While the original plan has been lost or destroyed, it is fortunate that
many years ago a copy was made, which is still preserved. In June, 1825,
the Honorable James Prescott was in the possession of the original,
which Caleb Butler, Esq., at that time transcribed into one of the town
record-books, and thereby saved it for historical purposes. Even with
this clew a special search has been made for the missing document, but
without success. If it is ever found it will be by chance, where it is
the least looked for. There is no reason to doubt the accuracy of the
outlines or the faithfulness of the copy. The relative distances between
the streams emptying into the Nashua River, however, are not very exact;
and in the engraving for the sake of clearness I have added their names,
as well as the name of Forge Pond, formerly called Stony Brook Pond.

Accompanying the copy is a description of the survey, which in
connection with the drawing gives a good idea of the general shape of
the township. Perhaps in the original these two writings were on the
same sheet. In the transcript Mr. Butler has modernized the language and
made the punctuation conform to present usage. In the engraved cut I
have followed strictly the outlines of the plan, as well as the course
of the rivers, but I have omitted some details, such as the distances
and directions which are given along the margins. These facts appear in
the description, and perhaps were taken from it by the copyist. I have
also omitted the acreage of the grant, which is grossly inaccurate.


Whereas the Plantation of Groton, containing by grant the
proportion of eight miles Square, was begun to be laid out by
Ensign Noyes, and he dying before he had finished his work, it is
now finished, whose limits and bounds are as followeth,