth paper-mills now stand, on the Great Road north of the village. At the end of the last century it was owned by John Capell, but it disappeared a long time ago, in order to make way for the new buildings. Both these gristmills, last mentioned, are given on Dr. Prescott's plan of 1794.

Billerica Bridge

At an early period in our colonial history the travel from Groton to Boston went by a circuitous route through Chelmsford and Billerica, where there was a bridge over the Concord River, built by several towns, - of which Groton was one, - and supported jointly by them for many years. The Reverend Henry Allen Hazen, in his " History of Billerica " (page 98), says that the town of Groton paid toward the repairs of the bridge in the year 1665 the sum of £l 14J. jd. out of a total of ;^2i 2s. 2d. - probably the first assessment paid by the town, though there is no allusion to the matter in the town-records, which are not entirely complete at this period. On March 12, 1665-6, the Selectmen of Chelmsford gave notice to the town of Billerica that they would no longer help keep the bridge in repair, whereupon it was voted by the Selectmen of Billerica that they would take up some of the planks and thus stop all travel, which was undoubtedly done. How long the bridge remained impassable, or how long the difHcult^ continued, there is no record ; but probably the trouble was not settled until the General Court, twenty months later, interposed its power and decided the matter. At its session beginning on October 9, 1667, it is recorded :

In Answer to a motion made by the Deputjes of Billirica & Chelmsford in refferenc to the bridge ouer Billirica Riuer - It is Ordered by this Court thatt according to the Agreement of the Comittee of the Generall Court & Comitte of that Countje respecting bridges bearing date Aprill 17. 1660 the sajd bridge shall be repayred & vpholden by the Tounes of Billirica chelmsford & Groaten. & all such ffarmes as are there granted when they shall be Improoued in proportion to their Country rates. & shall be freed from the majntenanc of all other bridges excepting only in their oune Tounes.

In carrying out this order, which had reference only to the repairing of the bridge, the County Court at Charlestown, on December 17, 1667, appointed a commission of four men, - of whom Captain James Parker, of Groton, was one, - who were authorized to make a contract " with some able and honest artificer '' for building it anew ; and accordingly to that end they made an agreement with Job Lane, of Billerica. The written contract containing all the specifications in detail is still preserved ; and it stipulated that the Groton payments, if Lane so chose, should be delivered near the bridge, while it was building, and after that in Billerica. The work was to be done before September 29, 1668.

In the year 1676, - according to Mr. Hazen's History (page 99),^ - the complaints about the bridge were repeated, and there was again united action of the towns in repairing it ; but probably at this time Groton was relieved of all assessments, as the town was then deserted. During the next twenty years no further complaint is recorded ; but at the end of this period (probably in the year 1698) the bridge was swept away by a flood. Then another controversy arose on the old subject of proportioning the expense ; and in order to settle the difficulty a request was sent out at this time by the Selectmen of Chelmsford to the towns of Groton, Dunstable, and Billerica, asking them to appoint a committee, who should be authorized to meet and act in the matter. Accordingly a meeting was held, probably at Chelmsford, when Thomas Williams and James Blanchard, the town clerk, were present, representing the town of Groton. (History of Billerica, page 100.) One result of this consultation was to change the location of the bridge and place it more than a mile farther up the river. The following entries in the Groton town-records probably refer to a subsequent meeting of the committee, which soon followed the first, when there was evidently a hitch in the proceedings : - december 21 at a town meting legely warned the town did then uote and declare that y° will chuse to men for to be the towns agents for to maniadge the case a bought the brigde and for to imply a lawyer in the behalfe of the town and that y" will raise money for to bare the charge of said men at a town meting legely warning december: 21 1698. capSn Prascott was chosen for to go to chelmsford to meett with the commety and insign farnworth was chosen for to go with him to chamesford. James Blanchard towti Clarke december: 21 1698 at a town meting legelly warned the town did uote and chuse capt prescott and insign farnworth to go to Chelmsford to mete with the commete and to act in the towns be halfe acording to there best discrestion refering to bill area tiridg James Blanchard town Clark

December 21 : 1698 : at a town metinge legally warn the town did chuse capt prescott and Insign farnworth to be the to men for to acte in the towns be halfe for to do the work Spock of in the other uot James Blanchard town Cla\rK\

The bridge was built on the new site some time during the year 1699, but for one rekson or another now unexplained, the town of Groton refused to pay the amount assessed as her share of the expense, and recourse was again had to the General Court. At the session beginning on May 31, 1699, and continued by several prorogations until March 13, 1699- 1700, the following enactment was passed: -

'Y^OR Issuing of the Controversie between the Towns of Groton, -*- Billerica and Chelmsford, and the Inhabitants of the Farms Adjacent, arising by reason of the refusal or neglect of the Agents for the Town ^Groton aforesaid, to pay the Sum set and proportioned on their Town, for and towards the Erecting and Building of the Bridge in the said Town of Billerica, in the County of Middlesex ; which ought in Equity to have been paid; the Sum being Twenty Four Pounds, and Ten Shillings.

-pc it ©nactcb bg lijs (fice^cntg tlje dootrnonr, ffiottncil anii PtpregetttattDts in deneral (Eonrt 3'«si«inblel), anb bg tl)c |itttl)orttB of tlje same, That the Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace, to be holden at Concord, in the said County of Middlesex, on the Second Tuesday oijune next, are hereby ordered and impowred to issue and send forth a Warrant to the Select-men or Assessors of the said Town of Groton, Requiring them forthwith to Levy and Assess the said Sum of Twenty Four Pounds, and Ten Shillings Money, on the Inhabitants of their Town according to Law ; and with the Assessment to deliver a Warrant to the Constable of their Town, Requiring him to Collect and Gather the same ; and the said Sum so Collected, to deliver and pay in unto Major Thomas Hinksman, Major Jonathan Tinge, and Mr. yohn Lane, Undertakers for the Building of the Bridge lately Erected in Billerica above-said ; and the said Constable to pay in the said Sum, and issue and settle his Accompt with the said Undertakers, at or before the First Day of August next. And Groton shall not be liable to Contribute any thing further toward the Repair or Rebuilding the said Bridge at any time for the future ; unless the General Court or Assembly shall Order the same.

The town's exemption from liabilities on account of the bridge, as implied in the last clause, however, did not last long, as in the course of a few years this paragraph was repealed. At the session of the General Court beginning on May 30, 1716, the following enactment was passed: -

JJT'HEREAS the Agents for the Towns 0/ Billerica. and Chelms- ' '''^ ford, by Direction of the said Towns in their Petition to this Court at their present Session, have shewed forth, that there is a Great Bridge erected over Concord-River, in the Township of Billerica, and that the said Bridge was built by the Towns of Billerica, Chelmsford and Groton ; and according to a former Settlement made by a Committee appointed for the Settlement of the Charge of the Bridges in the County of Middlesex. But the Town of Groton, upon Application to this Court in 1699, did obtaifi a Discharge from either building or repairing for thefuttire, without further Order from this Court. And further it was alledged in the said Petition, that the said Bridge is fallen into such Decay, that it is no Ways profitable to Repair, or safe to Improve any longer as it now is, but that the same must of Necessity be new-built ; and that it is apprehended the Charge will be so great that the Burthen will be too heavy for Billerica and Chelmsford to bear, for the Reasons therein given, which, more properly ought to come under Consideration of the justices of the Court of General Session of the Peace in the County of Middlesex :

tt tl)er£fore betlartb anJ) enattcl) bp tljc I)OttOttrablc tl)c ILtctxttnattt (floDernottr, fflottnttl anb Jleprwcntatiuc!!, in (!5entral fflourt assemblcb, anb bg tl)e |Cntl)orit5 of tl)e game, That the Matters contained in the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Justices of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace for the said County of Middlesex, at their Quarter Sessions ; who are hereby fully authorized and impowred to take such Order about the said Bridge from Time to Time, and at all Times hereafter, as shall be judged meet and convenient, and to settle the Charge of the same, upon any, or every the Towns of the said County. And the Paragraph in the Law exempting the Town of Groton, from the Charge of the said Bridge, is hereby repealed, and made null and void.

How long after this time the tovi^n was called upon to help support the bridge, I am unable to say, but probably not for many years. The line of travel from Groton gradually worked its way to Boston in a straighter direction, and left the Billerica bridge eight or ten miles to the northward.

William Nutting

The following article, taken from " The Advance " (Chicago), October 23, 1884, shows some ot the hardships of every-day life during the period just after the Revolution. William Nutting, the writer of the journal, was a son of William and Joan (Boynton) Nutting, and one of ten children ; he was born at Groton on July 10, 1752, and died on April 18, 1832. The statement is probably incorrect that he was a minuteman at Lexington. He was a descendant of John Nutting, an original proprietor of the tovsrn, who was the common ancestor of the different families in this neighborhood bearing the name.

How They Raised The Wind A Hundred Years Ago By Rev. J. K. Nutting

We who talk about " the dollar of our daddies " can scarcely conceive with what difficulty the said daddies, or their daddies, managed to get a few of the said dollars into their possession.

in the Revolutionary army, from which he appears to have returned home in 1777, to care for his aged and widowed mother. He was at this time twenty-five years old. His diary, which is before me, records the principal events of every day for a period of more than twenty-five years longer. Besides carrying on a farm of more than two hundred acres, and clearing a smaller one in New Hampshire, he was in demand as a school teacher every winter, and turned rainy days to account by making plows (such plows ! I remember some of them, - but the best then known), yokes, "slays,'' etc., for himself and neighbors. When such jobs gave out, he made shoes for his family and the general market. As recreations, he " exercised " with "ye matross company" (what, pray, could that be ? ) ^ or showed his prowess in "ye singing meeting," where he played a singular bass-viol, shaped like the longitudinal half of a dash-churn. (He made shoes to pay for it, I believe.) He even composed music, " to be sung in ye congregation," some of which occasionally still appears in modern choir-books. But the great events of his diary are the "journeys," which he usually arranged so as to combine business with pleasure. I give below the account of one of them. A few weeks previous is the following entry: -

Nov. 30, 1786. Capt. Job Shattuck was taken by a party of horsemen from Boston, &c. [really, most of the party were Groton men], sent by authority to apprehend him for opposing ye government &c. - He in attempting to kill Capt. Reed with his sword [?], who was one of ye party, rec'd a bad wound with a cutlass in his knee-joint, but was carried and committed to Boston Gaol, with Oliver Parker & Benj. Page &c. for like offences.

The offences were those committed in the so-called Shays's Rebellion, in which Shattuck was a prominent leader. The movement was caused by the terrible distress consequent upon the depreciation of paper money, and had for its purpose the prevention of the collection of debts by law. Shattuck and the rest were soon set at liberty. The record below will exemplify the financial condition of that period :

Frid. Deer. \st and Sat. id. We made shoes. Stacie has made 4 pr men's shoes and 2 pr women's shoes and I have made 4 pr do. = 10 pr to carry into ye country to sell, &c.

1 Matross. One of the soldiers in a train of artillery, who are next to the gunners, and assist them in loading, firing, and sponging the guns. - Webster. It is now obsolete as an English word.

In the meantime the female part of the household were busy knitting stockings. Having agreed with Lieut. Rockwood to teach ye school in that " squadron " (district) for " 9 Doll per month and board myself, or 38 shillings & bee boarded," the author of the diary " fixt his slay with a lumber-box &c.," and " got Maj. Swan's horse, and borrowed some baggs &c.," " for a journey to No 4."

Wed. \oth. We drove to Baker's 7 m before breakfast. Had left a boy with provisions &c. Hired a boy and sent back [with extra horse |. Gave sd boy 10 d. « « * * Drove to Mr. Woodward's in Marlborp'

2 m beyond ye meeting house. I put up one of my horses to my hay [brought along !] and the other three were put up to Woodward's hay ® 9d. Lodging 3d.

Sund 2\st. To meeting in ye forenoon at Capt. Cook's [no church yet]. Heard Mr. Carpenter, concerning ye work of Electing Love, "Who shall lay anything to ye charge of God's elect &c.'' Afternoon heard Mr. Pickring at Mr. Higby's, on farewell, be perfect &c.

So the entries proceed. The sale of those ten pairs of shoes and "some stockings " must have involved more than two hundred miles of travel, and more than two weeks' time, with expenses averaging about two shillings a day for the part of the time not spe.nt with relatives. Except the first three days, it does not appear that any money was used. Provisions and even hay were carried along, and lodging was paid for in rye, wheat, flax-seed or corn - so many quarts of either as would satisfy the score. No money was received from the sales, either. A bushel and a half of wheat, or two of rye or corn, was the price of a pair of shoes. The " lumber-box " was the purse - into which went the grain, flaxseed, flax, pork (8 lbs. salt pork in one place, 3 lbs. fresh pork in another), and so on, and out of which came the dribbles of payment for expenses.

The final procedure was to convey the produce to Boston, where, at some price, it was at length turned into money, or once more exchanged for goods. This involved two days more of time, after which the whilom trader was ready to begin teaching, " at nine dollars a month and board myself." But let no one imagine that this immense salary was received in money. At the next town meeting after the school closed, the teacher presented his certificate, showing in what " squadron " and how long he had taught, and was paid " a part " in a town order ! This order could be used in paying " rates " (taxes), or sold for what it would fetch !

In such a state of things, is it any wonder that honest but ignorant men determined that the collection of debts - most of them of long standing - should be stopped? Especially since a judgment for debt involved a lodgment in " gaol " for the impoverished debtor !

Yet there was money enough. It is part of the family tradition that on one occasion the author of this curious diary had so much of it that he lavished '' a chaise box full of it " for a single cow ! The slight defect in the money thus plenty consisted in the fact that it was truly " fiat money," issued by government, and having no value either in itself or as a representative of gold or silver, - simply a promise from a party known to be bankrupt.

The First Church At West Groton

The following account of the gathering of a religious society at West Groton, and the dedication of their house of worship, is taken from the " Zion's Herald " (Boston), October 14, 1885 : -

The editor of this paper [Reverend Bradford K. Peirce] was invited to preach the sermon at the dedication of a house of worship in West Groton, Mass., last Wednesday [October 7]. This village has been connected with Ayer Junction, and a minister fi^om the Conference has supplied both preaching places. Worship is held in a hall in Ayer, and had a very incommodious room heretofore for its services in West Groton. This year one of our enterprising and devoted young men, Rev. H. G. Buckingham, has been the pastor of the circuit. There is no church edifice in West Groton. The church members, of various orders, are connected with distant bodies. The village is small, and there was little wealth that could be summoned in aid of a new religious enterprise. The neighbors met together and opened a subscription which proved much larger than their anticipations. And now they have a beautiful church, of the Queen Anne style, neatly furnished, seating three hundred when crowded, with a pleasant toned bell, and without debt. No separate church has been organized, but they heartily invite the Methodist ministry and enjoy its forms of service and administration of the ordinances. The ritual of the church was used as the form of dedication. The house was filled on the occasion. The Congregational, Baptist and Episcopal ministry were represented. Rev. Bros. Gould and_ Ichabod Marcy, with these brethren from sister churches, assisted in the exercises of the occasion. Everybody seemed to feel that the neat little chapel was a great benediction to the village. We trust a blessed revival of religion will show that the divine seal is set upon the enterprise.

Daniel Farmer And Eleazer Priest

The following petitions, hitherto unprinted, are found among the Archives at the State House, and furnish a few facts relating to the military service of two Groton soldiers. The place mentioned in both papers as " No. 4" is now known as Charlestown, New Hampshire. Fort Shirley was situated within the present limits of Heath, Massachusetts ; Fort Dummer within those of Brattleborough, Vermont ; and Colonel Hendill's Fort - or more properly Hinsdale's - stood in the present town of Hinsdale, New Hampshire. Captain Willard, mentioned in the first paper, was Josiah, a son of Henry Willard, who previously had been an inhabitant of Groton. He was during many years the commander of Fort Dummer, though for a few months in the year 1747, covering the period of this letter, he had been relieved by Lieutenant Dudley Bradstreet, a native of Groton and a son of the Reverend Dudley Bradstreet, a former minister of the town.

The Petition of Daniel Farmer of Groton in the County of middJ Husband man Humbly Shueth that your Poor Petitioner hes ben in the Service of his King and Cuntrey for the Space of four years Past, and was at the Seige of Louisburg and afterwards Inlisted him Self into the Canada Service & hes ben Boath on the Eastern and Western frontiers and in march Last Inlisted him Self as a Volinteir for three years under the Command of Captain Hobbs. and in June last was on a march with him from N2 4 to fort Shirley - and in Said march had a Smart Ingagement with a large Number of y= Indian Enemy and by Reson of Carring Some Wounded men turn". Down to fort Dumer where your Petitioner was taken Sick and So Continued for Some Days, and as Soone as he was able to travle Set oute for N° 4 where he was Posted and upon his march fell in with Sixteen of Cap' Willard's men at Co- Hendills fort, and Between Said Hendills fort and fortDumer on the forteenth Day of July last were besett by a large Number of the Enemy where I with Eight others were taken Captive where I Recived a wound in my head with a hachit from one of the Enemy, then I was Carred to Crown Point from thence to montreal and then to Qufebeck and from thence Brought to Louisburge by a flag of truce and from there I Returned to Boston and So got home on the forteenth of October last.

Now your Poor Petitioner had a good Gun taken from him by the Enemy to y? Value of Eighteen Pounds old tenor and fifteen Pounds old tenor in Paper Bills which he had Newly taken and as your Petitioner was told ware Bills of this Province But whether they were or not he Cannot Say your Petitioner had allso a hachit and Sundry other things taken from him. for which Sufferings - Lose of time - Gun money & other things, your Petitioner humbly Begs your Exellencys & Honours wise Considration and Grant him Such Relif as to you Shall See meet and your Poor Petitioner as in Duty Bound Shall Ever Pray. j,,

Read and Ordered that the Treasurer be directed to pay to Maj' Lawrence Six pounds twelve Shillings for the Use of the Petitioner. Ordered also that the Commissary General be directed to deliver said Lawrence for said Pet'' Use a Gun out of the Province Store. Sent up for concurrence

Daniel Farmer was the son of John, and born at Billerica on October 30, 1705 ; he was married to Elizabeth Woods, of Groton, on November 2, 1732, at which time he is recorded as of Lunenburg. He had certainly three children, and perhaps others, born at Groton between the years 1733 and 1741. According to " The New England Historical and Genealogical Register" (VI. 88) for January, 1852, Farmer, who was captured at Fort Dummer, arrived with other prisoners in Boston Harbor, on October 6, 1748, in the schooner " Brittania," Aylmer Gravill, master. This statement appears to be confirmed by the following extract from " The Boston Weekly News-Letter," October 6, 1748 : - with above 50 People, Men, Women and Children, that have been taken by the French and Indians at sundry Times, from divers Parts of this and the neighbouring Governments, and carried Captive to Canada, and were lately brought to Louisbourg from Quebec in a French Frigate of 20 Guns [the Zephire], as mention'd in our last. - About 20 other Passengers came also in this Vessel.

Eleazer Priest, mentioned in the next petition, was probably one of the captives brought in the French frigate to Louisburg ; but unfortunately he did not live to reach his home. For a reference to Joseph Priest, the father of Eleazer, see No. XVI. (page 25) of this Historical Series.

the Petition of William Lawrance of Groton in the County of midd" In behalf of Joseph Prestof sd Groton Husbandman : humbly shew that Eleazer Prest son to the saied Joseph was in the Saruis of this Prouince at n- 4 in the month of march 1747 & was Sent oute by his officer a littel way from the fourt to Gitt Wood where the Ennemy made an attat upon him and others and Kild one Charls Steuens and tock the sd Eleazer Prisner and Caried him to Cannada : whare he was Detained In prison untell sum time In august following and then was sent for new england and on his Pasige was tacken sick - and Laft at Luesburg whare he Dyed aboute the midel of September wharefore your Petitinor Prays that there may be a Just and Equetable Considration made to the s2 Joseph for his sd sons Eleazers. Loss of time and sufferings whilst In Captiuety as your your [j-zV] Ex>': and and [sic] honnors shall see meet and your Petitinor as In Duty shall Euer Pray

Read & Ordered that there be allowed and paid out of the publick Treasury to the Petitionor for the Use of the Said Joseph Priest the Sum of Eight Pounds Eighteen Shillings & a penny in Consideration of the Loss of his Said Sons time & Sufferings above mentioned. The Said Joseph to be accountable to the Judge of Prob' for the County of Middlesex in Case any Debts do now or may hereafter appear due from the Said Eleazer. Sent up for Concurrence

The Farrington Family

It is stated in the sixth volume (page 49 note) of the " Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society " that Amos, a son of Captain Thomas Farrington, formerly of Groton, was the first white child born in Norridgewock, Maine, and furthermore that he was in October, 1775, about fourteen months old. It is given on the authority of Major Return J. Meigs's Journal, which is published in Volume II. (pages 227-247), second series, of the Massachusetts Historical Collections, where the writer, under the date of October 3, 1775, speaks of seeing the baby, but does not mention the name. In regard to this question of local primogeniture, John Wesley Hanson, in his History of Norridgewock (pages 183, 184), says : -

Much discussion has prevailed in the town, on the question, " Who was the first white child born in Norridgewock ? " and tradition has mentioned several names. Rev. Obed Wilson declared, at the funeral of Dea. John Clark, that he was the oldest child living, born in Norridgewock, and from that statement people inferred that he was the first. He was born Oct. 15, 1778 ; John Heald was born Oct. 17, 1775 ; and James Waugh was born Jan. 10, 1775. Mr. Waugh's tombstone declares him to be the first white child born in Somerset county. Though unquestionably the first child born on Sandy river, there were three children born in Norridgewock before him. Sally Fletcher was born in August, 1774, Susannah Fairbrother in Sept., 1774, and Abel, son of Thomas Farrington, the surveyor, was born in the very earliest part of August, in 1774. He was, beyond all controversy, the first white child born in Somerset county. Not only will this fact be learned from Maj. Meigs's diary, in the sequel, but the family of Sylvanus Sawyer, in which he lived, endorse the declaration. He was nearly six months old, when Col. Waugh was born.

Mr. Hanson, in giving the time of Abel Farrington's birth, evidently takes the statement in Major Meigs's Journal, and then reckons backward in order to get the date, which is an uncertain method of reaching a correct result. Abel's birth is duly recorded at Groton, although it took place at Norridgewock ; and this settles the controversy, so far as it relates to him. The entry in the town-records is as follows: "Abel Farrington, son of Thomas & Betty afore"? was born at Kennebeck April 13"', 1775." According to the same authority, the mother died three weeks later, on May 5, 177S, also at " Kennebeck," by which is meant Norridgewock, as at that time the town was just settled and hardly had a name. This term was applied at an early period to a large tract of country, known as the Kennebec Purchase, of which the present town of Norridgewock was the northern limit. Possibly it was not Abel at all that was seen by Major Meigs, for the name of the baby is nowhere mentioned in the Journal ; and then perhaps the age was given wrong.

Thomas Farrington married for his second wife, on October 6, 1768, Betty Woods, of Groton ; and they had four children, namely, Vassall, born at Groton, on July 20, 1769 ; Putnam, born at Dunstable, on December 3, 1770; Philip, born at Groton, on January 7, 1772 ; and Abel, born at "Kennebeck," on April 30, 1775. He had been previously unable to learn ; and they had five children, born at Groton, of whom the two youngest died in January, 1770. The first wife died on January 24, 1767, leaving an infant two months old. Miss Sarah Loring Bailey, in her " Historical Sketches of Andover '' (page 123), says : "Capt. Thomas Farrington, an officer of Andover, in the French and Indian War, removed to Groton, and there became famous." The family left town probably soon after the Revolution, as the name has not been found here since that time. He is undoubtedly the person referred to in No. XIV. (page 19) of this Historical Series, under the head of "An Exception."

Burning Of Judge Dana'S Barn

The following notice of the burning of Judge Dana's barn on December 27, 1829, is found in the " Groton Herald," January 2, 1830. It fixes the date of its occurrence, which was left doubtful in the account of the Fires during the year 1829, published in No. IX. (page 24) of this Historical Series. It will be seen that this fire also took place on the last Sunday of the month. Two or three men were strongly suspected at the time of being the incendiaries, but the evidence of guilt was not strong enough to warrant their arrest.

Fire. A barn owned by Judge Dana, was destroyed by fire on Sunday evening last [December 27] ; it contained several tons of hay, and for some time the adjacent buildings were much in danger - but owing to the calm state of the wind and spirited exertions of our firemen, the flames were confined within a small space without damaging the surrounding property.

In No. III. (page 14) of this Historical Series a reference is made to an historical novel entided " The Insurgents " (2 volumes), published anonymously at Philadelphia in the year 1835. Since the issue of that Number I have learned that the author of the work was Ralph IngersoU Lockwood, a lawyer of New York, who died many years ago.

Source changes here: from An Historical Sketch of Groton, Massachusetts. 1655-1890, by Green, Samuel A. (Samuel Abbott), published 1894; 61,734 words in this source stream.

Groton Town

There were two petitions for the plantation of Groton, of which one was headed by Mr. Deane Winthrop, and the other by Lieutenant William Martin. The first one is not known to be in existence, but a contemporaneous copy of the second is in the possession of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. The signatures vary in the style of handwriting, but they do not appear to be autographs, and may have been written by the same person. The answer to the petition is given on the thir.d page of the paper, and signed by Edward Rawson, secretary of the Colony, which fact renders it probable that this is the petition actually presented to the General Court as the original one, after it had been copied by a skillful penman. It was found many years ago among the papers of Captain Samuel Shepley, by the late Charles Woolley, then of Groton, but who subsequently lived at Waltham ; and by him given to the New England Historic Genealogical Society. The petition is written on the first page of a folio sheet, and the answer by the General Court appears on the third page of the paper. Near the top of the sheet are the marks of stitches, indicating that another paper at one time had been fastened to it. Perhaps the petition headed by Deane AVinthrop was attached when the secretary wrote the action of the General Court, beginning, "In Ans'" to both theise peticons." The grant of the plantation was made by the Court of Assistants on May 25, 1655 - as appears by this document - though subject to the consent of the House of Deputies, which was given, in all probability, on the same day. In the absence of other evi-

In the early history of the Colony the proceedings of the General Court, as a rule, were not dated day by day - though there are many exceptions - but the beginning of the session is always given, and occasionally the days of the month are recorded. These dates in the printed edition of the records are frequently carried along without authority, sometimes covering a period of several days or even a week; and for this reason it is often impossible to learn the exact date of any particular legislation, when there are no contemporaneous papers bearing on the subject.

"That where as youre petioners by a prouidence of god haue beene brought ouer into this wildernes and liued longe herein: and being eumthing straightned for that where by subsistance in an ordinarie waie of gods prouidence is to be had, and Considdering the a lowance that god giues to the sunes of men for such an ende : youre petioners request there fore is that you woiild be pleased to grant vs a place for a plantation vpon the Riuer that runes from Nashaway in tomerimake at a place or a boute a place Caled petaupaukett and waubansconcett and youre petioners shall pray for youre happy prosedings

"In Ansr to both theise peticons The Court Jmlgeth it meete to graunt the peticonefs eight miles square in the place desired to make a Comfortable planta^on wch henceforth shall be Called Groaten formerly knowne by the name of Petapavvage : that M^ Damforth of Cambridge wth such as he shall Asossiate to him shall and hereby is desired to lay it out wi'h all Convenjent speede that so no Incouragement may be wanting to the Peticone's for a speedy procuring of a godly minister amongst them. Provided that none shall enjoy any part or por^on of ^ that land by guift from the selectmen of that place but such who shall build bowses on theire lotts so given them once wthin eighteene months from the tjme of the sayd Townes laying out or Townes graunt to such persons ; and for the p'sent M^ Deane Winthrop M-- Jno Tinker M'Tho : Hinckly Dolor Davis. Martin Mathew ffarington John Witt and Timothy Couper are Appointed the selectmen for the sayd Towne of Groaten for one two yeares from the tjme it is layd out, to lay out and dispose cf particular lotts not exceeding twenty acres to each bowse lott, And to Order the prudential! affairs of the place at the end of which tjme other selectmen shall be chosen and Appointed in theire roomes : the selectmen of Groaton giving Mr Danforth such sattisfaction for his service & paines as they & he shall Agree ;

The entry made by Secretary Rawson in the General Court Records, at the time of the grant, is substantially the same as his indorsement on Martin's petition, though it distinguishes between some of the names signed to each petition. It is evident that the one headed by Deane Winthrop was also signed by John Tinker and Thomas Hinckley ; and probably by Dolor Davis, Richard Smith and Amos Richardson, as is inferred from a petition dated May 16, 1656, and given later in this account of the town. The Roman letters and Arabic figures within parentheses refer to the volume and page of the General

"In Ansr to the peticon of M' Deane Winthrop M^ Jn" Tincker Mr Tho: Hinckly &c & of Lieu Wm Martin Timothy Cooper &c The Court Judgeth it meete to Graunt etc." (IV. 204).

Charles Hastings Gerrish, of Groton, has a contemporaneous copy of this record made by Secretary Rawson, which was perhaps sent originally to the selectmen of the town. It was found among the papers of the late Hon. John Boynton, at one time town clerk.

"There heinge a pet. p^ferd by M' Dean Winthrop M-" Tho: Hinckley & divers others for a plantation vpou the riuer that Runs from Nashaway into Merimacke called petapawage & an other from some of the Inhabitants of Concord for a plantation in the same place to both which the Court returned this answer that the Court Thinkes meet to graunt etc." (III. 462).

The following letter from the Hon. J. Hammond Trumbull, whose authority in such matters is unquestioned, gives the meaning and derivation of the Indian name of the town :

" Mt dear Dr. Green, - Petaiipaulet and Petapaicage are two forms of the same name, the former having the locative postposition {-et}, meaning ' at ' or ' on ' a place ; and both are corruptions of one or the other of two Indian names found at several localities in New England. From which of the t%vo your Groton name came I cannot decide without some knowledge of the place itself. I leave you the choice, confident that one or the other is the true name.

Pooluppog,' used by Eliot for ' baj-,' in Joshua xv. 2, 5, literally means 'spreading' or ^bulging water,' and was employed to designate either a local widening of a river making still water, or an inlet from a river expanding into something like a pond or lake. Hence the name of a part of (old) Saybrook, now Essex, Conn., which was variously written PatUapaug, Poattapoge, Potabauge, and, later, Peltipaug, &c., so designated from a spreading cove or inlet from Connecticut River. PottajjoMgr Pond, in Dana, Mass., with an outlet to, or rather an inlet from Chicopee River, is probably a form of the same name. So is ' Port Tobacco,' Charles County, Md. (the "-Potopaco ' of John Smith's map), on the Potomac.

" But there is another Algonkin name from which Pelaupauk and some similar forms may have come, which denotes a swamp, bo^, or quagmire, - literally, a place into ivhich the foot sinks; represented by the Chippeway^e<o6e<7, a bog or soft marsh, and the AhnsLki potepaug. There is a Pautipaug (otherw se Pootapaug, Portipaug, Patapogue, etc.) in the town of Sprague, Conn., on or near the Shetucket River, which seems to have this derivation.

"If there was in (ancient) Groton a pond or spreading cove, connected with the Nashua, Squannacook, Nissitisset, or other stream, or a pondlike enlargement or ' bulge ' of a stream, this may, without much doubt, be accepted as the origin of the name. If there is none such, the name probably came from some ' watery swamp,' like those into which (as the 'Wonder-working Providence' relates) the first explorers of Concord ' sunke, into an uncertaine bottome in water, and waded up to their knees.'

The last suggestion, that the name came from an Algonkin word signifying " swamp " or "bog," appears to be the correct one. There are many bog meadows, of greater or less extent, in different parts of the town. Two of the largest - one situated on the easterly side of the village, and known as Half- Moon Meadow, and the other on the westerly side, and known as Broad Meadow, each containing perhaps a hundred acres of land - are now in a state of successful cultivation. Before they were drained and improved they would have been best described as swamps or bogs.

the region, should have been crowded out of the list of geographical names in Massachusetts. However much such words may have been twisted and distorted by English pronunciation and misapplication, they furnish now one of the few links that connect the present period with prehistoric times in America. *' Nashaway," mentioned in the petition, is the old name of Lancaster, though spelled in different ways. Mr. Trumbull has given some interesting facts in regard to this Indian word, which I copy from a paper by him in the second volume of the '' Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society : "

" Nashaue (Chip[pewa], ndssawaii and ashaii-iwi), 'mid-way,' or 'between,' and with o/ii:e or iinfc added, the ' Itind between ' or 'the half-way place,' - was the name of several localities. The tract on which Lancaster, in Worcester county (Mass.) was settled, was ' between' the branches of the river, and so it was called ' Kashaioay ' or ' NashawaJce ' {nashaue-ohJce) ; and this name was afterwards transferred from the territory to the river itself. There was another Nashaway in Connecticut, between Quinebaug and Five-Mile Rivers in Windham county, and here, too, the mutilated name of the nashaue-ohke was transferred, as Ashaicog or Assairog, to the Five-Mile River. Natchaug, in the same county, the name of the eastern branch of Shetucket river, belonged originally to the tract ' between ' the eastern and western branches ; and the Shetucket itself borrows a name [nashaue- Ittk-ut) from its place * between ' Yantic and Quinebaug rivers (page 33)."

The town is indebted for its name to Deane Winthrop, a son of Governor John Winthrop and one of the petitioners for the grant. He was born at Groton, in the county of Suffolk, England, on March 16, 1622-23 ; and the love of his native place prompted him to perpetuate its name in New England. He stands at the head of the first list of selectmen appointed by the General Court, and for a short time was probably a resident of the town. At the age of exactly eighty-one years he died, on March 16, 1703-04, at Pullen Point, now within the limits of Winthrop, Massachusetts.

" My dear Dr. Green, - It would give me real pleasure to aid you in establishing the relations of Deanti Winthrop to the town of Groton in Massachusetts. But there are only three or four letters of Deane's among the family papers in my possession, and not one of them is dated Groton. Nor can I find in any of the family papers a distinct reference to his residence there.

" There are, however, two brief notes of his, both dated 'the 16 of December, 1662,' which I cannot help thinking may have been written at Groton. One of them is addressed to his brother John, the Governor of Connecticut, who was then in London, on business connected with the Charter of Connecticut. In this note, Deane says as follows:

" ' I have some thoughts of removing from the place that I now live in, into your Colony, if I could lit of a convenient place. The place that I now live in is too little for me, my children now growing up.' ' "We know that Deane Winthrop was at the head of the first Board of Selectmen at Groton a few years earlier, and that he went to reside of Pullen Point, now called Winthrop, not many years after.

A few years before the incorporation of the town, Emanuel Downing, of Salem, who married Lucy, a sister of Governor John Winthrop, had a very large farm which he called Groton. It was situaited in what was afterward South Danvers, but now Peabody, on the old road leading from Lynn to Ipswich, and thus named, says Upham, in his "Salem Witchcraft,"

" in dear remembrance of his wife's ancestral home in 'the old country'" (I. 43). Downing subsequently sold it to his nephews, John AVinthrop, Jr., and Adam Winthrop, on July 23, 1644, when he speaks of it as " his farme of Groton." The sale is duly recorded in the Suffolk Eegistry of Deeds (I. 57).

Groton in Connecticut - younger than this town by just half a century, and during the Revolution the scene of the heroic Ledyard's death - was named in the year 1705, during the Governorship of Fitz-John Winthrop, out of respect to the Suffolk home of the family.

New Hampshire has a Groton, in Grafton County, which was called Cockermouth when first settled in the year 1766. Subsequently, however, the name was changed by an act of the Legislature, in accordance with the unanimous wish of the inhabitants who approved it, on December 7, 1796. Some of its early settlers were from Hollis, New Hampshire, and others from this town.

Vermont, also, has a Groton; in Caledonia County, which received its charter on October 20, 1789, though it was settled a short time before. A history of the town, written by General Albert Harleigh Hill, appeared in Miss Abby Maria Hemenway's " Vermont Historical Gazeteer" (IV. 1145-1168). Taken bodily from this work, a pamphlet edition was also published, with some slight variations, but with the same paging. The author says :

'- It received the name of Groton through the influence of its earliest settlers, who vere born in Groton, Mass. These sterling old patriots who, mid all the stirring activity of those days, forgot not the old birthtown, but hallowed its memory by giving its name to their new settlement and town in the wilderness" (page 1145).

New York, too, has a town called Groton, situated in Tompkins County ; and Professor Marvin Morse Baldwin, in an historical sketch of the place, published in the year 1858, gives the reason for so naming it. He says :

" At first, the part of Locke ttrtis set off was called Division ; but the next year [1818] it was changed to Groton, on the petition of the inhabitants of the town, some of whom had moved from Groton, Mass., and some from Groton, Ct., though a few desired the name of York " (page 8).

There is also a Groton in Erie County, Ohio. It is situated in that part of the State known as the fire lands, and so called after the Connecticut town. The name was originally Wheatsborough, and its first settlement was made in the year 1809.

The latest place aspiring to the honor of the name is in Brown County, South Dakota, which was laid out six or eight years ago on land owned by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St, Paul Railway Company. I am informed that various New England names were selected by the company and given to different townships, not for personal or individual reasons, but because they were short and well sounding, and unlike any others in that Scate.

In the middle of the last century - according to the New England Historical and Genealogical Register (XXIV. 56 note, and 60) for January, 1870 - there was a place in Roxbury sometimes called Groton. It was a corruption of Greaton, the name oi the man who kept the " Grey Hound " tavern in that neighborhood.

there is a record of the population and wealth of the town, in some detail, at the time of William the Conqueror, and also before him, under the Anglo-Saxon King, Edward the Confessor. A literal translation of this census-return of the year 1086 is as follows :

" In the time of King Edward [the Abbot of] Saint Edmund held Groton for a manor, there being one carucate and- a half of land. Always [there have been] eight villeins and five bordarii [a rather higher sort of serfs ; cotters]. Alwaj's [there has been] one plouugh in demesne. Always two ploughs belonging to homagers [tenants], and one acre of meadow. Woodland for ten hogs. A mill serviceable in winter. Always one work-horse, six cattle, and sixteen hogs, and thirty sheep. Two free men of half a carucate of land, and they could give away and sell their land. Six bordarii. Always one plough, and one acre of meadow [belonging to these bordarii]. It was then \i. e., under King Edward] worth thirty shillings, and now valued at forty. It is seven furlongs in length and four in breadth. In the same, twelve free men, and they have one carucate ; it is worth twenty shillings. These men could give away and sell their land in the time of the reign of King Edward. [The Abbot of] Saint Edmund has the soc, protection and servitude. Its gelt is esven pence, but others hold there."

This extract is taken from the fac-simile reproduction of the part of Domesday Book relating to Suffolk (page clyiii), which was published at the Ordnance Survey Office, Southampton, in the year 1863. The text is in Latin, and the words are much abbreviated. The writing is peculiar and hard to decipher. The same entry is found, in printed characters, in the second volume of Domesday Book (page 359. b.), published in the year 1783.

Some idea of the condensed character of the record may be gathered from the following copy of the beginning of the description of Groton, in which the matter within the brackets is what the Norman scrivener omitted : " Grotena. [m] t.[empore] r.[egis] e.fdvardi] ten[uit] S.[anctus] e.[dmundus] p[ro] man.[erio] " etc. A carucate was " a plough land," or a farm that could be kept under tillage with one plough. It is variously estimated at from twelve acres to a hundred.

It is curious to note the different ways which the early settlers had of spelling the name; and the same persons took little or no care to write it uniformly. Among the documents and papers that I have examined in collecting material for a history of the town, I find it spelled in twenty-one different ways, viz : Groton, Grotton, Groten, Grotten, Grotin, Groaten, Groatne, Groaton, Groatton, Grooton, Grorton, Grouten, Grouton, Groughton, Growton, Growtin, Groyton, Grauton, Grawten, Grawton and Croaton. From the old spelling of the word, it may be inferred that the pronunciation varied ; but at the present time natives of the town and those " to the manner born " pronounce it Grdw-ton. This method appears to hold good in England, as the Reverend John W.. Wayman, rector of the parent town, writes me, under date of August 13, 1879, "That the local pronunciation is decidedly Graw-ton. The name of the parish is described in old records as Grotton, or Growton." I learn from trustworthy correspondents in all the American towns of the name, that the common pronunciation of the word in each one of them is Grdw-ton. With the exception of the town in South Dakota, I have visited all these places, including the one in England, and my observation confirms the statement.

"iWe have noticed amongst the mass of letters received at our Post Office, the wordGROTON spelled in the following different ways: Grotton, Grawton, Graton, Grotown, Groutown, Growtown, Growtan, Growten, Growton, Gratan, Grattan, Grewton, Grothan, Graten, Groten, Grouton."

The daily life of the founders of Massachusetts would be to us now full of interest, but unfortunately little is known in regard to it. The early settlers were pious folk, and believed in the literal interpretation of the Scriptures. They worked hard during six days of the week, and kept Sunday with rigid exactness. The clearing of forests and the breaking up of land left little leisure for the use of pen and paper ; and letter-writing, as we understand it, was not generally practiced. They lived at a time when printing was not common and post-offices were unknown. Their lives were one ceaseless struggle for existence ; and there was no time or opportunity to cultivate those graces now considered so essential. Religion was with them a living, ever-present power ; and in that channel went out all those energies which with us find outlet in many different directions. These considerations should modify the opinions commonly held in regard to the Puritan fathers.

The sources of information relating to the early history of Groton are few and scanty. It is only here and there in contemporaneous papers that we find any allusions to the plantation ; and from these we obtain but glimpses of the new settlement. The earliest document connected with the town after its incorporation is a petition now among the Shattuck Manuscripts, in the possession of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, which contains some interesting facts not elsewhere given. All the signatures are in the same handwriting as the body of the document; but those of the committee signing thereport on the back of the petition are autographs. The report itself is in the hand of Joseph Hills. The document is as follows :

"Thatyor PeticoDfs hauing obteined theire Bequest of a Plantacon from this honored Court, they haue made Entrauc thervppon, and do Resohie by the Gracious Assistants of the Lord to proceed in the same (though the greatest Number of Peticon" for the Grant haue declyned the work) yet because of the Remoteness of the place, & Considering how heavy and slowe it is like to be Carried an end and with what Charge and difHcultie it will be Attended yo^ Peticon" humble Requests are

" 1 That they be not nominated or included in the Country taxes vntil the full end of three years from these p,rnts : (in which time they Account theire expenc will be great to the building a house, procureing and maintaining of a minester &c, with all other nessessary Town Charges; they being but few at present left to Carry on the whole worke) and at the end of the term, shall be redy by gods help to yeald their Rates according to thei' Number & abillitie & what shall be imposed, vppon them

"2 That they may haue libertie to make Choyce of an other then M^ Danford for the Laying out their town bounds because of his desire to be excused by reason of his vrgent ocations otherwise, & that they be not strictly tyed to a square forme in their Line Laying out

"In Ans. to this Peticon wee Conceiue it needful! that the Town of Groton be freed from Uates for three years from the time of their Grant as is desired.

The next document, in point of time, connected with the history of Groton is a petition to the General Court from John Tinker, one of the original selectmen of the town. It is dated October, 1659, and preserved among the Massachusetts x4.rchives (CXII. 120) at the State-House. In this petition Tinker makes some indirect charges against his townsmen, of which the real nature can now be learned only by inference. It would seem that they had taken land in an unauthorized manner, and their proceedings in other respects had obstructed the planting of the town ; and that he felt aggrieved in consequence of such action. Evidently the new plantation did not prosper during the first few years of its settlement. The petition reads thus : and desires of this honof'^ Court and the whole Countrey In erecting setling and Carying an End the Afaires of Groaton, Granted and intended by this hono^d Court for a plantation, which notwithstanding (all in vaine) it Continueth vnpeopled and soe Like to reniaine vnless by this honor"! Court some wise and Juditious Comitte be impowered to order and dispose of all things there about, after which no doubt it will goeon and prosper, which is the humble desire and Request of yo.^ Petitioner that soe it may be, and that yc Petitioner be admitted and appoynted faithfully to declare vnto and informe the said Comitte, 1 what hath allredy bin done, 2 what are the Grounds and Reasons wherefore it Remaineth at the stay it doeth. being so much desired by so many and such Considerable persons as it is, and 3 what hee Couceuith needfull to the further Confirming what is done according to Right to every person & Cause, and the setleing such due order as may incoiidg the Carying on of all things to a prosperous effect, vnto which yo"" Petitioner shall redylj' adress himselfe, as willing to submitt to the good pleasure of this honrii Court & such Authorized by them for such due satisfacon for all his Care time cost & paines in and about the said plantation as shall be thought meete and humbly begging the good fauo^ of god to Rest vppou you shall ever Remaine to the honed Court and Country

" The comittee haveing prsed this peticcon, do Judge y' it wilbe very convenient that, a Comittee of 3 : or more meet persons be nominated & impowred to Examine the ptieulars therein mencconed. and make returne of w* they find to the Court of Eleccon,

" Thomas Danforth Anthont Stoddard Roger Clap " 21. (8) 59. The Depu' approue of the ret. of ye Comitee in answ : hereto & haue Nominated Mf Danforth M^ Ephraim Child Cap'. Edw : Johnson to be their Committee desireing o^ Honord magists [consent] hereto

It appears from the writing on it that Tinker's petition was referred to a special committee, who recommended that the whole matter be considered by another committee with larger powers, who should report to the Court of Election. In accordance with this recommendation, Mr. Thomas Danforth, Captain Edward Johnson and Ephraim Child were appointed such a committee. I have here given their names in the order in which they are mentioned in the General Court Records (IV. 324), and not as they appear in the approval of the committee's return on the petition. The original report, made eighteen months afterwards and duly signed by them, is now among the Shattuck Manuscripts of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. It is dated May 23, 1661 ("23 (3) 1661"), and bears the official action of the Hou?e of Deputies and of the magistrates. Edward Rawson, the secretary, made his entry on the paper May 29, 1661. In copying the document I have followed the General Court Records, as this version of the petition contains fewer abbreviations and contractions. The record-book has been paged differently at three separate times ; and the paging marked in red ink has been taken in this copy. The "Committees Returne ab^ Groaten & Courts ordr " are as follows :

" Wee whose names are subscribed being Appointed & impowrd by the Generall Court in octobe^ 1659 for the examination of the proceedings about Groten plantation & the Intanglemeuts that haue obstructed the planting thereof hitherto=hauing taking pajnes to travajle vnto the sajd place & examine the Records of forme'' proceedings in that plase as also the Capacity of the s^ place for the enterteining of a meet noumber of persons that may Carry on the affairs of a Toune, doe App^hend (according to w' Information we haue had) that the place will Affoord a comfortable accommodation for sixty familjes at least that may subsist in a way of husbandry=And for such familyes as be there already planted wh are not aboue four or five acres^ wee doe not finde theire Interest in such

" 1 That the old planters & their Assignes whose names are John Tincker Eich : Smith. W^ Martjn. Ri: blood Rob* Blood & Jno Lakin that they reteine & keep as theire propriety, (of such lands as they now clajme an Interest in) each of them only twenty acres of meadow twenty acres for the house lott ten acres Intervale land & tenn acres of other vplands & that the same be sett out by a Comittee so as may not vnequally prejudice such as are or maybe their Neighbo"

" 2 That the neere lands & meadows, be so diuided as may accomodate at least sixty familjes & for that end That the first diuision of lands be made in manner following viz* such as haue one hundred & fifty pounds estate be allowed equall wth the old planters aboue & that none exceed & that none haue lesse then tenn acres for theire houselott & five acres of meadow two & a halfe acres of Intervale & two & a half of other lands for planting lotts in their first divission & that none be admitted to haue graunts of lotts there but on Condition^ following viz*

" 2 That all towne charges both Civil & Eccleasiasticall be levyed according to each maris Graunt in this first divition of lands for seuen years next Ensuing Excepting only such whose stocks of Catle shall exceed one hundred & fifty pounds estates.

'* 3 That the power of Admission of Inhabitants & Regulating the affaires of the sajd place be referred to a Comittee of meete persons Impowred by this Court thereto, Vntil the plantation be in some good measure (at least) filled w'^^ Inhabitants & be enabled regularly & peaceably to Carry on y* same themselves

" 4 That this honoured Court be pleased to graunt them Imunitjes [from] all Comon & Ordinary Country charges not exceeding a single rate or a Rate & a half p Annu for three years next ensuing.

it, and the original copy in the library of the New-England Historic, Genealogical Society does not contain it, though the printed edition of the General Court Records gives it.

-' The Court Approoves of &: doe Coufirme the returne of the Comittee & doe hereby further ordc & Impower the aforesajd Comittee for the ends aboue mentioned vntill meete men shall be found amongst such as shall Inhabit there & be approoved of by a County Court "

The next document, in point of time, found among the Archives (I. 21) at the State House and relating to Groton, is the following request for a brandmark, which was wanted probably for marking cattle

"The Humble Request of Joseph Parker to the Honoured Governor the Honourd magistrates & deputyes, Humbly Requests in behalfe of the towne of Grawton that the letter Gr may bee Recorded as the brand mark belonging to the towne I being chosen Counstible this j-ear make bolde to present this, to the Honoured Court it being but my duty, in the townes behalfe thus Hopeing the Honored Court will grant my request I rest yo' Humble Servant :

Joseph Parker, before coming to Groton, had lived at Chelmsford, where his children were born. He was a brother of James, another of the early settlers of the town.

During this period the town was paying some attention to the question of marks for trees as well as for cattle. At a general meeting held on March 5, 1G65-66. it was voted that "there should be trees marked for shade for cattell in all common hy wayes : " and furthermore that " the marke should be a great T." From various expressions found in the early town records, it would seem that the country in the neighborhood was not densely wooded when the settlement was first made. At a meeting of the selectmen held in the winter of 1669, an order was passed for the preservation of trees, but the writing is so torn that it is impossible to copy it. At another meeting held on January 13, 1673-74, it was voted that all trees of more than six inches in diameter at the butt, excepting walnut and pine, growing by the wayside, should be reserved for public works, and that the penalty for cutting them down, without authority, should be ten shillings a tree.

At a general town-meeting on December 21, 1674. leave was granted to William Longley, Jr., to cut down three or four trees standing in the road near his farm and shading his corn, on condition that he give to the town the same number of trees for mending the highways.

The early settlers of Groton encountered many trials and privations in planting the town. The men worked hard in felling trees and breaking ground, and the women toiled faithfully in their rude houses. They w^ere used to hardships, and they took them with Christian resignation. Their daily life taught them the true principles of philosophy. They lived on the rough edge of civilization, and nothing stood between them and an unbroken wilderness. These pioneers were a devout people ; and the strength of their religious belief is shown in no way so clearly as in the fortitude with which they met their lot in life. The prowling Indians were their neighbors, whose constant movements required careful watching. There were families of savages scattered along the interval land of the Xashua valley, from Lancaster to the Merrimack Eiver, who at times annoyed the settlers by killing pigs and stealing chickens. Judging from the number of stone implements found in the neighborhood , there was an Indian village just above the Red Bridge, on the west side of the Xashua Eiver. It probably consisted of a few families only, belonging to the Nashua tribe, as they were called by the English. Like all their race, these Indians were a shiftless people, and often changed their abodes, going hither and thither as they found good hunting-grounds or fishing-places. They bartered skins and furs with the planters; and so much business was carried on in this way, that the government sold to individuals the right to trade with them. As early as July, 1657, John Tinker, one of the original selectmen of the town, appointed by the General Court, paid eight pounds for the privilege of trafficking with them at Lancaster and Groton. A few of these natives knew a little English, which they had picked up from contact with the whites. Gookin refers to them in his " History of the Christian Indians," when he speaks of " some skulking Indians of the enemy, that formerly lived about Groton, the principal whereof was named Nathaniel, he and his party did this and other mischief afterward, in burning several houses at Chelmsford."^ This Nathaniel was taken subsequently at

Cocheco (now Dover), New Hampshire, and hanged in Boston. Some of these vagrants took an active part in the burning of Groton during Philip's War. The leader of the savages at this assault was John Monaco or Monoco, nicknamed " One-eyed John," from the loss of an eye. After he had taken by stratagem a garrison-house, he entered into a long conversation with Captain Parker, who was stationed in another house nearby, and called him his old neighbor. Fpm this fact I infer that " One-eyed John " knew Captain Parker, and had previously lived in the vicinity. Warfare among the aborigines did not require generalship so much as knowledge of places ; and the head of an assaulting party was one familiar with the clearings and the lay of the land in the threatened territory. During the ensuing autumn this leader was brought to the gallows in Boston, where he suffered the extreme penalty of the law.