Part 2

And now, Grover Cleveland stands before the people of the whole country the duly nominated candidate of the Democratic party for the highest office in the gift of the Republic; while his candidacy is indorsed and enthusiastically supported by tens of thousands of pure and unselfish men of the opposite party, who see, through his election, the only hope of a return to constitutional methods and honest practices in the administration of the Federal Government, without which ere long the complete and irremediable subversion and destruction of the government itself will be accomplished. This candidacy comes not through his own seeking. Grover Cleveland never sought an office in all his life. He has consented to serve his fellow-citizens in public station only at their solicitation and command. He has served them faithfully and well so far as he has been called, and none need fear that, if called to still higher responsibilities and a broader field of duty, he will not prove equal to the emergency--equally true to himself and his trust.

Grover Cleveland is a man "cast in nature's noblest mould." Of commanding presence, with a physical development commensurate with his mental powers, thoroughly democratic in habit and manner, accessible to all, meeting the humblest and highest upon equal terms, sympathizing heartily with the honest laborer in every field of action, frank and outspoken in his opinions, hating hypocrisy and sham with all his soul, fighting corruption and dishonesty wherever he finds them, respecting the opinions and listening to the suggestions of others, but acting invariably in accordance with his own convictions of right, he fills the perfect measure of honest manhood; and whether he be President of the American Republic, or simple citizen, he will never, it is safe to assume, forfeit either his own self-respect, or the confident regard of his fellow-men.

* * * * *

BOUNDARY LINES OF OLD GROTON.--IV.

BY THE HON. SAMUEL ABBOTT GREEN.

About this time it was proposed to form a new township from Groton, Lancaster, and Harvard, including a small parcel of land, known as Stow Leg, a strip of territory perhaps two hundred rods in width and a mile in length, lying west of the Nashua river. This "Leg" had belonged originally to Stow, but by the incorporation of Harvard had become wholly detached from that town. The proposed township covered nearly the same territory as that now occupied by Shirley. The attempt, however, does not appear to have been successful. The following covenant, signed by certain inhabitants of the towns interested in the movement, is on file, and with it a rough plan of the neighborhood; but I find no other allusion to the matter either in petitions or records.

We the Subscribers being Inhabitants of the Extream Parts of Groton Lancaster and Harvard as allso the Proprietors of the Land belonging to the Town of Stow (which Land is Scituate, Lying and being Between the Towns above said Namely Groton Lancaster and Harvard) Do Covenant and Promise to and with Each other And We Do Hereby of our own Free Will and Motion In the Exercise of Love and Charity Towards one another with Mutual Consent in the strongest Manner Binding our Selves the Subscribers each and every of us Conjointly one to another (for the Gosples Sake) Firmly Covenanting and Promising to and with Each other that we will as Speedely as may be with Conveniency Petition the Several Towns to which we Respectively belong and Likewise the Great and General Court That we may be Erected or Incorporated into a Destinct and separate Township of our Selves with those Lands within the Bounds and Limits Here after Described viz Beginning at the River called Lancaster [Nashua] River at the turning of Sd River Below the Brige called John Whits Brige & Runing Northerly to Hell Pond and on Still to the Line Betwixt Harvard and Groton Including John Farwell then to Coyecus Brook Leaveing the Mills and Down Said Brook to the River and down Said River to the Rye ford way then Runing Westerly to the Northerly End of Horse Pond & so on to Luningburg Line, Including Robert Henry & Daniel Page and then Runing Southerly Extendig Beyound Luningburg So far Into Lancaster as that Running Easterly the Place on which Ralph Kindal formerly Lived Shall be Included and so on Running Easterly to the Turn in the River first mentioned

Moreover we Do Covenant Promise and Engage Truly and Faithfully that will Consent to and Justifie any Petition that Shall be Prefered in our names and behalf to our Respective Towns and to the Great & General Court for the Ends and Purposes above Mentioned

Furthermore we Do Covenant Promise and Engage as above that we will advance money for and Pay all Such Reasonable and necessary Charges that may arise in the Prosecuting and Obtaining our Said Petitions and that we will Each and Every of us Respectively Endever to Promote and Maintain Peace Unity Concord and Good Agreement amoungst our Selves as Becometh Christians

And now haveing thus Covenanted as above Said We Do Each and Every one of us who have Hereunto Subscribed Protest and Declare that Every Article and Parigraph and Thing Containd in the above Writen Shall be Absolutely and Unacceptionably Binding in Manner and form as above Declared and Shall So Continue upon and Against Each and Every one of us untill we are Erected or Incorporated Into a Township as above said or that Provedance Shall Remove us by Death or Otherways any thing to the Contrary Notwithstanding

Witness our Hands the Eight Day of December one Thousand Seven Hundred and Fourty Seven and in the Twentieth Year Of His Majesties Reign Georg the Secund King &c

Harvard

Richard hall Jon'n Bigelow Joseph Hutchins Simeon Farnsworth Timothy hall Phenihas Farnsworth Amos Russll Johnathan--Read (His mark) Jonathan Read iu Abijah Willard

Groton Samuel Hazen Joseph Preist Samell flood John pearce Charles Richards Daniel Page John Longley jn'r Abijah Willard Manasser Divoll John Osgood Abijah Frost John Peirce hous rite

Lancaster Henry Haskell John Nicholls Thomas Wright William Willard Joshua Johnson Daniel Willard Joseph Priest William Farmer Joseph Bond Henry Willard Benjamin Willard Jacob Houghton Corp Elias Sawyer Amos Am Atherton (his mark)

Stow John Houghton Ju John Sampson Joseph Brown Hannah Brown Samuel Randal Benjamin Samson

[Massachusetts Archives, CXV., 220-222.]

Hell Pond, mentioned in this covenant, is situated in the northwest part of Harvard, and so called "from its amazing depth," says the Reverend Peter Whitney, in the History of Worcester County (page 158).

Two years after this covenant was signed, another attempt was made to divide the town, but it did not succeed. The lines of the proposed township included nearly the same territory as the present ones of Shirley. The following references to the scheme are found, under their respective dates, in the printed Journal of the House of Representatives:--

A Petition of sundry Inhabitants of _Groton_ and _Lunenburg_, praying they may be erected into a distinct and seperate Township or Precinct, agreable to the Plan therewith exhibited, for the Reasons mentioned.

Read and _Ordered_, That the Petitioners serve the Town of Lunenburg, and the first Parish in _Groton_, with Copies of this Petition, that they shew Cause, if any they have, on the 29th of _December_ next, if the Court be then Sitting, if not on the first Friday of the next Sitting of this Court, why the Prayer thereof should not be granted.

Sent up for Concurrence.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 100), November 30, 1749.]

_Samuel Watts_, Esq; brought down the Petition of sundry Inhabitants of _Lunenburg_ and _Groton_, as entred the 30th of _November_ last, and refer'd. Pass'd in Council, _viz_. In Council _December_ 29th 1749. Read again, with the Answer of the Town of _Lunenburg_, and _Ordered_, That the Consideration of this Petition be refer'd to the second Wednesday of the next Sitting of this Court. Sent down for Concurrence.

With a Petition from sundry Inhabitants of _Lunenburg_, praying to be set off from said Town of _Leominster_. Pass'd in Council, _viz_ In Council _December_ 29th 1749. Read and _Ordered_, That the Petitioners serve the Town of _Lunenburg_, with a Copy of this petition, that they shew Cause, if any they have, on the second Wednesday of the next Sitting of this Court, why the Prayer thereof should not be granted.

Sent up for Concurrence.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 143), December 29, 1749.]

_John Chandler_, Esq; brought down the Petitions of _John Whitney_, and others of the westerly Part of _Groton_, and the easterly Part of the Town of _Lunenburgh_, and _Edward Hartwell_, Esq; and others of said Town, Pass'd in Council, _-viz._ In Council _April_ 4th 1750. _Ordered_, That _Samuel Watts, James Minot_, and _John Otis_, Esqrs; with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to consider the Petitions above-mentioned, and the several Answers thereto, hear the Parties, and report what they judge proper for the Court to do thereon.

Sent down for Concurrence.

Read and concur'd, and Mr. _Rice_, Capt. _Livermore_, Col. _Richards_, and Mr. _Daniel Pierce_, are joined in the Affair.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 214), April 5, 1750.]

_Joseph Wilder_, Esq., brought down the Report of a Committee of both Houses, on the Petition of _John Whitney_, and others, as entred the 30th of _November_ last, and refer'd. Signed _James Minott_, per Order.

Pass'd in Council, _viz._ In Council _June_ 21, 1750. Read and _Voted_, That this Report be not accepted, and that the Petition of _John Whitney_ and others therein refer'd to, be accordingly dismiss'd, and that the Petitioners pay the Charge of the Committee.

Send down for Concurrence. Read and concur'd.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 41), June 22, 1750.]

A Petition of sundry Inhabitants of the westerly Part of _Groton_, and the easterly Part of _Lunenburg_, praying that their Memorial and Report thereon, which was dismiss'd the 22'd of _June_ last, may be revived and reconsidered, for the Reasons mentioned.

Read and _Ordered_, That Mr. _Turner_, Mr. _Tyng_, and Major _Jones_ with such as the honourable Board shall join, be a Committee to take this Petition under Consideration, and report what they judge proper to be done thereon. Sent up for Concurrence.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (pages 76, 77), October 3, 1750.]

_John Greenleafe_, Esq.; brought down the Petition of sundry Inhabitants of _Groton_ and _Lunenburg_, as entred the 3d Currant, and referr'd. Pass'd in Council, _viz_. In Council _October_ 3d 1750. Read and nonconcur'd, and _Ordered_, That this Petition be dismiss'd.

Sent down for Concurrence.

Read and nonconcur'd, and _Ordered_, That the Petitioner serve the Town of _Lunenburg_ with a Copy of this Petition, that they shew Cause, if any they have, on the second Wednesday of the next Sitting of this Court, why the Prayer thereof should not be granted.

Sent up for Concurrence.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 93), October 9, 1750.]

A Memorial of _John Whitney_ and others of the Southwesterly Part of _Groton_, praying that their Petition exhibited in _November_ 1749 may be revived, and the Papers prefer'd at that Time again considered, for the Reasons mentioned.

Read and _Ordered_, That the Petition lie on the Table.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 64), October 9, 1751.]

_Ordered_, That the Petition of _John Whitney_ and others of the Southwesterly Part of _Groton_, lie upon the Table.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 81), January 3, 1752.]

The Memorial of _John Whitney_ and others, as entred _October_ 9th 1751, Inhabitants of the Southwesterly Part of _Groton_ and the Eastwardly Part of _Lunenberg_, setting forth that in _November_ 1749, they preferred a Petition to this Court, praying to be set off from the Towns to which they belong, and made into a distant [distinct?] and seperate Town and Parish, for the Reasons therein mentioned; praying that the aforesaid Memorial and Petition, with the Report of the said Committee thereon, and all the Papers thereto belonging, may be revived, and again taken into consideration.

Read again, and the Question was put, _Whether the Prayer of the Petition should be so far granted as that the petition and Papers accompanying it should be revived_?

It pass'd in the Negative. And _Voted_, That the Memorial be dismiss'd.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 92), January 9, 1753.]

The discussion in regard to the division of the town resulted in setting off the district of Shirley, on January 5, 1753, three months before the district of Pepperell was formed. In the Act of Incorporation the name was left blank, as it was in the one incorporating Pepperell, and "Shirley" was filled in at the time of its engrossment. It was so named after William Shirley, the governor of the province at that period. It never was incorporated specifically as a town, but became one by a general Act of the Legislature, passed on March 23, 1786. It was represented, while a district, in the session of the General Court which met at Watertown, on July 19, 1775, as well as in the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, and thus tacitly acquired the powers and privileges of a town, which were afterward confirmed by the act just mentioned.

The act for establishing the district of Shirley is as follows:--

Anno Regni Regis Georgii Secundi Vicesimo Sexto.

An Act for dividing the Town of Groton and making a District by the Name of....

Whereas the Inhabitants of the Southwesterly part of the Town of Groton by Reason of the Difficulties they labour under being remote from the place of the publick worship of God have addressed this Court to be Sett off a Separate District whereunto the Inhabitants of Said Town have Manifested their Consent Be it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant Governour Council and House of Representatives that the Southwestwardly part of the Town of Groton Comprehended within the following boundaries viz begining at the the [_sic_] mouth of Squanacook River where it runs into Lancaster [Nashua] River from thence up Said Lancaster River till it Comes to Land belonging to the Township of Stow thence Westwardly bounding Southwardly to said Stow Land tilll it comes to the Southwest Corner of the Township of Groton thence Northwardly bounding westwardly to Luningburgh and Townsend to Squanacook River afores'd thence down said River and Joyning thereto to the mouth thereof being the first bound--Be and hereby is Sett off from the said Town of Groton and Erected into a Separate and Distinct District by the name of ... and that the Inhabitants thereof be and hereby are Vested with all the powers priviledges and Immunities which the Inhabitants of any Town within this Province do or by law ought to Enjoy Excepting only the Priviledge of choosing a Representative to represent them in the Great & General Court, in choosing of whom the Inhabitants of Said District Shall Joyn with the Inhabitants of the Town of Groton, as heretofore has been Usual, & also in paying said Representative

Provided nevertheless the Said District Shall pay their proportionable part of all such Town County Parish and Province Charges as are already Assessed upon the Town of Groton in like manner as though this Act had never been made.

And Be it further Enacted that M'r Jn'o. Whitney be and hereby is impowred to Issue his Warrant directed to Some principal Inhabitant in s'd District requireing Him to Notifie & warn the Inhabitants of S'd District qualified by law to vote in Town affairs to meet at Such Time & place as shall be therein Set forth to Choose all such officers as Shall be Necessary to manage the affairs of s'd District

In the House of Rep'ives June 4, 1752

Read three several times and pass'd to be Engross'd

T. HUBBARD Spk'r.

Sent up for concurrence

In Council Nov'r. 28, 1752 Read a first Time 29 a second Time and pass'd a Concurrence

THO's. CLARKE Dp'ty Secry.

[Massachusetts Archives, CXVI., 293, 294.]

This act did not take effect until January 5, 1753, when it was signed by the governor.

On June 3, 1771, thirty years after Groton Gore had been lost by the running of the provincial line, the proprietors of the town held a meeting, and appointed Lieutenant Josiah Sawtell, Colonel John Bulkley, and Lieutenant Nathaniel Parker, a committee to petition the General Court for a grant of land to make up for this loss. They presented the matter to that body on June 7, and the following entry in the records gives the result:--

The Committee on the Petition of _Josiah Sartel_, and others, reported.

Read and accepted, and _Whereas it appears to this Court, That the Proprietors aforesaid, had a Grant made to them by the General Court in_ April 1735, _of Ten Thousand, Eight Hundred Acres of Land, in Consideration of Land taken from said_ Groton _by_ Littleton, _Major_ Willard _and_ Read's _Farms being prior Grants, and for their extraordinary Suffering in the former Indian Wars and in_ June 1736 _said Grant was confirmed to said Proprietors, since which Time, the said Proprietors have been entirely dispossessed of said Land by the running of the Line between this Province and_ New-Hampshire: _And whereas it appears there has been no Compensation made to the said Proprietors of_ Groton, _for the Lands lost as aforesaid, excepting Three Thousand Acres granted in_ November _last_, to James Prescot, William Prescot, _and_ Oliver Prescot _for their Proportion thereof_. Therefore _Resolved_, That in Lieu thereof, there be granted to the Proprietors of _Groton_, their Heirs and Assigns forever, Seven Thousand and Eight Hundred Acres of the unappropriated Lands belonging to this Province, in the Western Part of the Province, to be layed out adjoining to some former Grant, and that they return a Plan thereof, taken by a Surveyor and Chainmen under Oath into the Secretary's Office, within twelve Months for Confirmation.

Sent up for Concurrence.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 44), June 13, 1771.]

These conditions, as recommended by the report of the committee, appear to have been fulfilled, and a grant was accordingly made. It lay on the eastern border of Berkshire county, just south of the central part, and was described as follows:--

The Committee on a Plan of a Tract of Land granted to the Proprietors of _Groton_, reported.

Read and accepted, and _Resolved_, That the Plan hereunto annexed, containing three Thousand nine Hundred and sixty Acres of Province Land, laid out in Part to satisfy a Grant made by the Great and General Court at their Sessions in _June_ 1771, to the Proprietors of Groton, in Lieu of Land they lost by the late running of the _New-Hampshire_ Line, as mention'd in their Petition, laid out in the County of _Berkshire_, and is bounded as followeth, viz. Beginning at a Burch Tree and Stones laid round it the Southwest Corner of _Tyringham-Equivalent_ Lands standing on the East Branch of _Farmington_ River; then North eighteen Degrees East in the West Line of said _Equivalent_ five Hundred and sixty-one Rods to a small Beach Tree and Stones laid round it, which Tree is the Southeast Corner of a Grant of Land called _Woolcut's_ Grant; then running West eighteen Degrees North in the South Line of said Grant two Hundred and forty Rods to a Beach Tree marked I.W. and Stones laid round it, which is the Southwest Corner of said Grant; then running North eighteen Degrees East in the West Line of said Grant four Hundred Rods to a Heap of Stones which is the Northwest Corner of said Grant; then running East eighteen Degrees South two Hundred and forty Rods in the North Line of said Grant to a large Hemlock Tree and Stones laid round it, which is the Northeast Corner of said Grant; it is also the Northwest Corner of said _Equivalent_, and the Southwest Corner of a Grant called _Taylors_ Grant; then running North eighteen Degrees East one Hundred and sixty Rods in the West Line of said _Taylors_ Grant to the Northwest Corner of the same; then running East nine Degrees South in the Line of said _Taylors_ Grant eight Hundred Rods to a Stake and Stones standing in the West Line of _Blanford_, marked W.T. then running North eighteen Degrees East in said _Blanford_ West Line five Hundred and thirty Rods to a Beach Tree and Stones laid round it which is the Northwest Corner of said _Blanford_; then running East ten Degrees South forty-two Rods in the North Line of said _Blanford_ to a Stake and Stones which is the Southwest Corner of _Merryfield_; then running North ten Degrees East in said _Merryfield_ West Line three Hundred and three Rods to a Heap of Stones the Southeast Corner of _Becket_; then running West two Degrees South in said _Becket_ South Line four Hundred and twenty-six Rods to the Northeast Corner of a Grant of Land called _Belcher's_ Grant; then running South in the East Line of said _Belchers_ Grant two Hundred and sixteen Rods to a small Maple Tree marked T.R. which is the Northwest Corner of a Grant of Land called _Rand's_ Grant; then running East in the North Line of said _Rand's_ Grant two Hundred and fifty Rods to a Hemlock Pole and Stones laid round it, which is the Northeast Corner of said _Rand's_ Grant; then running South in the East Line of said _Rand's_ Grant three Hundred and thirty-one Rods to a Hemlock Tree marked and Stones laid round it, which is the Southeast Corner of said _Rand's_ Grant; then running West in the South Line of said _Rand's_ Grant two Hundred and fifty Rods to a Beach Pole marked T.R. the Southwest Corner of said _Rand's_ Grant; then running North in the West Line of said _Rand's_ Grant eighty-three Rods to the Southeast Corner of said _Belcher's_ Grant; then running West bounding North three Hundred and forty-eight on said _Belcher's_ Grant and four Hundred and fifty-three Rods on a Grant called _Chandler's_ Grant, then running North on the West Line of said _Chandler's_ Grant four Hundred and sixty to said _Becket's_ South Line; then running West in said _Becket_ South Line twenty Rods to a Stake and Stones the North West Corner of additional Lands belonging to the Four _Housatonick_ Townships; then running South two Degrees West one Thousand four Hundred and eighty-eight Rods in the East Line of said additional Lands to the Place where the said East Line crosses said _Farmington_ River; then Southerly or down Stream three Hundred and thirty Rods to the first Bounds, bounding Westerly on said River, be accepted, and is hereby accepted and confirmed unto the Proprietors of _Groton_ aforesaid, their Heirs and Assigns forever. _Provided_ the same doth not exceed the Quantity aforementioned, nor interfere with any former Grant.

Sent up for Concurrence.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (pages 182, 183). April 24, 1772.]

I am unable to say how or when this territory was disposed of by the proprietors. Seven or eight years before this time, James, William, and Oliver Prescott, acting for themselves, had petitioned the General Court for a tract of land to make up their own losses. They were the sons of the Honorable Benjamin Prescott, through whose influence and agency the original Groton Gore was granted, and they were also the largest proprietors of the town. The following extracts from the Journal of the House relate to their application:--

A Petition of _James Prescot_, and others, Children and Heirs of _Benjamin Prescot_, late of _Groton_, Esq; deceased, praying a Grant of the unappropriated Lands of this Province, in consideration of sundry Tracts which they have lost by the late running of the Line between this Government and _New-Hampshire_.

Read and committed to Col. _Clap_, Col. _Nickols_, Col. _Williams_ of _Roxbury_, Col. _Buckminster_, and Mr. _Lancaster_, to consider and Report.