l82 FACTS RELATING TO GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 



old chap named Samson Woods, a well-known character of that 

 period and a neighbor of the two lawyers, was in the bar-room. 

 Said he, " You can come with me, I'll get you in." Woods started 

 for the church, and the young men followed with some hesitation. 

 When they came to the middle door, leading to the broad aisle, 

 Woods marched boldly up. The door was guarded by two con- 

 stables, who crossed their staves to prevent his entrance. "You 

 have seats reserved here for the clergy, I believe," said Samson. 

 " Yes," hesitatingly replied one of the constables. Woods passed 

 in, and Lawrence and Dana were following when the ofificial staves 

 were again interposed. Woods turned round, with great dignity, 

 " You will admit my deacons, of course." " Yes," said the officer, 

 still more reluctantly. Lawrence and his companion went in, but 

 as they passed, he heard one of the constables say to the other, 

 " There must be a hell of a church somewhere." 



Geo. F. Hoar. 



WILLIAM BOYNTON WAIT. 



More than thirty years ago I received a letter from William 

 Boynton Wait, Esq., Vice-President of the Merchants' Na- 

 tional Bank of Little Rock, Arkansas, telling me that he was 

 born at Groton in the year 1808, and making inquiries about 

 the town. I at once began a correspondence with him ; and 

 he subsequently wrote me from Little Rock, under the date 

 of March 11, 1884: 



My father, Levi Wait, was born at Groton, February 26, 1780, 

 and died in Albany, N. Y., December 22, 1823. He was married 

 to Betsey Jones, of Acton, April i, 1807. My mother was the 

 daughter of Hannah Jones, whose first husband, Capt. Isaac Davis, 

 was in command of the Acton company at Concord Bridge, where 

 he fell on April 19, 1775. I believe he was the first officer killed 

 in the Revolution. 



My father moved with his family to Albany in 181 7; and in 

 1824, when I was sixteen years old, I went to Boston consigned by 

 my mother to the care of her old Groton friend, Abraham Moore. 

 He placed me in a grocery store, where I remained until July 1S29, 



