FROM THE HISTORIAN’S DESK, April 2025 – Carol Ganz.

Last month we learned about the formation of the very long (north to south) Town of Groton in 1705.  It wasn’t long before those in the north part of town, nearer Preston, began to complain of the hardship of travelling all the way to the church in Groton.  That meetinghouse was not where the current Groton Congregational Church is located, but somewhat farther north, “near the crossroads,” which I have been told was in the Old Mystic area.  That was still not close enough for the northern residents, and they had a point.  Imagine driving your car from the Mohegan-Pequot Bridge across Ledyard and down Pumpkin Hill Road to 184.  This takes you to that approximate area, and it is not a short trip.  Now imagine doing that on horseback or in a farm wagon!  Throw in some terrible, rutty roads.  It’s not surprising that they considered it a hardship. 

At first, they negotiated with their own congregation, but there was resistance, perhaps due to the expected loss of revenue from a divided church.  To pursue the issue, they presented a petition to the Town of Groton in 1724…

“The petition of us Whose Names are underwritten being Inhabitants of ye north part of sd town, Humbly Showeth

That whereas we find our Selves under Extreem difficultys to attend the publick Worship of God [  ] days: by Reason of our Greate distance from the Place opointed for Publick worship, & by Reason of Great difficulties in keeping a Sufficient number of horses for our families to attend the same – and Canot be attended in a Constant way soe that we find our selves & Children in very difficult Circumstances for want of the word Preached among us – Therefore wee Request that the Town would grant us the Liberty & Priviledge of being a distinct Parrish by our Selves; that we may be making Provision to Call and Setle a minister amongst our Selves; that it may be well with us & our Children after us;

Moreover wee also desire that a Cometee be Chosen to State & Setle a Line between ye south and ye north Society as the Town Shall think fit and yore Petitioners Shall Ever Pray &c.”

The thirty-seven petitioners who signed below include many familiar names – Avery, Williams, Gere, Allyn, Spicer, Dean, Gallup, Morgan, Bill and others.

This petition was “negatived” by the town in September 1724, but they did not give up.  Less than a year later, in May of 1725, they sent a new petition directly to the General Assembly.  We’ll hear about that effort next month.