Petition To Separate From Marlborough, 1727-05
Scope and Contents
Petition of the "inhabitants of the southern part of Marlborough" to separate and form their own town because the walk to church in Marlborough was too arduous.
Includes both the original manuscript (1030-19) , and a modern pencil transcription (1030-02).
Dates
- Creation: 1727-05
Creator
- From the Collection: Town of Southborough (Organization)
- From the Collection: Southborough Town Clerk (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Whenever possible, digital surrogates must be consulted in lieu of the original documents to prevent unneccesary handling and mitigate wear. Research is accommodated by appointment only. Please call (508) 485-0710 x 3005 to make an appointment, or send an email to: [email protected]
Extent
4 Leaves (2 file folders)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
“To the honorable William Dumer Esq. Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief [of] the Honorable Council and House of Representatives at their sessions in May 1727:
The petition of us the subscribers inhabitants of the Southerly part of the town of Marlborough Humbly sheweth That whereas Divine Providence which appoints the bounds and habitations of all men hath so ordered our lots or at least most of us that we are at such a distance from the place of Public Worship that ourselves but especially our aged and infirm together with our women and little ones cannot comfortably endure the necessary travel that they are forced unto for the attaining an opportunity at the place of Public Worship, and likewise others whose lots although not at present so difficult as the other aforesaid. Yet considering that it is but a point of christian duty and charity to compassionate the circumstances of such, and having also obtained a vote of the town of Marlborough in our favor to be set off as a separate Town by such bounds as is described by the vote of Town and the Plan herewith annexed, and likewise for a further manifestation of the aforesaid Town of Marlborough's good will towards us in the matter have by their vote directed their Selectmen to sign or order an assignment with us as petitioners to this Honorable Court upon the consideration of the whole we have some reason to think Providence favors the matter and have hope of a Blessing. Wherefore we humbly petition this Honorable Court that we the Inhabitants of the aforesaid southerly part of the Town of Marlborough being about Fifty families already settled with some preparation for more, may be set off by such bounds as described by the aforesaid vote of the Town for setting us off and more fully set forth in the plan herewith annexed and with the land may be incorporated into a Town and have and enjoy all immunities Privileges Rights and power as other Towns within this Province have and do by law enjoy, and we your humble Petitioners as in Duty Bound shall ever pray.
The above pursuant to a vote of the town of Marlborough, June 12, 1727 , directing the major part of the selectmen , or the whole of them, to sign a petition to the General Court with the inhabitants of "Stoney Brook, " being the southerly part of the town, for a corporation of the same.”
Signed by the Selectmen:
Joseph Stratin, John Sherman, Eliazer Howe, Samuel Brigham, Abraham Eager
Names of Petitioners:
William Ward, William Johnson, John Bellows, David Fay, John Woods, Daniel Taylor, Nathan Brigham, Nathaniel Joslen, John Mathis, Jr., David Bruse, William Johnson, Jr. , Jonathan Witt, John Amsden, Jonathan Newton, Joseph Woods, Roger Bruse, Othniel Taylor, Daniel Newton, Isaac Bellows, Samuel Bellows, Robert Horn, John Newton, Joseph Ball, Abram Newton, Ephraim Newton, Benjamin Newton, Caleb Witherbee, Samuel Lyscom, Eliazer Bellows, John Belknap, Isaac Newton, Joseph Witherbee, Samuel Gibbs, Jonathan Bellows, Timothy Johnson, David Woods, Zachariah Moses, Benjamin Mixer, John Bellows, Moses Johnson
Preservation Actions
All documents in Box #1030 underwent conservation treatment in January 2017 at the Northeast Document Conservation Center in Andover, MA.
Treatment Summary: Surface soil was reduced using dry cleaning techniques as necessary. The solubility of the inks on twenty-one objects selected for aqueous treatment were tested. The blue"#" and "copied" stamps were removed from 4 objects through the use of organic solvents on the suction table in preparation for washing. Please note: Some of the ink was not solubilized and remains in the paper. The documents were washed in a 30:70 ethanol water combination to reduce acidity, staining and discoloration. Paper patches were removed during the washing procedure. After carefully testing the iron gall ink and confirming the presence of free iron (Fe2+ ), a calcium phytate treatment was performed to stabilize the iron gall ink followed by alkalization with calcium bicarbonate as needed. Treated objects were sized with a 0.5% gelatin solution. Tears and breaks were mended and losses were filled with an appropriate weight Japanese paper and wheat starch paste as needed. Thirty-two objects were humidified and flattened between blotters under moderate pressure as needed. All objects were housed in archival folders and polyester L-sleeves as needed in a 3" archival document box. A spacer was constructed of archival corrugated board to prevent slumping of the documents in the box.
Repository Details
Part of the Southborough Town Clerk’s Office Municipal Archive Repository