Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/114

80 meadows at "The Tongue," east and south of Nockum Hill, are still owned by descendants of the proprietors of Rehoboth. "The Common Fence" was built to establish the south boundary line of Rehoboth and to prevent intrusion of cattle upon the lands of the Indians at Wannamoisett and Sowams.

It was built in obedience to the following vote of the town December 26, 1645. "Voted, that a fence shall bee made between the Indian lands, at the marked tree, from sea to sea, by the last day of the second month next, and the fence of five rails to be laid out by Robert Martin and Edward Smith and 2 more, and they shall begin at the East side of the Neck, and so to the West." This fence is described as a "five Rayle fence," extending from "Patuckquet," now Providence river, to the river by "Bowen's Bridge," now known as Runen's Bridge, across the upper end of New Meadow Neck to Broad Cove, the name given to that part of Palmer's River, near Barneysville. In 1662, the boundary line between Rehoboth and Sowams was removed about half a mile to the North, thus giving to the Wannamoisett settlers a larger amount of territory in their plantation, on condition that the people on the south of the line should build and keep the fence in repair. This line began on the Providence River between the Pomham rocks and Silver Spring and ran in an easterly direction to the upper part of Barrington River, thence easterly across New Meadow Neck to Palmer's River, not very far from the present village of Barneysville. This line, established in 1662, became the northern boundary line of Swansea when it was laid out in 1667. It will be understood that the territorial troubles grew out of the indistinctness of metes and bounds in the Indian deeds, and it is greatly to the credit of the good sense and honorable dealing of the proprietors of the two settlements that matters were adjusted so peaceably and satisfactorily. Stephen Payne of Rehoboth and Thomas Willett of Sowams were the peacemakers of these ancient towns, and their example has been helpful to a