Part of three Pieces of black Sattin Ribband, Part of three Pieces of black Tafferty ditto, two bundles of Razors, Part of 2 Dozen Penknives, Part of 2 Dozen ditto with Seals, Part of 1 Dozen Snuff Boxes, Part of 3 Dozen Shoe Buckels, Part of several Groce of Buttons, one Piece of gellow [yellow?] Ribband, with sundry Articles not yet known of——­ Whoever will apprehend the said Thief or Thieves, so that he or they may be brought to Justice, shall receive ten dollars Reward and all necessary Charges paid.

  Jonas Cutler.

  Groton, Nov. 22,1763 [8?].

  ==> If any of the above mentioned Articles are offered to Sail, it
  is desired they may be stop’d with the Thief, and Notice given to said
  Cutler or to the Printers.

On October 21, 1773, a noted burglar was hanged in Boston for various robberies committed in different parts of the State, and covering a period of some years.  The unfortunate man was present at the delivery of a sermon, preached at his own request, on the Sunday before his execution; and to many of the printed copies is appended an account of his life.  In it the poor fellow states that he was only twenty-one years old, and that he was born at Groton of a respectable family.  He confesses that he broke into Mr. Cutler’s shop, and took away “a good piece of broad-cloth, a quantity of silk mitts, and several pieces of silk handkerchiefs.”  He was hardly seventeen years of age at the time of this burglary.  To the present generation it would seem cruel and wicked to hang a misguided youth for offences of this character.

Mr. Cutler died December 19, 1782; and he was succeeded in business by Major Thomas Gardner, who erected the present building known as Gerrish’s block, which is soon to be removed.  Major Gardner lived in the house now owned by the Waters family.

Near the end of the last century a store, situated a little north of the late Mr. Dix’s house, was kept by James Brazer, which had an extensive trade for twenty miles in different directions.  It was here that the late Amos Lawrence served an apprenticeship of seven years, which ended on April 22, 1807; and he often spoke of his success in business as due, in part, to the experience in this store.  Late in life he wrote that “the knowledge of every-day affairs which I acquired in my business apprenticeship at Groton has been a source of pleasure and profit even in my last ten years’ discipline.”

The quantity of New-England rum and other liquors sold at that period would astonish the temperance people of the present day.  Social drinking was then a common practice, and each forenoon some stimulating beverage was served up to the customers in order to keep their trade.  There were five clerks employed in the establishments; and many years later Mr. Lawrence, in giving advice to a young student in college, wrote:—­