HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 211

“Resolved by the ffrecholders aforesaid, that the chosen townsmen shall ley out the commens according as by the said order off Bedford was concluded, with the ffirst opportunitie, and that all the lotts joyning to the common woods shall be surveyed according to their grants.,”

These lands were accordingly surveyed, during the same month, by Messrs. Pietor Corteljeau and S. Clowes, surveyors, and were by them divided into three divisions. The first, or west division, consisting of 62 lots, containing about 5 acres each, comprised near 310 acres. The second, or middle division, consisted of 62 lots, of about 10 acres each, amounting to 620 acres; and the third, or east division, also of 62 lots, of about 10 acres each, also comprised about 620 acres. The total number of acres was about 1550.1

The common lands having been thus equitably divided among the freeholders, and a portion annexed to each house in town,2 the following resolution was adopted for the better protection of those inhabitants to whom portions had been allotted in their enjoyment of the same:

“Att a Towne meeting held att Brookland, in Kings County, this 14th day of March, 1701-2. Present Maebiel Hanssen (Bergen), Cornelis Sebringh, and Hendrick Vechten, Esquires, Justices.—Resolved, by the major part of the freeholders of the saide towne of Brookland, that every man that has now a right, lott, or lotts laid out in the quondam Common and undivided lands of Brookland aforesaid, shall forever free liberty have for egress or regress to his said lotts for fetching off wood or otherwise, over all or any of the said lott or lotts of the said freeholders in the lands aforesaid. And further, that if any of the said freeholders shall at any time or times hereafter, come by any loss or trouble, cost or charges by lawe or otherwise, of, for or concerning the title of any of their said lott or lotts, by any person or persons, either within the township of Brookland afforesaid or without, that it shall be defended and made goode (if lost), att all the proper costs and charges of all the freeholders of said towne equally.”

1 Furman’s Notes, 45.

2 This appears evident from the fact that a deed, dated April 17, 1705, after conveying a house and lot of land in this town, conveys “alsoe all the rights and priviledges in the common woodlands of the towne of Broockland aforesaid, to said house belonging as per record of mid towne may appear.”