years before this time, James, William, and
Oliver Prescott, acting for themselves, had petitioned the General Court
for a tract of land to make up their own losses. They were the sons of
the Honorable Benjamin Prescott, through whose influence and agency the
original Groton Gore was granted, and they were also the largest
proprietors of the town. The following extracts from the Journal of the
House relate to their application:--

A Petition of _James Prescot_, and others, Children and Heirs of
_Benjamin Prescot_, late of _Groton_, Esq; deceased, praying a
Grant of the unappropriated Lands of this Province, in
consideration of sundry Tracts which they have lost by the late
running of the Line between this Government and _New-Hampshire_.

Read and committed to Col. _Clap_, Col. _Nickols_, Col. _Williams_
of _Roxbury_, Col. _Buckminster_, and Mr. _Lancaster_, to consider
and Report.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 187), January 12,
1764.]

On February 3, 1764, this petition was put over to the May Session, but
I do not find that it came up for consideration at that time. It does
not appear again for some years.

A Petition of _James Prescot_, Esq; and others, praying that a
Grant of Land may be made them in Lieu of a former Grant, which
falls within the _New-Hampshire_ Line.

[Journal of the House of Representatives (page 129), November 2,
1770.]

This petition was referred to a committee consisting of Dr. Samuel
Holten, of Danvers, Colonel Joseph Gerrish, of Newbury, and Mr. Joshua
Bigelow, of Worcester.

The Committee on the Petition of _James Prescot_, Esq; and others,
reported.

Read and accepted, and _Resolved_, That in Lieu of Lands mentioned
in the Petition, there be granted to the Petitioners, their Heirs
and Assigns, Four Thousand Four Hundred Acres of the unappropriated
Lands belonging to the Province, to be laid out in the Westerly
Part thereof, adjoining to some former Grants, provided they can
find the same; or Five Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty Acres of
the unappropriated Lands lying on the Easterly side of _Saco_
River; it being their Proportion in said Grant: And return a Plan
thereof taken by a Surveyor and Chainman under Oath, into the
Secretary's Office within Twelve Months.

Sent up for Concurrence.

[Journal of the House of