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

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175C.] SCHOOL LANDS—SCHOOLS—MILL CONTROVERSY. 97
This land was undoubtedly one of tliose tracts which had
been sequestered in 169^ for a sheep pasture, and had been
appropriated by Mr. Dwight.
A Final Adjustment In 1756, another and successful attempt
of the Common -^^g made to dispose of the vexed question
Land Controversy. . ,, • t , cji tt- ji
concerning the rights ot the public m the
common lands. The previous arrangement had been limited
to ten years, and when that time expired, the problem
still remained in part unsettled. A committee was
chosen to
" concert some Terms of Settlement and accommodation of the long
disputes and controversies between the Town of Northampton and
those who claim the undivided lands of the town commonly called the
Inward Commons, as Proprietors or Tenants in common respecting of
right & Title to s''^ commons, then proceeded to choose M' Joseph Hawley,
M"^ Noah Clark, Dea. Eben Hunt, Lt. Gideon Lyman, Ens. Josiah
Pomeroy, Col. Tim. Dwight, Capt. Noah Wright, Lt. Caleb Strong.
Dea. Supply Kingsley," as the committee.
On the 2G*'' of March this committee made their report.
They proposed that within the eompass of two parallel
lines, two miles apart, running north and south across the
first division, the first or most easterly one, three quarters
of a mile west of Hulbert's Sawmill, and the other two
mills west of it, for the space of ten years, all or any of
the inhabitants of Northampton, should have the right to
cut and carry away wood and timber of all sorts except
white pine. The town was to release and quitclaim all
title to lauds in the inner commons and other parts of the
town, excepting lands appropriated for highways. After
considerable debate and one or two adjournments, the town
adopted substantially the report of the committee, and also
quitclaimed its right and title to lands in the several divis-
ions, except such as were- reserved for highway purposes,
after ten years had expired. This decision seems to have
put an end forever to this much debated question, and no
further allusion to it is to be found upon the records.
Land Granted to Fivc huiidred acres of land were granted to
-Southampton. ^he iicw Prcciiict in 1743 ; three hundred
acres of which were to enable the inhabi-
tants to settle a minister and two hundred in "lieu" of