History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1743.] SCHOOL LANDS — SCHOOLS—MILL CONTROVERSY. 95
Oct. 10"' : 1684. They then Voted to Quit, release & reliiuiuish to the
Proprietors of the respective Lotts all their Right and Liberty to Cut
wood & timber in that Division called the little Division lying between
Sandy Hill and Munhan River ; and likewise in that Division Called the
Mountain Division which right they Challenge by a Vote made Oct.
10'^ 1684.
" At the Same time they Voted to Quit, release and relinquish to the
Proprietors all the right & liberty the Town have to cut wood or tim-
ber in the Land now Called the Inner Commons, and that land lying
between the Mountain Division and Munhan river and Connecticutt
River and also in that Tract of Land lying between the long Division
and the Additional Grant made to the Town of Northampton and between
the road that goes from Miinhan River towards Westfield and
at the West bounds of the Town of Northampton which right they
Challenge by a Vote of s'' Town made Oct. 10*^, 1684."
Settled for a Decade Wlio, if aiiy oiiG, was employed by the
and the Expenses fowii as attorney to appear before the arbi-
trators, is nowhere named, but the sum of
£50.2.7 was paid for the expenses of the committee, and
probably included the amount paid to the referees. Benjamin
Alvord also received £6.6.7 for his services as messen-
ger. This action settled the question for the time being,
and was the cause of much rejoicing among the people.^
But the settlement was limited to ten years, and then the
question came up again, as fresh as ever.
The Dispute again
waxesHot.
It was brouglit forward at the annual meet-
jj^g i^eld March 5, 1754, by an article in the
warrant ' relating to the Comon lands not
included in the Divisions of Comons made before s'' year
1700. and antient highways." The article was not reached
till the afternoon session, which opened at two o'clock.
An animated discussion arose which was prolonged for
several days. It was continued till nightfall of the first
day, when the meeting was adjourned till the next
morning at nine o'clock. Then the town "reassumed the
dispute," and from nine to twelve o'clock and from two
till sundown, it was continued, when a further adjourn-
1 In regard to this settlement, Mr. Edwards, writing in 1743, says — : " And it is a
thing greatly to be rejoiced in that the people very lately have come to an agreement
and final issue, with respect to their grand controversy, relating to their common
lands ;
which has been, above any other particular thing, a source of mutual prejudices,
jealousies, & debates, for fifteen or sixteen years past."—Tracy's Great Awak-
ening, p. 200.