427 Francis Willett to Henry Flynt

    [N. Kingstown

    August 2d, 1735]

    Coz: Flint.

    I am informed that Pasce Austin has not hyred the Land belonging to your Colledge; and if you are not provided with a Tennant; the barer hereof Peter Rennolds has some thoughts of hyering it, if he likes the [Termes]; I think you may certainly depend upon having a good Tennant of him; he is a man of honesty, and industry, and has a considerable interest; it would be for the advantage of the Corporation to put a Tennant upon it; for by information there is wood carryed off but by whome is uncertained. I desire to be excused for not paying you a visit when in Boston Last, But hope to see you in a few Months. I am with all due Respects yours to serve.

    Francis Willett

    If Reynolds has this place he intends to make it look like a farm. [He] has 6 sons the eldest 19, the [2d] near 18 and three other near capable of mens work and intend to carry them all except one on the place. The man talks fairly and with resolution, If he has it to do the best he can upon it.

    Where he clears and subdues the land he expects to have the wood which may be some advantage to him though but little, but can be none to us. In our letter write him when he may come down to doe business. As to the Goats he dont think them necessary but that they wil keep down the growth of what is cleared but he expects if he han’t the Goats something shal be allowed to him as wel as to Austin.

    He says the land is really good land if subdued and one acre of the land about the […] worth three acres of that which Mrs. Coles […] has, that the land together is […] £5 per acre as it is and when subdued worth £15 per acre. Peter Reynols lives about four miles Northard of the College farm upon a tract of about 70 acres with a good house of about 27 feet square, 2 story high, the land [near] all brought to. Designs to let his place for £25 per annum which he has been offered, cut about 75 Load of hay, keeps 5 Cowes, 5 horse and 48 sheep, proposes to clear and bring to about 30 acres about the House plot for Meadow and some of it for plough land before it be layd down for Meadow, and he desires to have Mrs. Coles Land, and rather than not have it he clear and bring to one acre and an half more than Austin was obliged to, that is 4 acres and half per annum, and fence it in with good Virginia290 fence or post and rayles and wil [consider] against the [cowes?] again. Otherwise he can allow to make stone wal in any part for as much again, wall being at [1s.?] The Rodd. He desires Mrs. Coles land for pasture oats and rye, which it wil bear but not corn.

    Mr. Reynolds desires we would talk togather and write to Mr. Willet from whom he shal hear and to come down, the sooner the better because now is the time to cut timber for building, fencing [stuff?] neat rail post and for killing the root. As to the House he wil undertake the building of it upon articles that shal be agreed on or when it is built for as much as Mr. Willet or Mr. Tripp or both of them shal judg it worth.

    If upon receiving the letter Reynols likes the terms hee come down. Aug. 5th 1735

    [Addressed:] To Mr. Henry Flint att Cambridge.

    [Endorsed:] Col. George Thomas in North Kingstown leave a letter for Mr. Reynolds. Mr. Willet’s Received Aug. 5th, 1735.

    Narragansett Farm Papers, p. 4. The ms is torn in places. Following the letter from Willett there appear to be Flynt’s notes of his interview with Reynolds.