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