The Sterling genealogy

252 THE STERLING GENEALOGY
cording to their pleasure may act and determine which to treat
further with, in the purchase of what they proffer, to be sold
for the use of the Ministry." The next day the Courtee, agreed
to give Starlin one hundred pounds for the house and land, provided
he would give them a sufficient legal conveyance for the
same.
His pay was as follows: Ten acres of land at the Fishing
River, near to Robert Emerson's, which was to be laid out convenient
for the setting up of a Corn Mill there, at three pounds
per acre, and the remaining seventy pounds to be paid in merchantable
corn, in two several payments, for which a rate was
then ordered to be laid.
" In answer to the motion of Mr. Starlin for ten acres of
land, at ye Fishing River, that he may set up a Corn Mill, and a
Fulling Mill, one or both of them, at said Fishing River, near
Robert Emerson's, the Town doth grant him the liberty to improve
the stream proposed for the use, of said Mill or Mills, not
hindering the Town from making any further grant of the same
nature to any other man or men, upon the same stream, if they
shall see cause to do so : Provided always, that in setting down
his dam or dams, he do not hinder the passage of the fish up the
River to the pond, but make good provision for their Liberty,
at the season of the year when they come to pass up."
" The Town doth also, for the encouragement of Mr. Starlin
to build his Mill to grind corn, grant unto him the use of ten
acres of land at the Wishing River, to be laid out on both sides
of said River, as convenient as may be for the setting up of
his mill, which he is to enjoy to himself and to his heirs and as-
signs during such time as they may keep the said Corn Mill
fit for service, extraordinary, sudden disasters excepted," he
and they acting also in some other particulars, as in the two papers
dated Dec. 19, 1684.
Fishing River is the outlet of Lake Kenoza and flows north
from it to the Merrimac. William's mill site and lands were the
subject of still further records:
" Thomas Whittier, Peter Ayer and Robert Swan, Sr., are
appointed and empowered to be Lot Layers, to lay out to Wm Starlin the two ten acre lots at the Fishing River, this day
granted him, one of them being in part payment of the Town's
purchase of him, and the other for
Corn Mill ; — which two Lots are to
encouragement to build a
be forthwith laid out and
by distinct bounds, one being absolute and the other conditional."