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.