The history of Lynn - Lynn Massachusetts Genealogy Project

1G39.] HISTORY OF LYNN. 71ed to Long Island 1640, John Pickering, removed to Salem,William Taylor, Edward Taylor, removed to Reading.Another grant of land was made to the town, on the seventhof September. " The petition of the Inhabitants of Lynn, forplace for an inland plantation at the head of their bounds, isgranted them, 4 miles square, as the place will afFoard ; uponcondition that the petitioners shall, within two years, make somegood proceeding, in planting, so as it may be a village fit tocon^tain a convenient number of inhabitants, which may in dewetime have a church there ; and so as such as shall remove to inhabitthere, shall not withall keepe their accommodations inLinn above 2 years after their removal to the said village, vponpain to forfeite their interest in one of them at their election ;exceptthis court shall see fit cause to dispense further with them."^The settlement thus begun, was at first called Lynn Village,and afterwards Reading. The land was purchased of the Indiansfor ten pounds sixteen shillings, and the deed was signedby Sagamore George, his sister Abigail, and Quanapowitt. Thusthe town included within its boundary the five modern towns,Lynn, Saugus, Lynnfield, Reading, and South Reading.Two other settlements were this year begun by people whoremoved from Lynn ; one at Barnstable, and the other at Yarmouth,where Mr. Batchelor and his company attempted tosettle.The General Court allowed the town fifty pounds to build abridge over Saugus river, and fifty shillings annually to preserveit in repair. A tax of one thousand pounds was laid, of whichthe proportion of Lynn was £79,19,9. The court forbadethe people to spread bass or cod fish upon their lands for tliepurpose of enriching the soil ; and passed the following orderfor the regulation of Ladies' dress. " No garment shall bemade with short sleeves ; and such as have garments with shortsleeves, shall not wear the same, unless they cover the arm tothe wrist; and hereafter, no person whatever shall make anygarment for women, with sleeves more than half an ell wide ;"ithat is, twenty two and a half inches. On the third of December,the court laid a fine of ten pounds upon the town, fornot maintaining a watch against the Indians.1 Col. Rec.