444 Report on Cleaveland Proposals

    1. Nov. 1 1737 Mr. Flynt, Dr. Wigglesworth, Mr. Bordman met to consider of proposals to Cleaveland a Taylor of North Kingstown in Kings County in the Collony of Road Island and Providence Plantations in New England. As to the beginning of the letter to Trip it may be said that we are not so wel satisfyed as to proposals that Cleaveland has already made and have considered of the matter and think the following proposals are reasonable, viz. 1. That Palmer Cleaveland may have 60 acres to be set of togather in the westerly part of the farm by Mr. Willet, Mr. Trip and our Tenant Mr. Reynolds as they judg most convenient, The charge thereof to be born by the College and Mr. Cleaveland.
    2. 2. The Term of the lease to be ten years from the 25th of March next.
    3. 3. The said Cleaveland to be obliged to clear and subdue 25 acres of the 60 and bring it to mowing of English grass upon the whole of it and enclose the same with sufficient post and four rayl fence or with good Virginia fence and leave said fence in good tenable repair at the end and within said 25 acres in the most convenient place plant an orchard of 60 good thrifty apple trees at 32 feet distance and fence said orchard with post and rayl fence or Virginia fence sufficient to turn horn cattle, sheep or goats and any other creatures that wil injure the trees, and shal open the ground about the roots of the trees and dung them wel to make them thrifty and from time to time prune the trees as there shal be occasion.
    4. 4. Said Cleaveland shal improve the wood and timber on said 25 acres for fencing the same and for the maintenance of one fire and no more and when the wood and timber is cleared from the 25 acres for the uses aforesaid he may cut wood and timber necessary for fencing the hired land and for one fire in the remaning part of the demised premisses.
    5. 5. If he tills any land he shal keep it in tillage for no longer a space than four years and then lay it down level and fit for mowing.
    6. 6. As to sending hay and muck on the land, paying taxes and the Tenants not assigning his lease, avoiding strip and wast, not selling wood or timber &c. as in Reynolds Lease doe his utmost to prevent any spoil on that part of the farm not leased to him or Mr. Reynolds.
    7. 7. The Tenant shal pay a pepper corn a year if demanded.
    8. 8. If Cleaveland has any thing to object he may offer it.

    Mr. Flynt is desired to draw a letter to Mr. Trip agreeable to the foregoing proposals and shew it to the President. Cozen Willet is willing to set out the land but thinks Cleaveland had better have leave to cut wood on the other part of the sixty acres provided he clears as he goes in cutting and keeps down the brush. He and Mr. Cole say Cleaveland is a diligent man but having a trade and doing this in a maner by the by 25 acres is a[s] much tis probable as he wil bring to in 10 years time. And thinks there is reason for allowing 10 years. Mr. Reynolds has 14 because reynolds is obliged to a great deal more service. He says he has seen a house that looks pretty wel on the farm and 5 or 6 acres cleared for corn near Chepuxet river over against the plain.

    [In margin:] Within a year of the [delivery?] of the house.

    Narragansett Farm Papers, p. 6.