to Houghton's petition.

The town of Harvard took its name from the founder of Harvard College,
probably at the suggestion of Jonathan Belcher, who was governor of the
province at the time and a graduate of the college.

To his Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq'r. Cap't General and
Governour in Chief The Hon'ble. The Council and the Honourable
House of Representatives of His Majestys Province of the
Massachusetts Bay in New England in General Court Assembled by
Adjournment Decemb'r 16 1730

The Memorial of Jonas Houghton Simon Stone Jonathan Whitney and
Thomas Wheeler Humbly Sheweth

That upon their Petition to this Great and Honourable Court in
October last [the 9th] praying that a Certain Tract of Land
belonging to Lancaster Stow and Groton with the Inhabitants thereon
may be Erected into a Distinct and Seperate Township (and for
Reasons therein Assigned) your Excellency and Honours were pleased
to Order that the petitioners Serve The Towns of Lancaster Groton
and Stow with a Copy of their said Petition that they may shew
Cause if any they have on the first Thursday of the next Sessions
why the prayers thereof may not be granted.

And for as much as this great and Hon'ble. Court now Sitts by
Adjournment and the next Session may be very Remote And your
Memorialists have attended the Order of this Hon'ble: Court in
serving the said Several Towns with Copys of the said Petition And
the partys are attending and Desirous the hearing thereon may be