PLYMOUTH MEMOIRS. 
561 
Next follows a copy of the Act Charter. " Note that this was transcribed 
out of the book of oaths and is y e first thing in it." Yonge explains that 
he was not certain of the meaning of some of the abbreviations, the docu- 
ment being written in an old character, and that he had " drawn a line 
under such words as were not easily Intelligible, & written y m exact w th 
ye Copy." 
Then we have " a true and exact Copy of y e Original Constitutions of the 
Hospital of Orphans Aid In Plimouth w ch lyeth In the chest of that house 
now In the council chamber of the Guildhall of Plim? and from it taken 
with mine own hand this 16 of May 1695 James Yonge May*" 
The De visions, or Wards of Plimmouth as made In Sessions 
1686, and appointed to each alderman 1694 by J Y [onge].* 
m r J 3 Blyth. James Yonge Mayor, his devision is from 
E. Sampson. his own house on the New Key [Parade] to 
Jn? Murch. the gates, up the Market street [High Street], 
down by the popes head, Into the Lane of 
Pomoryes Condute [Eatter Street] and down 
back to his own house, all on the Eight hand, 
the Lanes Included. 
m r N. Ginnyes m r Justice Wilcochs) his devision is on the 
J a 8 Tregellas Eight hand down the broad street [Buck well 
Street, and upper part of Eilbury Street], then 
from y e Lower end of 3 cranes street [Tin 
Street] to y e uper end of the same : Lanes 
included. 
* It will be seen here that the town was divided into as many districts as 
there were aldermen, for the purposes of order and cleanliness. But these 
divisions were not wards in the modern sense. From the time of its formal 
incorporation until the Municipal Reform Axt, Plymouth had four wards 
proper, which by Leland are called Old Town, Venar, Lower, and Ventre, 
the latter "along by the gulph." But Lower should be Loo Street. Sub- 
sequently they were named Old Town, High Yintre, Lower Vintre, and 
Looe Street. Now there are six wards — St. Andrew, Charles, Drake, Sutton, 
Vintry, and Frankfort. The name Yenar ward still exists for the purpose 
of the land tax assessment, wherein Old Town is divided into first and second. 
Originally the wards were set out for the better order and defence of the 
town, and had nothing to do with the choice of representatives as now. In 
1750 the wards set out in the poor rate assessment were: Lower Yintry, 
Yenners, Market Street, Old Conduit, Middle part of Old Town, Higher 
Yintry, Beginning of Old Town, Charles Part of Old Town, Part Yintry, 
Part Upper Loo Street, Lower part ditto, Upper part ditto, and Out-bounds 
for both parishes. 
