until the beginning of the Revolution. In the session of the General
Court which met at Watertown, on July 19, 1775, Pepperell was
represented by a member, and in this way acquired the privileges of a
town without any special act of incorporation. Other similar districts
were likewise represented, in accordance with the precept calling that
body together, and they thus obtained municipal rights without the usual
formality. The precedent seems to have been set by the Provincial
Congress of Massachusetts, which was made up of delegates from the
districts as well as from the towns. It was a revolutionary step taken
outside of the law. On March 23, 1786, this anomalous condition of
affairs was settled by an act of the Legislature, which declared all
districts, incorporated before January 1, 1777, to be towns for all
intents and purposes.

The act for the incorporation of Pepperell is as follows:--

Anno Regni Regis Georgij Secundi vicesimo Sexto

An Act for Erecting the second Precinct in the Town of Groton into a
seperate District

Be it enacted by the Leiu't. Gov'r: Council and House of Representatives

That the second Precinct in Groton bounding Southerly on the old Country
Road leading to Townshend, Westerly on Townshend Line Northerly on the
Line last run by the Governm't. of New Hampshire as the Boundary betwixt
that Province and this Easterly to the middle of the River, called
Lancaster [Nashua] River, from where the said Boundary Line crosses said
River, so up the middle of y'e. said River to where the Bridge did
stand, called Kemps Bridge, to the Road first mentioned, be & hereby is