Lucius R. Paige, History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, with a genealogical register

After the defeat of this measure, several citizens, before leaving the Town-house, being confident that some change in the method of conducting the public business was highly desirable, if not indeed imperatively necessary, signed a petition requesting the Selectmen to appoint a legal meeting, to see if the town would ask for a City Charter. Accordingly the inhabitants of the town met, Jan. 14, 1846, and “voted, that the Selectmen be instructed to petition the Legislature for the grant of a City Charter. Voted, that the Selectmen, together with Simon Greenleaf, Omen S. Keith, Abraham Edwards, Sidney Willard, Thomas Whittemore, Isaac Livermore, William Parmenter, Ephraim Buttrick, Thomas F. Norris, and the Town Clerk, be a Committee to draft a Bill in conformity to the preceding vote, and to use all proper means to procure its passage.”

A renewed effort was made for a division of the town, while action on the petition for a City Charter was pending; but now, as before, a large majority of the whole town opposed the division. At a town meeting, Feb. 18, 1846, by the votes of 246 in the affirmative against 50 in the negative, it was “Resolved, that, in the judgement of this meeting, the true interest and glory of the town of Cambridge require that it remain undivided. Resolved, that we will oppose the division of the town, as prayed for, . . . . by all fair means. Resolved, that the Selectmen be requested to appear before the Committee of the Legislature to whom said petition has been committed, and to oppose the prayer of said petition, and to employ counsel, if they shall deem it expedient.” After a full hearing, the petitioners, as in the former case, had leave to withdraw their petition, and the town again escaped dismemberment.

Before narrating the result of the petition for a City Charter, one more effort for a division may be mentioned. In January, 1855, a petition was presented to the General Court, short, but expressive and very remarkable: “To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled: Your petitioners pray that a portion of the westerly part of the City of Cambridge comprising Ward One¹ be set off and incorporated into a town by the name of Cambridge, and that the ”