Note 18 — Chapter XI
Reading edition
Page 55—An earlier effort in 1701 for assistance to alewives is found in the Town Records, Vol. 2, Page 79. The petitioners mentioned possibly did not live too far away and some may have had homesteads in the community.
“Grant to make a stream for herring from South Pond to Eel River.”
Town meeting of May 20th, 1701.
“George Morton, Ephraim Morton, Nathaniel Morton, Josiah Finney, Benj. Warren, Ebenezer Holmes and Thomas Faunce requested that if they could make a stream from the Grate South Pond so called into the brook that runneth through Finney’s meadow into the Eale River in order to the leting up alewives into sd. Pond that the town would grant the privilege of two or three pole breadth on each side of sd. stream of land down along sd. stream so far as the town comons goeth which sd. request was granted them and to stop the Pond when it needs.”