The Beginning

This article was written in 1960 by Edward Bridges for the City Of Marlborough’s Tercentenary Celebration.

Marlborough 1960

The Beginning

To the Hon. Governor, Rep. Governor, Magistrates and Deputies of the General Court now assembled in Boston.

The Humble Petition of several of the inhabitants of Sudbury, whose names are here underwritten showeth: That whereas your Petitioners have lived divers years in Sudbury, and God hath been pleased to increase our children, which are now divers of them grown to man’s estate: and wee, many of us grown into years, so that wee should be glad to see them settled before the Lord take us away from hence, as also God having given us some considerable quantity of cattle so that wee are so straightened that wee cannot so comfortably subsist as could be desired; and some of us having taken some pains to view the country; wee have found a place which lyeth westward about eight miles from Sudbury, which wee conceive might be comfortable for our subsistence.

It is therefore the humble request of your Petitioners to this Hon’d Court, that you would be pleased to grant unto us eight miles square for to make a plantation.

If it shall please this Hon’d Court to grant our Petition, it is further then the request of your Petitioners to this Hon’d Court, that, you will be pleased to appoint Mr. Thomas Banforth, of Liestenul Fisher to lay out the bounds of the Plantation, and we shall satisfy those whom this Hon’d Court shall please to employ in it.

So apprehending this weighty occasion, we shall no further trouble this Hon’d Court but shall ever pray for your happiness.