Groton Presbyterian Society, Groton, Middlesex County, MA ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed and transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Janice Farnsworth , 16 Sep 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Epitaphs from the Old Burying Ground, Groton by Dr. S. A. Green, 1878. p.183 Tombstone Willow Tree & Urn In Memory of Mr. John Johnson, Who died Aug. 21, 1834, AEt. 72. p.188 Tombstone Willow Tree & Urn In Memory of Mrs. Susa, wife of Mr. John Johnson, who died Aug. 12, 1836, AEt. 69. Subject: John Johnson Source: Groton Historical Series by Dr. Samuel A. Green Vol. I. Chapter XIV p.22-23 Presbyterians. An act for incorporating a number of the Inhabitants of the Town of Groton in the County of Middlesex, of the Presbyterian Denomination, into a separate Parish. Whereas a number of the inhabitants of the town of Groton, have petitioned the Court to be incorporated, for the reasons expressed in their petition, and it appearing to this Court reasonable that their prayer be granted. Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same that: Joseph Sheple Jason Williams Daniel Williams Lemuel Blood Moses Child Amasa Gillson David Hazen Ezekiel Nutting, Jun. Solomon Gillson Thomas Gragg Levi Lakin, Jun. Ezekiel Nutting Benjamin Lawrence Andrew Dodge Samuel Gragg Caleb A. Willard Oliver Fletcher John Nutting Amos Woods Levi Parker Silas Blood Oliver Patch John Lawrence John Gragg Jonathan Pratt Oliver Lakin Benjamin Hazen Nehemiah Gillson John Hazen Nathaniel Green Jonas Green John Woods Jacob Lakin Parker p.24 Oliver Fletcher, Jun. Jacob Gragg James Sheple Wilder Sheple John Trowbridge Isaac Lawrence Elisha Hoit Thomas Trowbridge John Johnson Simon Williams Ezra Farnsworth Royal Blood James Woods Ebenezer Stacey Sadoc Fletcher Jonathan Sheple Nathaniel Sartell Thomas Nutting Oliver Lakin Jun. Salmon Lawrence Benjamin Parker Petitioners and inhabitants of Groton, together with their polls and estates, be, and hereby are incorporated into a separate parish or society in the said town of Groton, with all the privileges, powers and imminities which other parishes in this Commonwealth, are intitled to by law; they the said parish or society making provision for and maintaining the public Worship of God, in the said parish or society according to the Presbyterian rules and discipline. etc etc And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that Israel Hobart, Esq., be, and hereby is authorized to issue his warrant directed to some principal member of the said Presbyterian Church or society, qualified to vote in parish affairs, to assemble at some suitable time and place in the said town, to choose some officers as parishes are by law required to choose in the month of March or April, annually, and to transact all matters and things necessary to be done in the said parish. - This Act passed November 19, 1788. In the earlier days of the Presbyterian Society the Rev. Samuel Dana, who had previously been settled over the First Parish, was the minister fro a year and a half. p.25 After he began his charge, the Society does not appear to have had any one preacher. During its existence the treasurers were: Capt. Joseph Sheple Oliver Fletcher Samuel Gragg Jacob Lakin Parker. As late as April 27, 1799, a committee was appointed to audit the accounts of the last named treasurer, Jacob Lakin Parker, and probably soon after was situated at the fork of the roads, opposite the entrance to the old Burying Ground, Groton. Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth