I08 HISTORY OF C OH ASSET. 



These acres, where now the Whitney farm spreads, were 

 begun to be divided on March 5, 1637, which was really 

 1638, because since the year 1752 we have reckoned from 

 January i instead of March 25. These grants, about 

 fifteen acres, were to eke out the supply of grass for the 

 settlers' live stock. 



In dividing grass lands the committee was instructed 

 " to allow three cows to a person for stock," "other stock 

 of lesser cattle or goods proportionable as it amounteth to 

 a cow," " according to a rule nearest to the rule of the 

 Word of God." Such was their indefinite standard of 

 division and their lofty ideal of equity. 



Besides this little batch of Cohasset real estate there 

 was a bit of marsh land voted to "an individual, but not 

 located until several years afterward. Thomas Andrews,* 

 probably the oldest man in the settlement, was voted into 

 possession of " 6 acres of salt marsh at Coneyhassett in 

 lieu and recompense of 5 acres of salt marsh in the Home 

 Meadow, which he had next to Joseph Andrews his son." 



This son Joseph had been chosen clerk, on the previous 

 November i, to record grants, sales, and exchanges of 

 lands, and to give certified copies at fourpence each. 

 There was need of this first registrar of deeds, for in 

 1638, the year following his appointment, the ship 

 Diligent of Ipswich, England, brought over to the little 

 settlement one hundred and thirty-three more seekers of 

 American homes. Before they came the general business 

 of the town had been committed to nine picked men 

 who should have the authority to receive any persons 

 into the municipality, " to give, grant, let and set, all 

 for the good of the whole," except that they should not 

 fix the rate of taxation. These first selectmen were as 

 follows : Edmond Hobart, Sr., Nicholas Jacob, Clement 

 Bates, Henry Tuttle, Henry Rust, Thomas Hammond, 

 Anthony Eames, Samuel Ward, Thomas Underwood. 



* Peter Hobart's Journal says, August, 1643, " O'f' Thomas Andrews died." 



