_John Jeffries_, Esq; brought down the Petition of _Peter Lawrence_ and others of _Groton_, praying to be annexed to _Littleton_, as entred the 12th ult. Pass'd in Council, _viz._ In Council _January 4th_, 1738. Read again, together with the Answer of _Nathanael Sartell_, Esq; Representative for the Town of _Groton_, which being considered, _Ordered_, That the Prayer of the Petition be so far granted as that the Petitioners with their Families & Estates within the Bounds mentioned in the Petition be and hereby are set off from the Town of _Groton_, and are annexed to and accounted as part of the Town of _Littleton_, there to do Duty and receive Priviledge accordingly. Sent down for Concurrence. Read and concur'd. [Journal of the House of Representatives (page 86), January 4, 1738.] In the autumn of 1738, many of the settlers living in the northerly part of Groton, now within the limits of Pepperell, and in the westerly part of Dunstable, now Hollis, New Hampshire, were desirous to be set off in a new township. Their petition for this object was also signed by a considerable number of non-resident proprietors, and duly presented to the General Court. The reasons given by them for the change are found in the following documents:-- To His Excellency Jon'a. Belcher Esq'r. Captain General and Governour in Chief &c The Hon'ble. the Council and House of Rep'tives in General Court Assembled at Boston November the 29th 1738 The Petition of the Subscribers Inhabitants and Proprietors of the Towns of Dunstable and Groton. Humbly Sheweth That your Petitioners are Situated on the Westerly side Dunstable Township and the Northerly side Groton Township those in the Township of Dunstable in General their houses are nine or ten miles from Dunstable Meeting house and those in the Township of Groton none but what lives at least on or near Six miles from Groton Meeting house by which means your petitioners are deprived of the benefit of preaching, the greatest part of the year, nor is it possible at any season of the year for their familys in General to get to Meeting under which Disadvantages your pet'rs has this Several years Laboured, excepting the Winter Seasons for this two winters past, which they have at their Own Cost and Charge hired preaching amongst themselves which Disadvantages has very much prevented peoples Settling land there.