And so “to every family was assigned a parcell of land according to the
proportion of their number for that end (but made no provision for
inheritance) and ranged all boys & youths under some family. This had
very good success for it made all hands industrious, so as much more
corne was planted then other waise would have bene by any means the
Governor or any other could use.”
This was followed the next season by a division of land wherein “to
every person was given only one acre, to them and theirs, as near the
towne as might be, and they had no more till the seven years were
expired.”
Note: This was in accordance, at least in spirit, with the imposed
provisions of their contract with the English company of Merchant
Adventurers who had financed their expedition.
A further division of land, following a division of livestock, was made
in 1627, wherein “every person or share should have 20 acres of land
divided unto them, besides the single acres they had already.” (sic).
—Quotations from Bradford’s History of Plymouth Plantation