USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > Proceedings of the centennial celebration at Groton, Mass., July 4th, 1876, in commemoration of the destruction of the town, March, 1676, and the Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1776. With an oration by Samuel Abbott Green > Part 7
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13
Ens? Farnsworth
3
4
I
14
M' Filbrick
7
8
O
40
15
M: Stones
2
3
O
12
16
Chamberlain
I
-
4
17
y& Cap' Mill
I
I
I
6
IS
M: Farnsworth
2
2
I
S
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93
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378
[Massachusetts Archives, LXXI. 874.]
17. - PAGE 41.
The following Groton men are borne on the rolls of Lieutenant Fairbanks's company, June 18, 1724 : -
Phinias Parker, Serj:
Nov. 25 to Jan. 12 " IO ", "
4. 4
4
Jon" Shipley, Sent !! Jo: Blood Ja: Shaduck
",
"
"
Samuel Screpter
"
"
"
10
WVm Lawrance
"
99
"
15 15 15 13 II 5
IO
I
Serj: Gillson
3
6
2
26
Mr Shaddock
5
"
" June 13 15 10 IO
-
Souldiers
Souls
75
Josiah Bauden
Jan. 13
June 13 IO
IS 6
Jacob Ames
Nov. 25
14
8 6
Isaac Woods
"
"
"
14
S 6
Jason Williams
"
"
"
14
S .6
Nath1 Lawrance
"
"
14 S
6
Jona Shepley, Serj:
Jan. 13
"
14 II
6
Thos Chamberlin
Nov. 29
"
14
IO
Mich' Gillson
April 28
=
3
7
I
[Massachusetts Archives, XCI. 124.]
LANCASTER, July I ! 1724.
May it please your Honour,
I recieved your Letter the Last night in the evening, and not before tho' I suppose I might have had it sooner had the bearer pleased, Your Honour is pleased in your Letter to give me my choice of A Lieutenants Post in Groton or Turkey Hills or A Ser- jeants at Lancaster. I am sensible that Serjeants Pay in Town would be as Profitable as to keep constantly abroad, but yet upon Some Considerations I choose to Abide in the Post I am, and to go to Groton. I return my thanks to your Honour for the choice you have given me. I would Inform your Honour that on Mon- day Last I sent A Scout to Rutland who Returned yesterday and gave me an Account that In the way they discovered the tracks of four or five Indians bearing towards Wochoosett who they Judged had been gone 2 or 3 days. Yesterday Part of Groton men & Part of this Town went out for the week to range above the Towns to see what Discovery they could make, and I am my self this Day going out with what men I can Raise to see what I can discover. I desire the favour of your Honour, That the souldiers now under my Command in Lancaster and Groton might have the Liberty of abiding with me or of being Dismist. If it be your Honours Pleasure to let Edward Hartwell who hath been a Serjeant under me Abide still in that Post in this Town I should take it as a fa- vour. I stand ready to attend your Honours Orders & Commands and am ST
Your Humble Servant JABEZ FAIRBANKS.
GROTON, July 20"! 1724.
May it please your Honour
I have attended your orders in posting the men at the Towns of Groton Lancaster & Turkey hill - precisely except at Turkey
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76
Hill there is but eleven men Cap: Stevens having not as yet sent so many as ordered & I have Taken my post at Groton where I improve the Souldiers in the best manner I can agreeable to your orders, & have ordered them to Lodge in some of ye most Exposed Garrisons as often as may be, but I find it impossible to Improve So Small a number of men So as to answer y: Necessities of the people here whose circumstances are So verry Difficult & Distress- ing that I am not able fully to Represent to your Honour.
the poor people are many of them obliged to keep their own Garrisons and part of them Imployed as Guards while others are at their Labour whose whole Time would be full Little enough to be expended in getting bread for their families. My own Garrison at Lancaster is very much exposed & with Humble Submission I think Requires Protection as much as any in that Town. there- fore I Humbly pray your Honour would be pleased to give me Leave to post a Souldier there Dureing my absence in the service of the province I beg your Honours Pardon for giving you this Trouble ; and as Leave to Subscribe my Selfe
Your most Obedient Humble Serv!
JABEZ FAIRBANKS [Massachusetts Archives, LII. 9, 18.]
For some brief " Journals," kept in this neighborhood by Lieu- tenant Fairbanks, during the years 1723 and 1724, see Massachu- setts Archives, xxxviii. A 49-54.
Colonel Tyng writes, July 23, 1724, from Dunstable, to Lieu- tenant-governor William Dummer, that he has sent ten men of his company to Groton, agreeably to orders.
He goes himself " to dispose the 10 men there."
[Massachusetts Archives, LII. 22.]
IS. - PAGE 41.
The following entry is found in the printed " Journal " of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, for November 20, 1724 :-
A Petition of Jacob Ames, shewing that he was one of the Weekly Scouts near the Garrisons on the Westerly part of the Town of Groton; and on the Ninth Day of July last, when it was the Petitioners Week to be on Duty, a Number of Indians appeared at the Garrison of the Petitioners Father John Ames, and killed
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him at the Gate, and then rush'd violently into the Garrison to surprise the People there. And the Petitioner did with Courage and Resolution by himself defend the Garrison, and beat off the Indian, Slew one of them and Scalp'd him ; praying, That altho' it happened to be his Weck to be on Duty, that this Court would take the Premises into their wise and serious Consideration, and grant what other Allowance more than the Establishment by Law, shall to them seem meet, for his aforesaid Service. Read, and in Answer to this Petition. Resolved, That over and above the Fif- teen Pounds due to the Petitioner by Law, for recovering the said Scalp, and the good Services done this Province thereby, the Sum of Fifteen Pounds be allowed and Paid out of the Publick Treasury to the said Jacob Ames for his good Service as aforesaid.
Sent up for Concurrence.
19. - PAGE 42.
A List of the Names of the men that Scouted In the woods In July last under the Comand of Cap: Tho: Tarbell of Groton & the Number of Days the ware In sd Service
We Set out y: 7 Day & : Returned y: 13"! Except Jacob Ames who was Taken sick & Returned back y: 2ª Day
Groton Oct. 21: 1748 attest
THO: LAWRENCE Cler.
Liu Eleazer Green
Isaac Holden
Ensighn Stephen Holden
Pilott Jerah; Powers
Sarga' John Page
John Shattuck
Serg Simon Pearce
Moses Woods
Samuel Shattuck Jun!
Tho; Lakin
James Shattuck
John Keemp
Eleazer Tarbell
Jonaª Sartell
Jonathan Holden
Moses Blood
Elias Ellett
Henrey Farwell
Same! Kemp Jun!
Nath !! Smith
Jona: Shattuck Jun!
Jona: Lawrence
John Gilson Jun!
Henry Jefts
Joseph Patterson
Aaron Woods
Timothy Mores
Jacob Ames
Neh: Jewett
Eleazer Green Jun!
Edmª Bancroft
John Parker Jun
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also by the authority a forsd on the 28 of July I marched in to The wilderness in quest of the Enemy with The men whose Names are hear after written and Returned the 29 Day : and we found our Selves both prevision and amanision both Times.
John Bulkely
Jonas Parker
James Prescott
Ruben Woods
John Gilson
Jonathan Lawrance
Dudley Bradstreet
Jeremiah Hobart
Jeremiah Shattuck
Isaac Lakin Jun"
William Nutting
Joseph Bennett
Tho' Lawrance
Joseph Chandler
Isaac Green
Isaac Patch Jun"
Jos. Sheeple
John Nutting Jun"
Thos Woods
Jonathan Prescot
Joseph Parker
Daniel Pollard
Nathaniel Parker
Ebenezer Lakin
We Bennett
Peter Parker
Nathaniel Shattuck
Sam" Bowers
Ezekiel Nutting
Thos Chamberlin
Joseph Gilson
Ebenezer Blood
Isaac Gilson
Nathaniel Davis Jun'
James Fisk
Josiah Sartell clerk
Tho Tarbell Capt
[Massachusetts Archives, XCII. 156.]
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MISCELLANEOUS.
To the Hond'ed the Generall Co't of the Massachusetts Colony, in N. E .:
The humble request of the inhabitants of the Town of Groton, humbly sheweth,
That Whereas in this day of Calamity & distress, wee are fellow- sufferers with our brethren & neighbo's, in the sad & doleful con- sequences of the present unhappye warre : though wee have cause to adore & praise that mercy which hath preserved us from such desolation under which of neere neighbors are now bleeding ; yet o' sufferings are such, as, except the Lord helpe, wee are sinking under ; esteeming it therefore of duty to apply o'selves to yo' honors, whom wee account of publicke fathers, & trust you will improve yo' wisdome & abilityes for us : wee doe carnestly crave of present State to be considered, & weighed in a just balance : who are brought necre to utmost streights. The enemye (as we groundedly suppose) waiting an opportunity against us; the season of the yecre calling to employment, & hasting to passe away from us : ourselves brought into a narrow compasse, & ready to undergoe sore sufferings, by reason of necessary arising inconveniencyes ; or provision neere consumed, & souldiers quartered amongst us has- tening the expense of it: our wives & children, some removed, others removing : our cattel lying open to dayly hazards of being seized : These things portend to us a famine, & poverty, Coming upon us with as great fury on the one hand, as the enemy on the other ; & wee at the present are unable to be beneficial to the pub- licke & private interest incumbent upon us. Wee humbly, & upon o' knees crave yo' hono's direction & assistance in this case, as the Lord shall direct whither wee shall goe or stay, or what way we may be set in, & wheras we were summoned to send in of Deputy we did esteeme o' present State required the presence of of sould- icry at home, especially men in place & office with us : wee there- fore, being small in number, & dayly waiting the approach of the enemye, have (not in any despising of authority refrained from Chusing one : & withal have Chosen, o' Reverd Pasto'. M' Samel Willard to present this o' humble request, & farther to expresse o"
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minds and humble desires, as occasion may present, & yo" honors shall see meet to enquire into. Commending you to the most hygh, & supplicating the God of heaven to reveale Counsell in this day of darknesse, & to make you instruments of his glorye, & his peoples peace ; Wee rest,
Yo' honors
From Groton this Febr : 19. 75.
humble Suppliants SIMON WILLARD JAMES PARKER :
[Superscription]
To the Hono'ed the Generall Co't of the Massachusetts Colonye Assembled in Boston N. E:
To the Right Honorable the Gov'r. and Council sitting in Boston.
The Petition of Daniell Addams, Humbly sheweth, that your Petitioner's went out as a voluntear, upon the Scout, from Concord in company with some of Concord and some of Lancaster: and they coming to Grauton your petitioners there killed an Indian, and hath received no wages from the Country for any service that he hath done: notwithstanding he hath been out upon the same acc't severall times both the Last sumer and the Last winter, and is now going out againe under the Command of Leift. Curtis.
Your Petitioner therefore humbly requests the favor of your Honors to consider the premises and to grant him an order to the Treasurer for his satisfaction according as the Law allows in that case --- so shall he be ever engaged to pray, &c.
DANIELL ADDAMS.
The above petition is marked on the back "21 April, 1676."
Alse Woods aged forty years testifieth and saith that at Grooton upon the day that the most of the town was burnt by Indians : she heard severall say, that Daniell Adams had killed an Indian : and she went presently into Mr. Willards Garrit and saw two Indians
08
8I
stand over a dead Indian, about halfe an hour, and then they car- ried him away, and further saith not.
The mark O of ALSE WOODS. Att Groton the 14th of march 1676.
There was Daniell Adams, whoe was vary helpefull to the towne of Groton with som others Lankstar and the said Daniell adams did kill one Indan att Mr. Willards garason.
Witness JOHN CADYE and SAMUEL WOODS.
we whoe see him fall to the ground and not rise againe.
As witness NICKCOLASS CADYE.
Samuell Woodes of Grotten aged about forty years of age witnis that he saw tooe indens standing upon Captine parker's iland at grotten and danill adams shot at tham, and one of them falle doune and the other ran away.
17 day of 2, month 1676, the mark [ of SAMUEL WOODES. [" Groton Herald," April 24, 1830.]
David Jeffries writing from Boston, September 16, 1692, to Lieutenant Governor John Usher, says that, --
.. ye 14" Inst at night a Post came to towne fro Major Hincksman, weh gave an acc" of about So or 100 Indians, yt our scouts had made discovery of in ye night siting p theire fires hammering of slugs for theire gunns our scouts was soe neare them yt they could see ye Indians & heare them talke, yesterday morning we had news yt ye Indians had killd two men at Groton Jera : Bowers is gone out with about 100 men after them.
The letter is among the manuscripts of the New England Historic, Genealogical Society. -
GROTON Octobr 15th 1694
To the Honored Generall Court :
The humble petition and earnest request of the Inhabitants of Groton humbly sheweth ; That whereas we the present survivers of this Towne do understand that ourselves either without invoice, or according to some former or according to your honours pleas- ures are willed & domed for a rate or Levy, a considerable some of moneys amounting to 501bs ; we therefore being feelingly appre- hensive of our utter incapacity, in present circumstances without apparent wrong to us; to pay said sum humbly make bold under
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God to addresse this honored great generall Court. with both our humble petition and a discovery of our condition : our petion is that we may If it be your honourable pleasure to remitt us our as- sessment and not putt us upõ further inevitable streights & Miseryes, This we humbly petion, and that we may not be thought unjustly to withdraw ye shoulder from puting our strength & help to Sup- port and cary on the government of theirs our Majestyes, in this part of their dominion, and be unwilling to bear our part with the rest of their Majestyes Subjects on this New England shoar as we have constantly & proportionably heitherto done and as arguments and Reason to prevail in this case. we make bold to spread our conditio before your honored selves : not to run back very farr
I It pleased God the disposer of all men & humane affairs to place us upon yt outward borders of ye inhabited land on this side ye country. which by some is alledged as an argument against us, yett lett Reason butt speak & the union and communion not onely of naturall, but Christian Societyes have its argument and it will tell us of bearing one another's burdens, and of that Smpathetick property that is a naturall body & rationally ought to be both in cyvill & politick also : and therefore whatever our alledged privi- ledges are, or have bin, we ought not to be Grudged them, for indeed our out edge & Distant Living hath bin in these times of late awfull dealing our hurt & damage both as to psons & estates beyound parrelell with any inward Townes, as plaine & undeniable Reason & argument is ready to be given.
2 The providence of ye wise God, did order it That very griev- ous troublesome and mortall sicknesse, was amoungt us the last year by wh we were not onely leasoned considerobly in our num- bers, but deminished in our estates It being so generall That one could not help ye other by weh great charge of Doct's came upõ us, losse of ye Seasonable Labour of our inhabitants, to the indam- aging the estates of ye most, unrecovered by many to this day.
3 we might add our constant (in these late times) standing upon our guard, and considerable charge, of building & repairing forts, for our owne and the countryes safty, & sceuring their majestyes subjects, both here, and in the inmost places.
4 This years soar and awfull troubles by ye late deaths captivi- tyes and consequent meseryes, whereby we lost severall able valu- lbe psons, whose estates are either, much lessened, or removed by others, out our reach : beside by inevitable losse of corne, It is Judged by many of our Towne that a third part at lest of our Indian corne, is wholy lost ; and now of late psons have bin hen-
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dred much in their corne, & hay harvest, beside the hand of God upon our husbandry, as to rye much blasted, not halfe a usuall crop and by early frost, Indian corne much hurt, & damnifyed, that severall familyes will be at a losse for corne, not having for halfe ye year through : Thus Leaving our petion & condition to your honours serious consideration hoping you may sce, reason to in- dulge us in that matter praying to God who setts amoung ye god to direct, & preside, and blesse, your psons & consultations to con- clude & determine what may be for ye present & future weal & prosperity, of these plantation, we rest & remaine yours in all duty & service.
James Parker Sen': William Laken Sen'. Select men in the name of ye Select men by ye voat of ye Towne of Groton.
[Massachusetts Archives, CYINI. 89.]
Upon reading this Petition of the Inhabitants of Groton Sitting forth their great distress and impoverishm' by reason of the deso- lations made upon them by the Enemy Praying to be Eased and abated .of their proportion to the last publick Tax or Assessm! amounting to the sum of Fifty pounds.
Voted,
That the said Town be abated one halfe of the aforest Sum of Fifty pounds, and that ME Treasurer Do Suspend the calling for the other halfe until the Fifteenth day of December next. The Assessor: forthwith to proportion the same upon their Inhabitants and to commit the List thereof unto their Constables, that so they may be collecting.
Octob' 224 1694 : Past in the affirmative by the house of Repre- sentatives and sent up to his Excy and Council for Consent
NEHEMIAH JEWET speaker
Votd a concurrence in Council, die pdict. Is: ADDINGTON Secry. [Endorsed]
Vote for abatement to Groton. Oct! 1694.
[Massachusetts Archives, CXIII. 97.]
Governor William Stoughton writes from Boston, Septem- ber 5, 1695, to Captain James Converse, that
" I order That at your next passing over Merrimack with your Company towards Dunstable &c That you advise with Maj: Hench- man and M: Jon" Ting concerning the posting yo" men in the sev- eral Frontiers of Dunstable, Bilrica Chelmsford Groton, Lancaster
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and Marlboro for the better inforcemt of the Garrisons there & maintaining a good brisk Scout for the discovery of the Enemy to prevent their annoying of those Towns during the Harvest Sea- son."
In accordance with this order, eight men were posted at Groton. Soon afterward, nine were posted here, of which seven were inhabitants of the town.
Captain James Converse writes from " WOOBOURNE (7br ye 7th 1696) " May it pleas your Hon!
" The subscriber receiving a letter from your Hon' of ye first Courant, and therein, a Command to wait upon your Hont ye next day in ord! to receive some further Instructions, referring to a Journey to Groaton, to speak with some Volunteers &c : I was also ordered to take Cap! Bowers & L: Crosby with me to Groaton, but I hearing their scouts had discovered sundry tracks of the Enemy, I suposed those men might be in ye Woods with their scouts, and so it proved, for this reson 1 took with me Cap" Tho: Bancroft of Redding, and only one soldier with vs, we came to Groaton on fryday morning (the time y: I was ordered to be there) where I mett with ME Daniel Fitch & his second and ye rest of their Vol- unteers all but two or 3 Indians, y' left them (by force) in ye morn- ing, pretending to returne hom."
[Massachusetts Archives, LI. 44, 68.]
To the Honored Luten"t Govern" the Honored Councill and Re- presentitives In the Court Assembled : The humble petition of the towne of Groton by orderly warning mett upon octobr the 4th 1697 then voating (after Serious discourse upon the present times & awfull circumstances of them and our pticular immergencys) our dislike of the present help granted to us as we are grieved att ye management & oversight of it : & voating that captne James Parker and Ensigne John Farnsworth should be our Agents to present and promote this petition of ours by such discourse as might be need- full in our behalfe att the Court. Honored Sirs: We being in some measure necessitated (by the constancy and Long continuance of the righteous hand of Almighty God upon us) to know more experimentally the troubles concomitant and consequent of bloody & cruell warr, Then by Sympathy it can be possibly knowne by
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others ; And that by Reason our stages & dwellings happene to be upon ye very dint, brinck & in ye mouth of more unavoidable diffi- cultyes, fears dangers & death by the cruell sword of the wilder- nesse, then many others are or can be, Therefore as we apprehend the case to stand with us, being diminished in our numbers, and greatly impoverished in our out wards, desirous as we hope in meas- ure we have done to be constantly putting up our petitions to the Lord of hosts and God of armyes to afford us conduct & Assistance every way so we would not wanting to cry to & humbly call upon our Moses & Aaron to give us advise & to extend their helping hand who if any are, we are in the wildernesse where y' is Scorpions and subtle Finny Serpents mortally wounding and killing of us as your Honord Selves hear by Rumour upon Rumour, but we not onely hear butt feel see & woefully experience the same. Honored Sirs we desire with all gratitude and thankfullnesse to acknowledge your fatherly care of us hitherto, Butt yett we for our parts If still we must abide in the Front. We beg If it may seem good in your eyes that we may be Released from countrey charges to his Majesty or in plaine words countrey Rates & that we may be pleasured with some sutable proportion of souldiers not of ourselves which if we may be worthy once more to obtaine we have agreed not to sell them away for men of ourselves as we wickedly did. The way of a changable scout we thought might do us a kindnesse, which if it had bin with good inspection & management attended It might have done It hath appeared to us more wayes than one that gitting ye Money hath bin more aimed at the carefull ordering, or doing the worke to earn it hath bin ; we beg that If for this Autumnal & winter season you may soe meet to order ye chargable scout that it may be no lesse the 12 : & that it it may be putt into a carefuller & honester hand then it hath bin both for the place & benifit of this poor Towne we are able if called thereto to Alledge sufficient Argument that if we have the same or other souldiers It is a thing requisite that some other pson might Inspect them
Thus craving pdone for our boldnesse wishing ye Lord to be your president in all publike matters that may be before you we humbly subscribe our selves yours in all obedience & loyalty
SIMON STONE - THOMAS TARBELL Select SAMUEL PARKER men
ELIEZAR PARKER
Oct. 15 1697. Read
Constable of Groton
86
[Endorsed] Oct. 97
Voted In ye house of Representatives
In answer to sd petition. That they are Eased in this Last tax as they desired : & as to ye Scout yt they Judg it needfull yt Six of their owne Souldiers be Imployed dayly : & yt ye comand" in cheif put in a sutable pson to Inspect ye same
Sent up for Concurrence
PENN TOWNSEND Speaker [Massachusetts Archives, LXX. 360, 361.].
For an account of a Court Martial, held at Groton, Feb- ruary 16, 1706-7, see "The New England Historical and Genealogical Register," X. 243-5. The original is in the Massachusetts Archives, LI. 153, 154.
on a lecter day. Groton July. 9. 1707
May it plese your Excelency I have Read your Excelencyes order to ye Inhabitants and the law against deserting the frontiers, I could do it no sooner for several of the inhabitants ware gon to plainfield and Returned yesterday, only two stayd behind; S' one of those that designe to Remove is the Barer & a selectman and lives on the outside the Towne. I thought good to send him, who can aquaint your Excelencey who is Removed & who are medi- tating the same.
Cap' Bulkely & & his men are gon to Lancaster and the other balfe here, and do Expect a Relece thay being men of concidrable husbandrey ; ye most of them. all ye people that will worke in Com- paneys .have gards to Cover them to their Content, if your Excel- encey Plese I should very glad of a Relie ; I am your
Excelences most Humble
Servent JOSIAH PARKER
To His
Excelencey The Gouvoner att Roxbury On Her Maj" Service
GROTON July 9. 1707. May it please yo' Excy.
According to yo' Exeyes Comands wee have sent an account of those that are either actually remov'd, or meditating of it. Our Peo- ple are reduc'd to that degree that they find themselves unable to
08
اید.
87
subsist any long; Would pray your Excy either to grant Liberty for their Remove or that they may be reduc'd here intirely to a Garri- son (of the Towne militia) for the preserving the frontiers ; wee thankfully acknowledge your Exeyes great Care of us hitherto, and would pray the Continuance of your Regards, without which wee are an undon people Wee take leave to subscribe
(may it please yo' Exey) Your Exeys most obed' Serv's JOSEPH LAKIN
JOHN FARNSWORTH
JONATHAN BOIDON Select Town clarck
JOSEPH LAKIN men
GROTTON July ye 9 day 1707
John Ston
Joseph Paraham
Jonathan Pag
Samuill Davis
Nathanill Woods
Dauill Cadein
Danill lawranc
John Cadein
John Shattuck
John hoare
Nathanill Parker
Samuill Farnsworth
Benimin Lakin
Joseph Boidon
Jonathan boidon
Josiah Whetney
John huchin
Corenallus Whitney
Zachariah Lawranc
Joseph lawranc
Edman Chamberlin
Ebenezer Nutting
John Hall
of persons gon
Samuell Shattuck
Zerrubbubl Kamp
Zachariah Sartwall
John Gilson
Abraham lakin
Josiah lakin
Joseph Lakin
William Lakin
William Shattuck
John Farnsworth
of the persons that are a consedring of going
JOSEPH LAKIN
Select JOSEPH LAKIN JOHN FARNWORTH
Town clarck for Groton
JONATHAN BOIDON men
[Massachusetts Archives, CXIII. 418, 419, 420.]
£
88
Sir,
The Enemy being drawn off & the Season of Danger pretty well over, You must forthwith see that the Soldiers in the Frontiers be reduced to the following Numbers ; Viz, Twenty five Men at Dunstable & Dracut, Ten at Turkey Hills, Fourteen at Groton, Fourteen at Lancaster, Twenty five at Rutland & ten at Brookfield, & That all the Rest of the Soldiers in the Counties of Middlesex & Essex . Including L: Brentnals Scouts be forthwith disbanded : And the several officers are required to put these Orders in Execution accordingly.
[To] COLL. TYNG.
Oct. 20, 1725. [ Massachusetts Archives, LXXII. 263.]
May it Please your Honour
I had Desired Lieu! Lawrence to order a Scout to Pequage [Athol] before I Rect your Honours Letter which he had Done & from thence to Northfield tho none was Placed at Pequage but in as much as Pequage Does not appear more Exposed to the Enemy if so much as several other Places between ye rivers merimack and Connetticut that are within this Province and I apprehending your honour might not be so well acquainted with the curcomstances of these Frontiers I Did not order ye Lieut to Place but ten men at Pequage for if fifteen had been sent there other places must have been left so naked that no Scouting Could have been Done which I am sencable was ye Courts Disigne but if what I have ordered Should not be agreeable I should be Glad to know your Honours mind. I find it is Difficult to satisfie the People with so few men in so long a Frontier but shall take ye best Care I can so far as I am concern! to give orders for Every thing to be Done that your Honour Shall think best but if Possible I think best to keep out all ye new Plantations in this Province but I am afraid that thirty men is not sufficient. So with Great Regard, I remain your Honours most Humble and obedient Servant to Command.
WILLIAM LAWRANCE To y: Honble Spencer Phips EsqTe GROTON July ye 29 : 1755 [Massachusetts Archives, LIV. 521.]
89
Representatives to the General Court.
The following names are not found, according to Butler's " History," in the town records, and the authority for the names is given with each one : ---
1683. Captain James Parker, " Massachusetts Records," V. 421. 170S. * Mr. John Farnsworth, " Weekly News-Letter," May 31. 1714. Mr. John Farnsworth, " " "
1715. * Mr. Thomas Tarbell, ">
May 30.
1717. Mr. John Shepley, "
June 3.
1718. Captain John Shipley, June 2.
1719. Captain John Shipley, Neal's " Hist. of N. E.," 11. 377. 1732. f Nathaniel Sartel, Esq., " Weekly Rehearsal," June 12. 1740. i Mr. John Longley, "Weekly News-Letter," June 5. 1743. William Lawrence, Esq., ,, " May 30. 1750. (not represented ), " June 4.
1754. William Lawrence, Esq., "Jour. of House of Rep.," p. 4.
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There are several tunes -- at least five - called Groton, to be found in some of the old singing-books. They differ in music and in words, and are generally of different metres. The earliest that I have been able to find is one, in common metre, in Jacob Kimball's " Rural Harmony," published in 1793. at Boston. In Laws's "Harmonic Companion " (Philadelphia, copyrighted 1807) is a long-metre tune of this name. In "The Choir " (Boston, 1833), by Lowell Mason, another one, in particular metre, is given ; and in the " Massachusetts Collection of Psalmody " (Boston, 1840), by George J. Webb, is still another, in long metre. A sing- ing-book, entitled " Indian Melodies," was published in New York, in IS45, which contains a tune called Groton. The compiler of the work was Thomas Commuck, an Indian, and he claims that all the tunes in it, as well as the names, are Indian. This is a mistake, certainly so far as it relates to this name, - unless, perchance, it may have been adopted from the English.
* "Those that have this mark (*) are new ones."
t Not members during the preceding year.
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6057
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