USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > Groton historical series. A collection of papers relating to the history of the town of Groton, Massachusetts, Vol IV > Part 32
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Yo' Hono's Humble Suppliants & Servts.
1
JAMES PARKER RICHARD BLOOD
in the name and by the apontment of the towne
The Committee having Considered this Petition heard ptys con- cerned & pvsed orders of Court in ye Case, Doe find y" matter of weighty consideration, & should it pve as Groaten holds forth that their way lys by Concord & y' they shall not make vse of Billerikey Bridge for theire Coming to ye Bay, wee thinke that they should not be Imposed vpon, But Considering ye orders of Courts w'' have passed in y" case, & y" Ingagements wh Groaten ly vnder, we Judge it meete that Groaten doc discharge theire first paymt w'" we understand is about fourteene Pounds And then in case they shall make it appeare to their County Court of to y" next
430
STODDARD, N. 11.
Generall Court that they doe not ordinaryly goe y' way, or make vse of y' Bridge called Billreca Bridge: They viz Groaten shall be freed fro y" charge thereof for future
3ยช Mo.8. 68.
JOHN PYNCHON EDWARD JACKSON OLIUER PURCHIS
The Deputyes approue of the returne of the
Comittee In answer to this petition with
refference to the Consent of o' Hon" magists hereto WILLIAM TORREY Cleric.
The Magists consent not heereto EDW RAWSON Secrety [Endorsed] Inhabitants of Groten peticon : Ent'd wth y" Majists & X* recd Read & Referd ? Curiam . nothing donne 1668
STODDARD, N. H.
A HISTORY of Stoddard, New Hampshire, by Isaiah Gould, has recently been published by a daughter of the author. It contains the following items relating to men from Groton :
OLIVER PARKER, was quite an early resident in town. He came from Groton as early as 1772 or 3.
When the town was incorporated in 1774, Mr. Parker was ap- pointed to call the first meeting, and was chosen moderator, town- clerk and first selectman. Mr. Parker soon lost his popularity. At the breaking out of the Revolution war, his attachment to the mother country was so strong, that he found it necessary for him to leave town and took up a residence in the British dominions, off New Brunswick. He lived on the hill west of the village, built the house where Gardner Towne lives, and the town-meetings and re- ligious meetings, for some years were held at his house. This house is the oldest dwelling house in town. (l'age 114.)
HARBOR FARNSWORTH, lived on the farm that Jacob Taylor now owns.
SAMUEL FARNSWORTH, lived on the place long owned by Capt. John Barker, afterwards Guile Barker occupied it, now owned by Francis Picher. (Page 124.)
431
CAPT. HENRY FARWELL.
Harbor Farnsworth was the eldest child of Ebenezer and Mary (Nichols) Farnsworth, and was born on June 10, 1756, in Boston Harbor, hence the name. During the Revolution he was a soldier from Groton; and without doubt Samuel belonged to the same family.
OBADIAH JENKINS, was on the 12th lot, roth range. Abel Adams succeeded him, he moved to Dublin, 1857.
DAVID JENKINS, lived on the roth lot, 10th range but left and went to roth lot and 13th range, the William Howard place, now owned by Asa Davis, Jr.
JONATHAN JENKINS, was on rath lot and roth range. John Farrar afterwards owned it, also Noah Blodgett and Job Barrett lived there. (Page 126.)
These three men by the name of Jenkins all served in Captain Farwell's company of Groton minute-men that marched on April 19, 1775.
CAPT. HENRY FARWELL.
HENRY FARWELL, the fifth child of William and Elizabeth ( ) Farwell, of Groton, was born on July 21, 1724. IIe was a soldier during the French and Indian War, and com- manded a company of Minute-men that marched from Groton on the memorable Nineteenth of April. He also commanded a company at the Battle of Bunker Hill where he was severely wounded. A musket ball passed through his body and lodged near the spine, whence it was taken out soon after the fight. Captain Farwell lived near the head of Farmers' Row, one or two hundred feet south of the little brook which runs toward Hazel Grove and forms the source of 'Tuity Brook. An old well near the site of his house is the only trace of the habitation now left. At this homestead he died on January 9, 1804, according to his epitaph.
During my boyhood a wooden house stood just north of the aforesaid brooklet, in which lived Asa Lawrence, who about the year 1837 built the brick dwelling still further to
432
CAPT. HENRY FARWELL.
the north. For a while these two structures stood side by side in close proximity to each other ; but soon afterward the wooden house was moved away, and now stands on Pleasant Street, just west of the railroad. I am led to record these facts somewhat in detail, as a slate tablet placed on the brick dwelling gives a wrong idea in regard to the home of Captain Farwell. The inscription is as follows :-
. IN. A. HOUSE.STANDING.WHERE.THE. PRESENT. BRICK . HOUSE. IS : DIED.IN . 1803.CAPTAIN. FARWELL.ONE.OF.THE. CAPTAINS. OF. MINUTE. MEN . UNDER.COMMAND.OF. COL.PRESCOTT. AT. THE. BATTLE.OF. BUNKER. HILL : HE.WAS.WOUNDED.THERE.AND. CARRIED.OFF.FOR.DEAD : BUT : ON-REGAINING.CONSCIOUS- NESS. UTTERED. THOSE. MEMORABLE.WORDS : " I.AM.NOT. DEAD.AND.SHALL.NOT.DIE.TILL. I.SEE. MY.COUNTRY.FREE."
.PLACED. HERE. BY. .JAMES. LAWRENCE. . . 1893.
Captain Farwell was married, first, on December 6, 1749, to Lydia, eldest child of Samuel and Lydia (Farnsworth) Tarbell ; and, secondly, on June 3, 1761, to Sarah Taylor, of Westford. By the first marriage there were three children, and by the second, four children. An entry in the Groton church records, under date of October 12, 1800, probably relates to him also, which would make a third marriage. It is as follows : "Capt. Henry Farwell to Hannah Worster both of Groton."
Captain Asa Lawrence, who commanded the second com- pany of Minute-men that marched from Groton, on April 19, and also the second Groton company at the Battle of Bunker Hill, died on January 16, 1804. It is somewhat singular that these two Revolutionary veterans should have lived for a generation after the dangers of a military campaign, and then have died within a week of each other. During the latter part of his life, Captain Lawrence dwelt in the north part of the town, where he ended his days; but at the break- ing out of the Revolution he was living on what is now known as the Lowell Road, about a mile from the First . Parish Meeting-house. He was the grandfather of Asa Lawrence,
.
433
CAPT. FARWELL'S BULLET.
previously mentioned in this article, and the great-great- grandfather of William Asa Lawrence, of Groton.
CAPT. FARWELL'S BULLET.
THE following query was raised in the " Notes and Queries" department of the " Boston Evening Transcript," May 25, 1895, and an answer given in the issue of May 1, 1897.
(5873.) Captain Henry Farwell, who commanded a company of Minute Men from Groton at Bunker Hill, was severely wounded by a musket bullet that entered his body, lodging near his spine.
It was extracted the evening of that day, as recorded in Butler's " History of Groton " [page 268], and he engraved 1775 on the ball, leaving it as a precious relic.
A great-grandson of Captain Farwell's wishes to know who has possession of the engraved ball.
W. P. B.
5837 [5873]. Concerning a musket ball that was extracted from the body of Captain Henry Farwell -Captain Henry Farwell was my great-grandfather. My father, James B. Farwell, had that ball in his possession after the death of my grandfather, Jonathan Farwell. During the absence of my father and mother the house was entered and the box containing the ball was stolen. My father never found it; 1775 was engraved on the ball. It was many years ago that it was stolen. If W. P. B. is a great-grand- son of Captain Farwell, I would like to know who he is, as I have no relatives with those initials. There are grandsons by name of May.
If W. P. B. will write to me I will answer any questions con- cerning the ball.
C. J. F. P.
The initials " W. P. B." stand for William Phillips Brazer, of Lowell ; and those of " C. J. F. P." for Mrs. Caroline J. Farwell Pettengill, the wife of Henry Emmons Pettengill of Wilton, New Hampshire, a great-granddaughter of Captain Farwell, through her father, James Brazer Farwell, and her grandfather, Jonathan Farwell, who was the youngest child of the old hero.
434
LEXINGTON CHURCH RECORDS.
JOHN CHAMBERLAIN, THE INDIAN FIGHTER.
IN the " Collections and Proceedings of the Maine Historical Society " (IX. 1-14) for January, 1898, is an article by George Walter Chamberlain, of Weymouth, on the claims of John Chamberlain, of Groton, as the slayer of the Indian chief Paugus in the Pigwacket Fight, on May 8, 1725. The writer of the paper has made an exhaustive and a convincing study of the subject; and he seems to have left no stone un- turned that bears upon the case. The article, somewhat en- larged, has since been reprinted in pamphlet form, and in this new shape will make an interesting addition to the local literature of early New England history.
LEXINGTON CHURCH RECORDS.
THE following extracts are taken from the carly church records of Lexington, which, through the courtesy of the Reverend Carlton Albert Staples, I have been enabled to examine. The first minister of that town after its incorpora- tion was the Reverend John Hancock ( Harv. Coll. 1689), grandfather of the signer of the Declaration of Independence, who was ordained over the Lexington church, on November 2, 1698, and continued their pastor until his death, on Decem- ber 6, 1752, " in the 82d Year of his Age, and 54th of his Ministry." Before receiving his call to Lexington, he had preached for some months during the years 1691 and 1692 at Groton, where he was invited to settle, but declined. Down to the date of Mr. Hancock's death the records at Lexing- ton were kept by him ; and since that time by many different persons. .
The extracts here printed relate more or less directly to the town of Groton ; and after each entry there is given, in heavy- faced type within brackets, the page of the record-book where such item is found. At the date ( November 25, 1705) of the first list of baptisms, there was a vacancy in the pulpit at
435
LEXINGTON CHURCH RECORDS.
Groton, which lasted from the dismissal of Mr. Hobart in 1704 till the ordination of Mr. Bradstreet in 1706. At the dates (March 28 and November 21, 1714) of the other two lists of baptisms, there was a vacancy following the dismissal of Mr. Bradstreet. The figures or paging that follow the record of the first two marriages are counted from the end of the vol- ume inverted toward the beginning, as many pages of entries have been made in this manner.
At the Request of the Church of Christ In Groaton (Nemine Con- tradicente) I went up on 25 : Novemb: 1705. And Administred the holy ordinance of the Lords Supper to them. & Baptised these persons following.
John Blood
Rachel Farnworth
28 : March : 1711 I baptised at Groaton
Reuben Farnworth
Lydia Pierce
Benjm" Hutchins.
Mary Parker
Benj" Holding
John Farnsworth
Samuel Scripture
Joseph Bennett
David Peirce
Sibil Parker.
Eunice Cadee.
Amos Farnworth.
21 Novemb' : 1714 1 baptised at Groaton
James Tarboll
David Lakin
Elizabeth Shattuck
Nathaniel Shipplee
Elizabeth Chamberlain
Joshua Whittney
Thomas Lakin
Mary Warner
Jane Shipley
David Shattuck
Elizabeth Parker
Eleazar Robbins
Eunice Parker
Deliverance Parker
Sarah Parker
Simon Stone
Elizabeth Green
Ruth Hobbart
Esther Woods Emme Parker
Elizabeth Robbins
Sarah Bush
Joseph Boyden.
Sarah Hall
Susanna Gilson
James Blood
Isaac Lawrence Daniel Sawtell.
Sarah Kemp [6]
13 : Aprill 1712 : . . . . . chose two messengers to send to the Councell at Groaton viz': Samuell Stone & Joseph Bowman. [38]
436
BIBLIOGRAPHIY OF GROTON.
Without doubt the Council, here mentioned, was called to consider the dismissal of the Reverend Dudley Bradstreet, who left town in the summer of 1712. The Groton church records are very imperfect, and do not allude to the event.
20 february 1714 15 Chose | Sam" : Stone LJohn Lawrence. [41]
[Deacon Miriam ]
Messengers for the ordination at Groton
This entry refers to the ordination of the Reverend Caleb Trowbridge, which took place on March 2, 1714-15.
April 18, 1780. Married Elisha Cory of Groton and Mary Munro of Lexington. [27]
1794. Feb! 12. Married Samuel Pierce of Groton and Sally Farmer of Lexington. [30]
May 221 1838. [Married] Mr. Joseph Nelson Hoar of Groton to Miss Eliza Ann Nelson of Lincoln [unnumbered 189]
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF GROTON.
THE following list of titles is supplementary to those already given in previous numbers of this Series. See page 303 of the present volume for exact references to the several places.
1773.
The last Words and Dying Speech of Levi Ames, who was executed at Boston, on Thursday the 21st Day of October, 1773, for Burglary. Taken from his own Mouth, and Published at his desire, as a solemn Warning to all, more particularly Young People . . . Boston: Printed and Sold at the Shop opposite the Court-House in Queen-Street. Broadside.
1864.
Attention ! [l'oster giving notice of a Draft, signed by the Select- men and dated at Groton, August 22, 1864.] Broadside.
Enrollment of the Town of Groton, from which the Draft of Sept. 5th, 1864, will be made. Broadside.
437
BIBLIOGRAPIIY OF GROTON.
1880.
First Parish Meetinghouse, Groton. 4to. I p.
The cut, taken from a drawing made in the year 1838, appears on page 200 of "The Early Records of Groton." A very few impressions of the engraving with the letterpress, signed "S. A. G.," were struck off separately. This is re- printed on page 345 of the present volume, with slight changes.
1892.
Groton Public Library. Supplement No. 7, 1892. [Huntley S. Turner. Printer, Ayer, Mass. ] No titlepage. Svo. pp. 26.
1893.
The article " Remarks on Nonacoicus," the title of which is given on page 312, is reprinted on pages 376-378 of this volume.
1896.
Groton Mass. Alphabetical Directory, 1895-6.
This forms pages 41-55 at the end of " The Pepperell and Groton Alphabetical Directory, 1895-96. First Volume," Haverhill. Courier Steam Press.
Early Church Records of Groton, Massachusetts, 1706-1830. With a Register of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, 1664-1830. From the Church Books and Middlesex County Records. With Notes by Samuel A. Green. Groton : 1896. 8vo. pp. (1), 42 ; 194, (1); 64.
This consists of three numbers (X. and XIII. of Vol. I. ; and I. of the present volume) of the Historical Series, with a titlepage. Twenty-four sets only were thus made.
[Letter from Rev. Louis B. Voorhees, Minister of the Union Congregational Church, December 23, 1896, on the week of prayer. ] No titlepage. 12mo. pp. (3).
A Local Scandal [relating to Groton and Watertown]. 12mo. I p.
A few impressions of this short article were reprinted from " The New-England Historical and Genealogical Register" (LI. 68, 69) for January, 1897. It also appears on pages 367, 368 of this volume.
438
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF GROTON.
1897.
Union Congregational Church Groton, Mass. January Ist, 1897. By-Laws. [Huntley S. Turner, Printer, Ayer, Mass. ] No
titlepage. 8vo. pp. (4).
Ilouse. No 323. [Bill accompanying the petition of James Law- rence. Water Supply.] An Act to incorporate the Groton Water Company. [ January, 1897.] No titlepage. 8vo. pp. 11. Report of the Parish Committee First Parish of Groton, for year ending March 6, 1897. [II. S. Turner, Printer, Ayer. ] No imprint. Svo. pp. (3).
Forty-third Annual Report of the Trustees of the Groton Public Library. March, 1897. Svo. pp. 27.
Annual Report of the School Commitee of the Town of Groton for the Fiscal Year ending March 23, 1897. Ayer, Mass. Hunt- ley S. Turner, Book and Job Printer. 1897. 8vo. pp. 27, (1). Public Statutes. Acts of 1896. Chapter 190. An act to provide for the Preservation of Public Shade Trees, and to authorize Towns to elect Tree Wardens. [Signed by James Lawrence, Tree Warden, Groton, April 15, 1897.] No titlepage. 12mo. pp. (2).
Annual Report of the Receipts and Expenditures of the Town of Groton, with other Statistical Matter, for the year ending March 19, 1897 [and Report of the School Committee]. Ayer, Mass. Huntley S. Turner, Book and Job Printer. Svo. pp. 52, 27, (1). Catalogue of the Trustees, Instructors and Students of Lawrence Academy, Groton, Mass., for the year ending June 24, 1897. One Hundred and Fourth Year. Fitchburg : Sentinel Printing Company. 1897. 8vo. pp. 17, (1).
Diary kept by Lieut. Dudley Bradstreet of Groton, Mass., during the Siege of Louisburg, April, 1745-January, 1746. With Notes and an Introduction by Samuel A. Green. Cambridge : John Wilson and Son. University Press. 1897. Svo. pp. 32.
A reprint from the Proceedings (second series, XI. 417- 446) of the Massachusetts Historical Society for June, 1897. By-Laws of the Groton Water Company Adopted May, 14, 1897. Boston Nathan Sawyer & Son, Printers No. 70 State Street 1897. 12mo. pp. 8.
One Hundred and Fortieth Anniversary of Lawrence Academy, Groton, Mass., Wednesday and Thursday, June 23 and 24, 1897. 12mo. pp. (4). Two half-sheets.
439
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF GROTON.
Groton School. Examination for entrance. 13 leaflets, I p. each, fastened together at the upper end.
Roll of llonor. Groton, Massachusetts. By Samuel A. Green. No titlepage. Svo. pp. 7.
A reprint from number V. (pp. 352-355) of the present volume.
Annual Water Rates Rules, Regulations, Etc., of The Groton Water Co. Groton, Mass. 1897. [Press of Huntley S. Turner, Ayer, Mass.] 16mo. pp. 12.
Catalogue of Groton School, Groton, Mass. 1897-1898. Ayer, Mass. : Huntley S. Turner, Printer. 16mo. pp. (32).
Harvard University Examinations. Papers used at the Exami- nations for Admission held at Cambridge, Quincy, Andover, Groton, Southborough, Worcester, Springfield, So. Byfield, Mass .; Exeter, Concord, N. H. ; Portland, Me. ; Pomfret, Washington, Conn .; New York, Garden City, Albany, Buffalo, N. Y. ; Law- renceville, N. J. ; Philadelphia, Pa. ; Washington, D. C. ; Cleve- land, Cincinnati, O .; Chicago, Ill .; Minneapolis, Minn .; St. Louis, Kansas City, Mo .; Omaha, Neb. ; Denver, Colo. ; San Francisco, Belmont, Cal. ; Portland, Ore .; Bonn, Germany ; Tokyo, Japan. June, 1897. Cambridge, Mass., 1897. 8vo. pp. 27, (1).
1898.
A Story of a Giant. By J[oseph] Rowe Webster.
This story, of which the scene is laid in Groton, appears in the January number of the "St. Nicholas" magazine (XXV. 246-251). See " Groton in Fiction " on page 419 of this volume.
Diary kept by Lieut. Amos Farnsworth of Groton, Mass., during a part of the Revolutionary War. April, 1775-May, 1779. With Notes and an Introduction by Samuel A. Green. Cambridge : John Wilson and Son. University Press. 1898.
Reprinted from the Proceedings (second series, XII. 74- 107) of the Massachusetts Historical Society for January, 1898.
Historical Sketch.
This forms pages v-vii of the "Finding-List of the Ayer Library," 1898.
440
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF GROTON.
Constitution and By-Laws of Groton Grange, No. 7 of the Patrons of Husbandry. Revised and authorized January 7, 1898. Ayer, Mass. : Huntley S. Turner, Book and Job Printer. 1898. 16mo. pp. 6, (1).
[Groton Grange, No. 7, P. of H. 1898. Order of Exercises, Mem- bers, Officers, and Committees. Turner Press, Ayer, Mass.] No titlepage. 16mo. pp. (7).
Forty-fourth Annual Report of the Groton Public Library. Trus- tees. George S. Boutwell, Louis B. Voorhees, Mary T. Shum- way, Joshua Young, Charlotte A. L. Sibley, Arthur P. Stone. Librarian. Emma F. Blood. March, 1898. [II. S. Turner, Printer, Ayer, Mass. ] No imprint. 8vo. pp. 26. Plate.
John Chamberlain, the Indian Fighter at Pigwacket. Prepared by George W[alter] Chamberlain, B. S., Member of the Maine Historical Society. Weymouth, Mass. : Weymouth and Brain- tree Publishing Company, 1898. Svo. pp. 14.
Reprinted from the "Collections and Proceedings " of the Maine Historical Society (IX. 1-14) for January, 1898. For a notice of this pamphlet, see page 434 of the present volume.
Annual Report of the Receipts and Expenditures of the Town of Groton, with other statistical matter for the year ending March 19, 1898. Ayer, Mass. Huntley S. Turner, Book and Job Printer. 8vo. pp. 54, 17, (1).
Annual Report of the School Committee of the Town of Groton for the Fiscal Year ending March 23, 1898. Ayer, Mass. Hunt- ley S. Turner, Book and Job Printer. 1898. Svo. pp. 17, (1).
Printed in connection with the " Annual Report of the Receipts and Expenditures."
Town of Groton. Specimen Ballot for the Town of Groton, April 4, 1898. Appleton HI. Torrey, Town Clerk. Broadside. [Letter from Samuel A. Green to Michael Sheedy, Jr., Esq., Chairman, etc., dated at Boston, March 16, 1898, in relation to a Town Seal. ]
This appears also on page 38 of the Annual Report of the Selectmen for the year ending March 19, 1898, and on page 442 of the present volume.
441
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF GROTON.
" The Groton Messenger " is the title of a small newspaper, published quarterly by the Union Congregational Church. The first number appeared on January 1, 1898.
FOR many years Alpheus Richardson kept a bookstore and bindery at the corner of Elm and Main Streets. Ile also published several books, of which the most important were two editions of the New Testament, one of them appearing in the year 1833, and the other in 1846. (See the second vol- ume (page 179) of this Historical Series for a short notice of Mr. Richardson.) Below are given the titles of the two editions : -
The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ : trans- lated out of the Original Greek ; and with the former translations diligently compared and revised. Stereotype edition. Groton, Mass. Printed and published by Alpheus Richardson. 1833. 16mo. pp. 335, (1).
The frontispiece is a rude cut representing Christ and little children ; and following Revelation is " An account of the Lives, Sufferings, and Martyrdom, of the Apostles and Evan- gelists " (pp. 331-335), and also " A table of Kindred and Affinity, wherein whatsoever are related are forbidden in Scripture, and by our Laws, to marry together " (1 p.).
The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, trans- lated out of the Original Greek ; and with the former translation diligently compared and revised. Stereotyped by Luther Roby, Concord, N. H. Groton, Ms. Published by A. Richardson. 1846. 16mo. pp. 254.
During my boyhood these two editions of the Testament were common, particularly in the public schools where they were used, but now they are very rarely seen. On page 306 of this volume of the Series the title of the latter edition is given, with facts about Luther Roby. .
1
442
TOWN SEAL.
TOWN SEAL.
THE following letter relating to a Town Seal will explain itself. It was printed, first, on a sheet for limited circulation, and, later, in the Annual Report of the Selectmen for the year ending March 19, 1898. It was adopted by a vote of the town, on April 4.
MASS
FAITHI
GROTO
HOILY
BIBLE
TS
.
LABOR
1655
BOSTON, March 16, 1898.
MICHAEL SHEEDY, JR., EsQ., Groton':
DEAR SIR, - Agreeably to your request I send herewith a design, as given above, for a Town Seal of Groton. For the con- venience of the voters, who are the final judges in the matter, I have had it printed, so that at a glance its general effect may be more readily seen. The design is a simple one, and is intended to typify the character of its inhabitants.
The Bible represents the faith of the early settlers of the town, who went into the wilderness and suffered innumerable privations in their daily life as well as danger from savage foes. Throughout Christendom to-day it is the corner-stone of religion and morality. The Plough is significant of the general occupation of the people. By it the early settlers broke up the land and earned their liveli- hood ; and ever since it has been an invaluable help in the tillage of the soil.
Very respectfully,
SAMUEL A. GREEN.
443
JOSEPH DENNIE.
JOSEPH DENNIE.
AMONG the early American writers who took up literature as a profession was Joseph Dennie. A native of Boston, where he was born on August 30, 1768, he entered the Sophomore class at Harvard College in 1787, and graduated in 1790. During the first term of his Senior year, for some youthful pranks which were contrary to the discipline of the institution, he was suspended for six months, and sent to Groton, where he was placed under the charge of Dr. Chaplin, the minister.
The following extract is taken from a pamphlet entitled "Joseph Dennie : Editor of ' The Port Folio,' and Author of ' The Lay Preacher,'" by William W. Clapp, and refers to Mr. Dennie, while a resident of this town: -
Early in 1790 Dennie took up his residence at Groton, in the family of the Rev. Mr. Chaplin, and pursued his studies with the idea of returning to college. It was while here that he formed an acquaintance with Mr. Timothy Bigelow, then just commencing the practice of law in Groton, and with whom he was on terms of intimacy. Many of his leisure hours were passed in the office of Mr. Bigelow, and in after life Dennie alludes to conversations which then passed between them as moments productive of much good.
While it cannot be claimed that there was much method in his course of studies, he was diligent, covering in his researches a wide range of topics. Ilis letters to his classmates, especially those addressed to Roger Vose, who subsequently attained to high honors as a legislator in Congress and as a jurist in New Hamp- shire, indicate his love of general literature, by the demands made upon the College library. His six months' residence in Groton was one of the happiest periods of his life. He enjoyed the acquaintance of those who appreciated his attainments, and he found that society which he craved. (Page To.)
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