HISTORY OF FALMOUTH.                                          19

first lot lies in the neck, being on the foot path that runs through the neck and south‑east towards the Sound." Then after describing three lots lying contiguous it is added 'Then we laid out six lots on the East side of Little Harbor‑the first lot runs east and by north and runs fourscore long and twenty rods broad, and on that range lie six lots (at Nobsque Point twenty), the last lot joins to the Dutchman's Pond, so called. Then we laid out three lots at Nobsque Point -- twenty-six rods broad and runs to the pond and to the sea too. The 12th lot is 2o rods broad and forescore long -- the 13th lot lies beyond Ackaposket, and butts on the sea." These lots were assigned to the same individuals before mentioned.

        It seems that the first settlers of Wood's Hole suffered much inconvenience for want of a blacksmith, and they laid out 12 acres of upland at Ackaposket,* with the marsh thereabout, for the encouragement of a smith to come and settle among them.

        The year following, 1678, the lands at Hog Island or West Falmouth were laid out. The first settlers here were William Gifford Sen., William Gifford Jr., John Weeks and William Weeks. William Gifford Sen., seems to have been a man of considerable importance and was a large land holder at Hog Island or Great Siperwisset. As a specimen of the contracts on record I have copied one of about this date that was entered into by William Gifford and one of my ancestors -- John Jenkins. It is as follows:

        "This record testifieth that William Gifford hath exchanged with John Jenkins for three‑quarters of a share in the Great Hill Neck, and John Jenkins hath given William Gifford liberty to take up ten acres of upland that belongs of right to his share, and William Gifford hath made choice of Hog Island and the land meas-

* ‑‑ It is not known where Ackaposket was located. From the mention that is made of marsh in its vicinity, I incline to the opinion that it was on the Bay side, not far from the present village of Wood's Hole.

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