The history of Lynn - Lynn Massachusetts Genealogy Project

1638.] HISTORY OF LYNN. 66'lay out fFarmes."2 The land was laid out in those parts of thetown best adapted to cultivation, and the woods were reservedas common property, and called the " town common," not beingdivided till 69 years after.On the fifteenth of November, the name of the town waschanged from Saugus to Lynn. The name was given in respectto Mr. Whidng and others, who came from the town ofLynn Regis, or King's Lynn, in Norfolk, England. The recordof the court on this occasion consists of only four words," Saugust is called Lin ;" which relates only to the alterationof the name ; the town having been incorporated in 1630, byadmission as a member of the colony. It was bounded on thewest by Boston, which then included Chelsea, and on the easthy Salem.1638.The committee appointed by the town to divide the lands,completed their task, and a book was provided in which thenames of the proprietors, with the number of acres allotted toeach, were recorded. That book is lost, but a copy of thefirst three pages has been preserved in the files of the QuarterlyCourt at Salem, from which the following is transcribed.I have taken the justifiable liberty, in this instance, to spell thewords correctly, and to supply a few omissions, which are includedin brackets. The word " ten," which is added to manyof the allotments, implies that a separate lot of ten acreswas granted.PAGE I." These lands following were given to the Inhabitants of thetown of Lynn, Anno Domini 163S.To the Right Honorable the Lord Brooks, 800 acres, as it isestimated.To Mr. Thomas Willis, upland and meadow, 500 acres, as itis estimated.2 Q. C. Files.