150 FACTS RELATING TO GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the April number (p. 225) for 1896. Since then I have noted two 

 other instances of the kind which are here given : — 



In Dr. Bond's History of Watertown (p. 309), under Jennison, the 

 author mentions " Mercy (' Mary ') bap. Ap. 22, 1753 " — evidently 

 showing that he had found both forms of the name. 



Again, in the second edition of Binney's History of the Prentice 

 Family (p. 172), the author speaks of one Mary Jennison, and then 

 adds in a note that in the Lancaster records she is called Mercy 

 Jennison. These two women were not identical, though bearing the 

 same name, as the first one was married in 1774, and the other 

 died in 1756. 



I do not think that any misspelling of the word " Mary " clears up 

 the confusion or explains away the difficulty. 



TWO LAW-STUDENTS, AND THEIR 

 FIRST CASE. 



James Dana and Thomas Hopkinson were graduates of 

 Harvard College in the Class of 1830; and soon after gradu- 

 ation, for a term of one year, they were fellow law-students 

 under the instruction of Judge Samuel Dana, of Groton. His 

 office at that time was in the building just north of Mr. Dix's, 

 and nearly opposite to Mr. Hoar's tavern. It was afterward 

 made into a tenement-house, and subsequently burned on the 

 morning of October 26, 1884. While engaged here in the 

 pursuit of their chosen profession, these two law-students had 

 their first case in court. The late General Dana, of Charles- 

 town, gave me the following account of it; which will call up 

 in the minds of the older citizens of the town the recollection 

 of Training-day, when the militia companies used to meet on 

 the Common and go through with certain evolutions, then 

 called drilling: 



More than half a century ago, two young Harvard graduates were 

 reading law in a quiet country town in this State, when one day in 

 April a notice, of which the following is a copy, was served upon 

 each of them : • 



