GROTON AS A SHIRE TOWN. 1 99 



poor Widows and others to attend the Probate Courts, and other 

 Courts of Justice, without great Expence ; by Means whereof, many 

 times Action are and necessarily must be continued, to the great 

 Cost and Charge, oftentimes, to poor Orphan Children, and others 

 who are necessarily obliged to attend said Courts ; and this almost 

 inconceivable Difficulty and Burden daily increases, in Proportion 

 to the Increase of the Inhabitants of said Counties, which are now 

 so large, that the Inferior as well as Superior Courts are frequently 

 obliged to adjourn over Sundays, in order to finish the necessary 

 Business of said .Courts, to the great Cost and Damages of many 

 poor Witnesses and Jurymen, and others who are obliged to attend, 

 &c. Wherefore Your Petitioners, in behalf of themselves and the 

 several Towns and Districts aforesaid, most earnestly pray Your 

 Excellency and Honors to take their difficult Case under your wise 

 Consideration, and pass such Acts and Laws, as that the Towns 

 and Districts aforesaid, together with the Towns of Chelmsford, 

 Dracut, Dunstable and Stow, in the County of Middlesex, and the 

 Towns of Harvard and Leomi?ister, in the county of Worcester (or 

 such of said Towns and Plantations, or any others, as Your Excel- 

 lency and Honors shall think fit) may be erected and incorporated 

 into a separate and distinct County, and that the same may be in- 

 vested with all the Privileges that other Counties have and enjoy 

 in this Province ; or otherwise grant Relief as Your Excellency and 

 Honors, in Your known Wisdom and Goodness shall see meet, and 

 Your Petitioners in behalf of themselves and the several Towns they 

 represent, as in Duty bound, shall ever pray. 



Abel Lawrence 



Oliver Prescott 



Jonas Cutler \ Agents for Groton. 



James Prescott 



jfosiah Sartell 



jfonath. Lawrence '\ 



Thomas Warren \ Agents for Lyttleton. 



Joseph Harwood J 



Jonas Prescott \ 



William Fletcher \ Agents for Westford. 



Jabez Peep [Keep] J 



Benjamin Brooks )■ Agent for Townshend. 



William Prescott )■ Agent for Pepperrell. 



Hezekiah Sawtell \ Agent for Shirley, 



