272 THE HISTOBY OF BAKKINGTON. Philip Short, fence viewers and clerks of the markets : Josiab Humphrey, Jun., sealer of leather; Constant Viall and Ed- ward Bosworth, hogreeves and field drivers ; Nathaniel Peck and Peleg Richmond, informers about deer; Joshua Bicknell was allowed I2s. for repairing the pound. On the settlement of the boundary line between Rhode Island and Massachusetts in 1747, the northern part of Bar- rington, including Wannamoisett, was set in Rehoboth, and caused great dissatisfaction to the people, whose town rela- tions were changed. The Massachusetts Court made record of the fact as follows : •'A Petition of Jabez Brown and others Inhabitants of that part of Barrington which lies within this Province, shewing the inconvenience of their being annexed to the Town of Rehoboth, where they were set by an Order of this Court, pass'd in November last, & praying to be added to the Town of Swansea from whence they were first taken. "In the House of Representatives, Read & Ordered that Capt. Williams, Mr. Hardy and Mr. Rice, with such as the Honb^®. Board shall join, be a Committee to take this peti- tion under consideration, & report what they judge proper for this Court to do thereon. In Council, Read & concur'd & John Cushing and Samuel Watts, Esq., are joined in the Af- fair." June 10, 1747. We find no record of the report of the Committee, but as a historic fact, Mr. Brown and his friends were allowed to remain in Rehoboth as set off. The territory named is now the south part of East Providence. Among miscellaneous records relating to intentions of marriage, births and deaths, we have a large number of records of the earmarks for cattle, horses and swine. As a legal qualification for marriage, the contracting parties were required to declare their intentions with the town clerk of the town as follows: " There is an intention of marriage between Josiah Hum-
