Petition of Thomas Henchman and Others to Governor Dudley and the Massachusetts General Court

Province of the Massachusetts Bay                                    

To His Excellency the Governour, Council, and  Representatives Now Assembled in General Court at Cambridge, October 15, 1702

The humble petition of Thomas Henchmen, Esq., of Chelmsford, Francis Burroughs of Boston, merchant, as administrator to Major Bulkley, late of Concord, deceased; Josiah Whitcomb, Sr., of Lancaster, Walter Powers of Concord humbly sheweth to Your Excellency and Honours that there is a certain tract of land called Nashoba containing about four miles square and lying between Groton, Chelmsford, Concord, and Stowe that was reserved and confirmed as a township for the Indian Proprietors thereof, who afterwards removed themselves and families to Natick and having no occasion for their lands at Nashoba, they and their descendants that remain, and who now are reduced to very few, have at several times upon valuable considerations by good and sufficient deeds (ready to be produced) alienated and conveyed away all their right and title thereto, the one half thereof to Major Bulkley, when living, and your petitioner, Henchman, the other half to your petitioners Whitcomb and Powers.          

But your petitioners, not daring to rely upon their title from the Indians, do in obedience to the law of the Province, now pray for a confirmation thereof from this Great and General Assembly, which, if they may obtain, they design to improve the same by settling their own and other families there and to annex themselves to which of the neighboring towns shall to the General Court seem most convenient and thereby the more serviceable  to the Province.

And your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray, etc.,