479 Permission to College to Drain Land

    [May 1744]

    To all People to whom these Presents shall Come Joseph Coolidge Gentleman and John Hastings Cordwainer both of Watertown in the County of Middlesex in the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England, send Greeting.

    Whereas there is a Piece of Swamp Land, belonging to Us the said Coolidge and Hastings and partly to Harvard-College in Cambridge in the County afforesaid (said College part, lying in a Lot called Haywards Lot) which Lot if it were suitably dreined, might be of considerable Advantage to the several Owners thereof; And there being a small Hill, ridge or Bar, in the Land belonging to us the said Coolidge and Hastings, which must be dug thro’, in order to the dreining said Swamp and keeping it dreined; Now that there may be a free Liberty for the President and Fellows of said Harvard College, and their Successors in said Trust, or such as may have the Management of the Estate of said College, at all Times hereafter, as there may be Occasion to drein said Swamp thro’ said Coolidge’s and Hasting’s Land afforesaid.

    Therefore know Ye, That We the said Joseph Coolidge and John Hastings, for and in consideration of the summ of Ten Shillings in Bills on the Massachusetts-Bay afforesaid to Us in hand paid by the President of said College, and for other Causes and Considerations Us thereunto moving; Do hereby for ourselves, our Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns, freely, fully and absolutely give grant and confirm to the President and Fellows of Harvard-College afforesaid and their Successors in said Trust, the Liberty of dreining said Swamp, and keeping open said Drein, thro’ said Land belonging to us the said Joseph Coolidge and John Hastings, as afforesaid at all Times for ever hereafter, so that neither We the said Joseph Coolidge nor John Hastings, nor our Heirs, Executors Administrators nor Assigns, shall or will at any Time or Times, for ever hereafter, Lett, hinder, molest or disturb the President and Fellows of said College or their Successors in said Trust, in dreining and keeping open said Drein thro’ our said Land as afforesaid.

    In Witness whereof We the said Joseph Coolidge and John Hastings have hereunto set our hands and seals the [blank] Day of May in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and fourty and four Annoque Regni Regis Georgii Mag. Brittan. &c. 17 mo.

    Signed Sealed and Delivered in presence of

    Essex Ss

    Then the within named Joseph Coolidge and John Hastings personally appearing acknowledged the within written Instrument to be their voluntary Act and Deed.

    Before Me

    Just. Pacis

    [Endorsed:] Coolidge and Hastings their conveyance in perpetuam &c. of Liberty to the College to Drein Haywards Lot thro’ their Land.

    Coolidge and Hastings proportion to finish as to the Clearing the Drain is £9.1.8 and our 16.3.4

    Sum.

    25.5.0

    4.10.10

    4.10.10

    9.1.8

    Lands Papers, Miscellaneous, 11. 61.