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HISTORY OF FALMOUTH. 25
set my hand and seal this first day of February, A. D. 1688. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
John Hathaway, Sen., Rowland Cotton, William Bassett, William Bradford.
The within mentioned William Bradford approved the deed aforesaid and acknowledged this instrument to be his act and deed before me -- Thos. Hinckley of his Majesty's Council."*
The town received an act of incorporation in 1686. From 1685 to 1689liberty was given to sundry individuals to take up land in the eastern part of the township. The bounds specified on the records, consisting mostly of maple trees and ponds not particularly named, it would now be difficult to trace. These settlers were James Perciful and James Lewis, Joseph Hull, Robt. Harper and John Weeks. James Lewis, it is said " hath taken his at the North side of the spruce swamp and to join it to the Indian line that comes from the head of the Five Mile River to Tateket. John Weeks seems to have been the largest land holder in this part of the township. The first public road or highway was laid out in 1687. The record runs thus: "Same year, 1687, a King's Highway was laid out 40 feet wide through the land that was Thomas Johnson's to the Little Harbor and from the land that was Thomas Johnson's to Joseph Hatch's, where the way now goes and so through the Five Mile River." In 169o there was a general meeting of * -- This suggests to an arithmetical mind the question, If such an arid waste of words was necessary to convey 200 acres of land how many barren acres of manuscript would be required to convey a township or a western wheat field? [E. H. J.]
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