nfirmation by the General Court. It is an interesting fact to know
that in their petition (General Court Records, x, 216, February 11,
1717, in the office of the secretary of state) they speak of having in
their possession at that time the original plan of the town, made by
Danforth in the year 1668, though it was somewhat defaced. In the
language of the Records, it was said to be "with the Petitioner," which
expression in the singular number may have been intentional, referring
to John Shepley, probably the older one, as certainly the more
influential, of the two agents. This plan was also exhibited before the
General Court on June 18, 1713, according to the Records (ix, 263) of
that date.

The case, as presented by the agents, was as follows:--

A petition of John Sheply & John Ames Agents for the Town of Groton
Shewing that the General Assembly of the Province did in the year
1655, Grant unto M'r Dean Winthrop & his Associates a Tract of Land
of Eight miles quare for a Plantation to be called by the name of
Groton, that Thom's & Jonathan Danforth did in the year 1668, lay
out the said Grant, but the Plat thereof through Neglect was not
returned to the Court for Confirmation that the said Plat tho
something defaced is with the Petitioner, That in the Year 1713 M'r
Samuel Danforth Surveyour & Son of the abovesaid Jonathan Danforth,
at the desire of the said Town of Groton did run the Lines & make
an Implatment of the said Township laid out as before & found it
agreeable to the former. W'h. last Plat the Petitioners do herewith
exhibit, And pray that this Hon'ble Court would allow & confirm the
same as the Township of Groton.

In the House of Represent'ves; Feb. 10. 1717. Read, Read a second
time, And Ordered that the Prayer of the Petition be so far granted
that the Plat herewith exhibited (Altho not exactly conformable to
the Original Grant of Eight Miles quare) be accounted, accepted &
Confirmed as the Bounds of the Township of Groton in all parts,
Except where the said Township bounds on the Township of Littleton,
Where the Bounds shall be & remain between the Towns as already
stated & settled by this Court, And that this Order shall not be
understood or interpreted to alter or infringe the Right & Title
which any Inhabitant or Inhabitants of either of the said Towns
have or ought to have to