The Bay State Monthly, Volume 2, No. 2, November, 1884 | Page 7

us Respectively Endever to Promote and Maintain Peace Unity Concord and Good Agreement amoungst our Selves as Becometh Christians
And now haveing thus Covenanted as above Said We Do Each and Every one of us who have Hereunto Subscribed Protest and Declare that Every Article and Parigraph and Thing Containd in the above Writen Shall be Absolutely and Unacceptionably Binding in Manner and form as above Declared and Shall So Continue upon and Against Each and Every one of us untill we are Erected or Incorporated Into a Township as above said or that Provedance Shall Remove us by Death or Otherways any thing to the Contrary Notwithstanding
Witness our Hands the Eight Day of December one Thousand Seven Hundred and Fourty Seven and in the Twentieth Year Of His Majesties Reign Georg the Secund King &c
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 of _Lunenburg_, praying to be set off from said Town of Leominster. Pass'd in Council, viz In Council December 29th 1749. Read and _Ordered_, That the Petitioners serve the Town of _Lunenburg_, with a Copy of this petition, that they shew Cause, if any they have, on the second Wednesday 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 143), December 29, 1749.]
_John Chandler_, Esq; brought down the Petitions of _John Whitney_, and others of the westerly Part of _Groton_, and the easterly Part of the Town of _Lunenburgh_, and _Edward Hartwell_, Esq; and others of said Town, Pass'd in Council, _-viz._ In Council April 4th 1750. _Ordered_, That _Samuel Watts, James Minot_, and _John Otis_, Esqrs; with such as the honourable House shall join, be a Committee to consider the Petitions above-mentioned, and the several Answers thereto, hear the Parties, and report what they judge proper for the Court to do thereon.
Sent down for Concurrence.
Read and concur'd, and Mr. _Rice_, Capt. _Livermore_, Col. _Richards_, and Mr. _Daniel Pierce_, are joined in the Affair.
[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 214), April 5, 1750.]
_Joseph Wilder_, Esq., brought down the Report of a Committee of both Houses, on the Petition of _John Whitney_, and others, as entred the 30th of November last, and refer'd. Signed _James Minott_, per Order.
Pass'd in Council, _viz._ In Council June 21, 1750. Read and _Voted_, That this Report be not accepted, and that the Petition of John Whitney and others therein refer'd to, be accordingly dismiss'd, and that the Petitioners pay the Charge of the Committee.
Send down for Concurrence. Read and concur'd.
[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 41), June 22, 1750.]
A Petition of sundry Inhabitants of the westerly Part of _Groton_, and