l82 NATURAL HISTORY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF GROTON, MASS. 



LAWRENCE ACADEMY. 



During the early part of the year 1792 a voluntary associa- 

 tion was formed at Groton, by certain people of the town and 

 neighborhood, in order to establish an Academy where a higher 

 education could be obtained than was given in the district 

 schools of that period. A subscription paper was circulated 

 for the purpose of procuring funds to erect a suitable building. 

 A subscription of five pounds currency was the smallest sum 

 received from any person, and was denominated a share ; ten 

 pounds were called two shares; and so on. A complete list 

 of the subscribers has never been printed, but a partial one 

 appears in Mr. Butler's History of the town (p. 229). On 

 April 27, 1792, the association organized by choosing trustees 

 and the other customary officers ; and from this as a beginning 

 sprang the institution known formerly as Groton Academ}', 

 but now as Lawrence Academy. 



The following is a copy of the original paper that bears the 

 autograph signatures of the subscribers. The paper belongs 

 to James Lawrence, of Groton, and was bought at the sale of 

 the library of the late Reverend Andrew Bigelow, D.D., 

 which took place in Boston on July 10-12, 1877. In the 

 sale catalogue it was numbered 321 among the" autographs," 

 on page 49 of the pamphlet. 



In Order to diffuse useful knowledge and render the means of In- 

 struction & information more general & less expensive to Individuals, 

 We agree to raise by Subscription in Shares at five pounds Each, a sum 

 of Money for the purpose of Erecting a Suitable building for an Acad- 

 emy in the Town of Groton, within sixty Rods from the Public Meet- 

 ing house of the first Parish in said Town, and severally promise to 

 pay the sums annexed to our respective names, to such persons as 

 shall be chosen by a Major Vote of the Subscribers to receive the same, 

 upon a Meeting of the whole being duly warned so soon as Conven- 

 iently may be, after Sixty Shares are subscribed — And we further 

 agree, that the Surplusage of the Money Subscribed after Compleating 

 of said building, shall be applyed to the support of a proper Instructor 

 or Instructors of said Academy, furnishing a Suitable Apparatus or 

 whatever Else shall be most Conducive to the promoting of Educa- 



