e loose way of
describing boundary lines during the latter part of the last century:--

An Act to set off certain Lands from the town of _Groton_, and
annex the same to the town of _Shirley_.

BE _it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in
General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same_, That a
tract of Land at the south western extremity of the town of
_Groton_, bounded by a line beginning at a large white oak stump,
on the southeast side of _Nashua River_, being the northwest corner
of the town of _Harvard_; thence running southeasterly on _Harvard_
line, as the town bounds direct, till it comes to the stump of a
pine tree lately fallen down, an antient bound mark in said town
line; thence northerly to a heap of stones by the road leading to
_Harvard_ at SIMON DABY'S southerly corner, thence northeasterly on
said SIMON DABY'S line to a pine tree marked, thence northerly to a
heap of stones on a ledge of rocks; thence northerly on said SIMON
DABY'S line to a heap of stones on a large rock; thence
northwesterly still on said SIMON DABY'S line to a stake and stones
in the roots of a pine tree, fallen down, in a valley, said SIMON
DABY'S northeast corner and SAMUEL CHASE'S southerly corner, thence
northerly on said SAMUEL CHASE'S line, to the road leading to ABIL
MORSE'S mill, at a heap of stones on the north easterly side of
said road, thence northeasterly on said SAMUEL CHASE'S line by said
road to a heap of stones, thence northeasterly on said CHASE'S
line, to a stake and stones at the end of a ditch at a brook;
thence down said brook to _Nashua River_, thence up said river, to
the bounds first mentioned, together with the inhabitants thereof,
be, and they are hereby set off from the town of _Groton_ and
annexed to the town of _Shirley_, there to do duty and receive
privileges in the same manner as other lands and inhabitants of the
said town of _Shirley_.

SECT. 2. _Provided nevertheless, and be it further enacted_, That
the said tract of land and the inhabitants thereof shall be liable
to be taxed by the town of _Groton_, their full proportion in a tax
to the amount of the debts now due from said town of _Groton_, in
the same manner as if this act had not been passed: _Provided_ such
tax be made and assessed within on