Joseph Wheeler

     John flint

     A true Coppy of y’e originall on file w’th y’e Records of County
     Court for Middx.

     Ex’d p’r Sam’ll:  Phipps Cle’r

     [Massachusetts Archives, cxii, 331.]

Among the Groton men who had bought land of the Nashobah Indians were Peleg Lawrence and Robert Robbins.  Their names appear, with a diagram of the land, on a plan of Nashobah, made in the year 1686, and found among the Massachusetts Archives, in the first volume (page 125) of “Ancient Plans Grants &c.”  Lawrence and Robbins undoubtedly supposed that the purchase of this land brought it within the jurisdiction of Groton.  Lawrence died in the year 1692; and some years later the town made an effort to obtain from his heirs their title to this tract, as well as from Robbins his title.  It is recorded at a town meeting, held on June 8, 1702, that the town

did uote that they would giue Peleg larraness Eairs three acers of madow whare thay ust to Improue and tenn acers of upland neare that madow upon the Conditions following that the aboue sd Peleg larrances heirs do deliuer up that Indian titelle which thay now haue to the town

At the same meeting the town voted that

thay would giue to robart robins Sener three acers of madow where he uste to Improue:  and ten acers of upland near his madow upon the Conditions forlowing that he aboue sd Robart Robbins doth deliuer:  up that Indian titels which he now hath:  to the town.

It appears from the records that no other business was done at this meeting, except the consideration of matters growing out of the Nashobah land.  It was voted to have an artist lay out the meadow at “Nashobah line,” as it was called, as well as the land which the town had granted to Walter and Daniel Powers, probably in the same neighborhood; and also that Captain Jonas Prescott be authorized to engage an artist at an expense not exceeding six shillings a day.

Settlers from the adjacent towns were now making gradual encroachments on the abandoned territory, and among them Groton was well represented.  All the documents of this period relating to the subject show an increased interest in these lands, which were too valuable to remain idle for a long time.  The following petition, undoubtedly, makes a correct representation of the case:—­

To his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq’r Captain Gen’ll & Governour in Chief in & over her Majesties Province of the Massachusets Bay &c:  togeither with the honourable Council, & Representatives in Great and Gen’ll Court Assembled at Cambridge Octobe’r 14’th. 1702.

     The Petition of the Inhabitants of Stow humbly sheweth.