HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 209

abovesaid. It is likewise ordered, consented to, and agreed by the towne meeting aforesaid, That Capt. Henry Ffilkin shall have a full Share with any or all the ffreeholders aforesaid, in all the common land or woods in the whole patent of the towne of Breuckland aforesaid, besides a half share for his home lott; To have and to hold to him, his heirs and assigns forever. It is likewise ordered, that noe person whatsoever within the common woods of the jurisdiction of Broockland aforesaid, Shall cutt or fan any oake or chesnut saplings for firewood during the Space of four years from the date hereof upon any of the said common lands or woods within the jurisdicon of Broockland patent, upon the penalty of six shillings in money for every waggon load of saplings abovesaid soe cutt, besides the forfeiture of the wood or timber soe cutt as abovesaid, the one-half thereof to the informer, and the other half for the use of the poor of the towne of Broockland aforesaid.

“By order of the towne meeting aforesaid.
and Justice Henry Ffilkin.
“Jacobus Vandewater, Towne Clerk.”1

The following record is curious, as illustrative of the ancient practice of tradesmen cutting down timber in the public woods, and of the regulations adopted respecting the same:

ÒAtt a meeting held this 29th day off Aprill (1699), in Breucklyn, Present, Benjamin Vande Water, Joris Hanssen (Bergen), Jan Gerritse Dorlant, being choisen townsmen in the presence and with the advice off the Justices of this towne. Considering the greate inconvenience, lose and interest that the inhabitants off this towne have by reason that the tradesmen here living in this towne doe ffall and cutt the best trees and sully the best of our woods, and sell the worke thereoff made, the most part to others living withoute the towne, and that the shoemakers and others doe cutt and fall all the best treese ffor the barke, and the wood lyes and rott, and that some persons doe cutt and ffall trees for timber and ffensing stuff, and leave the trees in the woods soe catt until they are spoilt, and that people off other towns come and cutt and ffall trees for timber, ffensing stuff, and ffire woods, and transport the same away out off our townes, bounds and limitts, and that without leave or consent off the towne, soe that in the time off ffew yeares there Shall bee no woods leaved ffor the inhabitants ffor timber or ffensing stuff, to the ruine off the Said towne. It

1 Furman’s Notes, p. 116.