At the time of printing that part of this work under the head of “Common lands and the division thereof,” the compiler was not aware of the existence of the following proceeding relating to the division of the said lands, he has therefore placed the same in this appendix.
“At a towne meeting held this twentieth day of Aprill, 1697, at Bedford within the jurisdiction of Broockland, in Kings County, upon the Island of Nassau, Resolved by all the ffreeholders of the towne of Broockland aforesaid, that all their common land not yet laid out or divided, belonging to their whole patent shall be equally divided and laid out to each ffreeholders of said towne, his just proporcon in all the common lands abovesaid, except those that have but an house and a home lott, which are only to have but half share of the lands aforesaid. And for the laying out of the said lands there are chosen and appointed by the ffreeholders abovesaid, Capt. Henry Ffilkin, Jacobus Vanderwater, Daniel Rapale, Joris Hansen, John Dorlant, and Cornelius Vanduyne. It is further ordered that noe men within this township abovesaid, shall have priviledge to sell his part of the undivided lands of Broockland not yet laid out, to any person living without the township abovesaid. It is likewise ordered, consented to, and agreed by the towne meeting aforesaid, that Capt. Henry Ffilkin shall have a full share with any or all the ffreeholders aforesaid, in all the common land or woods in the whole patent of the towne of Broockland aforesaid, besides a half share for his home lott; To have and to hold to him, his heirs and assigns forever. It is likewise ordered, that noe person whatsoever within the common woods of the jurisdicon of Broockland aforesaid, shall cutt or fall any oake or chesnut saplings for fire wood during the space of foure years from the date hereof upon any of the said common lands or woods within the jurisdicon of Broockland patent, upon the penalty of six shillings in money, for every waggon load of saplings abovesaid soe cutt, besides the forfeiture of the wood or timber soe cutt as abovesaid, the one half thereof to the informer, and the other half for the use of the poor of the towne of Broockland aforesaid.
By order of the towne meeting aforesaid,
and Justice Henry Ffilkin,
Jacobus Vandewater, Towne Clerk.”
ADVERTISEMENT.
The Compiler here closes his notes, and has only to remark, that throughout the whole of this little work, he has been less solicitous about his reputation as an author, than a correct compiler. Studies of this nature are but ill calculated to admit of a luxuriance of diction or sentiment, and to these he has in no place aspired. His business was to collect authentic information concerning subjects at once obscure and interesting, and in what degree he has effected this object he leaves his readers to determine, feeling conscious himself, that however imperfectly he may have executed his design, his only aim was the public good.