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

32 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [16554660.
bank, opposite Shepherd's Island, was "Bark Wigwam;"
following the Connecticut to the present month of Mill River,
was "Middle Meadow ;" between "Middle Meadow" on the
south, and "Walnut Trees" and "Venturer's Field," on the
north, were "First," "Second" and "Third Squares," the
latter forming the eastern boundary ; "Manhan Meadow,"
named from Manhan River, embraced the land now
bounded on the east by Mill River, south by Connecticut
River, " Old Bed," and west by " Fort Hill ; "^ "Hog's Bladder"
lay at the most southerly point of the "Ox Bow;"
another lot of meadow land, containing 120 acres, "more
or less," lying north of Hulburt's Pond, granted to John
Pynchon, has since been known as "Pynchon's Meadow,"
but was not so called at that date.
Rule for Dividing Thcsc namcs wcrc applied to the meadoAvs
Meadow Land. duriug the first years after the settlement
began, and are many of them still as familiar
as of old. The rule adopted for dividing meadow land
was fifteen acres to the head of a family, three acres to a
son, and twenty acres to £100 of estate.' Most of the uplands
at first granted (except home lots), are distinctly
stated to have been given in "lieu" of lands in the meadow ;
they were substituted when meadow land did not hold
out, or when it proved to be swampy or otherwise untilla-
ble. Others had grants of upland because their home lots
were smaller than the regulation size.
Payments for Noue of the first settlers paid anything for
Land, 1659, 1660. their land except for the original purchase
made by Pynchcn, and the necessary expenses
attending that transaction. Not till some years after
its settlement did the town sell any real estate. A few set-
tlers paid 10s. for their home lots in 1659 and 1660. In later
years the town made several extensive sales of land, when
money was needed for some specific purpose. At this time,
however, the proprietors were not speculating in land,
though one or two of the inhabitants seemed to exhibit a
propensity that way, if the records of real estate conveyances
afford any evidence.
1 In January, 1663, this rule was unanimously confirmed.