J BELCHER

[Massachusetts Archives, cxiv, 272, 273.]

While this petition was before the General Court, another one was
presented praying for a new township to be made up from the same towns,
but including a larger portion of Groton than was asked for in the first
petition. This application met with bitter opposition on the part of
both places, but it may have hastened the final action on the first
petition. It resulted in setting off a precinct from Dunstable, under
the name of the West Parish, which is now known as Hollis, New
Hampshire. The papers relating to the second petition are as follows:--

To His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esquire Captain General and
Governor in Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of the
Massachusetts Bay in New England, the Honourable the Council and
House of Representatives of said Province, in General Court
Assembled Dec. 12'th, 1739.

The Petition of Richard Warner and Others, Inhabitants of the Towns
of Groton and Dunstable.

Most Humbly Sheweth

That Your Petitioners dwell very far from the place of Public
Worship in either of the said Towns, Many of them Eight Miles
distant, some more, and none less than four miles, Whereby Your
Petitioners are put to great difficulties in Travelling on the
Lord's Days, with our Families.