This town has a public landing place seven rods in length, near the foot of what is now called District-street, in the village of Brooklyn.—This landing place is mentioned in the record of a road three rods wide, leading to the same, which record the Compiler omits inserting in consequence of its length and the multitude of entries connected therewith.
It is believed by many, and not without very good reason, that this town has a public landing place a short distance to the North of the Old or Fulton ferry, and which landing place is now in the possession of the Corporation of New-York.
There is a very distinct tradition of a road to near where this landing place is supposed to have been, at the foot of which road was the public slaughter house, where the butchers of Brooklyn dressed their meats. The road referred to, came out where the house of the Fire Engine No. 4 now stands, and the existence of that road gives the town its title to that small piece of ground.
COMMON LANDS, AND THE DIVISION THEREOF.
The town having acquired so great an extent of Common land by the purchase of 1670, from the Indians, the inhabitants thought proper to take some order for the division and defending thereof, together with their other lands—accordingly, “at a Town meeting held the 25th day of February, 169⅔, att Breuklyn, in Kings County. Then Resolved to divide their common lands and woods into three parts, in manner following to witt:
1. All the lands and woods after Bedford and Cripplebush, over the hills to the path of Newlotts shall belong to the inhabitants and freeholders of the Gowanis, beginning from Jacob Brewer and soe to the uttermost bounds of the limits of New-Utrecht.
2. And all the lands and woods that lyes betwixt the abovesaid path and the highway from the ferry towards Flattbush, shall belong to the freeholders and inhabitants of Bedford and Cripplebush.
3. And all the lands that lyes in common after the Gowanis, betwixt the limits and bounds of Flatbush and New Utrecht shall belong to the freeholders and inhabitants of Brooklyn, fred. neck, the ferry and the Wallabout.” This proceeding of the Town meeting was allowed of by the Court of Sessions, held at Flatbush, on the 10th day of May, 1693.
The following will serve to shew the manner in which the inhabitants of this town elected the Trustees of their common lands, and the duties of those Trustees. “Att a towne meeting held this 29th day off Aprill, 1699, at Breucklyn, by order off Justice Machiel Hanssen, ffor to chose townsmen ffor to order all townes busines and to deffend theire limitts and bounds and to dispose and lay out sum part thereoff in lotts, to make lawes and orders ffor the best off the inhabitants, and to raise a small tax ffor to defray the towne charges, now being or hereaffter to come, to receive towns revenues and to pay townes debts, and that with the advice off the Justices off this said towne standing the space and time off two years. Chosen ffor that purpose by pluralitie off votes. Benjamin Vande Water, Joores Hanssen, Jan Garretse Dorlant.
By order of inhabitants afforesaid
J. VANDE WATER, Clarke.”