That there is a Considerable Tract of Land Lying vacant and
unimproved Between the Towns of Chelmsford, Lancaster & Stow &
Groton, as s'd Groton was Survey'd & Lay'd out by Mr. Noyce, & the
Plantation Call'd Concord Village, which is Commonly known by the
Name of Nashoba, in the County of Midd'x: Afores'd. & Sundry
Persons having Made Entrys thereupon without Orderly Application to
the Government, and as we are Inform'd, & have reason to believe,
diverse others are designing so to do.
We Yo'r Hum'ble Petitioners being desirous to Prevent the
Inconveniences that may arise from all Irregular Intrusions into
any vacant Lands, and also In a Regular manner to Settle a Township
on the Land afores'd, by which the frontier on that Side will be
more Clos'd & Strengthened & Lands that are at Present in no wise
beneficiall or Profitable to the Publick might be rendred
Servicable for the Contributing to the Publlick Charge, Most Humbly
Address Ourselves to your Excy: And this Honourable Court.
Praying that your Petitioners may have a Grant of Such Lands
Scituate as Afores'd. for the Ends & Purposes afores'd. And that a
Committee may be appointed by this Hon'ble: Court to View, Survey
and Set out to Yo'r. Petitioners the s'd. Lands, that so Yo'r. s'd.
Petitioners may be enabled to Settle thereupon with Such others as
shall joyn them In an orderly and regular manner: Also Praying that
Such Powers and Priviledges may be given and confered upon the same
as are granted to other Towns, And Yo'r Petitioners shall be Most
ready to attend Such Directions, with respect to Such Part of the
s'd. Tract as has been formerly reserv'd for the Indians, but for a
Long time has been wholly Left, & is now altogether unimprov'd by
them, And all other things which this Hon'ble: Court in their
Wisdom & justice Shall See meet to appoint for the Regulation of
such Plantation or Town.
And Yo'r: Hum'ble: Petitioners as in Duty Bound Shall Ever Pray &c.
Gershom Procter
Sam'll. Procter
John Procter
Joseph Fletcher
John Miles
John Parlin
Robert Robins
John Darby
John Barker
Sam'l: Stratton
Hezekiah Fletcher
Josiah Whitcomb
John Buttrick
Will'm: Powers
Jonathan Hubburd
W'm Keen
John Heald
John Bateman
John Heywood
Thomas Wheeler
Sam'll: Hartwell, jun'r:
Sam'll: Jones
John Miriam
In the House of Representatives
June 6: 1711. Read & Comitted.
7 ... Read, &
Ordered that Jo'a. Tyng Esq'r: Thom's: Howe Esq'r: & M'r: John
Sternes be a Comittee to view the Land mentioned in the Petition, &
Represent the Lines, or Bounds of the severall adjacent Towns
bounding on the s'd. Lands and to have Speciall Regard to the Land
granted to the Indians, & to make report of the quantity, &
circumstances thereof.
Sent up for Concurrence.
JOHN BURRIL Speaker
In Council
June 7. 1711, Read and Concurr'd.
ISA: ADDINGTON, Secry.
[Massachusetts Archives, cxiii, 602, 603.]
The committee, to whom was referred this subject, made a report during
the next autumn; but no action in regard to it appears to have been
taken by the General Court until two years later.
* * * * *