483 Report on the Farm

    [1745]

    A Bond of Sixty five pounds old tenor, bearing date Sept. 12 1735, to be Given to Mr. Reynolds for Building a House upon the College Farm. Under the Bond President Wadsworth has Given a Note, having no date, of fifteen pounds old tenor to be payed to Mr. Reynolds when he shall come for the Money mentioned in said Bond, which fifteen pounds is to be laid out in the Purchase of Sheep and goats to be put on the C[ollege] Farm to subdue Brush. Of the abovesaid sums Mr. Reynolds says he has received but fifty five pounds old tenor. Mr. Raynolds says he has cleared and fenced a Hundred and thirty or forty acres—a Hundred and thirty he is sure of—forty of which are mowing Land, six or seven planted with Indian corn and about four acres of English grain, the rest Pasture. No Orchard is planted nor any land fenced with stone wall for an Orchard, but Promises to plant the orchard this fall and immediatly fence it with Virginia fence and Build the Stone Wall by degrees so as to have it compleated by the termination of the lease. The Reason why he hath not planted the orchard is as he says, because the goats, which were necessary for clearing his land, would destroy it. He has now sold his goats and sold them for as much or more than was given him to purchase them which was ninety pounds old Tenor. Mr. Dauley, to whom Mr. Reynold proposed to assign his Lease, has taken another Farm. I told him if he choose to assign his Lease to any one he must bring the Person down to Cambridge, well recommended.

    Mr. Cleaveland has about forty acres within fence the most of it cleared, of which eleven acres are mowing land. He mowes about five loads or [tun?] of Hay, plants about six acres of Indian Corn and soweth about Half an acre of flax. He hath not planted his orchard least the goats, which were necessary for clearing his Land, should destroy it, but Promises he will do it this fall and fence it with Virginia fence. Upon some discontented Words droped from Mrs. Cleaveland I asked her what she would have? she said another lease after the expiration of the Present that after they had subdued the Farm others might not have the Profits of their Labour. I think it is adviseable Mr. Cleaveland should have another Lease if he fulfills the Present. I think it is Proper and adviseable to enquire How the orchards go forward from this fall. Mr. Reynolds winters ten Head of Horned Cattle, two Horses and about a Hundred and fifty sheep. Mr. Cleaveland winters eight Head of Horned Cattle, one Horse and forty goats.

    [Endorsed:] Mr. Flynts report 1745.

    Narragansett Farm Papers, p. 14. By Henry Flynt, after his visit to the farm; there are figures at the bottom of the sheet.