The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-08-05
J.F. MCCLELLAN, Printer.

4"lSc Coullnoh HejdS, divided Oy the river, oX~
tending about seven miles in length. The
lines were staked out, and the proportion of
fence to be built by each proprietor desicnat-
cd. These lines enclosed nearly all the lands
at that time improved within the present
boundaries Of Simsbuly. They did not, it is
supposed, cross the two main roads running
on each side of, and parallel with the rivers
except at east Weatauge, but were laid out
near to them.
Many of the propretors were strongly OPP
posed to this decision Of tie committee, on
the ground of alleged inequality in the divis-
ion of fences ordered to be built, and refused
to comply with the order; whilst others, from
inability, neglected to build their portions as
required. 1t was many years before all these
fences were built. Several persons we're
prosecuted for offences growing out Of these
transactions. In May, 1908, as the record
states, John Umphrie, of Simsbury, was
fined 40 shillings, for breaking down some
( part Of the common fence"
| At an early period, a controversy arose
concerning a division of the " out lands" rs
! they were then termed. The question was
whether these lands, which included all that
had not been granted to particular indiNid-
uals, belonged to the original propretors OF
the town and their heirs, or to the inhabitants
generally, of the town. At a meeting held in
! April 1872 the town voted to divide a pOr-
ton Of these out lands amongst the then pres
ent inhabitants Of the town. BY this division
each inhabitant received an equal proportion
though but small part of the lands was thus
disposed Of But, at a subsequent meeting
| held in March 1850, the town, in consdera-
ton of the inequality Of such division, voted
to rescind and reverse tins act
| The town also voted january %, 1G80-f,
| to divide, among certain persons, tract OF
land lying in the vicinity of SaImon brock
and in May 1858, it granted to sundry other
persons a large portion Of that part OF Turkey
hills lying east Of the mountain. These last
mentioned grants, however,wcrc annu!lcd by
| the town in 1898 when another disposition or
these lands was made.
! Upon report Of committee, previously ap-
pointed upon this subject consisting OF the
! Rev. Mr.. Woodbridge, Capt. Thomas Hol-
comb and Lieut. John Pettibone, the town
voted, April 70, 1919, " chat the right of dis
posal of the common or undivided land in the
township of Simsbury is, and shall be, vested
in all such, and in them only who can de-
rive their power so to do either from an act
of the General Assembly, and their heirs and
ASSIGNS, or those who have been admitted in
habitants and their heirs ard assigns, by
major part of the town regularly convened, or
shall be hereafter admitted inhabitants with
that right and power Of disposal expressly IN
serted in the towns vote for ADMISSION. --
And after making provision for a suiilrith'F
Of land suitable for o commonagc cCn}vA.
lent as may be for the several squadron5 Ct
the town. the town voted " that the remain
| inc land be scquestered to the town, qualified
as above, to be granted as the major part shall
allow of, said major part to be accounted, not
by number of persons, but by true list OF
their rateabie estate"
These acts of the town gave great ofIense
to the original propyotors, or those who held
RIGHTS under them, but especially to that por-
| ton who were large share holders they
claiming the exclusive right to all the COM
mon and undivided lands, and protesting, at
every step, against the disposal OF them by
the town. But the town, possessing the nu-
merica strength, and doubtless dceming the
legal title to the property to be vested IN the
corporation, proceeded TO make grants to q
LARGE number Of individuals, in pursuance OF
the town votes before stated. Accordingly,
at town meeting called '' to consider how to
divide the common land" held December 81,
l1723, uhich was continued for three SUCCESSIVE
9a1H. and neal|y one ard0ic night, CHE night
Injecting being held at the house OF Andrew
Robe,) grants were made to the greater part
Of the inhabitants. This induced the propri~
etors to apply to the legislature for relief
But the relief sought for was not granted !n-
til some years afterwards, when general law
was enacted, which vested the property ct
unappropriated lands in the proprietors otthe
several towns and their assigns. After this,
the common lands remaining UNDIVIDED III
Smsbury, were managed and conveyed eX1
clusively by Il committee appointed by those
who held proprietary rights, at meetings held
annually. The last meeting Of the propIio-
tors was held about thirty years since
None of the grants of land above mention
ed. made in 1928, exceeded i'll quantity to
any one person, Except in one case) two
hundred acres. Five persons had this guam
tity, and the others q less quantity, varying
from one hundred and fifty to forty acres
each The grants were. apportioned, it 10
believed, by the respective amornt5 OF the
grantees lists Of estates. The exception,
above referred to, was the grant made to
John Griffin, which was very large, being
nearly or quite one and half miles square -
Its boundaries ,--begnning at the is
land above the falls, thence northerly one and
half miles, castcrly to the mountain, south
erly to the river, and thence by the river to
the island. This grant, 1t is supposed, was
made in consideration Of REIMBURSEMENT to
the plantation by Mr.. Griffin, OF his title de-
rived from the Indian deeds before mention
ed
The patent Of Simsbury, in confirmation of
the original grant of the territory made in
1870. was granted at the May session, 1885,
and is dated March II, 1856. 1t conveys
to Major John Talcott, Capt Benjamen
Newberry, Ensign John Terry, Mr.. John
Case. Mr.. Joshua IIolcomb, Mr., Samuel Viii
cox, Mr. John Hgley, Mr.. Thomas Barber,
and the rest of the proprietors of the town
Shin Of Simsbury, and their heirs and assigns
forever, and to each Of them, in such propor-
ton as they have already agreed upon, for