The petitioners for the change first asked for a township, which was not granted; but subsequently they changed their request to a precinct instead, which was duly allowed.  The papers relating to the matter are as follows:—­

Province of The Massechuetts Bay in New England.

To His Excellency W’m:  Shirley Esq’r:  Goveinr in & over y’e Same And To The Hon’le:  his Majestis Council & House of Representetives in Gen’ll:  Court Assembled June 1742: 

The Petition of Sundry Inhabitants & Resendant in the Northerly Part of Groton Humbly Sheweth that the Town of Groton is at Least ten miles in Length North & South & seven miles in wedth East & West And that in Runing two miles Due North from the Present Meeting House & from thence to Run Due East to Dunstable West Line.  And from the Ende of the S’d:  two miles to Run West till it Comes to the Cuntry Rode that is Laide out to Townshend & soon S’d:  Rode till it Comes to Townshend East Line then tur[n]ing & Runing Northly to Nestiquaset Corner which is for Groton & Townshend then tur[n]ing & Runing Easterly on Dunstable South Line & So on Dunstable Line till it comes to the Line first mentioned, Which Land Lyeth about Seven miles in Length & four miles & a Quarter in Wedth.

And Thare is Now Setled in those Lines here after mentioned is about the Number of Seventy families all Redy And may [many?] more ready to Settle there and as soon as scet off to the Petitioners & those families Settled in y’e Lines afore s’d:  Would make A Good township & the Remaining Part of Groton Left in a regular forme And by reason of the great Distance your Petitioners are from the Present Meeting House are put to very Great Disadvantages in Attending the Public Worship of God many of Whom are Oblidged to travel Seven or Eight miles & that the Remaining Part of Groton Consisting of such good land & y’e Inhabitants so Numerous that thay Can by no means be Hurt Should your Petitioners & those families Settled in y’e Lines afore s’d:  Be Erected to a Seprate & Distinct Township:  That the in Contestable situation & accomodations on the s’d:  Lands was y’e one great reason of your Petitioners Settling thare & Had Not those Prospects been so Clear to us We should by no means have under taken The Hardship We have already & must go Throu.

Wherefore Your Petitioners Would farther Shew that Part of y’e Land here Prayed for all Redy Voted of by the S’d town to be a Presinct & that the most of them that are in that Lines have Subscribed with us to be a Dest[i]ncte Township Wherefore Your Petitioners Humbly Pray your Honnors to Grante us our Desire according to This our Request as we in Duty Bound Shall Ever Pray &c.

  Joseph Spaulding iur
  Zachariah Lawrance
  William Allen
  Jeremiah Lawrance
  William Blood
  Nathaniel Parker
  Enoch Lawarnce
  Samuel Right
  James larwance
  Josiah Tucker
  Sam’ll fisk
  Soloman blood