Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/220

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CHAPTER XV GLEANINGS FROM TOWN AND PLYMOUTH COURT LEGISLATION SIXTEEN hundred and sixty-eight. Plymouth Court ordered that Wannamoisett and places adjacent shall be called Swansea. Captain Willett, Mr. Paine, Senior, Mr. Browne, John Allin, John Butterworth, were appointed to have the admission of inhabitants, the disposal of lands, and ordering of other affairs of the town. Captain Willett was given liberty to purchase what lands he can in behalf of the Court, "soe as hee doe not to much straiten the Indians." The mark for Swansea horses was an S, "on the farr shoulder." The Court declared that "for such stronge liquors as are or shalbe brought into the said towne (Swansea) by forraign- ers in the way of trad, it shalbe costom free soe as it be not retailed and this libertie to continue for the tearmeof seaven yeares from the date hereof." Ordered that the town of Swansea send down one to serve in the office of Constable, one for a deputy, and one grand jury man. 1652. "Mrs. Joane Barnes, for frequently slandering and defameing the children of Captain Willett and the daughter of Geo. Watson, shee was sentenced to sitt in the stockes during the Courts pleasure, and a paper whereon her facte written in capitall letters, to bee made fast unto her hatt, or near vnto her, all the time of her sitting there, all which was performed according to the sentence." In 1669 the town of Swansea petitioned the Court "for a necke of land called Papasquash Neck, that it may be graunted