Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 9.djvu/65

 TJie Boundary Lines of Old Grot on. — //.

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��Three families only remaining Its Declared and Directed That the said Lands of Nashoba be preserved for a Township.

And Whereas it appears That Groton Concord and Stow by several of their Inhabitants have Encroached and Setled upon the said Lands ; This Court sees not reason to remove them to their Damage ; but will allow them to be and remain with other Inhabitants that may be admitted into the Town to be there Setled ; And that they have full Liberty when their Names and Number are determined to purchase of the few Indians there remaining for the Establishment of a Township accordingly.

Saving convenient Allotments and

portions of Land to the remaining Indian

Inhabitants for their Setling and Planting.

Is* Addington Secry.

In the House of Representatives Octo"": 23th: 17 13. Read

[Massachusetts Archives, cxiii, 600.]

The inhabitants of Groton had now become alarmed at the situation of affairs, fearing that the new town would take away some of their land. Through neglect the plan of the original grant, drawn up in the year 1668, had never been returned to the General Court for confirmation, as was customary in such cases ; and this fact also excited further apprehension. It was not confirmed finally until February 10, 1 71 7, several years after the incor- poration of Nashobah.

In the General Court Records (ix, 263) in the State Library, under the date of June i8, 1713, it is entered : —

Upon reading a Petition of the In- habitants of the Town of Groton, Praying that the Return & Plat of the Surveyor of their Township impowered by the General Court may be Accepted for the Settlement & Ascertaining the Bounds of their Town- ship, Apprehending they are likely to be prejudiced by a Survey lately taken of the Grant of Nashoba ;

Voted a Concurrence with the Order

��passed thereon in the House of Repre- sentees That the Petitioners serve the Proprietors of Nashoba Lands with a copy of this Petition, That they may Shew Cause, if any they have on the second Fryday of the Session of this Court in the P'all of the Year, Why the Prayer therof may not be granted, & the Bounds of Groton settled according to the ancient Plat of said Town herewith exhibited.

It is evident from the records that the Nashobah lands gave rise to much controversy. Many petitions were pre- sented to the General Court, and manv claims made, growing out of this ter- ritory. The following entry is found in the General Court Records (ix, 369) in the State Library, under the date of November 2, 17 14: —

The following Order passed by the Representees. Read & Concur'd ; viz,

Upon Consideration of the many Peti- tions & Claims relating to the Land called Nashoba Land ; Ordered that the said Nashoba Land be made a Township, with the Addition of such adjoining Lands of the Neighbouring Towns, whose Owners shall petition for that End, & that this Court should think fit to grant. That the said Nashoba Lands having been long since purchased of the Indians by M'' Bulkley & Henchman one Half, the other Half by Whetcomb & Powers, That the said pur- chase be confirmed to the children of the said Bulkley, Whetcomb & Powers, & Cpt. Robert Meers as Assignee to M"" Hench- man according to their respective Propor- tions ; Reserving to the Inhabitants, who have settled within these Bounds, their Settlements with Divisions of Lands, in proportion to the Grantees, & such as shall be hereafter admitted ; the said Occupants or present Inhabitants paying in Proportion as others shall pay for their Allotments ;. Provided the said Plantation shall be settled with Thirty five Families & an orthodox Minister in three years time. And that Five hundred Acres of Land be reserved and laid out for the Benefit of any of the Descendants of the Indian Pro-

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