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.”