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|  Editor's Note: Read an article from our archive about how Concord gave birth to the town of Carlisle here.  By the fall of 1753, an ambitious, persistent, growing, tight-knit band of individuals residing in eastern Concord, westerly Lexington and northern Weston, had labored almost ten years to establish themselves as a separate entity. Their leaders of a sort included (among others) Edward Flint, Simon Dakin and Joseph Brooks of Concord and Benjamin Brown of Weston.Beginning in February 1734, the separatists petitioned Concord and the Great and General Court of Massachusetts Bay (the colony's governing body) to become a town or at least an independent precinct (parish) with its own meeting house and minister. Repeatedly those requests were quickly rebuffed. Unruffled, the rebellious citizens next asked Concord only to allot them monies in the winter months (when poor roads and weather conditions made travel to meeting house impossible), in order that a minister might be hired to preach in private homes. This would alleviate the inability to receive the word of God each Sabbath. But alas, this too was denied. In each instance, the parent towns of Concord, Lexington and Weston, countered the separation petitions with consistent arguments in citing their opposition: loss of tax revenues; lessening of monies to support their ministers and meeting houses; ruination through loss of land mass; false and invalid claims of deficient roads or insufficient proposals regarding new or improved ways; inaccurate and exaggerated presentations of the problems in attending Sabbath services or other meetings.
The disgruntled citizens continued to press for change, still centering their unhappiness upon travel difficulties that hampered or precluded reaching of the meeting house. This was a major, emotionally-charged issue. By the middle of the eighteenth century, men had inherited and settled families on land at increased distances from established town centers and the meeting houses. Easterly Concord was no exception. This sprawl with its associated disadvantages caused discontent that then led to requests for assistance and eventually, separation (as in Littleton, Acton, Bedford, Carlisle, for example). Not only were the ability to receive the word of God and involvement in governance negatively impacted, but the social life of isolated families -- centered in the meeting house, especially for the women -- became virtually non-existent. The final distress that caused irreversible relations between petitioners and Concord came with the hiring of the town's new minister, Rev. Daniel Bliss, in 1738. He was a "new light" of the Great Awakening movement, preaching in an emotional, interactive, dramatic manner, all the while presenting the new theology that based salvation and the avoidance of hellfire on travail and conversion. The conservative, "old light" separatists desired no part of Bliss or his church and were not partial to providing funds for either. In rapid succession (1740 and 1741), petitioners filed requests first for an independent precinct, then for funds to hire their own minister. Each failed to receive support from Concord. Religious discord over Bliss continued to expand. Finally, a 10 August 1744 petition signed by 46 men (with another 33 inside the stated boundaries opposed) passed through the General Court and received approval on 16 April 1746. The issue had been forced when in 1745, 22 men formed a "society", received land from Edward Flint and began the erection of a meeting house without permission. Thus was eventually established the 2d Precinct of Concord with its own public place of worship (current in the vicinity of the Old Stone Church), the ability to use its ministerial funds to pay its own preacher and the right to form a church governing body.
Politics being what they have always been, it seems that in 1754 the Governor needed assistance in passing bills to further his projects relating to the war against the French and Indians and connected with the Albany Convention. Russell's township request presented the opportunity for a quid-pro-quo arrangement. As the Governor's legislation passed, so did the judge's petition (one of only three new towns in 18 years and passing in but three weeks). On 19 April 1754, the General Court approved incorporation of the new township, listed in one House of Representatives document as "Nichawaug" (tradition notes use of the term "Niptown" supposedly referencing the land having been "nipped" from three other towns). Following several days of procrastination, Shirley signed the law (23 April) and the first official town meeting of "Lincoln" was called to order on the 26th of April.
Thus did Lincoln become erected from a composite of disjointed pieces of farm land in three different towns. First into a Precinct and finally an incorporated, self-governing entity, it took to take its place among equals in the events of the last half of the eighteenth century and on into to the 21st Century.
 
 
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It was also noted that within the proposed bounds resided families who wished to be exempt from belonging to any new town or precinct. In some instances, these non-petitioners explained that they were closer to existing meeting houses then they would be in either of the suggested new entities.
While religious separation was an acceptable, temporary solution, it did not seem to quench the desire for complete autonomy and self-governance in the form of a township. New petitions were prepared and local roads (whether repaired or newly constructed) continued their failure to meet needs or expectations in size, location or "travelability". The Precinct petitioned the General Court on 4 October 1753 to become a town. However, in this instance, it called upon The Honorable Chambers Russell, Esq., recently returned from Charlestown to reside upon his east Concord estate, as its presenter and supporter.
In Russell the petitioners had a landed gentleman of status, Harvard graduate (1731), judge (Justice of the Peace, Court of Common Pleas, Court of Vice Admiralty, Superior Court), former selectmen (Concord and Charlestown) and former representative to the General Court (Charlestown 1744-46; Concord 1740, 1750-52). Additionally, he was married to the granddaughter of former governor Joseph Dudley. While no longer a legislator, Russell had powerful friends with whom he had served and the attention of Governor William Shirley. Also of note should be the various quarrels that Russell had endured with Concord concerning politics, a pew at the meeting house, a bridge over the river and roads on or near his property.
Provincial law was subject to review in London. In the case of Lincoln's incorporation, this was accomplished by the Lords Commissioners for Trade & Plantations and a Committee of the Privy Council, both of which made recommendations to the King. Thus, Lincoln was not "official" (though having functioned for two years) until 2 July 1756 when His Royal Majesty George II signed the approving Royal Decree!