Historic leaves, volume 1, April, 1902 - January, 1903

[10] This, together with the repeated attempts of the Royal government to revoke their charter, the fact that, when so revoked, all common lands would revert to the crown, the vagueness of former allotments, and disputes concerning land claims may each or all have been the cause which led to a reapportionment in 1681, the records of which begin as follows, viz.:—

‘Charles Town, 1680: ffebruary: 14th.’ [Feb. 24, 1681 n. s.]

Att a meeting of the proprietors of the Stinted Common, as to a laying out a part of it, Then was put to Vote these ffollowing proposalls, & all of them past In the affirmative:—

1.—That there should be one Acre & a halfe layd out to a Common.

2.—Where they would have this Land layd out, it was Voted & past for the neerr or hither part of the Comon.

3.—Whether this Land should be for ever or for years, It past for a good Inheritance in ffee Simple.

4.—That a Comitte may be Chosen for the heareing & proveing & confirmjng of the Titles of Clajmers to the respective Commons.

5.—The Committee were then Chosen by Vote, & are, viz.—

Mr. Joseph Lynde	Capt. Ricd Sprague	Capt Lar Hammond
James Russell Esqr.	Lieut Jno Cutter

6.—That Sergt Ricd Lowden, Josiah Wood, Snr, and Tho: White be Impowrd to gether Up the Rent due to ye proprietors, wch monv is to be delivered to sd Comitte for defraying of Charges that arise by Surveying, Laying out & Clearing of, &c.

7.—That the Common be measured by the Care of ye Committee so that ye numbr of Acres thereon may be known.

8.—That it be left wth ye Comitte wch are Empowered to raise mony proportionable from Each Common to defray ye Charge that may arise on the aforesd worke of the Comon.

9.—That the highwayes betwixt ye ranges be Twenty-four ffoott wide.