Excerpt from Henry S. Nourse’s “History of the Town of Harvard Massachusetts 1732–1893,” written in 1894.

Anno Regni Regis Georgii Secundi Zuinto & Sexto

An Act for erecting a New Town within the county of Worcester, by the name of [Harvard]

Whereas the Inhabitants of the extream parts of the Towns of Lancaster, Groton and Stow have laboured under much difficulty and inconvenience by reason of their remoteness from the places of publick Worship in the Town to which they respectively belong, & have supported the Cost and Charge of preaching among them for several years past without any Consideration from their Towns, and have addressed this Court for Relief, & that they may be set off a distinct township by themselves.

Be it therefore Enacted by His Excellency the Governour, Council and Representatives in General Court assembled & by the authority of the same that the Land in the extream parts of the Towns of Lancaster, Groton and Stow as the same are hereafter bounded and described by and hereby are set off, & Constituted a seperate & distinct Township by the name of Harvard...

...and that the Inhabitants of the said lands as before bounded and described be and herby are vested with all the powers privileges and immunities which the Inhabitants of any Town in this province are or by Law ought to be vested with.

provided that the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the said Town Settle a learned and Orthodox Minister among them within the space of two years and also erect an House for the publick Worship of God.

and Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the aforesaid Town of [Harvard] be and hereby is Declared to be within the County of Worcester, Any Law Usage or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding.

275 Years of a Town:  In June 1732, the town of Harvard incorporated within the colony, after nearly 100 years of settlement in the area and several years of petitions, objections, and re-petitions to the legislature. To celebrate this milestone, the Press is running extracts from Henry S. Nourse’s History of the Town of Harvard Massachusetts 1732–1893.