History of the Town of Fitchburg by Rufus Torey: part 5


Previous to the incorporation of this town, under the name
of Fitchburg, in 1764, it formed a part of Lunenburg.  To
begin, then at the beginning and acquire a knowldege of our
origin, it is necessary to search into the early records of
Lunenburg, in the transactions and events of which town the
people who inhabited what is now Fitchburg, had an equal
interest, and an equal share.

In Whithey's "History of Worcester County" the account of
Lunenburg commences as follows: -- "On the 4th of November,
1719, the General Court at the request of a number of
gentlemen, made a grant to them of this territory for a
valuable consideration," etc. Who the 'gentlemen' were is
not known; but it its presumed they were amoung those whose
names are preserved in the proprietors' books, as the
earliest settlers.  The 'valuable consideration' above
mentioned will be made known by the terms of the grant.
Furthermore, this order, or grant of the General Court, is
of great importance; for it is not only the foundation of
our municipal rights, but it is the basis upon which rest
all the titles to real estate in this town and Lunenburg.  I
will therefore give it entire, from an exact copy of the
original records, as furnished by the Secretary of the
Commonwealth:

"Anno Regni Regis Georgii Magnae Britanniae,&c. Sexto."

At a great and General Court of Assembly for his Majesty's
Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, begun and
held at Boston, upon Wednesday, the twenty seventh of May,
1719 and continued by Prorogation to Wednesday, the fourth
of November, 1719, and the met; being their second session.

                                        Monday, December 7,
1719 In the house of Representatives, the vote for granting
two new towns was brought down from the board, with
Amendments, which were read and agreed to--And the said vote
is as follows, viz:--

Voted that two new Towns each containing a Quantity of land
not exceeding sex miles square, be laid out in as regular
forms as the land will allow; to be settled in a defensible
manner, on the Westerly side of Groton West line, and that
William Taylor, Samuel Thaxter, Francis Fulham,
Esqrs. Capt. John Sipley, and Mr. Benjamin Whittamore be a
committee fully impowered to allot and grant out the land
contained in each of the said towns, (a lot not to exceed
two hundred fifty acres) to such persons, and only such as
will effectually settle the same within the space of three
years next ensuing the laying out and granting such lots by
the committee, who are instructed and directed to admit
eighty families or persons in each town at least, who shall
pay to the said committee for the use of the province, the
sum of Five Pounds for each allotmnet, which shall be
granted and allotted as aforesaid; and that each person to
whom such lot or lots shall be granted or laid out shall be
obliged to build a good dwelling house thereon and inhabit
it; and also to break up and fence in three acres of land at
least within the term of three years; and that there be laid
out and reserved for the first settled Minister, a good
convenient Lot; also a Lot for the school, and a ministeral
lot, and a lot for Harard College of two hundred and fifty
acres each; and that the settlers be obliged to build a
good, convenient house for the Worship of God in each of the
said towns, within the term of four years; and to pay the
charge of necessary surveys, and the committee for their
service in and about the premises; and that the committee
give public notice of the time and place when and where they
will meet to grant allotments.  Consented to--- SAML. SHUTE.

These two townships were designated by the committee
appointed to allot and grant them out, as the North and
South townships.  The former was afterwards incorporated by
the name of Townsend, in the county of Ciddlesex.  The south
township included the present towns of Lunenburg, Fitchburg
and a lage portion of Ashby.

(to be continued)

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